Our team of experienced project managers and specialist staff offers many years of expertise in commercial archaeological projects. Click on a team member’s profile to learn more about them.
Prof. Caroline Sturdy Colls – Director of the Centre of Archaeology
Caroline is the Director of the Centre of Archaeology at Staffordshire University. She has directed and published archaeological projects throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. Her particular areas of expertise are Holocaust archaeology, forensic archaeology and the application of non-invasive surveying methods.
Associate Professor Kevin Colls – Archaeological Project Manager
Kevin is the lead Archaeological Project Manager for the Centre of Archaeology at Staffordshire University. He has directed and published archaeological projects throughout the United Kingdom and has over 15 years’ experience in professional development-led archaeology.
William is the Project Archaeologist for the Centre of Archaeology at Staffordshire University. He has supervised and published numerous archaeological projects throughout the United Kingdom and has extensive experience in leading, delivering and consulting on archaeological and heritage projects. He is a qualified teacher and regularly works with school groups and on community-led projects.
David (Ed) Edwards – Technical specialist for visualisation and simulation
David is a Technical Specialist at Staffordshire University, whose background spans higher education, business development, creative design and great white shark research in South Africa. He is working on a number of research projects which aim to utilise videogame and visual effects based technologies and pipelines, in the context of ecological research and archaeological preservation. David Edwards’ staff profile
Daria Cherkaska – PhD Researcher
Daria started her PhD studies in April 2018. Her previous research background involves studying the theory and history of Soviet archaeology. Currently, her studies focus on the application of forensic archaeological methods in Holocaust study in Ukraine. Daria also has experience working as an archivist, and in the field of conservation of archaeological sites in Ukraine, and has participated in projects in Ukraine and Poland. Daria Cherkaska’s staff profile
Czelsie Weston – PhD Researcher in Holocaust Archaeology
Czelsie is currently a PhD researcher with the Centre of Archaeology, focussing on how forensic archaeological approaches can be used to locate, record and disseminate information regarding killing sites of the Holocaust. Czelsie completed a semester placement with the Centre during her MSci Forensic Science, also at Staffordshire University. She has assisted in Holocaust fieldwork in UK and Europe, including projects in Alderney, Poland, Netherlands, Ukraine, Norway and Germany. Czelsie Weston’s staff profile
Michael Branthwaite- Senior Lecturer in Fine Arts
Michael is a senior lecturer and course leader for the BA (Hons) Fine Art course at Staffordshire University. He teaches across a range of mediums focusing on Sculpture, Installation and Film. His main interests are material culture and how objects and artefacts can change our understanding of the past. Most recently this has developed into more philosophical debates about how we deal with new archaeological findings that challenge established historical narratives, and how we can use artistic responses to create the debates needed to deal with these complex and contested memories. Michael Branthwaite’s staff profile
Fiona Graham – Associate Professor of Film Technology
Fiona is an established producer and an Associate Professor of Film Technology. She has pioneered new methods in research informed practice to enhance the digital dissemination of academic research nationally and internationally. She has worked with museums, tourism, heritage sites and channels in the UK and Europe including BBC, ITV, Sky, and The History Channel, as well as BBC Radio creating factual content which has a major impact on society. Fiona Graham’s staff profile
Paul Ottey – Senior Lecturer in Film and Television Technology
Paul is a senior lecturer and course leader for the BSc Film Production Technology course at Staffordshire University. He teaches across a range of film production and film technology subjects with an emphasis on cameras and imaging technology in factual production. Paul’s background is in mechanical engineering and cinematography for internationally broadcast television and film. His main interests are factual film relating to archaeology, heritage and history and new methods of illustrating these subjects. Paul Ottey’s staff profile
Dr Rachel Bolton-King – Associate Professor in Forensic Science
Rachel specialises in firearms identification and the identification of ammunition. Her research has focused on non-invasive analysis of corroded weapons. Rachel is actively involved in the Alderney Archaeology and Heritage Project and, having worked extensively in the forensic arena, is developing new approaches to 3D visualisation and trajectory analysis in archaeological investigations. Dr Rachel Bolton-King’s staff profile
Tim Harris – Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography
Tim is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography and an active researcher. His particular areas of expertise lie in glacial and periglacial geomorphology, the impact of climate change and Quarternary environmental change. Tim has been actively involved in the Alderney Archaeology and Heritage Project and has been developing new methods for in-field site recording and visualisation. He has undertaken fieldwork throughout the UK and in Iceland. Tim Harris’ staff profile
Prof. Ruth Swetnam – Professor of Applied Geography
Ruth has undertaken a number of projects focusing on spatial modelling, landscape ecology, historical geography, land use change and environmental management. Ruth is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Chartered Geographer in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Ruth has over 20 year’s experience in consultancy and research focusing on the creation of GIS databases, landscape modelling and ecosystem monitoring. Dr Ruth Swetnam’s staff profile
Dean Northfield Forensic Imaging Specialist
Dean’s expertise lies in the collection and analysis of digital imaging. Having worked for West Yorkshire Police for 11 years, the final 4 as a Senior Digital Imaging Officer, Dean is able to provide consultancy in the Electronic Presentation of Evidence (EPE). He is working on a number of research projects focusing on the innovative application of forensic imaging methods in an archaeological context including the Re-Presenting Treblinka project, as part of which he is developing a 3D digital heritage resource for museum and online presentation. Dean Northfield’s staff profile
Prof. Fiona Tweed Professor of Physical Geography
Fiona Tweed is Professor of Physical Geography at Staffordshire University. Fiona’s main research interests are glacial processes and natural hazards; she is an international expert on glacier outburst floods. Fiona has over 30 years’ experience of field research, chiefly in Iceland where she has led many research expeditions. Fiona was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by the HEA in December 2016. Fiona Tweed’s staff profile
Alex Haycock – PhD Researcher
Alex originally came to Staffordshire University to undertake a degree in Forensic Science (With placement year).
During his placement year, he had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects primarily within the field of Holocaust Archaeology. He had the opportunity to train and use a structured light scanner, sparking interest in how this could be applied to current research. As a result, he has begun a PhD in Holocaust Archaeology. He also undertook fieldwork projects in the UK, Czech Republic, Ukraine and Cyprus. His research project, which has a working title of ‘An investigation of how non-destructive archaeological methods can assist in the digitalisation of uncatalogued and privately-owned Holocaust material culture collections’, is looking to bring collections of Holocaust material culture together into a single digital domain to further Holocaust research and education.
Ermelinda Trinder – PhD Researcher
Ermelinda graduated as an archaeologist from the University of Tirana, Albania, in 2003 and completed her Masters in the application of modern technologies in archaeology at the University of Siena, Italy, in 2005. She has excavated widely across a number of sites in Albania, including the UNESCO site of Butrint, and also in Italy. Previously, Ermelinda worked as a research assistant for the International Centre of Albanian Archaeology, and was the research lead for ‘The Future of Albanian’s Past’ project, which focused on recording archaeological sites in Albania using non-invasive techniques. After a career break of 13 years raising four children, Ermelinda started her PhD in 2020 entitled ‘The Rise of the Tumulus: The Eternal Living Monument of Bronze and Iron Age Albania’. Her interest lies beyond archaeology and forensic archaeology, and she is an active member of several PGR groups at Staffordshire University.
