Short presentation

I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Ancient Protein research group led by Dr. Enrico Cappellini at the Natural History Museum of Denmark. I am interested in the study of ancient proteins in Human Evolution. My research utilizes mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics to extract and analyse ancient protein sequences from ancient human and fauna samples spanning several continents and the entire Pleistocene. My research led to the identification of the first ancient protein sequences from Toxodon and Macrauchenia, two extinct genera whose phylogentic positions have been hotly debated since their initial description by Charles Darwin (Welker et al., 2015, Nature). Furthermore, I have demonstrated that phylogenetically-informative protein sequences can be recovered from Late Pleistene hominin specimens (Welker et al., 2016, PNAS; Chen et al. 2019, Nature). This enables the study of hominin phylogeny beyond the (local) survival of ancient DNA through the analysis of surviving ancient protein sequences instead.

My current research therefore focuses on the recovery and MS-based analysis of increasingly older fauna and hominin proteins, primarily for phylogenetic purposes. This research is supported by a VILLUM Foundation grant, awarded to Dr. Enrico Cappellini, a Leakey Foundation research grant, and a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018-2020). In addition, together with the MPI-EVA in Leipzig (Germany), I am involved in the implementation of large-scale MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of fragmentary bone assemblages (ZooMS) to elucidate past hominin distributions and hominin-fauna interactions across Eurasia (see Welker et al., 2015, JAS; Welker et al., 2016, PNAS; Sinet-Mathiot et al. 2019, Scientific Reports).

Prospective students.

Are you interested in ancient proteins? Do you have a background in mass spectrometry, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, archaeology or anthropology? We are always interested in motivated students. Prior experience with ancient proteins is NOT required. frido.welker [at] bio.ku.dk

CV

Education & Employment

2017-current                  Postdoc, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

2017-current                  Associate researcher, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany.

2016-2017                  Postdoc, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany.

2013-2016                  PhD Candidate, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany.

2012-2013                  MSc in Bioarchaeology, University of York, United Kingdom.

2009-2012                  BA Archaeology, Leiden University, the Netherlands.

Conference presentations + posters 

Sessions:

2017     Hendy, J., and Welker, F. Proteins in Play. SAA 2017.

Presentations:

2017     Welker, F., et al. A human dentine proteome from Les Cottés, France. ESHE2017, Leiden.

2017     Zwyns, N., […], Welker, F., et al. The Northern route of human dispersal in Asia: new evidence from the site of Tolbor 16, Mongolia. ESHE2017, Leiden

2017     Welker, F., et al. ZooMS at the Kleine Feldhofer Grotte: the identification of additional hominin remains at the Neanderthal type site. Hugo Obermaier Society Annual Meeting, Aurich.

2017     Welker, F., Collins, M.J., and Hublin, J.-J. Ancient hominin bone proteomes: improving our understanding of past human behaviour through the study of ancient bone proteins. SAA 2017, Vancouver.

2016     Talamo, S., […], Welker, F., et al. Lifting the veil over the Neanderthal mandible from Riparo Mezzena (Monti Lessini, Italy) using direct radiocarbon dating and genetic analysis. ESHE2016, Madrid.

2016     Welker, F., et al. Palaeoproteomic evidence identifies archaic hominins associated with the Châtelperronian at the Grotte du Renne. ESHE2016, Madrid.

2014     Welker, F., et al. Authentication of de novo MS/MS collagen sequencing of archaeological and modern samples. ISBA 2014.

2014     MacPhee, R., Welker, F., et al. Barcoding the dead: ancient protein sequencing resolves litoptern and notoungulate superordinal affinities. SVP 2014.

Posters:

2015     Welker, F., et al. ZooMS analysis of two Châtelperronian faunal assemblages. ESHE2015, London.

Academic Reviewer

I have been an academic reviewer for numerous international journals in protein mass spectrometry, archaeology, palaeoanthropology and evolutionary biology. Furthermore, I have performed a similar role in the assessment of grant proposols submitted to various national and international funding bodies. I see this as an important aspect of academic community work.