Cherene De Bruyn
Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Faculty of Science
Email: C.DeBruyn@2024.ljmu.ac.uk
I am a Postgraduate Researcher currently enrolled in the LJMU Thematic Doctoral Programme through the Forensic Research Institute (FORRI) and the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences. I am under the primary supervision of Dr Komang Ralebitso-Senior and the co-supervision of Dr Heather Panter, Dr Kirstie Scott, and Dr Frederic Bezombes for the project titled: The detection and investigation of mammalian remains using forensic ecology and remote sensing approaches.
I bring a dynamic and results-oriented approach to my academic pursuits. With a foundation in archaeology and physical anthropology, I have extensive experience in these fields. My academic journey also includes being a Chevening Alumnus (University College London, 2016). Prior to my doctoral studies, I gained valuable experience in British archaeology at the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), Northampton. Additionally, I have also gained valuable experience and contributed to grave relocation and heritage mitigation projects across South Africa. My research interests span a wide range of topics, including bioarchaeology, burial archaeology, decomposition studies, grave investigations, remote sensing, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and forensic ecogenomics. I aspire to make meaningful contributions to these fields, leveraging multidisciplinary approaches.
Languages
Afrikaans
English
Degrees
2017, University College London, United Kingdom, MA - Archaeology
2015, University of Pretoria, South Africa, BSc Honours - Physical Anthropology
2013, University of Pretoria, South Africa, BA Honours- Archaeology
2012, University of Pretoria, South Africa, BA
Academic appointments
Teaching Support Officer, Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, 2025 - present
Postgraduate Researcher, Forensic Research Institute & School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, 2024 - present
Poster
De Bruyn C, Scott K, Panter H, Bezombes F, Ralebitso Senior K. 2024. From decay to discovery: The necrobiome's role in clandestine grave detection AMI MMEG: Molecular Microbial Ecology Group (https://appliedmicrobiology.org/ems-event-calendar/past-events/mmeg24.html)
De Bruyn C, Scott K, Panter H, Bezombes F, Ralebitso Senior K. 2024. Unseen connections: Why multidisciplinary approaches matter in identification and detection of human remains British Association for Forensic Anthropology (BAFA) Winter conference and AGM 2024. Conference Theme: "Bridging the gap between academia and practice". Wolfson College, University of Oxford
Journal article
De Bruyn C, Meyer A. 2018. A bioarchaeological analysis of historical human skeletal remains recovered from Lancaster Mine, Witwatersrand, South Africa The South African Archaeological Bulletin, 73 :4-12 Publisher Url Public Url
Other invited event:
Graveyard Shift: From Grave Relocation to Grave Detection., Quaker House, Liverpool, Merseyside Archaeology Society Evening Lecture: New research by Liverpool students. Talk presented by Cherene de Bruyn. Supervisors: Dr. K. Scott, Dr. H. Panter, Dr F. Bezombes, and Dr. K. Ralebitso-Senior.. 2025
The Hidden Forensics: Soil Microbiomes and Ecogenomic Insights from Graves, Online, Talk presented by Dr T. Komang Ralebitso-Senior and Cherene de Bruyn, hosted by the University of Cape Town, South Africa. 2024
The Hidden Forensics: Soil Microbiomes and Ecogenomic Insights from Graves, University of Cape Town, Talk presented by Dr T. Komang Ralebitso-Senior and Cherene de Bruyn at the University of Cape Town during a research visit to South Africa. 2024
Conference presentation:
de Bruyn C, Scott K, Panter H, Bezombes F, and Ralebitso-Senior TK, (2024). From decay to discovery: The necrobiome's role in clandestine grave detection, AMI MMEG: Molecular Microbial Ecology Group 2024, Southampton, Poster presentation, https://appliedmicrobiology.org/ems-event-calendar/past-events/mmeg24.html. 2024
de Bruyn C, Scott K, Panter H, Bezombes F, and Ralebitso-Senior TK, (2024). Unseen connections: Why multidisciplinary approaches matter in identification and detection of human remains., British Association for Forensic Anthropology (BAFA) Winter conference and AGM 2024. Conference Theme: "Bridging the gap between academia and practice’", Wolfson College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, Poster presentation. 2024
Other Professional Activity:
de Bruyn, C. (2024) "Starting Strong: Productivity Tips for the First 6 Months of Your PhD". Research Hive - Science Communication Blog by PhD Researchers., https://research-hive.com/2024/09/03/starting-strong-productivity-tips-for-the-first-6-months-of-your-phd/. 2024
Membership of professional bodies:
Student Member, British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO). 2024
Student Member, The Microbiology Society. 2024
Student Member, British Association for Forensic Anthropology (BAFA). 2024
Member, Applied Microbiology International. 2024
CRM Accreditation Principal Investigator: Grave relocation; Field Director: Colonial period archaeology, Iron Age archaeology; Field Supervisor: Rock art, Stone Age archaeology & Laboratory Specialist: Human Skeletal Remains, Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists (ASAPA). 2019
Professional Member, Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists (ASAPA). 2016
Member, Golden Key International Honour Society, South Africa. 2011
Award:
Postgraduate Conference Travel Fund, Doctoral Academy, Liverpool John Moores University. 2024
Rapid-Turnaround Microgrant, British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology. 2024
Student Travel Bursary, Applied Microbiology International. 2024
Chevening Scholarship - Masters study in the UK, British High Commission, Chevening Secretariat, and FCO. 2016
Kent Bequest, South African Archaeological Society. 2013
Research Grants Awarded:
Research Support, Forensic Research Institute (FORRI), Research Visit to the University of Central Lancashire’s Taphonomic Research in Anthropology: Centre for Experimental Studies (TRACES) Facility, as part of Cherene de Bruyns PhD research., Dr Komang Ralebitso-Senior, Dr Heather Panter, Dr Kirstie Scott, and Dr Frederic Bezombes, Grant value (£): £2353. 2024