Project: Mercury Isotopes in Bioarchaeology: Developing Analytical Methods and Assessing Diagenesis in Bone for Reconstructing Palaeodiet, Cultural Practices, and Environmental Exposure

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Bio

Nuri's current research is on using mercury stable isotope compositions to investigate aquatic dietary input in past human and animal populations. He aims to integrate total mercury concentrations and mercury stable isotope analysis into archaeological/palaeoecological studies. When Nuri has established this research approach in the Arctic, he hopes to revisit and apply it to better understand the role of aquatic diet in the Neolithization of Southwest Asia. Beyond his PhD research, Nuri is currently working on creating a bioavailable strontium and sulfur isoscape of Western Türkiye. He is using modern plant samples he has been collecting to better understand mobility in the region. He is using modern plant samples he has been collecting to better understand mobility in the region. He has also been collaborating with McMaster University on an aDNA project examining 12th-13th century Black Death victims from Iznik, Türkiye. He has conducted the project's stable isotope analysis for carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, strontium, and analyzed total mercury concentrations.

When not focused on his research, Nuri can be found fixing annoying sounds plaguing the lab (or his office) and spending his evenings tracking the lab's robot vacuum, affectionately known as 'Dirt Vader', through the app on his phone. Outside the lab, Nuri is an accomplished rock climber and was a national athlete in Türkiye, where he represented his country in various international competitions and won several gold and silver medals at national events. In Peterborough, he has continued with this passion by working as a high-performance coach at a local climbing gym. His prized possession is his orange Tabby, Lassie, whom he brought back from Türkiye earlier this year. He is also big fan of 1950s film noir movies, and his favourite TV show is the original "The Twilight Zone" from 1959. He also enjoys reading science fiction and fantasy. Bio by Amy Thompson. 

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TEAL Awards and Honours

🥇 2024 Lab Olympics Gold Medal: Reagent Weighing

🥈 2025 Lab Olympics Silver Medal: Parafilm Shot Put

🏆 2025 Tess Wilson Award (shared with Dawn Bari)