Kirsty Penkman
Professor in Analytical Chemistry
Prof Kirsty Penkman’s research interests involve the retrieval of molecular information entrapped within fossil samples, and how they can inform us on an organism's life and death history.
Her expertise is in the organic analysis of biominerals and she is the director of the NERC-recognised facility for amino acid racemisation (NEaar) at the University of York. As an analytical chemist, Kirsty’s research focuses on the intricate relationship between the organic biomolecules and the inorganic crystals in biominerals. She researches biomolecule preservation and degradation using a range of analytical techniques (chromatography, mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy and electron microscopy), combining lab-based experimental studies with analysis of fossil samples.
Kirsty will oversee the chiral amino acid analyses essential for determining the endogeneity and integrity of the recovered biomolecular signal from the shells, as well as their geochronology across all work packages.
