Hi, I am

jcoelho aka DEL

I research and create

A lover of natural history 🐞 and poetry ✍️. Building on- and off-line communities.

About Me

I am a self-taught programmer with an academic background in biological anthropology. I graduated in Human Evolution and Biology at the University of Coimbra, while simultaneously founding osteomics, where I developed several web applications.

Later I obtained a DPhil at University of Oxford in Geospatial Paleoanthropology. Currently, I am a paleontologist at Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Here are a few technologies I can help you with:
  • R
  • Photogrammetry
  • Machine Learning
  • GIS analysis
  • Shiny Apps
  • Morphometrics

Experience

Paleontology Manager - GRP
2024-present

Paleontologist and lab manager for the Paleo-Primate Project Gorongosa

  • Species documentation, photography, photogrammetry, and identification
  • Fossil preparation
  • Logistics for PPPG and the Gorongosa Interdisciplinary Field School in Human Evolution
Founder - osteomics
2013-present

I develop and maintain Osteomics—a web platform offering free software tools for bioanthropologists. We provide consulting on statistical analysis and app development for scientific projects in forensic anthropology and human evolution.

  • Lead Designer
  • Web App Developer & Shiny Jedi
  • 3D Printing and 3D Scanning services
Field School Instructor - PPPG
2018-present
  • Logistics for the Gorongosa Interdisciplinary Field School in Human Evolution (annually: july-august)
  • Database management, lab photography, 3D photogrammetry, fossil curation, anatomy and taxonomy
  • Co-directed paleontological excavations (GPL-12-E in 2022; GPL-12-W in 2023)
  • Drone pilot; Primatology (bipedalism and carnivory); and Taphonomy (carcasses monitoring) data collection for the ‘Bones of Predation’ project (2021)
  • Surveying team leader (2018 and 2019)
Graduate Student - Oxford
2017-2023
  • Researcher at the Primate Models for Behavioural Evolution Lab, University of Oxford.
  • Co-organized an International Conference, and created its website - EFP/PSGB 2019.
  • Data collection at Nairobi National Museum, Kenya and Oxford’s Natural History Museum, UK.
  • Miocene Apes and the Origins of Bipedalism Seminar, MSc Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology.
  • Tutorial’s instructor (on genetics); teaching (undergrad students in archaeology and anthropology).
Web Designer & Co-founder - JEST
2016 - 2017

I co-founded JEST - Junior Enterprise for Science and Tech @ University of Coimbra.

  • Head designer and webmaster of the original project (mantained from 2016 to 2019).
  • Organized workshops and conferences on data science, and programming languages (R and Python).
  • Instructor for several R workshops (intro, data viz, modelling, Machine Learning, shiny, etc.).
Collaborator - CFE-UC
2015-present
  • Researcher at the ‘Forensic Anthropology and Paleobiology’ group – cfe.uc.pt.
  • 3D scanning expert and curator of the CEIXXI Digital Museum (see sketchfab.com/lfa).
  • Webmaster and Web Designer at ‘Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology’ – lfa.uc.pt.
  • Statistical shape analysis (geometric morphometrics) of osteological material.
  • Public communication and workshops, science communication.

Education

2017–2023
Doctor of Philosophy in Evolutionary Anthropology
University of Oxford, United Kingdom

Thesis

  • From satellite pixels to fossil apes: targeting gaps in the hominid fossil record

Supervisors

  • Prof. Susana Carvalho (University of Oxford)
  • Prof. Robert L. Anemone (The University of North Carolina at Greensboro)
2013–2015
Master's Degree in Human Evolution and Biology
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Dissertation

  • Unwarping Heated Bones: a quantitative analysis of heat-induced skeletal deformations using 3D geometric morphometrics

Supervisors

  • Dr. David Gonçalves
  • Prof. Eugénia Cunha
2010–2013
Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Studying anthropology has provided me with a integrated understanding of the social, cultural, and biological dimensions of humans. Through analysis of bones, genetics, artifacts, languages, behaviors, norms, symbols, narratives, and institutions, I’ve learned to interpret the complexities of cultural and biological diversity. This epistemological decentralization broadens perspectives, enabling me to understand and analyze past and present dilemmas.

Erasmus programme

  • Háskóli Íslands, Iceland (2012 - 2013)

Get in Touch

Whether you are pondering a question or just in the mood for a friendly chat, I am here and eager to connect, and I’ll do my utmost to respond promptly.