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
Membership of professional bodies:
Golden Key International Honour Society, South Africa, Member. 2032
The Microbiology Society, Student Member. 2025
Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists (ASAPA), 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. 2025
Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists (ASAPA), Professional Member. 2025
British Association for Forensic Anthropology (BAFA), Student Member. 2025
Applied Microbiology International, Member. 2024
British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO), Student Member. 2024
Other invited event:
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., Graveyard Shift: From Grave Relocation to Grave Detection.. 2025
Online, Talk presented by Dr T. Komang Ralebitso-Senior and Cherene de Bruyn, hosted by the University of Cape Town, South Africa, The Hidden Forensics: Soil Microbiomes and Ecogenomic Insights from Graves. 2024
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, The Hidden Forensics: Soil Microbiomes and Ecogenomic Insights from Graves. 2024
Conference presentation:
Poster presentation, Southampton, AMI MMEG: Molecular Microbial Ecology Group 2024, 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, https://appliedmicrobiology.org/ems-event-calendar/past-events/mmeg24.html. 2024
Poster presentation, Wolfson College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, British Association for Forensic Anthropology (BAFA) Winter conference and AGM 2024. Conference Theme: "Bridging the gap between academia and practice’", 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.. 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
Award:
Applied Microbiology International, Student Travel Bursary. 2024
British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology, Rapid-Turnaround Microgrant. 2024
Doctoral Academy, Liverpool John Moores University, Postgraduate Conference Travel Fund. 2024
British High Commission, Chevening Secretariat, and FCO, Chevening Scholarship - Masters study in the UK. 2016
South African Archaeological Society, Kent Bequest. 2013
Research Grants Awarded:
Grant value (£): £2353, Research Support, Forensic Research Institute (FORRI), Dr Komang Ralebitso-Senior, Dr Heather Panter, Dr Kirstie Scott, and Dr Frederic Bezombes, 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.. 2024