Ella Lipscombe joins the McDonald Institute as Project Coordinator, supporting the ERC Starting Grant project STEPS: Biomechanical simulations of hominin locomotion across complex terrains, led by Dr Ashleigh Wiseman. STEPS integrates human evolution, evolutionary biomechanics, and comparative anatomy to investigate the selective pressures that helped shape the human-like body plan. Ella will provide administrative support to the Principal Investigator and project team members, as well as assist with accurate transcription and organisation of research data.
Alongside her role at the McDonald Institute, Ella works as Personal Assistant to the Co-Directors of Finance for Systemic Change at the Department of Land Economy, Professor Ellen Quigley and Dr Belinda Bell. The team’s research focuses on mitigating systemic risks by transforming the practices of asset owners and other influential financial actors.
Ella recently completed an M.Sc. in Human Evolution and Behaviour at University College London, during which she developed interests in human behavioural ecology, cultural evolution, palaeoanthropology, community-based conservation, and the philosophy of biology. She also holds a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Nottingham.
