Thomas is a trained mineralogist and archaeologist. Before starting his PhD, he investigated the potential of non-traditional metal isotopes for the reconstruction of ancient copper smelting processes and raw material reconstruction of copper and iron ore. His PhD project focuses on the lost wax casting technology in the Chalcolithic Southern Levant and the cultural and technological connections between the Southern Levant and Western Asia during this time.
Thomas aims for a holistic approach with special emphasis on the combination of experimental and analytical techniques based on a sound understanding of the underlying physico-chemical processes. He is particularly passionate about exploring the potential of stable metal isotopes and to unleash the power of R to develop new tools for research. He is developer of the R-package ChronochRt and member of the GlobaLID Core Team.