A BIT ABOUT ME

PhD, Western University, Anthropology, Collaborative Specialization in Musculoskeletal Health Research        In Progress

Thesis:

            Supervisor: Dr. Andrea Waters-Rist

M.A., Western University, Anthropology                                            July 2024

Thesis: “Birds of the ancient Nile: Species Identification in Egyptian Animal Mummies using Multi-Resolution Computed Tomography Scans and Deep Learning Image Segmentation”

            Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Nelson

B.A. (Honours), Mount Royal University, Anthropology                   June 2022

Thesis: “Addressing issues of archaeological skeletal preservation for cortical bone thickness analyses: Using the metacarpal array to investigate bone loss”

            Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Gilmour

2025 Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation of Canada Scholarship

Value: $5,000.00

2025 Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Value: $15,000.00

2024 Oschinsky-McKern Award (National Award for Top Podium Presentation, awarded by the Canadian Association for Biological Anthropology)

Value: $400.00

2024 Western Graduate Scholarship (PhD) 

Value: $8754.00

2023 Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s

Value: $17,500.00

2023 Ontario Graduate Scholarship (Declined)

Value: $15,000.00

2023 Graduate Research Trainee Stipend

Value: $6,900.00

2023 Society of Graduate Students Travel Fund 

Value: $500.00

2023 Top Student Presentation (Western Anthropology Graduate Society Conference)

2022 Western Graduate Scholarship (Master’s)

Value: $13,681

2021 Jason Lang Scholarship MRU

Value: $1,000.00

2021 Outstanding Sociology/Anthropology Student Award

2020 Jason Lang Scholarship

Value: $1,000.00

2020 Outstanding Sociology/Anthropology Student Award

2020 International Mobility Award

Value: $1,350.00

Masters Thesis, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada

Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Nelson

• Applied micro-computed tomography techniques proficiently with Nikon and Zeiss scanners.

• Proficient in utilizing Dragonfly image processing software.

• Developed and trained a deep-learning algorithm proficient in semi-supervised image segmentation.

• Delivered a comprehensive seminar on image segmentation and deep learning to anthropology students at Western University and McMaster University.

Honours Thesis, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 

Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Gilmour

• Spearheaded the successful application and renewal process for Human Research Ethics, ensuring compliance and ethical standards.

• Secured approval from AAOF to access Burlington Growth Centre radiograph collection.

• Proficient in image processing and digital measurements through the use of ImageJ software

• Skilled in various statistical analyses to interpret and derive insights into datasets.

• Authored and published a peer-reviewed paper.

Journal Publications

Halgrain, M., Schneider, M., Jia, S., Narcy, A., Gambier, E., Hincke, M.T., McKee, M.D., Rehault-Godber, S., & Reznikov, N. (2024), A 3D micro-computed tomography study comparing embryonic skeletal development in layer versus broiler strains of the domestic chicken. Poultry Science, e104308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.104308

Schneider, M. A., and Gilmour, R. J. (2022), Exploring radiogrammetry beyond the second metacarpal: Using the third, fourth, and fifth metacarpals to quantify cortical bone. American Journal of Human Biology, 35(3), e23831. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23831

**Research images featured on cover of issue

2025 Birds, Mummies, and Research. Anthropology Affiliation of Mount Royal University, Curiosity Series, Canada (March 11).

2025 Digital Imaging in Bioarchaeology. Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto (Mississauga), Canada (February 3).

Invited Sessions

2025 Schneider, M., Kassem, D., Hertz, M., James-Cavan, B., Andersen, H., Hardy, M., McKenna, R., McLachlan-Dickinson, S., Mosallai, R., & Ramzi, R. Learning to Teach. Teaching to Learn. Reflections on Teaching Archaeology Beyond the Classroom. (podium). Presentation for session entitled, Teaching/Transforming Archaeology, chaired by, Lisa Hodgetts. 57th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Archaeological Association (May), St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.

Presentations

2025 Schneider, M., Jia, S., Brika, S., Brailovski, V., Reznikov, N., & Nelson, A. From mummy to species: Computed tomography applications in the study of mummified raptors. (podium). 11th Congreso Mundial de Estudios sobre Momias (August), Cusco, Peru. Symposia: Animal mummies, chaired by Salima Ikram & Patricia Maita.

2025 McKee, M.D., Jia, S., Halgrain, M., Schneider, M., Rehauld-Godbert, S., & Reznikov, N. Embryonic avian skeletal development and spherulitic calcium trafficking assessed in ovo by multiscale 3D imaging. (podium). European Ornithologists' Union Conference (August), Whales, United Kingdom.

2024 Schneider, M., Reznikov, N., & Nelson, A. Optimizing Resolution in 3D Imaging: A comparative study of clinical and micro-CT imaging for visualizing small skeletal elements. (podium). 51st Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Biological Anthropology/l’Association canadienne d’anthropolgie biologique (October), London, Ontario, Canada.

**Oschinsky-McKern Award for Best Student Podium Presentation

2024 Schneider, M., Jia, S., Brika, S., Brailovski, V., Reznikov, N., & Nelson, A. Unveiling the Secrets of Pseudo Mummies: MicroCT Scanning Reveals Insights into Two Ibis Mummies from Ancient Egypt. (podium). 56th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Archaeological Association (May), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

2023 Schneider, M., Nelson, A., Jia, S., & Reznikov, N. Digital Dissections: Deep Learning Image Segmentation of MicroCT Scans of Ancient Hands. (poster). 50th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Biological Anthropology/l’Association canadienne d’anthropolgie biologique (October), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

2023 Reznikov, N., Rehault-Godbert, S., Halgrain, M., Jia, S., Schneider, M., McKee, M., & Buss, D. A pseudo-4D study of embryonic skeletal development in the domestic chicken, and new insights into the 3D structure of the avian eggshell membrane. (podium). X-Ray Microscopy in Life Science Hybrid Meeting (October), London, United Kingdom.

2023 Schneider, M., & Nelson, A. Animals in the ancient ritual landscape: A case study of species identification of an ancient Egyptian bird mummy, using stitched micro-Computed Tomography scans. (poster). 7th Microscopy Characterization of Organic-Inorganic Interfaces (June), Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

2022 Schneider, M., & Gilmour, R.J. Continued cortical bone appositional growth after metacarpal fusion: A longitudinal comparison of adolescent and young adult hand-wrist radiographs. (poster). 49th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Biological Anthropology/l’Association canadienne d’anthropolgie biologique (October), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

2024 Schneider, M. & Hertz, M. “Start Curious, Stay Curious - A circular approach to lifelong learning.” (podium). Western Anthropology Graduate Society Conference (March), London, Ontario, Canada.

2024 Hertz, M. & Schneider, M. “Sustaining curiosity in spite of it all – Potential pathways to maintain lifelong learning.” (podium). Western Anthropology Graduate Society Conference (March), London, Ontario, Canada.

2023 Schneider, M. “Dragonfly Seminar: Deep learning image segmentation.” (workshop). Western University (December), London, Ontario, Canada.

Available for viewing: https://youtu.be/PsWpxYV0DQg

2023 Schneider, M. “Birds of the ancient Nile: Species Identification in Egyptian Animal Mummies using Multi-Resolution Computed Tomography and Deep Learning Image Segmentation.” (podium). Western Anthropology Graduate Research Seminar (November), London, Ontario, Canada.

2023 Schneider, M. “Everybody dies. Understanding the complexity of the term death in anthropology studies with a focus on ancient Egyptian views on death.” (podium). Western Anthropology Graduate Society Conference (March), London, Ontario, Canada.

**Top student presentation award

2021 Schneider, M. “Environmental impacts on migration and settlement patterns of New World Artic populations,” (podium). Mount Royal Research Days (April), Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

News Articles

2024 Jia, S., Schneider, M., Brika, S., Lussier, A., Howell, A., Piché, N., McKee, M., Nelson, A., Reznikov, N., & Brailovski, V. “3D X-Ray Micro-CT Unveils Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Animal Mummies.” ÉTS News. https://www.etsmtl.ca/en/news/devoiler-les-secrets-des-momies-animales-de-legypte-ancienne

2023 Schneider, M. “Animals in the ancient ritual landscape.” Inspiring Minds – A digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/483

Podcasts

Featured Episodes

2025 Schneider, M., & Voll, M. (Hosts). Bidinosti, B. (Guest). “A Bone by Any Other Name: Refining the Science of Anthropological Investigation Using CT Scans.” [Audio podcast episode]. GradCast. https://gradcastradio.podbean.com/e/496-a-bone-by-any-other-name-refining-the-science-of-anthropological-investigations-using-ct-scans/

2025 Sidhu, R., Casbourn, G., Walters, S., Voll, M., & Schneider, M. (Hosts). “BookCast 7 The Book of Two Ways.” [Audio podcast episode]. GradCast. https://gradcastradio.podbean.com/e/bookcast-6-the-book-of-two-ways/

2023 Charron, C., & Voll, M. (Hosts). Schneider, M. (Guest). “Who’s That Mummy? Examining Animal Mummification in Ancient Egypt.” [Audio podcast episode]. GradCast. https://gradcastradio.podbean.com/e/435-who-s-that-mummy-examining-animal-mummification-in-ancient-egypt/

Graduate Teaching Assistant

2024

Anthropology 2442 - Forensic Anthropology in Fact and Fiction

Anthropology 1022 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology and Archaeology

2023

Anthropology 1022 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology and Archaeology

Anthropology 1026 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology and Archaeology

2022

Anthropology 2226 - Biological Anthropology

Western Anthropology Outreach

[Outreach Coordinator], [London], 2022-Present

• Led the coordination and execution of High School Anthropology Day (October 13th, 2023), orchestrating a comprehensive university experience in all anthropology disciplines for 80 students across four schools. Collaborated with Thames School district, Western Campus services, and engaged 20 volunteers. Designed and managed four distinct activities for each school, arranged lectures from professor, and facilitated a meet-and-greet with Lady Hudson.

• Coordinated high school class visits to Western’s campus, incorporating interactive sessions in bioarchaeology, archaeology, and zooarchaeology, supplemented by guest lectures from professors and graduate students.

• Host bi-weekly meetings for the Western Anthropology Outreach team, planning educational events, supervising Pro-Bono law students, and creating social media content to education and awareness.

Canadian Association of Girls in Science

[Event Host and Coordinator], [London], 2022-Present

• Organized and led hands-on, education events for young girls in STEM.

• Event 3:

• Event 2: Human Evolution Event (December 2nd, 2023); guided participants in taking skull measurements to calculate cranial volume, identifying hominin species by matching skull volumes to known characteristics.

• Event 1: Archaeology Event (November 20th, 2022); designed and led engaging activities for participants, including a typology session teaching artifact identification, along with an excavation simulation mapping chocolate chips in cookie layers.

• Volunteer at events hosted by other CAGIS members to help supervise experiential learning events.

2024 - Connecting for Climate Action, Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, Online

Course that integrated Indigenous knowledge and Eurowestern science addressing ways of knowing the climate is changing and connections between earth, climate, and humans

2023 - Graduate Research Trainee, Faculty of Bioengineering, McGill University, Quebec

Interdisciplinary study opportunity to conduct micro-computed tomography scans of ancient Egyptian animal mummies and modern, comparative biological specimens. Study period included advanced training in Dragonfly image processing software, including how to train and apply a deep learning algorithm to micro-computed tomography datasets.

 Yearly - Western University, Teaching Assistant, Department of Anthropology

• Building Inclusivity through Anti-Racism

• Accessibility in Teaching Certification

• Cyber Safety Awareness Certification

• Supervisor Health & Safety Awareness Certification

• Supporting Disclosures of Gender-Based & Sexual Violence Certification

• Western Safe Campus Community Certification

• WHMIS Training Certification

• X-Ray Safety Training Certification

2022 - 4 Seasons of Truth and Reconciliation, Reconciliation Education, First Nations University of Canada, Online

Course providing basic, foundational knowledge on truth and reconciliation, focusing on Indigenous Peoples contributions to Canada and bringing the Calls to Action to the workplace

2022 - Indigenous Canada Course, Faculty of Native Studies, University of Alberta, Online

Course that explored the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada, from an Indigenous perspective

2021 - Paleoradiography Short Course, Canterbury Christ Church University, Online

Course that explored three fundamental topics to paleoradiography: image interpretation, radiographic technique, and paleoradiography in research

2021 - TCPS 2: Core Certification, Canadian Panel on Research Ethics

Certification of completion of online course designed to familiarize researchers with the Tri-Council Policy on Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans

2020 - Statistics in Anthropology Course, Mount Royal University, Calgary

Course that specialized in applying methods of descriptive statistics and basic inferential statistics to anthropological research; became proficient with data analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)

GradCast, 2023-Present

Managing Editor, 2024-Present

Canadian Association of Biological Anthropologists, 2022-Present

Student Representative, 2024-2026

• Responsible for: fundraising for student awards, facilitating student luncheon and guest speaker at Annual Conference, running the student council

• Spearheaded the new social media campaign to promote general audience involvement in the association

Golden Key International Honour Society, 2021-Present

Canadian Archaeological Association, 2021-Present

The Archaeological Society of Alberta, 2020-Present

Conference Organizer

Western Anthropology Graduate Society Conference, 2025

Peer-Reviewed Articles for:

• University of Western Ontario Journal of Anthropology

English: Native Language [read, write, speak, understand, peer-review]

Dragonfly: Skilled in various image-segmentation techniques for multiple classes of data; adept in training deep learning algorithms and applying advance deep learning methods for image segmentation.

CT Pro: Capable of creating three-dimensional images through manual reconstruction from micro-computed tomography data.