Ester Oras

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Ester Oras
Ester Oras 2020. aastal Arvamusfestivali teadusalal.jpg
Oras in 2020
Born (1984-09-11) September 11, 1984 (age 41)
Citizenship Estonian
Alma mater
Known forBiomolecular archaeology; organic residue analysis; ancient diet reconstruction
Awards
Scientific career
Fields
Institutions University of Tartu

Ester Oras (born 11 September 1984) is an Estonian archaeochemist and professor of archaeochemistry at the University of Tartu. [3] She is the founder and leader of the interdisciplinary research group Archemy, which applies biomolecular and analytical chemistry methods to archaeological questions, particularly related to ancient diet and health. [4] In 2024, she received an ERC Starting Grant for the project FoodID on dietary identities in the past. [1] [4]

Contents

Education and career

Oras studied archaeology and chemistry at the University of Tartu. [5] She completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge in 2014. [6]

At the University of Tartu, she holds appointments spanning the Institute of Chemistry and the Department of Archaeology, and is listed by the university as Professor of Archaeochemistry (part-time) in both units. [3]

Research

Oras's research uses biomolecular approaches (including organic residue analysis) to study ancient foodways, health, and mobility from archaeological materials such as pottery and human remains. [5] [4]

She was part of a multidisciplinary team that investigated two Egyptian child mummies held by the University of Tartu Art Museum, publishing results in PLOS ONE (2020). [7]

She has also contributed biomolecular analyses to international archaeological research reported in Estonian media, including work connected to the identification of Europe's oldest known trace of blue pigment. [8]

Oras is a representative on the editorial board of the Journal of Archaeological Science , as listed by the Society for Archaeological Sciences. [9]

Awards and recognition

References

  1. 1 2 3 "ERC Starting Grants 2024 – List of Principal Investigators (results)" (PDF). European Research Council. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Ester Oras awarded L'Oréal-UNESCO "For Women in Science" Young Talents award". University of Tartu Institute of Chemistry. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Ester Oras". University of Tartu. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "You are what you eat – ERC grant supports research into past people's identities based on their diet". University of Tartu. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Ester Oras – CV". Estonian Research Information System (ETIS). Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Ester Oras". Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  7. ↑ Oras, Ester; et al. (16 January 2020). "Multidisciplinary investigation of two Egyptian child mummies curated at the University of Tartu Art Museum, Estonia (Late/Graeco-Roman Periods)". PLOS ONE. 15 (1): e0227446. Bibcode:2020PLoSO..1527446O. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227446 . PMID   31945091.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  8. ↑ "Estonian archeochemist helps find traces of Europe's oldest blue dye". ERR News. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Representative on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Archaeological Science – Ester Oras". Society for Archaeological Sciences. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "UT archaeochemist Ester Oras receives the fellowship For Women in Science". University of Tartu. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
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