About
With an academic background in Geoscience and Archaeology, I specialize in developing and applying isotope analysis to uncover the life stories of people from the past.
Karin Margarita Frei
Research Professor, Ph.D., M.Sc.
I am Denmark’s first professor in the interdisciplinary field of Archaeometry and the first appointed permanent research professor of the National Museum of Denmark. My research focuses on investigating ancient people and societies using innovative scientific techniques, such as strontium isotope analysis, to track mobility in the past. Many outside the academic world know me best for my research on two iconic Bronze Age females: the Egtved Girl and the Skrydstrup Woman.
With an academic background in Geoscience, Geochemistry, Archaeology, and Archaeometry, my interdisciplinary approach has established me as a renowned and recognized scientist. Throughout my career, I have received numerous national and international awards, including the French GMPCA Award for the best Ph.D. in Archaeometry, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship, and the Shanghai Archaeological Forum’s Research Award, which honors major contributions to archaeology. I am also an elected lifetime member of the Danish Royal Academy of Sciences and Letters.
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How did I achieve all this? Honestly, I didn’t plan my career path. Curiosity has always been my compass —it has driven me throughout my journey. This curiosity has been both a gift and a challenge. My passion for my work gradually blurred the boundaries between my professional and personal life. Eventually, what once felt like opportunities began to feel more like obligations, and stress became my constant companion. One day, I hit burnout.
It felt like a paradox – how could I, with a job I love, a wonderful family, and so many opportunities, experience burnout? This question sparked a journey of self-inquiry and healing. I realized that healing required more than a quick fix; it meant adopting a mindset focused on daily moments of quieting the mind to find inner clarity. It’s about living in alignment with my true purpose while still embracing curiosity, but without burning out.
Although I still face challenges and uncertainties, I now choose to see my journey from a positive perspective. Don’t get me wrong—my two burnouts left deep scars that I continue to live with. But those experiences taught me life-changing lessons that I now live by. If any of this resonates with you and you’d like to learn more, explore the perspectives and practices that helped me heal from burnout and live a more balanced life in the ‘Harmony’ section of my site. You can also subscribe to my monthly newsletter, where I share my latest thoughts, insights, and practices.
Feel free to reach out if you’d like me to share my experience with your research team or organization.
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