Lecturer at Vietnam Military Medical University, Vietnam
Ms. Melany Velasquez is a passionate Ecuadorian anthropologist and archaeologist specializing in the intersection of field research and laboratory analysis. A graduate of Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), she has played vital roles in various archaeological projects across Ecuador, from the Coaque Valley to the Paute region. Melany currently serves as a Research Assistant at the Center for Sociocultural Studies (CSI), where she applies her interdisciplinary skills—such as GIS mapping, remote sensing, and statistical analysis—to uncover and preserve cultural heritage. With experience in both excavation and artifact processing, she bridges traditional archaeology with modern analytical tools. Bilingual in Spanish and English, she is known for her teamwork, precision, and innovative thinking. Melany has co-authored scholarly articles and presented her findings at major conferences like SAA and the Ecuadorian Congress of Anthropology. Her mission is to contribute meaningful insights into Ecuador’s archaeological record through ethical and community-engaged research.
Professional Profile
🎓 Education
Melany Velasquez earned her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) in 2023, where she graduated with a focus on archaeology. Her academic foundation was shaped through rigorous coursework, hands-on excavation training, and laboratory-based artifact analysis. She undertook a BA thesis titled “Estudio de patrones de tejidos en fragmentos de cerámica de las Sociedades Chorrera y Jama Coaque”, investigating ceramic fragments in Manabí, Ecuador. During her studies, she participated in academic symposia, such as the II Simposio de Arqueología Hablamos Las Mujeres (2022), and presented her research at the SAA 2024 and the V Congreso Ecuatoriano de Antropología 2024. Her university training was complemented by international exposure and collaborative research with experts such as Vito Mocella from Italy. Melany continues to engage in continuous learning through academic writing and scientific exchange, shaping her into a multidisciplinary researcher with strong roots in Ecuadorian heritage studies.
👨💼 Experience
Melany Velasquez has gained diverse archaeological experience through active involvement in national excavation and analysis projects from 2022 onward. Her early roles included field assistant in projects like Todosantos Hostal Survey (Cuenca) and the Salasaka Survey in Tungurahua Province. In 2023, she contributed as a field and lab assistant to Community Monitoring in Churo and Aguacate. As her expertise deepened, she became a Field Archaeologist and Lab Analyst for the Paute Archaeological Update Project (June–August 2024) and soon after advanced to Project Co-Director for the Paute Valley Archaeological Project. By November 2024, she returned to field and laboratory roles, showcasing her consistency and commitment to heritage preservation. Her work blends field excavation, lab-based ceramic analysis, and community engagement. Melany’s collaborative approach, technical skills in GIS and statistics, and passion for heritage make her a vital asset to every research team she joins.
🔬 Research Interest
Melany Velasquez’s research centers on Ecuadorian archaeology, particularly the Chorrera and Jama Coaque cultures. Her core interests include ceramic analysis, settlement pattern studies, and the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into archaeological fieldwork. She emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining remote sensing, drone flights, and statistical tools such as R and Python to interpret spatial and cultural data. Her thesis explored textile patterns in ceramic fragments, contributing novel insights into material culture from the Coaque River Valley. Melany is passionate about community-based archaeological monitoring, engaging rural populations in heritage conservation, especially in areas like Churo and Aguacate. She is also interested in exploring Ecuador’s archaeological landscapes through geoheritage frameworks, as reflected in her recent co-authored publication on Quito’s potential UNESCO Global Geopark status. Her vision is to bridge traditional archaeological techniques with emerging technologies to expand knowledge of Ecuador’s diverse past.
Conclusion
Melany Velasquez is a very suitable candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award, especially within the emerging researcher or early career category. Her proactive engagement in archaeological research, technological fluency, publication record, and growing leadership in field projects place her well above average for someone so early in her professional journey. With continued research output and deeper international collaboration, she is poised to become a leading voice in Latin American archaeology.
📚Top Noted Publications
Title: Anti-inflammatory and heme oxygenase-1 inducing activities of lanostane triterpenes isolated from mushroom Ganoderma lucidum in RAW264.7 cells
Authors: S Choi, N Tae, S Lee, S Ryoo, BS Min, JH Lee
Citations: 93
Year: 2014
Title: Cytotoxic and anti-angiogenic effects of lanostane triterpenoids from Ganoderma lucidum
Authors: NT Tung, TD Cuong, TM Hung, JA Kim, MH Woo, JS Choi, JH Lee, …
Citations: 67
Year: 2015
Title: Antifungal activity of sterols and dipsacus saponins isolated from Dipsacus asper roots against phytopathogenic fungi
Authors: NH Choi, JY Jang, GJ Choi, YH Choi, KS Jang, VT Nguyen, BS Min, …
Citations: 60
Year: 2017
Title: Anti-inflammatory activities of compounds from twigs of Morus alba
Authors: HNK Tran, JA Kim, SS Rho, MH Woo, JS Choi, JH Lee, BS Min
Citations: 43
Year: 2017
Title: Isolation of cholinesterase and β-secretase 1 inhibiting compounds from Lycopodiella cernua
Authors: DC To, MH Tran, SH Oh, JA Kim, MY Ali, MH Woo, JS Choi, BS Min
Citations: 39
Year: 2015
Title: Chemical constituents from the fruits of Ligustrum japonicum and their inhibitory effects on T cell activation
Authors: QMT Ngo, HS Lee, JA Kim, MH Woo, BS Min
Citations: 38
Year: 2017
Title: Phenolic compounds from Caesalpinia sappan
Authors: VB Nguyen, BD Vu, GK Pham, BQ Le, VC Nguyen, C Van Men, …
Citations: 20
Year: 2020
Title: Anti-inflammatory Compounds from Ampelopsis cantoniensis
Authors: N Van Thu, D Cuong, TM Hung, H Van Luong, MH Woo, JS Choi, JH Lee, …
Citations: 20
Year: 2015
Title: Anti-inflammatory activity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from the leaves of Madhuca pasquieri (Dubard)
Authors: SH Le, MH Tran, JS Lee, DC To, TN Van, JA Kim, JH Lee, MH Woo, …
Citations: 19
Year: 2015
Title: Inhibitory effects of serratene-type triterpenoids from Lycopodium complanatum on cholinesterases and β-secretase 1
Authors: BT Zhao, SH Seong, JA Kim, MH Woo, JS Choi, BS Min
Citations: 16
Year: 2017