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Broadly, I am interested in how Paleolithic (Stone Age) technology functions and evolves via a Darwinian system of descent with modification, and how technology helped hominins survive on the landscape, especially during dispersals into new and unknown territory. I address my research questions at different analytical scales, which is why I have conducted and published research on topics throughout the entire Pleistocene (i.e., Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic). As a comparative benchmark to my Pleistocene research, I have also found it useful to pursue and publish research questions involving non-human primates, as well as on later Holocene, and even historical, archaeological contexts. While my specialty and main interest is flaked stone technology, my research also at times involves other materials (e.g., ceramics, metals, etc.).

I have found that throwing a wide geographic net over my research interests results in new testable ideas or theoretical perspectives. To date, I have led or conducted research in North America (Canada, Colorado, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin), Europe (Denmark, France, Ireland, Norway, Republic of Georgia, Turkey, United Kingdom [U.K.]), Asia (China, India, Japan, Oman), and Africa (South Africa, Tanzania). Additionally, I have recently conducted and published research on collections from Russia (Siberia), Antarctica, Virginia, and Kentucky. I have also led, or co-led, fieldwork projects throughout my career at prominent sites such as Olduvai Gorge, Paleo Crossing, and Goodson Shelter; and participated in field research at or around notable sites like Mumba Rockshelter, Dmanisi, Lindenmeier, Mountaineer, and Pinnacle Point, among others.
 

I was a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Fellow from 2006 to 2011, and a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellow from 2011 to 2013. Since then, my senior-level research has been funded by the NSF, the Ohio History Connection, the Royal Society (U.K.), the British Academy (U.K.), the European Research Commission (ERC), the Ohio Department of Education, the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS, Japan), the Spanish Ministry of Science (Spain), the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, the U.S. Department of Energy, among others. My research has also been generously supported over the years by the Quest Archaeological Research Program at Southern Methodist University.

I have growing interests in forensics, and I like to tinker, design and invent, with a couple patents under my belt. I also research the theory of, and engage in the practice and training of, self-defense in a variety of ways.

I have no personal social media accounts (Facebook, X, Instagram), and do not use academia[dot]edu nor researchgate[dot]net, but can be reached at meren@kent.edu. I often send emails outside business hours; I do not expect immediate replies. I also have gotten into the bad (or healthy?) habit of answering many emails after a period of time, which may be several days, or longer.