Name: Doudou Carol Cao
Hometown: Turpan, Xinjiang province, China
Extracurricular interests: Hiking, playing the ukulele player, novice rower
Postgraduate degree: PhD in Biological Anthropology
Life before Catz
“I spent seven years in Chengdu completing my BA and Master’s degrees at Sichuan University, and I came to regard the city as my second home. I was drawn to archaeology by the evocative stories about the origins of China and its neighbours. Once at university though, my broad interest evolved into a particular fascination with biological anthropology. I was fortunate to go on field trips to a range of archaeological sites, including Tibet, and it was eye-opening to be involved in the collection of human remains and scientific investigations back at the university’s laboratory.
“When applying for PhD programmes, I knew that the Department of Archaeology at Cambridge ranked first in the world and had an impressive history: it’s one of the oldest departments in the world and elected the first female professor at Cambridge (Dorothy Garrod) way back in 1939. I made contact with Dr Emma Pomeroy, Assistant Professor in the Department of Archaeology, because I felt strongly that her experience studying biological anthropology and high-altitude adaptation would be relevant to my interest in the Himalayas. I’m thrilled she agreed to supervise my PhD.”
Life at Catz
“My journey to Catz was momentous: it was my first time studying outside China. It was a real effort to adapt to the change of environment and language, but the College helped me every step of the way – everyone has been really friendly and there have been plenty of opportunities to meet new people. I like that the College’s Island site is so close to the Department of Archaeology, which means I can pop over to the College bar for a quick break. The Shakeshaft Library at Catz is also reassuringly busy in the evenings so I prefer to work there as the Department can get a bit quiet later on in the day.
“I currently live in College accommodation near the St Catharine’s boathouse, which is really convenient now I’m learning to row. From my house, I can walk by the river, even watching sunrise and swans sleeping if I’m awake early enough. My friends from other Colleges love visiting me at Catz because the food is so good – I can’t wait to invite them over next term when the new hall is open.”
Postgraduate studies
“My PhD programme focuses on the human adaptation to extreme high-altitude environments, specifically in the Himalayas. Genetic and archaeological data have suggested several patterns of human adaptation and movement to this vast plateau; however, given the limited human skeletons discovered in archaeological sites, the antiquity of these physiological and cultural (e.g., herding lifestyle and trade) solutions to high-elevation conditions, such as hypoxia and harsh climate, remains unclear. To address this issue, I will carry out comparative research on the newly discovered human skeletons of ancient Tibetan residents and other lowlanders in China. By documenting their morphological and genetic characteristics, this study is expected to clarify the historical interrelation between environments culture, and human biology in shaping adaptive patterns to extreme conditions at high altitude.”
The Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholars Programme
“The opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies at Cambridge is precious in all senses of the word. The financial commitment of a PhD is formidable, especially for international students. As my family’s income (about average for China) had already been stretched by my BA and Master’s degrees, I doubt I would have been able to come to Cambridge without the support of the Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholars Programme.
“The additional research funding for each Harding Scholar has been really important for me. The samples from human remains that I will be studying are in China, and it is impossible to export them so I need to return to China. My funding will help to cover the necessary flights, quarantine arrangements, accommodation, experiments, and the equipment rental fees.”
Advice for undergraduates thinking of applying for postgraduate studies
“Just give it a try and don’t let a lack of confidence hold you back! You never know what will happen. When I was in China, I never imagined that I would end up studying at Cambridge. Of course, it took a fair amount of effort for me, but without trying I would never know what the outcome could be. Another tip if English isn’t your first language and you are applying to a university in an English-speaking country: keep reading and writing in English so you can develop your language skills before and after you arrive.”
