STEM Shoutout: Jacqueline Kocer

Pottery research should reveal the unity of the Gallina people

UNM doctoral student Jacqueline Kocer is studying pottery from the Gallina, a group of people native to New Mexico for her dissertation research.

Kocer is working on a two-year NSF grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant is estimated to be for $29,742, starting May 15, 2017.

“Precious little is known about the identity, origin and cohesiveness of these people,” Kocer said. “I examine pottery sherds from six different Gallina sites to determine if groups in this area are producing their pots in the same way. Similar production practices are indicative of a shared identity or history of learning.”