In 2011, she was promoted to senior researcher at the Evolutionary Studies Institute of the University of the Witwatersrand[3], where she taught introductory courses on human evolution and taphonomy, and supervised postgraduates on various topics, including fossil assemblages from caves in the Cradle of Humankind.[4] In 2017, she moved to Argentina and took up a position at CONICET[5]. She is associated with the Grupo de Investigación en Arqueología Andina (ARQAND), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán.[6] She has been published 50 times and has been involved in 11 documentaries. Her research interests include taphonomy, archaeology, paleontology and ethnoarchaeology.
Backwell, L. R.; Huchet, J.-B.; du Guesclin Harrison, J.; d'Errico, F. (2021). "Invertebrate modification of bone". In J. T. Pokines; S. A. Symes (eds.). Manual of Forensic Taphonomy. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Backwell, L.; d'Errico, F.; de la Pena, P.; Wadley, L. "Border Cave, South Africa.". In D. Olszewski, D. Wright; J. Wilkins; A. Bouzouggar; A. Beyin (eds.). Handbook of Pleistocene Archaeology of Africa: Hominin behavior, geography, and chronology. The Netherlands: Springer.
Backwell, L.R.; d'Errico, F. (2014). "Palaeolithic bone tools". In C. Smith (ed.). Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Vol. 2. New York: Springer Reference. ISBN978-1-4419-0465-2. OCLC870899596.
Caruana, M.; d'Errico, F.; Backwell, L.R. (2013). "Early hominin social learning strategies underlying the use and production of bone and stone tools.". In C. Sanz; C. Boesch; J. Call (eds.). Tool Use in Animals: Cognition and Ecology. Cambridge University Press. pp. 242–285.
d'Errico, F.; Backwell, L.R. (2007). "From Swartkrans to Arcy-sur-Cure. The use of bone tools in the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic.". In E. Baquedano (ed.). El Universo Neanderthal. Fundacion Duques de Soria [The Neanderthal Universe. Foundation Dukes de Soria]. Madrid, Spain: Ibersaf. pp. 101–143. ISBN978-84-95803-56-6. OCLC433357391.
Backwell, L.R. 2008. Report on 2005 – 2007 excavations at Wonderkrater, a late Quaternary spring and peat mound site in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Submitted to South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA).
Backwell, L.R. 2008. Report on 2005 – 2007 excavations at Heelbo I, a large mammal mass death assemblage in Free State Province, South Africa. Submitted to South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA).
2022, San elders speak: Ancestral knowledge of the Kalahari San video archive.[8]
2014, YouTube documentary, the San ostrich trap.[9]
2013, A Shaman's Journey. The last elders [Le voyage de Kgonta Bo, le chaman].[10] Documentary film produced by MC4, with the participation of France Télévisions and Planète Thalassa for France 5 Television.
Voted "Best Lecturer for 1st year", by Wits University School of Geosciences Geological Student Society. (2010)
Voted "Coolest Lectures for 1st year", by Wits University School of Geosciences Geological Student Society. (2010)
Voted "Best 1st year Lecturer", by Wits University School of Geosciences Geological Student Society. (2009)
FEI Prize (Life Sciences) for the best paper on electron microscopy published in an international journal. *"Probable human hair found in a fossil hyaena coprolite from Gladysvale cave, South Africa." (2009)[14]
Science Direct, 6th most downloaded paper in first quarter for Journal of Archaeological Science. (2009)
Certificate of Appreciation, Life Sciences Educators, Teaching and Learning Services, Department of Education, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2008)
First South African woman to be awarded a PhD in palaeoanthropology at a local institution. (2004)
University Postgraduate Local Merit Scholarship. (2003)
University Council Postgraduate Scholarship. (2002)
University Postgraduate Merit Award. (2002)
S2A3 Medal. Presented by the South African Association for the Advancement of Science: Most distinguished master's degree in the Faculty of Science for 2000. (2001)[16]
Top 100 Science Stories Discover magazine: "Evidence of termite foraging by Swartkrans early hominids". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (2001)
University Council Postgraduate Scholarship. (2001)
Postgraduate Merit Award. (2001)
MSc. in Palaeoanthropology (cum laude), University of the Witwatersrand Medical School. (2000)
Postgraduate Local Merit Scholarship. (2000)
University Postgraduate Merit Award. (2000)
Category A Award for 2000. (200)
Lystrosaurus Shield: Best student paper presented at the 11th Biennial Conference of the Palaeontological Society of Southern Africa.