Barbara Zipser

Dr. Barbara Zipser is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at Royal Holloway, University of London. She specializes in the history of ancient and medieval medicine, focusing on textual criticism, manuscript transmission, and vernacular Greek. Her research includes a collaborative Wellcome Trust-funded project with institutions across Europe and Israel to develop methodologies for identifying medicinal plants and minerals in historical texts.

Her expertise spans Latin, Greek, and Arabic medical lexicography, with a particular emphasis on the intersection of digital humanities and medical history. She curates Simon Online, a multilingual medical dictionary, and has contributed to public engagement through media appearances on cases like the Ursula Herrmann ransom note analysis.

• Education: PhD in Classics (University of Heidelberg), Latin and Greek training with focus on ancient philosophy
• Awards: Wellcome Trust University Award

Her teaching includes modules on ancient medicine, science history, and classical innovation studies. Collaborations with Kew Gardens, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, and Haifa University highlight her interdisciplinary approach.