Clare Anderson

Professor Clare Anderson FBA is a Professor of History and Director of the Leicester Institute of Advanced Studies (LIAS) at the University of Leicester. Her research focuses on the history and legacies of colonial prisons, penal colonies, and forced migration and labor. She has held leadership roles, including interim dean for research excellence (2023–2024) and leading REF2029 preparations. Her work has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Social History Society Prize and the Kay Daniels Award for her book Convicts: A Global History (2024).

Education:

• MA (hons) in History and Sociology, University of Edinburgh
• PhD in History, University of Edinburgh

Research Interests: Clare’s scholarship examines empires and global histories, particularly colonial systems of punishment and labor. Her work bridges historical analysis with interdisciplinary collaboration, promoting global academic partnerships through her role at LIAS. She has conducted research at institutions like the National Maritime Museum and UT Sydney as a visiting fellow.

Awards and Recognition:

• British Academy Fellowship (2023)
• Social History Society Prize (2024)
• Australian Historical Association’s Kay Daniels Award (2024)

Advising and Grants: Clare has mentored early-career researchers globally and led a British Academy-funded initiative supporting scholars from the Global South. She has examined graduate work across multiple countries and contributed to national and international research funding panels.

Labs & Teams: As LIAS director, she fosters interdisciplinary research collaborations across the University of Leicester and beyond, emphasizing global partnerships and knowledge exchange.