Dirk Modler

Dirk Modler is a PhD student and Research Associate at the Chair of Early Modern History & Gender History at Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), part of the Faculty of History. His research focuses on the intersection of war, disease, and military medicine in the late 18th century, particularly during the War of the First Coalition (1792–1797). He holds an M.Ed. in History and German Studies and has been involved in academic research since 2018, including roles as a tutor and research assistant.

His work examines how epidemics and military conflicts intertwined, emphasizing the societal and administrative challenges of disease control. Modler’s presentations and publications address topics like military hospitals as conflict sites, sensory experiences of war and disease, and gendered roles in healthcare during wartime. He participates in interdisciplinary conferences, such as the Military Welfare History Network and the International Society for Cultural History.

Modler’s current DFG-funded project investigates cross-border epidemic policies during the First Coalition War, analyzing how military and civilian needs clashed in managing health crises. His research employs digital methods and draws on archival sources like military records, medical reports, and correspondence.