About
Erik Linstrum is a Professor at the University of Virginia, specializing in modern British and imperial history, science and technology, war and violence, and intellectual and cultural studies. He is currently on research leave at the Huntington Library (2024–2025).
- Ph.D., Harvard University (2012)
- A.M., Harvard University (2009)
- A.B., Princeton University (2006)
His research focuses on British imperial violence, decolonization, and the intersection of psychology and empire. He examines how knowledge of colonial brutality was disseminated and how imperial decline shaped global ideologies.
Linstrum’s publications explore themes such as chemical warfare in policing, media portrayal of atrocities, and the psychological dimensions of colonial governance. His work often bridges comparative and global historical frameworks.
- American Philosophical Society/British Academy Fellowship (2023)
- George Louis Beer Prize, American Historical Association (2017)
- Berlin Prize, American Academy in Berlin (2020)
- ACLS/Burkhardt Fellowship (2020)
He serves as associate editor of the Journal of British Studies and is on the editorial board of the Journal of Modern History. His teaching includes courses on comparative imperialism, colonial violence, and the history of human sciences.
