About
Kristel Zilmer is a scholar specializing in Runology, Old Norse literature, and cultural-historical analysis of skaldic poetry and Icelandic sagas. She holds a Doctor's Degree from the University of Tartu and has served as Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Tartu and a postdoc at the University of Bergen. Her research focuses on communication and travel in the Baltic region during the Viking Age and Middle Ages, combining philology with historical and cultural studies.
Education: PhD in Scandinavian Studies (2005), MA in Scandinavian Studies (2000, cum laude), BA in Scandinavian Studies (1998, cum laude). She has also studied at the University of Oslo in Nordic Viking and Medieval Culture.
Research Interests: Runology (textual, visual, and communicative features of runestones), Old Norse literature (skaldic poetry and sagas), travel motifs in narratives, and second language acquisition methodologies. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, integrating philology with history and cultural studies.
Publications: Over 17 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, including key works on Baltic traffic in Norse sources and intercultural communication in sagas. Recent research highlights include analysis of travel narratives and cultural memory in Icelandic sagas.
Awards: Gold medal from Tartu Secondary School No. 2 (1992). Active in academic organizations, including the International Saga Society since 2003.
Administrative Roles: Head of the Department of Scandinavian Studies (2007–2008), Head of Scandinavian Languages and Cultures program (2006–2008), and coordinator of international projects on Nordic sagas and interdisciplinary text studies.
Labs/Teams: Involved in collaborative projects like 'Sprid Österut' and organized international conferences/seminars on Nordic studies and medieval culture.
