Laura Estill

Dr. Laura Estill is a Canada Research Chair in Digital Humanities (Tier 2) at St. Francis Xavier University, appointed in 2018 and renewed in 2024. Her work focuses on leveraging digital resources to advance humanities research, particularly in early modern literature and Shakespeare studies. She co-edits The Routledge Companion to Digital Humanities in Practice and leads the development of the Canadian Certificate in Digital Humanities, expanding training across Atlantic Canada and beyond. Her research team applies digital methods to build interdisciplinary communities and resources for understanding cultural history.

Her research interests include digital pedagogy, manuscript studies, and the intersection of technology with early modern texts. Notable projects include Digital Shakespeare and investigations into early modern readership practices via dramatic extracts in manuscripts. Estill advocates for open scholarship and collaborative knowledge creation, exemplified through Wikipedia integration in university courses and global DH training initiatives.

• Awards: Canada Research Chair Tier 2 (SSHRC-funded)
• Grants: Supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

Estill’s work bridges historical research with modern digital tools, emphasizing accessibility and community-building in humanities scholarship. She actively contributes to conferences and editorial projects, shaping the future of digital humanities education and practice.