Madison R. Wolfert

Madison R. Wolfert (any pronouns) is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of English at Princeton University and a Graduate Research Fellow at the Center for Culture, Society and Religion (2024–2025). They also pursue a certificate in the Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Their research examines intersections of race, sex, labor, and empire in early modern literature.

Education:

• B.A. in English from Bowdoin College, focusing on Margaret Cavendish’s natural philosophy.

Research Interests: Madison’s work bridges trans studies, 17th/18th-century political theory, environmental humanities, Dutch and German literature, and science fiction. Their dissertation, “A Part of that Empire”: Sex, Race, and Labor in the Early Modern Atlantic World, analyzes how sexual and reproductive labor of marginalized groups underpinned European imperial nation-states. They emphasize global feminisms, colonialism, and non-normative sex studies.

Teaching and Pedagogy: Madison has designed and co-taught interdisciplinary courses, including ENG384/GSS394: Gender, Sex, and Desire in Early Modernity with Professor Russ Leo (Fall 2023). They also coordinate a graduate science fiction reading group and serve as the Department of English Undergraduate Outreach Coordinator (2024–2025).

Scientific Awards:

• Graduate Research Fellowship at the Center for Culture, Society and Religion (2024–2025).

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Center for Culture, Society and Religion and the Department of English’s outreach initiatives. Engaged with the Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies and collaborates on interdisciplinary projects.