Nicholas John Sims-Williams

Nicholas John Sims-Williams is Research Professor of Iranian and Central Asian Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, where he has maintained continuous academic employment since 1976. His career progression includes positions as Lecturer in Iranian Languages (1976), Reader in Iranian Studies (1989), Professor of Iranian and Central Asian Studies (1994), Professorial Researcher (2008-2011), and his current role as Research Professor (2012-present).

His educational background includes studies in Old and Middle Iranian languages, Sanskrit, Syriac and historical linguistics at Cambridge University, where he completed his PhD under Dr. Ilya Gershevitch. His doctoral thesis, an edition of a fragmentary manuscript containing Christian texts translated from Syriac into Sogdian, was published as The Christian Sogdian manuscript C2, Berlin 1985 and awarded the Prix Ghirshman of the Institut de France.

Professor Sims-Williams' research interests focus on Middle Iranian languages of Eastern Iran and Central Asia, with particular expertise in Sogdian and Bactrian languages. His scholarly work equally emphasizes the linguistic structures of these Indo-European languages and their Central Asian cultural context, examining the complex interplay of languages, cultures, and religions in the region. His teaching has covered seven Iranian languages (Avestan, Old Persian, Middle Persian, Parthian, Bactrian, Sogdian and Khotanese) along with Syriac.

His extensive honors reflect his standing in the academic community, including Fellowship in the British Academy, membership in multiple international academies, and prestigious research fellowships. Notable positions include Chairman of the Ancient India and Iran Trust and Vice-President of the Union Académique Internationale.

Professor Sims-Williams has held visiting professorships at leading institutions worldwide including the Collège de France, Harvard University, and the University of Rome "La Sapienza," demonstrating his international recognition as a leading scholar in his field.