Sarah Pearce

Professor Sarah Pearce is the Ian Karten Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Southampton, affiliated with the School of Humanities and Department of History. She holds academic qualifications including a DPhil (University of Oxford, 1995) and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Her research focuses on ancient Jewish history and literature, particularly in Hellenistic and Roman contexts, with specializations in Philo of Alexandria, Josephus, and Egyptian-Jewish interactions. She has led major projects such as 'Israel in Egypt' and contributed to publications on the Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint.

Her career includes leadership roles as Head of History (2012-2015) and Head of the School of Humanities (2018-2023). Pearce actively engages in academic service, serving as Chair of the Society of Biblical Literature's Hellenistic Judaism unit and Chair of the Anglo-Israel Archaeological Society. She has also participated in public lectures, including BBC Radio 4's 'In Our Time' discussing the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Current research includes new translations of Philo's 'On the Decalogue' and the 'Letter of Aristeas.' She supervises PhD students in ancient history and Jewish studies, with one current student listed. Her work bridges textual analysis with historical context, emphasizing the intersection of Jewish thought and Greco-Roman worlds.