Shankar Raman

Shankar Raman is a Professor in the Literature Section at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, specializing in late medieval and early modern literature and culture. His academic journey uniquely bridges engineering and humanities, having earned dual bachelor's degrees in Electrical Engineering and Architecture from MIT followed by a master's in Electrical Engineering from UC Berkeley before transitioning to English Literature for his doctorate.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in English Literature (with minor in German), Stanford University, 1995
• M.S. in Electrical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• B.S. in Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Raman's research critically examines colonialism's role in European self-definition through figures like India, challenges identity politics in postcolonial criticism by emphasizing differential dynamics, and explores intersections between literature and early modern science/mathematics. His work reveals how colonial patterns persist in contemporary thought while analyzing Shakespearean texts through mathematical frameworks and cognitive studies.

Publication trends show a clear evolution from foundational colonial/postcolonial scholarship (2001-2011) toward literature-science interdisciplinarity (2015-present), particularly in Shakespeare studies and early modern mathematical concepts, culminating in his forthcoming monograph Before the Two Cultures.

His notable recognitions include:

• 2023 Fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies/SEARCH research group, University of Strasbourg
• Fall 2022 Fellow, French Institute of Advanced Study, Aix-Marseilles
• MacVicar Teaching Fellow (2018-28)
• Levitan Prize, MIT (2012-13)
• Beatrice Shepherd Blaine Fellowship, Radcliffe Institute (2010-11)
• Jeptha H. and Emily V. Wade Award, MIT (2002-03)

Raman has secured significant research funding through SSHRC's five-year Making Publics initiative and serves as founding board member for Universität Bayreuth's doctoral college in Intersectionality Studies (2022). His teaching portfolio spans Shakespearean comedies, literary theory, and drama studies, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to early modern texts.

His collaborative networks include editorial leadership for Shakespeare Studies' 2021 Literature-Science Forum and international partnerships with German and French research institutes, demonstrating active engagement with global academic communities beyond traditional laboratory settings.