Anna Maerker

Dr. Anna Maerker is Reader (equivalent to Associate Professor) in the History of Medicine at King's College London, where she is based in the Department of History within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. She is affiliated with the Centre for Enlightenment Studies and the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, contributing to King's research strengths in 18th century studies and medical humanities. Her work intersects with the Digital Futures Institute, reflecting her engagement with contemporary approaches to historical research.

Dr. Maerker pursued undergraduate studies in physics and history of science at the University of Regensburg. She received an MPhil in History and Philosophy of Science from Cambridge University, and an MA/PhD in Science & Technology Studies from Cornell University. Before joining King's, she held posts as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin and as a Senior Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University.

Dr. Maerker's research centers on the material and visual culture of medicine and science since the eighteenth century, with particular focus on anatomical models, collections, and museums. Her work examines how these objects functioned in knowledge circulation between experts and the public, exploring themes of performance, commodification, and the history of expertise. She has developed a distinctive approach to understanding how touch and spatial contexts shape epistemic encounters with medical objects, challenging conventional narratives about the visual dominance of museum experiences. Her current research investigates the creation of global markets for anatomical models in the nineteenth century, revealing connections between scientific practice, commercial enterprise, and imperial expansion.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output across multiple venues, with recent work emphasizing gendered networks of knowledge production during the Enlightenment and the material dimensions of scientific representation. The trajectory of her research shows increasing attention to public engagement with medical history and the political dimensions of scientific representation.

Dr. Maerker actively collaborates with major cultural institutions including the Wellcome Collection, Science Museum, and Hunterian Museum. She serves as Associate Editor for Nuncius: Journal of the Material and Visual History of Science and co-convenes the 'Public History' seminar series at the Institute of Historical Research. She also co-organizes the 'History of Pre-Modern Medicine' seminar series at the Wellcome Library.

As an educator, Dr. Maerker welcomes research students interested in medicine and science from 1700-1900, the history of museums and collections, the history of experts and publics, visual and material culture of medicine and science, public history, and Science and Technology Studies (STS). Her public engagement work includes academic stand-up comedy through 'Bright Club' and participation in the 'Congress for Curious Peoples,' demonstrating her commitment to making historical scholarship accessible to diverse audiences.

Dr. Maerker contributes to multiple research centers at King's College London, including the Centre for Enlightenment Studies and the Centre for Technology and the Body. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges historical scholarship with contemporary questions about medical representation, public understanding of science, and the material dimensions of knowledge production.