Christine van Ruymbeke

Professor Christine van Ruymbeke is a leading scholar in Classical Persian studies at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, holding the Ali Reza & Mohamed Soudavar Professorship of Persian Studies. She is also Deputy College Praelector at Darwin College and Trustee/Honorary Secretary of the Ancient India and Iran Trust.

Research Focus: Her work centers on medieval Persian literature, particularly Nezami Ganjavi’s Khamsa and Haft Paykar, the Kalila wa Dimna fable tradition, and wine poetry across Islamic literary cultures. She co-edited "Passed around by a Crescent": Wine Poetry in the Literary Traditions of the Islamic World and The Interpretation of Nizami’s Cultural Heritage in the Contemporary Period.

Scientific & Institutional Recognition:

• Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland
• Secretary of the Societas Iranologica Europaea
• Member, Iran Heritage Foundation Academic Committee
• Co-editor of acclaimed volumes on Persian cultural heritage

Teaching and Supervision: She teaches undergraduate literary Persian and supervises advanced research. She will be on sabbatical from MT2025 to ET2027, pausing graduate supervision during this period.