Elizabeth Marteijn

Dr. Elizabeth Marteijn is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Lecturer at the University of Groningen’s Department of Middle Eastern Studies within the Faculty of Arts. Her research focuses on the modern history of Middle Eastern Christianity, contextual theology, and the socio-religious dynamics of Palestinian Christians. She holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where her thesis explored Christian thought and practice in the West Bank.

Education:

• PhD (2022): University of Edinburgh’s Centre for the Study of World Christianity
• MTh (2015): Distinction, University of Edinburgh
• BA (2014): Joint Theology Degree, VU Amsterdam & Protestant Theological University Amsterdam (first-class honours)
• BSc (2014): Cultural Anthropology, VU Amsterdam (first-class honours)

Research Interests: Dr. Marteijn examines Palestinian Christian identity, diasporic rituals, and the intersection of theology with displacement. Her work highlights marginalized voices in Middle Eastern Christianity, particularly through ethnographic and historical methodologies. Key themes include Christian-Muslim encounters, sectarianism, and the revival of Palestinian theological discourse.

Awards & Grants:

• 2023: Veni Grant (NWO)
• 2023: Leigh Douglas Memorial Prize (Honourable Mention)
• 2023: Wolfhart Pannenberg Research Fellowship
• 2019: David M. Stowe Fellowship (Yale University)

Teaching & Supervision: She teaches courses on Middle Eastern history, sectarianism, and global Christianities at the University of Groningen. She also supervises BA/MA theses and has previously taught at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.

Current Projects:

• "Rituals in Flux": NWO-funded study on Palestinian refugee diasporic religion
• "Rituals of Return": Research on displaced Palestinian Christian villages