Eyal Poleg

Eyal Poleg is a Professor of Material History at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), affiliated with the School of History. He leads the AHRC-funded project 'Hidden in Plain Sight: Historical And Scientific Analysis Of Premodern Sacred Books' (2024–2026), which collaborates with historians, scientists, curators, and conservators to develop technologies for studying historical objects. His role includes office hours (Summer Term) and supervision of advanced students.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in History and Photography
• Master's in Comparative Religion (Jerusalem)
• Doctorate in History (London)
• British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship (Edinburgh)

Research focuses on how material objects reflect religious practices, particularly in medieval and early modern Europe. Key themes include the Bible's materiality, technological innovation in manuscript studies, and scientific analysis of historical books/amulets. He emphasizes interdisciplinary work, blending traditional history with digital and scientific methods, as seen in projects like 'Digital Editing of Medieval Manuscripts' (ERC-funded) and 'Hands:on' (QMUL-Cambridge collaboration).

Scientific Awards:

• British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship (Edinburgh)

Advising/Grants: Supervises doctoral research in material culture, medieval religious history, and scientific analysis. Leads Collaborative Doctoral Awards with the Museum of London (on religious materiality in London, 1370–1530) and the Cambridge Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology (Islamic amulets study). Major grants include AHRC (2024–2026) and European Research Council support.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with institutions like Cambridge University Library and the Museum of London through projects like 'Hidden in Plain Sight' and 'Hands:on'. Engages in cross-disciplinary teams involving historians, conservators, and scientists.