Jan Borm

Jan Borm is a Full Professor of British Literature at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), where he serves as Deputy Vice President for International Relations (since 2016) and Director of the Jean Malaurie Institute of Arctic Studies (since 2020). He co-directs the Master 2 program in Arctic Studies and previously led the CEARC research center (2009-2015). His career includes roles as Head of the English Section (2003-2010) and Lecturer (1998-2005).

Education includes a PhD from University of Paris VII Denis-Diderot (1997) on contemporary British travel literature and a Habilitation from University of Provence (2004). Secondary education was completed in the UK.

Borm's research explores Arctic cultural narratives through interdisciplinary lenses. Primary interests include:

• British travel literature and its historical evolution
• Arctic exploration histories and representations
• Moravian missionary writings and cultural impacts
• Cross-cultural encounters in polar regions
• Contemporary reinterpretations of Arctic narratives

His scholarly publications (2011-2021) demonstrate consistent focus on Arctic travel writing, exploration history, and cultural translation. Recent works analyze 18th-19th century expeditions, missionary records, and modern travelogues, employing methods from literary studies, cultural history, and ethnography.

Significant honors include:

• Honorary Doctorate from University of Lapland (2019)
• Chevalier in the Order of Palmes Académiques (2021)

He leads major international projects including POLARIS (FP7), EDU-ARCTIC (Horizon2020), ERIS (Erasmus+), and NICH-ARCTIC (Belmont Forum). He co-organized seven doctoral workshops with German and French polar institutes.

Borm directs the Jean Malaurie Institute (IRAM) and previously headed the CEARC laboratory. His leadership extends to creating UVSQ's Arctic Studies Master's program and fostering international Arctic research collaborations.