معرفی
Dr. Janna Coomans is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History and Art History at Utrecht University, specializing in Medieval History with a focus on urban health, environment, and social dynamics. Her research explores premodern cities' responses to public health challenges, disaster resilience, and community formation. She holds a PhD from the Amsterdam School of Historical Studies (2021 cum laude) and has held postdoctoral positions in ERC-funded projects like 'Healthscaping Urban Europe'.
Her expertise spans social history, urban history, and medieval public health, with particular attention to the Low Countries. She leads the VENI-funded '(In)flammable Cities' project (2020) examining fire risks and urban transformation. Awards include the Praemium Erasmianum Dissertation Prize (2020) and Pro Civitate Dissertation Prize (2019).
Her research integrates material culture analysis with archival sources, addressing topics like medieval sanitation, disease control, and urban infrastructure. She has contributed to interdisciplinary projects on pandemic responses, environmental governance, and spatial strategies in late medieval cities.
- Grants: NWO VENI grant (2020), ERC postdoctoral fellowship (2018-2021)
- Media engagements: Featured in NTR documentaries, podcasts on medieval hygiene, and pandemic history analyses
- Labs/Teams: Member of the Research Institute for History and Art History, affiliated with Pathways to Sustainability and Institutions for Open Societies research programs
