Jessica Berenbeim

Dr. Jessica Berenbeim is a University Associate Professor in Literature and Visual Culture at the Faculty of English, University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Jesus College. She holds a BA and PhD from Harvard University, with prior fellowships at Magdalen College, Oxford, the Warburg Institute, and collaborations with institutions like the British Library and National Archives. Her research focuses on interdisciplinary medieval studies, museums/archival theory, and the visual cultures of reading/writing, emphasizing the power of historical representation in literature and art.

Her academic interests include medieval art and architecture, classical reception studies, and the history of the book. She teaches courses on medieval literature, material texts, and visual culture, and supervises students in manuscript studies, global medieval studies, and heritage management. Notable roles include co-directing Cambridge Visual Culture and co-convening the Paul Mellon Centre’s 'Britain and the World in the Middle Ages' lecture series.

Dr. Berenbeim’s publications explore topics such as iconoclasm, archival theory, and medieval treaties, with a focus on material philology and historical philosophy. Her work bridges textual analysis with visual and material culture, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary research.

Awards include prestigious fellowships at Magdalen College and the Warburg Institute. She actively engages with cultural institutions, contributing to catalogues of illuminated manuscripts and advancing public scholarship through collaborative projects.