Jessica Gildersleeve

Jessica Gildersleeve is Professor of English Literature at the University of Southern Queensland, affiliated with the School of Humanities and Communication, the Centre for Health Research, and the Centre for Heritage and Culture. Her research explores the intersections of trauma, narrative, affect, and culture in contemporary and Australian literature.

Research Interests: Her work spans trauma theory, public health narratives, gender and sexuality, Gothic and screen media, modernism, women’s writing, and literary ethics. She investigates how literature processes collective and individual trauma, especially in Australian and postcolonial contexts.

The recent publications reflect a strong trend in interdisciplinary research connecting literature with social justice, mental health, and media culture. Her work frequently addresses marginalized voices, including incarcerated transgender individuals and women in literature. Topics include traumatic returns in Australian Gothic film, ethical pedagogy, and narrative strategies in health communication.

Professional Leadership:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• President, Australian University Heads of English
• Editor, Journal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature
• Series Editor, Palgrave Studies in Contemporary Women's Writing
• Editorial Board Member for multiple journals including Hecate, Queensland Review, and Australasian Journal of Popular Culture

Supervision and Grants: She actively supervises numerous PhD students on topics ranging from trauma in women’s writing to queer narratives and Australian Gothic. She leads research clusters such as 'Storied Landscapes' and the 'Trauma, Violence, and Survival' theme. Her collaborative projects often involve health and humanities scholarship, particularly in trauma-informed pedagogy and narrative medicine.

Laboratories and Research Teams: She contributes to the Centre for Health Research and the Centre for Heritage and Culture, where she leads thematic research streams. Her work is deeply collaborative, often co-authored with colleagues such as Kate Cantrell and Amy Mullens.