Julia Heinemann

Dr. Julia Heinemann is a tenure-track research professor at the Universiteit Antwerpen's Department of History and the principal investigator (IP) of the Elise Richter project (FWF) at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. She previously held a postdoctoral position at the University of Vienna's Department of Economic and Social History, co-directing the interdisciplinary DisAbility Studies research group. Her work bridges historical anthropology and disability studies, focusing on early modern Europe. She co-hosts the podcast Aus dem Elfenbeinturm.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts: History and Romance Studies (Universität Osnabrück & Université d'Angers, 2004–2008)
• Master of Arts: History (Freie Universität Berlin, 2008–2011)
• PhD: Universität Zürich (2011–2017), thesis: Ceux que j'ai faits. Verwandtschaft und Herrschaft der Königinmutter Catherine de Médicis (1560-1589)

Research Focus: Early modern dis/ability history, kinship studies, military labor, gender history, and the intersection of body politics and power structures. Current projects include her habilitation on war disabilities in the Habsburg Monarchy and co-editing special issues on disability and coerced labor in early modern Europe.

Grants & Leadership: Elise Richter Fellowship (FWF, 2024–present). She co-edited Frühneuzeit-Info 31 on dis/ability in early modern Europe and co-founded the DisAbility Studies group.

Outreach: Podcast Aus dem Elfenbeinturm explores academic topics for broader audiences.