Julia Leikin

Dr. Julia Leikin is a Teaching Fellow in Modern European History at the Department of History, Royal Holloway, University of London. Her research focuses on the intersection of Russian history, international law, and maritime culture during the 18th and 19th centuries.

• PhD from University College London (2016)
• Former Assistant Professor at Higher School of Economics (Moscow)
• British Academic Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Exeter

Leikin’s research explores the maritime dimensions of Russian imperial expansion, particularly in the Mediterranean. Her upcoming monograph, Russia's Mediterranean Moment, redefines Russian imperial history through its maritime frontiers and legal practices. She has also translated and edited Rear-Admiral John Elphinston’s Russian Faith, Honour & Courage, shedding light on 18th-century naval diplomacy.

Recent publications highlight her work on entangled histories, Russian sovereignty in maritime contexts, and cross-cultural military interactions in the Aegean. Her scholarship integrates legal culture with geopolitical narratives.

Scientific Awards

• IREX Individual Advanced Research Opportunities Fellowship
• Scouloudi Foundation
• German Historical Institute in Moscow
• Hakluyt Society