Katherine Baxter

Katherine Baxter is a Research Assistant Professor in Cross-Cultural Studies in English at Northumbria University. Her academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Glasgow (2003), prior roles as a lecturer and curator at the British Library, and international appointments at the University of Hong Kong and Stanford University. Her research focuses on postcolonial literatures, legal theory, and cross-cultural scholarship. She currently leads the British Academy-funded 'Desert Disorders' project, examining arid regions’ global significance.

Education:

• PhD in Literary Studies, University of Glasgow (2003)
• MA (Hons) in English and Hebrew (1999)
• Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (2017)

Research Interests: Dr. Baxter’s work bridges law and literature, particularly in African contexts. She investigates colonial legal frameworks, postcolonial narratives, and literary multilingualism. Her recent projects include studies on Nigerian legal fiction and transnationalism in Joseph Conrad’s works. She employs interdisciplinary methods combining historical, literary, and ethnographic approaches.

Awards & Roles:

• Recipient of Adam Gillon Book Award (2018, 2012)
• Former General Editor of English: The Journal of the English Association (2016–2020)
• Member of AHRC Peer Review College

Advising & Grants: Supervises three PhD students exploring transnational themes in literature and representation. Active in securing competitive research grants, including British Academy funding. Her editorial work includes volumes on Conrad and Cambridge University Press’s Works of Joseph Conrad series.