Mackenzie Cooley

Mackenzie Cooley is an intellectual historian with expertise in early modern history, focusing on Renaissance Italy and the Spanish Empire. She has been affiliated with the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) and will join Hamilton College as an Assistant Professor of Intellectual History. Her interdisciplinary research bridges historical inquiry with scientific methodologies, particularly genetics and bioarchaeology.

• PhD in History, Stanford University (2018)

Cooley's work explores the intersection of natural history, race, and global knowledge systems. At the MPIWG, she participated in the Body of Animals Working Group and the Proteins and Fibers Inquiry. Additionally, she co-founded Natural Things|Ad Fontes Naturae, a collaborative project advancing global natural history studies.

Her editorial contributions include serving as Early Modern Editor at NOTCHES: (Re)marks on the History of Sexuality since 2017. She has secured support from prestigious organizations like the Mellon Foundation and the Fulbright Foundation.

• Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) Fellowship
• Fulbright Foundation Fellowship
• Mellon Foundation Grant
• Renaissance Society of America Grant

Cooley's research integrates practical knowledge and theoretical frameworks to transcend traditional archival limitations, emphasizing the role of non-European contributions in shaping scientific thinking.