معرفی
Maria Doerfler is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Yale University, with prior roles as Assistant Professor of Christianity in Late Antiquity at Duke Divinity School and director of the Duke/UNC Center for Late Ancient Studies.
- Ph.D. in Early Christianity (Duke University), J.D. (UCLA), B.A. in Political Science (Princeton University)
Her research examines how personal and communal crises in Late Antiquity (2nd–6th centuries) influenced the interpretation of authoritative texts (scripture, law, philosophy). Current projects include analyzing Syriac funerary hymnography to explore ethics, spiritual practices, and emotional communities, alongside gender dynamics in early Christian asceticism and Roman law’s influence on sacred histories.
Her recent work has focused on the interplay between legal hermeneutics and theological narratives in Late Antiquity, with a published monograph on child mortality in religious contexts and a forthcoming book on Roman law and sacred historiography.
- Best First Book in the History of Religions Prize (American Academy of Religion, 2020)
Maria Doerfler’s grants and affiliations include the Duke/UNC Center for Late Ancient Studies, where she previously directed research initiatives. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges Religious Studies, Legal History, and Gender Studies, with implications for understanding socio-cultural frameworks in pre-modern societies.
