Matthew Grant

Dr. Matthew Grant is the Head of School and an Associate Professor in the School of Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Essex. He specializes in British history since 1939, focusing on Cold War impacts, citizenship, and historical memory. His research explores how political and cultural changes shape societal perceptions, particularly through civil defense policies, nuclear conflict narratives, and post-war identity.

Education: PhD from Queen Mary, University of London (2006). Previously taught at the University of Sheffield, University of Manchester, and Teesside University. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and ESRC Peer Review College member.

Major works include Britain's Cold War Home Front: Citizens and the State (forthcoming, OUP, 2026/27), co-authored National Service Life Stories (OUP, 2025), and authored After the Bomb: Civil Defence and Nuclear War in Britain (2010). He leads oral history projects funded by the Leverhulme Trust and collaborates with colleagues on Cold War memory studies.

Supervised 11 PhD students, including topics on Cold War cultural memory, British colonial policy, and post-war civil defense. Awards include Royal Historical Society Fellowship and ESRC recognition. Academic support hours: Spring 2024 (Tues 3-4; Fri 10-11).