Onni Gust

Dr. Onni Gust is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Nottingham, specializing in the cultural and intellectual history of the British Empire during the long eighteenth century. Their research explores intersections of transgender history, whiteness, belonging, and the construction of the human/non-human animal boundary in colonial contexts.

• Education
  • PhD from University College London
  • MA in Asian and African History from SOAS

Their research spans projects like 'The Forger, the Parrot and the Truth about Sex' and 'Unhomely Empire', interrogating Enlightenment thought, imperial identity, and the legacy of colonialism in contemporary transgender debates. Recent publications analyze British women's letters from India, Scottish Enlightenment philosophy, and radical historiography.

Key scientific awards include the Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities. They have taught at institutions including University College London, LSE, and University of Illinois, and collaborate with artists, educators, and activists on decolonial and pedagogical projects.

Onni supervises PhD students in areas of empire, race, disability, gender, and sexuality, with completed projects addressing Crimean War women's identity, animals in colonialism, and UK gender nonconformity. They contribute to public discourse through blogs like Notches and History Workshop Online, and their work is exhibited at the Weston Gallery.