Tanita Schmidt

Tanita Schmidt is a Researcher in Early Modern History at the University of Kassel's Department of Early Modern History, where she has served as a research assistant since 2018 while completing her dissertation on natural research as religious practice (1750-1830).

Education:

• Master of Arts in European History, University of Kassel (2018)
• Bachelor of Arts in History and Art History, University of Kassel (2018)
• Bachelor of Arts in Ancient Studies, Freie Universität Berlin (2013)

Her research examines cultural and knowledge production in the Early Modern period through visual/material cultures, sensory history, and disability studies. She investigates how 18th-century nature-human relationships were shaped by religious frameworks, bodily perceptions, and scientific observation, bridging history of science with cultural and religious studies.

Recent publications reveal a cohesive focus on Enlightenment-era entomology and knowledge formation, analyzing how visual culture, material practices, and religious contexts transformed sensory experiences into scientific understanding. Her work consistently explores intersections between observation, belief systems, and knowledge validation in natural history.

Scientific Awards:

• Dr. Liselotte Kirchner scholarship (2024) for research at Francke Foundations, Halle

As a PhD candidate, Schmidt has not supervised formal advisees but has secured competitive research funding. Her 2024 scholarship enabled primary source analysis at Francke Foundations, supporting her dissertation's investigation of sensory dimensions in natural philosophy.

She actively collaborates within Kassel's Early Modern History research group, presenting at international venues including Goethe-University Frankfurt and Francke Foundations, while developing courses on scientific methodology and material culture.