Paolo Borsa is a Full Professor of Italian Literature in the Department of Italian at the University of Fribourg's Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences. He serves as President of the Department, President of the BLL Library Commission, and Director of the Institute of Medieval Studies. His academic career spans prestigious institutions including the University of Milan, Politecnico, and visiting positions at the University of Helsinki, University of Cambridge, and University of Zurich. Professor Borsa's primary research interests focus on early Italian literature and Dante studies, as well as the literary period spanning the 18th and 19th centuries. His scholarly work examines the intersections between literature, politics, and cultural identity, with particular attention to Ugo Foscolo's correspondence and Dante's influence on later Italian writers. His research methodology combines traditional philological approaches with digital humanities techniques. His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on Dante-Foscolo connections, textual criticism of Italian literary works, and the political dimensions of medieval and early modern Italian literature. Professor Borsa's work demonstrates consistent engagement with both foundational Italian texts and their reception throughout history. Professor Borsa currently directs the Swiss National Science Foundation-funded project "Ugo Foscolo, Epistolario 1825-1827" and is involved in the upcoming project "Poesie e scrittori di poesie: Bologna, 1265-1327" beginning in 2025. He collaborates with the Anglo-Danish Centre for Medieval Literature in York and Odense and serves as co-editor for several academic journals including "Interfaces: A Journal of Medieval European Literatures," "Rassegna europea di letteratura italiana," and "Tenzone."
