About Me
I have an M.A. in history from the University of California, Berkeley (2008) and a B.A. in philosophy from Princeton University (2002).
I began doctoral research in history—with a focus on the history of science and medicine—in September 2009 at the University of Edinburgh.
I'm interested in the histories of the human sciences—especially those focused on mind, brain and behavior—and the history of medicine, with side interests in the history of philosophy and natural history. Philosophical issues that arise from these areas, including the nature of science/pseudoscience, causation, scientific explanation, and the mind-body problem, I'm fascinated by as well.
The area of focus for my dissertation (known as a 'thesis' here in the UK) is the development of natural philosophy and medical theory during the Enlightenment in Europe. More specifically, I'm interested in the way that medical theorists—physicians, anatomists, physiologists, and like-minded professionals—contributed to a broader eighteenth-century debate about how to relate the soul (or, increasingly, the mind) to the body. This, in turn, was a critical component of religious and scientific debates about human nature during the Enlightenment.
Beyond academics: I love films, live music, traveling, foreign languages, culture, writing, and exploring.
I have a presence on some other sites as well:
-Facebook Profile
-Academia.edu Profile
-HSTM Blog [Sartoniana]