College: St John's College
Email: dlm46@cam.ac.uk
Supervisor: Dr Anna Berman
About Me
2021-2024: PhD Student in Slavonic Studies, University of Cambridge
2020-2021: MPhil (Cantab) in European, Latin American and Comparative Literatures and Cultures, (Distinction)
2016–2020: BA Hons (Oxon) in Modern Languages, (First Class)
Languages: English (native), Russian (fluent), Spanish (fluent), Old East Slavonic (proficient), Old Church Slavonic (proficient), French (proficient), Galician (proficient), German (proficient), Latin (proficient), Ukrainian (acquiring proficiency), Polish (acquiring proficiency), Mandarin Chinese (acquiring proficiency), British Sign Language (acquiring proficiency)
Research
My PhD research explores evolving notions of national selfhood and the formation of Russian and Ukrainian identities in the period 1769-1798, via the unique lens of literary folklore (viz. learned literary works styled as folk tales), a hybridous form which first saw nascence during this period. Examining the literary folklore of Catherine II, Nikolai Karamzin, and Ivan Kotliarevs’kyi against a backdrop of key cultural, social and political trends of the period, I explore what literary folklore can reveal about the processes, tensions, and inconsistencies driving Russia’s self-definition during this period. My research reflects on what these historical notions of national identity can contribute to our understanding of Russia’s contemporary imperialist attitudes towards its ‘near abroad’ (the former Soviet states) and its hostility towards the political West.
Scholarships and Prizes
2022–2024: Open-Oxford-Cambridge Arts & Humanities Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership Studentship, for Doctoral Research
2022: Bateman Scholarship for Top Performance in European, Latin American, Comparative Literatures and Cultural Studies (MPhil), Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge
2017–2020: Baker Scholarship, distinguished performance in Public Examination, St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford
2017–2020: Kolkhorst and Arteaga Exhibition, distinguished performance in Spanish, Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, University of Oxford,
2020: St Catherine’s Prize, distinguished performance in Final Honours School of Modern Languages, University of Oxford
2019: St Catherine’s Prize, distinguished performance in Russian Studies and Examination, University of Oxford
2019: St Catherine’s Prize, distinguished performance in Spanish Studies and Examination, University of Oxford
2018: St Catherine’s Prize, distinguished performance in Russian Studies and Examination, University of Oxford
2018: St Catherine’s Prize, distinguished performance on Year Abroad, University of Oxford
2017: Gibbs Prize, top ranking in Honour School of Modern Languages, Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, University of Oxford
2017: St Catherine’s Prize, Double Award for distinguished performance in Russian Studies and Examination, University of Oxford
2017: Bolsa de Matrícula e Estadía, top performance in Galician Linguistic and Cultural Studies, John Rutherford Centre for Galician Studies, University of Oxford, awarded by Real Academia Galega
2016: St Catherine’s Prize, distinguished performance in Russian Studies and Examination, University of Oxford
Other Activities and Roles
2022–2023: Library Assistant, Modern & Medieval Languages & Linguistics Library, Sidgwick Site, University of Cambridge
2022: Invigilator for ‘Darwin in Conversation’ Exhibition, University Library, University of Cambridge
2022: Proctor/Invigilator for Tripos Examinations, University of Cambridge
2022: Library Assistant, Divinity Library, Sidgwick Site, University of Cambridge
2021-2022: PhD Representative, Postgraduate Student-Staff Liaison Committee, Faculty of Modern & Medieval Languages & Linguistics, University of Cambridge
2021: Proctor/Invigilator for Tripos Examinations, University of Cambridge
2020–2021: Library Assistant, Jerwood Library, Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge
2019: Multi-lingual Interpreter and Invigilator for International Mathematical Olympiad, Bath, UK
2018–2019: Undergraduate Representative for Russian Sub-Faculty, University of Oxford
2018–2019: Russian Undergraduate Representative for Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages Joint Consultative Committee, University of Oxford
2018–2019: University Steward, Oxford Students’ Union, University of Oxford
2018–2019: Outreach Ambassador, St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford
2017-2018: Student in Russian Language and Cultural Studies, P. G. Demidov Yaroslavl’ State University, Yaroslavl’ Oblast’, Russia
2017–2018: Outreach Volunteer, St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford
2017: Student in Advanced Studies in Galician Language and Culture, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
2017: Outreach Volunteer, Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, University of Oxford
2017: Student Leader, Oxford for Oxford Museum Club, raising academic aspirations of primary-aged students, Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach, University of Oxford
2016-2017: Student in Galician Language & Cultural Studies, John Rutherford Centre, University of Oxford
