About
I am a philosopher at the University of Liverpool, specialising in Neoplatonism and Aesthetics. Many of my publications concern the work of the late-antique philosopher Plotinus. For over ten years, I served as the vice-president of the International Society of Neoplatonic Studies and have recently been appointed as the editor-in-chief of The International Journal of the Platonic Tradition (Brill; 2026-). In Aesthetics, I have published on self and body image, metaphor, and on the ways in which art can help us negotiate painful experiences. I also have strong interests in feminism and women philosophers, and I am currently working on a monograph on the British philosopher Mary Midgley.
My academic journey at Liverpool started when I completed my PhD here, with Prof. Stephen Clark as my supervisor. I have held two post-doctoral fellowships funded by the Leverhulme Trust and the Academy of Finland respectively, and I currently hold an academic fellowship with the Foro di Studi Avanzati (2024-29) for a project on ‘Interiority’. I am also the recipient of several research grants (e.g., from the AHRC, British Academy, Wellcome Trust, British Society of Aesthetics, and the European Commission) and awards (e.g., Excellence in Teaching and Learning, External Partnerships, Civic Contribution).
In the department, I have held several roles and am currently the Head of Postgraduate Taught programmes. I have a strong interest in philosophy outside of academic contexts, and I pioneered the “Philosopher-in-Residence” programme in partnership with Bluecoat and different institutions in the UK and abroad, including Tate Liverpool, Open Eye, Bury Museum, National Museums Liverpool, Herakleidon Museum Greece, NHS Northwest. At the University, I have served in a variety of roles, including School of the Arts Head of Postgraduate Research and Deputy Head of Research/ External Partnerships Lead, Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty Public Engagement with Research Champion, and Academic Lead for the Tate Exchange Programme.
I am happy to hear from PhD applicants wishing to pursue projects in any of my areas of research. Since joining Liverpool, I have supervised several PhD students to completion, including Lauren Stephens, on the ethical aspects of museum practices, Laura Harris, on the role of contemporary arts centre, Joanna Straczowski, on the aestheticization of culture and its significance in the digital age, and Una Hebden on the ethics and aesthetics of Dressage.