In my thesis, I am investigating the poetics of testimony as developed in the writings of the French-Algerian philosopher Jacques Derrida. I'm interested in the different ways that testimony (particularly the responsibility to testify for others) is mediated through the recurring themes of his late thought, despite always remaining, in a certain sense, impossible. My research demonstrates that Derrida's thinking provides novel ways of understanding testimony more broadly, especially insofar as it provides a framework for appreciating the political and poetic significance of its singularity and opens up a critical space for thinking about nonhuman witnessing.
Before commencing my DPhil studies at Oxford, I completed a BA in Philosophy and Sociology at the University of Leeds and an MA in Modern Languages at King's College London. My broader interests include 20th-century French philosophy and literature, the works of Walter Benjamin and Paul Celan, critical theory, and psychoanalysis.
Lady Margaret Hall's Walker Scholarship generously funds my research.
Teaching
- French Sole Prelims: Introduction to Literary Theory (2025-2026)
Conference and Seminar Papers
- "'La date est un témoin': Derrida and the (Im)possible Testimony of Dates," Society for European Philosophy, King's College London, July 2025
Other Activities and Roles
- Academic Assistant to Professor Nikolaj Lübecker (2025-)
- Co-convenor of the 'La Philosophie en effet' monthly online seminar (2025-) (Please get in touch if you would like to attend!)