Dr Heidi Mehrkens

Biography

I completed my degree in Modern History, Medieval History and Law at the Technical University of Braunschweig. As a lecturer (2005-2012) I gathered experience in teaching and researching modern European history, with a particular interest in the fields of political cultural history, military history, the history of monarchies and the history of the media in the long nineteenth century.

Between 2012-2016 I worked as a research fellow at the University of St Andrews, before joining Aberdeen's School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History for the AY 2016-17.

Prizes and Awards

AUSA and University of Aberdeen Excellence Awards 2021: Best Personal Tutor (winner)

AUSA and University of Aberdeen Excellence Awards 2022: Best Personal Tutor (shortlisted)

AUSA and University of Aberdeen Excellence Awards 2023: Most Inspiring (shortlisted)

Research Overview

I am a researcher in European modern history with a particular interest in cultural historical approaches and the history of emotions.

I am able to supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students looking to research within the following areas:

• history of European constitutional monarchies 
• political and media history of nineteenth-century Europe
• military history, cultural history of warfare and war experience
• history of acts of terror and politically motivated violence

Current Research

I am currently working on a monograph on succession in the constitutional monarchies of Prussia, France and Great Britain (1815-1914). 

I am also researching the history of the duchy of Brunswick 1815-1840 and its court and the connections between European monarchies and their military in the long 19th century. 

Past Research

I recently explored British concepts of military heroism and fame.

Collaborations

My doctoral thesis on the Franco-Prussian war 1870/71 formed part of the DFG-funded research project “France and Germany at War (18th–20th centuries)” led by Professor Ute Daniel (TU Braunschweig) and Professor Gerd Krumeich (Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf).

From 2012-2016 I worked as a research fellow with the AHRC-funded research project “Heirs to the throne in the Constitutional Monarchies of Nineteenth-Century Europe (1815-1914)”, based at the University of St Andrews. Together with Frank Lorenz Mueller I edited two volumes on royal heirs in European monarchies.  

Teaching Responsibilities

I am coordinating a number of undergraduate courses, including:

HI1027: Making History

HI2025: The Face of Battle: Historical Perspectives on Warfare

HI306B: Serving the Nation: The Military and Society in 19th-Century Europe

HI357A: Acts of Terror: Violence and Authority in 19th Century Europe

HI401D: Special Subject: Restorations and Innovations: Europe 1815-1848

HI4023: Special Subject: European Constitutional Monarchies in the Long 19th Century

HI4516: Undergraduate History Dissertation

Level 5 and Postgraduate

Dissertation and research supervision

PhD Supervision

Current lead supervisor for a project on the gendered history of post-WW1 performance magic.

I am currently second supervisor for several PhD research projects, including on military history (Napoleonic era and WW1).