My placement at the Fitzwilliam Museum has been an invaluable experience, providing opportunities to develop new skills and expand my professional network. Under the guidance of Dr. Suzanne Reynolds, I developed my understanding of Persian and Arabic manuscripts, gaining expertise through hands-on research and collaboration with specialists such as Marcus Fraser, Monika Stokowiec, and Kristine Rose-Beers.
I had the opportunity to contribute to a variety of projects aimed at increasing accessibility to the Museum’s collections. One such project was a collaboration with Cambridge Visual Culture (CVC), where I curated a seminar on the Museum’s collection on November 7, 2024. With input from Dr. Reynolds and Marcus Fraser, I selected manuscripts, wrote the labels, and facilitated engaging discussions. This seminar provided a platform to present the Museum’s treasures to a specialist audience, encouraging scholarly dialogue.
In late November 2024, I partnered with Dr. Emilie Sitzia on a project to develop a sensory approach to manuscript displays. Together, we created a series of props, such as smell boxes, tactile samples of paper, parchment, leather, and electric wax candles to evoke the experience of reading a manuscript by candlelight. With support from Monika Stokowiec, we also included primary colours, gilded letters, and gold leaf for tactile exploration. These items, displayed in the Rothschild Gallery, enhanced the visitors’ experience, and our analysis of their interactions helped us better understand sensory engagement in museum settings.
In February 2025, I worked with Yasmin Faghihi from the Cambridge University Library’s Middle Eastern Department to publish the Fitzwilliam’s Arabic and Persian manuscript collections on Fihrist, a global platform for scholarly research. This milestone marked the Fitzwilliam as the first museum to join Fihrist, significantly increasing the visibility and accessibility of its collection. As part of this project, I developed coding skills in TEI through Oxygen, deepening my understanding of Digital Humanities.
As my placement neared its conclusion, I organized a two-hour public seminar on Persian and Arabic manuscripts to celebrate Nowruz (Persian New Year) on March 18, 2025. I curated the selection of manuscripts, wrote the labels, and tailored the presentation for a general audience. I also circulated the event sign-up through the University of Cambridge departments and the Cambridge University societies. Additionally, I shared my research with various groups visiting the Founders Library, such as Leverhulme PhD students and other scholars.
Balancing my PhD research with this placement has been both challenging and rewarding. I chose to split my time between the Museum and my studies, working part-time for six months instead of full-time for three. This arrangement allowed me to engage in more projects at the Museum while ensuring my PhD research remained on track. The extended duration of the placement helped me integrate into the Museum’s environment while managing my time effectively for both academic and professional commitments. This experience has been invaluable in developing the time management skills essential for future academic and professional endeavours.
