María Ruigómez Eraso

I am a PhD candidate in Archaeology at the University of Cambridge, specialising in heritage studies, memory politics, and cultural diplomacy. My doctoral thesis will examine how state actors make use of heritage restitutions to actively recontextualise contested historical figures and reshape collective memory. Through this project, I aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of why state actors engage in acts of atonement beyond cultural diplomacy. My OOC AHRC DTP studentship is co-funded by Jesus College. 

I received a BSc in Business Administration from the University of Mannheim in 2022 and a MA in Cultural Heritage Studies from the Central European University (Vienna) in 2024. My academic work has been recognised through several fellowships and scholarships, including awards from DAAD, OSUN, and other governmental funds. 

Alongside my academic studies, I have gained practical experience as a staff member of the restitution department at Christie's, and the international department at the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, as well as a researcher on European cultural policies at KEA European Affairs. In this context, I recently co-authored a study on the scale and economic dimensions of the EU art market, which was published by the European Commission.

I am originally from Bilbao, and I speak Spanish, German, French and English. In my free time, I enjoy reading, spending time with my friends, and swimming.