Graduate Student Successes

Grace O'Duffy is a DPhil candidate in English at St John's. Her thesis examines sexual violence against women in Old Norse saga literature. Grace is supervised by Professor Gareth Lloyd Evans, Tutorial Fellow in English at St John's. In recognition of her 'exceptional ability, originality, and resourcefulness' as an early career researcher, Grace has been elected to a Junior Fellowship by the Harvard Society of Fellows. Supported by this prestigious three-year award, Grace will work on a project entitled 'Founded on Female Bodies: Rape in Narratives of Becoming in the Medieval North Atlantic'.

Grace said 'I couldn't believe the news when I got the call that the Senior Fellows wanted to elect me -- I could hardly have hoped for better news as I finish up my thesis! The Fellowship is such a wonderful opportunity for me to continue my work on sexual violence in medieval literature, and I'm so grateful to the Senior Fellows for electing me. I'm excited to join both the Society and the community of passionate mediavalists at Harvard.'

Many congratulations, Grace!

Max Han Kai Ding is a taught postgraduate student at St John's reading for an MSc in Environmental Change and Management. Max has recently been named a Future Nobel Laureate Scholar, a recognition established by the Nobel Prize Museum in collaboration with The Forum on Education Abroad and EF Education. Max and the other students awarded this scholarship in 2024 will travel to Stockholm during Nobel Week to learn from Nobel Laureates and global thought leaders at the Nobel Week Dialogue, focused on “The Future of Health". He will also undertake a project-based course, an international field study, and an action-learning project that will be displayed at the Nobel Prize Museum.

Max is particularly proud to be the first Southeast Asian and Malaysian to receive this scholarship. As the co-founder of the nonprofit Youths United for Earth, Max was recently hosted by the Malaysian Embassy in Stockholm, where he highlighted the critical role of youth mobilization in Malaysia for advancing climate justice. He hopes that his scholarship will 'shine a light on the inspiring environmental defenders and frontline communities in Southeast Asia who are tirelessly advocating for environmental justice and human rights'.

Many congratulations, Max!