Dr Thomas Ellis

Profile

Biography

I was born in Durham, I obtained a B.A. in History and Politics (2010) from the University of York, an MPhil in Historical Studies (2013) from Cambridge University. I obtained a PhD in History from the University of Southampton (2018), where my research was funded by the AHRC’s South West and Wales Doctoral Training Project with archival research being facilitated through a six-month fellowship at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. After my Doctoral Studies,  I taught at the University of Durham, the London School of Economics and Political Science (where I was an LSE Fellow for three years), the University of Birmingham and the University of Southampton. I joined Edge Hill in October 2025.

I have a strong interest in public history, having previously worked as a researcher for the popular history-themed children’s TV show “Horrible Histories”.

Research Interests

I am a historian of the modern United States whose research centres on three themes: American perceptions of Russia and its peoples; the political and cultural ramifications of new technologies and what we can learn about past societies through analysing their visions of the future. 

I bring these three themes together in my current book project: a history of American perceptions of the Soviet Space program- under contract with the University of Massachusetts Press. 

Teaching

I teach across the BA in History at edge hill. I currently lead modules on global politics in the 20th century and American foreign policy since the 1840s as well as contributing towards the team-taught Gender and Power course. 

Next year, I plan to offer modules on the history and politics of space technology; American politics and culture in the 19th century; African American life during the 20th century and the Global Cold War.

Public/media engagement

Enterprise