Gavin Kelly
Professor of Latin Literature and Roman History (Classics); Director of Faculty (History, Classics and Archaeology) · College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences · University of Edinburgh
Quick answer: Gavin Kelly is Professor of Latin Literature and Roman History (Classics); Director of Faculty (History, Classics and Archaeology) at University of Edinburgh. Gavin Kelly shows an active PhD hiring signal as of 2026-09-11.
⭐ I enjoy supervising doctoral students on literature of the high and late Roman empire (both verse and prose, including commentaries and text critical studies), and on Roman political history of the same period, and am pleased to hear from those considering an application. I have also acted as host to postdoctoral scholars on several occasions, and would be glad to support further applications (inc
Research interests
My interests embrace both the literature and the history of the Roman empire, above all the fourth and early fifth centuries – a time of rapid political, social, and religious change, and also one of the most significant periods in Latin literary history. Most of my work melds textual and historical approaches: as both Latinist and historian I prefer secular or pagan texts and topics to ecclesiastical ones. My doctorate and much of earlier work centred on Ammianus Marcellinus, the greatest historian of Late Antiquity. This project was published in a number of articles in journals and collections (including ‘Ammianus and the great tsunami’, which appeared with ominous timing in November 2004), and Ammianus Marcellinus: The Allusive Historian was published by Cambridge University Press in 2008.
Selected publications (since 2023)
Gavin Kelly and Michael Kulikowski, 'Bits and Bridles: A Note on Ammianus Marcellinus 19.8.7', online preprint in Classical Quarterly (2026) [2,400 words].
Gavin Kelly and Aaron Pelttari, 'Histories of later Latin literature', in G. Kelly and Aaron Pelttari (eds) The Cambridge History of Later Latin Literature (Cambridge, 2026), 1-14.
Gavin Kelly, 'Latin prose rhythm', in G. Kelly and Aaron Pelttari (eds) The Cambridge History of Later Latin Literature (Cambridge, 2026), 81-101.
Gavin Kelly, 'The survival and reception of earlier Latin literature in the Later Empire', in G. Kelly and Aaron Pelttari (eds) The Cambridge History of Later Latin Literature (Cambridge, 2026), 559-582.
Gavin Kelly and Giulia Marolla, 'Letter collections and epistolary networks', in R.A. Flower, M. Horster, F. Hu
Frequently asked questions
Is Gavin Kelly hiring PhD students at University of Edinburgh?
Yes. As of 2026-09-11, Gavin Kelly's faculty page shows a PhD hiring signal: I enjoy supervising doctoral students on literature of the high and late Roman empire (both verse and prose, including commentaries and text critical studies), and on Roman political history of the sa.
What does Gavin Kelly research?
My interests embrace both the literature and the history of the Roman empire, above all the fourth and early fifth centuries – a time of rapid political, social, and religious change, and also one of the most significant periods in Latin literary history. Most of my work melds textual and historical
Data last updated: 2026-09-11 · Source: phd-match.com faculty database.
Is Gavin Kelly a match for your research?
Upload your CV and get matched to professors who fit — with hiring signals.
Start matching