Meet Lorella
The story so far
My interest in languages was first sparked in me by music. When I was 9, I decided to translate a Michael Jackson's book from English into Italian (massive fan and massive geek, you might think). Growing up, I used to spend entire afternoons listening to songs and translating the lyrics. I just couldn't get enough of music and words so after school, I started to work in a radio station. I am 14 at this point.
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I kept working at the radio station throughout high school, then it was time to go to university and, reluctantly, I had to quit. I of course wanted to continue studying languages and three years after, I obtained my BA in Translation and Interpretation and then my MA in Translation and Cultural Studies. In between classes, I worked as a court translator and taught English and French in High School. The more I was studying languages, though, the more I realised how much more than translation there is about them...
...And this is why in September 2012, I flew to Norwich, UK, to start a PhD in Language and Communication Studies. On the 20th July 2016, I was awarded my doctorate and started my research career in Linguistics. Alongside languages, I also discovered a passion for computer science and found a way to merge the two at Utrecht University, where I worked for two years as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Digital Humanities.
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In January 2020, I joined the Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH) at the University of Luxembourg as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. During the four years I worked there, I realised how much and fast research, teaching, and society are changing. Researching how software can facilitate computational analysis, replicability, transparency, and Open Access publication helped me develop a theoretical framework for digital knowledge production. I conceptualized years of research and work in the field in my fully OA book The Humanities in the Digital.
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In February 2024, I joined the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) as Assistant Professor in Digital Humanities and Society. As technology develops at a blistering pace, it is all the more urgent to research its effects on society and so I could not be happier about this new position!
Check out my Research page to find out more about all the exciting projects I am working on!
Always up and forward!
Department of Art and Culture, History, and Antiquity
Faculty of Humanities
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam (VU )
De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Netherlands
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