Ms Emma McCabe

I am an AHRC-funded PhD researcher at the University of Stirling and the University of Glasgow, and a member of the Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities. My research brings together early modern literature, theatre, and medicine, interpreted through the combined lens of queer theory, apophaticism, and theopoetics, to explore Renaissance constructs of sexual embodiment.

The thesis, “‘Now thou art an O without a figure’: A Theopoetics of Apophatic Embodiment in Early Modern Thought”, develops an apophatic theopoetics, that is to say, a hermeneutic mode which draws together negative theology and poetics to explore the limits of language, knowledge, desire, and the body. In particular, I analyse how Renaissance medical and theatrical texts grapple with epistemic obscurity, sexual legibility, and paradoxical representations of the female body.

By reinterpreting early modern discourses of the body, my work challenges reductive historicisms and essentialist models of sex/gender, offering a trans-inclusive feminism grounded in early modern thought. Ultimately, the project aims to construct new theological, sexual, and bodily imaginaries within the context of early modern scholarship whilst bringing historical discussions of sex to bear on contemporary gender politics. At the same time, it seeks to extend apophatic discourse beyond its primary theological and rhetorical scope, proposing it as an affectively and ethically attuned method of reading—one that is as a queer as it is critically incisive.

My supervisory team includes Dr Andrew Hass (Stirling), Dr Angus Vine (Stirling), and Professor Heather Walton (Glasgow).

Along with Dr Hass, (Dr Alison Jasper, Dr Fiona Darroch, and Dr Lois MacFarlane), I am a member of the organising committee for the 22nd ISRLC conference ("Disruptures", 2026): https://www.isrlc.org/isrlc-conference.

Fellowships & Scholarships:

Holstein Dissertation Fellowship, University of California, Riverside (2021-2022); Arts & Humanities Research Council Full Doctoral Studentship, Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities (PT, 2020-2026); Postgraduate Merit Scholarship, University of Stirling (2017); RUK Merit Student Scholarship, University of Stirling (2013-2017)

Grants & Awards:

St Luke's College Foundation Personal Award (2025); Santander Universities Brighter Future Award (2025); AHRC Research and Training Support Grant (2025); Foundation for Women Graduates Grant (2024); AHRC Research and Training Support Grants (x2, 2024); Stirling Educational Trust Grant (2024); Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities Engagement Fund (2022); Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities Engagement Fund (2021); University of Stirling, Murray MacBeath Award (2017);

Conference Organisation:

International Society for Religion, Literature, and Culture Conference, “Dis-ruptures”, University of Stirling (upcoming, 2026); Faculty of Arts & Humanities Employability Team, “Take the Leap: Undergraduate Conference”, University of Stirling (2024); Faculty of Arts & Humanities Employability Team, “The Scottish Festival of Political Communication”, University of Stirling (2023); Faculty of Arts & Humanities Employability Team, “Mission Employable: Undergraduate Conference”, University of Stirling (2023); Faculty of Arts & Humanities Postgraduate Research Conference, “Gender”, University of Stirling (2018)

Conference Participation:

American Academy of Comparative Literature, presenter, online (2025); International Society for Religion, Language, and Culture, presenter, Aarhus University (2024); Critical Research on Religion, presenter & moderator, Chinese University of Hong Kong (2024); Queer and Trans Studies in Religion, presenter, University of California, Riverside (2024); Literature & Languages Research Seminar, presenter, University of Stirling (2023); Trans Embodiment 1400-1700, presenter, University of York (2023); Postgraduate Gender Research Network, presenter, University of Strathclyde (2023); Critical Research on Religion, presenter, Queen’s University Belfast (2022); Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities Second Year Symposium, presenter, University of Strathclyde (2022); Queer and Trans Studies in Religion, presenter & moderator, University of California, Riverside (2022); 41st Implicit Religion Conference, presenter, Sarum College (2016)

My research interests include theology & religion (particularly apophaticism, theopoetics, and mysticism in the late Middle Ages), hermeneutic theory, Renaissance drama and literature, metaphysical poetry, the medical humanities (premodern-and-early modern medicine, especially), queer theory, trans studies, queer histories, feminist & gender theory, literary criticism, and (broadly speaking) continental philosophy.

I have taught across a range of different courses both at the University of Stirling and the University of Glasgow. Below are specific teaching posts I have held, divided by institution.

University of Glasgow:

Guest Lecturer (2025), ENGLIT1012: Fantastic Texts and Where to Find Them: Approaching Fantasy Literature; Seminar Tutor (2025), ENGLIT1012: Fantastic Texts and Where to Find Them: Approaching Fantasy Literature; Graduate Teaching Assistant (2024-), ENG1A: Poetry & Poetics

University of Stirling:

Module Designer, Convenor & Lecturer, The University of Stirling International Summer School (2025), ISSU9MH: Literature & the Body 1500-1900;

Guest Lecturer (2024), ENG9GE: Shakespeare & Contemporary Theatre;

Tutor with Assessment Feedback (2022-2024), RELU9A2: Religion, Colonialism, and Nationalism ; RELU913: Religion and Culture: Problems of Representation;

Faculty of Arts & Humanities Employability Tutor (2022-2024), ARTU9W4: Putting Arts and Humanities to Work

Workshops, mentorship, learning activities/events, and guest speaker roles:

Student Mentorship: Mentor for PhD applicants facing structural barriers in higher education (2023-2025), The Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities

Other Guest Speaker Roles: "PGR Induction" (2024), Faculty of Arts & Humanities, University of Stirling; "Critical Religion and the Apophatic Body" (online, 2024), The Global Network of Rainbow Catholics’ Contemplative Spiritual Formation Committee; "Doing the PhD Part-time" (2024), The Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities Summer School, The Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow; "Taking care of yourself during the PhD" (online, 2021), Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Stirling;

Events & Workshops:

“Supporting Neurodivergent PGRs: A Collaborative Workshop”(2025) The Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities, University of Stirling; “Thinking of University? Critical Religion at Stirling”(2024), Alloa Academy; “PhunDing your PhD” (2024), FAH, University of Stirling; “How to Apply for a Masters” (2024) FAH, University of Stirling; “Neurodiversity & Disability Rights in Employment” (various, 2023-2024), FAH, University of Stirling; “Apophatic Theology: finding hope during Covid 19” (online, 2020), Learning Network for the Methodist Church in Scotland; “Queerying Christianity” (2019), Stirling Methodist Church.

Other HEI Roles:

PGR consultant (2024) for GNDPP09: Genders and Sexualities in the Global North, FAH, University of Stirling; Athena Swan Postgraduate Research Representative (2024-25), University of Stirling Faculty of Arts & Humanities EDI Committee PGR Representative (2023-) Postgraduate Research Officer (2023-2024)FAH, The University of Stirling Students' Union; Doctoral Representative (2021-2022), Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies Catalyst, The Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities; Qualitative Data Researcher (2017-2018), Recognising Achievements in Teaching Excellence (R.A.T.E), The University of Stirling Students’ Union