Jennifer Strtak

A native of Toronto, Canada, Jennifer Strtak is a PhD candidate in the Department of History and Program in Early Modern Studies. Her research interests include the history of technology; transportation and mobility studies; and urban planning and development. Carriages are the investigative entry point in her dissertation that examines the physical and social evolution of cities and public spheres. At the centre of her research is the question: how does the introduction of intra-urban vehicle transportation shape the built environment and human interaction in an historical context? During the 2021-2022 academic year, Strtak was an invited research fellow at the Institut d’études politiques de Paris. Her research has been generously supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada-Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada; the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies; and the Paul K. and Evalyn Elizabeth Cook Richter Scholarship Fund.

Prior to coming to Yale, Strtak obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College, University of Toronto, and a Master of Philosophy from Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge. At Yale, Strtak is very involved in student life activities. In 2018 she co-founded the Early Modern Graduate Lunch, and has served as the Head Graduate Affiliate of Trumbull College since 2019. In 2021 she was the co-recipient of the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning’s Teaching Innovation Project (TIP) grant for her contribution in the creation of a Certificate Program in Early Modern Studies for Yale College, which promotes the practical application of humanistic study to everyday life.

When she is not in her office happily buried under piles of books, she can be found riding in Durham, CT or cooking at home. She is happy to answer questions from prospective students. They should feel free to email her with any questions.