Travel

Research Update (2025-2026) 7 min read

• Comparative Semitics
• Digital Humanities
• Hebrew Bible
• News and Events
• Semester in Review
• Travel

Research Update (2025-2026)

Matthew Saunders August 21, 2026

TL;DR This post provides a research update on how I spent the previous academic year. Here are the highlights: Passed comprehensive examinations and advanced to... Read More

Summer 2025, NACAL 48, and Comps 4 min read

• News and Events
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Summer 2025, NACAL 48, and Comps

Matthew Saunders September 29, 2025

Introduction This post offers a brief update on my recent academic travels over the past four months—primarily for conferences and workshops—as well as a snapshot... Read More

An Academic Pilgrimage: Germany Summer 2025 13 min read

• Hebrew Bible
• History of Scholarship
• News and Events
• Travel

An Academic Pilgrimage: Germany Summer 2025

Matthew Saunders June 26, 2025

TL;DR: For the past few weeks, I’ve traveled to Stuttgart, Tübingen, Berlin, Wittenberg, Erfurt, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Göttingen, and Hamburg, including the following three conferences: Semitic Dialectology (Berlin); Studying Hebrew in Sixteenth-Century Strasbourg (Strasbourg); and Current Research and Challenges in Ugaritic Studies (Göttingen). Here's an overview of the talks I attended.... Read More

JHU-PTS Doctoral Symposium 3 min read

• News and Events
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JHU-PTS Doctoral Symposium

Matthew Saunders February 23, 2025

One week ago, I presented a lecture at the first annual Johns Hopkins-Princeton Theological Seminary Doctoral Symposium for Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and Northwest Semitics. My lecture focused on Aramaic-based code-alternation in the Hebrew Bible, categorizing its motivations and functions. It was an honor to engage with faculty like Mark S. Smith and F.W. “Chip” Dobbs-Allsopp and to share insights from my ongoing dissertation research. A more focused version of this talk is in progress for a future conference.... Read More

Fall 2024 Semester in Review 7 min read

• Digital Humanities
• History of Scholarship
• News and Events
• Semester in Review
• Travel

Fall 2024 Semester in Review

Matthew Saunders January 6, 2025

Fall 2024 was an incredible semester at Johns Hopkins and beyond. From a diverse course load spanning Arabic, Hebrew, Akkadian, and Aramaic to attending ASOR and presenting at SBL, it’s been a season of growth, learning, and unforgettable experiences.... Read More

ASOR and SBL 2024 5 min read

• News and Events
• Travel

ASOR and SBL 2024

Matthew Saunders November 27, 2024

Last week, I attended the 2024 annual meetings of the American Schools of Overseas Research (ASOR) in Boston, MA, and the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) in San Diego, CA. These back-to-back conferences were a highlight of my academic year, featuring groundbreaking research, engaging discussions, and opportunities to connect with colleagues and friends in Near Eastern studies. Here's a few of the talks I attended as well as a brief summary of my research which I presented at SBL.... Read More

Thomas Jefferson: Monticello, UVA, and Hebrew/ANE Studies 5 min read

• History of Scholarship
• News and Events
• Travel

Thomas Jefferson: Monticello, UVA, and Hebrew/ANE Studies

Matthew Saunders November 3, 2024

Introduction One of my hobbies when I have the occasional free weekend is traveling to new cities to which I’ve never been. As Baltimore is... Read More

Spring and Summer 2024 Semesters in Review at JHU 5 min read

• Digital Humanities
• News and Events
• Semester in Review
• Travel

Spring and Summer 2024 Semesters in Review at JHU

Matthew Saunders September 1, 2024

TL;DR: During the Spring and Summer 2024 semesters at JHU, I completed various advanced seminar courses, various projects, and extracurricular activities. I also traveled for research and vacation across Europe and the USA. For Fall 2024, I will continue my coursework both at JHU and CUA, anticipating a demanding but fulfilling semester.... Read More