Dr. Christi Merrill

Biography

Christi Merrill is a Professor of South Asian Literature and Postcolonial Theory in the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Michigan. She earned her PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Iowa in 1999 and has two MFAs in Nonfiction Writing and Translation, also from the University of Iowa. Her scholarly work primarily focuses on contemporary Indian literature, particularly the translations of Rajasthani writer Vijaydan Detha, including her award-winning publication, 'Chouboli Stories.' Merrill's academic research interests include the intersection of translation and human rights, as evidenced by her projects such as 'Genres of Real Life: Mediating Stories of Injustice' and the translation of Dalit woman Kausalya Baisantry’s life story. She has contributed to numerous scholarly publications, with a focus on translation studies and the representation of marginalized voices in South Asian literature. Merrill regularly presents her research at international conferences and serves as a lecturer on various topics concerning South Asian literature and translation studies. With a prominent teaching record, she has advised graduate and undergraduate students across diverse disciplines.

Research Interests