Supervisor:
Mark Harris, Alister McGrath
College:
Exeter College
Research Area:
Science and Religion
About:
I am a research scientist with a strong interest in the interface between science and religion. My academic background is in virology, with a PhD from the University of Freiburg, Germany, where I studied viruses and innate immune responses. From 2017 to 2022, I held two postdoctoral positions at the University of Oxford. Currently, I lead a research team within the Genomics for Animal and Plant Disease Consortium, using virus metagenomics to enhance UK biosecurity by building resilience against biological threats.
Alongside my scientific work, I began studying theology part-time at undergraduate level in 2012 and started my DPhil in science and religion in 2019. In my doctoral research, I explore how our understanding of viruses can inform theological discussions. The project aims to examine the implications of key virological findings for theological doctrines such as good and evil, chaos and order, and human identity, as well as contribute to ongoing conversations around suffering, theodicy, and the fall.
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirjam-schilling-9bbb2b211/
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5386-3609
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mirjam-Schilling
https://twitter.com/mirjamschilling
Select Publications:
Articles:
Schilling M. Viruses and the Anthropocentric Problem of Suffering. Theology and Science 2023- October; https://doi.org/10.1080/14746700.2023.2255957
Schilling M. Wenn die Welt viral geht: Viren und ihr Einfluss auf das Leben. 2023-10. https://www.theologie-naturwissenschaften.de/startseite/leitartikelarchi...
Schilling M. Pandemics and the climate crisis – understanding their connection, and what it means for human identity. ABC Religion & Ethics. 2022 January 11; https://www.abc.net.au/religion/the-connection-between-pandemics-and-the...
Schilling M. Richard Dawkins und das Mem – Eine virologische Reflektion seiner Metapher. Karl-Heim Gesellschaft, Evangelium und Wissenschaft, Jahrgang 43 (2022) Heft 2, Beiträge zum interdisziplinären Gespräch (S.104-116)
Schilling M. A Virocentric Perspective On Evil. Zygon®, 56: 19-33. 2021 March 01. https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12669
Schilling M, Gamble J, Gamble N. Fear not, sneer not: A healthy Christian response to COVID-19. ABC Religion & Ethics. 2020 March 17; https://www.abc.net.au/religion/coronavirus-a-healthy-christian-response...
Book chapters:
Schilling M. The Role of Parasitism in the Animal Kingdom. In Keltz, B. Kyle (ed.) The Palgrave Handbook on the Problem of Animal Suffering in the Philosophy of Religion. Palgrave Macmillan. Pages 411-433. 2025. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-88233-3_19
Books:
Schilling M. Warum erschuf Gott die Viren? Mit einer Virologin auf Entdeckungsreise. 2021. SCM Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7751-6114-5
Book Reviews:
Schilling M. Review of ‘Posthumanism in Practice’ by Christine Daigle & Matt Hayler in Science and Christian Belief. 2025; Volume 37(2)
Schilling M. Review of ‘Can we believe in people – Human significance in an interconnected world’ by Stephen R.L. Clark in Science and Christian Belief. 2021; Volume 33(2)
Invited Speaker:
2024 Lecture on Lessons from the pandemic: How conversations in Science and Religion can challenge and strengthen the impact of the scientific discourse. SCIO Summer School, University of Oxford
2024 Premier Unbelievable? Podcast on “Why suffering?” and “Why did God create mosquitoes?”
2022 Walton Lecture (“Why are there Viruses in God's Creation?”)
2021 CiS Oliver Barclay Lecture (“Viruses – connecting climate change and human identity”)
2021 Faraday Institute, Cambridge (“From Biology to Theology: How viruses challenge our perspective on good and evil”)
2020 Christians in Academia Conference (“Viruses as part of God’s creation?”)
2020 The Graduate Christian Forum, Oxford
2020 & 2021 Interviews, e.g. for the Pro Medienmagazin in 2020 and 2021, the AndersLEBEN-Magazin 2021, ERF Medien e.V. (Talkwerk, Das Gespräch) 2021, bigFM 2021, radioM 2021 or the Hope Channel 2021)
2018 & 2021 The Principal’s Hour, Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford
2018 Facebook Live Video with Oxford Sparks (“What is a virus?”)
Fellowships:
Arthur Peacocke Fellowship (Science and Religion), Exeter College, University of Oxford
Memberships:
Gesellschaft für Virologie (GfV), British Society for Immunology (BSI), Christians in Science (CiS), European Society for the Study of Science and Theology (ESSSAT)
Academic Interests:
Science and Religion, Systematic theology, Modern Theology
