Simon James is a Professor of Archaeology at the University of Leicester. He read archaeology at the London Institute of Archaeology, where he also took his Ph.D., by which time the Institute had become part of University College, London. He moved to the British Museum, first as an archaeological illustrator and then as a museum educator, responsible for programs relating to the later prehistoric and Roman collections. After a decade at the British Museum, he decided to seek a career in research and teaching. Having held a Leverhulme Special Research Fellowship at the University of Durham, he joined the University of Leicester School of Archaeology & Ancient History in January 2000. He was promoted Senior Lecturer in 2002, Reader in 2005 and Professor in 2012. He is currently Director of the Ancient Akrotiri Project, Cyprus, while also continuing research on the Hellenistic-, Parthian- and Roman-era Syrian city of Dura-Europos, its Roman garrison, and its exploration since 1920.
