Robert Tiegs is an early career scholar researching the political and ecological impact of military floods during the Dutch Wars of Independence (1566-1648). He began his research at the University of South Dakota, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in History and Business. Afterwards, he travelled north to receive his Master’s Degree from the University of North Dakota pursuing his interest in historical studies. During his doctoral studies at Louisiana State University he was awarded the Elmer L Anderson Research Grant for research at the University of Minnesota Archives, and the Graduate School Fellowship from LSU.

Throughout his education he has understood the value of interdisciplinary study, and he applies this approach in the classroom as well as in his research. In terms of his teaching philosophy, he believes it is important to use active learning principles and introduce students to skills and concepts which will be applicable beyond the bounds of history and the classroom. As such, he utilizes a number of creative in-class activities that engage students, and whenever possible includes a variety of primary source analysis.

Dr. Tiegs research focuses on Early Modern Europe, but he is comfortable teaching any topic of European history post 1500.

As he pursues his research, he consistently attempts to share his findings through conference presentations and publications. He has presented at the Second World Congress of Environmental History and regularly presents the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Netherlands Studies. Along with several peer-reviewed journal articles, he is currently contracted with Brill Publishers to publish a revised edition of his doctoral thesis. He is also a regular contributor for book reviews in H-net War, Historical Geography, and The Sixteenth Century Journal.