ellis's first post in her academic career was as a junior research fellow in french studies at st anne's college, oxford then, from 1991 to 1994, she lectured with the open university. in 1994, she joined royal holloway, university of london as a lecturer. she was additionally the inaugural director of the institute of musical research, which was then based at the school of advanced study, university of london, between february 2006 and july 2009.