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Professor Tamsin Bradley is a leading academic in International Development Studies at the University of Portsmouth, affiliated with the School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics and Literature. Her research focuses on ending violence against women and girls, social inclusion, and harmful cultural practices. She holds a PhD from SOAS, University of London, and has held roles at institutions like the University of East Anglia and London Metropolitan University before joining Portsmouth in 2011. She was promoted to Professor in 2017. Her work is supported by grants from the British Academy, ESRC, and AHRC. Bradley is also a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute. She currently supervises two PhD students on ESRC-funded projects and collaborates with organizations like Plan International and Stop Domestic Abuse. Her research integrates applied social anthropology with policy-relevant outcomes, addressing issues such as FGM, breast ironing, and gender-based violence in South Asia and Africa. Education: Bachelor's in Politics and Study of Religion (SOAS, 1996) MA in Social Anthropology of Development (SOAS, 1997) PGCE (University of Cambridge) PhD (SOAS, 2006) Research Focus: Ending violence against women and girls, harmful cultural practices, gender and social inclusion in South Asia/Africa, humanitarianism in conflict zones. Key Grants: £300k from British Academy (2018) for the 'Art Heritage, Resilience and Humanitarianism in South Sudan' project. External Roles: Council member of British Association of South Asian Studies (2014–2016), Editorial Board member of African Identities . Media Availability: Actively engages with media on gender-based violence and development topics. Bradley’s work bridges academic research and practical solutions, emphasizing community-led approaches. Her recent publications highlight intersections between culture, conflict, and gendered violence, with a focus on marginalized communities in South Sudan, Sudan, and South Asia.

• Ending violence against women and girls
• Social inclusion (gender, disability, mental health)
• Harmful cultural practices (FGM, forced marriage, breast ironing)
• +3 more

Renaud Morieux is Professor of European History at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Pembroke College. His research explores borders between Britain, France, and the wider world since the 18th century, with focus on migration, oceans, incarceration, and the social history of war. He holds editorial responsibilities for journals including Past & Present and Revue d'Histoire Moderne et Contemporaine . Research Interests: Morieux investigates maritime borders through interdisciplinary lenses combining legal history, family studies, and global perspectives. His projects examine political deportation in the Indian Ocean and a reflexive history of European statelessness. His award-winning publications analyze cross-Channel relations, war captivity, and oceanic governance. Article Analysis: Morieux's scholarship demonstrates consistent focus on transnational networks, legal pluralism, and subaltern agency. Recent work explores colonial knowledge systems, penal transportation, and epistolary communities, reflecting innovative methodological approaches to reconstructing marginalized histories across imperial spaces. Awards and Honors: Philip Leverhulme Prize for History (2014) Leo Gershoy Award for The Channel: England, France and the Construction of a Maritime Border (2017) Mémoires de la Mer book prize (2009) Advising and Grants: Morieux has supervised 10+ PhD students on topics ranging from naval mutinies to famine philanthropy. Current doctoral candidates explore Sir Joseph Banks' networks, WWI prisoner repatriation, and oral culture in the French Atlantic. His research receives international funding including EU and UK research council support.

• Migration History
• Maritime History
• Incarceration Studies
• +3 more

Akanksha Mehta is a Lecturer in Gender, Race and Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London , where she co-directs the Centre for Feminist Research. She joined Goldsmiths in September 2018 after lecturing at the School of Global Studies, University of Sussex (2016-2018). Research Focus: Intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and everyday politics/violence; affective and material structures in nationalist movements; decolonial pedagogies. Key Projects: Co-founded the 'Mind the BAME Gap' initiative at Sussex; ongoing book project on right-wing women's mobilizations. Recognition: Recipient of the EISA Best Dissertation Award (2018) and Rachel Tanur Memorial Prize (2016). Publication Trends: Her work spans feminist critiques of Hindutva, queer rights in post-377 India, ethnographic analyses of right-wing women, and decolonial pedagogical frameworks. Recent outputs engage with racial justice in universities, affect theory, and visual sociology. Scientific Awards: Best Dissertation Award, EISA (2018) Rachel Tanur Memorial Prize, ISA (2016) Collaborative Work: Engages with decolonial visual practices, collective complaint mechanisms in academia, and intergenerational feminist dialogues through the podcast 'The F Less Travelled'.

• Gender Studies
• Cultural Studies
• Feminist Theory
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Professor Jonathan Goodhand is a distinguished academic in the Department of Development Studies at SOAS University of London, where he has established himself as a leading expert on conflict, peacebuilding, and political economy in fragile and post-conflict states. His work focuses on the complex interplay between illicit economies, borderland dynamics, and political settlements in South and Central Asia, with particular expertise in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. As a prolific researcher and supervisor, he has shaped the field through both theoretical contributions and empirical studies grounded in extensive fieldwork. Professor Goodhand's research interests span several interconnected domains: Conflict and peacebuilding dynamics in post-war contexts Political settlements and statebuilding processes Borderland and frontier studies, particularly the role of brokers Illicit economies, especially drug economies and their relationship to conflict The intersection of development and security in fragile states Humanitarian action and its political implications in conflict zones His recent publications reveal a sophisticated analytical framework that connects spatial dimensions of conflict with political economy approaches. Goodhand has pioneered research on "frontier brokers" who operate in the margins between state and non-state authority, examining how these figures shape post-war transitions. His work on the "drugs-development-peacebuilding trilemma" has gained significant traction in policy circles, challenging conventional approaches to drug policy in conflict-affected regions. The Drugs & (dis)order research project, which he leads, represents a major contribution to understanding how illicit economies can be transformed into peace economies. Professor Goodhand has supervised numerous doctoral students whose work extends his research agenda into new contexts including Afghanistan, Colombia, South Sudan, and Myanmar. His influence extends beyond academia through policy engagement with international organizations working on conflict resolution and development.

• Conflict Studies
• Peacebuilding
• Statebuilding
• +7 more

Professor Faisal Devji is a prominent scholar of Indian and global history, currently holding the position of Professor of Indian History at the University of Oxford’s St Antony’s College. His academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Chicago (1994), a Junior Fellowship at Harvard Society of Fellows, and prior roles at Yale, The New School for Social Research, and the Institute of Ismaili Studies. He specializes in intellectual history, political thought, and the role of Islam in global contexts, with a focus on violence, non-violence, and the interplay between religion and modernity. His research interests span South Asian political thought, the global categorization of Islam, and the philosophical dimensions of Gandhi’s legacy. Notable works include Muslim Zion: Pakistan as a Political Idea (2013) and The Impossible Indian: Gandhi and the Temptation of Violence (2012). Recent projects explore the First World War’s impact on global religions and Oxford’s colonial legacy through the Oxford and Empire initiative. Professor Devji’s publications consistently address transnational themes, analyzing topics such as blasphemy crises in Pakistan, the evolving centrality of Saudi Arabia in Islam, and the poetry of militant groups like Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. His work often challenges conventional narratives, offering provocative insights into postcolonial politics and global religious dynamics. Education: PhD in Intellectual History (University of Chicago, 1994) Awards: Junior Fellow, Harvard Society of Fellows Current Roles: DPhil supervisor at St Antony’s College, affiliated with the Oxford History Faculty. Key Projects: Oxford and Empire , First World War and Global Religions As an educator, he supervises DPhil students in intellectual history, political thought, and transnational studies. His interdisciplinary approach bridges history, political theory, and religious studies, reflecting a commitment to understanding the complexities of modern global identities.

• Intellectual History
• Political Thought
• Modern South Asia
• +4 more

Dr Sumeet Jain is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, affiliated with the School of Social and Political Science (Social Work). His interdisciplinary research focuses on community mental health in low-income contexts, cultural psychiatry, ethnography, and global mental health policy, with regional expertise in South Asia. He has led projects funded by ESRC, Carnegie Trust, British Academy, Wellcome Trust, DFID, and World Bank, including studies on recovery-oriented mental health in India, poverty-mental health linkages, and evaluation of Scotland's alcohol/drug referral services. Research Interests: Community mental health systems in low-resource settings Critical analysis of psychiatric categories and local distress Qualitative/ethnographic evaluation of health programs Training of social workers in non-western mental health Global mental health policy and equity Publication Trends: Recent works emphasize participatory interventions, mutuality in mental health, caste identities, and critiques of scaling-up global mental health initiatives. His research spans South Asia, Malawi, Ghana, and the UK, blending sociocultural perspectives with public health outcomes. Scientific Awards: ESRC-Impact Accelerator Award Carnegie Trust funding for community mental health in India British Academy collaboration on caste and distress Wellcome Trust grant for London health inequalities study DFID/World Bank funding for poverty-stigma-mental illness research Dr Jain supervises postgraduate research in Global Mental Health and Social Work, contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and co-edited The Palgrave Handbook of Sociocultural Perspectives on Global Mental Health (2017).

• Community Mental Health
• Global Mental Health
• Cultural Psychiatry
• +6 more

Nayanika Mathur is a Professor of Anthropology and South Asian Studies at the University of Oxford, affiliated with Wolfson College. Educated at the Universities of Delhi and Cambridge, she specializes in the anthropology of politics, development, environment, law, and human-animal relations. Her work combines ethnographic fieldwork in India with critical theoretical interventions. Education: B.A. and M.A. from University of Delhi; MPhil and Ph.D. from University of Cambridge Her research explores bureaucratic practices in South Asia, the Anthropocene, and climate crisis implications. She co-directs the TORCH research network on Climate Crisis Thinking in Humanities and Social Sciences. Her publications analyze developmental states, human-animal conflicts, and knowledge production under ecological collapse. Key themes from her 15 most recent articles include critiques of bureaucratic transparency, climate crisis impacts on human-animal relations, and conspiracy theories in governance. Awards include the Sharon Stephens Prize for her first monograph. Current projects examine technology-government intersections and climate crisis impacts on anthropological knowledge. Scientific Awards: Sharon Stephens Prize (American Ethnological Society) for Paper Tiger She has contributed extensively to public discourse through media outlets like The Times of India and The Conversation, addressing topics such as human-animal conflict, bureaucratic corruption, and climate crisis governance.

• Anthropology of politics
• Development anthropology
• Environmental anthropology
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Professor Katy Gardner holds a position in the Department of Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Her expertise focuses on globalisation, migration, and economic change in Bangladesh and its diasporic communities in the UK. She completed her training at Cambridge and LSE, previously working at Sussex University before joining LSE in 2013. Her research integrates anthropological methods with development studies, including long-term fieldwork in Bangladesh and UK-based transnational communities. Notable works include Global Migrants, Local Lives (1995), Age, Narrative and Migration (2002), and Discordant Development (2023), examining corporate impact on rural communities and transnational migration's gendered dimensions. Current projects explore couples’ counseling, marriage mediation, and precarity in Bangladesh. She co-edited a special journal volume on land and development in South Asia and led research on Bangladeshi children’s transnational experiences through arts-based methods. She actively supervises PhD candidates interested in anthropology, South Asia, and development studies.

• Globalisation
• Transnational Migration
• Bangladesh Studies
• +3 more

Professor Kim A. Wagner is a Professor of Global and Imperial History at Queen Mary University of London. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge (2003) under C.A. Bayly and has held fellowships at King’s College, Cambridge, the University of Edinburgh, and a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship at George Washington University (2015–2018). His research focuses on colonial violence, cultural misunderstandings in empires, and the legacies of British and U.S. imperialism. Current projects include studies on the Bud Dajo Massacre (Philippines, 1906) and the Amritsar Massacre of 1919. Education: Ph.D. in South Asian History, University of Cambridge (2000–2003) Research Fellowship, King’s College, Cambridge (2003–2007) Research Associate, University of Edinburgh (2007–2009) Lecturer in Imperial History, University of Birmingham (2009–2012) Research Interests: Colonial violence and its global contexts Cultural anthropology of colonial encounters Decolonization of museums and public history Micro-histories of colonial subjects British Empire in South Asia and the Philippines Publications and Awards: Author of *The Skull of Alum Bheg* (2017), shortlisted for the Templer Medal Contributor to *Amritsar 1919: An Empire of Fear* (2019) Consultant for documentaries on colonial history, including Channel 4’s *The Amritsar Massacre 1919* Teaching and Supervision: Supervises PhD students on colonial violence and decolonization Teaches courses on Indian history, postcolonial heritage, and global history

• Imperial History
• Colonial Studies
• South Asian History
• +6 more

David Lewis is a Professor of Social Policy and Development at the London School of Economics (LSE), specializing in South Asia and Bangladesh. His work bridges anthropology and development studies, focusing on NGOs, civil society, and the historical dimensions of development policy. He has advised international agencies like Sida, DFID, and UNDP, and his research explores 'policy amnesia' and the interplay between development narratives and grassroots realities. Research Interests Anthropology of Policy NGO Effectiveness and Critique South Asian Development Dynamics Historical Analysis of Development Interventions Entrepreneurship Advice in Bangladesh/Sri Lanka Professional Engagements Consultant for major development organizations Author/editor of influential texts including Bangladesh: Politics, Economy and Civil Society (2011) and New Mediums, Better Messages? (2022) Editor of Popular Representations of Development (2013), analyzing media's role in shaping development perceptions His work critiques top-down development paradigms while emphasizing historical context and local agency.

• South Asia
• Bangladesh
• Civil Society
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Matthew J. Nelson is a Professor of Politics and Head of the Department of Politics and International Studies at SOAS University of London. He holds a BA from Bowdoin College and a PhD from Columbia University. His research focuses on South Asian politics, particularly the intersection of religion, law, and democracy. He has held academic positions at institutions such as UC Santa Cruz, Yale University, and the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton. Professor Nelson's work examines topics including Islamic law, constitutionalism, non-elite politics, and the dynamics of democracy in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and India. He is a member of the SOAS South Asia Institute and a founding member of the Centre for Comparative Political Thought and the Centre for Conflict, Rights, and Justice. He has served on boards for organizations like the American Institute of Pakistan Studies and the Religion and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association. His recent publications analyze Taliban governance, religious opposition forces in Bangladesh, and the interplay between constitutional frameworks and religious freedom. He has also contributed to policy consultations with institutions like the Brookings Institution and the British Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. His advising includes supervising PhD theses on topics such as Pakistan’s constitutional changes and bureaucratic appointments. His academic contributions span authored books, peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, monographs, and opinion pieces on South Asian politics and Islamism.

• South Asian Politics
• Religion and Politics
• Law and Politics
• +5 more

Professor Jeevan R. Sharma serves as Chair of South Asia and International Development and Co-director of the Centre of South Asian Studies at the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science. An elected General Secretary of the Britain Nepal Academic Council (BNAC), he brings extensive field research experience from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Malawi to his work in development and political anthropology. His current Wellcome Trust-funded transdisciplinary project examines health and well-being of South Asian migrant workers through collaboration with medical scientists and social anthropologists at Aga Khan University and Kathmandu Medical College. Sharma's research interests span labor migration, border-crossing, Maoist conflict, humanitarianism, human rights documentation, and health policy with particular focus on gender dynamics and social transformation. His fieldwork has investigated community health volunteers, maternal and child health, and international research collaboration in South Asia. He has previously worked at Feinstein International Centre at Tufts University (2009-2011) and Save the Children UK (2007-2009), bringing practical development experience to his academic work. His publication trends reveal consistent focus on migration, health policy, and political transformation in South Asia, with increasing attention to transnational health issues and pandemic impacts on vulnerable populations. Recent work examines Covid-19's effects on migrant workers, mental health policy in Nepal, and cross-cultural health measurement tools, demonstrating his commitment to bridging academic research with practical health interventions. Elected General Secretary of the Britain Nepal Academic Council (BNAC) Co-editor of HIMALAYA Journal (2019-2025), transitioning to Editor-at-large from January 2025 Associate Editor of 'South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies' Co-editor of Routledge Edinburgh South Asia Series Member of ESRC GAP panel C (2024-2025) Member of the commissioning panel for the ESRC Centres Competition 2018 Sharma has secured significant research funding including a Wellcome Trust grant for migrant worker health research, ESRC funding for projects examining low-income migrant workers' access to services in India, and NERC funding for flood resilience research in Nepal's Terai region. His collaborative approach is evident in projects involving multiple institutions across South Asia and the UK, with particular emphasis on transdisciplinary work that bridges social science and medical research. He has served as Principal Investigator on six completed projects and currently leads an active Wellcome Trust-funded initiative. As Co-director of the Centre for South Asian Studies in Edinburgh, Sharma contributes to one of the UK's leading institutions for South Asian research, fostering academic collaboration and knowledge exchange between scholars in the UK and South Asia. His work with the Britain Nepal Academic Council strengthens bilateral academic relations, while his editorial roles with HIMALAYA Journal and South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies position him at the forefront of scholarly discourse on the region.

• Development Anthropology
• Political Anthropology
• South Asian Studies
• +7 more

Dr. Andrew Newsham is a researcher at the Department of Development Studies (DEV), SOAS University of London. His work sits at the intersection of human geography , anthropology , and climate change policy . Key research areas: climate change adaptation , conservation and development , livelihoods , political ecology , and science and technology studies . Regional focus: Southern Africa and Latin America . Recent publications examine: Climate resilience in agricultural commercialization pathways (Tanzania/Zimbabwe) Reformulating sustainable livelihoods frameworks for the 21st century Critiques of ecosystems-based adaptation in Mexico Political economy of carbon forestry in Mozambique Linkages between social protection and climate risk management He convenes the MSc Environment, Politics and Development program at SOAS.

• Climate Change Adaptation
• Conservation and Development
• Livelihoods
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Kasia Paprocki is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She directs the MSc in Environment and Development Programme and serves as a Research Associate at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. Her work critically examines the intersections of political ecology, development studies, and climate change adaptation in South Asia, particularly Bangladesh. Dr Paprocki holds a PhD and MSc in Development Sociology from Cornell University (USA), alongside a Bachelor’s degree from Hampshire College (USA). Her research is supported by prestigious grants including the National Science Foundation, Fulbright Program, and Social Science Research Council. Her research interests focus on how development interventions and knowledge systems shape communities and landscapes, especially in Bangladesh. She interrogates the colonial, capitalist, and agrarian histories influencing contemporary climate adaptation policies, emphasizing how these processes dispossess rural populations. Key themes include climate justice, urban-agrarian solidarity, and the political economy of environmental transformation. She received the LSE Excellence in Education Prize (2021) for her teaching contributions. Beyond research, she co-organizes the Social Life of Climate Change seminar series and actively engages in both academic and popular media discussions about climate politics.

• Political Ecology
• Development Studies
• Climate Change
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Professor Siobhan Lambert-Hurley is Professor of Global History and Director of Research and Innovation at the University of Sheffield's School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities, where she has served since 2015 after previously holding positions at Loughborough University. Her leadership includes roles as Departmental Director of Research and active participation in university-wide committees focused on research impact and sustainability. Her academic foundation comprises a BA in Asian Studies from the University of British Columbia and a PhD in History from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, complemented by visiting faculty positions at UBC in 2013-14 and 2017. Lambert-Hurley's research centers on women, gender, and Islam in modern South Asia, examining diverse themes including socio-religious reform, princely states, travel culture, food history, and autobiographical writing. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges literary analysis with historical methodology, revealing how marginalized voices navigate cultural and political landscapes across centuries. This work consistently emphasizes the intersection of personal narrative with broader societal transformations. Analysis of her publications shows an evolving trajectory from early studies of Muslim women's reform movements to contemporary investigations of culinary heritage and global challenges. Her scholarship demonstrates increasing engagement with applied research addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly through projects on female literacy and food sustainability in South Asia. Her scientific recognition includes: Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship (2024-2027) for 'A Bountiful Spread: Eating and Etiquette in Muslim South Asia' Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2013-2014) for 'The Self Unveiled: Autobiographical Writings by Muslim Women in South Asia' As a dedicated mentor, she supervises PhD students like Maxmillian Drephal and guides postdoctoral fellows including Dr. Mobeen Hussain (Wellcome Trust), Dr. Neha Vermani (Newton Fellowship), and Dr. Radha Kapuria (Leverhulme ECR). Her research is substantially funded through competitive grants from Leverhulme Trust, AHRC, British Academy, and Global Challenges Research Fund, supporting projects such as 'Veiled Voyagers' and 'Forgotten Food' that combine historical scholarship with real-world impact. She leads the White Rose South Asia Network and contributes to the Migration Research Group, Institute for Global Sustainable Development, and Centre for Contemporary and Modern History. Her public engagement initiatives—including the 'Accessing Muslim Lives' digital archive, heritage food festivals in Delhi/Bhopal, and collaborations with NGOs like Mahashakti Seva Kendra—demonstrate her commitment to translating academic research into community benefit through educational programs and cultural productions.

• Women's History
• Gender Studies
• Islamic Studies
• +5 more