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Dr. Shane Wallace is the Walsh Family Assistant Professor in Classics and Ancient History at Trinity College Dublin. He specializes in Hellenistic history, Greek epigraphy, and historiography, with a focus on the relationship between cities and kings in the Hellenistic period. Born in Limerick, he holds a BA from NUI Galway, an MA from University College Dublin (UCD), and a PhD from the University of Edinburgh. His research explores the political dynamics of Hellenistic monarchies, particularly mainland Greece, the Aegean, and western Asia Minor. He has held prestigious fellowships, including a Marie Curie Research Fellowship at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris and an Erasmus Studentship at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Dr. Wallace currently directs the MPhil in Classics program and edits Classics Ireland . His recent projects include editing a monograph on The Politics of Freedom: Kings and Cities in the Hellenistic Age and co-editing volumes such as The Antigonid Empire in Greece and Beyond Athenocentrism . His research bridges epigraphical analysis with broader historical narratives, emphasizing the complexities of Hellenistic political and cultural networks. His publications span Hellenistic political history, Alexander the Great's legacy, and ancient empires. He teaches modules on Greek history, historiography, and language, including courses on 'Kings and Cities in the Hellenistic Period' and 'Athens from Macedon to Rome'. His work highlights the intersection of power, communication, and identity in the ancient world.

• Hellenistic History
• Greek Epigraphy
• Historiography
• +5 more

Nicholas John Sims-Williams is Research Professor of Iranian and Central Asian Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, where he has maintained continuous academic employment since 1976. His career progression includes positions as Lecturer in Iranian Languages (1976), Reader in Iranian Studies (1989), Professor of Iranian and Central Asian Studies (1994), Professorial Researcher (2008-2011), and his current role as Research Professor (2012-present). His educational background includes studies in Old and Middle Iranian languages, Sanskrit, Syriac and historical linguistics at Cambridge University, where he completed his PhD under Dr. Ilya Gershevitch. His doctoral thesis, an edition of a fragmentary manuscript containing Christian texts translated from Syriac into Sogdian, was published as The Christian Sogdian manuscript C2, Berlin 1985 and awarded the Prix Ghirshman of the Institut de France. Professor Sims-Williams' research interests focus on Middle Iranian languages of Eastern Iran and Central Asia, with particular expertise in Sogdian and Bactrian languages. His scholarly work equally emphasizes the linguistic structures of these Indo-European languages and their Central Asian cultural context, examining the complex interplay of languages, cultures, and religions in the region. His teaching has covered seven Iranian languages (Avestan, Old Persian, Middle Persian, Parthian, Bactrian, Sogdian and Khotanese) along with Syriac. His extensive honors reflect his standing in the academic community, including Fellowship in the British Academy, membership in multiple international academies, and prestigious research fellowships. Notable positions include Chairman of the Ancient India and Iran Trust and Vice-President of the Union Académique Internationale. Professor Sims-Williams has held visiting professorships at leading institutions worldwide including the Collège de France, Harvard University, and the University of Rome "La Sapienza," demonstrating his international recognition as a leading scholar in his field.

• Iranian studies
• Sogdian language
• Bactrian language
• +10 more

Said Reza Huseini is a Research Fellow at King’s College, University of Cambridge, and concurrently holds a postdoctoral position at Princeton University. His research focuses on Turko-Indo-Persianate and Islamic history from Late Antiquity to the early modern era, emphasizing Central Asia and North India. He has degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Leiden University, including a PhD on the Arab conquests of Bactria. His work integrates documentary and literary sources in multiple languages, including Bactrian, Sogdian, Persian, and Arabic. Education: Bachelor’s in Persian and Central Asian Studies (JNU, 2009–2012) Master’s in Historical Studies (JNU, 2012–2014) Second MA in Global and Colonial Studies (Leiden University, 2016–2017) PhD in Early Islamic History (Leiden University, 2017–2024) MA at University of Cambridge (2023) Research Interests: Explores socio-political dynamics, rebellion, slavery, and governance in pre-Mongol and early Islamic Central Asia. His work bridges Neoplatonic philosophy’s influence on Mughal kingship and the interconnected histories of the Silk Roads. Current projects include a monograph on Mongol discourse in Persian historiography (1252–1582). Publications: Focus on Arab conquests in Bactria, Mughal political ideology, and Silk Roads cultural exchanges. Recent work examines Neoplatonism in Akbar’s governance and early Islamic dependency mechanisms. Professional Activities: Conducts the King’s Silk Roads Project seminars and collaborates on ERC’s “Embedding Conquests” project. Teaches Central Asian history at Princeton and contributes to interdisciplinary dialogues on regional security and governance.

• Turko-Indo-Persianate Studies
• Islamic History
• Early Islamic History of Central Asia
• +6 more

Desmond Durkin-Meisterernst serves as Honorary Professor at Freie Universität Berlin's Institute of Iranian Studies since February 2010, while maintaining his research position at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences (BBAW). His career spans over three decades specializing in Eastern Iranian languages along the Silk Road. His research focuses on Middle Iranian linguistics , particularly Manichaean Middle Persian, Parthian, Sogdian, Bactrian, and Khotanese languages. His work centers on the Turfan Collection manuscripts from Central Asia, examining religious texts, linguistic structures, and historical contexts of pre-Islamic Iranian cultures. Durkin-Meisterernst's scholarly output reveals a consistent trajectory toward comprehensive linguistic documentation, with his 2004 Dictionary establishing foundational lexicographical work followed by his 2014 Grammar advancing theoretical understanding of West Middle Iranian structures. Chairman: 'Languages and Cultures of the Silk Road' doctoral program Former Director: Turfanforschungsstelle (2007-2016) Habilitation: Münster University (2012) His current teaching reflects deep specialization in advanced Iranian linguistics, continuing his lifelong dedication to preserving and analyzing these historical languages through both research and academic mentorship.

• Iranian linguistics
• Middle Iranian languages
• Silk Road studies
• +5 more

ML Folmer is an Associate Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam's Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, specializing in Religious Sources. They concurrently serve as Universitair Docent (University Lecturer) in Aramaic at Leiden University since 1998. Their research focuses on ancient languages and religious practices, particularly Aramaic dialects, Jewish communities in the Achaemenid Empire, and linguistic interactions in antiquity. Research interests include code-switching in Elephantine Aramaic, administrative language evolution, and material culture analysis of ancient Jewish diasporas. Folmer has published extensively on topics such as Persian loanwords in Aramaic texts and the sociolinguistic context of ancient curse tablets. They have organized academic events like the IOTS 10th International Meeting (2022) and delivered key lectures on topics ranging from Hebrew-Aramaic linguistic connections to official Aramaic's historical development. Notable recognition includes the 1996 Bulthuis van Oosternieland Prize for scholarly contributions. Teaching responsibilities include leading courses on Aramaic and Biblical Hebrew at VU, covering introductory to advanced levels. Their work bridges textual analysis with archaeological evidence, offering interdisciplinary insights into ancient Near Eastern societies.

• Aramaic Studies
• Ancient Judaism
• Historical Linguistics
• +4 more

Dr. Svenja Bonmann is an Assistant Professor of Historical-Comparative Linguistics at the University of Cologne's Department of Linguistics. Her work focuses on reconstructing syntactic parameters in Proto-Indo-European and Proto-Indo-Iranian, with a particular interest in linguistic areas, typological comparisons, and undeciphered scripts. She holds a PhD from the University of Cologne (2023) and has held research positions at the Universities of Zurich and Duisburg-Essen. Her research explores Indo-European languages (especially Italic, Germanic, and Iranian), Yeniseian, and Austronesian language families, alongside projects on deciphering ancient scripts like the Kushan trilingual inscriptions. Education highlights include a Master's in Historical-Comparative Linguistics (University of Cologne, 2016) and a Bachelor's in History and German Studies (University of Duisburg-Essen, 2014). Her awards include the second-place Society for Indo-European Studies dissertation prize (2022) and top thesis awards at both bachelor's and master's levels. Research interests span theoretical questions about linguistic universals (e.g., 'linguistic periodic table'), substrate influences in Central Asian languages, and syntactic reconstruction methodologies. Recent projects include deciphering the Dašt-i Nāwur trilingual inscription and studying Yeniseian sound systems. She leads the 'Junges Kolleg' fellowship (2025) and collaborates on international projects like the Hellenistic Central Asia Research Network. Publications focus on Indo-European syntax, Yeniseian phonology, and Central Asian epigraphy. Key contributions include work on the ā-conjunctive in Italic languages, partial decipherment of the Kushan script, and proto-language sound system reconstructions. Her talks address topics like substrate effects in Sogdian and Bactrian, multilingualism in ancient Central Asia, and linguistic connections between the Xiongnu and Huns. Awards include the best master's thesis award (2016), best bachelor's thesis award (2014), and the 2022 dissertation prize. She actively participates in academic organizations like the Societas Linguistica Europaea and the Indogermanischen Gesellschaft.

• Historical-Comparative Linguistics
• Theoretical Linguistics
• Indo-European Languages
• +5 more

Said Reza Huseini is a Research Fellow at King's College, University of Cambridge, affiliated with the Silk Roads Programme. His expertise spans Turko-Indo-Persianate and Islamic history, focusing on the interconnected regions of Khurasan and North India from Late Antiquity to the early modern era. He employs diverse documentary and literary sources in Bactrian, Sogdian, Middle Persian, Persian, and Arabic to explore cultural and intellectual exchanges. Education: BA/MA at Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi), MA from Leiden University, and PhD from the European Research Council project “Embedding Conquests.” Current Work: Monograph project on The Mongols in Persian Discourse: Continuity and Changes 1252–1582 , under contract with Edinburgh University Press (2025). His research emphasizes long-term patterns of cultural exchange, millennialism, and governance in Islamicate contexts. Notable works include studies on Arab Muslim conquests of Bactria, Mughal neoplatonism, and the socio-political dynamics of early Islamic Bactria. His peer-reviewed articles and edited volumes address topics such as slavery in early Islamic empires, administrative practices, and rebellion narratives. Research grants include involvement with the ERC “Embedding Conquests” project. He collaborates with institutions like UNESCO and contributes to interdisciplinary projects on Silk Road cultural exchanges. His work bridges textual analysis with historical and archaeological perspectives, offering fresh insights into understudied regions and periods.

• Turko-Indo-Persianate History
• Islamic History
• Medieval Central Asia
• +4 more

Maria Carmela Benvenuto is an Associate Professor at the Department of Modern Literature and Culture, Sapienza University of Rome, affiliated with the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy. Her career spans teaching and research in historical linguistics, focusing on Indo-European languages, particularly Ancient Greek and Iranian. She actively contributes to the doctoral program in Linguistics and collaborates with international research groups. Doctoral degrees in Historical Linguistics and Italian Language History (2004, Sapienza University) Researcher at Sapienza University since 2008 National Scientific Qualification for Associate Professor in Glottology and Linguistics (2013, 2018) Her research interests include linguistic typology, functional and cognitive linguistics, and the expression of possession in ancient languages. Recent studies focus on language contact in the Achaemenid world, multilingualism, and morphosyntactic changes in Old Persian and Greek. Her publications highlight trends in Achaemenid-period linguistic interference and syncretism of genitive/dative cases. Benvenuto participates in international conferences and is a member of several academic societies, including the Italian Glottology Society and the Societas Iranologica Europea. She leads research on graphic interferences in ancient languages and contributes to projects like TIGMA/TGAW.

• Historical Linguistics
• Indo-European Languages
• Ancient Greek and Iranian Linguistics
• +5 more

Nicholas Sims-Williams is a distinguished scholar specializing in Iranian languages at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, where he has spent his entire academic career following studies at Cambridge. His research focuses equally on linguistic analysis of Middle Iranian languages and their Central Asian cultural context: Teaches seven Iranian languages: Avestan, Old Persian, Middle Persian, Parthian, Bactrian, Sogdian, and Khotanese, plus occasionally Syriac Specializes in Eastern Iran and Central Asia's linguistic, cultural and religious intersections Major scholarly contributions include: Editions of Sogdian inscriptions from Northern Pakistan Documents in mixed Sogdian and Old Turkish from Chinese Xinjiang Bactrian documents from Northern Afghanistan Current work cataloging Christian Sogdian and New Persian manuscript fragments in the Berlin Turfan collection His work bridges linguistic scholarship with historical and cultural analysis of Central Asia's rich textual heritage.

• Iranian languages
• Middle Iranian languages
• Central Asian studies
• +10 more

Marchina Charlotte is a Lecturer in Mongolian language and civilization at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (Inalco), Paris. She leads the Mongolian Studies Section and contributes to institutions like the Research Commission of Inalco and the editorial boards of Études mongoles & sibériennes , Nomadic Peoples , and Revue d'ethnoécologie . Her work bridges anthropology, ethnology, and prehistory, focusing on human-animal relations, nomadic pastoralism, and environmental changes in Eurasia. Education : PhD in Biological Anthropology and Ethnology (INALCO, 2015) Research interests center on nomadic pastoralism, multispecies ethnography, and climate adaptation in Mongolia and Transbaikalia. She employs isotopic analysis (δ13C, δ18O, strontium ratios) of animal tissues (tooth enamel, hair) to reconstruct mobility patterns and pastoral calendars. Her fieldwork spans the Mongolian Altai and Aga Buryats, with a focus on intercultural dynamics and land privatization impacts. Recent publications (2020–2025) highlight isotopic methods in tracking horse and caprine mobility, ritual practices in Bronze Age Mongolia, and contemporary camel breeding. Her 2021 monograph Nomadic Pastoralism among the Mongol Herders synthesizes spatial ethnography and environmental interactions. Scientific awards : Junior Member of the University Institute of France (2023), Friendship Medal of Mongolia (2021), ICAS-GIS Book Award (2021), and multiple thesis prizes (2017, 2016). International engagements include Visiting Associate Professor at Tohoku University (2023), Research Fellowships in Jerusalem (2021) and Leiden (2018), and leadership roles in CNRS Formation Entreprises and ANR projects like MOBISTEPPE and PASTODIV.

• Biological Anthropology
• Ethnology
• Nomadic Pastoralism
• +5 more

Natalie Korobzow is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology's Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution. Her work focuses on historical linguistics, with expertise in Mayan, Indo-European, and Yeniseian languages. She investigates language prehistory through methods combining comparative philology, diachronic typology, and anthropology. Education: PhD in Linguistics (summa cum laude), University of Cologne (2019–2024) M.A. in Linguistics, University of Cologne (2016–2019) B.A. in Ancient American Studies & Anthropology and Scandinavian Studies (double major), University of Bonn (2012–2016) B.A. in Romance Studies and Celtic Studies, University of Bonn (2011–2014) Research Interests: Her studies explore linguistic phenomena like split ergativity in Ch’orti’ Maya, Proto-Yeniseian sound systems, and the development of Mesoamerican numeral systems. She also engages with script decipherment (e.g., Kushan scripts) and digital tools for historical texts. Current projects include the ERC-funded QUANTA initiative on quantification systems in Mesoamerica. Publications: Her work spans diachronic linguistics, script decipherment, and language reconstruction. Notable contributions include a 2025 PhD thesis on Ch’orti’ Maya ergativity and collaborative studies on the Dašt-i Nāwur trilingual inscriptions. Recent research highlights include partial decipherment of the Unknown Kushan script and reevaluation of Proto-Yeniseian phonology. Awards/Grants: Funded by ERC Synergy (QUANTA) and DFG projects (VedaWeb 2.0). Involved in international collaborations on Central Asian linguistics and Mesoamerican cultural history. Labs/Teams: Member of the QUANTA team and interdisciplinary groups at the Max Planck Institute, focusing on language evolution and cultural heritage projects.

• Historical Linguistics
• Mayan Languages
• Indo-European Linguistics
• +7 more

Jamsheed Choksy is Distinguished Professor of History and Director of the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center at Indiana University Bloomington. He holds adjunct appointments in Religious Studies, Ancient Studies, India Studies, and Medieval Studies. His academic career includes former chairs of Central Eurasian Studies and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, as well as directorships in Middle East Program initiatives. Education: PhD in History from Harvard University (1991), BA from Columbia University (1985). His research focuses on sectarian communities across Central Asia, the Near East, and South Asia through an interdisciplinary lens encompassing religious studies, political anthropology, and numismatics. Fieldwork has been conducted in Iran, UAE, Kyrgyzstan, India, and Sri Lanka. Research specialties include Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, and Islamic Studies, with emphasis on religious minorities under Islamic rule. He has advised U.S. government agencies including the Department of State and National Geographic Society, and served on prestigious boards like the National Council on the Humanities (2008–2019) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (elected 2022). Over 30 years of academic leadership across multiple departments Consultant for UNESCO, UNHCR, and international NGOs Published 15 books and 80+ peer-reviewed articles Recipient of Guggenheim, Mellon, and NEH fellowships Contributor to major media outlets like Foreign Affairs and CNN Current doctoral advisees include Guosheng Qu, Lindsay Ruth, and Emily Stranger. His work bridges academic research with policy analysis, addressing contemporary issues like religious freedom and Middle East geopolitics through historical frameworks.

• Zoroastrian Studies
• Islamic Studies
• Iranian and Persian History
• +6 more

Dr Simon Glenn is a Visiting Research Fellow at the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds, within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures. His research focuses on ancient history and archaeology, particularly of the Hellenistic and Eastern Iranian worlds. His areas of expertise include: Hellenistic history and archaeology Parthian Empire Graeco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kingdoms Ancient economy Numismatics across all periods Interdisciplinary approaches to monetary history Dr Glenn is actively engaged in numismatic and historical research, with professional recognition through fellowships and memberships in leading scholarly societies. He is affiliated with the following organizations: Fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society Fellow of the British Institute of Persian Studies Member of the American Numismatic Society Member of the Oriental Numismatic Society As a Visiting Research Fellow, he contributes to the Classics and Ancient History research group at the University of Leeds. Although no formal students or grants are listed, his interdisciplinary work bridges historical, archaeological, and economic methodologies in the study of ancient monetary systems. His research outputs are ongoing, with a focus on integrating numismatic evidence into broader historical narratives.

• Hellenistic History
• Hellenistic Archaeology
• Parthian Empire
• +8 more

Sayyid-Ali Al-Zaidi is a doctoral candidate in Humanities and Graduate Associate at the York Centre for Asian Research (YCAR), York University. His research bridges European/American archaeological activities in the Near East (18th-20th centuries) with the reception of Mesopotamical/Egyptian art in Orientalist painting and Islamic writings. Research Keywords: Ancient Near Eastern art/architecture/archaeology, Islamic art/science/religion, Orientalism, aesthetics Interdisciplinary focus: Art History, Religious Studies, Linguistics, Law His publications highlight cultural intersections, including historical linguistics (e.g., Bactrian/Dromedary terminology) and political history (e.g., Yemen’s Zaidi Imamate). His work engages with archaeology, publishing, and cross-cultural exchanges in academic and artistic contexts.

• Ancient Near Eastern studies
• Islamic studies
• Religious studies
• +4 more