Prof. Max Schaub is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Hamburg and a WZB Fellow at the Berlin Social Science Research Center. His research focuses on violence, migration, health, and their societal impacts, employing experimental and mixed-methods approaches. He holds a Ph.D. from the European University Institute (2016), an M.Sc. from Oxford, and a B.A. from Dresden. Prior roles include postdoctoral positions at WZB and Bocconi University. Education: Ph.D. in Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute (2016) M.Sc. in African Studies, University of Oxford B.A. in International Relations, University of Dresden Research Interests: Violence dynamics and conflict consequences Migration determinants and societal integration Health outcomes in conflict zones and policy responses Political behavior under economic stress Current Projects: WarGen (DFG-funded): Examines electoral turnovers and health costs during crises ViVac (GLOHRA-funded): Analyzes civilian targeting in interstate wars Cultural roots of prejudice via antisemitism studies Teaching Roles: University of Hamburg: Courses on peacebuilding, political violence, global health Hertie School: Causal inference Free University of Berlin: Historical political economy Labs/Teams: Leads WarGen and ViVac projects, collaborating with institutions in Germany, Italy, and Senegal.
Dr. Johannes Gerschewski is a Research Fellow at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center and Academic Coordinator of the Theory Network at the Cluster of Excellence 'SCRIPTS' (Freie Universität Berlin). He specializes in political regimes, democratic/autocratic theory, and legitimacy of political orders. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of regime stability and crisis dynamics. Education : PhD (2014): Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (summa cum laude) Studies in Political Science, Philosophy, Economics (Magister Artium), and International Business (Diplom) at University of Passau, Freie Universität Berlin, and Yonsei University. Research Interests : Explores autocratic and democratic regime dynamics, focusing on legitimacy mechanisms, regime transitions, and ideological frameworks. Recent work analyzes authoritarian ideology spread (via archival studies), sportswashing effects, and democratic backsliding mechanisms. Awards : Gero Erdmann-Award for Comparative Area Studies (2013/2014) Frank Cass 2013 Award for Best Article by a Young Scholar Advising/Grants : Co-led DFG-funded project on 'Critical Junctures and Survival of Dictatorships' (2014–2016). Currently coordinates SCRIPTS Theory Network and advises on global governance studies. Active in Berlin Summer School in Social Sciences (co-founder since 2011). Labs/Teams : Associated with WZB's Global Governance Unit and the SCRIPTS Cluster. Collaborates with international teams on projects like the Regime Legitimation Strategies (RLS) database (1900–2018).
Cécile Michel is a renowned Assyriologist holding dual roles as a Senior Researcher at CNRS (France) and Professor at Universität Hamburg (Germany). She specializes in the history of Upper Mesopotamia and Anatolia during the second millennium BCE, focusing on private archives, literacy, material culture, and ethical research practices. Her work integrates interdisciplinary approaches, particularly in analyzing cuneiform tablets and ancient textiles. Michel leads the 'Ethics' working group within the Cluster of Excellence ‘Understanding Written Artefacts’ (UWA) at Hamburg and coordinates international projects like the RFA09 (CT scanning sealed tablets) and RFE04 (Assyrian manuscript culture). Education details are not explicitly provided, but her career highlights include: Doctor honoris causa from Copenhagen University (2017) and Hamburg University (2023) President of the International Association for Assyriology (2014–2018) Scientific delegate at CNRS's Scientific Integrity Mission Recipient of the Knight of the Legion of Honor (2019) Her research interests span: Materiality of cuneiform tablets and digital preservation Gender roles in ancient societies Archival literacy and education Textile archaeology and trade networks Her documentaries, such as Thus speaks Taram-Kubi (2016) and Cuneiform script: writing and calculating (2017), have garnered international acclaim. She actively promotes ethical practices in archaeology and cultural heritage preservation, including work on safeguarding manuscripts from Timbuktu and Nepal. Key grants and projects include leadership roles in the SFB 950 ‘Manuscript Cultures’ (2011–2020) and Cluster of Excellence UWA (2019–2025). Her research teams collaborate globally, integrating archaeology, digital humanities, and experimental archaeology to decode ancient texts and artifacts.
Bernhard Brehmer is a Professor of Slavic Linguistics at the University of Konstanz since 2020, holding a W3-professorship in Slavic Linguistics. He previously held academic positions at the Universities of Greifswald, Hamburg, and Tübingen, including a Juniorprofessur and W2-professorship. His research focuses on multilingualism, language attrition, heritage languages, and sociolinguistic aspects of Slavic languages. He earned his doctorate in Ostslavische Philologie from Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen in 2004 with a dissertation on politeness expressions in Russian. Brehmer has led numerous interdisciplinary research projects, including the DFG-funded 'Russian in Germany across Generations' (2021–2024) and the EU-funded 'Nachbarspracherwerb' initiative. His awards include the 2012 Junior Fellowship at FRIAS and the 2018 Sparkassen-Förderpreis for German-Polish collaboration. His scholarly contributions span monographs, edited volumes, and over 50 peer-reviewed articles. Key works include Politeness between Convention and Creativity (2009) and co-edited collections like Lost in Transmission (2020). He actively participates in academic governance, serving as director of Slavistik institutes and developing interdisciplinary programs like the Baltic Sea Region MA program. His research integrates corpus linguistics, sociolinguistics, and applied language policy, addressing contemporary issues such as minority language maintenance and digital language behavior.
Carmen Brandt is a Professor of Contemporary South Asian Studies at the University of Bonn, Germany, where she has been a faculty member since 2017, first as a Junior Professor and since 2023 as a W2-Professor. She is affiliated with the Department of South Asian Studies within the Faculty of Humanities. Her academic journey began at Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, where she earned her Magistra Artium in 2006 and her doctorate in 2015 with a dissertation on the 'Bedes' of Bengal. She previously served as a research associate and lecturer at Halle before joining Bonn. W2-Professor, University of Bonn (2023–present) Junior Professor, University of Bonn (2017–2023) Research Associate, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg (2007–2016) Lecturer in Bengali, Halle (2006–2007) Her research focuses on language and script politics, minority discourses, nation-building, and the cultural dynamics of Bengal and Bangladesh. She investigates how writing systems serve as tools of identity formation and political contestation, particularly among marginalized communities such as the 'Bedes' and Balti people. Her interdisciplinary approach draws from sociolinguistics, cultural anthropology, and postcolonial theory. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent engagement with themes of script identity, ethnic marginalization, and geopolitical belonging. Her work spans monographs, journal articles, and edited volumes, often analyzing how language policies and media representations shape national and subnational identities in South Asia. She frequently collaborates with scholars across institutions and countries, contributing to transnational academic discourse. Scientific and Professional Memberships: Editorial Team, ASIEN journal Chairperson, Bengal Link e.V. Chairperson, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Asienkunde (DGA) Spokesperson Council, Working Group “Modern South Asia” (DGA) Member, Literaturforum Indien e.V. Member, Association of Asian Studies She has advised and organized numerous academic events, including the German South Asia Days and workshops on Tibetanness and language politics. She has delivered invited lectures across South Asia, Europe, and North America, demonstrating her international scholarly reach. Her work bridges academic research and public engagement, particularly through journalistic contributions on South Asian socio-political issues. Laboratories and Research Teams: While not leading a formal lab, she actively organizes and participates in collaborative research networks, including the Working Group on Modern South Asia and the German South Asia Consortium. She has co-organized multiple international conferences and workshops, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue among early-career and established scholars.
Dorothea Kübler is a Professor of Economics at Technische Universität Berlin and Director of the Market Behavior department at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center. She serves as a Principal Investigator in the Excellence Cluster SCRIPTS (Research Unit Temporality) and the Berlin Graduate School for Global and Transregional Studies (BGTS), and is a member of the International Research College (IRC) and the collaborative research center CRC TRR 190 “Rationality and Competition”. She completed her Economics degree at Freie Universität Berlin in 1992, earned her PhD in 1997, and completed her habilitation in 2003, both at Humboldt Universität zu Berlin. Her studies also included periods in Philadelphia and Konstanz. Kübler's research employs experimental methods and game theory to investigate decision-making and market design, with a focus on matching markets (such as university admissions), social and moral norms, educational choices, discrimination, and the role of AI in labor markets. Her work bridges theoretical game theory with real-world applications in education and labor policy, contributing to both academic knowledge and practical implementations. Her publication record (2010-2022) demonstrates sustained contributions to experimental economics, particularly in matching markets and behavioral aspects of economic decision-making. Key themes include the design of centralized admission systems, privacy trade-offs, and the interplay between social norms and economic incentives. Scientific Awards: Schader Prize (2020) Prize of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences (2023) Research Funding and Leadership: Excellence Cluster SCRIPTS : Principal Investigator in Research Unit Temporality and BGTS Faculty CRC TRR 190 “Rationality and Competition” : Member “Matching in Practice” network : Founding Member Kübler directs the Market Behavior department at WZB, which conducts experimental research on market design, and co-founded the “Matching in Practice” network to connect academic research with practical market implementations in education and labor.
Dr. Shengcheng Yu is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology (CIT) of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) , affiliated with the Chair of Software Engineering & AI . He earned his bachelor's and Ph.D. from Nanjing University (NJU) in 2020 and 2024, respectively. Research Focus: His work bridges Software Testing with Artificial Intelligence , concentrating on GUI Testing , Mobile App Testing , Crowdsourced Testing , and GUI Automation . His methodologies integrate Image Recognition , Reinforcement Learning , and Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance automated testing frameworks. Publications Trends: His recent studies (2023-2024) emphasize AI-driven testing tools , including vision-based GUI testing , LLM-based test script generation , and deep image-text fusion for crowdsourced test reports . Earlier work (2021) established foundations in cross-platform testing and screenshot understanding. Team Affiliation: Collaborates with Prof. Dr. Chunyang Chen and researchers such as Lukas Roschel , Wenchao Gu , and Yanqi Su .
Dr. Stefan Bojowald is a Lecturer in the Egyptology department at the Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology, University of Bonn. He holds a doctorate completed between 2014 and 2017 and has been actively contributing to the field through teaching and extensive scholarly publication. His institutional affiliations include membership in ATINER, Academic Genesis, and the Alliance Academy of Sciences, reflecting his engagement with international academic networks. Doctoral studies: 2014–2017 Master's degree: 2001 Studies: Egyptology, Classical Archaeology, Classical Philology, Semitic Studies, and Studies of the Christian Orient (1992–2000) Stefan Bojowald's research is deeply rooted in philological and linguistic analysis of ancient Egyptian and Coptic texts. His primary interests include Egyptian lexicography and phonology, with a particular focus on sound changes and word origins. He investigates cultural and linguistic contacts between Egypt and the Near East, drawing parallels between Egyptian, Hebrew, Akkadian, and Ugaritic languages. A distinctive aspect of his work is Egyptian ornithology—the study of birds in ancient Egyptian literature and symbolism. Additionally, he explores Coptic monasticism, especially through the lens of the Vita of Pachom , analyzing textual details, moral themes, and biblical intertextuality. His scholarship often bridges linguistic precision with cultural and religious interpretation. His recent publications, spanning from 2021 to 2025, reveal a consistent output in high-quality journals such as Aula Orientalis , Göttinger Miszellen , N.A.B.U. , and Le Muséon . These articles primarily focus on etymological investigations, phonological shifts (e.g., loss of 'q', 'n', 'h'), lexical analysis of specific terms, and comparative studies across Semitic and Afro-Asiatic languages. A significant trend is his exploration of linguistic survivals from ancient Egyptian into Coptic, metaphorical language in religious texts, and the interpretation of monastic literature. His 2023 monograph on the Vita of Pachom underscores his expertise in Coptic hagiography. While no scientific awards are listed in the provided text, Bojowald’s extensive publication record in specialized Egyptological and Coptic journals demonstrates scholarly recognition and contribution to the field. Dr. Bojowald advises students in Egyptology and Coptic studies, particularly through his courses in Coptic language (Koptisch I + II) and Coptic reading. There is no public information on external research grants he may have received. He is an active academic with a strong focus on textual analysis and linguistic research. There is no information provided about specific research labs or collaborative teams led by Dr. Bojowald. However, his membership in academic platforms and frequent publication in collaborative journals suggest participation in broader scholarly communities and networks within Egyptology and Coptic studies.
Dr. Daniel Drewski is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences , Otto-Friedrich University of Bamberg, Germany. His research focuses on the Sociology of European Integration , Globalization , and Symbolic Boundaries in Migration . He previously worked as a Research Associate at the Cluster of Excellence 'Contestations of the Liberal Script' (SCRIPTS) and the Institute of Sociology at Freie Universität Berlin. Doctorate from Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences (2019) Study periods in Berlin, Santiago de Chile, and Bloomington (IN) Research Interests include: Migration policy and border dynamics Social and symbolic boundary constructions Discourse analysis in EU institutions Qualitative methodologies Publication Trends reveal consistent focus on: Refugee policy framing (2024 typology) Symbolic boundaries in EU elites (2022 monograph) Comparative migration analysis (Germany, Poland, Spain) Global academic and labor market stratification Scientific Recognition : Recipient of German Sociological Association's Dissertation Prize (2019)
Dr. Zekine Özertural is a researcher affiliated with the University of Bonn's Department of Central Asian Linguistics and Cultural Studies, specializing in Manichaean Studies and Old Turkic languages. Her work bridges historical linguistics, religious studies, and manuscript analysis, focusing on pre-Islamic Old Turkish texts and their cultural contexts. Research Focus: Old Turkish Uyghur Manichaeism, Dictionary of Old Uyghur, Cataloging of Oriental Manuscripts in Germany (KOHD), and Pre-Islamic Old Turkish Texts Electronic Corpus (VATEC). Scientific Activities: Collaborative projects like KOHD for manuscript preservation, editorial contributions to academic proceedings (e.g., 2011's Eastern Manichaeism ), and interdisciplinary analysis of textual evolution. Her recent publications (2002-2014) analyze Manichaean-Uyghur textual structures, phonetic/orthographic peculiarities, and cross-cultural linguistic influences, particularly between Turkic and Iranian traditions. She has co-authored works on Sogdian-Old Turkic relations and confessional texts like Xuastvanıft, contributing to understanding Central Asian religious syncretism.
Prof. Dr. Helmar Baum is a Professor of Media Management at Mediadesign University (mdh) since 2007, leading the Media Management department. He holds a PhD from Freie Universität Berlin (2003) on film selection decision parameters. As a film producer, he has produced seven feature films and multiple short films through Valerian Film GmbH, collaborating with studios like Warner Bros. and ProSiebenSat1. His teaching areas include Media Management, Financial Management, Marketing, and Digital Media Production. His research focuses on media economics, TV project management, and communication strategies. He co-authored key publications like the 2014 and 2013 Jahrbuch Medienmanagement , and explores scripted TV formats' sustainability. Active in academic governance as a member of the academic senate. Education: Dual degree in Business Administration (HWR Berlin) and Philosophy (TU Berlin), followed by a PhD at Freie Universität Berlin. Professional experience spans film production and academic leadership. His interdisciplinary approach bridges media theory and industry practice.
Vika Kirchenbauer is a Professor of Fine Arts / Fundamentals with a focus on Film/Video at the Braunschweig University of Art since 2022. As an artist, author, and music producer, her work has been exhibited internationally at institutions such as the Kunstverein Düsseldorf, Whitechapel Gallery (London), and Berlin International Film Festival. Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf Kunstverein Kevin Space, Vienna Tainan Art Museum, Taiwan Whitechapel Gallery, London Kirchenbauer's research investigates intersections of violence and visibility , European religious music and colonialism , and oppression/emancipation dynamics in art. Her recent works include the video Compassion and Inconvenience (2024) and the publication Works, Scripts, Essays 2012-2022 (2022) by Mousse Publishing. Collaborators in her monographs include Oakland-based archivist Leeroy Kun Young Kang, who examines Kirchenbauer's exploration of distance/proximity in oppressive systems, and Warsaw-based philosopher Ewa Majewska, who analyzes her research on violence/non-violence. Kirchenbauer's practice spans multiple disciplines, combining visual art, written theory, and sound production through her solo music project COOL FOR YOU (active since 2015).
David Sasseville is a Post-Doc researcher in Comparative Linguistics (Hittitology) at Philipps University Marburg, specializing in Anatolian languages with particular focus on Luwian, Lycian, and Lydian. A French-Canadian from the Gaspésie peninsula of Québec, he completed his undergraduate studies in Ancient Greek, Latin, and Historical Linguistics at Concordia University in Montreal before pursuing two Master's degrees at Marburg University: one in Indo-European Linguistics focused on the Anatolian branch, and another in Ancient Greek Philology. His research centers on the linguistic structure and historical development of Anatolian languages, with special emphasis on verbal morphology, phonology, and syntax. Through meticulous philological analysis combined with comparative linguistic methods, Sasseville bridges traditional philology with modern linguistic theory to reconstruct earlier stages of these languages and their relationship to Proto-Indo-European. Sasseville's scholarly output demonstrates consistent advancement in understanding Anatolian languages through careful examination of fragmentary texts. His 2021 monograph Anatolian Verbal Stem Formation: Luwian, Lycian and Lydian provides a comprehensive classification of verbal stem classes across these languages. His more recent work includes studies on Luwian dative-locative endings, Lydian o-vocalism, Palaic texts from Hattusa, and the identification of new languages in Hittite archives. He actively collaborates with international scholars including Susanne Görke (with whom he's preparing a new edition of Palaic texts from Hattusa), Elisabeth Rieken, Ilya Yakubovich, and Annick Payne across multiple institutions. His work on the eDiAna digital dictionary project has involved supervising academic internships for doctoral student Oscar Billing from Uppsala University and MA student Jonas Döll from Philipps University Marburg. Sasseville teaches a diverse range of courses including Hieroglyphic Luwian, Cuneiform Luwian, Palaic, Historical Grammar of Sanskrit, Hittite Reading for Beginners, Latin Linguistics, Lycian Varieties, and Introduction to Historical Linguistics, reflecting his broad expertise across ancient languages and linguistic theory.
apl. Prof. Dr. Heike Sternberg-el Hotabi has served as Associate Professor (apl. Prof.) in the Department of Egyptology and Coptic Studies at the University of Göttingen since 2000. She previously held visiting positions at the University of Graz (2000-2010) and interim professorships in Basel (1999) while directing the DFG-funded Prosopographical Lexicon of Non-Royal Women of the New Kingdom (1999-2005). Education & academic milestones: 1974-1978: Undergraduate studies in Egyptology, Coptology and Assyriology, Göttingen & Tübingen 1980: M.A. Göttingen 1983: Ph.D. Tübingen 1995: Habilitation, Göttingen Research focus: Her work concentrates on Egyptian religion of the 1st millennium BCE, especially temple texts and decorative programs of the Greco-Roman period, Horus stelae, gender-specific prosopography, and cultural contacts under Persian rule. She combines philological analysis of hieroglyphic, Demotic and Coptic sources with broader questions of religious history and syncretism. Publication profile: Across five monographs and c. seventy articles she has treated royal annals, funerary religion, divine kingship, and the transformation of script and myth in Late Antique Egypt. Recent papers continue her long-term editorial commitment to the Göttinger Miszellen and the TUAT series, illustrating an enduring interest in editing and contextualising primary sources. Editorial & collaborative roles: Co-editor, Texte aus der Umwelt des Alten Testaments (Egyptology section), 1980-2000 Co-editor, TUAT.NF , since 2001 Editorial board, Göttinger Miszellen , since 2004 Member, Graduate School 896 “Images of Gods – Images of God – Worldviews” Advisory Board, journal Abgadiyat , Bibliotheca Alexandrina She currently advises from her office at Heinrich-Düker-Weg 14, 37073 Göttingen, and can be contacted at hsternb@uni-goettingen.de .
Yannick Alexander Wiechmann is a Lecturer and doctoral candidate in the Department of Egyptology at the Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology, University of Bonn. He teaches courses in Middle Egyptian, late hieroglyphic texts, and thematic seminars on ancient Egyptian religion and text transmission. His academic work is deeply embedded in the philological and cultural study of ancient Egypt, with strong interdisciplinary ties to Indology and Near Eastern studies. His research interests center on funerary texts , particularly the Book of the Dead and Coffin Texts , exploring themes of paratextuality , intertextuality , and textual canonization . He investigates cultural contacts in antiquity, especially in Late Antique Egypt, where his work on the Coptic script examines the intersection of linguistics, religious symbolism, and Christian identity. His philological analyses extend to Sandhi phenomena in earlier Egyptian and the interpretation of classical texts like the Prophecy of Neferti. The trends in his publications reveal a strong focus on textual history , linguistic evolution , and religious symbolism across ancient Egyptian and Coptic traditions. His work often bridges Egyptology with religious studies, epigraphy, and comparative philology, demonstrating a methodologically rigorous and interdisciplinary approach. His scientific awards include: Promotionsstipendium der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (since 2023) Stipendium der Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (2017–2019) He has advised no students listed publicly but has served as a tutor (student assistant) from 2015 to 2019. He has been involved in multiple research projects, including collaborative grants with Emory University, and has presented at international conferences such as Current Research in Egyptology and the European Conference of Egyptologists. He has not received external grant funding explicitly mentioned in the text. He is affiliated with several academic bodies: Verband der Ägyptologie Verein zur Förderung des Ägyptischen Museums der Universität Bonn e.V. Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christliche Archäologie International Association of Egyptologists
