Priya Satia is the Raymond A. Spruance Professor of International History and Professor of History at Stanford University. She specializes in modern British and British Empire history, with a focus on the cultural, material, and intellectual foundations of colonialism. Her work examines how imperial pasts shape contemporary global issues, including state secrecy, military technology, and development policies. Education: Ph.D., UC Berkeley (History, 2004) M.A., UC Berkeley (History, 2004) M.Sc., London School of Economics (Development Economics) B.A. and B.S., Stanford University (International Relations and Chemistry) Research Interests: Satia’s research bridges cultural, economic, and military history. She explores topics like the industrial revolution’s violent origins, the legacy of British air control in Iraq, and the historiography of empire. Her work emphasizes anticolonial perspectives and the ethical dimensions of historical narratives. Awards and Recognition: 2009 AHA-Herbert Baxter Adams Book Prize (Spies in Arabia) 2019 Wadsworth Prize in Business History (Empire of Guns) 2021 Bronze Prize in History (World) (Time’s Monster) Public Engagement: Satia contributes to public debates through op-eds in mainstream media (e.g., The New York Times, BBC) and commentaries on topics like drone warfare, gun control, and colonial legacies. She collaborates with the 1947 Partition Archive to document oral histories of partition. Current Projects: A new book on British colonialism in Punjab and its legacies, alongside explorations of historical agency and the role of poets in anticolonial movements.
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)United Kingdom
Luke Cooper is an Associate Professorial Research Fellow in the Department of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he is affiliated with the Conflict and Civicness Research Group. He serves as Director of PeaceRep’s Ukraine programme, leading interdisciplinary research teams across six global institutions and a broader network of scholars in Ukraine and the region. His academic work sits at the intersection of historical sociology, political theory, and international relations. His research interests include nationalism, authoritarianism, democracy, uneven and combined development, conflict, and systemic societal transformation. Dr Cooper’s work combines theoretical innovation with empirical analysis, drawing on both historical and contemporary case studies to examine processes of social and political change. His recent publications explore themes such as the global threat of authoritarian contagion, the historical evolution of national identity in the British Atlantic, and the political imaginaries in science fiction literature. These works reflect a consistent engagement with macro-historical processes and structural transformations in global politics. Authoritarian Contagion; the Global Threat to Democracy (2021) Imagined communities: from subjecthood to nationality in the British Atlantic (2022) Worlds beyond capitalism: images of uneven and combined development in Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars trilogy (2021) Dr Cooper has been involved in significant policy advocacy and public engagement, co-founding the campaign group Another Europe Is Possible and co-hosting the Another Europe podcast. He has led projects on Brexit impacts and international solidarity with Ukraine. He previously served as a visiting fellow at the Institute of Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna and has taught at Anglia Ruskin University, Richmond American University London, and the University of Sussex. He leads multiple funded research initiatives, including PeaceRep’s Ukraine programme, which conducts evidence-based policy analysis on Ukraine’s war economy and investigates the broader phenomenon of global fragmentation beyond traditional geopolitics. His work emphasizes transnational interconnections in the defense of national sovereignty. Dr Cooper completed his PhD in International Relations at the University of Sussex, holds an MSc in Comparative Politics from LSE, and a BA in Political Studies from the University of Leeds.
Lisa Lowe is the Samuel Knight Professor of American Studies at Yale University, with affiliate appointments in the Programs in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She has previously taught at the University of California, San Diego, and Tufts University, establishing a distinguished interdisciplinary career in American Studies, Comparative Literature, and critical race theory. Education: Stanford University – European Intellectual History University of California, Santa Cruz – French Literature and Critical Theory Lowe's research focuses on the intersections of colonialism, race, immigration, and globalization. Her work critically examines how liberal modernity is built upon racial capitalism, settler colonialism, and transnational displacement. She is a leading voice in transnational feminism and Asian American studies, analyzing how immigrant subjects are constructed as 'perpetual foreigners' within national cultures. Her scholarship bridges literary analysis, historical critique, and political theory to interrogate the legacies of empire. Her recent publications show a sustained engagement with the entanglements of liberalism, empire, and intimacy across continents. Themes include racial capitalism, the transpacific, feminist resistance, and the cultural politics of globalization. Her work consistently challenges disciplinary boundaries and calls for a rethinking of American Studies through a global and decolonial lens. Scientific Awards and Honors: Guggenheim Fellow American Council of Learned Societies Fellow Rockefeller Foundation Fellow Mellon Foundation Fellow UC Humanities Research Institute Fellow University of California President's Faculty Research Fellow (2011–12) Visiting Fellow, School of Advanced Study, University of London F. Ross Johnson-Connaught Distinguished Visitor, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto (2012) Carl Bode - Norman Holmes Pearson Award (2018) Richard A. Yarborough Prize (2018) Finalist, John Hope Franklin Award (2016) Nicolás Guillén Outstanding Book Award (2018) 1997 Book Award in Cultural Studies, Association for Asian American Studies Lowe has been a mentor to numerous scholars, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds, recognized by the Richard A. Yarborough Prize. She has received multiple grants and fellowships supporting her research, including from the Mellon, Rockefeller, and Guggenheim Foundations. She co-convened the Mellon Sawyer Seminar 'Comparative Global Humanities' at Tufts and has been an Affiliate Scholar at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (2022–2023). She has also served as a visiting fellow and speaker at numerous international institutions, indicating sustained collaborative and advisory engagement. Lowe co-edits the influential book series Perverse Modernities with Jack Halberstam at Duke University Press, shaping contemporary critical theory. She has also co-edited special issues and volumes that have advanced the field of Asian American Studies. Her scholarly network includes leading institutions across the U.S. and globally, and she continues to be a central figure in interdisciplinary humanities.
Mathew Frith is a Lecturer at the University of New England (UNE), affiliated with the UNE Business School. He holds a PhD from Federation University Australia and specializes in the history of economic thought, particularly the 19th-century American Protectionist School associated with figures such as Alexander Hamilton and Henry Charles Carey. PhD, Federation University Australia (2024) Bachelor of Economics (Honours), University of New England His research focuses on the economic philosophy and theory of American Protectionists, emphasizing the dynamic, inventive nature of the economy and the role of individuality, invention, and talent diversity. He explores how this school of thought challenges classical and Marxist economic assumptions and offers a coherent, systematic alternative that has been historically underappreciated. His recent publications and presentations analyze key figures like Van Buren Denslow and Henry Charles Carey, reconstructing their theoretical contributions and highlighting the sophistication of the American Protectionist tradition. His work demonstrates that this school rivals and in some aspects surpasses other 19th-century economic doctrines, arguing against linear progress in economic knowledge and advocating for the recovery of lost insights to inform modern analysis. Scientific awards include: 2024 Prize for Best Doctoral Thesis, awarded by the History of Economic Thought Society of Australia (HETSA) Frith teaches International Political Economy (ECON320/420/520) and International Business (BUS202/502). He is a member of several academic societies, including the History of Economic Thought Society of Australia (HETSA), the History of Economics Society (HES), and the Economic Society of Australia (NSW Branch). He is actively engaged in research dissemination through platforms such as ResearchGate, Academia.edu, and Google Scholar, and maintains a personal website and Linktree for updates on his scholarly activities. There is no indication of lab or research team leadership at this stage.
Stefano PELLO' is a Full Professor in the Department of Asian and North African Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice , where he specializes in Persian Language and Literature and the History of Iran in the Islamic Era. He also serves as the Director's Delegate for External Communications. His academic affiliations include long-term research positions at Columbia University and SOAS, University of London, reflecting his international scholarly reach. Education: PhD in Oriental Studies, Sapienza University of Rome (2006), thesis: 'Hindu Poets and Persian Intellectual Circles between Delhi and Lucknow (1680–1856).' Degree in Oriental Languages and Literatures, Ca' Foscari University of Venice (2001), with highest honors. High School Diploma, Classical Lyceum 'Carlo Alberto', Novara (1995). He holds advanced certificates in Persian (Dehkhoda Institute, Tehran) and Arabic (Damascus University, Cairo). Research Interests: PELLO' is a leading scholar in Indo-Persian literary culture, focusing on multilingualism, cosmopolitanism, and intercultural exchange in early modern South Asia. His work explores Persian poetry, Sufism, ethnography, and the philosophical dimensions of nature, language, and identity. He investigates how Persian functioned as a cosmopolitan medium across India, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Publications Trends: His recent articles analyze Mīrzā Bīdil’s poetics of nature and imagination, Persian literary representations of Varanasi, and the role of Persian in multilingual societies. The research reveals a consistent focus on textual identity, cross-cultural dialogue, and the philosophical underpinnings of Indo-Persian literary production. Scientific Contributions: Author of major monographs including Tutiyan-i Hind (2012) and Microcosmographies (2024). Translator of key Persian literary and mystical works into Italian (e.g., Hafez, Rumi, Motahhari). Editor of scholarly volumes such as Borders: Itineraries on the Edges of Iran (2016). Contributor to Encyclopaedia Iranica and Encyclopaedia of Islam . Advising and Grants: While no formal students are listed, PELLO' has directed PhD theses and mentored junior researchers. He has led international research initiatives, including workshops at the European University Institute and Ca' Foscari, often in collaboration with institutions like Columbia and SOAS. His work is supported by national and international academic networks. Labs and Teams: He has organized and convened international workshops such as 'Cultures of tahqiq from the Mughals to the Mediterranean' (2021) and 'Persian Literature in Multilingual India' (2008), fostering collaborative research on Persianate intellectual history.
Ida Zilio-Grandi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Asian and North African Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where she specializes in Arabic Language and Literature (SSD L/OR-12). She also holds teaching responsibilities in Islamic Thought and Theology (SSD L/OR-10) and has been actively involved in multiple interdisciplinary programs, including Master’s degrees in Interfaith Dialogue, Islamic Philosophy, and Mediterranean Studies. From 2019 to 2023, she served as Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Abu Dhabi under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reflecting her deep engagement with cultural diplomacy. Education Graduated in Oriental Languages and Literatures (Arabic) from Ca' Foscari University of Venice. PhD in “Studies on the Middle East and the Maghreb from the founding of Islam to the Present day” at the University of Naples “L’Orientale”. Research Interests Her scholarly work centers on Quranic studies, Islamic ethics, and Arabic literature. She investigates religious figures in the Quran (e.g., Mary, Cain, Pharaoh, Jonah), Islamic moral concepts such as gratitude (šukr), patience (ṣabr), tolerance, and mercy, and the ethical dimensions of employment, speech, and hospitality. Her research draws on classical exegesis, adab literature, and contemporary Islamic thought, bridging historical analysis with modern applications. She also explores interfaith dialogue, particularly between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, and cultural relations between the Islamic world and the West. Publication Trends Her recent publications (2020–2025) reflect a sustained focus on Islamic virtues, ethics, and Quranic interpretation. These include monographs on the moral life of Muslims, studies on Sufism in the UAE, Abraham’s legacy, and environmental ethics in Islam. Her work combines rigorous philological analysis with philosophical insight, often published in high-impact journals and academic volumes. Scientific Service and Recognition Member of the “Committee for Islam in Italy” at the Ministry of Interior (since 2015). Member of the Scientific Committee of the “Dialogue méditerranéen sur la modernité et le religieux” at Collège des Bernardins, Paris. Sits on the editorial boards of Annali di Ca’ Foscari , Islamo-Christiana , and L’opera Comune . Invited Researcher at the Pontificio Istituto di Studi Arabi e d’Islamistica (PISAI), Rome (since 2017). Advising, Grants, and Leadership She has coordinated several Master’s programs at Ca' Foscari, including the LM “Languages, Economies and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa (LEISAAM)” and the international LM “MIM – Crossing the Mediterranean.” She is the Erasmus+ Coordinator for partnerships with the University of Jordan and Mohammed V University in Rabat. She led the research project The Languages of the Absolute (2011–2015), funded by Ca' Foscari University. Though no formal students are listed, her mentorship is evident through her academic leadership and editorial roles. Labs and Research Groups She is affiliated with several research centers, including the Ca' Foscari Center for Studies on Human Rights (CESTUDIR), the Center for Contemporary Middle East Studies (CEM), and the Religion, Law and Economy in the Mediterranean Area Center (REDESM). She is also a member of the Arab-Christian Research Group (GRAC) and the Lay Association for Biblical Culture “Biblia.”
Enrico Maria Ariemma is an Associate Professor at the Department of Humanities (DIPSUM) of the University of Salerno. He specializes in Latin literature with particular focus on Latin epic poetry , Flavian literature , and classical reception studies , working extensively on authors like Silius Italicus, Seneca, and Catullus. His research often explores military narratives , intertextuality , and ethical concepts in antiquity . His academic work features in publications such as Brill's Companion to Silius Italicus , and Lexis , with recent contributions on topics like "Tra vino e fuoco" (2023) analyzing mythological topos in Silius' Punica , and "Contare i baci" (2022) examining Catullus' intersection with mathematical thinking. He has also contributed to conference proceedings on epic-historical synthesis and war representation in Senecan tragedy . Ariemma participates in international academic networks, including co-organizing the 2019 "Ritorno al futuro" conference on Silius Italicus. He maintains an active research agenda with publications in Humanitas , Thaumazein , and Pan , while his teaching focuses on Latin language and literature and Latin didactics . His office is located at the University of Salerno’s Fisciano Campus, Building B, Room 027.
Christian Flachsland is Professor of Climate Policy and Director of the Centre for Sustainability at the Hertie School. He also serves as a Research Fellow at the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) , where he previously led the Governance working group. His research focuses on climate policy design, energy governance, and the political economy of sustainability transitions, with particular emphasis on Germany and the European Union. Flachsland's recent publications analyze climate institutions across Germany, UK, Sweden, and Australia, and develop frameworks for anticipatory policy mix construction in road transport. His work combines machine learning literature mapping with comparative institutional analysis , appearing in top journals like Science and Nature Climate Change . Current projects examine EU carbon border adjustment mechanisms and reflexive governance in climate policy evaluation. As co-coordinator of Governance research in the BMBF-funded Kopernikus-Ariadne project , he assesses climate policy options for Germany and Europe through multi-country institutional comparisons and policy pathway assessments . His work bridges academic research with policy advice, including participation in the IPCC Scoping Meeting for its Sixth Assessment Report.
Giancarlo Casale is a Full-time Professor and Head of the Department of History at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy, a leading institution for advanced research in the social sciences and humanities. He is a specialist in the early modern Ottoman Empire and its global connections, particularly with Renaissance Europe, focusing on intellectual, diplomatic, and maritime history. His research interests include early modern history, Ottoman studies, intellectual history, cartography, cosmography, travel literature, ethnographic writing, maritime technology, and comparative empire studies. He is especially interested in the intersections between Ottoman intellectual life and Renaissance Italy, as well as the broader dynamics of global diplomacy and knowledge exchange in the early modern world. His work contributes significantly to decentering Eurocentric narratives in global history. His recent publications reveal a strong thematic focus on Ottoman intellectual practices (such as taḥqīq), cross-cultural scientific exchange, and innovative methodologies in historical research, including reflections on digital media and video games as tools for historical engagement. These works span disciplines including history of science, diplomatic history, and cultural history, with recurring sub-themes of spatial thinking, knowledge networks, and transcultural encounters. He serves on the editorial boards of several major journals, including Renaissance Quarterly , Medieval Encounters , and Arabic Humanities , and has been Executive Editor of the Journal of Early Modern History since 2011. He supervises a large cohort of PhD students, indicating an active and international research group. He is fluent in English, Italian, Turkish, French, Portuguese, and Arabic, underscoring his transnational scholarly profile. His leadership roles, editorial work, and ongoing research projects—such as the Working Group on Methods in Early Modern History and the Diplomatic/International History Working Group—highlight his central role in shaping contemporary historical scholarship.
Liam O’Loughlin is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Capital University, where he researches postcolonial literatures, environmental humanities, and cultural studies. His current project examines disaster representations in contemporary South Asian fiction. He holds a PhD in Critical and Cultural Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and a BA in English from the University of Maryland. His research intersects postcolonial theory, environmental criticism, and media studies, with a focus on: Industrial/environmental disasters in literature Global Black and South Asian cultural relationships Institutional critiques of academic fields Documentary film and anti-colonial narratives His publications consistently explore postcolonial disaster narratives, institutional power structures, and transnational solidarity, with recent work emphasizing South Asian-Black diasporic connections and ecological crises. Thematically, articles engage with trauma, representation politics, and decolonial theory across literary and visual media. Professor O’Loughlin co-edits scholarly collections, including a special issue of South Asian Review on disaster representations. He teaches courses spanning Postcolonial/Global Literatures, Literature and the Environment, and Academic Composition.
Ramin Shaghaghi is a Lecturer for Persian language and literature at the Asia-Africa Institute within the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Hamburg, holding this position since the summer semester of 2003. His academic background includes a Magister in Iranistics and Ethnology from Freie Universität Berlin, where he completed his thesis "Der Naqqāl als Träger des kulturellen Gedächtnisses in Iran" (The Naqqāl as Carrier of Cultural Memory in Iran). During his studies, he contributed to the DFG-funded "Digitalization of Turfan Manuscripts" project at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. Shaghaghi's research spans critical domains of Iranian and Near Eastern studies, with primary focus on: Oral tradition of Iran Cultural memory and remembrance practices in Iran Persian classical and modern literary traditions Historical evolution of Persian grammar Ethnology of the Near East Gender Studies frameworks Broad Iran-related socio-cultural phenomena His scholarly work emphasizes the interplay between oral transmission mechanisms and cultural preservation in Iranian contexts, particularly examining narrative carriers like the Naqqāl tradition. This research intersects with literary analysis, historical linguistics, and ethnographic methodologies to explore identity formation and memory politics. Shaghaghi actively supervises Bachelor's and Master's theses on Persian language, literature, and Iranian cultural studies at the University of Hamburg, though specific student names are not publicly documented. The Asia-Africa Institute hosts his academic activities alongside major research initiatives including Social Contexts of Rebellion in the Early Islamic Period (SCORE), Persian Letters from the "second Iran" manuscript analysis, Evolution of Islamic Societies algorithmic project, InterSaME oral/written transmission study, COBHUNI, FGM-Egypt, Rifaiya-Iraq, and the RomanIslam Center for Comparative Empire Studies, providing collaborative frameworks for his research.
Ian McAdam is a Professor in the English Department at the University of Lethbridge, where he has taught early modern English literature and introductory courses since 1995. His scholarship focuses on Renaissance drama, particularly Shakespeare and Marlowe, with institutional recognition through the 2009 Distinguished Teaching Award. His educational trajectory includes: BA (English, Honors) from the University of Victoria MA (English) from the University of Toronto PhD (English) from Dalhousie University (thesis on Christopher Marlowe) McAdam's research centers on early modern masculinity, examining how Reformation theology shaped gender identity and how magic functioned as a cultural discourse. He employs psychoanalytic frameworks to analyze self-fashioning in Shakespeare, Milton, and Jacobean drama, while exploring intersections with witchcraft, religious psychology, and seventeenth-century poetry. His expertise spans textual analysis, historical theology, and gender theory within Renaissance contexts. His publication history (1995–2015) reveals evolving scholarly priorities: initial work on Marlowe's identity construction expanded into comparative studies of magic across playwrights (Jonson, Greene), then matured into theological examinations of masculinity in Shakespeare and Milton. Recurring themes include religious conflict in domestic tragedies, satirical treatments of alchemy, and the psychological dimensions of gender performance. Key honors include: Roma Gill Award (Second-place, 1999-2000) for The Irony of Identity University of Lethbridge Distinguished Teaching Award (2009) McAdam has authored two monographs: The Irony of Identity: Self and Imagination in the Drama of Christopher Marlowe (1999) and Magic and Masculinity in Early Modern English Drama (2009). His extensive article corpus demonstrates rigorous engagement with primary texts and theoretical frameworks, consistently advancing understandings of gender, religion, and power in Renaissance literature.
Heping Liu is an Associate Professor of Art History at Wellesley College , specializing in Chinese painting of the Song dynasty . His research explores intersections of art, literature, environment, science, and technology during China's 10th-12th centuries. Ph.D. from Yale University Recipient of NEH and ACLS Fellowships Teaches courses on Japanese/Chinese art, poetic painting, and Song imperial painting academy Focuses on hands-on art education through museum sessions Key research themes include: Political exile in Song landscapes Imperial patronage systems Buddhist iconography adaptation Urban/rural representations Cross-cultural artistic exchange Notable publications analyze: Qingming Shanghe Tu (2011) Juecheng's Buddhist works (2007) Empress Liu's Maitreya portrait (2003) Water-mill technological symbolism (2002) Scientific recognition: National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship Teaching philosophy emphasizes direct engagement with artworks through: Davis Museum resources Boston-New York institutional partnerships Object-based learning sessions Comparative East Asian studies
National Institute of Oriental Languages and CivilizationsFrance
Sylvia Chassaing is a Lecturer in contemporary Russian literature and translation at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) in Paris, France. She is affiliated with the CREE (Centre de Recherches Euro-Asiennes) research team and specializes in Slavic languages and literature, with a particular focus on Russian studies. Her work bridges literary analysis, cultural studies, and political commentary on contemporary Russian society. Chassaing's research interests span multiple interconnected fields including sociocriticism, gender studies, and ecocriticism as applied to Russian literature. She focuses particularly on Extremely Contemporary Russian Literature (2010s-2020s), examining how writers and literary institutions navigate power structures in Putin's Russia. Her work explores themes of trauma narratives, feminist publishing movements, literary activism (such as the #Tikhiypiket silent protest movement), and ecocritical readings of Russian texts. She also investigates the relationship between art and politics in post-Soviet public space, including Moscow Actionism. Her scholarly output reveals a consistent engagement with the intersection of literature, politics, and social movements in contemporary Russia. Chassaing frequently analyzes how Russian writers respond to political pressures, with particular attention to gender dynamics and ecological concerns. Her work demonstrates how literary forms become vehicles for political expression and resistance in contexts of censorship and authoritarianism. Co-organized international conference 'Being a writer under Putin' (2024) Co-directed Russian-French translation seminars (2019-2021) Co-founded SAMPIZDAT publishing house for Russian underground literature Translator of contemporary Russian writers including Daria Serenko and Boris Khersonskij Chassaing actively contributes to research evaluation for journals including Revue Slovo and Slavica Occitania, demonstrating her standing within the academic community focused on Slavic studies and contemporary literature.
Dr Rory O'Bryen is an Associate Professor of Latin American Literature and Culture at the Spanish & Portuguese Department of the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, University of Cambridge. He teaches courses on Latin American cultural studies and literature, with a focus on Colombian history and modern cultural narratives. Department: Spanish & Portuguese College affiliation: King's College Editorial role: One of the editors of the Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies His research interests include: Modern Latin American culture Nineteenth- and twentieth-century Colombian literature Political violence and memory Transnational cultural studies Environmental humanities in Latin America Representation of national identity Dr O'Bryen's publication history reveals strong trends in: Colombian cultural analysis River studies (particularly the Magdalena River) Postconflict narratives Ecological and infrastructural themes Intercultural literary theory Visual culture and political conflict As an academic supervisor, he has guided doctoral research on diverse topics including: Literature and film of the Cuban Revolution Prison writing in Latin America Latin American literary engagements with Nazism Ecological themes in Latin American art Post-1960s Latin American errancy writing Contemporary Latin American horrorism narratives
