Rosalind Silvester is a Senior Lecturer in Modern Languages at Queen's University Belfast's School of Arts, English and Languages. She specializes in contemporary literature, migratory studies, and Francophone-Chinese writing, with a focus on intermediality and transnationalism. Her research often intersects art installations, philosophy, and film criticism, applying interdisciplinary methods to explore themes of cultural identity and non-belonging. Silvester has organized international colloquia featuring Nobel laureate Gao Xingjian and artist Chen Xuefeng, leading to influential edited volumes and journal issues. She teaches undergraduate modules on Francophone drama, migration narratives, and women’s writing, and supervises postgraduate research in areas like Haitian women’s literature and environmental art. Her research interests span contemporary Francophone Chinese literature, migration studies, and intermedial art practices. Notable works include her monograph on Ying Chen’s aesthetics of non-belonging (2020) and a special issue on Franco-Chinese convergences (2022). Silvester actively participates in academic networks, reviewing for journals like Modern & Contemporary France and contributing to conferences such as the ADEFFI Annual Conference. Despite no formal awards listed, her work has been cited as a milestone in Franco-Chinese literary studies.
Professor Frances Weightman is a leading scholar in Chinese literature at the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds, within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures. She is the Founding Director of The Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing and has been a core faculty member since 2001. Education: MA in Chinese, University of Edinburgh PhD in Classical Chinese Fiction, University of Edinburgh Her research focuses on Chinese fiction across historical periods, with particular expertise in authorial identity, paratexts, and Chinese-English literary translation. She has increasingly focused on contemporary Chinese literature and its translation and dissemination in English-speaking contexts. Her current work includes a monograph on Chinese children’s authors for the Bloomsbury Perspectives on Children’s Literature series. Her research outputs span journals, books, and chapters, though specific titles are not listed here. The thematic trends in her work reflect deep engagement with literary identity, translation theory, and cross-cultural literary exchange. Scientific Awards and Recognition: University's Partnership Award for Inspirational Teaching She actively supervises postgraduate researchers and contributes to curriculum development in Chinese literature and translation. Her leadership extends to professional service, including roles in the Universities Council for Modern Languages (Executive Board, 2018–2022) and as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She co-founded the Association for Speakers of Chinese as a Second Language and is a member of several key academic associations. She leads The Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing, a research hub dedicated to promoting and analyzing contemporary Chinese literary production and its global translation. The centre supports collaborative research, publications, and academic events focused on emerging Chinese writers.
Jane Qian Liu is Associate Professor of Translation and Chinese Studies at the University of Warwick, where she also serves as Head of Translation and Transcultural Studies and Director of Research for Translation and Transcultural Studies (both since 2024). She earned her DPhil in Oriental Studies from the University of Oxford in 2014, following an MA in Comparative Literature and World Literature from Beijing Normal University (2010) and dual BA degrees in Chinese Language and Literature and English Language and Literature from the same institution (2007). Dr. Liu's research centers on cross-cultural literary exchanges between China and the West, particularly examining translation practices, intertextuality, and reader reception in early twentieth-century China. Her work investigates how Chinese translators creatively adapted Western literary works through processes like pseudotranslation, and how these adaptations shaped modern Chinese literary forms. She has made significant contributions to understanding the role of emotion, lyricism, and transcultural dynamics in literary transmission. Dr. Liu's scholarly output reveals a consistent trajectory toward examining the complex interplay between translated texts and reader experiences. Her research shows increasing sophistication in conceptual frameworks, moving from textual analysis to incorporate reader response theory and metaphysical considerations of literary reception. Key themes across her publications include the adaptation of European literature in China, the creation of alternative romantic spaces through translation, and the cultural significance of reading practices. Among her accolades, Dr. Liu received the 'Good Book Review of the Year' award from China Book Review in 2021. She serves as associate editor of Comparative Literature & World Literature and has conducted interviews with prominent scholars including Henrietta Harrison, Douglas Robinson, and Rebecca L. Walkowitz, which have been published in the same journal. Dr. Liu actively supervises PhD students working on East-West cultural and literary exchanges, with current advisees including Shaoyu Yang, Yuqing Zhang, Xinyao Zhang, Ambra Minoli, and Yaqi Xi. She convenes several postgraduate courses including 'Translation and Transcultural Encounters between China and the West' and 'Dissertation in Translation Studies,' reflecting her commitment to training the next generation of translation scholars. As a practicing translator, Dr. Liu has translated Bob Eckstein's Footnotes from the World's Greatest Bookstores into Chinese (Commercial Press, 2021), which received an 8.0 rating on Douban, as well as scholarly works by Stephen Owen and Andrew Jones for Theories of World Literature, a Reader (Peking University Press, 2013).
Dr Alexander Wain is an Academic Editor (Islam) at the School of Divinity, University of St Andrews since 2021. A specialist in eastern Islamic studies, his research focuses on the Malay Muslim world (Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore) and China's Hui-hui Muslim community. He holds a DPhil in Theology from the University of Oxford (2015), where his thesis examined Sino-Muslim roles in Maritime Southeast Asia's Islamic conversion. Previously, he served as a Research Fellow at the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) in Kuala Lumpur for six years. His current research includes a major project re-evaluating Melaka's early history and Muslim culture as Southeast Asia's first great sultanate. He contributes to the St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology and engages in community outreach in the UK and Malaysia. Key research interests span Islamic theology, historiography, and the archaeology of Islamic civilizations. His publications explore topics like disease explanations in Islamic thought, Malay religious terminology, and political Islam in Malaysia. Award-winning works include analyses of Sufi orders in Java and the role of Chinese Muslims in historical conversions. His interdisciplinary approach bridges theology, history, and cultural studies, emphasizing cross-cultural exchanges between Iran and the Malay world. Grants and collaborations are central to his work, though specific funding details are not provided here. He is actively involved in academic networks and public engagement to contextualize Islamic history within contemporary issues.
Dr. Kathryn Allan is an Associate Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at University College London (UCL), where she has been teaching since 2008. Her academic career spans historical linguistics, semantics, and lexicography, with a particular focus on semantic change and the evolution of the English language. She is an active member of several academic organizations including the Philological Society (serving on Council) and the International Society for the Linguistics of English (as Chair of the Nominating Committee). Education: Doctor of Philosophy, University of Glasgow (2004) Master of Arts (Hons), University of Glasgow (1998) Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice and Research, University of Salford (2005-2006) Dr. Allan's research focuses on historical and cognitive semantics, with particular interest in intra- and extra-linguistic factors in semantic change. She specializes in tracing polysemy patterns in relation to social-cultural shifts, using resources like the Historical Thesaurus of English and the Oxford English Dictionary. Her work with the Keywords Project explores contemporary shifts in lexical meaning, building on Raymond Williams' foundational work. She has made significant contributions to understanding metaphor and metonymy through diachronic approaches. Dr. Allan's extensive publication record demonstrates consistent focus on historical semantics, lexicology, and semantic change. Her work spans monographs, edited collections, and numerous journal articles, with recent publications emphasizing contemporary vocabulary shifts and methodological approaches to historical semantics. She has co-edited important volumes including 'Current Methods in Historical Semantics' and 'Historical Cognitive Linguistics,' and is currently co-editing the 'Oxford Handbook of Historical Semantics.' Professional Affiliations: Member of Council, Philological Society Chair of Nominating Committee, International Society for the Linguistics of English Affiliate, Angus McIntosh Centre for Historical Linguistics Advisory Board Member, Historical Thesaurus of English project As an educator, Dr. Allan supervises PhD students in historical lexicology, lexical semantics, and cognitive semantics. Her teaching at UCL includes courses on the History of the English Language, Literary Linguistics, and English Words. She has successfully supervised students working on diverse topics including lexical semantic variation, Chinese-English borrowing, decision-making metaphors, and pragmatic markers in Sri Lankan English.
Dr. Shasha Wang is a Lecturer in Chinese Studies at Bangor University's School of Language, Culture and the Arts. With 25 years of teaching experience in higher education institutions across China and UK, she specializes in Chinese language instruction, media representation of China, cross-cultural communication, and translation studies. PhD in Chinese Studies from University of Durham Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) Head of Chinese Studies at Bangor University Assistant Director, Confucius Institute at Bangor Her research focuses on Western representations of China, mutual Sino-Western perceptions, and critical discourse analysis of media and political narratives. She has supervised multiple PhD candidates in Chinese and Translation Studies, including work on topics like Yan Lianke translations and David Hawkes' The Story of the Stone. Recent activities include keynote speaking at the Cultural Translation and Foreign Translation Research Centre launch in China, participation in QAA's Area Studies Benchmark Statement development, and extensive seminar presentations on China-related topics at institutions like SOAS and University of Glasgow. Awards include Bangor University's Teaching Fellowship of the Year and Senior Fellowship of HEA. External Examiner for University of Aberdeen (2022-2026) Consultant for MA Translation Studies at University of Science and Technology, China Referee for Routledge and Taylor & Francis publications
Jon Thomson is an Associate Professor (Reader) in Fine Art at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, where he works with MA/MFA and PhD students. He is a visual artist specializing in digital and new media art, collaborating with Alison Craighead since 1993 under the name Thomson & Craighead. Their work explores how internet and communications networks transform our understanding of the world, examining the relationship between physical and digital space and how the internet alters our socio-political understanding of reality. Thomson studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee. In 1995, he co-founded The Slade Centre for Electronic Media in Fine Art (SCEMFA), bringing together artist-researchers working digitally on the cutting edge of contemporary art practice. He has maintained this research focus while developing his collaborative practice with Craighead. Thomson's research examines how the development of the internet has transformed perception of the world, particularly how our constant ability to be physically somewhere but virtually anywhere affects our understanding. His work considers the tension between global and local perspectives, and how modern communications inform our sense of place and self. Recent projects increasingly examine the impact of Big Data on society and how individuals can measure their experience against unfathomably large bodies of information and inhuman timescales. Thomson & Craighead's extensive exhibition history shows a consistent exploration of networked communication, with works spanning from early internet-based projects to contemporary explorations of genomic data and nuclear culture. Their practice demonstrates an evolution from examining basic internet infrastructure to addressing complex issues of data sovereignty, deep time, and the societal impacts of pervasive networked technologies. Thomson's research has been supported by significant funding including: AHRC small grant in the creative and performing arts (2007) Wellcome Trust Arts Award (£38,000) for Stutterer (2014) Collaborations with Channel 4 Television, Animate Projects, New Media Scotland, and Creative Scotland for Flat Earth Trilogy Thomson advises MA/MFA and PhD students at the Slade School of Fine Art. His collaborative practice has resulted in numerous exhibitions worldwide and three published monographs. They have developed innovative approaches to using live data streams, social media content, and scientific information as artistic materials, creating works that challenge conventional boundaries between art, technology, and science. Thomson co-founded SCEMFA, which remains a significant research center bringing together artist-researchers working at the intersection of digital technology and fine art. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaborations, such as with computational biologists at the University of Dundee and participation in the Nuclear Culture research project with Arts Catalyst London.
Dr. Chi-Yun Shin is a Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at Sheffield Hallam University's Department of Humanities within the College of Social Sciences and Arts. She additionally serves as Marketing and Recruitment Lead for the Humanities Department. Her PhD from Exeter University focused on Black British diaspora cinema, establishing her dual expertise in East Asian cinema and diaspora film culture. Her research explores: Contemporary East Asian cinema with emphasis on South Korean film (gender dynamics, genre evolution, transnational remakes) Black British and British Asian cinema of the 1980s-1990s Rooftop spaces as liminal zones in cinematic narratives Girlhood and fandom in South Korean television dramas Motherhood representations in Korean film through psychological frameworks Recent publications demonstrate dominant themes in transnational adaptation studies (analyzing films like The Handmaiden ), Korean Wave cultural impact, and genre hybridity in East Asian cinema. Her work consistently engages with postcolonial theory, gender representation, and cross-cultural reception. Dr. Shin supervises postgraduate researchers including doctoral work on feminism in British comedy and Hong Kong identity formation. She maintains editorial roles at the Journal of Japanese and Korean Cinema and East Asian Journal of Popular Culture .
Sarah Dodd is a Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures. Her work bridges classical and contemporary Chinese literary traditions with a focus on the fantastic, science fiction, and cinematic expression. Education: PhD in Classical Chinese Ghost Stories, University of Leeds MPhil in Modern Chinese Literature, University of Leeds BA in Chinese and International Relations, University of Leeds Her research centers on the fantastic in Chinese fiction and film, particularly exploring how themes of monstrosity, fantasy, and science fiction manifest across historical and modern contexts. She employs comparative and transcultural frameworks to analyze narrative structures and cultural symbolism in both classical texts like Pu Songling's Liaozhai zhiyi and contemporary speculative fiction. Sarah Dodd plays a key role in fostering academic and creative exchange through her position as deputy director of the Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing , where she organizes events, translation competitions, and a monthly book club. She is also a core organizer of the Transcultural Fantastic research project, which promotes interdisciplinary and intercultural dialogue on fantastic traditions globally. Scientific and Academic Leadership: Deputy Director, Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing Organizer, Transcultural Fantastic Research Project She supervises several postgraduate researchers working on topics related to Chinese literature and translation. Her teaching includes modules on world literature, Chinese and East Asian culture, fiction, cinema, and translation, reflecting her broad interdisciplinary engagement.
Dr. Vinh Sum Chau is a Senior Lecturer in Strategy at Kent Business School, University of Kent. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Dr. Chau has established himself as a prominent scholar in strategic management, performance management, and cross-cultural business practices. His research has been published in top-tier academic journals and he has co-authored influential textbooks in strategic management that have been adapted for various international markets. Dr. Chau's research interests span several interconnected domains within business and management. His primary focus is on strategic management, where he has extensively examined the implementation of strategic frameworks in diverse organizational contexts. He has made significant contributions to performance management literature, particularly regarding the adaptation of performance measurement systems in different cultural and regulatory environments. His work on cross-cultural management has explored business communication practices between East Asian countries, with particular attention to Japanese-Thai business relations. More recently, Dr. Chau has expanded his research into food security and sustainability, examining agripreneurship in Afghanistan and environmental sustainability in Thai fisheries. He has also investigated gender issues in technology sectors and the application of corporate foresight methodologies. Dr. Chau's publication record demonstrates a clear evolution from foundational work on strategic performance management in regulated industries to more contemporary research on global challenges such as food security, environmental sustainability, and cultural dimensions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. His early work focused on methodological approaches to studying strategic implementation, particularly through 'tracer studies' examining how policy innovations adapt in regulated utility sectors. Over time, his research has broadened to address more global and societal challenges while maintaining a strong theoretical grounding in strategic management principles. As a supervisor, Dr. Chau has guided doctoral research on diverse topics including institutional bureaucracy and environmental governance, business support centers for SMEs in Indonesia, and the adoption of web-based technologies by small business owners. His supervisory approach appears to encourage research that bridges theoretical frameworks with practical business challenges in diverse international contexts.
Timothy E. Duff is Professor of Greek in the Department of Classics at the University of Reading. He holds additional significant roles as Director of Postgraduate Research, Director of the Centre for Hellenic Studies, and Coordinator of Modern Greek in the Department of Languages and Cultures. He also serves as the University's academic lead for Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-funded doctoral awards. Professor Duff completed his MA and PhD at the University of Cambridge, Christ's College, establishing the foundation for his distinguished career in classical studies. His academic journey has included numerous prestigious fellowships and visiting positions at institutions worldwide, reflecting his international standing in the field. Duff's research centers on Greek history, Greek and Roman historiography and biography, Greek prose literature, and particularly the Greek literature of the Roman Imperial Period with special focus on Plutarch. His work explores the intricate relationship between literary form and historical content, examining how ancient biographers like Plutarch constructed narratives that served moral, political, and educational purposes. His scholarship reveals how Plutarch's works engage with philosophical traditions, particularly Platonic thought, while adapting these ideas for practical application in leadership and character formation. Analysis of Duff's extensive publication record shows a consistent focus on Plutarchan studies, with particular attention to narrative structure, intertextuality, and the moral dimensions of ancient biography. His work demonstrates how Plutarch's Lives function not merely as historical accounts but as sophisticated literary constructions designed to shape readers' ethical understanding and political judgment. Recent publications continue this trajectory while expanding into areas of classical reception, examining how ancient texts resonate in later periods and cultures. Senior Member of Wolfson College, Cambridge Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS) Visiting Professorships and Fellowships at Shanghai University, Princeton, Freie Universität Berlin, Australian National University, Wolfson College Cambridge, Harvard University, University of Cincinnati, and British School at Athens UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Research Leave award As Director of Postgraduate Research and academic lead for AHRC-funded doctoral awards, Professor Duff plays a crucial role in mentoring the next generation of classicists. His supervisory approach emphasizes the integration of philological precision with broader theoretical frameworks, encouraging students to explore the intersections between ancient literature, history, and philosophy. His own research has been supported by numerous prestigious grants, reflecting the significance of his contributions to classical scholarship. Through his leadership of the Centre for Hellenic Studies, Duff fosters interdisciplinary research on Greek culture across historical periods. His work bridges traditional philological approaches with contemporary theoretical perspectives, creating a dynamic environment for exploring the enduring relevance of ancient Greek thought and literature.
Professor Tim Shephard is a musicologist at the University of Sheffield (School of Languages, Arts and Societies) and holds a parallel status-only appointment as Associate Professor of Art History at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on Italian Renaissance music (1420-1540), employing interdisciplinary methods that combine musicology with art history, gender studies, and ethnographic reconstruction. His recent work explores musical knowledge in non-musical sources like printed books and visual art. He has received major funding from the Leverhulme Trust for projects including 'Sounding the Bookshelf 1501: Music in a Year of Italian Printed Books' and 'Music in the Art of Renaissance Italy c.1420-1540'. Current PhD supervision spans topics from Italian court music to contemporary Chinese piano pedagogy. Supervision: 10+ current/completed PhD students including Arianna Rigamonte (Royal College of Music) and Eliza Jane Cassey (University of Huddersfield) Leadership: Co-editor of Routledge series 'Music and Visual Culture' Collaborations: Orlando Consort ensemble; public events at National Gallery, V&A Museum
Dr Isabelle Cockel is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics and Literature within the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. She holds additional roles as Secretary-General of the European Association of Taiwan Studies (2018-2020), Research Associate at SOAS University of London, and Advisory Board member at the European Research Centre for Contemporary Taiwan (University of Tübingen). Her research focuses on migration, gender, and Cold War dynamics in East Asia, particularly in Taiwan. Dr Cockel earned her Ph.D. from SOAS University of London (2012) with a thesis on immigrant women's national identity in Taiwan. Her work has been supported by grants from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Chiang Ching-kou Foundation, and others. Notable projects include studies on migration activism, health examinations as migration infrastructure, and psychological warfare involving women. She has published extensively on topics like migrant labor in Taiwan, digital activism, and transnational politics. Her awards include the Taiwan Fellowship (2015, 2016) and a Research Grant from the National Central Library's Centre for Chinese Studies (2022). Dr Cockel is Co-Investigator on projects such as 'Living Across Connectivity' (2022-2023) exploring East Asian migrant mobility, and leads the 'Citizenship, Race and Belonging' research cluster. She has delivered invited lectures on Taiwan's geopolitical position and contributed to editorial roles at journals like Transfers and Asia Pacific Viewpoint .
Jiafan Li is a Lecturer in Accounting at Huddersfield Business School, University of Huddersfield, where she has been serving since January 2022. She teaches Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, and Financial Management at the undergraduate level, and CSR, sustainability, and financial reporting at the postgraduate level. She holds a PhD in Accounting from the University of Strathclyde, awarded in April 2022. PhD in Accounting, University of Strathclyde (2019–2022) Her research centers on accountability, small accounting practices, SMEs, access to finance, corporate governance, and accounting disclosure. She also explores interdisciplinary topics including leadership theories and sustainability in accounting. Her recent publications examine gender and ethnic disparities in SME financing, climate risk impacts on credit ratings, and leadership transitions through accounting practices in entrepreneurial firms. Her recent scholarly output demonstrates a strong focus on financial transparency, sustainable business practices, and equity in access to capital. She actively contributes to peer-review processes and engages with media on contemporary financial issues such as ESG regulation, greenwashing risks, and gender bias in business finance. Jiafan Li is a member of several institutional committees, including the School Accreditations and Validation Panels (SAVP), the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, and serves as the Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) coordinator. She is also a Visiting Placement Staff Member and holds the Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). She is currently accepting PhD students for supervision. She has contributed to public discourse through expert commentary in the media on topics such as: Reshaping the accounting profession to attract younger talent Risks of greenwashing under stricter ESG regulations Women's reluctance to seek business finance Stock manipulation via social media and new technologies
Professor Robert Elliott is a Professor of Economics and Director of Research in the Department of Economics at the University of Birmingham's Birmingham Business School. His work spans international economics, development economics, environmental and energy economics, and international business, with particular expertise in the Chinese economy, firm behavior, natural disasters, and globalization's environmental impacts. Professor Elliott holds a BA in Economics from the University of Leicester, an MA in Economics from the University of Essex, and completed his PhD at the University of Nottingham under the supervision of Professor David Greenaway, Dr Peter Wright, and Robert Hine. His research focuses on empirical environmental, international trade, development, energy, and labor economics. Key areas include the economics of China and East Asia, empirical environmental economics, economic geography, globalization and environment, natural disasters (floods, typhoons, earthquakes), biodiversity and deforestation, trade and environment, FDI and industrial restructuring, and energy economics. His interdisciplinary approach often combines large dataset manipulation with advanced econometric techniques. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on environmental economics, particularly examining the intersection of climate change, natural disasters, and economic outcomes. His work spans historical environmental events in China, contemporary energy and transportation economics, air quality policy evaluation, and the economic impacts of natural disasters across different regions and time periods. A significant portion of his research applies advanced statistical and machine learning methods to environmental policy questions. Professor Elliott serves as an editor for the Sustainable Future Policy Lab and Director of the Trade, Environment, Development and Energy (TEDE) research group. He is also a Co-Investigator on ReLIB as part of the Faraday Institute, a member of Water Challenges in a Changing World IGI, and an Affiliate of the Lloyds Bank Centre for Responsible Business. He actively supervises PhD students across international and development economics and environmental and energy economics. His current projects include the "Brexit Uncertainty Index" and Leverhulme Trust research projects in "Globalisation and the Environment" with Matthew Cole. He has received significant funding including an ESRC grant for "China-UK energy issues" worth approximately £1 million. Professor Elliott is a key member of the Birmingham Plastics Network, an interdisciplinary team of over 40 academics addressing the global plastics problem. This network brings together experts from diverse fields including chemistry, environmental science, engineering, philosophy, linguistics, economics, and law to develop holistic solutions for plastics sustainability.
