Dr. Luisa Calè is a Professor of Romantic and Nineteenth-Century Literature & Visual Culture and Research Lead at Birkbeck, University of London. She holds degrees from the University of Rome 'La Sapienza' (1993), University of Genoa (1997), and the University of Oxford (M.St. 1998, D.Phil 2002). Her research explores the interplay between literature and visual/material culture, focusing on book history, intermediality, and practices of reading/collecting. Her Leverhulme Trust-funded project 'The Book Unbound' examines how works by Blake, Walpole, and Dickens subverted traditional book formats. Education: PhD in Literary Studies, University of Genoa (1997) D.Phil., University of Oxford (2002) M.St. in English, University of Oxford (1998) Letters Degree, University of Rome (1993) Her research interests include Romantic aesthetics, material texts, and critical disciplinarity. Notable publications include Fuseli’s Milton Gallery (2006) and co-edited volumes like Dante on View (2007). She edits Blake/An Illustrated Quarterly and serves on editorial boards for Word & Image and Romantic Circles Gallery . Recent awards include a Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship (2019) and a Mercator Fellowship (2018-19). She supervises graduate students in Romantic literature, material culture, and book history.
Professor Matthew Treherne is a leading scholar in Italian literature at the University of Leeds, where he holds the position of Professor of Italian Literature in the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures. He currently serves as Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation, and co-directs the Leeds Centre for Dante Studies. His research bridges medieval and Renaissance literature with contemporary issues such as finance, ecology, and technology. PhD in Italian Literature, University of Cambridge (2007) Diploma in Management Studies, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge (2000) M.Phil in European Literature (Distinction), University of Cambridge (1999) BA in Modern and Medieval Languages (First-class), University of Cambridge (1997) Matthew Treherne's research focuses on Dante and late-medieval religious culture, with a strong emphasis on the liturgical imagination and theological discourse in poetry. He explores how Dante’s work can inform modern debates on the ecological crisis, financialisation, and time. His interdisciplinary approach integrates theology, philosophy, and cultural studies. He leads the project The Cultural Life of Money and Finance , which investigates how the humanities can shape financial futures. His recent publications include Dante’s ‘Commedia’ and the Liturgical Imagination and co-edited volumes on Dante’s theology. His recent scholarly articles and chapters show a consistent engagement with Dante’s theological and poetic structures, Tasso’s religious poetry, and the role of art and liturgy in early modern culture. Themes such as sacramentality, time, vision, and interdisciplinarity recur across his work, reflecting a deep commitment to understanding literature as a living, ethically engaged practice. University Teaching Fellowship Developmental University Teaching Fellowship Faculty of Arts Development Teaching Prize Treherne has supervised numerous PhD students and fosters research-led teaching, notably through projects like Discover Dante and the Leeds Dante Podcast . He has led major research initiatives, including the AHRC-funded Dante and Late Medieval Florence , and collaborates widely across disciplines and institutions. He is also active in public engagement, contributing to BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time and curating podcast series such as Conversations on Dante and Arts and Humanities Futures . He co-leads the Cultural Life of Money and Finance project with Invisible Flock, blending humanities research with creative practice.
Dr. Deirdre Serjeantson is an Undergraduate Tutor and Fellow at Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on Renaissance literature, translation studies, and the cultural intersections of early modern Ireland and England. Her work explores the interplay between Petrarchism and Protestant theology in sonnet sequences, the history of the book, and the adaptation of classical and biblical motifs in early modern writing. She has published extensively on topics such as Anne Lock's A Meditation of a Penitent Sinner , Richard Verstegan's symbolic use of Babylon, and the influence of Scottish reformation poetry on English verse. Her recent articles analyze the religious and national identities embedded in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century texts, with a particular interest in gender, authorship, and cross-cultural transmission. She can be contacted at tutors@sid.cam.ac.uk or dcs40@cam.ac.uk .
Elisa Faraglia is a Professor of Macroeconomics and Finance at the Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge, and a Research Fellow of CEPR and CERF. She coordinates the Euro Area Business Cycle Network (EABCN) and has published extensively on fiscal policy, debt management, and financial economics. PhD, New York University (2005) Network Coordinator, Euro Area Business Cycle Network (EABCN) Affiliated with King's College and CEPR Her research spans Macroeconomic Theory, focusing on optimal fiscal policy, debt management, asset pricing, and numerical methods. Recent work examines gender dynamics in academic collaboration post-MeToo and the unequal impacts of the pandemic on economists' productivity. Professor Faraglia's publications include analyses of cross-country stock market comovement, government debt strategies, and sovereign default risks. Her work combines theoretical modeling with empirical studies of financial markets and macroeconomic policy. J M Keynes Fellowship (2023) She supervises PhD students including Lennart Niermann (Sovereign Default, Financial Contagion) and Luigi Dante Gaviano (Sovereign Debt, Firm Dynamics). Her affiliations include King's College, CEPR, and EABCN, with contributions to institutions like the Janeway Institute for Economics.
Professor Pamela Davidson is a distinguished scholar of Russian Literature at University College London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES). With over four decades of academic experience, she has held various leadership positions including Head of the Russian Department (2003-2006), Head of Teaching and Graduate Tutor (2012-2014), and currently serves as Admissions Tutor for Languages & Cultures programmes. Her scholarly work has significantly shaped the field of Russian literary studies, particularly in areas of Russian Symbolism, literary prophecy, and the interaction between religion and culture. Doctor of Philosophy, University of Oxford, 1984 Undergraduate studies in Russian, French and Italian, Newnham College, Cambridge Professor Davidson's research spans several interconnected areas within Russian and comparative literature. Her work on the "construction and dynamics of literary tradition" examines how Russian writers positioned themselves within broader cultural and historical contexts. She has made significant contributions to understanding "the interaction of religion and culture," particularly through her edited volume "Russian Literature and Its Demons," which opened up new interdisciplinary research avenues. Her long-standing interest in "Silver Age poetry" has focused extensively on Viacheslav Ivanov, whose work she has studied through multiple lenses including his engagement with Dante and classical antiquity. Most notably, she has developed an extensive body of work on "the representation of the writer as prophet in Russia," tracing this tradition from its biblical and classical roots through to the Soviet period. Professor Davidson's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on the prophetic dimension of Russian literature, with particular attention to Viacheslav Ivanov and Fedor Glinka. Her scholarship demonstrates a sophisticated interweaving of literary analysis, religious studies, and cultural history. Over the past decade, her work has increasingly examined how Russian writers engaged with biblical and classical traditions, often reinterpreting them within specifically Russian contexts. The recurring themes across her publications include the tension between Athens and Jerusalem in Russian thought, the role of the writer as moral authority, and the complex relationship between religious tradition and literary innovation. Her comparative approach frequently bridges Russian literature with Western European intellectual traditions, revealing unexpected connections and influences. Travelling Junior Research Fellowship at Queen's College Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2019-2021) Director of the CEELBAS Centre for Doctoral Training (2020-2021) Member of the AHRC Peer Review College of Assessors (2003-2007) As an academic mentor, Professor Davidson has supervised numerous doctoral students in Russian literature and thought, with particular expertise in 19th and early 20th century literature, Silver Age poetry, and comparative literature. Her leadership roles have included serving as Graduate Tutor and Chair of BA and MA Examination Boards at SSEES. In terms of research funding, she has successfully secured competitive grants including the Leverhulme Research Fellowship that supported her recent work on literary prophecy. Her collaborative projects have often involved international partnerships, particularly with Russian academic institutions including the Institute of Russian Literature (IRLI) in St Petersburg. Professor Davidson has also contributed to major scholarly initiatives such as the 12-volume academic edition of Ivanov's collected works. While Professor Davidson's work is primarily in humanities rather than laboratory-based research, she has been instrumental in building academic networks and collaborative projects. She served as Director of the CEELBAS Centre for Doctoral Training, liaising with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and consortium members at Cambridge, Manchester and Oxford. Her long-standing collaboration with the St Petersburg Institute of Russian Literature has been particularly significant, resulting in the completion of the first comprehensive bibliography of Viacheslav Ivanov's works. Professor Davidson has also been active in the international scholarly community through her membership on the Board of Directors of the Foundation "Centro Studi e Ricerche Vjacheslav Ivanov" in Rome.
Professor Simon Gilson FBA is the Agnelli-Serena Professor of Italian at the University of Oxford, affiliated with Magdalen College. He previously served as Professor of Italian at Warwick University (2010-2017), holding leadership roles including Chair of Italian and roles in the Arts Faculty. His academic journey began with degrees from Leeds and Cambridge Universities, followed by teaching at multiple institutions including Keio University in Tokyo. Gilson is a leading scholar in Dante studies, focusing on reception history, Renaissance commentary traditions, and the interplay between literature and medieval/scientific thought. His research explores Dante’s legacy in Renaissance Italy, particularly through commentaries by figures like Landino and Varchi. He has directed major projects like the AHRC-funded 'Envisioning Dante' and currently holds a Leverhulme Fellowship (2024-2027) for work on Petrarch. Gilson’s publications include monographs on Dante’s reception and edited volumes on Italian literature and philosophy. He has served as editor for Italian Studies and holds roles in scholarly societies including the Dante Society of America and the Society for Italian Studies. Key awards include Fellowship of the British Academy (2022) and honorary membership in Florence’s Dante Society. His teaching focuses on medieval and Renaissance Italian literature (c.1250-1600), blending textual analysis with cultural context. Collaborative work includes databases on vernacular Aristotelianism and Renaissance Petrarch commentary, reflecting his commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship.
Professor Elena Lombardi is a distinguished academic in Italian Literature and Medieval Studies at the University of Oxford. She holds the prestigious Paget Toynbee Lectureship in Italian Medieval Studies and is a Fellow of Balliol College, while also serving as a Tutor at St. Peter’s College and Jesus College. Her academic journey includes a Laurea from the University of Pavia (thesis on Ugo Foscolo’s critical edition) and a Ph.D. from New York University (dissertation on Dante and medieval language theory). Before Oxford, she taught at McGill University and the University of Bristol. Her research focuses on Dante Alighieri and medieval intellectual history, particularly exploring intersections between theology, grammar, and poetry. Key works include Imagining the Woman Reader in the Age of Dante (2018) and The Syntax of Desire (2007). She co-edited The Oxford Handbook of Dante (2021), a seminal work in the field. Teaching specialties include medieval Italian poetry and Dantean studies. Her scholarship examines themes of desire, language, and intertextuality, with recent articles analyzing Dante’s Commedia through medieval theological frameworks. Active in academic service, she contributes to editorial projects and collaborates across institutions. No specific grants or awards are listed, though her extensive publication record underscores her scholarly impact.
Dr Maria-Daniella Dick is a Senior Lecturer in post-1900 Irish and Scottish Literature within the Department of English Literature at the University of Glasgow, holding this position since 2013 after previously serving as a University Teacher in Modern Literature at the same institution and as a Visiting Lecturer at Glasgow School of Art. Her academic qualifications include: Bachelor's in English Literature, University of Glasgow Bachelor's in Law, University of Edinburgh MLitt in Modernities (AHRC-funded), University of Glasgow PhD in English Literature ("Dante …… Joyce. Derrida", AHRC-funded), University of Glasgow Dr Dick's research program critically intersects Literature since 1900 with Continental Philosophy , specializing in Irish/Scottish modernism through frameworks of Modernist Aesthetics and Theory of Modernity . Her work pioneers Interdisciplinarity and Intermediality approaches while examining Technology and the Humanities , with James Joyce and Derridean theory forming central pillars of her scholarly identity. This manifests in rigorous analyses of textual minimalism, political commemoration, and psychoanalytic structures within literary networks. Her publication trajectory reveals consistent engagement with modernist literary theory, evolving from foundational Joyce scholarship toward broader investigations of Scottish theoretical frameworks and late-capitalist psychoanalysis. The 2020 co-authored monograph "Late Capitalist Freud" and forthcoming "Joycean Minimalism, Derridean Maximalism" demonstrate her capacity to synthesize complex philosophical concepts with literary analysis across Irish, Scottish, and comparative contexts. Dr Dick actively supervises postgraduate research including Imogen Dobson's "Sex Work and the City" and Jian Ping Wang's "James Joyce and the Powers of the False", building on her own AHRC-funded doctoral research. She contributes to Glasgow's academic ecosystem through the Contemporary Fiction, Literature & Philosophy, and Modernities research groups, fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue on 20th-century literary movements and theoretical innovations.
School of Advanced Study, University of LondonUnited Kingdom
Dr. Alessandro Scafi is a Senior Lecturer in Medieval and Renaissance Cultural History at the Warburg Institute (University of London). His research focuses on utopian thought, paradise symbolism, sacred geography, and the history of cartography with particular attention to Dante studies and Aby Warburg's intellectual legacy. He teaches MA courses on religion in Italian cultural history and medieval cartography. His major works include Mapping Paradise: A History of Heaven on Earth (2006) and co-edited volumes such as Christian Pilgrimage, Landscape and Heritage (2015). He actively engages with public scholarship through radio broadcasts, museum audioguides, and international lectures. His research bridges theology, art history, and historical geography, exploring how medieval/Renaissance thinkers mapped spiritual concepts onto physical landscapes. Notable projects include tracing Eden's representation in maps, analyzing Dante's cosmic symbolism, and studying numismatic iconography's cultural role. Dr. Scafi supervises PhD students in topics ranging from Renaissance art patronage to alchemical symbolism. He collaborates with the Italian Cultural Institute in London to organize public Dante readings, blending academic rigor with cultural accessibility.
Francesco Giusti is an Honorary Faculty Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and currently a Research Fellow (Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter) at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main. He holds a PhD from the Italian Institute of Human Sciences and Sapienza University of Rome (2012), with postdoctoral fellowships at the University of York, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, and ICI Berlin. His research focuses on the Italian poetic tradition, lyric theory, and interdisciplinary cultural inquiry. Giusti coordinates the global 'Rethinking Lyric Communities' project, exploring lyric poetry’s role in community formation across historical and cultural contexts. At Oxford, he taught Italian literature from the medieval period to the present. His monographs include *Il desiderio della lirica* (2016) and *Canzonieri in morte* (2015), analyzing lyric ethics and creative desire. He edited volumes on lyric theory and co-authored works on world literature and elegiac traditions. His recent work investigates gestural communities and transcontextual lyric gestures, emphasizing open-ended poetic forms and their socio-political implications. Giusti’s articles span Dante, Petrarch, and modern poets like Montale and Sanguineti, addressing temporality, mourning, and environmental themes. He bridges literary analysis with philosophy, theology, and visual culture, advocating for transhistorical and transcultural approaches to poetry.
Daniela Caselli is Professor of Modern Literature at the University of Manchester, specializing in literary modernism, critical theory, and gender/sexuality studies. Serves on editorial boards of Journal of Beckett Studies and Feminist Modernist Studies. Research Focus: Seminal work on Samuel Beckett (including Beckett-Dante intertextuality) and Djuna Barnes. Current book project The Modernist Child examines childhood representations in interwar literature using archival materials including Church of England rescue societies. Leadership: President of Beckett Society (2017-2021). Supervises PhD candidates in modernism, gender studies, and critical theory. Research supported by Wellcome Trust and British Academy. Education: PhD on Beckett-Dante intertextuality.
Dr. Scott Annett is an Affiliated Lecturer in the Italian Department of the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge, as well as an Affiliated Lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity. He also serves as a College Lecturer at Robinson College. His academic work bridges Italian literature, theology, and literary studies with a particular focus on Dante and Samuel Beckett. Dr. Annett specializes in the writing of Dante and Samuel Beckett, with current research extending to Primo Levi and the relationships between literature and theology. His scholarly interests span multiple literary traditions and periods, with particular expertise in: Samuel Beckett's poetics and prose Dante studies and medieval Italian literature Shakespearean literature Primo Levi's writings Literature and theological discourse Autobiography and self-representation in Italian culture Dr. Annett's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the intersection of literary form and philosophical/theological concerns, particularly examining how Dante's work resonates in later literary traditions including Beckett's modernist writing. His scholarship combines close textual analysis with broader theoretical frameworks, showing particular interest in syntax, narrative structure, and intertextual relationships across centuries of literary production. As an educator, Dr. Annett teaches across multiple departments and papers, including ITA3 (Italian Texts and Contexts), ITB2 (Translation from Italian), and IT4 (Autobiography and Self-Representation in Italian Culture) for the Italian program, as well as Religious Themes in Literature (B13) for Divinity and Early Medieval Literature for English. He also supervises Year Abroad and Optional Dissertations on Italian topics.
Overview Alessia Patuelli is an academic affiliated with Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University . Her research focuses on family firms' economic strategies, regional development dynamics, and digital innovation in SMEs. She has contributed extensively to understanding the intersection of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and local economic embeddedness, particularly through case studies in wine production and luxury manufacturing sectors. Her work frequently employs mixed-method approaches to analyze business resilience during crises, including the impact of the pandemic on Italian yacht-building firms. Research Interests Family Business Governance Territorial Embeddedness of Enterprises Sustainable Development Goal Implementation Historical Business Models in Transportation Artificial Intelligence in SME Operations Crisis Management Strategies Key Contributions Dr. Patuelli's recent work emphasizes the quantitative analysis of local roots' impact on family firm performance (2023) and the application of machine learning for business classification (2020). She has also explored the role of social media in disseminating sustainability narratives among large corporations (2023). Her historical studies compare 19th-20th century railway privatization models in Britain and Italy (2017), providing foundational insights into public-private sector dynamics. Professional Activity Maintains active research collaborations in regional development initiatives, including Dante 2021 cultural projects (2018). Engages in interdisciplinary work bridging accounting research trends and modern business challenges.
Guyda Armstrong is Professor of Italian Studies at the University of Manchester's School of Arts, Languages and Cultures. She serves as Director of the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, specializing in medieval Italian literature, book history, and digital humanities. Armstrong holds an MA from Edinburgh and PhD from Leeds. Her research examines textual transmission, translation history, and the materiality of books from medieval manuscripts to digital media. Current projects include machine vision analysis of early printed books and French manuscript studies. Awarded the Italian Studies article prize in 2021, Armstrong leads digital initiatives applying computer vision to cultural collections. She teaches courses on Dante, Boccaccio, and digital approaches to literary studies.
Eleonore Stump is an Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of York's Department of Philosophy, alongside roles at Saint Louis University, Wuhan University, Australian Catholic University, and the Logos Institute, St Andrews. Her research spans philosophy of religion, metaphysics, and medieval philosophy, with notable works like *Wandering in Darkness* (2010) and *Atonement* (2018). She has delivered prestigious lecture series including the Gifford Lectures (Aberdeen, 2003) and Stanton Lectures (Cambridge, 2018). A past president of major philosophical associations, she is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her work bridges theological and philosophical inquiry, emphasizing narrative approaches to suffering, divine attributes, and ethical theory. Her research interests coalesce around theological metaphysics, particularly divine simplicity, free will, and atonement. She critiques traditional theodicies through narrative frameworks and explores virtue ethics rooted in Aquinas’s thought. Recent work engages contemporary debates on divine foreknowledge, moral responsibility, and the intersection of faith and epistemology. Key publications include monographs on Aquinas, edited volumes on medieval philosophy, and articles addressing atonement, evil, and metaphysical foundations. She has advised on numerous editorial projects and serves as a patron at Blackfriars, Oxford. Current initiatives focus on integrating philosophical theology with existential questions about human flourishing and divine interaction.
