Find Academic Supervisors

• Sociolinguistics
• Language Contact
• Creole Languages
• +14 more

Bettina Migge is a Full Professor in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics at University College Dublin, where she has been a faculty member since 2004. She previously held academic positions at Goethe University Frankfurt and earned her PhD in Linguistics from The Ohio State University. She served as Head of School from 2016 to 2021 and has held leadership roles in research centers and committees, including the Royal Irish Academy and the Society for Pidgin and Creole Linguistics, of which she is President until 2023. She is Co-Editor of the Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages and actively contributes to COST Action LITHME, focusing on language and technology. Her educational background includes studies at Universität Hamburg, Université de Cameroun, Freie Universität Berlin, and The Ohio State University, culminating in a PhD focused on African languages in creole genesis, with fieldwork in Suriname and Benin. She is fluent in Dutch, English, French, German, and Ndyuka/Pamaka. Bettina Migge's research centers on sociolinguistics, language contact, and creole languages, with a focus on multilingual contexts undergoing rapid social change such as urbanization and migration. Her work spans French Guiana, Suriname, and Ireland, examining structural and socio-pragmatic aspects of language use, linguistic landscaping, and computer-mediated communication. She has led significant projects like the trilingual DicoNenge(e) dictionary and has explored the role of AI in reshaping language practices. Her recent publications reflect a critical engagement with the impact of AI and machine learning on language, revealing colonial continuities in language technologies and questioning dataist ideologies. She investigates how language is materially produced in both colonial and digital contexts, emphasizing power, authenticity, and control. She has received research funding from the National Science Foundation (USA), IRCHSS, IRC, Ulysses grants, and French research units like SeDyL. Her collaborative projects include work on complementation in creoles, South Dublin English, and language practices in multilingual border zones. Bettina Migge supervises MA and PhD students in sociolinguistics, linguistic landscaping, and World Englishes. She is involved in numerous editorial and professional associations, including the Society for Caribbean Linguistics and The Global Council on Anthropological Linguistics. She has coordinated modules such as World Englishes, Sociolinguistics, and Research in Creole Languages. She leads and participates in public engagement activities, including workshops on AI in linguistics, multilingualism in Ireland, and dictionary launches. Her research team includes collaborators from Europe and beyond, and she is committed to participatory and ethnographically grounded approaches in language documentation and analysis.

Brian KwokView profile

Associate Professor

• Communication Design
• Visual Culture
• Information Design
• +4 more

Brian Kwok is an Associate Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Design, where he serves as Programme Leader of BA Communication Design and heads the Information Design Lab. His academic foundation includes an MA in Design from PolyU, complemented by an MA in Visual Culture Studies and MPhil in Communication from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. With over a decade of tenure at PolyU, Kwok co-founded the Information Design Lab in 2011 to advance research in practical design applications. Kwok's research explores the intersection of visual communication, cultural heritage, and urban environments. Primary domains include: Neon Signage Studies : Documentation and semiotic analysis of Hong Kong's vanishing neon landscapes Healthcare Communication : Typographic legibility for medication labeling targeting senior citizens Urban Ethnography : Spatial practices of street vendors and visual narratives in public spaces Cultural Preservation : Archival projects on Hong Kong's typographic heritage and vernacular design His publication corpus (2015-2023) demonstrates consistent focus on Hong Kong's visual culture evolution, with recurring themes: cultural identity in urban signage, typographic accessibility for vulnerable populations, and cinematic representations of urban change. Methodologically, he blends empirical studies (e.g., user testing of medicine labels) with visual semiotics and historical documentation. Awards recognize both scholarly and practical impact: GRF-funded research on neon sign preservation (2023) Arts Go Digital grant for cultural documentation (2021) HKDA Global Design Excellence Award (2017) Outstanding Paper Award for neon signage research (2017) As Lab Leader, Kwok oversees projects including medicine label optimization, wayfinding systems, and the Fading of HK Neon Visual Culture Project. He actively engages with public institutions through roles on the Public Libraries Advisory Committee and as external examiner for academic programs.

Bal Krishna SharmaView profile

Associate Professor

• Applied Linguistics
• Sociolinguistics
• Intercultural Communication
• +2 more

Bal Krishna Sharma is Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Idaho's College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, with affiliate status at the Habib Institute for Asian Studies. His scholarship examines language globalization across education, tourism, and digital media contexts. Education credentials: Ph.D. in Second Language Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa (2016) M.A. in Second Language Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa (2011) M.Ed. in English Education, Tribhuvan University (2004) B.Ed. in English Education, Tribhuvan University (2001) Research explores: Neoliberal influences on language education Intercultural communication in tourism Translingual practices in digital spaces Multilingual policy in South Asia Recent publications analyze linguistic landscapes in pandemic communication, multilingual STEM education, and social media discourse in Nepal. His work integrates sociolinguistic theory with critical analysis of globalization. Teaches courses including Sociolinguistics, Intercultural Communication, and History of the English Language.

• Innovative Materials
• Support to SMEs
• Sensory Design
• +4 more

Beatrice Lerma is an Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Turin , affiliated with the Department of Architecture and Design and serving as Deputy Coordinator of the Doctoral School of Design and Technology: People, Environment, Systems . Research focuses on Innovative Materials , Sensory Design , and Design for Cultural Heritage Key skills in Environmental Engineering , Industrial Design , and Circular Economy Her recent work explores the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Material Innovation , particularly in sustainable polymer systems and transparent wood technology. She leads the BIOMAPS (2025-2028) and AI-TRANSPWOOD (2024-2026) projects. 2025: AI applications in biobased materials 2024: Cultural heritage signage solutions 2024: Circular material taxonomic frameworks Scientific recognitions include ADI Design Index Selection Award (2015) and Young & Design (2013). She supervises PhD candidates Noemi Emidi and Eva Vanessa Bruno , and serves on the OFFICINA Scientific Committee since 2014.

• Pragmatics
• Lexicon-Syntax-Interface
• Grammar-Pragmatics-Interface
• +8 more

Rita Finkbeiner is a Professor of German Linguistics at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, where she has held a W3 professorship since April 2020 and served as managing director of the German Institute from 2022-2023. Previously, she was a W2 Professor at Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf (2018-2020) and has been affiliated with Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz since 2010. Her research focuses on the critical interface between grammatical structures and pragmatic functions in language use. Her academic background includes: Magistra Artium in German Linguistics and European Ethnology from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (2000) Ph.D. in German Linguistics from Stockholm University (2009) Habilitation at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (2016) Professor Finkbeiner's research examines how linguistic constructions operate at the grammar-pragmatics interface, with particular attention to speech acts, implicit meaning, and expressivity in German. She investigates phenomena such as wh-headlines in newspapers, reduplicative constructions, expressive morphology, and the pragmatics of social media commenting. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical applications in language teaching and media discourse, demonstrating how linguistic form and communicative function interact systematically. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on construction grammar and pragmatics, with increasing attention to digital communication patterns while maintaining strong theoretical foundations. Key trends include exploration of wh-headlines across discourse types, expressive morphology in German word formation, and the pragmatics of social media commenting, demonstrating both theoretical depth and practical relevance to contemporary communication contexts. Professor Finkbeiner actively supervises doctoral and master's students, with numerous successful completions including Julian Stawecki (2024) and Robert Külpmann (2019). She has led significant research projects including the DFG-funded "W-Überschriften im Deutschen" (2018-2022) on German wh-headlines, and is coordinating the development of a German linguistics textbook. She collaborates closely with researchers including Dr. Robert Külpmann, Dr. Paul Reszke, and Charlotte Eisenrauch. She leads a research team at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz that investigates construction grammar and pragmatics across various discourse contexts, with particular attention to digital communication and educational applications. Her work environment provides a strong interdisciplinary context connecting theoretical linguistics with language education and media studies.

• Graffiti Culture
• Public Aesthetics
• Craft Beer Industry
• +5 more

Dr Tyson Mitman is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology and the Course Lead for Postgraduate Studies at York St John University’s School of Humanities. His research focuses on graffiti culture, craft beer production, memes, and subcultural identity. He explores how spaces—both physical and digital—are contested, represented, and politicized. Research Interests: Graffiti as political discourse and cultural practice Craft beer’s market dynamics and authenticity Meme culture’s social and ideological roles Visual culture and morality Grants & Projects: Historic England Grant (2023): 'Ghost Signs of York' to preserve public memory through fading signage QR Funding: Examined craft beer markets in Northern England Awards: York St John Inspirational Teaching Award Nominee (2018) Outstanding Dissertation Award (2016) Teaching: Leads modules in spatial sociology, criminology theory, and research methods.

Tim McNeilView profile

Professor

• Exhibition Design
• Environmental Sustainability
• Museum Practices
• +3 more

Tim McNeil is a Professor of Design at the University of California Davis and Director of the UC Davis Design Museum. He holds an M.F.A. in Exhibition Design from the University of the Arts, London, and a B.A. in Graphic Design from Middlesex University, London. McNeil specializes in exhibition design, environmental sustainability, and museum practices, emphasizing the intersection of design with curatorial processes and audience engagement. His research includes pioneering work on green exhibition design, notably the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Santa Monica Environmental Action Center (2003), recognized as the first 'green' exhibition in a LEED platinum building. He chairs the California Association of Museums’ Green Museum Initiative and co-founded the Green Museums Accord. McNeil teaches courses such as Exhibition Design, Environmental Graphic Design, and Narrative Environments, and has advised projects like the Huntington Library’s augmented learning environments. His 2023 book, The Exhibition and Experience Design Handbook , explores design principles for creating immersive experiences. Awards include the SEGD Global Design Award (2024) and National Environmental Hall of Fame induction. Education: M.F.A. Exhibition Design, University of the Arts, London B.A. Graphic Design, Middlesex University, London Research Focus: Sustainability in museums, participatory design, and the role of exhibitions in environmental advocacy. Recent projects include the 'Village Homes: A Radical Plan' exhibition (2026) and the 'Deborah Butterfield: P.S. These are not horses' exhibition at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum. Awards & Recognition: SEGD Merit Award (2024) National Environmental Hall of Fame (2023) Top 50 Museum Influencer (2023) Inductee, Green Museums Accord Founder Teaching & Projects: Courses include DES185 (Exhibition Design), DES186 (Environmental Graphic Design), and DES187 (Narrative Environments). Student-led projects include bike scavenger hunts and Davis City Hall signage concepts.

Jiří MurycView profile

Researcher

• Slavic Studies
• Bilingualism
• Language Contact
• +4 more

Jiří Muryc is a researcher at the Department of Slavonic Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ostrava. He specializes in Polish-Czech language contact, bilingualism, and sociolinguistic dynamics of the Czech-Polish borderlands. His work spans translation studies, orthographic interference, and linguistic landscapes. Position: Head of Department International Affiliation: Collaborated with Vytautas Magnus University, University of Wrocław, and other institutions His research focuses on multilingual environments, Polish language visibility in Czech public spaces, and cross-border language policy. He explores code-switching, hybrid lects, and ethnolinguistic identity in bilingual communities. Muryc's publications analyze Polish-Czech legal terminology, phraseological dictionaries, and translation challenges between typologically close languages. He emphasizes practical applications in interpreter training and digital language platforms like Polski.info . He supervises theses on topics ranging from Polish literature in Czech translations to Czech-Polish business phraseology and UNESCO heritage linguistics. His projects include Erasmus+ initiatives for Polish language e-learning and sociolinguistic studies of Zaolzie.

Florian FreitagView profile

Professor

• Transnational American Studies
• Canadian Studies
• Popular Culture
• +6 more

Prof. Dr. Florian Freitag is a Professor of American Studies at the University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany) since 2019, specializing in Transnational American Studies, Canadian Studies, and Theme Park Studies. His academic journey includes a PhD in North American literatures from the University of Constance (Germany) in 2011, followed by postdoctoral research at the Obama Institute, JGU Mainz. His educational background includes: 1998-2005: Student of English and French, University of Konstanz, Germany 2002-2003: Exchange student, Department of American Studies, Yale University 2006-2011: Doctoral Student, Department of Literature, University of Konstanz 2009: Visiting Scholar, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 2015-2016: Visiting Scholar, CityTech (CUNY), New York, USA Freitag's research interests span Transnational American Studies, Canadian Studies, Popular Culture, Theme Park Studies, Periodical Studies, Performance Studies, and Hurricane Katrina studies. His work explores the intersections of cultural representation, spatial theory, and transnational flows, with particular attention to how American culture travels and transforms in global contexts. He has made significant contributions to understanding theme parks as cultural spaces that negotiate national identity, transnational influences, and historical narratives through spatial design, narrative construction, and visitor experience. His publications reveal a strong focus on how themed spaces mediate cultural understanding across national boundaries. His scholarship demonstrates how popular culture forms like theme parks serve as important arenas for cultural work that often goes unrecognized in more traditional academic contexts. His work examines the political dimensions of themed environments, the adaptation of classical mythology in global theme parks, and how cities like New Orleans are represented across different media forms. Among his notable scientific contributions are his books The Farm Novel in North America: Genre and Nation in the United States, English Canada, and French Canada, 1845-1945 (Camden House 2013), Popular New Orleans: The Crescent City in Periodicals, Theme Parks, and Opera, 1875-2015 (Routledge 2021), and Key Concepts in Theme Park Studies: Understanding Tourism and Leisure Spaces (Springer 2023), which established him as a leading scholar in interdisciplinary theme park studies. Freitag has also been active in academic service, including co-editing special issues and volumes on intersectionality, Chinese theme parks, and transnational approaches to North American regionalism. His work demonstrates a commitment to interdisciplinary approaches that bridge literary studies, cultural geography, and media studies, with significant contributions to understanding cultural representation in themed environments.

• Online Retailing
• AI Marketing
• Recommendation Systems
• +3 more

Dr Arezou Ghiassaleh is an Associate Professor in Marketing at Durham University Business School, serving as Director of the MSc in Business Analytics (a joint program with the Computer Science department). She holds a PhD from HEC Lausanne (best thesis award), MBA and BSc from Sharif University of Technology. Her research focuses on AI-driven retail strategies, luxury marketing, and consumer behavior in online environments, employing methodologies like surveys, lab experiments, and field studies. Key findings address how AI technologies influence consumer experiences in e-commerce. Publications appear in top journals like the Journal of Retailing and International Journal of Research in Marketing , with conference presentations at ACR and SCP. Collaborations include Tesco, NHS, and Pomelo Sarl. She teaches research methods and marketing courses at MSc/Undergraduate levels and supervises PhD/DBA students. Awards include the HEC Lausanne Best Thesis Award and UK HEA Fellowship. Her work bridges academic theory and industry practice, emphasizing the ethical and strategic implications of AI in marketing. Current focus areas include influencer marketing effectiveness and the psychological impacts of recommendation systems. She actively advises organizations on optimizing digital retail experiences through data-driven insights.

• Sociolinguistics
• Pragmatics
• Stylistics
• +6 more

Peter Backhaus is a Professor at Waseda University's School of Education, Tokyo. He is affiliated with the Graduate School of Education and Faculty of International Research and Education, contributing to both academic and societal contexts through interdisciplinary research. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Germany ResearchGate profile verified via institutional email His research focuses on Sociolinguistics, Pragmatics, Stylistics, and Linguistic Landscapes , with a strong emphasis on multilingualism in Japanese public spaces and communication dynamics in eldercare facilities. Key themes include institutional interactions, language policy, and discourse analysis. Recent publications like “Magica Spellings” (2025) and “Care Communication” (2017) highlight his expertise in language contact, policy, and healthcare discourse. His work has been cited over 3,699 times (Google Scholar), with an h-index of 13. 2018 Waseda Research Award recipient for outstanding scholarly contributions He has led research projects funded by JSPS, including studies on Japanese spam language (2013-2016) and immigrant language policies (2008-2010). His teaching portfolio at Waseda University includes courses in English linguistics, sociolinguistics, and communication studies.

Jackie Jia LouView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Sociolinguistics
• Linguistic Landscape
• Discourse Analysis
• +6 more

Dr. Jackie Jia Lou is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication at Birkbeck, University of London. Her research focuses on language and urban spaces, particularly through linguistic landscape studies, with a monograph and numerous publications on the topic. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from Georgetown University (2009) and has previously taught at Queen Mary University of London and City University of Hong Kong. Research Interests: Lou specializes in sociolinguistics, discourse/narrative analysis, social semiotics, and ethnography. Her work examines how language shapes transnational urban spaces like Chinatown, integrating geosemiotic analysis and mobile video ethnography. Recent projects include historical urban sociolinguistics in Treaty Port Shanghai (Leverhulme Fellowship) and pandemic signage equity. Academic Contributions: She co-edited a special issue on the Linguistic Landscape of Covid-19 and serves as Associate Editor for the journal Linguistic Landscape . Her teaching includes sociolinguistic modules and directing Birkbeck's BA programs in Linguistics and Culture. Awards: Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2022-2024) ISSF Translational Award (2021) BAAL Applying Linguistics Grant (2018) Birkbeck Research Innovation Fund (2018) Supervision: Lou has supervised PhD students Fengzhi Zhao (2022) and Maham El-Farhan (2021), focusing on cosmopolitan identity, activism signage, and urban sociolinguistics. She collaborates with artists like the Oblik Soundwork Collective in Hong Kong for interdisciplinary projects.

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality
• Augmented Reality
• +4 more

Jörg Müller is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Bayreuth, Germany. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR), with a strong emphasis on interaction techniques, public displays, and multimodal interfaces. He has held academic positions at multiple institutions including Aarhus University, HIIG, and RWTH Aachen University. His work spans technical contributions in haptic interfaces, biomechanical modeling, and user behavior analysis in VR environments. Notable projects include OptiTrap for acoustic levitation displays, SIM2VR for biomechanical testing in VR, and the boomRoom system for mid-air sound interaction. Müller collaborates extensively with industry partners like Telekom Laboratories and Siemens. Research interests include: interaction design for immersive environments, embodied interaction, and the social impact of extended reality technologies. His publications demonstrate leadership in CHI, UIST, and IEEE Visualization venues, with over 120 peer-reviewed articles since 2006. Current research priorities include optimizing VR workspace ergonomics, developing tactile feedback systems for mid-air interaction, and exploring public display networks for urban environments. Müller leads the Interactive Systems group at Bayreuth, supervising PhD students in VR engineering and spatial computing.

• Urban Multilingualism
• Heritage Language Maintenance
• Language and Identity
• +6 more

Leonie Gaiser is a Lecturer in Intercultural Communication at the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, University of Manchester. Her research focuses on urban multilingualism, heritage language maintenance, and micro-level language policy, employing ethnographic methodologies. Before her current role, she held a Postdoctoral Research Associate position (2014–2021) on the Multilingual Manchester Project, studying linguistic landscapes, supplementary schools, and healthcare language provisions. She earned a PhD (2021), MA (2016), and BA (2014) from The University of Manchester and Universität Augsburg, Germany. Education: Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Manchester (2021) Master of Arts in Linguistics, The University of Manchester (2016) Bachelor of Arts in English and American Studies; German as a Foreign Language, Universität Augsburg (2014) Research Interests: Dr. Gaiser’s work explores the intersection of language, identity, and policy in urban settings, particularly among diaspora communities. Her studies on Arabic in Manchester challenge traditional notions of ‘language’ and ‘community,’ emphasizing dynamic, lived experiences. She also investigates linguistic diversity in healthcare and education, advocating for inclusive language policies. Publications Trends: Her recent articles focus on multilingual healthcare communication, supplementary schools in diaspora communities, and methodological innovations like the LinguaSnapp mobile app. These works highlight the interplay between policy, practice, and identity in multilingual cities. Awards: Making a Difference Award 2018 (Commended) Advising & Grants: Supervised her own PhD on Arabic language practices in Manchester. Co-organized multidisciplinary events like the Multilingual Science Outreach series and contributed to policy-oriented research projects. Labs/Teams: Active in the Multilingual Manchester Project and affiliated with research beacons Creative Manchester and Healthier Futures at the University of Manchester.

Elana SchlenkerView profile

Lecturer

• Graphic Design
• Visual Communication
• Typography
• +4 more

Elana Schlenker is a Lecturer in the Image Text Ithaca low-residency MFA program at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning since 2016. As principal of Studio Elana Schlenker (founded 2011), she leads a medium-agnostic design practice while co-running the cooperative studio Out of Office with Mark Pernice. Her work bridges academia and professional design through initiatives like Gratuitous Type magazine and the gender wage parity project Less Than 100. Schlenker's research centers on graphic design as a vehicle for social commentary, particularly gender equity in creative industries. She explores typographic innovation, visual identity systems for cultural institutions, and the intersection of image/text in digital and print media. Her practice demonstrates how design methodologies can address political and wellness themes through Visual identity , Branding , and Art direction projects. Recent publications (2021-2024) reveal a focus on modular design systems for art institutions and publishers, with heavy emphasis on interactive web experiences and context-specific typography . She frequently collaborates with photographers and galleries, translating complex narratives into visual communication frameworks that challenge traditional publishing formats. Awards received: Young Gun by The One Club for Creativity (2015) Print Magazine New Visual Artist (2013) In her academic role, Schlenker mentors MFA students in visual communication and design research. Her studio practice operates as a de facto research lab funded through high-profile client contracts with cultural institutions including Walker Art Center, Carnegie Museum of Art, and The New York Times. These projects serve as live case studies for her pedagogy. Schlenker directs Studio Elana Schlenker as her primary creative laboratory, with Out of Office functioning as a collaborative platform. She maintains long-term partnerships with specialists like Maria Adelaide (interactive design) and Élise Rigollet (editorial design), forming interdisciplinary teams for projects spanning academia, art, and technology sectors.