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Cécile Michel is a renowned Assyriologist holding dual roles as a Senior Researcher at CNRS (France) and Professor at Universität Hamburg (Germany). She specializes in the history of Upper Mesopotamia and Anatolia during the second millennium BCE, focusing on private archives, literacy, material culture, and ethical research practices. Her work integrates interdisciplinary approaches, particularly in analyzing cuneiform tablets and ancient textiles. Michel leads the 'Ethics' working group within the Cluster of Excellence ‘Understanding Written Artefacts’ (UWA) at Hamburg and coordinates international projects like the RFA09 (CT scanning sealed tablets) and RFE04 (Assyrian manuscript culture). Education details are not explicitly provided, but her career highlights include: Doctor honoris causa from Copenhagen University (2017) and Hamburg University (2023) President of the International Association for Assyriology (2014–2018) Scientific delegate at CNRS's Scientific Integrity Mission Recipient of the Knight of the Legion of Honor (2019) Her research interests span: Materiality of cuneiform tablets and digital preservation Gender roles in ancient societies Archival literacy and education Textile archaeology and trade networks Her documentaries, such as Thus speaks Taram-Kubi (2016) and Cuneiform script: writing and calculating (2017), have garnered international acclaim. She actively promotes ethical practices in archaeology and cultural heritage preservation, including work on safeguarding manuscripts from Timbuktu and Nepal. Key grants and projects include leadership roles in the SFB 950 ‘Manuscript Cultures’ (2011–2020) and Cluster of Excellence UWA (2019–2025). Her research teams collaborate globally, integrating archaeology, digital humanities, and experimental archaeology to decode ancient texts and artifacts.

• Assyriology
• Ancient Mesopotamian History
• Literacy and Education in Antiquity
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Elena Korchmina is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Bologna. Her research focuses on the Economic History of Early Modern Europe, particularly the Fiscal History of European Elites and the Economic History of Eastern Europe. She holds a PhD in Russian History and has specialized in Russian economic history, analyzing topics such as serfdom, taxation, and elite behavior. Her work explores the interplay between fiscal systems, social structures, and economic development in historical contexts. Notable research areas include the impact of serfdom on economic growth, tax compliance mechanisms among aristocrats, and the conceptual evolution of terms like 'profit' and 'luxury' among Russian elites. Korchmina has received multiple awards from the Higher School of Economics (HSE), including recognitions for academic excellence in publications and teaching. Her research has been published in leading journals such as The Journal of Economic History, The Economic History Review, and The Journal of the History of Economic Thought. She has also contributed to collaborative projects comparing historical agricultural policies between Denmark and Russia, and analyzing corruption dynamics in the Russian Empire. Her recent studies include groundbreaking work on income inequality in Moscow Province during the early 19th century and the role of gender in wealth accumulation among Russian nobility. Korchmina's interdisciplinary approach combines archival research with quantitative methods to shed light on long-term economic and social processes.

• Economic History of Early Modern Europe
• Fiscal History of European Elites
• Economic History of Eastern Europe
• +4 more

Hasan Jashari is a Full Professor (part-time) at the Faculty of Contemporary Social Sciences, South East European University. His academic journey includes a PhD in Sociology of Education and Family from Saint Cirillius and Methodius University (1999-2001), building on earlier degrees in Sociological Sciences and Sociology. His research focuses on: Political pluralism in post-communist societies Sociology of education systems Interethnic relations in the Balkans Methodologies in doctoral research Publications over the past decade demonstrate consistent focus on social transformation in Macedonia, with recurring themes of educational reform, political transitions, and research methodology. His most recent work examines data collection techniques in doctoral studies. No awards, students, or grants information was available in the source material.

• Sociology of Education
• Political Pluralism
• Interethnic Relations
• +1 more

Dr. Julian Brash is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Montclair State University's College of Humanities and Social Sciences. His research focuses on urban development, neoliberal governance, and the politics of space, particularly through studies of New York City, including the High Line park. He has held leadership roles in academic societies like the Society for the Anthropology of North America and co-leads a major urban anthropology project with Dr. Jeff Maskovsky. Brash earned his PhD from CUNY Graduate Center (2006), a Master's from an unnamed institution, and a BA in Political Science from Haverford College. He teaches courses in urban anthropology, cultural theory, and directs Montclair's Urban Humanities program. His 2011 book Bloomberg's New York critiques Mayor Bloomberg's corporate urban governance. Current research examines the High Line's sociopolitical impact, funded by NEH and NSF. He also writes Urban Anthropology: The Basics , due in 2026. Brash's work appears in journals like Urban Anthropology and Antipode , and he served as editor-in-chief of City & Society . His teaching includes interdisciplinary Honors courses on global urbanization and the Anthropology of Public Space. Brash's grants include projects on rethinking urban anthropology in light of contemporary dynamics, supported by the School of Advanced Research and CUNY. Office hours are held regularly, emphasizing accessibility for students. His research bridges anthropology with geography, exploring how urban spaces reflect economic policies, cultural aesthetics, and political struggles.

• Urban Anthropology
• Political Economy
• Urban Development
• +5 more

Michela Deni is a University Professor of Semiotics and Director of the PROJEKT research team at the University of Nîmes. She holds an HDR (2015) and a PhD from the University of Bologna (supervised by Umberto Eco). Her research focuses on semiotics, design methodology, and educational strategies in design. She co-leads the Master's program 'Design, Innovation, Society' (DIS) and chairs the 'Epistemology of Design/Ethics and Methodology' cross-disciplinary axis within PROJEKT. Her academic roles include membership in the University Council, Doctoral College, and International Relations Commission. She has supervised numerous theses and co-authored influential works like Oggetti in azione (2002), widely used in Italian design curricula. Her recent publications explore semiotic applications in social innovation, risk communication, and user integration strategies, available via HAL. She has held teaching positions across Italian and French universities, including the ISIA Florence and Politecnico di Milano. Her editorial roles include co-coordinating Ocula.it and contributing to Design Arts Médias .

• Semiotics
• Design Semiotics
• Project Methodology
• +5 more

Jairo Moreno is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Pennsylvania's College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Music. His research focuses on the production of musical knowledge in modernity, Latin American and Afro-Caribbean music, and the intersections of sound with political and cultural practices. He has authored major works like Musical Representations, Subjects, and Objects and Syncopated Modernities , exploring themes such as listening practices, colonialism, and cultural hybridity. His awards include the Society for American Music’s Irving Lowens Article Award (2005) and ACLS/National Humanities Center Fellowships. A former professional bassist, he has collaborated with musicians like Ray Barretto and contributed to Grammy-nominated recordings. His current research involves fieldwork with Brazil’s Pankararu community and Colombia’s Pacific region midwives, examining aural practices and metaphysics. Key research themes include the political dimensions of music, the ethics of listening, and the role of sound in shaping cultural identity. His publications span music theory, ethnomusicology, and interdisciplinary studies, with recent work addressing Latin Americanisms and global jazz histories. Scientific Awards: Society for American Music 2005 Irving Lowens Article Award ACLS Fellowship (2009–2010) National Humanities Center Fellowship (2012–2013) Advising & Grants: While no specific advisees are listed, his work involves collaborative fieldwork and interdisciplinary projects funded by fellowships. His musical career includes performances with the Ciompi String Quartet and guitarist David Starobin, reflecting his dual academic and artistic engagement. Labs/Teams: Fieldwork collaborations with Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities emphasize participatory research, combining ethnography with historical analysis to document marginalized aural traditions.

• Music Theory
• History of Music
• Latin American Music
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Ryo Nakayama is a Japanese Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with the School of Arts & Sciences and the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations. He holds an office in Williams Hall 402. His professional focus centers on Japanese language education and East Asian studies. While specific research interests are not detailed in the provided text, his role as a lecturer suggests expertise in language pedagogy and cultural studies. No academic awards, grants, or advising records are explicitly mentioned in the current data. The department's broader programs include disciplines such as anthropology, economics, and history, which may inform his teaching environment.

• Japanese Language Education
• East Asian Humanities
• Language Pedagogy

Dr. Sweta Rajan-Rankin is a Reader in Social Work at the University of Kent's School of Social Sciences, joining in 2016. She holds a first-class B.A. in Psychology from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, and an M.Sc. in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Supported by a Chevening Scholarship, she earned an MSc and DPhil in Social Policy from the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on globalization, embodiment in social work, and racialized ageing, with recent projects exploring diaspora identities and sensory ethnography. She leads diversity initiatives in the Social Work program and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Authority. Awards include the M.K.Tata Prize and Kalanidhi Puraskar. Her teaching emphasizes critical thinking and interactive methods, fostering dialogue in classrooms. Professional roles include editorial work for Community Work and Family and reviews for major journals. She is a certified mindfulness trainer and actively contributes to sociological networks like the BSA Race and Ethnicity Study Group. Her research spans transnational service work, embodiment theory, and the intersection of race and ageing. Current projects examine material culture’s role in ethnic identity and cross-cultural ageing experiences. She has published widely on emotional resilience in social work, work-life balance policies, and Black feminist critiques of Brexit. Her work bridges sociological theory with practical implications for policy and practice. Professional Roles: Diversity Lead, BA Admissions Lead Awards: M.K.Tata Prize, Kalanidhi Puraskar, Grace Mathews Shield Grants: Developing bids on diaspora material culture and Indian elders’ ageing experiences Dr. Rajan-Rankin’s interdisciplinary approach integrates phenomenology, postcolonial theory, and sensory ethnography. She advocates for anti-racist social work practices and mentors PhD students in social policy, embodiment studies, and diaspora research.

• Globalization and Transnational Labour
• Social Work and Embodiment
• Ageing and Ethnicity
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Dr. Jan Beek is a Professor at Bielefeld University's Faculty of Sociology, specializing in the ethnographic study of policing dynamics, bureaucratic structures, and transnational fraud mechanisms. His research explores how individuals and institutions categorize identities during acts of control in public spaces, with a focus on Africa, India, Germany, and multicultural contexts. He leads the 'Policing as a Practice of Categorization' project, employing methodologically pluralistic approaches to analyze police work in diverse settings. Notable contributions include defining new research fields like the anthropology of fraud and policing in multicultural societies. His work critically examines statehood production through everyday police interactions, as detailed in his book Stateness: Police work in Ghana . His research appears in journals like Africa , Journal of Modern African Studies , and Social Anthropology . Awards include the Franz Xaver Kaufmann Prize and the Thomas A. Herz Prize for qualitative research. Beek's fieldwork spans Ghana, Kenya, India, and Germany, emphasizing global comparative perspectives in policing and bureaucratic practices.

• Police Studies
• Anthropology
• Bureaucracy Studies
• +3 more

David Donkor is an Associate Professor in Performance Studies at Texas A&M University (TAMU), with affiliations in Africana Studies. He holds a PhD in Performance Studies and a doctoral certificate in African Studies from Northwestern University, an MFA in Directing, an MS in Multidisciplinary Studies (Ethnic Studies, Speech Communication, Educational Foundations) from Minnesota State University, and a Diploma in Theatre from the University of Ghana. Educational Background PhD in Performance Studies & African Studies, Northwestern University MFA in Directing, Minnesota State University MS in Multidisciplinary Studies, Minnesota State University Diploma in Theatre, University of Ghana Dr. Donkor specializes in Ghanaian and broader African diasporic performance cultures, examining how theatre, stand-up comedy, and storytelling intersect with political liberalization, neoliberal economics, and transnational blackness. His work explores postcolonial nationalism through theatre architecture, Cold War soft power dynamics, and urban cultural performances of African migrants in the U.S. His Google Scholar publications reveal a focus on Ghanaian trickster performance, political commodification, and the interplay between performance and historical memory. Key themes include Ananse folklore, neoliberal market influences on theatre, and the dramaturgy of independence celebrations. Dr. Donkor has received scientific recognition including the Entertainment Critics and Reviewers Association of Ghana Talent award for his acting and musical composition in the film Shoeshine Boy . He has taught courses on directing, africana studies, global performance, and diasporic popular music at TAMU. As an active scholar, he co-convenes international working groups at the International Federation of Theatre Research (IFTR) and the American Society for Theatre Research (ASTR), and has presented at major conferences including Performance Studies International and the African Studies Associations of the U.S.A., Australasia, and Pacific.

• Theatre Studies
• Performance Studies
• African Studies
• +7 more

Dr. Anna de Jong is a Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Director of Research at the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability, University of Glasgow. She holds a PhD from the University of Wollongong (Australia) and previously lectured at the University of Surrey and held a postdoctoral position at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Her research focuses on spatial justice in tourism, gendered inequalities in entrepreneurship, and ethical dimensions of food tourism. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Royal Geographical Society. Education: PhD, Human Geography (University of Wollongong, 2012–2015) Previous academic roles: Lecturer at University of Surrey (2017–2020), Postdoctoral Researcher at University of the Highlands and Islands (2015–2017) Her research interests include spatial justice in tourism development, gendered inequalities in tourism entrepreneurship, and the ethical implications of food tourism. She actively explores how tourism processes impact social and cultural diversity, particularly through the lens of feminist geography and political economy. Dr. de Jong leads the ERC-funded project JUST TOUR (2023–2028), investigating spatial justice frameworks in tourism. She has authored/co-authored over 30 publications, including edited volumes on gender and tourism policy. Her work frequently engages with interdisciplinary methods, such as collaborative art projects and social media analysis. Professional roles include Book Review Editor for Leisure Studies and membership in the Geographies of Leisure and Tourism Research Group. She advises students in tourism-related research, including Amanda Fauziah’s work on geotourism in UNESCO Global Geoparks. Her contributions to sustainable tourism include studies on craft beer festivals, food policy, and the socio-psychological impacts of tourism during crises like the pandemic.

• Spatial Justice in Tourism
• Gendered Inequalities in Tourism Entrepreneurship
• Tourism and Regional Transitions
• +3 more

Mayfair Yang is a Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, holding 50% appointments in Religious Studies and East Asian Languages & Cultural Studies, where she also serves as Department Chair. Her research focuses on Chinese modernity, state-society relations, religious environmentalism, and gender studies. She has conducted extensive fieldwork in Wenzhou, China, and Taiwan, integrating critical theory with Chinese philosophy. Yang has held visiting positions at institutions including Harvard, Princeton, and the Max Planck Institute. Education: Ph.D. in Anthropology from UC Berkeley, with research training at Peking University and the University of Michigan. Key areas of expertise include Chinese religions, media studies, and environmental ethics. She received the American Ethnological Society Book Prize for Gifts, Favors, and Banquets (1994). Research interests span religious environmentalism, the interplay between state power and religiosity, and globalizing forces in Chinese history. Recent work emphasizes coastal China’s environmental ethics and ritual economies. She has authored or edited over 20 books and 50 articles, with a focus on cultural anthropology and critical theory. Grants include a 5-year NSF grant for Wenzhou fieldwork. Teaching includes courses on religious environmentalism, critical theory, and Chinese religions. Yang directs the UCSB Confucius Institute and has produced documentaries on Chinese women’s lives and rural Wenzhou society.

• Cultural Anthropology
• Religious Studies
• Modernity and the State
• +5 more

Geoff Childs is a Professor of Sociocultural Anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Anthropology. He holds a PhD from Indiana University. His research bridges anthropology and demography, focusing on Tibetan communities in Nepal, China, and India. He investigates demographic trends, migration, family strategies, and adaptation to rapid development. Education: PhD in Anthropology and Tibetan Studies from Indiana University (2001). Research interests include: Interdisciplinary methods combining quantitative demography and qualitative ethnography. Demographic transitions in Tibetan societies, including fertility, migration, and aging. Impact of development policies on highland communities. Key projects include: Long-term fieldwork in Nubri, Nepal, since 1995, supported by NSF, Fulbright, and others. Collaborative research on elderly well-being in Tibet with Melvyn Goldstein and Puchung Wangdui. Studies on Yartsa Gunbu (cordyceps) harvesting and its socioeconomic impacts. Publications span books and peer-reviewed articles, including Tibetan Diary (2004) and From a Trickle to a Torrent (2018). His work frequently explores themes of cultural preservation, migration, and development. Grants and collaborations include funding from NSF, Wenner-Gren, and co-PI roles with institutions like Case Western Reserve University and the Tibet Academy of Social Sciences. Labs/Teams: Active in multidisciplinary teams studying highland adaptation, including projects on genetics and reproduction in high-altitude populations with Cynthia Beall and Sienna Craig.

• Anthropological Demography
• Tibetan Societies
• Migration Studies
• +4 more

Adelaida Ibarra is an Associate Lecturer at York Law School and the Centre for Applied Human Rights at the University of York, joining in 2022. She holds an MA and PhD from Universidad de Los Andes (Colombia) and an MBA from Leuphana University of Lüneburg (Germany). Her work focuses on Human Rights, transitional justice, gender equality, peacebuilding, and international humanitarian law. She has extensive experience in qualitative research with vulnerable groups like former combatants and victims of human rights violations in Colombia. Key positions include Director roles at Nueva Granada Military University Law School, Fulbright Scholar at Cornell Law School (2016-2017), and research fellowships at the International Nuremberg Principles Academy and Ökopol Institute. Her research includes projects on religious leaders' influence in armed conflicts, Colombia's Special Jurisdiction for Peace, and sustainable development initiatives. Her publications analyze topics like drug trafficking strategies under Colombian peace agreements, gender equality in constitutional law, and transitional justice mechanisms. Awards include the Fulbright Scholarship. Teaching responsibilities include undergraduate Law Professions and Ethics modules, and postgraduate supervision in human rights and LLM dissertations. She also advises on policy development and legal frameworks in transitional societies.

• Human Rights
• Transitional Justice
• Gender Studies
• +4 more

Navtej K Purewal is a Professor in Political Sociology and Development Studies at SOAS University of London's Department of Development Studies, part of the College of Humanities. She also serves as Research and Knowledge Exchange Convenor. Her interdisciplinary background includes a BA in Political Science from Vassar College, an MA in South Asia Area Studies from SOAS, and a PhD in Development Studies from Lancaster. Her research focuses on bordering processes, gender and intersecting inequalities, reproductive justice, and the cultural creative economy. She critiques systemic injustices through a lens informed by imperialism, global power imbalances, and structural violence. Current projects include coordinating an AHRC-funded initiative on India's cultural heritage and creative industries. Her work spans South Asia and the UK, addressing themes like Partition narratives, gender-based violence, and neoliberal impacts on development. Recent publications highlight reproductive justice, UK-India relations, and feminist critiques of criminalization. She has held visiting roles at the University of Sydney and previously taught at the University of Manchester. Key Awards: AHRC India Fellowship (current) Grants: Leading a large AHRC research programme Teaching encompasses undergraduate and postgraduate Development Studies modules, alongside South Asia area studies. She supervises PhD students exploring education and development in rural India and gender dynamics.

• Bordering processes
• Gender and intersecting inequalities
• Reproductive justice
• +5 more