Find Academic Supervisors

• Critical Social Justice
• Community Organizing
• Disaster Response
• +4 more

Dr. Loretta Pyles is Professor at the University at Albany School of Social Welfare, holding PhD and MA degrees from the University of Kansas and a BA from Baker University. A certified yoga instructor, her critical social justice scholarship examines resistance to poverty, gender violence, racism, and disasters within contexts of climate crisis and neoliberalism. Her NSF-funded research employs transformative frameworks integrating holistic mind-body-spirit approaches. Research Focus: Transformative community organizing; Integrative wellness practices; Disaster resilience; Anti-oppressive methodologies; Climate justice frameworks. Publications: Authored Progressive Community Organizing (Routledge) and Healing Justice: Holistic Self-Care for Change Makers (Oxford). Recent work explores rewilding practices amid climate change. Awards: National Science Foundation grant recipient for disaster research.

Nari SenanayakeView profile

Assistant Professor

• Political Ecology
• health-environment geography
• agrarian livelihoods
• +2 more

Nari Senanayake is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Kentucky's College of Arts & Sciences. Affiliated with multiple interdisciplinary programs including Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Health, Society and Populations, Social Theory, Applied Environmental and Sustainability Studies, and Global Asias, their work bridges health-environment geography and political ecology. Their research explores agrarian livelihoods through feminist geographical perspectives, with regional expertise in South Asia. Key themes include environmental health uncertainties, socio-nature relationships, and toxic exposure impacts—particularly regarding kidney disease epidemics in Sri Lanka's dry zone. Publications demonstrate strong methodological innovation, blending spatial analysis with sensory ethnography and digital methods. Recent work (2020-2024) critically examines bodily experiences of toxicity, liminal health states, and knowledge co-production through podcasts.

• Multi-Agent Systems
• Hypermedia Systems
• Web of Things
• +3 more

Andrei Ciortea is an Assistant Professor in Interaction and Communication based Systems at the University of St. Gallen, affiliated with the ICS-HSG (Interaction and Communication Systems) department. His research focuses on Internet-scale multi-agent systems, hypermedia systems, the Web of Things, and socio-technical systems. He explores topics such as autonomous agents, hypermedia environments, and the integration of digital twins in industrial automation. Key research interests include the design of adaptive coordination mechanisms, affordance-driven interaction models, and semantic hypermedia search. His work emphasizes practical applications in manufacturing, energy systems, and sustainable design. Notable contributions include the HyperBrain project leveraging large language models for human-inspired guidance and the Solid-based Pody framework for agent embodiment in web systems. He received the Best Paper Award at the 6th International Conference on the Internet of Things (IoT 2016). His publications span topics like digital twin ecosystems, circular design strategies, and governance frameworks for autonomous agents on the web. Current research trends highlight the interplay between agent autonomy, hypermedia architectures, and socio-technical interactions in smart environments. Dr. Ciortea collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving AI ethics, transparent machine intelligence, and real-time collaboration in linked data systems. His work bridges theoretical agent models with real-world industrial applications, emphasizing scalable, interoperable solutions for distributed systems.

Arseli DokumaciView profile

Associate Professor

• critical disability studies
• performance studies
• research-creation
• +2 more

Dr. Arseli Dokumaci is an Associate Professor in Communication Studies and Canada Research Chair in Critical Disability Studies and Media Technologies at Concordia University, where she directs the Access in the Making (AIM) Lab. Her interdisciplinary work bridges critical disability studies , performance studies , medical anthropology , and environmental humanities , focusing on how disabled people improvise activist affordances in everyday life. She is an esteemed media-maker and research-creator, using video and artistic interventions to challenge ableism and reimagine accessible futures. Education PhD in Performance Studies, Aberystwyth University MA in Film and Communication, Bahçeşehir University BA in Translation and Interpreting, Boğaziçi University Her research emphasizes crip time , care intimacy , and disability worlds , as seen in her 2023 book Activist Affordances and peer-reviewed articles analyzing pandemic access, blind embodiment, and ecological approaches to disability. Her recent publications explore autoethnographic methods , invisibility in medical conditions , and disruptive spatial practices . Scientific Awards 2023 Alison Piepmeier Prize (National Women's Studies Association) 2024 Gertrude J. Robinson Book Prize (Canadian Communication Association) Finalist for 2024 ATHE Outstanding Book Award Finalist for 2024 Rachel Carson Prize (4S) She has no listed students in the provided materials but has been recognized for her contributions to disability scholarship and media-creation. The AIM Lab under her direction serves as a hub for experimental research on accessibility and technological innovation.

Lisa SmithView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Gender History
• Medical History
• Digital History
• +4 more

Dr. Lisa Smith is a Senior Lecturer and Postgraduate Dean in the School of Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Essex. She holds a PhD from the University of Essex (2002), and earlier degrees from the University of Alberta (MA, 1997; B.A., 1995). Her academic career includes a decade at the University of Saskatchewan before returning to Essex in 2015. Dr. Smith’s research focuses on gender, health, and the body in early modern Europe, with particular attention to pain, reproduction, domestic medicine, and food history. She is a leading scholar of Sir Hans Sloane’s correspondence and co-leads the Early Modern Recipes Online Collective (EMROC), a crowdsourced transcription project. Her work bridges digital humanities and traditional historical inquiry, emphasizing public engagement through blogs like The Recipes Project and collaborations with museums and archives. Her research interests span comparative history (Britain and France, 1600–1800), digital public engagement, and the intersection of science, medicine, and supernatural beliefs. She has published extensively on topics such as eighteenth-century medical practices, food as identity, and early modern family histories. Current projects include an online database of Sloane’s correspondence and a monograph on European cuisine and British identity. Dr. Smith supervises PhD students on themes like gender, health, and early modern social networks. She has held editorial roles for journals like the European Journal of Food, Drink and Society and hypotheses.org, and has delivered keynote lectures on topics ranging from seventeenth-century recipes to the sensory experience of plague. Her grants include funding from the British Academy and the University of Essex’s QR Impact Fund for initiatives like the Hungry Human Project .

Nerissa S. BalceView profile

Associate Professor

• Race and Ethnic Studies
• Gender Studies
• State Violence
• +7 more

Nerissa S. Balce serves as Associate Professor of Asian American Studies at Stony Brook University, with additional affiliations in the Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Media Art Culture and Technology Advanced Graduate Certificate Program, and Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Her scholarly work bridges cultural studies, visual anthropology, and postcolonial theory with a focus on U.S.-Philippine relations. Her research interests center on race, gender, and state violence within American imperial contexts, particularly examining visual culture and popular representations. Balce's scholarship explores how photographic archives document colonial and neocolonial violence, with special attention to Duterte's Philippines and historical U.S. imperialism. She investigates the intersections of bodily representation, citizenship, and resistance through frameworks of necropolitics and visual sovereignty. Analysis of Balce's publications reveals consistent engagement with visual documentation of state violence, particularly through her curatorial work on Dark Lens / Lente ng Karimlan , which examines Filipino atrocity photography during Duterte's drug war. Her scholarly trajectory demonstrates deepening theoretical engagement with fascism studies, evolving from analyses of historical American imperialism to contemporary authoritarian regimes, while maintaining focus on visual evidence and bodily politics. 2018 Best Book award in Cultural Studies from the Filipino Section of the Association for Asian American Studies Finalist for the best book in social sciences for the 2018 Philippine National Book Awards As co-curator of the Dark Lens project, Balce has fostered international scholarly-artistic collaboration between Filipino photographers and North American academics. Her teaching encompasses graduate and undergraduate courses on Asian American literature and popular culture, and she has presented lectures at numerous institutions including Cornell University, UC Berkeley, and Ateneo de Manila University. Balce actively participates in digital forums addressing U.S. empire, anti-Asian racism, and Filipino immigrant experiences. Her work with the Dark Lens project represents a significant collaborative initiative bringing together Manila-based photographers and international scholars to document state violence through visual media. This project exemplifies her commitment to bridging academic research with artistic practice and human rights advocacy.

Donna ChambersView profile

Professor

• Cultural Heritage Tourism
• Gender Intersectionality
• Black Feminism
• +6 more

Professor Donna Chambers is a leading scholar at Northumbria University's School of Design Arts and Creative Industries, specializing in critical tourism studies. She joined Northumbria in September 2022 after establishing the Interdisciplinary Research Network on Race, Class and Ethnicity (RaCE) at the University of Sunderland, with prior academic appointments at the Universities of Surrey and Edinburgh Napier. Her research centers on cultural heritage representations , gender-race intersectionality through Black feminist frameworks, and postcolonial/decolonial theorizing in tourism contexts. Chambers employs innovative visual and qualitative methodologies to examine power dynamics in tourism discourse, with particular focus on marginalized communities and epistemological decolonization. Chambers' recent publications reveal evolving research trajectories: from foundational work on heritage discourse construction (2021) to cutting-edge studies on neurodivergent travelers (2024) and migration-hospitality intersections (2025). Her scholarship consistently bridges critical theory with practical advocacy , addressing gender-based violence in academia, deaf tourism accessibility, and sustainable tourism through intersectional lenses. As Associate Editor for Annals of Tourism Research and former Managing Editor for Leisure Studies , she shapes scholarly discourse while serving as external ethics committee member for the University of Oxford (2013-2021). Chambers actively advocates for equity, anti-racism, and anti-discrimination across academic and tourism sectors. Passionate advocate for equity and anti-discrimination in academia External member, Oxford University Research Ethics Committee (2013-2021) Associate Editor, Annals of Tourism Research Former Managing Editor, Leisure Studies Established RaCE interdisciplinary research network at Sunderland Her leadership extends to PhD supervision on Black feminism, decolonial theory, and heritage representation. Chambers' work contributes significantly to UN Sustainable Development Goals through critical examinations of cultural equity and inclusive tourism development.

• Virtual Reality
• Cognitive Science
• Educational Technology
• +3 more

Pierre-François Gerard is affiliated with Goldsmiths, University of London as a Researcher. His work focuses on leveraging spatial design and virtual reality (VR) to enhance cognitive performance and immersive learning environments. He holds a PhD in Virtual Architecture Framework for Immersive Learning Environments from Goldsmiths (2020). His research integrates architecture, cognitive science, and educational technology to explore how spatial qualities influence memory and task performance in VR settings. Key research themes include the Method of Loci for memory optimization, spatial analysis using isovist techniques, and the design of architectures that support embodied cognition. Gerard has presented at conferences such as the 7th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN) and has contributed to projects like ArchiMemory, which examines memory retention through virtual environments. His interdisciplinary approach bridges architecture, technology, and cognitive science to advance immersive learning methodologies.

Rachael WoodcockView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Leadership Development
• Organizational Behavior
• Human Resource Management
• +3 more

Rachael Woodcock is a Senior Lecturer in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management (OB/HRM) at the Department of Management, part of Sheffield Business School at Sheffield Hallam University. She teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including modules like Leading and Managing Teams and Developing People and Organisations . Her professional background includes running her own consultancy business focused on employee and organizational development, as well as roles as a Workplace Experience Mentor and Course Leader. She has also held external responsibilities such as SBS Collaborative Course Leader in Hong Kong (2011–2015) and Course Leader positions in the UK (2009–2012). Rachael holds a PhD in Leadership Development (in progress since 2016) alongside a BA (Hons) Business Studies (1996), Advanced Professional Diploma in Management Development (2001), and multiple postgraduate qualifications from Sheffield Hallam University and Leeds Beckett University, including a PgC in Research Methods (2014), MSc Human Resource Management (2011), and PgG in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (2009). She maintains professional memberships with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) since 2010 and the Higher Education Academy (HEA) since 2009. Her research interests center on leadership development through innovative qualitative methodologies, including phenomenological studies, visual/arts-based research, and poetic inquiry. She explores how unexpected experiences, sensory perceptions, and reflective practices shape leadership understanding. Recent work engages with organizational learning dynamics and talent management strategies across sectors. In publication trends, Rachael’s presentations (2018–2024) emphasize creative approaches to leadership analysis, such as using drawings and poetry to uncover tacit knowledge. Her work bridges academic research and practical organizational development, particularly in public and private sector contexts. Rachael’s professional recognitions include ongoing CPD compliance and certifications like the NVQ Level 4 in Business Advice (2007). She has advised organizations on leadership strategies and supported academic programs globally, balancing teaching innovation with industry engagement.

Lorenzo FerrariniView profile

Lecturer

• Visual Anthropology
• Mande Africa
• Hunting
• +6 more

Dr. Lorenzo Ferrarini is a Lecturer in Visual Anthropology at the University of Manchester, affiliated with the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology. He holds a PhD in Social Anthropology (2014) and a postgraduate degree from the University of Milan-Bicocca (2008). His research focuses on Mande Africa, particularly Burkina Faso, exploring themes like hunting, ecological perception, sound, and embodiment. He is renowned for his work in documentary film, photography, and sound recording, with notable projects including Kalanda: The Knowledge of the Bush (2015) and Living the Weather (2016). Education: PhD in Social Anthropology with Visual Media, University of Manchester, 2014 Postgraduate Degree, University of Milan-Bicocca, 2008 Research Interests: West African hunter-gatherer knowledge systems Sensory ethnography and sound studies Collaborative filmmaking methodologies Cultural heritage in Southern Italy Awards: ICTM Book Prize (2021) for Sonic Ethnography John Collier Jr. Award for Still Photography (2021) Best Ethnographic Film (2015) Teaching: Modules on Mande Africa and visual anthropology MA course Beyond Observational Cinema Ethnographic documentary short course Labs/Teams: LEAV - Ethnomusicology and Visual Anthropology Lab (University of Milan) Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology Leverhulme Trust project on weather experiences

Marissa LopezView profile

Associate Professor

• Chicanx Literature
• 19th Century Mexican California
• Affect Theory
• +3 more

Marissa Lopez is an Associate Professor of English and Chicana/o Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) . Her scholarly work focuses on Chicanx literature from the 19th century to contemporary periods, particularly examining themes of nationalism, racial immanence, and affective representations of the body in cultural production. PhD, English, UC Berkeley (2006) MA, English, University of Wisconsin, Madison (1999) BA, English, UC Berkeley (1996) Her research spans literary history , critical race theory , and gender studies , with publications analyzing Mexican-American identity in 19th-century California, sentimentality in Chicanx fiction, and phenomenological approaches to race in contemporary works. Recent articles explore realism , vital materiality , and sensory experience in Chicanx narratives. Leadership Roles : Vice President, Latina/o Studies Association; former Associate Director, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center; former chair, UCLA Committee on Diversity and Equal Opportunity As Director of Professionalization in UCLA’s English Department, she develops programs for graduate student career development. Her work bridges literary analysis , historical scholarship , and social justice advocacy .

David KirshView profile

Professor

• Distributed Cognition
• Embodied Cognition
• Human-Computer Interaction
• +4 more

David Kirsh is a Professor in the Department of Cognitive Science at the University of California, San Diego. He holds a D.Phil from Oxford University and completed post-doctoral work at MIT's AI Lab. His research focuses on distributed cognition, embodied cognition, and human-computer interaction, with specific interests in how environments shape cognitive processes and how physical objects become tools for thought. Key research areas include: Theory of Interaction: Examines how people adapt environments to simplify cognitive tasks Environment Design: Develops principles for designing collaborative spaces and smart rooms Information Architecture: Designs large-scale web systems and information spaces Dr. Kirsh directs the Interactive Cognition Lab and co-directs the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination. His work bridges cognitive science with practical applications in workplace design, e-learning, and human-computer interaction.

Kathryn M. RudyView profile

Professor

• Medieval Manuscripts
• Medieval Objects
• Pilgrimage (Real and Imagined)
• +5 more

Prof Kathryn M. Rudy FBA FRSE is the Bishop Wardlaw Professor at the School of Art History, University of St Andrews. She is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the British Academy, and has received prestigious awards such as the Sir Walter Scott Medal (2019) and the APEX award (2023). Education: She earned her Ph.D. in Art History from Columbia University and a Licentiate in Mediaeval Studies from the University of Toronto. Previous roles included research, teaching, and curatorial positions across the US, UK, Canada, The Netherlands, and Belgium. Research Interests: Her work focuses on the reception and original functions of medieval manuscripts, particularly from the Low Countries. She pioneered densitometer analysis to study reader interaction with manuscripts and currently explores tracking user responses using technological methods. Key topics include pilgrimage studies, forensic approaches to material culture, early printing, craft traditions, and intangible cultural heritage. She collaborates with scientists like Prof Sue Healy and Dr Emily Doolittle to investigate creativity in humans and animals. Grants & Awards: She has secured significant grants from the British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, Getty Research Institute, and others. Notable awards include the Sir Walter Scott Medal (Scotland’s top arts/humanities prize) and fellowships at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study and Paul Mellon Senior Fellowships. Teaching: In 2024-25, she teaches courses AH1001, AH1003, AH1901, AH5164, AH6165, and the SAIMS MLitt module. She occasionally supervises postgraduate researchers. Labs & Collaborations: Her research integrates interdisciplinary methods through affiliations like the Institute of Medieval Studies. She actively collaborates internationally, contributing to exhibitions such as 'Bewogen middeleeuwen' at the Rijksmuseum Twenthe and co-organizing workshops on manuscript erasures and technologies.

Sarah BellView profile

Professor

• Urban Resilience
• Sustainable Infrastructure
• Community Engagement
• +3 more

Professor Sarah Bell is the City of Melbourne Chair in Urban Resilience and Innovation at the University of Melbourne's Melbourne Centre for Cities. She holds a PhD in Sustainability and Technology Policy from Murdoch University and has degrees in Environmental Engineering and Chemistry from the University of Western Australia. Her career includes 16 years at University College London before joining Melbourne in 2021. Her research focuses on community engagement with urban infrastructure, particularly water systems and sustainability. Key themes include co-design processes, life cycle assessments, and resilience frameworks for cities. She is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management. Recent work emphasizes participatory methods in addressing climate change, such as net-zero transitions and post-pandemic urban planning. Her projects, like the 'Bottom Up Infrastructure' initiative, prioritize community voices in decision-making. She has contributed to frameworks for local governments on resilience and sustainability, integrating social, technical, and environmental dimensions. Notable awards include her Chartered Engineer status and prestigious fellowships. Her academic contributions span over 50 publications, with a focus on urban systems, infrastructure co-design, and community-driven solutions. Current affiliations include the Melbourne School of Design and the Melbourne Centre for Cities.

• Curriculum Studies
• Pedagogy
• Critical Theory
• +5 more

Dr. Kevin Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Education at Cardiff University's School of Social Sciences. His research focuses on reconceptualist approaches to curriculum and pedagogy, emphasizing dynamic, socially constructed educational processes. He employs methods like currere (autobiographical reflection), narrative analysis, and critical discourse analysis to explore themes such as social justice, decolonization, and climate change in education. His work bridges critical theory, poststructuralism, and post-humanism, with a particular interest in Wales' educational landscape while engaging globally through research in Pacific nations like Tonga and Fiji. Smith's research themes include cultural studies, education policy, and the interplay between place and learning. He has contributed to the development of the Curriculum Cymreig, examining its impact on Welsh identity formation. His blog (blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/drkevinsmith) reflects on contemporary educational challenges, including anti-racist pedagogy and climate crisis responses. He holds a PhD and has taught internationally, combining academic rigor with outdoor activities like long-distance hiking that inform his thinking on place and experiential learning. His external affiliations include ORCID and social media engagement, reflecting a commitment to public scholarship.