Helmut Leder is a Professor at the University of Vienna, specifically within the Faculty of Psychology's Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology. He serves as Head of the Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, integrating interdisciplinary approaches to study aesthetic experiences and cognitive processes. His academic profile includes teaching courses in General Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, and Neurosciences, alongside supervising master's and doctoral thesis seminars focused on perception and neuroaesthetics. Key Research Areas : Empirical Aesthetics, Cognitive Psychology, Visual Perception, Cross-Cultural Psychology, Urban Art Impact, Mental Imagery Studies Methodological Focus : Eye-tracking, Machine Learning Analysis, Cross-Cultural Comparisons, Field Experiments, Neuroimaging Recent Contributions : Investigated urban art's role in stress reduction, developed network models of aesthetic experiences, explored non-visual color navigation for the blind, and applied machine learning to art evaluation. His work bridges psychology with cultural studies, examining how aesthetic experiences shape well-being and cognitive processes. Current projects emphasize the neural and behavioral distinctions between real and imagined art encounters, while challenging traditional gender-based perception models.
Mark Coeckelbergh is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Vienna, specializing in the philosophy of technology, AI ethics, and robot ethics. He is affiliated with the Department of Philosophy and the Research Network Data Science at the University of Vienna. In addition to his academic position, Coeckelbergh has held significant roles including Former President of the Society for Philosophy and Technology (SPT) and Member of the European Commission's High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI HLEG). His research focuses on the ethical, political, and philosophical implications of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and robotics. Coeckelbergh has published extensively in these areas, authoring influential books such as Robot Ethics (2022), The Political Philosophy of AI (2022), and Why AI Undermines Democracy and What To Do About It . His work explores how AI systems affect democratic processes, human agency, and social relationships. Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on the relationship between AI, democracy, and ethical governance, examining how AI systems can both threaten and potentially enhance democratic processes through algorithmic transparency and participatory design approaches. Finalist of the World Technology Award 2017 Coeckelbergh teaches various courses including 'Introduction to Philosophy of LLMs,' 'LLMs and the Future of Writing,' 'Ethics and Robotics,' and 'Global Governance of AI.' He has supervised numerous students working on topics related to technology ethics and philosophy. He has been involved in several major research projects including H2020 PERSEO, WWTF Democracy Responsible Entrepreneurship, and FP7 DREAM (Development of Robot-Enhanced therapy for children with Autism spectrum disorders). Coeckelbergh has also announced upcoming guest professorships at the Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Uppsala University, where he will work on environmental and technology ethics projects.
Penelope Harvey is a Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Manchester (2000–present), with prior roles at the University of Oslo (2012–2019) and University of Liverpool (1985–1990). Her work bridges ethnographic fieldwork with critical analyses of infrastructure, governance, and technology. PhD and MSc in Social Anthropology (London School of Economics) BA in Spanish (King’s College London) Her research spans large-scale infrastructures (e.g., roads in Peru, big data in the UK), nuclear decommissioning , and knowledge politics . Projects include grants from the ESRC and BNFL Endowment Fund. She has advised on interdisciplinary initiatives like Global Trout and Ports , and led the ESRC Centre for Research on Socio-Cultural Change (2006–2014). Awards include Fellowships from the British Academy and the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Thede Kahl is a University Professor for Southern Slavic and Southeastern European Studies at the University of Jena, Germany, and director of the Department of Slavistics and Caucasus Studies (until 2016). He leads major research projects such as BalkanNOMAD, IRDICH, and LaZAR, focusing on intangible cultural heritage, data archiving, and interethnic dynamics. His career includes roles at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Austrian Institute of East and Southeast European Studies, and teaching positions at Phillips University of Marburg and the University of Münster. Fields of expertise: Cultural relations of Southern Slavs, endangered dialects, interethnic coexistence, and minority studies in Southeast Europe. Notable awards: Dr. honoris causa (2015), Medal of Merit of Gagauzia (2016), and membership in prestigious academies. His research integrates fieldwork, sociolinguistics, and historical analysis, with projects funded by FWF, DFG, EU, and private entities like Henkel. He has authored/co-authored over 10 key publications on Balkan linguistics, cultural heritage, and minority communities.
Eva-Maria Knoll is a senior researcher at the Austrian Academy of Sciences , affiliated with the Institute for Social Anthropology . Her work bridges medical anthropology, health equity, and island studies, focusing on the Indian Ocean World, particularly the Maldives. Education : Socio-Cultural Anthropology, PhD (2011), University of Vienna Research Interests : She explores the biosocial impact of inherited blood disorders (thalassaemias, sickle cell disease), health landscapes in island cultures, and mobility patterns in health-related contexts. Her comparative ethnographic approach integrates collaboration with local clinics and patient advocacy groups. Publications Trends : Her recent articles examine genetic responsibility, health equity in remote regions, and the intersection of mobility, disease, and cultural identity in the Indian Ocean World. Themes include medical anthropology, island studies, and global health challenges. Projects : Leader: Genetic Responsibility & Remoteness Transition in Rare Diseases Collaborator: Health and Environmental Challenges in Indian Ocean Islands and Shoreline Countries Co-Edited Books : She has co-edited five books, including Disease Dispersion and Impact in the Indian Ocean World and Camels in Asia and North Africa .
Dr. Greca Nathascia Meloni is a filmmaker and ethnographer at the University of Vienna's Institute for Cultural and Social Anthropology , specializing in multispecies relationships and environmental anthropology. Her work bridges academic research with public engagement through ethnographic films and blog platforms like fareapicoltura.net . Current research focuses on non-native plant studies and human-environment interactions Recipient of the Theodor Körner Prize for academic excellence (2021) Research Interests span five core areas: Multispecies Ethnography Visual Ethnography Environmental Anthropology Critical Plant Studies Anthropology of Cultural Heritage Her filmography including The Journey of the Bees (2022) demonstrates expertise in ethnographic filmmaking and environmental storytelling. Recent publications address climate impacts on apiculture, collaborative writing methodologies, and sociocultural dynamics in Mediterranean regions. Scientific Recognition : Theodor Körner Prize (2021) Fiorenzo Serra International Film Festival First Prize (2022) Maintaining strong academic connections through her university role while pursuing independent filmmaking projects, Meloni effectively combines research with creative dissemination.
Didier Fassin is the James D. Wolfensohn Professor of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton) and holds a permanent chair in Moral Questions and Social Issues at the Collège de France. His roles include Director of Studies at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris since 1999. He previously served as Visiting Professor at Princeton University and the University of Hong Kong, and held the Annual Chair in Public Health at the Collège de France (2019–2020). Education includes a Doctorate in Medicine (1982), Master in Public Health (1986), PhD in Social Science (1988), and accreditations in Public Health and Social Sciences. His research focuses on political anthropology, public health, humanitarianism, migration, and the intersection of ethics with social institutions. Key research programs include studies on undocumented immigrants, AIDS in South Africa, and the biopolitics of crises. He coordinates global inquiries like the Nomis Foundation’s Crisis project (2018–2023). His awards include the Nomis Distinguished Scientist Award (2018), Gold Medal in Anthropology (2016), and Victor Turner Prize (2019). He frequently engages in public discourse through media and institutions, advocating for the social sciences’ role in addressing contemporary societal challenges. Advising and grants highlight his leadership in interdisciplinary projects, including the ERC-funded ‘Critical Moral Anthropology’ (2009–2012) and Mellon-funded asylum studies in South Africa. His work spans academic and applied spheres, influencing policy and public understanding of inequality, justice, and human rights.
Martin Slama is a senior researcher at the Institute for Social Anthropology (ISA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, Austria. His work bridges anthropological theory with empirical studies of Islamic communities in Southeast Asia, focusing on digital transformations and diaspora dynamics. He maintains active collaborations with Indonesian institutions including State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga and has held visiting positions at Australian National University and Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies. Slama earned his PhD in Anthropology from the University of Vienna, followed by habilitation research funded by the prestigious APART grant of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. His academic trajectory demonstrates deepening engagement with Southeast Asian Islamic communities, evolving from initial studies of Indonesian youth internet culture to complex analyses of Hadhrami diaspora networks and digital religiosity. His research centers on the anthropology of Islam in Southeast Asia, with particular emphasis on digital anthropology and new media's impact on religious practices. Slama investigates how social media transforms Islamic charity (zakat/sedekah), reconfigures preacher economies, and creates new forms of digital piety while examining intersecting themes of socio-economic inequality, gender dynamics, and Southeast Asian power concepts. His work consistently explores temporalities within religious practices and the political dimensions of space in Muslim communities. Analysis of his publication record reveals a clear intellectual arc: early work established foundations in Indonesian youth digital culture and Hadhrami community structures, while recent scholarship pioneers the study of 'digital Islam' in Southeast Asia. His articles demonstrate methodological innovation in tracing online-offline religious intersections, with growing attention to pandemic-era transformations of Islamic piety and the material dimensions of religiosity in housing and urban space. His scientific recognition includes: APART grant of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Slama leads major research projects including 'Social Media and Islamic Practice: Consequences of Being Digitally Pious in Indonesia' and 'Diasporic Hadhrami (Re-)Positioning in Indonesia’s Changing Religious and Political Fields', while supervising 'Mobilities and socio-environmental frictions' and 'TRANSCAMUS'. His grant portfolio reflects sustained institutional support for investigating the nexus of digital technology, Islamic practice, and socio-spatial inequality in Southeast Asia. He actively mentors junior researchers through project supervision and international collaborations. As a core member of ISA's research team, Slama contributes to the institute's Southeast Asia focus through collaborative projects examining religiosity, inequality, and digital transformations. His current work integrates pandemic-era fieldwork with longitudinal studies of Islamic communities, positioning him at the forefront of anthropological research on digital religiosity in Muslim Southeast Asia.
Prof. Dr. Gabriele Rippl is a Full Professor and Chair of Literatures in English/North American Literature and Culture at the University of Bern, Switzerland, where she has served as Director of the Department of English since 2005. She previously held professorial positions at the University of Göttingen (2003-2005), and lecturing positions at the Universities of Freiburg, Zurich, Bern, Tübingen, and Bielefeld. Her extensive administrative experience includes serving as Dean of the Faculty of Humanities (2021-2023), Vice-Dean (2019-2021), and President of the Collegium generale (2007-2015) at the University of Bern. Her educational background includes a 'Habilitation' at the University of Constance (2002), a PhD in English and American Studies from the same institution (1995), and a DFG doctoral grant at the postgraduate school 'Theory of Literature and Communication' (1989-1995). She has held numerous prestigious fellowships including at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (2002), the University of Wales (2003), UCLA (2015), and the Center for Advanced Studies in the Humanities Morphomata Kolleg, Cologne (2017). Current Research Focus: Cultural Sustainability Key Area: Intermediality (text-picture relationships, particularly ekphrasis and eco-ekphrasis) Specialization: Anglophone world literatures across historical periods Theoretical Framework: Literary theory with emphasis on postcolonial and transcultural perspectives Additional Interests: Autobiography and life writing, literature and anthropology, seriality studies Prof. Rippl's recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward environmental humanities, particularly through the lens of eco-ekphrasis, while maintaining her longstanding expertise in intermedial studies. Her work bridges literary analysis with broader cultural, ecological, and sustainability concerns, reflecting an increasingly interdisciplinary approach that connects literary studies with environmental science and cultural sustainability frameworks. The publications reveal a sophisticated integration of visual culture studies with contemporary ecological concerns, particularly in how literary texts represent and engage with environmental imperatives. 2020-present: Member and President of Specialised Committee Careers, Swiss National Research Council 2017: Fellowship at Center for Advanced Studies in the Humanities Morphomata Kolleg, Cologne 2015: Visiting Scholarship at UCLA supported by SNSF 2014-present: Member of AcademiaNet – European Expert Database of Outstanding Female Academics 2008: Fellowship at University of Western Ontario As an advisor, Prof. Rippl has supervised numerous doctoral candidates working on diverse topics including world literature, intermediality, postcolonial studies, and environmental humanities. Her current research projects include 'Anglophone Life Writing Today: Transcultural Figurations – Intermedial Constellations,' 'Mediating the Ecological Imperative: Modes and Formats of Engagement,' and interdisciplinary work on 'Cultural Sustainability.' She leads the 'Der ökologische Imperative' SNSF Sinergia project (2021-2024), which brings together scholars from English studies, art history, and social anthropology. She also serves on multiple Swiss National Science Foundation committees, demonstrating significant influence in national research policy. Prof. Rippl directs the interdisciplinary Walter-Benjamin-Kolleg research platform 'Auto_Bio_Graphie,' collaborating with Dance Studies, Spanish Literature, and Visual Anthropology. She previously led the SNF Doctoral research group on 'Seriality and Intermediality in Graphic Novels' and the project 'Cosmopolitanism and Identity in Contemporary Indian Literatures in English.' Her editorial work includes the peer-reviewed journal Anglia and the Anglia Book Series, where she has published extensively on intermediality, cultural sustainability, and world literatures.
Peter Jackson is Professor of Human Geography at the University of Sheffield, a position he has held since 1993. Previously, he served as Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Geography at University College London from 1980 to 1993. His academic career spans over four decades, with significant contributions to the field of human geography, particularly focusing on food-related studies. His educational background includes: BA Hons Geography, Oxford University, First Class (1976) Diploma in Social Anthropology, Oxford University (1977) DPhil in Geography, Oxford University (1980) Professor Jackson's research primarily focuses on food security and sustainability, social and cultural geography, and geographies of consumption. His work explores the complex relationships between food, culture, and society, with particular attention to consumer behavior, food anxieties, and the cultural dimensions of food systems. He has made significant contributions to understanding how food practices are shaped by social, cultural, and economic factors, and how these practices reflect broader societal changes and concerns. His research often employs interdisciplinary approaches, combining insights from geography, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on food studies, particularly examining convenience food, food anxieties, and the concept of freshness in different cultural contexts. The research shows a progression from examining broader food systems to more specific aspects of food consumption and production, with an increasing emphasis on cross-cultural comparisons and interdisciplinary methodologies. His notable awards and honors include: Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) (2017) European Research Council, Advanced Investigator Grant (2008-2012) Victoria Medal of the Royal Geographical Society (2007) Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) (2001) Professor Jackson has secured substantial research funding throughout his career, including a £1.2m Leverhulme Trust grant for the 'Changing Families, Changing Food' program and a £1.3m European Research Council Advanced Investigator Grant for research on 'Consumer culture in an age of anxiety'. He has held leadership positions including Director of Research for the Social Sciences at the University of Sheffield (2004-2007) and Director of Sheffield Sustainable Food Futures (2016). Currently, he serves as Co-Director of the University Research Institute for Sustainable Food (since 2019). He directs the Sheffield Sustainable Food Futures (SheFF) initiative and leads the consumer research strand of the N8 agri-food program. His work has significant policy implications, as evidenced by his service on the Food Standards Agency's Social Science Research Committee (2008-2017, Chair 2011-2017) and his membership in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' Social Science Expert Group (since 2017).
Aníbal Arregui is a Lecturer at the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology within the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Vienna . He also holds a Post-Doc position at the Department of Social Anthropology , University of Barcelona (since 2019), with prior postdoctoral work at the University of Rostock and Charles University/CEFRES . Research Focus : Environmental anthropology, anthropology of the body, multi-species ethnography, and Amazonian anthropology. Key Projects : Long-term ethnographic work with Amazonian ribeirinho and quilombola communities (since 2006), and the Wild Boar Project in Barcelona (since 2017). Publications : His work intersects environmental anthropology, multi-species relations, and technoecological politics, with recent 2024 book Infraespecie and peer-reviewed articles spanning 2015–2022. Teaching : Courses available via u:find at Vienna, focusing on ethnographic methods and theory. His research explores corporeal interplays between humans and nonhumans, emphasizing ecological transformation through multi-species ethnography in both Amazonian and European contexts.
Sophie Elixhauser is a Research Fellow at the University of Vienna’s Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology within the Faculty of Social Sciences. She leads the citizen science project Snow2School, collaborating with climatologists and schools in Greenland and Austria to study snow-cover changes. Her work also includes the ERC Advanced Grant Project InfraNorth, focusing on infrastructure and social dynamics in East Greenland. Dr. Elixhauser holds a PhD from the University of Aberdeen and an MA from the University of Munich, with over 20 years of fieldwork in Greenland, the European Alps, and the Philippines. Her research interests span environmental anthropology, climate change, sensory ethnography, and Indigenous studies. Key projects include documenting personal autonomy in East Greenlandic communication and exploring infrastructural hope around airport developments. She has published widely on Arctic communities, climate perceptions, and interdisciplinary research challenges. Recent articles address citizen science’s role in bridging social and natural sciences, Indigenous disability rights, and climate change’s socio-material impacts. Her work emphasizes ethical collaboration, local knowledge integration, and transdisciplinary frameworks for sustainability. Elixhauser’s research has been supported by grants from the Research Council of Norway and the Nordland Research Institute. She has organized workshops on Indigenous disability issues and contributed to documentaries, such as *Sermiligaaq*, winning the Wiley-Blackwell Film Prize in 2009.
Univ.-Prof. Katharina Rebay-Salisbury is a prehistoric archaeologist specializing in European Bronze and Iron Ages, particularly focusing on the human body, social identities, and gender archaeology. She leads the Research Group 'Prehistoric Identities' at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAI) and holds a professorship in Prehistory of Humanity at the University of Vienna. Her work bridges archaeology with bioarchaeology, genetics, and proteomics. After earning her PhD from the University of Vienna (2005), she conducted postdoctoral research at Cambridge and Leicester, exploring cremation practices and Iron Age networks. She received the ERC Starting Grant (2015) for studying societal responses to motherhood and childbirth. Key projects include analyses of cremated remains, mobility patterns, and kinship structures in prehistoric communities. Education: PhD (2005, University of Vienna), Habilitation (2017, University of Vienna). Research interests include bioarchaeology, maternal status, and interdisciplinary methods. She is a member of the Young Academy of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (since 2016) and has published extensively on prehistoric burial practices, gender roles, and archaeological theory. Her research integrates osteological analysis, isotopic studies, and ancient DNA to reconstruct social dynamics. Notable contributions include studies on Bronze Age maternal health, mobility inferred from cremation burials, and leadership roles in Iberian megalithic societies. She chairs the ERC-funded project 'The Value of Mothers to Society' and collaborates internationally on bioarchaeological projects. Grants and awards include the ERC Starting Grant and multiple fellowships. Her team addresses questions of social inequality, kinship, and human-environment interactions in prehistory.
Caroline Humphrey is a Professor at the Department of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge. Her career spans roles such as Rausing Professorship of Collaborative Anthropology (2006–2010), University Professor of Asian Anthropology (1998–2006), and University Reader in Asian Anthropology (1995–1998). She has contributed extensively to social anthropology, focusing on post-socialist societies, ritual studies, and cultural memory. B.A. Social Anthropology, 1965, Girton College, Cambridge M.A. in Mongolian Studies, 1971, University of Cambridge Ph.D. in Social Anthropology, 1973, University of Cambridge Humphrey's research bridges politics of memory and inequality , with fieldwork in Siberia, Mongolia, and post-Soviet Russia. Her work explores ritualization of power , barter economies , and property transformations in global contexts. Articles highlight themes like urbanization , historical analogies , and shamanic practices . Her scientific accolades include the 1990 J. I. Staley Prize , 2002 The Heldt Prize , and 2008 Henry Allen Poe Prize . She has served on editorial boards for journals like History and Anthropology and Inner Asia , and advisory panels including the MacArthur Project in Inner Asia.
Mathias Mehofer serves as a Lecturer at the Vienna Institute for Archaeological Science (VIAS), University of Vienna, specializing in archaeometallurgical research and teaching. His institutional affiliation is clearly established through his university email domain and published teaching assignments within the archaeology department. His research focuses on Archaeometallurgy and Bronze Age metal production , with particular emphasis on copper exchange networks across Europe and the Mediterranean. His work integrates experimental archaeology with advanced material analysis techniques including lead isotope studies and metallography. Key regional interests span the Balkans, Anatolia, Cyprus, and Alpine regions, examining metallurgical transitions from the Chalcolithic through Iron Age periods. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent methodological approaches combining fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and experimental replication. His research demonstrates strong specialization in Balkan metallurgical networks , Early Bronze Age Anatolian workshops , and non-destructive analytical techniques for museum artifacts. The publications show increasing focus on supra-regional exchange systems and technological transitions in metal production. Regarding academic supervision and funding, the available materials indicate active teaching responsibilities across multiple graduate-level courses but do not specify student supervision or grant details. His institutional profile suggests integration within VIAS research teams focused on material science applications in archaeology.
