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Mikko Tuhkanen is a Professor of English at Texas A&M University, specializing in African American and African-diasporic literatures, LGBTQ+ literatures, and literary theory. He holds a PhD from SUNY Buffalo (2005) and a dual PhD from the University of Tampere, Finland (2000), with an MA from the same institution (1994). His research focuses on transnational literatures, race and ethnicity studies, gender and sexuality, and 20th-century comparative literature. Key publications include The American Optic (2008), The Essentialist Villain: On Leo Bersani (2018), and the edited volumes Leo Bersani: Queer Theory and Beyond (2014) and The Cambridge History of Gay and Lesbian Literature (2014). Recent articles explore James Baldwin’s aesthetics, Richard Wright’s psychoanalytic frameworks, and cinematic fascination theory. His work bridges literary criticism, queer theory, and poststructuralist thought, often engaging with thinkers like Leo Bersani, Jacques Lacan, and Gilles Deleuze. He is currently completing studies on James Baldwin and the cultural impact of Pet Shop Boys.

• Transnational Literatures
• Race and Ethnicity Studies
• Gender and Sexuality
• +3 more

Thierry Bardini is a Full Professor in the Department of Communication at the Université de Montréal's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. His office is located in Marie-Victorin, room B407. Bardini researches the history and sociology of cyberculture, focusing on the intersections between information technology and molecular biology, particularly examining the concept of post-humanity and the engineering of post-human, post-animal, and post-machine entities. His research expertise spans media theory, bioarts, science and technology studies, and research-creation methodologies. Bardini's current work explores how technologically modified animals can reveal insights about post-human futures, developing ethnographic approaches to bio-engineering practices beyond traditional bioethics frameworks. Bardini's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on cybernetic evolution and biological transformation. His book 'Junkware' examines the history of molecular biology through the lens of 'junk DNA,' while his articles explore speculative biology and the philosophical implications of cybernetic synthesis. This body of work contributes significantly to understanding technological mediation in biological contexts.

• Cyberculture
• Sociology of Science and Technology
• Media Theory
• +4 more

Yoon Sun Yang is an Associate Professor at Boston University in the Department of Korean & Comparative Literature and affiliated with Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies. She holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and has taught courses on Korean literature, comparative studies, and gender in East Asian cinema. Her research focuses on colonial Korean literature, transpacific cultural exchanges, and intersections of medicine/gender with literature. Her major publications include From Domestic Women to Sensitive Young Men (2017), which won the James B. Palais Book Prize, and the edited Routledge Handbook of Modern Korean Literature (2020). Current projects involve translating early colonial Korean texts and studying transpacific migrant literature. Her work has been supported by NEH and Suzy Newhouse Center fellowships. Teaching focuses include Korean literature surveys, comparative East Asian works, and gender-focused film studies.

• Korean Literature
• Comparative Literature
• Colonial Studies
• +4 more

Gavin Jones is the Frederick P. Rehmus Family Professor of Humanities and Chair of the Department of English at Stanford University. He holds a B.A. from Oxford University (1990), and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Princeton University (1993, 1996). Before joining Stanford in 1999, he held a fellowship at Harvard University’s Society of Fellows. His research focuses on 19th- and early-20th-century American literature, examining themes such as cultural anxieties, poverty, literary depictions of failure, and the societal impact of literature. His major publications include Reclaiming John Steinbeck (2023), American Hungers (2007), and Strange Talk (1999). He co-edited the Cambridge Companion to the American Short Story (2023) and has published essays in American Literary History , New England Quarterly , and others. Current projects include Zora Neale Hurston and the Art of Controversy and The Storytellers . His work has been recognized through prestigious fellowships, including the Harvard Society of Fellows. Jones teaches courses such as 'Contemporary American Short Stories' and actively contributes to literary scholarship through editorial roles and academic leadership.

• American Literature
• Nineteenth-Century Literature
• Early-Twentieth-Century Literature
• +3 more

Charles L. Leavitt IV is the William Payden Associate Professor of Italian and Film at the University of Notre Dame, serving as Director of Graduate Studies in Italian. His research focuses on modern and contemporary Italian literature and film, with specialties in post-war cultural history, Fascism/Resistance studies, and minoritized cultures. He co-directs the Primo Levi Digital Commentary project and holds affiliations with the Kellogg Institute for International Studies and the Nanovic Institute for European Studies. Leavitt’s work has been honored with major awards, including the 2020 AAIS Visual Studies Book Prize for Italian Neorealism: A Cultural History and the 2022 Society for Italian Studies Essay Prize. Education: Ph.D. (Literature), M.A. (Italian Studies), and B.A. (Comparative Literature) from the University of Notre Dame and University of Oregon. His teaching spans Italian literature, cinema, and comparative studies, with a focus on post-war and contemporary contexts. He organizes the Italian Research Seminar and Modern Roads to Rome lecture series, and serves on editorial boards for Italian Studies , Italianist , and Annali d'italianistica . Key research areas include Italian Jewish culture, African American-Italian cultural intersections, and the legacy of Fascism. His current book project examines African American soldiers’ roles in Allied-Occupied Italy. Leavitt’s scholarship bridges film, literature, and history, emphasizing transnational cultural flows and Italian contributions to global culture. Award-winning educator, Leavitt has received teaching excellence awards from the University of Reading and University of Notre Dame. His work integrates interdisciplinary approaches, combining close textual analysis with broader historical and cultural frameworks to explore identity, memory, and resistance in 20th-century Italy.

• Modern and Contemporary Italian Literature
• Italian Film Studies
• Fascism and Resistance
• +6 more

Professor John Bowen is a leading scholar in Nineteenth-Century Literature , currently affiliated with the Department of English and Related Literature at the University of York . His academic career spans major research into Charles Dickens , Victorian novelists, and literary theory, with over fifty publications including books like Other Dickens and Palgrave Advances in Charles Dickens Studies . He serves on the Advisory Board of the Clarendon Edition of Dickens’s works and has supervised eleven PhD students on topics ranging from Dickens’s Christmas numbers to Victorian anti-Catholicism. Key Collaborations : British Library, Royal Shakespeare Company, University of California Dickens Project Leadership Roles : Past President of the Dickens Society and Dickens Fellowship Research Interests center on Victorian fiction , Gothic elements , and literary theory . His recent articles explore topics like Dickens’s stylistic influence and Orwellian political metaphors. He has edited seminal works including Barnaby Rudge and Phineas Redux and is a Fellow of the English Association. Public engagement includes advising the Museum of London’s 2012 bicentenary exhibition and BBC radio appearances. Scientific Awards : Fellow of the English Association (FEA)

• Nineteenth-Century Literature
• Victorian Fiction
• Charles Dickens Studies
• +3 more

Liang Luo is a Professor of Chinese Studies at the University of Kentucky’s Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures department within the College of Arts & Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University’s East Asian Languages and Civilizations program, preceded by MA and BA degrees in Chinese literature and comparative literature from Beijing Normal University. Luo’s research focuses on intersections of performance, politics, and popular culture in modern China, Japan, and the international avant-garde. His work explores Sino-Japanese cultural relations, gender politics, and folklore, particularly through the lens of the White Snake legend. Education: Ph.D., East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University M.A., Comparative Literature, Beijing Normal University B.A., Chinese Language and Literature, Beijing Normal University Research Interests: Performance studies, propaganda, and avant-garde movements Cultural politics of gender and intersectionality Multimedia adaptations of classical legends East Asian comparative literature and film Awards and Recognition: Harvard-Yenching Doctoral Fellowship Reischauer Institute Fellowship NEH Summer Stipend (Stanford University) Harvard’s Certificate of Distinction in Teaching Professional Affiliations: International Studies Chinese Studies Folklore & Mythology Gender and Women’s Studies Global Asias Luo’s publications include The Global White Snake (2021) and The Avant-Garde and the Popular in Modern China (2014), analyzing intersections of cultural politics and performance. His work bridges classical and modern studies, with recent projects exploring digital activism through folklore and transnational cultural narratives.

• Theater and Performance studies
• Propaganda
• Sino-Japanese cultural relations
• +8 more

Giancarlo Alfano is Full Professor of Italian Literature at the University of Naples Federico II, where he coordinates the Philology Doctorate. He also participates in the Doctoral College in Texts, Traditions and Cultures of the Book at the Scuola Superiore Meridionale (SSM). 2005-2014: Associate Professor at Seconda Università di Napoli 2015-2018: Associate Professor at University of Palermo 2018-present: Full Professor at University of Naples Federico II 2018-2024: Senior Member of ERC Project DISCOMPOSE 2019-2023: President of National Scientific Abilitation Commission His research spans Italian literature , comparative literature , and cultural history , with a focus on disaster narratives, Renaissance poetry, and impostor themes. His 15 most recent articles cover disaster communication in early modern Naples, belatedness in Tasso's Gerusalemme Liberata , and Renaissance hermeneutics. Edinburgh Gadda Prize (2012) Premio Pino Zac per la Satira Politica (2015) Premio Napoli (2017) He leads post-doctoral funding at University of Naples and SSM, contributes to the interdisciplinary project “Renaissances, Mots et usages d'une catégorie historiographique” , and serves on the FNRS (Belgium) Scientific Commission (SHS-3).

• Italian Literature
• Comparative Literature
• Literary Theory
• +1 more

Dr. Elizabeth Reid Boyd is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University. Her roles include academic teaching in social science and creative writing, co-founding the #Love@ECU Research Network, and authoring works in both academic and creative domains. She holds a PhD from Murdoch University and a BSc (Honours) from Open Universities Australia. Research Interests: Love Studies, Gender Studies, Interpersonal Communication, Violence Prevention, and Creativity. Her work bridges academic scholarship with creative expression, exploring topics like intimate civility, moral imagination, and the cultural significance of love in literature and society. Publications span interdisciplinary fields: from analyzing romance novels’ gender politics to examining family dynamics in migrant communities. Recent works include studies on Pakistani women’s gender roles in Australia (2025), love literacy in fantasy literature (2024), and the evolution of #MeToo-era romance narratives (2022). Awards include membership in the Oxford Round Table (UK) and recognition by Australia’s Future Directions Forum. She has supervised numerous PhD students on topics ranging from parental alienation to holistic health and masculinity constructions. Current supervisions focus on intimate partner violence and Wiccan ritual studies. Labs/Teams: Co-leads the #Love@ECU interdisciplinary research network exploring love’s cultural, ethical, and social dimensions across arts and sciences.

• Love Studies
• Gender Studies
• Interpersonal Communication
• +3 more

Andrew Solomon is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University Medical Center and a prominent writer, lecturer, and activist. His work spans psychology, politics, and the arts, with a focus on mental health, LGBT rights, and global health equity. He holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Cambridge (2012) and has authored influential books such as *Far from the Tree* (2012), *The Noonday Demon* (2001), and *Far & Away* (2016), winning prestigious awards including the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award. His research explores multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis, differential diagnosis protocols, and the intersection of travel with global health. He has collaborated extensively with institutions like Yale and contributed to groundbreaking studies on MS pregnancy registries, neuroimaging techniques, and cross-cultural diagnostic challenges. Solomon’s activism includes leadership roles in PEN American Center and advocacy for mental health and LGBTQ+ rights. His work bridges academia, literature, and public health, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to complex societal issues. Research Interests: Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis, neuroimaging biomarkers, mental health advocacy, cultural diversity in family structures, and the societal impact of travel. His recent focus on MS includes refining diagnostic criteria (e.g., Central Vein Sign integration) and addressing disparities in underdiagnosis across populations. Articles Overview: Solomon’s 2020s research emphasizes MS pathophysiology, leveraging neuroimaging and multicenter studies to advance diagnostic accuracy. Earlier works, like *The Noonday Demon*, critically examine depression’s societal and psychological dimensions. His recent book *New Family Values* explores contemporary identity dynamics, reflecting his dual expertise in psychology and cultural analysis. Awards & Recognition: National Book Critics Circle Award (2012), National Book Award (2001), Wellcome Prize, and PEN American Center Awards. His film adaptation of *Far from the Tree* (2025) highlights his cross-disciplinary influence.

• Psychology
• Mental Health
• LGBT Rights
• +3 more

Ruth Livesey is a Professor of 19th Century Literature and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) at Royal Holloway, University of London. She holds roles as former Head of the English Department (2020-2023) and Deputy Executive Dean of Humanities. Her academic journey includes a BA from Oxford University, followed by MA and PhD in Women's Studies at Warwick University. Her research focuses on Victorian literature's intersection with cultural politics, locality, and social movements. Notable projects include the AHRC-funded 'Provincialism: Literature and the Cultural Politics of Middleness' (2019-2020), which linked academic research with community initiatives in Coventry during its City of Culture year. She authored Writing the Stage Coach Nation (OUP 2016) and edited volumes on British-American cultural exchanges. Editorial roles: Journal of Victorian Culture (2009-2015), 19: Interdisciplinary Studies in the Long Nineteenth Century Key networks: London Nineteenth-Century Studies Seminar steering group Her awards include the Belcher Fellowship in Victorian Studies (2023) and Fellow of the English Association (2020). Livesey actively promotes early-career researchers through roles in UKRI panels and the FLF Development Network. Recent collaborations include heritage projects with Coventry's cultural institutions.

• 19th Century Literature
• Victorian Studies
• Cultural Politics
• +4 more

Dr. Vitaly Chernetsky is a Professor in the Slavic Department at the University of Kansas, specializing in Ukrainian and Russian literature/film, postcolonialism, gender studies, and cultural globalization. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Pennsylvania (1996). His research explores modern/postmodern cultures of Ukraine, Russia, and Eastern Europe, emphasizing diasporic identities, post-Soviet transitions, and queer studies. Affiliations: Director of the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (2015-2020); President of ASEEES (2024); First Vice President of the Shevchenko Scientific Society. Education: Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, University of Pennsylvania, 1996. Key research interests include transnational cultural flows, postcolonial theory, and gender/queer studies in Slavic contexts. He has authored Mapping Postcommunist Cultures and co-edited volumes on Eastern European literatures. His translations include Ukrainian/Russian literary works and historical documents. Chernetsky's publications analyze topics like wartime poetry, diasporic identity, and cinematic representation. Recent articles address Ukrainian cultural resilience, post-Soviet queer narratives, and transatlantic cultural redefinitions. Professional Service: Editor of the Ukrainian Studies book series; member of multiple editorial/advisory boards. Grants/Advising: No specific grants listed; advising roles unspecified but active in academic leadership. He leads interdisciplinary initiatives bridging film, literature, and cultural theory, advocating for global engagement with Eastern European studies. His work emphasizes cultural decolonization and LGBTQ+ visibility in post-Soviet spaces.

• Ukrainian literature and film
• Russian literature and film
• cultural aspects of globalization
• +9 more

Dr. Michael Hinds is an Associate Professor in the School of English at Dublin City University (DCU), where he has worked since at least 2000. He previously served as Senior Lecturer and Head of English at the Mater Dei Institute (now part of DCU) and founded both the Irish Centre for Poetry Studies and the journal POST: A Review of Poetry Studies . From 1996–1999, he was a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Tokyo, maintaining a lifelong interest in Japanese culture. His research spans American literature, poetry and poetics, ecocriticism, and interdisciplinary studies. Key areas include American poetry (from Bradstreet to the present), modernism/postmodernism, classical influences on contemporary poetry, poetry and ethics/politics/money, sport literature (specifically football and horse racing), cross-cultural representations of Japan/Italy/France, ekphrastic practices, and intersections between rock/pop music and poetic traditions (notably Johnny Cash and The Beach Boys). Theoretical frameworks involve critical theory (Slavoj Žižek, Theodor Adorno, Walter Benjamin, Deleuze and Guattari) and fandom studies. Recent publications highlight ecological themes in Nordic Noir, interdisciplinary folklore studies, and the politics of sports. His collaboration with Dr. Jonathan Silverman on Johnny Cash (2020) and the 2023 article on Nordic Noir in the Routledge Handbook of Crime Fiction and Ecology exemplify his focus on environmental and cultural intersections. He co-advises PhD projects on topics like Murakami's translation practices, poetics of space, and women's football in fiction/film. Beyond academia, Dr. Hinds contributes to public discourse through the Dublin Review of Books and has held editorial roles. He actively participates in international conferences, including the European Association of American Studies and the Ezra Pound International Conference, often addressing themes like American identity, poetic form, and cross-cultural dialogue. The Irish Centre for Poetry Studies at DCU remains central to his professional engagement, supporting research students and publications like Rebound: The American Poetry Book (2006). His work bridges traditional literary scholarship with contemporary digital/hybrid forms, reflecting a commitment to innovative research methodologies and interdisciplinary collaboration.

• American Literature
• Poetry and Poetics
• Sport Literature and Sports Writing
• +7 more

Nicholas Dalton is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computing and Communications at Northumbria University, Newcastle. With a PhD in Engineering from University College London (2010), he has taught at prestigious institutions including UCL and The Open University across foundational to postgraduate levels, specializing in supporting neurodivergent students. His research bridges architecture and computing, focusing on large-scale user interfaces (e.g., public displays, VR, multitouch systems) and space syntax analysis. Current projects include combating obesogenic work environments through body movement tracking at standing desks and redesigning diabetes management interfaces. A founding member of NORSC (Northumbria Social Computing), he also explores neurodiversity advocacy and pedagogical innovations in computing education. His work appears in venues like the CHI Conference and Space Syntax Symposia. Education: PhD Engineering (UCL, 2010) Research Themes: HCI, Architecture-Computing Intersection, Neurodiversity Professional Affiliations: RSA Fellow, BCS/IET/ACM Member Publications span technical journals and platforms like The Conversation , translating complex topics for broader audiences.

• Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
• Neurodiversity in Education
• Space Syntax and Architecture
• +3 more

Maria Holmgren Troy is a Professor of English and Director of the KuFo research group at Karlstad University, Sweden. She specializes in American literature with focuses on 19th-century fairy tales, Gothic fiction, and science fiction, particularly the works of Octavia Butler. Her research explores themes of cultural memory, kinship, and adaptation in literature and media. She has authored/co-authored major works such as Nordic Gothic (2020) and Making Home: Orphanhood, Kinship, and Cultural Memory in Contemporary American Novels (2014). Troy has held visiting scholar positions at UC Berkeley, Stanford University, and Victoria University of Wellington. Education: PhD in English (American Literature) from Uppsala University (1999), Teaching degree in Swedish, English, and History from University of Gothenburg (1990). Research collaborations include projects funded by the Swedish Research Council and international partnerships with scholars from Linnaeus University, Gothenburg University, and others. Her articles analyze Gothic themes, speculative fiction, and cultural adaptation in works by authors like Butler, Lindqvist, and Somtow. She teaches courses on dystopia, science fiction, and African American women's literature at the MA and PhD levels. Troy serves on academic boards for journals like WiN: The EAAS Women's Network Journal and American Studies in Scandinavia , and has held leadership roles in organizations such as the Nordic Association for American Studies (NAAS). Her recent work emphasizes Octavia Butler's legacy, Nordic Gothic traditions, and interdisciplinary approaches to kinship studies. She actively engages in comparative analyses of literature and media across cultural boundaries, with a focus on transnational Gothic adaptations and postcolonial perspectives.

• American Literature
• 19th-Century Fairy Tales
• Gothic Fiction
• +6 more