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Alessandro Monsutti is a Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. He holds additional roles as Faculty Associate at the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding, Global Migration Centre, and Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy. His research focuses on transnational networks, forced migration, and conflict dynamics in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Europe. Education: PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Neuchâtel (2002). Prior roles include Research Fellowships at Yale University (2008–2010) and the School of Oriental and African Studies (1999–2000), and Visiting Professorships at the University of Vienna and Arizona State University. Research Interests: Migration studies, border studies, political economy of post-conflict reconstruction, diaspora dynamics, and the intersection of globalization with local practices. His fieldwork spans Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Western countries, emphasizing the agency of displaced populations and the socio-economic strategies they employ. Scientific Contributions: Over 30 peer-reviewed articles and authored/edited books including Homo itinerans: Towards a Global Ethnography of Afghanistan (2021) and War and Migration (2005). His work bridges ethnographic rigor with policy relevance, addressing themes like refugee integration, urban migration, and global governance. Grants & Awards: MacArthur Foundation Grantee (2004–2006), Swiss National Science Foundation grants for projects on urban cohabitation and Afghan crisis analysis. Co-led initiatives on adolescent migration and border policy in South Asia. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Refugee Studies Centre (Oxford), Global Migration Centre (Geneva), and international NGOs like UNHCR. Active in editorial boards of journals like Tsantsa and ethnographiques.org .

• Anthropology
• Migration Studies
• Conflict and Peacebuilding
• +6 more

Lars-Erik Cederman is a Full Professor in the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, where he conducts cutting-edge research at the intersection of political science, international relations, and computational social science. His work focuses on the structural and historical drivers of ethnic conflict, nationalism, and state formation across global contexts. His primary research interests include: Political Science International Relations Ethnic Conflict Nationalism Civil War State Formation Computational Social Science Cederman's scholarship demonstrates exceptional methodological innovation, combining large-scale historical datasets like CShapes and Ethnic Power Relations with computational modeling to analyze patterns of violence and state transformation. His recent publications reveal a sustained focus on how historical legacies—particularly colonialism, infrastructure development, and ethnic geography—shape contemporary conflicts, with significant contributions to understanding ethnic cleansing, separatist mobilization, and the geopolitical strategies of nationalist movements from post-Napoleonic Europe to modern Russia. His work bridges theoretical rigor with empirical depth, offering critical insights for conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

• Political Science
• International Relations
• Ethnic Conflict
• +4 more

Raksha Gopal is a PhD Candidate in International Relations and Political Science at the Geneva Graduate Institute. She is a Research Assistant for the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) project Gendering Survival from the Margins at the Gender Centre, with affiliations as a PhD Affiliate at the Global Migration Centre and a Student Member of Laboratoire interMIGRA (HETS Geneve). Education: Master’s in International Relations and Political Science from Geneva Graduate Institute, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science from University of Delhi. Her research focuses on the gendered politics of forced displacement, particularly refugee mothers' narratives in South Asia. She integrates critical security studies, feminist IR, and migration research to examine power dynamics in post-displacement governance, challenging citizen/non-citizen binaries and redefining security through everyday practices. The two recent articles highlight her work on Rohingya mothers in India and theoretical contributions to refugee survival and social reproduction. Both publications emphasize intersectional analysis and feminist methodologies, reflecting her broader engagement with ethnographic research and global governance. Grants: Swiss National Science Foundation Grant Number 100017_212265.

• Migration Studies
• Forced Displacement
• Critical Security Studies
• +4 more

Sangwoo Kim is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) in the Institute of Mechanical Engineering. He leads the Mechanics of Soft and Biological Matter Laboratory (MESOBIO), focusing on the interplay between mechanics, physics, and biology in living systems. His research spans soft matter physics, developmental biology, and mechanical engineering. 2023–Present: Tenure Track Assistant Professor, EPFL School of Engineering Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Santa Barbara Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Kim’s research investigates fundamental properties of biological and soft materials, including: Tissue morphogenesis and embryonic development Mechanical behavior of amorphous and active matter Non-equilibrium dynamics in cellular systems Phase transitions in biological tissues Stress and osmotic pressure quantification His recent publications reveal a focus on: Biological jamming and fluidization Zebrafish axis elongation mechanics Energy landscapes of cellular matter Active matter modeling Statistical mechanics of soft materials Developmental force transmission Kim supervises PhD students and teaches courses in structural mechanics at EPFL, emphasizing problem-solving in engineering design.

• Biological Mechanics
• Soft Matter Physics
• Tissue Morphogenesis
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Falestin Naïli is a full Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Basel , specifically within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences . She holds a professorship in Middle Eastern Studies with a focus on the social and political history of late Ottoman and Mandate Palestine and Jordan. Her office is located at Maiengasse 51, Basel, Switzerland. Research Interests: Falestin Naïli is a historian whose work centers on local governance , urban politics in Jerusalem , collective memory , and the politics of heritage . Her research explores the intersections of historical narrative, displacement, and identity formation, particularly in the context of post-Ottoman transitions. She has published extensively on urban governance, millenarist settlements, missionary projects, and early ethnographies of Palestine. Recent Research Trends: Her recent publications and ongoing SNSF-funded project "Futures Interrupted" reveal a thematic focus on alternative political imaginaries beyond the nation-state , examining how local actors navigated the collapse of empires and the rise of national frameworks. The articles show a consistent engagement with archival sources, oral histories, and the reconstruction of marginalized narratives in Middle Eastern historiography. Scientific Awards: Swiss National Science Foundation Consolidator Grant (2023) Advising and Grants: As a principal investigator, she leads the "Futures Interrupted" project, indicating active grant funding and research leadership. While specific advisees are not listed, her role as a professor and doctoral program supervisor implies involvement in mentoring PhD students in Near and Middle Eastern Studies at the Graduate School of Social Sciences (G3S). The doctoral program emphasizes interdisciplinary research in post-Ottoman studies. Labs and Teams: She was a core team member of the ERC project "Opening Jerusalem’s Archives" and later served as head of office at the Institut français du Proche-Orient (Ifpo) in Amman (2017–2020). Currently, she leads the "Futures Interrupted" research project, which includes podcast outputs and collaborative scholarly work, suggesting an active research group or team environment.

• Social History of the Middle East
• Late Ottoman History
• Mandate Palestine and Jordan
• +8 more

Jelena Tosic is a Professor/Senior Lecturer of Migration Studies at the University of St. Gallen's School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS), leading the project 'Europe's Un/Deserving: Moralizations of Inequality in Comparative Perspective' (2021-2024, SNSF-funded). She holds a Habilitation from the University of Bern (2020), a PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology (University of Vienna, 2005), and MAs in Anthropology and Psychology (University of Vienna). Her research focuses on (Im)Mobility, Forced Migration, Border Studies, Citizenship, and Deservingness, with regional expertise in Europe (Central, SEE) and the Mediterranean. Teaching includes courses like 'Citizenship - Theorizing Belonging' and 'Ethnographies of (Im)Mobility'. She co-leads the 'Digital Inclusion' (DIGITClue) and 'Translating Socio-Cultural Anthropology into Education' (TRANSCA) Erasmus+ projects. Awards include the APART Fellowship (2011-2017). She is actively involved in academic networks (EASA, IMISCOE) and serves on committees like the HSG Research Commission. Recent talks address themes like 'Deservingness and Inequality', 'Post-Conflict Societies', and 'Tango as Cultural Practice'.

• Migration Studies
• Cultural Anthropology
• Border Studies
• +8 more

Matteo Gianni is a Full Professor and Director of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Geneva, Faculty of Social Sciences. He has been a faculty member since 2011, previously serving as Associate Professor and progressing from assistant and senior lecturer roles. He is affiliated with the Institute for Citizenship Studies (where he briefly served as Director in 2024) and the Institute for Gender Studies. He also holds a significant role in the NCCR – On the Move research consortium based at the University of Neuchâtel, leading research and serving on its management board since 2018. His research interests span a broad and interconnected set of themes in political theory and social policy, including Normative Political Theory, Migration and Mobility, Urban Citizenship, Deliberative Democracy, Integration of Muslims in Europe, Theories of Justice and Recognition, Secularism, and Epistemology of the Social Sciences . He has extensively examined the political integration of Muslims in Switzerland and Europe, the ethics of migration, and the role of public deliberation in democratic societies. The most recent publications reflect a sustained focus on issues of epistemic justice, multicultural citizenship, and the political dynamics of religious pluralism. His work often analyzes how migration, security policies, and integration discourses shape democratic citizenship in mobile and multicultural societies. He frequently collaborates with scholars across Europe and North America, as seen in his leadership of international research projects and co-supervision of PhD students. Matteo Gianni has supervised numerous doctoral students, many of whom have completed their theses on topics related to migration, citizenship, and political integration. He has received research funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation and has conducted scientific visits to Rutgers University and the University of Toronto. He was Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences from 2016 to 2020 and is co-chair of the ASSP Political Theory Group. He has led major research projects such as Narratives of Crisis and Their Influence in Shaping Discourses and Policies of Migration and Mobility and Perimeters of Multilayered Democratic Citizenship in a Mobile and Multicultural World . He is actively involved in knowledge transfer and public engagement, as evidenced by his media contributions such as the article "We must make race visible" in Le Courrier (2022). His work bridges academic research and policy development, particularly through partnerships with public institutions like the Department of Social Cohesion in Geneva to create local participatory forums.

• Normative Political Theory
• Migration and Mobility
• Urban Citizenship
• +15 more

Stefanie Mahrer is an Associate Professor of Modern History at the Universities of Bern and Basel. She serves as an SNF-PRIMA Grantee and Project Manager at the Institute of History. Her research focuses on modern European, Swiss, and Jewish history, with an emphasis on forced migration, intersectional analysis (gender, class, age), and the role of social networks in historical contexts. She is also investigating the historical development of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and their societal impacts. Beginning February 2025, she will co-lead the 'Modern Zug Canton History' project (2024–2032), which documents and publishes the history of the Canton of Zug. Her work bridges micro- and macro-historical perspectives, integrating individual life stories with broader structural analyses. She has contributed to studies on Nazi-era art trade in Switzerland and biographical research on figures like Salman Schocken. Awards SNF-PRIMA Grantee Projects & Grants Co-Project Leader for 'Modern Zug Canton History' (2024–2032) Research on Nazi-era looted art and Swiss political contexts Professional Affiliations She is affiliated with the Institute of History at the University of Bern and the University of Basel. Her private website stefaniemahrer.com provides further details on her research and publications.

• Modern European History
• Swiss History
• Jewish History
• +5 more

Lyesse Laloui is Full Professor and Director of the Soil Mechanics Laboratory at EPFL's School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering. A world-renowned expert in geomechanics and sustainability, his research develops nature-inspired solutions for climate change mitigation and renewable energy adoption. His distinguished career includes ERC Advanced and Proof of Concept Grants, two honoris causa doctorates, and leadership roles in Academia Europaea and International Society of Soil Mechanics. Research focuses on: Thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of energy geostructures Bio-inspired geotechnical solutions for soil improvement Radioactive waste repository safety CO₂ sequestration caprock integrity Urban underground space utilization Recent publications demonstrate innovations in geothermal metro station design, shale behavior characterization for energy applications, and bio-mediated soil stabilization. His laboratory has supervised over 35 PhD graduates now advancing geotechnical engineering globally. Professor Laloui founded 5 EPFL spin-offs including Enerdrape (Swiss Top 100 startup) and serves as European Director of the International Associated Research Centers for Urban Underground Space. His awards include the ASCE Kersten Lecture and InterPore Kimberly-Clark Distinguished Lectureship.

• Environmental Geomechanics
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Mechanics of Multiphase Porous Materials
• +2 more

Didier Péclard is an Associate Professor of Political Science and African Studies at the University of Geneva, where he is affiliated with both the Department of Political Science and International Relations and the Global Studies Institute (GSI). He serves as Director of the Master in African Studies program and Deputy Director of the GSI. With a PhD from SciencesPo Paris (2005), Professor Péclard has established himself as a leading scholar in African political studies, particularly focusing on state formation processes in Sub-Saharan Africa. His academic journey includes previous positions as Assistant Professor and lecturer at the University of Basel, where he developed expertise in African politics. He directed the 'Statehood and Conflict' program at swisspeace and was an invited scholar at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2012-2013). From 2013 to 2018, he served as co-editor of the influential journal Politique africaine . Professor Péclard's research centers on two interconnected axes: the study of civil wars as matrices of state formation and the role of the state in development policies. His work challenges conventional narratives that view civil wars merely as expressions of state failure, instead arguing that violent conflict is integral to historical processes of state formation. He examines how political orders are constructed during and after conflict, focusing on legitimacy strategies employed by armed groups and how they transform military power into political domination. His research spans multiple African countries, with particular expertise in Angola, where he has conducted extensive fieldwork on nationalist movements, church-state relations, and post-conflict reconstruction. His scholarly output reveals consistent engagement with the complex interplay between conflict and state-building processes across Africa. Rather than treating civil wars as destructive forces that merely erode state institutions, his work demonstrates how they actively reshape political orders and contribute to new forms of statehood. His publications show increasing attention to the role of emerging global powers in shaping African development strategies, reflecting evolving research interests that connect local political dynamics with broader international contexts. Professor Péclard has led significant research projects including 'The Developmental State Strikes Back? The Rise of New Global Powers and African States' Development Strategies,' 'Civil Wars and State Formation,' 'Self-Accomplishment and Local Moralities in East Africa,' and 'Welcoming Neighbourhoods. Sustainable Migration in North and West African Cities.' These projects demonstrate his commitment to understanding both historical state formation processes and contemporary political challenges in Africa.

• Political Science
• African Studies
• State Formation
• +5 more

Helena Simonett is a Lecturer at the Lucerne School of Music, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), where she also serves as Senior Research Associate. She holds a Lic. Phil. I from the University of Zurich and a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from UCLA. Previously, she was faculty at Vanderbilt University and associate director of its Center for Latin American Studies. Her research focuses on transnational music, Latin American music, Mexican indigenous musical practices, and applied ethnomusicology. Education: Lic. Phil. I (Master’s), University of Zurich, Switzerland Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology, UCLA, USA Research Interests: Transnational music and cultural diffusion Indigenous ceremonial music of Mexico Music and identity formation Music perception and emotion Applied ethnomusicology in refugee integration Key Projects: "Music as Empowerment": Engaging refugees in music-making for social integration "Birdscapes": Exploring avian soundscapes through artistic research "Mobile Identities": Studying forced migration’s impact on musical practices Affiliations: Swiss Society for Ethnomusicology (CH-EM), Secretary Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM) Advising & Grants: Co-led SNF-funded project on music empowerment for refugees Contributed to interdisciplinary collaborations on human-animal soundscapes Organized workshops on applied ethnomusicology and cultural preservation Labs/Teams: Contributes to the CC Music Education Research MER team, focusing on intercultural music pedagogy and refugee integration programs.

• Transnational Music and Culture
• Latin American Music
• Mexican Indigenous Musical Life
• +5 more

Ulf Büntgen is a Professor of Environmental Systems Analysis and Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Cambridge and Masaryk University, respectively. He also holds research roles at CzechGlobe Research Institute and Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL. University of Cambridge, Department of Geography Masaryk University, Department of Geography CzechGlobe Research Institute, Brno Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf His research focuses on: Dendrochronology for climate reconstruction Volcanic impacts on historical climates Environmental systems analysis Human history and climate intersections Arctic pollution and climate Truffle ecology and biocultural heritage Key trends in his publications include: Volcanic eruptions as climate drivers Tree rings as historical climate proxies Extreme weather events in historical contexts Botanical responses to climate change Interdisciplinary approaches combining natural and social sciences Methodological innovations in dendroclimatology Scientific recognition: World's top climate scientists (Reuters Hot List, 2021) Academic metrics: 383 total publications, 305 ISI-listed, 50 >100 citations, h-index 70, ~21,100 Google Scholar citations He contributes to projects like Volcanoes, Climate and History (ZiF, 2021-2023) and leads research on environmental system components across spatiotemporal scales.

• Dendrochronology
• Climate Change
• Volcanology
• +4 more

Jason Hart serves as Senior Lecturer in the Anthropology of Development at the University of Bath and Research Associate at Oxford University's Refugee Studies Centre. His academic career bridges social anthropology and humanitarian practice, with teaching awards at both institutions and a 2013-14 British Academy Fellowship recognizing his scholarly contributions. Hart's research focuses on children and youth in contexts of political violence and forced displacement, integrating anthropological and political-economy perspectives. His fieldwork spans South Asia (Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Bhutan), limited East Africa, and principal Middle East regions including Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories and Jordan. Key themes include child rights, protection frameworks, peacebuilding, and the militarization of humanitarian spaces, with particular attention to how global agencies conceptualize and support marginalized youth. Recent publications (2020-2025) demonstrate intensified focus on practical applications: refugee shelter design through Bath's Architecture/Civil Engineering collaboration, ethical dilemmas in child protection research, and Gaza conflict impacts. His interdisciplinary approach connects anthropological theory with engineering solutions for displaced populations, notably through the three-year shelter-enhancement project in refugee camps. Hart's scholarly recognition includes: Teaching Prize at University of Bath Teaching Prize at University of Oxford British Academy Fellowship (2013-14) His research funding includes the current Bath interdisciplinary shelter project and prior British Academy support, complemented by extensive consultancy work for UN agencies and NGOs on evaluation, training, and policy development. While student advisement isn't detailed in sources, his project leadership involves cross-disciplinary teams addressing displacement challenges. Hart currently co-leads an innovative three-year initiative with Bath's Architecture and Civil Engineering department, developing context-sensitive shelter solutions for displaced populations in camps. This work operationalizes his theoretical research through participatory design methodologies that prioritize displaced communities' lived experiences.

• Social Anthropology
• Refugee Studies
• Child Rights
• +4 more

Professor Alfredo Franco-Obregón is a Research Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS), with multiple appointments across the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. He holds positions in the Department of Surgery and the Department of Physiology, and is affiliated with the Institute for Health Innovation & Technology, the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme, the NUS Centre for Cancer Research, and the Nanomedicine Translational Research Programme. He leads the Biolonic Currents Electromagnetic Pulsing Systems (BICEPS) Laboratory, which focuses on developing non-invasive electromagnetic technologies to enhance muscle function and systemic health, particularly for aging populations and those with mobility limitations. Dr. Franco-Obregón's research centers on understanding how biophysical forces, particularly mechanical and electromagnetic stimuli, translate into tissue regeneration and survival. His work specifically investigates the role of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels, particularly TRPC1, in skeletal muscle development and how magnetic fields can activate mitochondrial respiration through a process he terms "Magnetic Mitohormesis." This research has significant implications for metabolic health, cancer therapy, and aging interventions. His laboratory has demonstrated that brief (10-minute) weekly exposure to low-energy pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) can enhance muscle development, improve metabolic efficiency, and even produce anticancer effects through the activation of muscle secretome responses. His recent publication record demonstrates a strong focus on translating these findings into clinical applications, with numerous randomized controlled trials examining the effects of PEMF therapy on conditions including knee osteoarthritis, Achilles tendinopathy, metabolic disorders, and breast cancer. His research bridges fundamental cellular mechanisms with practical clinical applications, showing how magnetic field exposure can serve as a non-invasive exercise mimetic for populations unable to engage in physical activity. 2020: Innovation of the Year Product Winner by the Ageing Asia World Ageing Festival (for QuantumTx) 2015: Wong Hock Boon Society Best Mentor Award (NUS) 2008: Goldenen Eule (The Golden Owl Excellence in Teaching Award) (ETH) 1990: Martin Luther King Mentorship Award (UCSF) Dr. Franco-Obregón is actively engaged in mentoring students and collaborating on international research projects. He has established the BICEPS Laboratory as a hub for interdisciplinary research, bringing together engineers, clinicians, and basic scientists. His work has led to the founding of QuantumTx Pte. Ltd., a NUS spin-off company developing magnetic therapeutic devices, and he is currently conducting human clinical trials in Singapore, China, Southeast Asia, and the US to evaluate the efficacy of his magnetic therapeutic platforms. The BICEPS Laboratory operates at the intersection of engineering and clinical medicine, with a mission to develop non-invasive technologies that enhance muscle function and bioenergetics. The lab's research has significant potential to transform clinical practice, particularly in preventative medicine and rehabilitation. Dr. Franco-Obregón is also working to establish international collaborations, including potential student exchange programs between ETH/UZH and NUS, to further advance this field of research.

• Regenerative Medicine
• Mechanobiology
• Electromagnetics
• +11 more

Umut Yildrim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, affiliated with the Global Migration Centre, the Hoffmann Centre for Global Sustainability, and the Gender Centre. Her work bridges transnational mobilities, migration studies, and ethnographic research on conflict zones. PhD from University of Cambridge Previous affiliations: Center for Near Eastern Studies (UCLA), Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology (FU Berlin), ICI Berlin Teaching experience at Bilgi, Bogaziçi, and Sabanci Universities Her research focuses on state-building , forced military migration , decolonial ecologies , and political resistance in war-torn regions, particularly Turkey's Armenian/Kurdish borderlands. She explores themes like trauma, sovereignty, and intersectional inequalities through ethnographic methodologies. Recent publications analyze war's environmental impacts , cultural memory , and post-conflict resistance practices . Her edited volume War-torn Ecologies (2023) examines intersections between violence, ecology, and affect across species.

• Transnational Mobilities
• Forced Migration
• Development Programs
• +12 more