Find Academic Supervisors

• Franconian and Palatine regional history
• Medieval court culture
• Princely education and upbringing
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Benjamin Müsegades is the W3 Professor for Franconian Regional History at the University of Würzburg since March 2025 and is scheduled to become Emeritus from September 2025. Previously, he served as Acting Professor for European Medieval History (Late Middle Ages) at Humboldt University of Berlin (2021–2024), Acting Professor for Comparative Regional History (European Perspective, Late Middle Ages) at University of Heidelberg (2020–2021), and Director of the Hessian Institute for Regional History in Marburg (Summer 2025). Education: Habilitation (2019) , University of Heidelberg – “Heilige in der mittelalterlichen Bischofsstadt. Speyer und Lincoln im Vergleich (11. bis frühes 16. Jahrhundert)” PhD (2013) , University of Greifswald – “Fürstliche Erziehung und Ausbildung im spätmittelalterlichen Reich” First State Examination (2009) , University of Greifswald – History & English (Teacher Training) Study Abroad (2006–2007) , University of the South, Sewanee (USA) Research Interests: Prof. Müsegades focuses on Franconian and Palatine regional history , medieval court culture , princely education , monastic and ecclesiastical history , and comparative urban studies with a strong emphasis on the Late Middle Ages . His work integrates digital humanities approaches and interdisciplinary perspectives on medieval governance, religion, and society. Publications & Trends: His recent publications (2019–2025) reflect a consistent engagement with princely courts , regional power structures , and mediation of memory and identity in medieval Europe. Key themes include dynastic strategies , urban-rural interactions , ecclesiastical patronage , and comparative studies between German and English contexts . His research often employs source-critical editions and digital regesta projects . Teaching & Institutional Roles: In the Winter Semester 2025/26, he offers courses on Staufer imperial policy , Frederick Barbarossa , Wittelsbach regional history , late medieval women and power , and diplomatics of business records . His teaching emphasizes source-based learning and interdisciplinary approaches to medieval studies. Labs & Teams: While no formal lab is mentioned, Prof. Müsegades has collaborated extensively with DFG-funded graduate colleges and historical institutes (e.g., German Historical Institute London), and co-edits publications with international scholars.

• Temporal Databases
• Time Series Analysis
• Database Systems
• +4 more

Anton Dignös is a professor at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano , specializing in temporal databases , time series analysis , and database systems . His research focuses on efficient query processing for interval data, temporal joins, and schema design, with significant contributions to in-memory and time series databases. Key research areas include: Temporal Data Management : Advanced techniques for interval and duration queries. Time Series Analytics : Machine learning integration and pattern detection. Schema Optimization : Automated design and tuning of database schemas. Visual Analytics : Tools for period data comparison and correlation analysis. His work spans collaborations with researchers like Johann Gamper and Michael H. Böhlen , addressing challenges in healthcare systems, industrial applications, and financial data analytics. Notable contributions include algorithms for temporal anti-joins , range-duration queries , and machine learning-based anomaly detection .

• Database Systems
• In-Database Machine Learning
• GPU Acceleration for Databases
• +3 more

Maximilian Schüle serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Data Engineering at the University of Bamberg's Faculty of Information Systems and Applied Computer Sciences since October 2022. Previously, he held research positions at Technical University of Munich (2017-2022). His research bridges database systems and machine learning through compiler-based approaches. His research focuses on in-database machine learning , GPU-accelerated query processing , and recursive SQL extensions . Key contributions include: Developing MLIR-based compilers for automatic differentiation in SQL (DuoLingo-AutoDiff) Creating GPU code generators for database kernels using NVRTC Designing higher-order lambda functions for expressive query languages Implementing end-to-end neural network training within database engines His recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate consistent output in top venues including ICDE, VLDB workshops, and BTW conferences, with growing emphasis on hardware-aware optimization and compiler techniques for analytical workloads. He currently leads a DFG-funded project on elastic memory hierarchies for memory-intensive applications (2025-2028), supporting multiple PhD researchers. His supervision emphasizes open-source contributions to database systems like Umbra and practical implementation skills alongside theoretical foundations. As an active member of the database community, he serves as workshop chair for BTW 2025 and regularly reviews for ACM TODS, VLDB Journal, and Information Systems. His work on public transport analytics demonstrates real-world impact through collaborations with urban mobility initiatives in Bamberg.

Peeter ToropView profile

Professor

• Semiotics
• Cultural Semiotics
• Translation Studies
• +6 more

Peeter Torop is a Professor at the University of Tartu, where he works in the Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics, Department of Semiotics. He leads the Transmedia Research Group and has been affiliated with the university since at least 2003, serving as a Full Professor from January 2003 to March 2016 and continuing in his professorial role thereafter. Professor Torop's research primarily focuses on cultural semiotics, with particular emphasis on: The Tartu-Moscow School of Semiotics and Yuri Lotman's theoretical legacy Intersemiotics and translation studies across different sign systems Transmediality and the translation of emotions across media The semiosphere concept and cultural dynamics The relationship between cultural heritage and digital reading practices His scholarly work demonstrates a strong trajectory in developing semiotic theory while applying it to contemporary cultural phenomena, particularly in the digital age. Torop has made significant contributions to understanding how cultural texts function across different media platforms and how meaning is preserved and transformed in digital environments. Professor Torop has published extensively, with 69 publications that have received 69,419 reads and 847 citations. His work spans multiple languages including English, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, and Estonian, reflecting his international scholarly impact. As leader of the Transmedia Research Group, Torop has been involved in developing open access educational materials for humanities instruction in Estonian and Russian-language secondary schools, demonstrating his commitment to applying theoretical insights to practical educational contexts.

Albert DietzView profile

Researcher

• Ancient Near Eastern Iconography
• Visible Religion
• Representation of Deities
• +7 more

Dr. Albert Dietz is a Research Associate and Head of the Munich Office in the long-term academy project "KIŠIB" at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich . Holding a doctorate in Near Eastern Archaeology (2019) and master's in Ancient Near Eastern Studies (2015), his work focuses on iconography, material culture analysis, and historical geography of the Ancient Near East. 2022–present: Temporary Academic Councillor at LMU 2019–2022: Research Associate in multiple projects 2015–2018: Doctoral fellow at Graduate School Distant Worlds Research interests center on: Storm-god iconography across cultures Cylinder seal material profiling Upper Mesopotamian historical geography Deity representation mechanics Cultural memory through material objects Publication trends show interdisciplinary work combining: Scientific analysis (Raman spectroscopy) Iconographic studies across civilizations Ceramic typology in stratified contexts Cultural exchange through visual material Historical reconstructions from travel records Fieldwork experience includes excavations at: Ur (Iraq) - 2022, 2019, 2017 Gird-i Shamlu (Iraqi Kurdistan) - 2015–2017 Tell el-Burak (Lebanon) - 2013–2015 Haft Tappeh (Iran) - 2012

• Queer Theory
• Cultural History of Sexuality
• Medieval German Literature
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Andreas Kraß is a leading scholar at the Department of German Literature, Faculty of Language and Literature, Humboldt University of Berlin. As Deputy Director of the Institute for German Literature and founding head of the Research Center for the Cultural History of Sexuality (established 2012), he specializes in queer readings of German literature from the medieval period to the 20th century, focusing on intersections of sexuality, gender, and cultural history. Research Focus: Queer theory, cultural history of sexuality (19th-21st centuries), medieval courtly literature, and translation studies. Current Projects: Queer Reading – A Methodology (Thyssen Foundation, 2023-2026), analyzing German literature under Paragraph 175. His recent publications include Höfische Epik. Eine Einführung (Metzler, 2025) and Spielräume des Übersetzens (de Gruyter, 2025), while his methodological work appears in the Barthes-Handbuch . He has supervised groundbreaking PhD research on temporalities in lesbian-feminist literature, Arthurian genealogies, and queer modernism. The Research Center under his leadership has completed major initiatives such as the Naomi Wilzig Art Collection (2017-2022) and the Digitization of Der Eigene magazine (2015-2020). He collaborates internationally with Hebrew University, Kinsey Institute, and the Magnus Hirschfeld Society, organizing conferences like the Queering Memory symposium (2019) and Cruising the 1970s HERA project (2016-2019). Students engage with his work through courses like Queer Lesen seminars and Introduction to Courtly Epic . He maintains strong ties to digital humanities through the Berliner Repertorium database, documenting medieval hymn translations (471 Latin texts with 3,066 German translations).

Elizabeth HardingView profile

Researcher

• Auction systems in the Early Modern period
• Material culture and collection history
• History of nobility in the early modern period
• +6 more

Dr. Elizabeth Harding serves as Deputy Head of the Department for Scholarship Programs and Scientific Events and as Ombudsperson for safeguarding good scientific practice at the Herzog August Library. She has been Head of Scholarship Programs at the institution since 2018 and has held various research positions there since 2010. Her academic career includes membership in the DFG-funded network 'Material Culture and Consumption in Early Modern Europe' (2012-2016) and teaching assignments at the Historical Seminars of the Universities of Mainz and Münster (2006-2010). Dr. Harding's research focuses on three interconnected areas: auction systems in the Early Modern period, material culture and collection history, and the history of nobility and universities in the early modern period. Her current major project, 'The Herzog August Library in 100 objects. Approaches to the collection and institution' (2024-2026), funded by Pro*Niedersachsen, represents a significant contribution to collection studies. Her work uniquely bridges economic history with cultural analysis, examining how commercial practices like auctions functioned as social and cultural phenomena rather than merely economic transactions. Her publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly productivity across multiple formats. She has authored two well-received monographs, edited several important volumes including the recent open-access 'Listed Things. Objects and Lists in the Early Modern Period' (2024), and published numerous articles in leading historical journals. Her research output shows a clear trajectory from early work on nobility and university structures toward more recent investigations of material culture, auction systems, and knowledge economies in the early modern period. Among her notable recognitions: Funding from Oestreich Foundation for her monograph on nobility representation Current major funding from Pro*Niedersachsen for her collection history project Fellowship at the Institute for European History, Mainz (2008) Membership on the editorial board of H-Soz-Kult since 2016 Board membership in the Working Group Early Modern Period of the Association of German Historians since 2022 Dr. Harding plays a significant role in supporting academic research through her leadership of scholarship programs at the Herzog August Library, which provides vital funding and resources for humanities scholars. Her dual role as Ombudsperson for scientific practice demonstrates her commitment to research integrity. Her scholarly work connects closely with her administrative responsibilities, as she specializes in the historical structures of academic knowledge production while facilitating contemporary scholarly work.

Michael HöckelmannView profile

Professor

• Chinese History
• Medieval History
• Gender History
• +4 more

Michael Höckelmann is Professor of State and Society of China at Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg since 2019. Previously, he served as a Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh (2018-2019), Lecturer in East Asian History at the University of Manchester (2017-2018), and Assistant Professor at Hong Kong Baptist University (2015-2017). He completed his doctoral studies at the University of Münster in 2013 with a dissertation on Li Deyu (787-850). His primary research interests focus on pre-modern Chinese history, particularly medieval China (2nd-10th centuries CE), with specializations in gender history (especially eunuch studies), institutional history, and Chinese philology. Höckelmann explores how historical actors in imperial China perceived historical time and how they appropriated ancient institutions and knowledge in their own present. His work often examines the relationship between religion, politics, and biography in Tang Dynasty China. His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on the social and political roles of eunuchs throughout Chinese history, particularly during the Tang Dynasty. He has also contributed significantly to the study of punitive emasculation, military institutions, and the intersection of gender and power in medieval China. His research reveals how marginalized groups like eunuchs navigated and influenced imperial court politics despite their official exclusion from mainstream political structures. British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship Schneider-Sasakawa Fund Scholarship Höckelmann has served as a reviewer for numerous prestigious journals including Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews; Journal of Asian Studies; Journal of the British Association for Chinese Studies; Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society; Journal of World History; Monumenta Serica; Reviews in History; Zeitschrift für Historische Forschung; and Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft. His current research project 'Empire and Its Dysfunction: Classicising Learning and Careers in Middle Period China' examines career paths of middling officials during the Tang-Song transition period. He has also contributed to public scholarship through appearances on BBC Radio 4's 'In Our Time' program discussing 'The Eunuch' (2015) and 'The Battle of Talas' (2014), and contributed entries to the Database of Religious History at the University of British Columbia.