Elizabeth Mavropoulou is a Lecturer at the University of Westminster, specializing in International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law. She holds a Bachelors in Law (LLB) from the University of Athens, an LLM in Public International Law from Westminster, and is a PhD candidate at Westminster. Educational Background LLB, University of Athens LLM (Distinction), University of Westminster PhD in Law (candidate), University of Westminster Her research focuses on international cooperation for refugee protection, externalization of asylum, border control, and human rights at sea. She has authored a forthcoming monograph on responsibility sharing in international refugee law (Brill, 2025) and provided expert evidence to the UK House of Lords and European Parliament. Elizabeth supervises doctoral research on asylum seeker credibility assessment and delivers training to journalists, policymakers, and practitioners. She also serves as Charity Administrator and Programme Manager at the maritime human rights NGO Human Rights at Sea , where she has worked for nine years.
Lyubov Zhyznomirska is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Saint Mary's University, specializing in European studies, migration governance, and democratization processes. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Alberta (2012), with a focus on EU migration cooperation with Eastern neighbors. Her current research examines the reception of war-displaced Ukrainians in Canada, the UK, and Germany. She has held a Jean Monnet Post-Doctoral Fellowship and is active in research networks such as the European Community Studies Association-Canada and the Migration Research Network. Teaching focuses on comparative politics, European Union politics, and migration studies. Recent SSHRC-funded projects include studies on Ukrainian refugee integration in Nova Scotia and the impact of temporary status on newcomer youth. Awards include the Jean Monnet Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2011-2012). Research interests include forced displacement, post-war societies, and EU-Ukraine-Russia dynamics. She co-edited The Routledge Handbook of the Politics of Migration in Europe (2019) and publishes in journals such as Comparative European Politics . Professional roles include Treasurer of ECSA-Canada (2021-2024) and President of the Atlantic Provinces Political Science Association (2022-2023).
Professor Catherine Allerton is a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She specializes in the materialities and mobilities of everyday life, with a focus on place, kinship, childhood, migration, and temporalities in island Southeast Asia. Her fieldwork spans a two-placed village in Flores, Indonesia, and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia. Her research emphasizes interdisciplinary ethnographic methods, particularly involving child participants to challenge adult-centric approaches. She launched the 'Childhood in the Migrant City' exhibition using child-taken photographs from her ESRC-sponsored research. Current projects include exploring discordant temporalities between migration systems and childhood development, as well as completing a book manuscript on moral economies of belonging. Key research interests include the social and political dimensions of landscapes, the anthropology of children, and the impacts of legal status on marginalized youth. She teaches an LSE course on 'Children and Youth in Contemporary Ethnography' and actively supervises PhD students focusing on childhood, migration, citizenship, and Southeast Asian studies. Her work addresses exclusionary practices tied to race, religion, and legal frameworks in Malaysia and Indonesia. Languages spoken include Bahasa Manggarai, English, Indonesian, and Malay. No part-time status is mentioned, indicating full-time faculty commitment.
Martin Ruhs is a Full-time Professor of Migration Studies and Deputy Director of the Migration Policy Centre (MPC) at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence. Previously, he served as Professor of Political Economy at the University of Oxford. His academic appointments include significant leadership roles at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. Ruhs's research focuses on the economics and politics of international migration with a strong international comparative dimension. He is particularly interested in the links between migration and wider public policies, and the tensions between diversity in national institutions and supra-national policy-making. His work addresses key questions and dilemmas in public policy-making across Europe, North America, and Asia. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on migration policy dilemmas, with particular emphasis on irregular migration, public perceptions of fairness in asylum systems, ethical considerations in migration governance, and the relationship between migration and welfare states. His research combines theoretical rigor with practical policy implications, often examining how institutional frameworks shape migration outcomes. Co-editor of the World Migration Report 2018 (IOM) Co-author of a 2022 European Parliament study on rights of irregular migrant workers Regular contributor to major media outlets including New York Times, Financial Times, Guardian, and Irish Times Ruhs currently provides policy analysis and advice for various national governments and international institutions. His supervisory work includes mentoring PhD students Andreea Ferent, Julie Fournier, and Hirotaka Fujibayashi. His ongoing research projects include 'Protecting Irregular Migrants in Europe (PRIME)' (2023-26), freeEUmove, MEDAM, DYNAMIG, MigResHub, AFAR, Dilemmas, and research on EU Member States' protection policies for Ukrainian refugees.
Sergio Carrera serves as Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Justice and Home Affairs Unit at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), a prominent Brussels-based think tank. Additionally, he holds the position of Adjunct Professor at the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) in SciencesPo, France, where he contributes to academic teaching and research in international affairs. Dr. Carrera's academic background includes a Ph.D. on immigration and citizenship from Maastricht University (The Netherlands), an LL.M. in European, Comparative and International Law from the University of Maastricht, and a Law Degree from Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. His extensive educational foundation in European and international law underpins his expertise in EU justice and home affairs policy. His primary research interests focus on EU justice and home affairs (JHA) law and the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice policy, with particular emphasis on migration, asylum, citizenship, and Schengen policies. Dr. Carrera's expertise also extends to EU criminal justice law and police cooperation, examining their impacts on data protection, privacy, and the rights of the defense. His work consistently addresses the intersection between security measures and fundamental rights within the European context. Dr. Carrera has produced an extensive body of scholarly work, with over 190 published publications according to the available information. His recent research has particularly focused on EU-US data transfers, rule of law challenges in the context of migration management, global asylum governance, and the evolving landscape of EU security policy. His publications demonstrate a consistent concern with ensuring that security and migration policies uphold fundamental rights and the rule of law. Among his notable contributions are policy analyses on the European Green Deal's implications for climate policy, assessments of the EU's response to the Ukraine crisis, and examinations of the impact of the Trump administration on EU security policy. His research often bridges academic analysis with practical policy recommendations for EU institutions. Dr. Carrera leads and participates in numerous research projects addressing critical issues in EU policy. Current initiatives include "Reclaiming our past, rebuilding our future: new approaches to fighting antigypsyism" (2024-2026) and the "Study on Mapping Civil Dialogue Practices in the EU Institutions" (2024-2025). Previous significant projects include "Global Asylum Governance and European Union's Role" (ASILE, 2019-2023), "Pan-European Response to the ImpactS of COVID-19" (PERISCOPE, 2020-2023), and "IT tools and methods for managing migration FLOWS" (ITFLOWS, 2020-2023). His work has been commissioned by various EU institutions, including the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs, demonstrating the policy relevance and impact of his research. Dr. Carrera's expertise is frequently sought for task forces addressing timely issues such as EU-US data transfers, digital justice, and cross-border cooperation in criminal matters.
Nando Sigona is Professor of International Migration and Forced Displacement and Director of the Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) at the University of Birmingham, UK. He serves within the School of Geosciences Human Geography and Spatial Planning in the Urban Geography department, where he leads significant research on migration policy and forced displacement. His research spans critical areas including undocumented migration, the migration-citizenship nexus, naturalisation and denaturalisation processes, Romani politics and anti-Gypsyism, EU asylum systems, Brexit impacts on European mobility, and child and youth migration. Sigona's work is characterized by its policy relevance and theoretical innovation in understanding contemporary migration governance. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward examining the intersection of migration enforcement, digital platforms, and labor markets, particularly evident in his 2025 research on migrant food delivery riders in Birmingham. His scholarly output spans foundational theoretical works like The Oxford Handbook of Superdiversity (2022) to urgent contemporary analyses of migration enforcement in the gig economy. Sigona has received significant research funding including Horizon Europe support for the I-CLAIM project (Improving the living and labour conditions of irregularised migrant households in Europe), where he serves as co-Investigator and Scientific Director. His work has been published across leading journals including Sociology, Social Anthropology, Antipode, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, and Ethnic and Racial Studies. Founding editor of Migration Studies (Oxford University Press) Lead editor for Global Migration and Social Change book series (Bristol University Press) Director of the Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) His recent blog posts and media commentary reveal active engagement with contemporary policy debates, particularly regarding Labour's immigration enforcement strategies targeting migrant workers in the gig economy. Sigona's research team has documented a 79% increase in immigration raids in Birmingham since Labour came to office, based on Freedom of Information data (FOI2025 07429).
Dr Silvia Borelli is a Visiting Lecturer at King's College London's Dickson Poon School of Law and an Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University's Caruso School of Law. Her expertise spans international law, with a focus on human rights, refugee law, and humanitarian law. She holds a PhD from the University of Milan and has held roles at institutions like the University of Bedfordshire and UCL. Dr Borelli is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has advised organizations such as the British Red Cross and REDRESS Trust. Her research examines the intersection of human rights and international humanitarian law, particularly in counter-terrorism and migration contexts. She has explored issues like extraterritorial military operations, refugee family reunification, and legal aid access for asylum seekers. Dr Borelli’s work bridges academic scholarship with practical advocacy, addressing contemporary challenges in global governance and human rights protection. Teaching includes modules on Public International Law and Transnational Human Rights Litigation. Her funded research projects include studies on UK legal aid reforms affecting refugees and refugee family reunification mechanisms. Professional collaborations include roles with the Alliance for Lawyers at Risk and Peace Brigades International UK.
Michael A. Clemens is a Professor in the Department of Economics at George Mason University and a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. His research focuses on migration and development, economic growth, and aid effectiveness. With 20 years of experience building research programs on international migration at the Center for Global Development, he maintains affiliations with multiple international institutions including the IZA Institute of Labor Economics and the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration. His research examines economic causes and effects of migration worldwide, with publications in premier journals like the American Economic Review. He holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard University, specializing in economic history, public economics, and development economics. Clemens is multilingual with proficiency in English, Spanish, Turkish, French, and Portuguese. Awards: Royal Economic Society Prize
Margaret Peters is Professor and Vice Chair for Graduate Studies in Political Science at UCLA. Her research examines international political economy with specialization in migration politics, particularly how trade, foreign investment, and globalization intersect with immigration policies. Her award-winning book 'Trading Barriers: Immigration and the Remaking of Globalization' analyzes how trade policy and outsourcing influence immigration restrictions. Current NSF-funded projects investigate migration waves and Venezuelan displacement in Colombia. Research employs mixed methods including surveys, experiments, archival work, and cross-national analysis. Education: PhD in Political Science, Stanford University (2011) MA in Economics, Stanford University (2008) BA in Political Science, University of Michigan (2002) Publications focus on migration policy determinants, inequality effects, pandemic xenophobia, and historical political economy. Honors include the APSA Lowi Book Award and Helen Dwight Reid Dissertation Prize. She directs research on migrant dignity perceptions using behavioral games and leads projects on authoritarian emigration controls and post-pandemic refugee integration. Teaching includes graduate seminars on international political economy and undergraduate courses on migration politics. She mentors students in research design and policy analysis.
Sara Casella-Colombeau is a Lecturer in Political Science at Université Grenoble-Alpes (UFR Sociétés, Cultures et Langues étrangères) and affiliated with the ILCEA4 laboratory. Her career spans multiple postdoctoral research positions at institutions including the Institut Convergences Migrations (CNRS), University of Edinburgh, and Université de Montréal. She was a PhD candidate at Sciences Po Paris from 2007-2013, focusing on border policing in the Schengen Area. Current pedagogical leadership: Responsible for the International Cooperation and Multilingual Communication Master's track (2020-…) Scientific coordination: Co-leader of the 'Migrations, Borders, and International Relations' axis at ILCEA4 (2022-…) Her research explores: Migration governance : Analyzing immigration control, regularization policies, and the intersection of migration with welfare systems European border dynamics : Investigating Schengen Area policing, Frontex, and Franco-Italian border practices Administrative sociology : Studying public policy implementation and state actors' practices Since 2023, her work appears in comparative migration studies (Cambridge University Press) and critical border atlases. Earlier publications (2017-2022) focus on: Schengen internal border policing French/UK clandestine migrant construction Migrant regularization mechanisms Frontex risk analysis frameworks Her academic engagement includes: Coordinating the 'Migrations, frontières et relations internationales' research axis at ILCEA4 Contributing to critical migration atlases and policy dictionaries Teaching geopolitics, fieldwork methods, and EU values
Michel Beine is a Full Professor of Economics at the University of Luxembourg's Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance (FDEF), specializing in international economics with a focus on migration dynamics. He holds a PhD from Université Libre de Bruxelles (1997) and has taught at institutions including the University of Lille II and Université Libre de Bruxelles. His research spans international migration patterns, climate change impacts, brain drain/gain effects, and network influences on migration decisions. He coordinates the MINLAB and ACROSS PhD programs focusing on migration research. His work integrates econometric methods to analyze migration policies, student mobility, and institutional norms transfer. Notable contributions include studies on climate-driven migration, diaspora effects, and the economic implications of skilled worker movements. Research interests include: (1) International migration economics, particularly skilled labor flows and network effects; (2) Climate change impacts on human mobility; (3) Brain drain/brain gain mechanisms; (4) Policy analysis of immigration/asylum systems. Recent work explores substitution patterns among migration destinations using cross-nested logit models and evaluates the role of education fees in foreign student enrollment. His publications span top journals like Journal of Development Economics , Scandinavian Journal of Economics , and World Development . He advises policymakers on migration-related issues and collaborates with institutions like LISER and the World Bank. Teaching focuses on international economics, econometrics, and migration economics at the PhD level.
Dr. Abel Chikanda is an Associate Professor in the School of Earth, Environment & Society at McMaster University. He holds a PhD in Geography from Western University and previously served as Assistant/Associate Professor at the University of Kansas. His research examines African immigrant integration, diaspora roles in development, and sustainable food systems in African cities. He is an active member of several international research networks including the Southern African Migration Programme and Hungry Cities Partnership. Research interests center on migration dynamics, food security challenges, urban sustainability, and diaspora engagement in development contexts. His work employs geographical perspectives to analyze South-South migration patterns and urban resilience strategies. Publications focus predominantly on migration patterns, refugee studies, and health geography, with regional specialization in Southern Africa. Recent articles examine pandemic impacts on informal cross-border trade and refugee entrepreneurship economies. Dr. Chikanda teaches courses including 'Human Geographies of Africa', 'Cities of the Developing World', and 'Migration and Global Development'.
Melissa M. Lee is the Klein Family Presidential Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the World House Student Fellows Program at Perry World House. Her research focuses on the international and domestic politics of statebuilding, sovereignty, and state development, emphasizing how foreign subversion undermines state authority. She holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and a B.A. from the University of California San Diego. Lee’s work bridges historical and contemporary case studies, including Russian relations with post-Soviet states, Malaysian subversion of the Philippines, and Thai subversion of Vietnam-occupied Cambodia. Her book *Crippling Leviathan* (2020) won major awards, including the APSA Merze Tate Award and Perry World House’s Emerging Scholar Prize. She also contributes policy writing to *Foreign Affairs* and the Irregular Warfare Initiative. Previous roles include Assistant Professor at Princeton University and Lightning Scholar at Perry World House. Her research has been published in top journals like the *American Political Science Review* and *International Organization*. Awards: APSA Merze Tate Award (2016) APSA European Politics and Society Section Best Article Prize (2020) Perry World House Emerging Scholar Global Policy Prize APSA Foreign Policy Section Honorable Mention for Best Book Her work examines dependent territories in international relations, the historical roots of state weakness, and the interplay between conflict and governance. Lee’s scholarship integrates quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze how external actors shape domestic political dynamics.
Synnøve Kristine Nepstad Bendixsen is a Professor and Head of Department at the Department of Social Anthropology, University of Bergen (UiB), Faculty of Social Sciences. She is a leading scholar in migration, bordering, and welfare state dynamics, with extensive research on irregular migration, humanitarianism, and belonging in Nordic and European contexts. Her research interests include: Migration and bordering practices Welfare state exclusion and inclusion Irregular migrants' access to healthcare Humanitarian governance and encampment Transnational kinship and mobility Gender, religion, and identity among migrants Digitalization of welfare and borders Her recent publications (2022–2024) reflect a strong focus on the Nordic welfare model’s role in controlling migration through bordering practices, the moral economies of healthcare for irregular migrants, and the lived experiences of displacement. Themes across her work include precarity, slow violence, deservingness, and the paradoxes of egalitarian societies producing hierarchical belonging. Scientific contributions and outreach include: Keynote speaker at international conferences (e.g., University of Iceland, EASA) Invited lectures at Princeton, Oxford (COMPAS), Humboldt University, and others Public engagement through op-eds (Bergens Tidende, Morgenbladet), podcasts, and media interviews Documentary film co-creation: Birthdayparents (2018) She has advised PhD candidates such as Elina Niinivaara and Signe Aarvik and has led major research projects including: PrecaNord (2022–2025): Tackling Precarious and Informal Work in the Nordic Countries EQUALPART (2021–2025): Migrant Women’s Participation in Labour Supercamp (2019–2022): Genealogies of Humanitarian Containment Energethics (2015–2019): Norwegian Energy Companies Abroad She has organized academic events such as the Bergen Summer Research School and participates in public discourse on deep sea mining, inclusion, and migration policy. Her work bridges academic research, policy critique, and public anthropology.
Dr. Ashvin Immanuel Devasundaram is a Reader in Global Cinemas at Queen Mary University of London, specializing in World Cinemas with a focus on New Independent Indian Cinema, emerging cinemas from South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. He actively engages in transdisciplinary and intercultural exploration, connecting cinematic representations with themes such as postcolonialism, decolonisation, LGBTQ+ issues, urban violence, and cultural heritage. Current Research: Principal Investigator for the AHRC-funded India-UK project 'Connecting Creative Industries and Cultural Heritage: India-UK Film Festival Federation, Youth Curation and Community Co-creation' (2024-2027). Leadership Roles: Associate Director of the UK Asian Film Festival (UKAFF) and founder of its Edinburgh edition (2016). Key Themes: Intersections of cinema with philosophy, politics, migration, postmodernism, and urban transformations across India, South Africa, Bhutan, Singapore, and Brazil. His work has led to the establishment of an international interdisciplinary research network on global urban violence and its impact on marginalized communities, alongside ongoing editorial roles in academic series and journals. He mentors through the B-MEntor scheme and integrates philosophical themes into his music with the transglobal neo-progressive rock project The Multitude. Scientific Awards: Edinburgh University Literary Award (2012), QMUL Community Engagement Prize (2018).
