Find Academic Supervisors

Bernard (Ben) Arps is Professor of Indonesian and Javanese Language and Culture at Leiden University's Institute for Area Studies within the Faculty of Humanities. His research focuses on the interface of humanities and humanistic social sciences, particularly examining how language, performance, texts, and media contribute to 'worldmaking' - the processes through which people and institutions shape realities for themselves and others. Geographically centered on Southeast Asia with a core focus on Indonesia and the Malay world, Arps specializes in Java and its diasporas. His scholarly interests include religious encounters (particularly between Islam and local vernacular traditions), philological theory as applied to performance and new media, narrativity in song and audio media, and the theoretical foundations of area studies. Arps has conducted extensive fieldwork in Indonesia since 1979, totaling over four years, primarily in Central and Eastern Java regions including Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Banyuwangi, and Cilacap. His current book projects explore the Quest narrative pattern across religious traditions (focusing on Dewa Ruci), the sociopolitical formation of languages through media and performance (using Osing in Banyuwangi as a case study), and the Asian Muslim epic of Amir Hamza. Arps teaches primarily in Leiden's BA programme in South and Southeast Asian Studies, BA in International Studies, and MA programme in Asian Studies. Former chair of the Department of Languages and Cultures of Southeast Asia and Oceania (1995, 1999/2000, 2003-2006, 2008) Previously taught at School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (1988-1993) Held visiting positions at NIAS (2001/02), ANU (2005), University of Michigan (2006/07), NUS/ARI (2011/12), UNS (2017), and IIAS (2018/19) Arps has supervised doctoral, Master's, and Bachelor's dissertations across Indonesian, Malay, Singapore, Cambodian, and Thai studies, with particular expertise in Javanese, Sundanese, Betawi, Balinese, Sasak, Mentawai, and Minangkabau cultures and languages. His work spans religion, performance, media, literature, sociolinguistics, lexicography, and education.

• Southeast Asian Studies
• Indonesian Language and Culture
• Javanese Language and Culture
• +9 more

Karsten Lambers is Professor of Digital and Computational Archaeology at the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, where he leads research and teaching in the application of computational methods to archaeological data. His work integrates machine learning, remote sensing, text mining, and citizen science to advance archaeological prospection and heritage management. He is affiliated with the Department of Archaeological Sciences and plays key roles in research groups and university-wide initiatives such as SAILS and ARCHON. His research interests span Digital Archaeology , Machine Learning in Archaeology , Remote Sensing , Geoarchaeology , and Human-Environment Interaction . He investigates how computational tools can extract meaningful archaeological information from large datasets, including LiDAR imagery and excavation reports. His fieldwork spans Central Europe and Latin America, with a focus on prehistoric landscapes and cultural heritage. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward automated detection using deep learning (e.g., R-CNN, WODAN), named entity recognition in archaeological texts (e.g., ArcheoBERTje), and citizen science integration for data validation. His work bridges archaeology with computer science, geomatics, and environmental science, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and methodological rigor. His scientific awards include: Best Thesis Award (University of Zurich, 2005) EUROPA NOSTRA Award (2020, 2022) Membership in the German Archaeological Institute (since 2022) Lambers actively supervises students and leads major research projects such as ABMA, EXALT, and Heritage Quest. He has secured substantial research funding and collaborates widely with computer scientists, geophysicists, and palaeoecologists. His teaching includes digital methods, modeling, and simulation, often linked to ongoing research. He has also contributed to open educational resources and digital textbooks in archaeology. He leads or participates in several research labs and teams, including the Digital Archaeology Research Group (which he chairs), the Heritage Quest citizen science project, and interdisciplinary teams focusing on alpine terraces and Iraqi prospection. His work emphasizes the integration of digital tools into practical archaeological workflows, advocating for complementary human-computer strategies.

• Digital Archaeology
• Computational Archaeology
• Machine Learning in Archaeology
• +13 more

Dr. Julia Costa López is an Assistant Professor (tenured) in History and Theory of International Relations at the Department of International Relations and International Organisation, Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen. Her work bridges international relations, history, and political thought, focusing on how historical frameworks shape modern disciplinary concepts. PhD from University of Oxford Lecturer at St Hilda's College Fulbright scholar at University of Denver's Josef Korbel School Graduate studies at University of Cambridge Research spans medieval political authority, sovereignty emergence, racialized medievalisms in extremism, and translation politics in global scholarship. Key projects include Routledge Handbook of Historical International Relations (2021) and the Oxford Handbook of History and International Relations (2023). Publications address Eurocentrism, conspiratorial ideology, and ritual's role in authority production. Scientific contributions appear in Cambridge Review of International Affairs , International Organization , and European Journal of International Law . Awards include the Fulbright scholarship. Recent work explores terraqueous relations and premodern world conceptualizations, challenging simplistic land-sea dichotomies in IR.

• International Relations
• History of International Political Thought
• Medieval Canon and Roman Law
• +4 more

Prof. Khalil Sima'an serves as Professor of Computational Linguistics and Vice Director of Education at the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC), University of Amsterdam, within the Faculty of Science. He joined as Assistant Professor in 2003, advanced to Associate Professor in 2011, and attained Full Professorship in 2014. His academic foundation includes a PhD in Computational Linguistics from Utrecht University, establishing his expertise in formal language modeling. Prof. Sima'an's research drives innovation in Computational Linguistics through rigorous exploration of syntactic structures, semantic processing, and machine translation systems. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical NLP applications, particularly in parsing technologies and multilingual processing, positioning him as a key contributor to European language technology initiatives. His distinguished recognition includes: Royal Netherlands Academy for Arts and Sciences (KNAW) Fellowship NWO Vidi Grant (2006) for pioneering early-career research NWO Vici Grant (2013) for groundbreaking senior research leadership He actively shapes the field through editorial stewardship of Machine Translation and Journal of Natural Language Engineering , alongside pivotal conference roles including MT Summit XIV Chair (2013) and ACL 2010 area chair for syntax/parsing. As core faculty in the Natural Language Processing & Digital Humanities (NLP&DH) research group, he advances collaborative projects integrating computational methods with humanities scholarship at LAB42's interdisciplinary hub.

• Computational Linguistics
• Natural Language Processing
• Machine Translation
• +3 more

Bart Wallet is Professor of Jewish Studies specializing in Early Modern and Modern Jewish History at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Humanities, where he is affiliated with the Department of Semitic Languages and Cultures. His academic work focuses on the intricate relationship between Jewish communities and Dutch society throughout history, with particular emphasis on the connections between the Dutch Royal House and Jewish communities. Wallet's research interests span Dutch Jewish history from the early modern period to the contemporary era, with special attention to Yiddish studies, religious history, cultural integration, and the development of Jewish identity in the Netherlands. His scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on how Jewish communities navigated their position as a religious minority within Dutch society, particularly examining the complex dynamics between Jewish citizens and the Dutch state and monarchy. His work often explores the tension between religious tradition and modernization, and how Jewish communities maintained their identity while integrating into broader Dutch society. Analysis of his recent publications shows a strong thematic concentration on Orange-Jewish relations throughout Dutch history, Jewish military service, religious education, and the material culture of Jewish communities. His scholarship demonstrates a methodological approach that combines cultural history with religious studies, often revealing how seemingly mundane aspects of daily life reflect broader societal patterns of integration and identity formation. The geographic focus remains predominantly on the Netherlands, though with comparative perspectives on Jewish communities in other European contexts. Professor Wallet has been active in public scholarship through media appearances, radio programs, and contributions to encyclopedias. His work has appeared in both academic journals and public-facing media outlets, demonstrating his commitment to making Jewish history accessible to broader audiences. He has contributed to numerous radio programs on Jewish history for Dutch Jewish radio stations and has written for newspapers including the Reformatorisch Dagblad. His academic contributions include extensive work on Dutch-Jewish relations, particularly focusing on the relationship between Jewish communities and the Dutch Royal House throughout history. He has also produced significant scholarship on Jewish integration in Dutch society, religious education, and the development of Jewish identity in the Netherlands from the early modern period to the present day. His work often examines how Jewish communities maintained religious traditions while adapting to changing social and political contexts.

• Jewish History
• Early Modern History
• Modern Jewish History
• +6 more

Thomas Bäck is a Professor at the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) , Leiden University , Netherlands, and a member of the interdisciplinary programme Society, Artificial Intelligence and Life Sciences (SAILS) . His academic career spans roles at Leiden University (1996–present) and leadership positions at the Center for Applied Systems Analysis in Dortmund (1994–2000). Education : Diplom-Informatiker (Computer Science), Technische Universität Dortmund (1990) Dr. rer. nat. (Computer Science), Technische Universität Dortmund (1994) Research Interests : Dr. Bäck specializes in evolutionary computation , machine learning , and their applications in sustainable smart industry and healthcare . Recent work focuses on integrating large language models (LLMs) and quantum computing into optimization frameworks, with projects like CIMPLO (predictive maintenance), ECOLE (experience-based optimization), and SAPPAO (airline operations optimization). Scientific Contributions : His 526+ publications cover evolutionary algorithms, quantum optimization, and LLM-driven design, with recent trends including: Quantum computing (e.g., quantum approximate optimization, quantum advantage challenges) LLM integration (e.g., hyperparameter tuning, mutation control, code evolution graphs) Healthcare and industry (e.g., predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, melt quality prediction) Algorithm benchmarking (e.g., IOHprofiler, MA-BBOB, explainable benchmarking) Scientific Awards : IEEE Fellow (2022) Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) member (2021) Academia Europaea member (2022) IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Evolutionary Computation Pioneer Award (2015) Fellow, International Society of Genetic and Evolutionary Computation (2003) Best Ph.D. thesis award, German Society of Computer Science (GI) (1995) Advising and Grants : He supervises Ph.D. candidates in evolutionary computation and machine learning and has secured 7 major grants from organizations like the Dutch Research Council , European Commission , and The Research Council of Norway . His editorial roles include Editor-in-Chief of the Evolutionary Computation Journal and associate editorships in leading AI journals.

• Evolutionary Computation
• Machine Learning
• Natural Computing
• +5 more

O.J. (Oliver) Moore is a Professor and Chair of Chinese Language & Culture at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Arts. His expertise spans Art History of China, early/modern Chinese history, archaeology, and material culture. He holds a PhD from Cambridge University and has held roles at Leiden University, the British Museum, and Kyoto University. His research integrates historical, technical, and aesthetic aspects of Chinese art and culture, with a focus on photography, printing systems, and classical texts. Education: Studied Chinese at London University (SOAS) and Fudan University (Shanghai), PhD at Cambridge on Tang Dynasty civil service recruitment rituals. Teaching includes modern Chinese language, East Asian art/media, and thesis writing. He supervises PhD projects on Chinese art collecting in the Netherlands and collaborates internationally on courses like 'Chinese Gardens in Europe.' Key publications: Photography in China: Science, Commerce and Communication (2022), translations of Tang-era texts, and studies on Tang art and archaeology. Research emphasizes demystifying Chinese culture through translation and cross-disciplinary approaches. Past roles include Curator at the Netherlands Museum of Ethnology and Visiting Professor at Kyoto University.

• Art History of China
• Early and Modern Chinese History
• Archaeology of China/East Asia
• +6 more

Francesca Grisoni serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), where she currently leads the Molecular Machine Learning team. She additionally holds appointments as an ICMS Core member and Associate Professor at EAISI (Eindhoven Artificial Intelligence Systems Institute), reflecting her cross-disciplinary role at the intersection of computational science and biomedical applications. Academic Background : Grisoni completed her Environmental Sciences degree and earned a Ph.D. in 2016 from the University of Milano-Bicocca, where her dissertation focused on interpretable machine learning for molecular property prediction. During doctoral studies, she conducted research at ETH Zurich's Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences and the U.S. EPA's National Center for Computational Toxicology. Ph.D., University of Milano-Bicocca, 2016 (Dissertation: Interpretable machine learning for molecular property prediction) Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca Her research integrates artificial intelligence, chemistry, and biology to develop computational methods for drug discovery, emphasizing wet-lab experimental validation alongside algorithmic innovation. Key focus areas include overcoming activity cliffs in molecular machine learning, generative modeling for scaffold hopping, and AI-augmented decision-making in therapeutic development, with the ultimate goal of achieving 'better decisions faster' in drug discovery pipelines. Analysis of her recent 2025 publications reveals a concentrated trend toward chemical language models and generative deep learning frameworks, specifically addressing low-data drug discovery challenges through active learning and neural network architectures. These works bridge computer science with pharmacology, targeting bioactivity prediction, molecular representation, and enzyme design while maintaining strong ties to experimental validation. Scientific Awards : Lush Young Researcher Prize Early Career Award 2022 from the Dutch Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) ERC Starting Grant (2022) Grants and Supervision : Dr. Grisoni secured the prestigious ERC Starting Grant in 2022 to advance her molecular machine learning research. Institutional records indicate she has supervised 7 students (as shown in TU/e's 'Supervised Work (7)' repository section), though specific names aren't provided in the source material. Her group maintains active industry collaborations, including past engagement with Bracco Pharmaceuticals. Laboratory and Team : The Molecular Machine Learning team operates under the ICMS and EAISI frameworks, merging computational AI development with experimental wet-lab validation. This collaborative unit focuses on fragment-based molecular design, chirality representation (evidenced by fragSMILES work), and high-throughput nanoparticle identification using machine learning, as highlighted in recent press coverage and datasets.

• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Drug Discovery
• +8 more

Dr. Elisabeth (Lies) Wesseling is an Associate Professor in the Department of Literature and Art at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University. She serves as Director of the Centre for Gender and Diversity and leads the international research network PLACIM (Platform for a Cultural History of Children's Media). Her interdisciplinary work bridges literature, cultural history, and the humanities' engagement with science and identity. Her educational background includes MA degrees in English Language and Literature and Comparative Literature (both cum laude) and a PhD in Comparative Literature, all from Utrecht University. Dr. Wesseling’s research focuses on the cultural construction of childhood, particularly through narrative forms in fiction, life writing, and film. She investigates how global adoption narratives forge kinship across cultural boundaries, drawing on postcolonial theory, literary anthropology, and life writing studies. Her work critically examines implicit cultural assumptions about parenthood, orphanhood, and identity, aiming to enrich ethical discourse on transnational adoption. Her recent publications (2020–2023) reflect a strong trajectory in children’s literature, narrative theory, and cultural critique, with a particular emphasis on mermaid myths, adoption memoirs, and postcolonial family formations. These works span edited volumes and journals, demonstrating sustained scholarly engagement. She is actively involved in academic service as congress convenor of the 21st Biennual IRSCL Conference and board member of the International Research Society for Children's Literature. She also belongs to several learned societies including the International Society for Cultural History and the Society for Literature, Science, and Art. Dr. Wesseling has supervised multiple PhD candidates and coordinates research programs funded by the Dutch Science Foundation (NWO). Her teaching spans BA, MA, and MPhil levels, focusing on arts and culture, postcolonialism, and problem-based learning. She has led major educational innovation projects such as ForUM and TAC, enhancing pedagogical practices across institutions. She leads the externally funded research program Emergent Cultural Literacy: Assimilating Children's Literature and directs the Centre for Gender and Diversity, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration on gender, identity, and cultural inclusion within the faculty.

• Children's Literature
• Cultural Construction of Childhood
• Narrative Theory
• +7 more

Nadine Akkerman serves as Professor of Early Modern Literature and Culture at Leiden University, where she is affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities, specifically the Centre for the Arts in Society and the Medieval and Early Modern Studies research group. Her interdisciplinary work bridges literary studies, history, and material culture with a particular focus on women's roles in early modern intellectual and political networks. Akkerman has established herself as a leading expert in deciphering historical correspondence and studying early modern intelligence networks, particularly the overlooked contributions of women as spies and intelligence gatherers during the 17th century. Her groundbreaking scholarship reveals how women's perceived political incapacity paradoxically made them effective intelligence operatives who could move undetected through political spaces. Her research methodology combines archival investigation with material analysis of historical documents, including innovative approaches to studying letterlocking techniques. Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent research trajectory exploring women's agency in early modern political networks. The 2023 encyclopedia entry 'Women and Spy Networks' synthesizes her findings on gendered intelligence operations, while her 2018 monograph 'Invisible Agents' fundamentally reshaped scholarly understanding of women's participation in espionage. Current work on 'The Queen of Hearts: The Life of Elizabeth Stuart' continues her focus on royal women's political networks and correspondence. Member of the Young Academy of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 2017 Akkerman actively supervises multiple PhD candidates including Marijn van Dijk, Joanna Greenland, Suzanne Klare, Clodagh Murphy, and Holly Riach, fostering the next generation of scholars in early modern studies. She chairs the committee organizing Leiden University's Annie Romein-Verschoor Lecture, demonstrating her commitment to promoting women's history and scholarship. Her research is supported by various academic grants that enable her interdisciplinary investigations into early modern correspondence, intelligence networks, and women's political participation.

• Early Modern Literature
• Early Modern Culture
• English Literature
• +6 more

Dr. Mia You is a translingual poet and Assistant Professor at Utrecht University’s Department of Languages, Literature and Communication within the School of Humanities. She specializes in modern and contemporary literature, focusing on intersections between poetry, feminist theory, and global English. PhD in English from UC Berkeley MA in Regional Studies: East Asia from Harvard University BA in English Literature from Stanford University Her research explores creative humanities, translingualism, and sustainability through projects like the NWO-VENI Grant: Poetry in the Age of Global English . She contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Gender Equality and Sustainable Cities. Mia’s recent publications analyze bilingual practices, meme aesthetics, and literary resistance. She actively organizes conferences such as Against Extinction and collaborates with institutions like UNESCO City of Literature. NWO-VENI Grant (2022): Fellowship awarded competitively C. C. S. Crone Stipend (2018): Prize for non-fiction books As a member of the Creative Critical Approaches to the Health Humanities initiative and co-organizer of translingual writing workshops, Mia bridges art, literature, and societal change.

• Poetry
• 20th & 21st-century American literature
• Modernism
• +9 more

Dina Danish (b. 1981, Paris) is an Egyptian-Danish artist and educator working at the intersection of language, historical reinterpretation, and conceptual practice. She holds a Lecturer position at the Fine Arts department of KABK in The Hague and serves as a teaching mentor at the Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam . Guest teaching roles include the Sandberg Institute and American University in Cairo . Education : BA from American University in Cairo; MFA from California College of the Arts (San Francisco) Residencies : Rijksakademie Amsterdam, Spinola Banna Italy, PiST/// Istanbul, A.i.R. Dubai, Affiliated Fellow at American Academy in Rome Her research explores humor, mistranslation, and overlooked historical moments , often through video art, performance, and text-based installations . Key themes include linguistic structures, cultural memory, and Dadaist methodologies . Recent projects examine ancient motifs in contemporary art (e.g., Jean-Baptiste Maitre) and political commentary through playful abstraction . Notable exhibitions at SFMOMA, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, and Kunsthall Oslo highlight her focus on translation errors, sound poetry, and archival interventions . Volkskrant Award finalist Abraaj Art Prize nominee Illy Present Future Prize recipient Celeste Award nominee Barclay Simpson Award nominee Dina collaborates with institutions like Hotel Maria Kapel and De Nederlandsche Bank , and co-curated a Rijksakademie anniversary exhibition. Her work is represented by galleries in Amsterdam, Milan, and Zurich.

• Conceptual Art
• Language and Art
• Performance Art
• +7 more

Prof. Dr. Sandra Ponzanesi is a full Professor at Utrecht University's Department of Media and Culture Studies, leading the Graduate Gender Programme. Her interdisciplinary research bridges postcolonial theory , gender studies , media studies , and digital humanities , with a focus on Italian colonial history, European migration, and postcolonial cinema. PhD in Comparative Literary Studies and Gender Studies (Utrecht University) MA in English and Commonwealth Studies (University of Sussex, UK) MA in Modern Languages and Literature (University of Bologna, Italy) Her work explores how digital technologies reshape European integration through digital diasporas and connected migrant networks. Recent projects like "Virtual Reality as Empathy Machine" examine VR's role in humanitarian communication, while the completed ERC-funded CONNECTINGEUROPE project investigated digital migration's impact on citizenship. Key publication themes include postcolonial cultural industries , transnational women intellectuals , and digital affective belonging . She has co-edited 10+ volumes and guest-edited special issues in Popular Communication , Transnational Screens , and Postcolonial Studies . ERC Consolidator Grant (2014) NWO Internationalization Grant EU 7th Framework Program grant As founder of Utrecht's Postcolonial Studies Initiative and organizer of international conferences, she connects scholars across migrant communities , activist networks , and digital humanities to reimagine Europe's postcolonial future.

• Gender Studies
• Postcolonial Criticism
• Media Studies
• +6 more

G.J. Greg Poarch, PhD is an Associate Professor of English Linguistics and English as a Second Language (ESL) at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Arts. He holds positions on the Cluster Board 2 as Secretary and serves as President of the International Association of Multilingualism (IAM). His research focuses on bilingualism, multilingualism, psycholinguistics, and the cognitive impacts of language learning. He is affiliated with the Neurolinguistics and Language Development (NLD) research group. Research interests include cross-linguistic activation in multilingual speakers, executive function development in multilingual children, and the relationship between multilingualism and neurocognitive health in aging populations. His work addresses topics like translanguaging theory, structural priming in language acquisition, and the role of genetic factors in Alzheimer's risk mitigation among multilinguals. Poarch collaborates internationally, organizing conferences such as the 13th International Conference on Third Language Acquisition and Multilingualism (2024). His research has been published in journals like Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism , Language Learning , and Journal of Experimental Child Psychology .

• Bilingualism
• Multilingualism
• Psycholinguistics
• +3 more

Sophie Withaeckx is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences , Maastricht University , specializing in philosophy and ethics. Her work bridges critical inquiries into culture, gender, and morality with empirical studies on violence and transnational adoption. Doctorate in Philosophy and Moral Sciences (VUB) Master's in African Languages & Cultures (UGent) and International Politics (University of Antwerp) Research Focus: Normative conceptions of 'humanity' in public institutions and higher education decolonization Ethics of transnational adoption, examining humanness, family structures, and kinship Intersectional analysis of intimate partner violence in general practice Recent Publications address adoption reform resistance, ethical caregiving practices, and intersectional policy frameworks, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to gender, violence, and transnational ethics. PhD Supervision: Eva Vergaert: Intersectional care for intimate partner violence Atamhi Cawayu: Transnational adoption inequalities Folashade Ajayi: Black activism in Europe Career History: Former coordinator at RHEA (VUB), lecturer at Odisee University College, and staff member at IVCA (Intercultural Women’s Center Antwerp).

• Gender Studies
• Feminist Theory
• Ethics
• +10 more