Find Academic Supervisors

Jesse LanderView profile

Associate Professor

• Early Modern Literature
• Religion and Literature
• Shakespeare Studies
• +3 more

Jesse Lander is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Notre Dame, affiliated with the College of Arts and Letters. He is a Faculty Fellow at the Nanovic Institute and holds the Thomas J. and Robert T. Rolfs Associate Professorship. His research focuses on early modern English literature, particularly intersections between religion and literary culture. He has authored Inventing Polemic: Religion, Print, and Literary Culture in Early Modern England and is completing Special Affects: Staging the Supernatural in Shakespeare’s Drama . Education : Ph.D., Columbia University (1998); B.A., University College, Oxford (1991); B.A., Columbia College (1988) Teaching : Specializes in Shakespeare, Renaissance drama, and textual criticism Grants & Fellowships : Charlotte W. Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship, Folger Library Fellowships, and multiple teaching awards His research analyzes supernatural staging in plays like Hamlet and Macbeth , exploring how theater reflected Reformation-era anxieties. Recent work includes studies on Shakespeare quotation history and early modern print culture. He has edited volumes like The Book in History and co-authored Arden editions of King John . Publications span articles in Shakespeare Survey , Renaissance Drama , and Modern Philology , focusing on topics like religious polemics, textual history, and the material book. His teaching and service include chairing the English Department (2015–2021) and advising graduate programs. Labs/Teams : Collaborates with the Medieval Institute and Rare Book Library on digital humanities projects. Engages in public outreach through lectures on Shakespeare’s relevance and early modern theater practices.

• Early Modern History
• Witchcraft and Magic
• Folk Religion
• +8 more

Johannes Dillinger is Professor of Early Modern History at Oxford Brookes University, affiliated with the School of Education, Humanities and Languages. He has held academic positions at Trier University, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Georgetown University, Stanford University, and Nehru University (New Delhi), and was a Visiting Research Fellow at the German Historical Institute in Washington DC. His research spans a wide range of topics in early modern history, with a focus on witchcraft and magic , folk religion , political crime , terrorism in history , alternate history (uchronia) , and the political representation of peasantry . His work employs comparative, regional, and interdisciplinary methods, often bridging history with cultural studies and the history of science and belief. The recent publications of Professor Dillinger reveal a sustained engagement with supernatural beliefs, ritual practices, and the social and political dimensions of magic in early modern Europe. His work explores themes such as household spirits, treasure hunting, divination, and witch trials, with geographical focus on Germany and comparative insights from New England and other regions. The articles reflect a deep methodological interest in regional history, cultural memory, and the evolution of belief systems over time. Friedrich Spee Award for outstanding contributions to the historiography of witchcraft Prize for the best PhD thesis of Trier University Noether Scholarship, German Research Foundation Heisenberg Scholarship, German Research Foundation Andrew Mellow Grant, Massachusetts Historical Society Professor Dillinger has supervised numerous students and delivered guest lectures and keynotes at leading universities worldwide, including Stanford, Cambridge, and Duke. He has organized international conferences on witchcraft, political representation, and the intersection of science and magic. His research has been supported by elite fellowships and grants, reflecting its high scholarly impact. He also contributes to the didactics of history, particularly in the areas of alternate history and conspiracy theories. He is actively involved in academic networks focused on witchcraft research, early modern political institutions, and the cultural history of borders and regions. His work often emerges from collaborative international projects and interdisciplinary conferences, particularly those hosted by the German Historical Institute and specialized research groups in Germany.

Katharine B. DuboisView profile

Lecturer

• Medieval Christianity
• Pilgrimage and Penance
• Saints and Sanctity
• +3 more

Katharine B. Dubois is a Lecturing Fellow in the Department of History at Duke University, teaching part-time since 2007 after transitioning from a full-time academic career. She is also a bestselling historical romance novelist under the pen name Katharine Ashe. Education: Ph.D., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2001) B.A., Duke University (1989) Research Interests: Her scholarly work focuses on religious belief and practice in medieval Latin Christendom , particularly penance, pilgrimage, saints' cults, relics, and gender roles . Her dissertation, Strangers and Sojourners: Pilgrimage and Pilgrims in Late-Medieval Rome , examines the early history of the Roman Jubilee. She is also deeply interested in medieval charity, charitable institutions, and spiritual community . Current Projects: She continues research on pilgrimage to Rome, penitential devotion, charity, and religious justifications for violence . Scientific Awards & Honors: Fulbright Fellowship American Academy in Rome Fellowship Mellon Scholarship Teaching & Outreach: At Duke, she teaches courses on medieval religion, gender, and sexuality in popular culture , as well as the history of romance fiction. She co-founded the UNSUITABLE Speakers Series , fostering dialogue on women, history, and popular fiction.

Benjamin AndersonView profile

Associate Professor

• Byzantine Art
• Medieval History
• Classics
• +7 more

Benjamin Anderson is an Associate Professor at Cornell University, holding appointments in the Department of History of Art and Visual Studies and the Department of Classics. His research focuses on Byzantine art, Mediterranean cultures from antiquity to the present, and the reception of ancient imagery in medieval states. Education: Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College Research Interests: He specializes in Byzantine art history, urban archaeology, and the epistemology of antiquarian practices. His work bridges Byzantine studies, Ottoman Empire interactions, and critical historiography. Scientific Awards: Charles Rufus Morey Book Award (College Art Association) Karen Gould Prize in Art History (Medieval Academy of America) Grants & Leadership: Supported by fellowships from CASVA, DAAD, IAS Princeton, and KHI Florence. He served as Director of Graduate Studies at Cornell and currently chairs the Gennadius Library Program Committee at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.

Simon LarssonView profile

Researcher

• Social Anthropology
• Anthropology of Religion
• Colonial History
• +8 more

Simon Larsson is a Researcher in Social Anthropology at the Center for Multidisciplinary Research on Religion and Society (CRS), Department of Theology, Uppsala University. His work bridges colonial history, Christianity, and the social implications of emerging technologies including AI, nanotechnology, and cybersecurity, with a strong focus on governance frameworks in natural resource management. His research interests reveal a distinctive interdisciplinary trajectory examining how technological systems intersect with religious practices and colonial legacies. Key themes include the anthropology of Christianity in legal-historical contexts (evident in Congo mission studies), digital technology's societal impacts (particularly machine learning's parallels with traditional oracles), and collaborative governance models in environmental conflicts across Sweden and sub-Saharan Africa. Fieldwork spans diverse geographical settings from New Mexico's geological landscapes to Côte d'Ivoire's ritual practices, emphasizing local knowledge systems. Recent publications demonstrate a pronounced shift toward analyzing technology's ethical dimensions through anthropological frameworks, while maintaining continuity in environmental governance research. His 2024-2025 works particularly highlight comparative studies of contingency reduction mechanisms across magical, religious, and algorithmic systems, alongside practical applications in maritime logistics and wildlife management. Larsson's research is primarily funded by the Swedish Research Council, Formas, Mistra, and the Swedish Transport Administration, with additional support from multiple foundations. His collaborative projects frequently involve cross-institutional teams addressing real-world governance challenges in conservation, transportation, and human-technology interaction. As a core member of the Center for Multidisciplinary Research on Religion and Society (CRS), he contributes to an integrated research environment that connects theological studies with anthropological fieldwork and policy-oriented governance analysis, facilitating dialogue between religious traditions and contemporary technological societies.

Caroline HumphreyView profile

Professor

• Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies
• Religious Anthropology
• Environmental Anthropology
• +7 more

Professor Dame Caroline Humphrey FBA is a prominent social anthropologist affiliated with the University of Cambridge's Department of Social Anthropology and King's College. She retired as the Sigrid Rausing Professor of Collaborative Anthropology in 2010 but continues as Director of the Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit (MIASU), co-founded with Urgunge Onon in 1986. Her research spans Soviet/post-Soviet societies, shamanism (Buryat and Daur), Jain rituals, Mongolian pastoral economies, Buddhist practices in Inner Mongolia, and urban transformations in post-socialist regions. Education: PhD from the University of Cambridge (1973), focusing on 'Magical Drawings in the Religions of the Buryats' under Edmund Leach. Research Interests: Her work addresses inequality, political memory, naming practices, and ethical frameworks. Recent projects include studies on Russia-China-Mongolia border dynamics and environmental challenges in trans-border regions like the Selenge River basin. She leads collaborative initiatives such as the 'Where Rising Powers Meet' project. Awards: Her honors include Fellowship of the British Academy and damehood, recognizing her contributions to anthropology and cross-cultural studies. Labs/Teams: Directs MIASU, a hub for interdisciplinary research on Inner Asia, hosting projects on climate histories, Mongolian heritage, and transnational resource management.

Jakob FruchtmannView profile

Lecturer

• Sociology
• Political Economy
• Economic Anthropology
• +4 more

Jakob Fruchtmann is a University Lecturer in Sociology at the School of Business, Social & Decision Sciences, Constructor University Bremen gGmbH. His research focuses on sociocultural and political aspects of money, Russian political economy, and societal attitudes in transition economies. He holds a PhD in Political Science (2003, University of Bremen) with a dissertation on Russian federalism under Putin. Key research interests include monetary beliefs, neoliberal economic discourse, and cultural practices in post-Soviet contexts. He has edited volumes on Russian monetary anthropology and authored numerous articles analyzing political discourse, tax policy, and social identity in Russia. His recent work addresses Olympic nationalism and digital activism. Selected publications include co-edited books on Russian money culture (2013) and contributions to journals like International Review for the Sociology of Sport and Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung . His research often bridges sociology, anthropology, and political economy to explore how cultural narratives shape economic and political realities.

Parvis Ghassem-FachandiView profile

Associate Professor

• Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Violence Studies
• Ritual Analysis
• +5 more

Parvis Ghassem-Fachandi is an Associate Professor of Sociocultural Anthropology in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University. His research focuses on dynamics of encounter, transference, and reflexivity through long-term ethnographic fieldwork in India, Gibraltar, the U.S., and Germany. He holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University (2006) and has held fellowships at institutions including ZIF Bielefeld, IIAS Shimla, and NYU's Center for Religion and Media. Education: Ph.D. in Anthropology, Cornell University, 2006 M.A. in Anthropology, Cornell University, 2000 Magister Artium (M.A.), Freie Universität Berlin, 1998 B.A. Equivalent (Zwischenprüfung), Freie Universität Berlin, 1994 Research Interests: Social/Cultural Anthropology with focus on violence, ritual, and memory Nationalism and religious identification Psychoanalytic and social theory applications Publications Highlight Key Themes: Analysis of Gujarat riots and Hindu nationalism Xenophobia and migrant integration in Europe Ritual practices and political symbolism Awards & Grants: 2023 Board of Trustees Fellowship (Rutgers) DAAD Research Scholarship (2021) ZiF Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship (2020) SSRC Prayer Studies Initiative (2012-2014) Teaching includes courses on cultural anthropology, South Asian politics, and religious labor studies. Current research examines religious labor dynamics in Juhapura, Ahmedabad, exploring intersections between Islamic practice and evolving socioeconomic systems.

Alexandra SanmarkView profile

Professor

• Medieval Archaeology
• Viking Studies
• Archaeology of Ritual and Magic
• +6 more

Professor Alexandra Sanmark is a leading scholar in Medieval Archaeology and Viking Studies, holding dual roles as Professor of Medieval Archaeology at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and Associate Professor of Archaeology at Uppsala University. Her work focuses on Iron Age and Viking Age Scandinavia, with a particular emphasis on assembly sites, Christianization processes, and Norse colonization. She leads the Institute for Northern Studies at UHI, overseeing programs such as the MLitt in Northern Studies and the MRes in Northern Studies. Sanmark's education includes a PhD from University College London (UCL) and undergraduate/postgraduate training at the University of London. Her research has been supported by grants from the British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, and Royal Society of Edinburgh. Notable projects include The Assembly Project (TAP) (2010-2013), examining assembly sites across Northern Europe, and The Norse and the Sea (2022), investigating maritime landscapes in Norse Scotland. Her research interests span archaeology of ritual , cultural heritage management , and North Atlantic connectivity . Key contributions include Viking Law and Order (2017) and Negotiating the North (2020), which analyze assembly practices and medieval administrative frameworks. She has supervised numerous PhD students and serves on editorial boards for journals like Journal of the North Atlantic and Medieval Archaeology . Grants: BA/Leverhulme Grant (2018-2019), Royal Society of Edinburgh Workshop Grant (2020) Labs/Teams: Institute for Northern Studies, The Norse and the Sea Project, Global Challenges Research Fund (Vanuatu Tourism)

• Contemporary Art
• Art Biography
• Trauma Studies
• +5 more

Beata Batorowicz is an Associate Professor and Associate Head (Research and Research Training) in the School of Creative Arts at the University of Southern Queensland. She specializes in Sculpture (Visual Arts) and holds a Doctor of Visual Arts from Griffith University. Her research focuses on contemporary art narratives, trauma representation, WWII art histories, and the intersection of mythological storytelling with cultural identity. She leads the Centre for Heritage and Culture and serves on the Executive Board of the Australia Council for Deans and Directors of Creative Arts. Education: Bachelor of Visual Arts (USQ) Doctor of Visual Arts (Griffith University) Her artistic practice explores European fairytales, WWII heritage, and gender dichotomies through textiles and installations. Notable projects include Dark Rituals (2018-2019), funded by the Australia Council for the Arts, and Antipods: Magical Creatures (2015). Her pedagogical work emphasizes creative research methodologies and online learning transitions during the pandemic. Key Contributions: Recipient of two UniSQ Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2016, 2018) Executive roles in national creative arts boards Over 50 research outputs with focus on heritage, trauma, and art education Her recent publications address pandemic pedagogy, Indigenous heritage, and the role of art in societal healing. She actively bridges academic research with community engagement through exhibitions and conservation projects like the Swanbank Power Station CMP (2024).

Maggie VinterView profile

Associate Professor

• Early Modern English Literature
• Shakespeare Studies
• Renaissance Drama
• +5 more

Maggie Vinter serves as Associate Professor in the Department of English at Case Western Reserve University, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on pre-1800 literature with expertise in Shakespearean drama, global renaissance contexts, theatrical theory, and interdisciplinary explorations of science, magic, gender, and death representation. Based in Guilford Hall, she contributes significantly to the department's historical curriculum and academic community. Her educational background includes a PhD from Johns Hopkins University (2013), establishing her specialization in early modern English literary culture. Dr. Vinter's research centers on death rituals in Renaissance theater, as demonstrated by her monograph Last Acts: The Art of Dying on the Early Modern Stage (Fordham University Press, 2019), which reinterprets theatrical death as political action rather than passive suffering. Current book projects investigate involuntary bodily responses in Shakespearean aesthetics ( Bodily Betrayal and Automatic Aesthetics ) and historical models of literary replication ( Contagious Forms ), extending her inquiry into gender dynamics, global renaissance networks, and philosophical dimensions of performance. Analysis of her recent publications reveals methodological evolution from foundational death studies toward somatic theory and textual contagion. Articles in Shakespeare Quarterly and English Literary Renaissance examine auditory perception in Hamlet , Othello's corpse politics, and Shylock's laughter, demonstrating how Renaissance drama staged complex human experiences through performative frameworks across diverse cultural contexts. Though no specific awards are documented, her scholarly impact is evident through publications in premier journals including ELH and Renaissance Drama , along with contributions to edited collections on Shakespearean death arts (Palgrave, 2022) and enchantment theory (Routledge, 2016). Dr. Vinter mentors graduate students in the English department's MA and PhD programs through specialized seminars on early modern literature, supported by departmental assistantship funding. Her teaching prepares students for advanced research in literary history and theory while engaging with the Writers Resource Center and English Graduate Student Association initiatives. She participates in CWRU's academic ecosystem through the Writers House and departmental events, though no dedicated research laboratory or formal team structure is specified in available materials.

Kathinka FrøystadView profile

Professor

• Religious Studies
• Social Anthropology
• Modern South Asian Studies
• +10 more

Kathinka Frøystad is a Professor of Modern South Asian Studies at the University of Oslo, affiliated with the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (IKOS). She specializes in religious complexity, ethnographic fieldwork, and the interplay between religion, politics, and social change in India. Her research spans religious pluralism, Hindu nationalism, and boundary-crossing religious practices. Education: Dr. Polit. (PhD) in Social Anthropology, University of Oslo, 2000 PhD Research Fellow, International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO), 1995–2000 Her research interests include religious change, religious-political friction, and religious border-crossing in plural societies. Frøystad examines how individuals navigate religious identities amid political upheavals, particularly in the context of rising Hindu nationalism. She is interested in practices that foster social cohesion despite polarization, such as cross-religious appeals for divine intervention. Her ethnographic approach emphasizes mobility and immersive fieldwork across multi-religious landscapes. The recent articles highlight a consistent focus on religious offence, digital religion, and the paradoxes of Hindu nationalism. Themes include "love jihad" conspiracies, digital images of Shiva in the Kaaba, temple inclusivity in Kanpur, and the politics of cow veneration. Her work reveals how personal religious pragmatism often contradicts ideological nationalism, suggesting a form of "involuntary cosmopolitanism." Scientific Awards: None listed in the provided text. Frøystad has extensive teaching experience in Hinduism (REL2220), South Asian studies, and anthropology at both the University of Oslo and the University of Bergen. She currently serves as PhD leader in her department and previously held an adjunct professorship at the University of Bergen (2017–2019). She has also contributed to academic service as co-editor of the Norwegian Anthropological Journal (2022–2024). Her ethnographic films, A Kali Temple Inside Out (2018) and An Indian Love Story (2023), visually complement her scholarly output. Research Groups and Projects: Centre for South Asian Democracy (CSAD) Indian Cosmopolitan Alternatives Religious Festivals in Asia: Power, Aspirations and Play

• Religious Studies
• Cognitive Science
• Economic Theory of Religion
• +6 more

Prof. Dr. Anne Koch is a full professor of Religious Studies at the University of Freiburg’s Faculty of Theology since March 2022. Her research focuses on religion-secular configurations, cognitive science of religion, and religious economics. She holds a habilitation (2007) and PhD (2001) in Philosophy from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Koch has held visiting professorships at Rikkyo University (Tokyo), Sophia University, and the Catholic University of Linz. Education: Habilitation in Religious Studies, LMU Munich (2007) PhD in Philosophy, LMU Munich (2001) Studies in Philosophy and Catholic Theology in Munich, Paris, and Jerusalem Research Interests: Her work integrates cognitive science, economics, and cultural studies to analyze embodied cognition, ritual efficacy, and spiritual healing. Key themes include religious aesthetics, economic models of religion, and governance of pluralism in contemporary societies. She has conducted fieldwork on global yoga and Ayurveda practices. Labs/Teams: Leading the DFG-funded project on material objects in religious education and co-chairing the Religious Aesthetics Working Group at the German Association for Religious Studies. She co-edits the journal Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft and the series Rerum Religionum . Advising & Grants: Supervises PhDs on topics ranging from secular rituals to nonreligious identities. Has secured funding from DFG, FWO, and OeAD for interdisciplinary projects on embodiment, pluralism, and religious markets.

Marjorie BeckerView profile

Professor

• Latin American History
• Mexican Revolution and Counter-Revolution
• Gender Studies
• +7 more

Marjorie Becker is a Professor of History and English at the University of Southern California's Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. She specializes in Latin American history, particularly the gendered politics of the Mexican Revolution, resistance movements, and intersections of history with cultural and literary analysis. Her work explores themes of gender, ethnicity, class, and the poetics of Octavio Paz, while employing innovative archival and oral historical methods. Education Ph.D., Yale University (1988) M.Phil., Yale University (1983) M.A., Yale University (1982) M.A., Duke University (1980) Becker’s research focuses on Latin American history, with particular emphasis on Mexican women’s resistance movements, the cultural legacy of the Mexican Revolution, and the application of magical realism in historical analysis. Her interdisciplinary approach combines archival research, narrative innovation, and poetic reflection to uncover marginalized voices in history, especially those of illiterate and indigenous women. Her recent publications analyze how historical trauma, gendered violence, and cultural memory intersect in Mexican history. Using feminist and decolonial methodologies, her work challenges traditional historiography by centering embodied experiences and marginalized narratives, including studies of sexual assault survivors and agrarian struggles. Becker’s awards include the USC Mellon Mentoring Award for Undergraduate Students (2011-2012), Fulbright and ACLS Fellowships, and multiple book award nominations. She has collaborated with institutions like Caltech, the University of California San Diego, and the Colegio de Michoacán, and her teaching encompasses graduate training programs and courses on magical realism. Scientific Awards USC Mellon Mentoring Award for Undergraduate Students (2011-2012) Fulbright Award (1989-1990) American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship (1988-1989) National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship (1989 Summer) California Book Awards nomination (2010) Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Recognition Award nomination (2010) Becker has mentored students through the USC Mellon program and secured grants like the Arts and Letters Research Grant for her course on magical realism. Her collaborative projects include “Drawn to Language” with USC Professor David St. John, and she has served as a guest professor at Caltech’s Post-Structural History course.

Xymena KurowskaView profile

Professor

• International Relations
• International Political Sociology
• Security Theory
• +6 more

Xymena Kurowska is a Professor of International Relations at Central European University, with formal affiliations in both Vienna and Budapest. She received her PhD in Political and Social Sciences from the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and an MA in International Relations from Warsaw University. PhD, Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute MA, International Relations, Warsaw University As a leading scholar in International Political Sociology, Kurowska specializes in interpretive policy analysis, security practices, and the intersection of sociological, psychosocial, and anthropological approaches with relational and interpretive methodologies. Her work critically examines the ethics of academic practice, cyber diplomacy, and the paradoxes of liberal global governance in a fragmented world order. Her recent research agenda spans narrative IR , posthumanism , ritual theory , and cyber norm contestation . Articles like "Rituals of world politics" and "Trickstery: Pluralising stigma" demonstrate her focus on affective, embodied, and pre-discursive dimensions of international relations. Scientific awards include: 2023 CEU Teaching Excellence Award Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellowship at Aberystwyth University's Department of International Politics She has served as: CEU Principal Investigator for the Global Norm Evolution and Responsibility to Protect Project Chair of the International Political Sociology Section at ISA Co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of International Relations and Development Academic Rapporteur for the EU Cyber Direct Project Kurowska's teaching emphasizes security theory, interpretive methods, and the ethics of knowledge production, with a pedagogical style that confronts the tension between neoliberal academic structures and critical scholarship. She actively engages with early-career scholars through mentorship and editorial work.