Prof. Dr. Asghar Seyed-Gohrab is a leading scholar in Persian and Iranian Studies at Utrecht University’s Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. His academic career spans over two decades, including roles as Chairman of Persian Studies at Leiden University and Principal Investigator of the ERC-funded 'Beyond Sharia' project examining Sufism’s role in Islamic intellectual history. He holds a PhD from Leiden University and has authored over 50 monographs and edited volumes on Persian poetry, Sufism, and Iranian cultural history. Education: B.A. in English (Vrije Universiteit), M.A. in Persian Studies (Leiden University), PhD (Leiden University) Research Focus: Medieval Persian poetry’s modern political and cultural relevance, Sufi movements, and the interplay between mysticism and state power in Iran. Grants: ERC Advanced Grant (2021), NWO VIDI/VENI (2009-2014), KNAW Fellow (2023). His research highlights how classical Persian poetry shapes modern Iranian identity, including its use in the 1979 Revolution and Iran-Iraq War. He has supervised 43+ students and edited journals like Iranian Studies and Persica .
Professor Owen Davies is a faculty member at the University of Hertfordshire , affiliated with the History Department at the School of Creative Arts . His research spans witchcraft , magic , supernatural beliefs , and folklore , with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches integrating archaeology, anthropology, and biomedical studies. Key research areas : Witchcraft, Domestic Magic, Medical History, Electrification, Public History. Recent projects : AHRC-funded 'StoryMachine', Leverhulme 'Inner Lives', Wellcome Trust 'Harnessing the Power of the Criminal Corpse', and a new AHRC 3-year study on witch bottles. Selected publications : America Bewitched (2013), The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic (2017), Troubled by Faith (2023). Awards : Funded by AHRC, Wellcome Trust, and Leverhulme Trust. Collaborates with institutions like Museum of London Archaeology and University of Essex. Leads community engagement via the Heritage Hub and 'Electric Generations' exhibition.
Kimberly Stratton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religion at Carleton University within the College of the Humanities. She holds a Ph.D. in the History of Religions in Late Antiquity from Columbia University (2002), following degrees from Barnard College and Harvard University. Her research focuses on religion, violence, and social identity in antiquity, ancient magic, and gender studies. She has authored Naming the Witch: Magic, Ideology, and Stereotype in the Ancient World (2007), which won the F. W. Beare Book Award, and co-edited volumes such as Daughters of Hecate: Women and Magic in Antiquity (2014). Her work examines intersections between religion, power, and identity in Greco-Roman, early Christian, and Rabbinic Jewish contexts. Recent projects include exploring violence and Exodus narratives in early religious identity formation, as seen in her 2017 article in History of Religions . She has presented widely on topics like Roman imperialism and apocalyptic literature at venues such as the Society of Biblical Literature. Her research highlights how ancient societies used religious discourse to construct social boundaries and authority. Awards include recognition from students and scholarly societies for her impactful contributions. Education: B.A. Barnard College (1991), M.T.S. Harvard (1995), Ph.D. Columbia (2002) Affiliations: Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, American Academy of Religion Office: 2A47 Paterson Hall | Email: kim.stratton@carleton.ca
Dr. Jennifer Evans is a Senior Lecturer in History within the School of Creative Arts at the University of Hertfordshire. Her academic career spans over a decade since completing her PhD at the University of Exeter in 2011, followed by two years of teaching there before joining Hertfordshire. She serves as the founding editor of the Early Modern Medicine blog and co-directs the Perceptions of Pregnancy research network with colleagues Leanne Calvert, Sarah Fox, and Chelsea Phillips. Her research focuses on the history of the body, medicine, and gender during 1550-1750, with particular emphasis on reproductive health, infertility, and miscarriage. Her scholarly work demonstrates deep engagement with both male and female experiences of health and sexuality in early modern England. Current projects include 'Wounded Wombs and Empty Cradles: Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss in Early Modern England c.1600-1780' (Folger Shakespeare Library, 2025-2026) and 'Foraging for Early Modern Medicines 1600-1750' (AHRC-funded). Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent thematic concentration on bodily experiences, particularly reproductive health across genders. Her work bridges medical history with gender studies, examining how bodily functions and dysfunctions intersected with social structures. The scholarship shows increasing attention to male experiences of reproductive health alongside traditional focus on women's histories, reflecting broader historiographical shifts toward more inclusive medical history. Dr. Evans actively supervises postgraduate students including Kiran Seera (PhD: 'Domestic Disorder: Crime, Kinship, and Space in Bedfordshire, c. 1650-1790') and has completed supervision of three PhD and two MA students. Her research has received substantial external funding including AHRC Early Stage Impact Accelerator Award funding for her foraging project that explores historical medicinal plant knowledge. She directs the Perceptions of Pregnancy researchers' network which has published two major collections and hosted multiple conferences. The network brings together scholars examining all aspects of fertility, pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood from the seventeenth to twentieth century. Her public engagement includes numerous media appearances including BBC Radio 4's 'The Food Programme' (February 2024), BBC World Service's 'The Food Chain', and multiple television appearances.
Michael E. Heyes is Associate Professor of Religion and Chair of the Department at Lycoming College, where he teaches courses on religion, literature, and the history of Christianity. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Rice University (2015) and an M.A. in Comparative Religion from the University of Washington (2008). Previously, he held a visiting instructorship at the University of South Florida – Tampa. Education: Ph.D., Religious Studies, Rice University, 2015 M.A., Comparative Religion, University of Washington, 2008 Heyes' research interests span both medieval and modern religious phenomena. His work explores religion and literature , monstrosity and demonology , saints’ lives , gender and race in religious narratives , and American civil religion . He has published extensively on how religious identities are constructed through narratives of the monstrous, from medieval hagiography to contemporary film and conspiracy theories like QAnon. His teaching includes introductory religion, theory-driven courses, religion in fiction and film, and western esotericism. His scholarly output includes two monographs— Demons in the USA (2024) and Margaret's Monsters (2020)—and an edited volume, Holy Monsters, Sacred Grotesques (2018). His articles analyze themes such as demonic corporeality, the racialization of monsters in film, and the gendered dynamics of sainthood. The publications reveal a strong interdisciplinary trend, blending religious studies with literary analysis, cultural criticism, and film theory, particularly focusing on how media shapes spiritual imagination. Scientific Awards: No awards listed in the provided text. Heyes is actively involved in academic service, including co-editing The Journal of Gods and Monsters and organizing special issues on displacement and monstrosity. He has also issued calls for book chapters, such as on Lovecraftian horror in Japan, indicating ongoing research leadership. There is no mention of advising students or receiving grants in the provided material. He maintains a scholarly presence on Academia.edu and has presented at various academic forums. Labs and Research Teams: Co-editor, The Journal of Gods and Monsters Organizer of academic panels and symposia on religion and monstrosity
Prof. Ludwig D. Morenz is a Professor of Egyptology at the University of Bonn and Director of the Egyptian Museum Bonn. He holds positions as a Principal Investigator in archaeological research and leads excavations in Egypt. His academic journey includes a Habilitation from the University of Tübingen (2001), a PhD from Leipzig (1994), and extensive postdoctoral fellowships across Europe. His research focuses on Pharaonic socio-economic systems, particularly dependency relationships between state expeditions and Canaanite populations. He examines ancient Egyptian economy, religion, and cultural interactions through material and textual evidence. Key areas include the origins of alphabetic writing, solar deity symbolism, and Roman-Egyptian cultural hybridity. Morenz has secured over €1 million in third-party funding from institutions like the German Research Foundation (DFG) and Gerda Henkel Foundation. He supervises numerous doctoral and master's students, reviewing over 30 theses and international PhDs. His editorial roles include founding journals like Studia Sinaitica and Bonner Ägyptologische Beiträge . Major excavations under his leadership include the Elite Necropolis of Qubbet el Hawa and the Serabit el-Chadim Hathor temple project. He participates in consortia such as the DFG Research Training Group 'Archeology of Pre-Modern Economies' and the International Congress of Egyptologists. Awards: Heisenberg Fellowship (DFG), Feodor Lynen Fellowship (Humboldt Foundation), Herzog-Ernst Scholarship Exhibitions: Curated annual special exhibitions at the Egyptian Museum Bonn, including a landmark show on alphabetic writing origins at Cairo's National Museum Publications: 13 monographs, 4 edited volumes, and over 100 articles
Sarah Parkhouse is a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Religions & Theology at the University of Manchester's School of Arts, Languages and Cultures. Her research centers on the ancient Mediterranean, specifically examining Christianity's emergence within Greco-Roman-Egyptian contexts through historical, archaeological, and textual analysis. Her educational background includes: PhD from University of Durham (2017), funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council Prior research fellowship at Australian Catholic University (2017-2020) Short-term fellowship at Warburg Institute, London Dr. Parkhouse's research spans ancient religion , early Christianity , and lived religion with specialized focus on gospel literature (canonical/non-canonical), papyrology , martyrdom narratives , and gender studies . She investigates how religious practices were embedded in place and landscape , materialized through objects and rituals , and expressed via magic within comparative frameworks. Her methodology uniquely integrates textual criticism with spatial analysis of religious sites. Recent publications reveal concentrated exploration of apocryphal texts (Gospel of Mary, Pistis Sophia) and spatial religion, particularly amphitheatre contexts. Parkhouse demonstrates how martyrdom narratives like Perpetua's intersect with colonial archaeology and power structures, while her work on Coptic manuscripts reveals ritual practices embedded in Egyptian landscapes. This interdisciplinary approach bridges historical analysis with material culture studies across 15+ publications. Her scholarly recognition includes: Manfred Lautenschläger Award (2024) for Eschatology and the Saviour A. R. Pete Diamond Award for Integrative Scholarship (2023) As principal investigator, Parkhouse directs the British Academy-funded project Coptic Apocrypha, Lived Religion and the Egyptian Landscape (2021-2025) and secured a British Academy/Leverhulme grant for Lived Religion in Late Antique Egypt (2024-2025). She co-edits the Coptic Gospels and Associated Texts book series (Cambridge University Press) and serves on editorial boards for Elements Early Christian Literature and multiple journals, demonstrating significant scholarly leadership beyond direct advising. Though not affiliated with formal laboratories, Parkhouse coordinates international research teams through her British Academy projects, focusing on interdisciplinary analysis of Coptic manuscripts and religious spatial practices in Egypt. Her editorial roles further extend her collaborative networks across global academic communities.
Greg Urban is the Arthur Hobson Quinn Professor of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania , with a career spanning over four decades. His work bridges Linguistic Anthropology , Cultural Motion , and Business Anthropology , focusing on how culture circulates through societies, corporations, and global contexts. He has held leadership roles as Chairman of Anthropology at UPenn (2001-2007, 2014-2018) and directed research initiatives like the Culture and Nuclear War Project . Education : Ph.D. in Anthropology (1978), MA (1973), BA (1971) from the University of Chicago. Key Books : Metaculture: How Culture Moves through the World (2001), The Culture Puzzle (2021), and Nation-States and Indians in Latin America (1991). Urban’s research interests include: Cultural Motion : The dynamics of cultural replication and transmission across societies Discourse Analysis : Rituals, power structures, and semiotic flows in communication Corporate Anthropology : Ethnographic studies of business organizations and citizenship Amerindian Cultures : Sociolinguistics and cultural practices in Brazil and South America His articles (1978-2025) reveal trends in: Corporate semiotics and affective cultural forms Constitutional discourse and citizenship Amazonian mythologies and ethnographic theory Metaculture as a framework for globalization Ritual practices and linguistic relativity Comparative studies of nation-state-indigenous interactions Scientific Awards : Lindback & Ira H. Abrams Awards for Teaching Guggenheim Fellowship Center for Advanced Study Fellowship American Ethnological Society Book Prize Multiple University Research Awards Urban’s advising and grants focus on: Interdisciplinary projects blending anthropology with business and political science Long-term ethnographic fieldwork in Brazil STS (Science and Technology Studies) collaborations Studies of corporate citizenship and constitutional processes
Patton Burchett is a Professor of Religious Studies at the College of William and Mary. His research focuses on early modern North Indian devotional (bhakti) and tantric/yogic religiosity, the interrelations of magic, science, and religion in Indian modernity, and Hindu-Christian nationalisms. He is the author of A Genealogy of Devotion: Bhakti, Tantra, Yoga, and Sufism in North India (2019), which examines the historical interactions between these religious traditions. Burchett’s current projects include a study of the Indian yogi-fakir figure in colonial discourse and a collaborative research initiative exploring contemplative practices through interdisciplinary lenses. He also participates in the Nepal Water Initiative, investigating indigenous environmental knowledge and religious dimensions of water conservation. His teaching covers topics such as Hinduism, religion and politics, yoga, and tantric studies. Research Areas: Bhakti Traditions, Tantra, Sufism, Colonial Discourse, Religion & Ecology Grants: 2023 Collaborative grant on contemplative practices; Nepal water conservation grant His work bridges historical analysis, ethnography, and interdisciplinary collaboration, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between religious thought and socio-political contexts.
AnneMarie Luijendijk is the William H. Danforth Professor of Religion at Princeton University and Head of New College West , one of Princeton’s residential colleges, where she has served on the faculty since 2006. A leading papyrologist and historian of early Christianity, she specializes in the social history of Christianity in late-antique Egypt using both literary and documentary papyri. Education Ph.D., Harvard Divinity School, 2005 (New Testament and Early Christianity) Specialization in New Testament Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (prior to Harvard) Research Interests Luijendijk’s scholarship bridges papyrology, early Christian studies, and social history. She investigates the everyday lives of early Christians through the papyrus letters and documents that survive from Roman and late-antique Egypt. Her current projects include: From Gospels to Garbage – a forthcoming monograph on the readers, owners, and eventual discard of the earliest Christian manuscripts; Papyrus acquisitions in the 1920s; Fashion, Footwear, and Faith in Late Antiquity – an exploration of dress, status, and religious identity. Her earlier work has illuminated Christian lot divination, the Gospel traditions in Oxyrhynchus, and the role of women and clergy in Egyptian communities. Selected Publications & Editorial Projects Greetings in the Lord: Early Christians and the Oxyrhynchus Papyri (Harvard University Press, 2008) Forbidden Oracles? The Gospel of the Lots of Mary (Mohr Siebeck, 2014) My Lots Are in Thy Hands: Sortilege and its Practitioners in Late Antiquity (co-edited with William E. Klingshirn, Brill, 2018) Re-Making the World: Christianity and Categories (co-edited, Mohr Siebeck, 2019) From Roman to Early Christian Cyprus: Studies in Religion and Archaeology (co-edited, Mohr Siebeck, 2020) Leadership & Service From 2013 to 2020 she chaired Princeton’s Committee for the Study of Late Antiquity , fostering interdisciplinary research across the humanities. She regularly organizes and participates in international workshops, including Princeton–Humboldt Strategic Partnership events, and has secured collaborative grants to advance papyrological research. No individual Ph.D. or master’s advisees are explicitly listed in the provided sources. Laboratories & Collaborations While no dedicated laboratory is mentioned, Luijendijk works closely with the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW) at NYU, the Princeton Humanities Council , and international papyrology networks. Her research benefits from digital humanities resources such as the Papyrological Navigator and her Academia.edu profile, which has over 27,000 public views and ranks her among the top 2 % most followed scholars on the platform.
Bryan J. Cuevas is the John F. Priest Professor of Religion at Florida State University’s Department of Religion, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and has held visiting appointments at École Pratique des Hautes Études (Paris), UC Berkeley, Princeton, and Emory University. His research focuses on Tibetan history, Buddhist magic and sorcery, death narratives, and the politics of ritual power in premodern Tibetan societies. He has been supported by major grants from the Guggenheim Foundation, NEH, and AIIS. Research interests include Tibetan biographical literature, Buddhist ritual practices, and the intersection of religion and power. Cuevas is currently accepting graduate students for Tibetan and Buddhist Studies research. His publications include books such as The Hidden History of the Tibetan Book of the Dead and articles analyzing ritual texts, magical warfare, and historical periodization. Scientific awards include prestigious fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and NEH. His work bridges textual analysis with historical and anthropological approaches, emphasizing the role of ritual in Tibetan sociopolitical structures. Cuevas advises graduate students and has contributed to editorial projects like The Buddhist Dead: Practices, Discourses, Representations .
Barbara Lebrun is a Senior Lecturer in French Cultural Studies at the University of Manchester, School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, within the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. She has been a faculty member since 2002 and is actively engaged in research, teaching, and PhD supervision. Her work spans French popular music, cultural identity, gender, race, and audience reception. PhD, University of Southampton (2003) PGCE, Homerton College, Cambridge (1998) MA in French as a Foreign Language, Université d'Aix-en-Provence (1998) MA in English Studies, Université de Rouen (1997) Barbara Lebrun's research focuses on French popular music since the 1950s, with particular attention to cultural identity, race, gender, and the dynamics of mainstream versus alternative music cultures. Her work explores the representation of whiteness, exoticism, and cosmopolitanism, and she is currently developing a project on racial diversity in French variétés from the 1960s to 1980s. She has authored two influential monographs: Protest Music in France (2009) and Dalida. Mythe et Mémoire (2020), and has co-edited several scholarly collections on music, performance, and cultural memory. Her recent publications (2022–2024) reveal a strong thematic focus on the feminization of French popular music, the representation of blackness, and the intersection of race, power, and commercial success. Articles such as 'Métis in the Mainstream' and 'Corps noir, succes blanc' demonstrate her critical engagement with racial dynamics in French pop, while her work on Christine and the Queens and Dalida highlights her interest in gender, identity, and global Frenchness. Barbara Lebrun has received significant recognition for her scholarship and mentorship: Excellence Award as Doctoral Supervisor, UK Council of Graduate Education (UKCGE), 2025 IASPM Prize for Best Anglophone Monograph (2011) for Protest Music in France She is an active supervisor of PhD students, with current projects on Vietnamese and Francophone cinema, Grace Jones, and opera translation. She has successfully co-supervised numerous PhDs on topics ranging from Jewish-Muslim relations to Morrissey’s lyrics and identity in contemporary theatre. She also serves on independent panels and acted as External Examiner for French Studies at the University of Sheffield (2016–2020). Her research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to reduced inequalities and quality education. Lebrun is affiliated with several research networks and has contributed to public scholarship through media appearances, including a featured podcast on Dalida with afikra and expert commentary in French media (France Inter, Le Monde). She leads a vibrant research agenda that bridges academic rigor with public engagement.
Hugh Urban is a Professor of Comparative Studies at The Ohio State University, serving as Department Chair and a Distinguished Scholar in Religious Studies and South Asian Studies. He holds a Ph.D. in the History of Religions from the University of Chicago, with additional degrees from George Washington University and the Antioch University Buddhist Studies Program. His research focuses on secrecy in religion, South Asian traditions, new religious movements, and the intersection of religion with politics and modernity. Urban's expertise spans Tantra studies, contemporary religious movements (e.g., Scientology, Heaven's Gate), and the cultural politics of secrecy. He has authored over 20 books and numerous articles, including seminal works like The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion (2011) and Secrecy: Silence, Power, and Religion (2021). His work bridges academic rigor with accessible scholarship, examining topics like digital religion, tantric symbolism, and the global impact of new religious movements. Urban's contributions to the field include groundbreaking analyses of religious secrecy in both historical and contemporary contexts, from colonial Bengal to modern cyber spaces. He has held grants and fellowships supporting his research, and his teaching emphasizes critical engagement with religious diversity and esoteric traditions. Active in academic discourse, he frequently contributes to interdisciplinary dialogues on religion, politics, and globalization.
Dr. Paulina Grzęda is an Assistant Professor at SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities and Department of English Studies within the Institute of Humanities. She serves as the Student Organization Coordinator for the Department of English Studies and coordinator of the Business Communication specialization since 2024. PhD from University of Warsaw Research fellowships at University of Cambridge Research fellowships at SOAS, University of London Dr. Grzęda's research primarily focuses on trauma and its representations in film and literature, with particular emphasis on post-apartheid South African contexts. Her work explores alternative perceptions of time in postcolonial cultures and contemporary mental health crises, including the opioid crisis in the United States. She investigates the connections between literature and psychotherapy, examining how narrative forms can serve as therapeutic tools for processing collective trauma. Her cultural studies approach integrates multilingual perspectives from her expertise in English, Spanish, and French literature. Her publication record demonstrates consistent engagement with trauma theory, postcolonial literature, and temporal conceptualizations. The articles reveal a progression from focused analyses of South African literary responses to apartheid towards broader examinations of mental health crises and temporal perceptions in postcolonial contexts. Her work consistently bridges literary analysis with psychological and cultural theory, creating interdisciplinary connections between trauma studies, cultural anthropology, and narrative theory. As an educator, Dr. Grzęda teaches courses on trauma in film and literature, cross-cultural psychology, communication, PR, and practical English. She also applies her academic expertise through certified coaching practice specializing in cross-cultural, relationship, and ADHD coaching. Her professional background includes significant experience in the cultural sector as Operations Director of three film festivals, demonstrating practical application of her academic interests.
Mira Balberg is Professor of History at the University of California, San Diego, specializing in ancient Mediterranean religious history with primary focus on late ancient Judaism (200 BCE–500 CE). Her scholarship investigates cultural interactions between Jewish communities and Greco-Roman/Christian environments, particularly examining how rabbinic literature reinterpreted biblical frameworks through cross-cultural dialogues. PhD in Religious Studies from Stanford University (2011) Chair of the Department of History at UCSD Her research applies ritual theory and subjectivity studies to analyze transformations in rabbinic legal and narrative texts, including topics like: Redefinition of purity laws through Hellenistic medical concepts Cultural reimaginings of sacrificial practices Gerontological representations in Talmudic narratives Memory failures in halakhic construction Interactions between magic and legal discourse Material religion in rabbinic thought While emphasizing rabbinic literature's cultural complexity, her work also explores modern Israeli cultural productions and the post-secular relevance of religious studies frameworks.
