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Prof. Dr. Sakibe Nalan BÜYÜKKANTARCIOĞLU is a Professor at Çankaya University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies (English). She previously served as Professor (2007–2019), Associate Professor (2000–2007), and Assistant Professor (1997–2000) at Hacettepe University, Department of English Linguistics. PhD in English Linguistics (Hacettepe University, 1991) MA in English Language Teaching (Middle East Technical University, 1985) BA in English Teaching (Istanbul University, 1978) Her research spans Linguistics, Cognitive Linguistics, Discourse Analysis, Psycholinguistics, Sociolinguistics, Translation Studies , with a focus on figurative language, interjections, political discourse, and endangered languages. She received the European Language Award (2011) and has supervised numerous PhD and MA theses, including work on Turkish idioms, gender representation, and language awareness. A prolific editor and conference participant, she has contributed to interdisciplinary projects and publications on Turkish sociolinguistics.

• Linguistics
• Cognitive Linguistics
• Discourse Analysis
• +4 more

Emily Hannum is a Professor of Sociology and Education at the University of Pennsylvania's College of Arts & Sciences, where she also serves as Associate Dean for Social Sciences. She is affiliated with the Population Studies Center, Center for the Study of Contemporary China, Graduate School of Education, and Penn Development Research Initiative. Education: PhD in Sociology from University of Michigan (1998) Research Focus: Poverty and child welfare, gender and ethnic stratification, sociology of education Projects: Gansu Survey of Children and Families, climate-environment-childhood inequalities in LMICs Workshops: Co-organizer of Penn Education and Inequality Workshop Her research explores childhood poverty in China, demographic impacts on education systems, and climate risks affecting children's welfare. She investigates environmental hazards, educational disparities, and family separation effects across China, India, and low/middle-income countries. Recent publications analyze educational expansion in East Asia, climate crisis impacts on child health, and gender disparities in Latin America. She directs longitudinal studies on rural poverty and collaborates on cross-national projects related to environmental and educational equity. Scientific awards include the Stanley I. Sheerr Term Professorship in Social Sciences.

• Poverty and Child Welfare
• Gender and Ethnic Stratification
• Sociology of Education
• +4 more

Albrecht Fuess is a Professor of Islamic Studies at Philipps University of Marburg since 2010, specializing in Middle Eastern History (13th–17th centuries), Mamluk socio-cultural dynamics, and contemporary European Islamic discourses. His research spans historical continuity in Ottoman-Mamluk-Safavid interactions, Islamic youth cultures, and Mediterranean geopolitics. Research Focus: Medieval Islamic history, Transottomanica mobility studies, Islam in Europe, and cultural integration of Muslim migrants. Awards: Le Studium Fellowship (2007–2009) at Université de Tours. His publications emphasize military-economy interplay, legitimacy through religious narratives, and resource management in empires, with a focus on Mamluk and Ottoman transformations. He has advised on doctoral projects covering topics like Islamic welfare, Arabic ʾAmālī literature, and Cypriot-Ottoman relations. Leadership: Co-coordinator of Transottomanica (DFG-SPP 1981), member of ANR and DAAD committees, and liaison professor for the German National Academic Foundation. Editorial Roles: Co-editor of 'Transottomanica' and 'Muslim Worlds' series, and advisory board member for journals in Cairo, Paris, and Leuven.

• Middle Eastern History
• Mamluk Studies
• Islamic Studies in Europe
• +5 more

Maryam Alemzadeh is Associate Professor in History and Politics of Iran at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA), University of Oxford, and a Middle East Centre Fellow. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago (2018) and previously held postdoctoral positions at Brandeis University and Princeton University. Education Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Chicago (2018) Research Interests Dr. Alemzadeh specializes in revolutions, state-building, militias, and modern Iran, examining how individual actions shape political structures through micro-level analysis. Her work integrates sociological theory with Middle Eastern studies to explore the interplay of religion, military institutions, and everyday practice in revolutionary contexts, with a current focus on the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Publication Trends Her recent publications analyze Iran's regional dynamics following Soleimani's assassination and review scholarly works on Iranian history. These demonstrate consistent expertise in military institutions, gender dynamics, and post-revolutionary state consolidation, bridging sociology and Middle Eastern studies while emphasizing micro-foundations of political phenomena.

• Sociology
• Middle East Studies
• Revolutions
• +10 more

Hasan Kayalı is a Professor in the Department of History at the University of California, San Diego. He specializes in the history of the Middle East during the Islamic period, focusing on the late Ottoman Empire, nationalism, and transitions from empire to nation-states. His research bridges political, social, and intellectual histories of the region. Education : B.A. in Government, Harvard University Ph.D. in History and Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University Research Interests : Dr. Kayalı examines Ottoman administration of Arab provinces, the impact of World War I on imperial structures, and the ideological contests between Ottomanism, Arabism, and Islamism. His work challenges traditional narratives of empire decline and emphasizes continuity in governance and identity formation. Key Publications : He authored Imperial Resilience (2021) and Arabs and Young Turks (1997), translated into multiple languages. He co-edited Empire to Nation (2006) and contributed to Archivum Ottomanicum . Labs/Teams : Engaged in collaborative projects on Ottoman archives and digital humanities initiatives to map historical networks in the Middle East.

• Middle Eastern History
• Ottoman Empire Studies
• Nationalism Studies
• +3 more

Elisabeth Jean Wood is a Professor of Political Science at Yale University and holds a concurrent professorship at the Santa Fe Institute. Her research focuses on political violence, particularly sexual violence during war, civil war dynamics, and social movements. She is renowned for her work on insurgent transitions in South Africa and El Salvador, as well as her analysis of variation in wartime sexual violence. Wood has authored influential books including Forging Democracy from Below (2000) and Insurgent Collective Action and Civil War in El Salvador (2003). Her recent work examines the Myanmar military's sexual violence against the Rohingya, emphasizing ideological motivations and institutional frameworks. Wood teaches courses on comparative politics, political violence, and qualitative research methods at Yale. She serves on editorial boards for Politics and Society , American Political Science Review , and the Contentious Politics series. Her research emphasizes ethical fieldwork practices and transparency in qualitative studies, addressing challenges in conflict zones. Her work bridges theoretical contributions with policy implications for understanding and preventing conflict-related atrocities.

• Political Science
• Conflict Studies
• Political Violence
• +4 more

Dr. Jeni Mitchell is a Lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, affiliated with the School of Security Studies under the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy. She specializes in future war studies, space security, and the evolution of rebellion, serving as co-director of the Future Threats Lab within the Centre for Science & Security Studies. Her work emphasizes human-centric approaches to analyzing existential threats and their societal impacts. Her education includes a PhD from King’s College London, where her doctoral research focused on civilian victimization by non-state armed groups. She has held positions at Chatham House, the Brookings Institution, and the Middle East Institute. Teaching responsibilities include MA modules on future warfare, spacepower, and insurgency, while she also directs the MA International Relations and War program. Mitchell’s research explores future threat perceptions (particularly in space), futures research methodologies, and the intersection of war, genocide, and utopian ideologies. Her methodological innovations, termed ‘future-crafting,’ employ creative formats like films and games to model conflict scenarios. Notable collaborations include work with the Freeman Air and Space Institute and King’s Wargaming Network. Recent publications address Ukraine’s apocalyptic imaginary, space-based threat analysis, and refugee-warrior dynamics. Her research group activities include the Environmental Security research group and contributions to widening participation initiatives like the 2024 Summer School in international security.

• Future War Studies
• Space Security
• Rebellion and Insurgency
• +5 more

Ram Cnaan is a Professor of Social Work and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with The Weitzman School of Design. He chairs the Doctoral Program in Social Welfare and directs the Program for Religion and Social Policy Research. His work focuses on faith-based social services, congregational welfare provision, and nonprofit management. Cnaan has authored influential books like The Invisible Caring Hand and serves on seven academic journal editorial boards. His research explores volunteerism dynamics, including pandemic impacts on donor retention, cross-national civic participation, and episodic volunteering at religious events. He investigates social entrepreneurship in public sectors and evaluates faith-based organizations' roles in reentry programs for ex-prisoners. Cnaan's recent studies address CSR innovations, donor-advised funds strategies, and prosocial behavior in diverse cultural contexts. Notable contributions include pioneering national studies on congregational social service provision and analyzing Israeli-Palestinian Muslim collaboration in aid work. His work bridges academic research with practical policy solutions for urban quality-of-life challenges.

• Social Work
• Faith-Based Social Services
• Nonprofit Studies
• +4 more

Raffaella A. Del Sarto is a Full-time Professor holding a Joint Chair in Mediterranean Studies between the Department of Political and Social Sciences and the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute (EUI). Previously, she served as Associate Professor of Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe and held an ERC-funded BORDERLANDS project at the EUI. She earned her PhD (summa cum laude) in International Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a MA in Political Science from Albert-Ludwigs University in Freiburg, Germany. Her research focuses on Middle East-North Africa (MENA) international relations, Europe-MENA relations, regional order dynamics, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Notable works include Borderlands: Europe and the Mediterranean Middle East (2021) and Israel under Siege (2017). She is fluent in English, German, French, Italian, Hebrew, and has intermediate knowledge of Arabic and Spanish. Her publications analyze regional alliances, EU foreign policy, and border governance, reflecting her expertise in qualitative methods and constructivist approaches. Awards include the Robert Schuman Distinguished Fellowship (2019-2020) and Italian habilitation as Full Professor (2019). She advises on topics linking Mediterranean IR with comparative frameworks, emphasizing conceptual innovation beyond 'exceptionalism' narratives. Her research projects include the MENARA initiative (2016-2021) on post-2011 Middle East transformations and the BORDERLANDS ERC project (2011-2017), exploring EU-MENA border dynamics.

• Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
• International Relations
• Conflict and Peace Studies
• +4 more

Linda Linton is an Advanced Practice Sports and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Medical Educator at Queen Margaret University, with a career spanning over 25 years. She serves as clinical lead at FASIC Sport & Exercise Medicine Clinic for back, neck, and pelvic/hip conditions and supervises PhD students in aquatic therapy research. Her work bridges clinical practice, education, and research in injury prevention and rehabilitation. BSc(HONS) Physiotherapy (University of Ulster, 1994) PG Cert Sports Physiotherapy (Manchester Metropolitan University, 1997) MMACP (Glasgow Caledonian University, 2000) MSc Manual Therapy (Glasgow Caledonian University, 2005) PG Cert Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography (University East London, 2018) Injection Therapy (Queen Margaret University, 2022) Linton’s research focuses on running-related injury prevention, aquatic therapy for low back pain, and physical activity promotion. Her work includes scoping reviews on injury risk reduction practices, meta-analyses of exercise-based prevention programs, and qualitative studies on community aquatic therapy. She pioneered Prehabilitation for Runners Workshops and investigates neuromuscular training, gait re-education, and aquatic muscle activity patterns. Her publications span journals like Journal of Sports Rehabilitation , Physiotherapy , and Physical Therapy in Sport , with recent 2024-2025 studies addressing aquatic therapy mechanics, running injury prevention frameworks, and swimmer injury risk factors. She collaborates with Edinburgh Sports Medicine Research Network and Bath Research Centre in the IOC Research Centre. Linton supervises PhD students in aquatic therapy projects and integrates load management, strength training, and running biomechanics into her clinical education. Her work emphasizes practitioner-patient collaboration and evidence-based strategies to reduce injury risks across athletic populations.

• Sports Physiotherapy
• Musculoskeletal Health
• Injury Prevention
• +3 more

Dr. Ahmet Acar is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey. He leads the Cancer Precision Medicine and Drug Resistance Laboratory, focusing on understanding mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer. His research integrates experimental models, next-generation sequencing, and deep learning to address clinical challenges in cancer therapy. Dr. Acar holds a B.Sc. from METU's Biological Sciences department and a Ph.D. from the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute. He completed postdoctoral training at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, and the University of Manchester. Research Interests: Drug resistance mechanisms, precision oncology, tumor microenvironment modeling, patient-derived organoids, computational pathology, and evolutionary cancer biology. His lab develops 2D/3D co-culture systems, PDO biobanks, and AI-driven histopathology tools to improve treatment strategies. Recent Work Trends: Recent publications emphasize tumor evolution modeling, matrix mechanics in drug resistance, and AI applications in histopathology. Collaborations with hospitals in Turkey and Europe support PDO biobank initiatives. His team explores evolutionary steering strategies to exploit collateral drug sensitivities. Labs/Teams: Precision Medicine and Drug Resistance Lab at METU focuses on interdisciplinary approaches combining wet-lab experiments with computational methods. Current projects include ex vivo tumor modeling and AI-driven diagnostic tools for oncology.

• Cancer Biology
• Precision Medicine
• Drug Resistance Mechanisms
• +3 more

Baris Fidan is a Professor in Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, with cross appointments in System Design Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering. He is a senior member of IEEE and AIAA. His research focuses on cooperative/adaptive control, autonomous systems, multi-agent networks, and vehicular control applications. He leads the Cooperative & Adaptive Mechatronic Systems (CAMS) Lab, which develops control strategies for autonomous vehicles, robotic systems, and intelligent transportation. Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California (2003) Masters in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Bilkent University (1998) Bachelor's in Electrical & Electronic Engineering & Mathematics, Middle East Technical University (1996) Research Interests: His work spans adaptive control theory, sensor networks, multi-agent coordination, autonomous vehicle networks, and biomedical systems control. He emphasizes practical applications in intelligent transportation, robotic navigation, and distributed system optimization. Grants & Projects: He has led major grants including NSERC Discovery Programs on cooperative mechatronic systems and 3D autonomous vehicle coordination. Industrial projects include autonomous driving strategies, vehicle control optimization, and high-precision gear manufacturing technologies. Labs/Teams: Directs the CAMS Lab, which collaborates on projects involving distributed motion planning, sensor localization, and autonomous vehicle networks. Current projects address challenges in urban autonomous driving, cooperative robotic systems, and resilient sensor networks.

• Control Systems
• Autonomous Vehicles
• Robotics
• +5 more

Stephan Conermann serves as Professor of Islamic Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Bonn, where he has held continuous academic appointments since 2003. His institutional leadership includes directorship of the Annemarie Schimmel Kolleg (2010-2022), Bonn Center for Transcultural Narratology, and significant administrative roles culminating in his current deanship since 2023. Academic Background: Doctorate in Oriental Philology/Islamic Studies (Kiel University, 1996, magna cum laude) Magisterstudium in Asian History, Oriental and Slavic Philology (Kiel University, 1992) Conermann's research examines pre-modern Islamic societies through narrative strategies in historiography, with specialized focus on Mamluk Sultanate governance (1250-1517), Delhi Sultanate/Mughal transitions, and Transottomanica mobility dynamics. His work uniquely connects asymmetrical dependencies (particularly slavery systems), power structures, and global entanglements across South Asia, Middle East, and Eastern Europe. His extensive publication portfolio shows consistent thematic evolution toward comparative frameworks analyzing slavery beyond Eurocentric models, narrative construction of power across cultures, and mobility as historical catalyst. Recent scholarship increasingly integrates transcultural methodology with digital humanities approaches. Academic Leadership: Supervised 290+ theses (59 PhD, 96 Magister, 47 Master, 88 Bachelor) Acquired ~9 million euros in third-party funding (DFG, BMBF, DAAD) Editor of 15+ publication series including Mamluk Studies and Dependency and Slavery Studies Conermann directs the Bonn Center for Transcultural Narratology and co-leads the EXC 2036 'Beyond Slavery and Freedom' cluster, fostering interdisciplinary research on pre-modern dependency systems through international collaborations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

• Islamic Studies
• Middle Eastern History
• Mamluk Sultanate
• +9 more

Dr. Sarah Benson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Disability, Inclusion and Special Needs at the University of Birmingham, based at the Dubai Campus. She serves as Programme Lead for the Inclusion and Special Education Needs PGCert and Masters in both the UK and Dubai, and is affiliated with the School of Education. Educational Background: PhD in Special Education, University of Virginia, 2020 MA in International Education, The George Washington University, 2010 BA in English and Special Education, James Madison University, 2002 Her research focuses on inclusive education policy and practice, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. She explores teacher development, inclusive science curriculum for primary students, and autism support in Gulf countries. Her work is deeply informed by cross-cultural experiences, including Peace Corps service in Jordan and a Fulbright year in Norway. Dr. Benson's recent publications reveal a strong trend in inclusive teaching strategies, policy analysis in Jordan and the UAE, and the integration of science education with special needs pedagogy. Her research emphasizes practical implementation, teacher preparedness, and equity in educational access. Scientific Awards and Honors: Fulbright Scholar (2013) President, Curry School of Education and Human Development (University of Virginia) Dr. Benson is actively involved in research leadership, serving as Principal Investigator for the ESRC-GCRF Bhutan Inclusive Employment and Social Participation Project and Co-Investigator on the Disability Under Siege Network and a study on teachers' perceptions of autism in Ras Al-Khaimah. She currently supervises PhD candidates and contributes to international scholarly communities such as the Council for Exceptional Children and the Comparative International Education Society. She is also engaged in commissioned research, including a report on autism teaching preparedness in Ras Al-Khaimah, and teaches modules on cross-cultural special education, inclusion, and policy analysis.

• Inclusive Education
• Special Education Needs
• Disability Studies
• +7 more

Loli Kim is a Lecturer on Modern Korea at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford, with a Leverhulme Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2022–2025). She specializes in cross-cultural multimodal analysis of Asian communication systems, particularly Korean cinema, folklore, and representation in media. Education: DPhil in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (2019–2022), University of Oxford Research Focus: Multimodal discourse analysis, foodscaping theory, haenyeo women’s communication Editorial Roles: Assistant Editor of European Journal of Korean Studies; General Editor of 'Foodscaping Asia' series Her work develops the Segmented Film Discourse Representation Structures (SFDRS) methodology for analyzing Korean films' narrative conventions, including violence in revenge cinema and socio-pragmatic dimensions of fashion. She collaborates globally as a visiting lecturer and conference organizer. Kimi’s recent publications examine multimodal translation gaps, cultural representation in children’s literature, and the sociocultural implications of foodscaping. She has delivered keynote talks at institutions including Edinburgh University and SOAS, and co-organizes the Translating Squid Game talks series.

• Asian socio-multimodality
• Korean film analysis
• Cross-cultural communication
• +4 more