Prof. Dr. Olena Palko is a historian specializing in Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and Ukraine. She holds the SNSF Professorship at the University of Basel's Department of History, focusing on East European History. Her research emphasizes Soviet minority policies, cultural politics, and national identity formation in interwar Ukraine. She is a leading scholar with notable works including Making Ukraine Soviet (2021), awarded the 2023 Alexander Nove Prize. Her current SNF-funded project, Red Tower of Babel , examines Soviet minority experiments in Ukraine. Education: PhD from University of East Anglia (2017); Kandydat nauk from National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (2013). Research Interests: Soviet nationality policy, minority history, Ukrainian twentieth-century history, transnational border dynamics. Her work bridges archival analysis with transnational perspectives, addressing contested borderlands between Poland and the USSR. Key publications include co-edited volumes like Making Ukraine (2022) and Ukraine's Many Faces (2023). She actively contributes to academic governance roles, including co-convening the BASEES Study Group for Minority History and serving on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Council of Europe's history observatory.
Dr. Sebastian Rimestad is a Research Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Religions , University of Leipzig. His work focuses on Orthodox Christianity, religious history of Eastern and Northern Europe, religious conversion, religion and politics in modern societies, and religious minorities in Europe. Current affiliation: University of Leipzig Education: Habilitation (2019), PhD (2011), MA in Religious Studies (2007) and Politics & IR (2004) Research interests include confessional identity formation in 18th-century Poland-Lithuania, religious conversion as political statement, and Russian Orthodox concepts of secularity. His work analyzes how religious identities have been shaped by external authorities and critiques of religious modernity. His scientific awards include the DFG Heisenberg Fellowship and Liselotte Kirchner Scholarship. He has taught courses on religious conversion and published extensively on Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe, Baltic states, and global contexts.
Monika Gabryś-Sławińska is a Professor at the Department of Polish Literary History , part of the Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska (UMCS). Her research spans 19th- and 20th-century Polish literature , focusing on Stefan Żeromski , historical journalism , text editing , voice emission , and museology . MA in Polish Philology (1998, UMCS) PhD in Literary Studies (2007, UMCS) Habilitation in Literary Studies (2016, UMCS) Her research interests include political commentary in historical press , media's role in cultural identity , and sociolinguistic trends . She has edited over 29 academic volumes and authored 5 monographs. Scientific awards: Bronze Cross of Merit KEN Medals (Bronze, Silver) 8 Rector's Awards (UMCS) Lublin Mayor's Medal (2019) She has participated in 5 research grants , organized 35 academic conferences , and contributed extensively to Annales UMCS as a scientific editor.
Prof. Stefan Rohdewald is a Professor of East and South-Eastern European History at the University of Leipzig since 2020. Previously, he held positions at Justus Liebig University Giessen (2013-2020), University of Passau (2003-2012), and University of Zurich (1998-2001). His research focuses on transregional histories, religious memory, and intercultural communication in Eastern Europe and the Ottoman sphere. Key roles include coordinating DFG’s Transottomanica program and leading the GiZo partnership with University of Zagreb. Education: PhD (2004, University of Zurich), Habilitation (2012, University of Passau). Research interests span memorial discourses, Ottoman-Europe relations, and sport history. Major projects include studies on Serbo-Bulgarian religious figures and transottoman mobility dynamics. He chairs conferences on minority politics and Ottoman Europe, contributing to over 70 peer-reviewed publications. Award-winning publications include Götter der Nationen (2014) and Vlad der Pfähler (2017). His work bridges Eastern European, Ottoman, and transnational histories through innovative methodological frameworks.
Zaur Gasimov is a Lecturer at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and currently serves as DAAD Departmental Coordinator and Co-Head at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Turkish-German University. He holds a habilitation in Modern History and Eastern European History, with a focus on Eastern European History, political science, and sociology. Education : B.A. in International Relations from Baku State University; M.A. from Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt; Doctorate in Eastern European history Research : Concentrates on Russian-Turkish relations, nationalism in Eastern Europe, cultural transfer processes, and historical narratives. His habilitation thesis analyzed Polish-Turkish anti-Soviet alliances. Publications : Authored monographs on Prometheism, Azerbaijani historiography, and Russification policies. Collaborated on comparative studies of cultural transfer and Ottoman-Russian entanglements.
Dr. Bahar Baser is a Professor in Politics and International Relations at Durham University's School of Government and International Affairs, where she joined in 2021. She is also a member of the Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. Previously, she served as Associate Professor at Coventry University's Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, leading the "Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation Research Group," and was a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Warwick. Dr. Baser completed her PhD in Social and Political Sciences at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. During her doctoral studies, she was a Visiting Research Fellow at multiple institutions including Humboldt University in Berlin, REMESO in Sweden, and the Instituto de Ciencias Sociais in Lisbon. Dr. Baser is an expert in diaspora studies, peacebuilding, and conflict transformation with a regional focus on the Middle East. Her research examines diaspora engagement in peace processes, post-conflict reconstruction, and state-building in the Global South. She has extensively studied stateless diaspora activism in Europe, particularly regarding host states' counterterrorism policies, radicalization of diaspora members, and transnationalization of homeland conflicts. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on Kurdish diaspora studies, diaspora governance by authoritarian states, intergenerational trauma in diaspora communities, and peacebuilding processes. Her work spans multiple disciplines including political science, international relations, migration studies, and Middle Eastern studies, with particular attention to how diasporas interact with homeland conflicts and host state policies. Dr. Baser serves as editor of the Kurdish Studies Series published by Lexington Books and co-editor of the Diasporas and Transnationalism Series published by Edinburgh University Press. She is also a senior associate research fellow at the Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa (SIGLA), Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and a visiting professor at Tampere Peace Research Institute, Tampere University, Finland. Dr. Baser has supervised multiple doctoral students including Abdullah Al-Khonaini, Mengqi Sun, Nannan Li, and Shorooq Al Zaabi. She has secured numerous research grants including projects funded by the British Academy, Academy of Finland, Allan and Nesta Ferguson Trust, and Horizon 2020 Marie Curie Fellowship. Her research projects span topics such as diaspora engagement in peace processes, youth violence and conflict transformation, and diasporic identity formation. Dr. Baser is actively involved with the Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at Durham University, contributing to research initiatives focused on the Middle East and Islamic studies. Her multilingual capabilities (Turkish, English, Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Azerbaijani) support her extensive fieldwork and collaborative research across multiple countries.
Carl-Gösta Ojala serves as Senior Lecturer at Uppsala University's Department of Archaeology, Ancient History and Cultural Preservation, where his research bridges archaeological practice with critical examinations of colonial history and indigenous heritage. His academic profile demonstrates deep engagement with Sámi communities across historical periods, from Bronze Age material culture studies to contemporary issues of cultural preservation and indigenous rights. Dr. Ojala's research program centers on decolonizing archaeological methodologies through rigorous analysis of how colonial frameworks have shaped archaeological knowledge production in Northern Europe. His work particularly examines the historical collection of Sámi material culture and human remains, the impact of colonial infrastructure projects like hydroelectric dams on indigenous heritage sites, and the political dimensions of archaeological interpretation in Sápmi. He investigates how archaeological narratives have been constructed within colonial contexts and how contemporary practice can better incorporate indigenous perspectives. An analysis of his recent publications reveals evolving scholarly attention from historical colonial practices to their contemporary implications for indigenous self-determination and cultural heritage management. His 2023-2025 works demonstrate increasing focus on Sámi mobilities, dammed heritage, and the politics of archaeological representation, reflecting a trajectory toward more applied, community-engaged scholarship that addresses ongoing colonial legacies in cultural heritage institutions. Dr. Ojala has established himself as a critical voice in Nordic archaeological discourse through numerous book chapters, journal articles, and edited volumes including 'Archaeologies of "Us" and "Them": Debating History, Heritage and Indigeneity' (2017). His scholarship consistently challenges conventional archaeological paradigms while offering constructive frameworks for more ethical, collaborative research practices with indigenous communities in Northern Europe.
Sami Al Daghistani is an Associate Professor in Contemporary Islamic Studies at Lund University's Centre for Theology and Religious Studies, a Researcher at the Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES), and holds associate appointments at Columbia University (Middle East Institute) and the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research. His work bridges Islamic economics, environmental ethics, legal philosophy, and intellectual history, emphasizing interdisciplinary methodologies and cross-cultural analysis. Ph.D. (2017) in Islamic Studies from Leiden University, co-supervised by Columbia University and WWU Münster Postdoctoral Fellow at Norwegian School of Theology (2020-2024) Visiting Researcher at Istanbul University and Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul His research focuses on decolonizing economic thought through Islamic traditions, integrating environmental ethics, moral philosophy, and legal theory. Recent publications analyze intersections between Islamic economic cosmology, pre-modern intellectual traditions, and contemporary societal challenges. Key projects include: SWEMENA (Swedish Middle East and North Africa Network), Critical Islamic Studies consortium (founded 2021), and GreenMENA. He has received the 31st World Book of the Year Award in Islamic Studies (2024) and Islamic Economics Research Award (2024). Academic roles span teaching at Lund University (Islamology courses), guest lectures at Istanbul Forum, and leadership in international research collaborations. His translations of Ibn Baṭṭūṭa and Ibn Ṭufayl into Slovenian demonstrate linguistic expertise and cultural bridge-building.
Denis Kozlov is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Dalhousie University, specializing in modern Russian and Soviet history. His academic journey includes a BA from Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University, an MA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a PhD from the University of Toronto. He holds appointments within Dalhousie's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and maintains an active research profile focused on cultural and intellectual transformations in the Soviet Union. His educational background reflects deep engagement with Russian studies: BA: Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University MA: University of Massachusetts Amherst PhD: University of Toronto Kozlov's research centers on Soviet cultural and intellectual history during the post-Stalin era (1953-1991), with particular emphasis on memory practices, reading audiences, and migration. His work examines how Soviet citizens processed historical trauma through literature and media, especially during the Thaw period, and explores transnational migrations from the USSR in the 1970s-1980s. He investigates intersections between literature, society, and historical consciousness, revealing how cultural production shaped Soviet identity and social change. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications shows consistent focus on Soviet cultural history, with dominant themes including reading practices during de-Stalinization, migration as political expression, and memory politics. His methodology combines archival research with cultural analysis, increasingly incorporating transnational perspectives in recent works on Soviet Jewish migration and Eastern European identity. His scholarly recognition includes significant awards: SSHRC Insight Grant (2019-2024) Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship at Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton (2010-2011) Harvard University Postdoctoral Fellowships (2008-09) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Teaching Award (2014-2015) Kozlov actively supervises graduate research in Soviet history while securing major grants including SSHRC and NEH funding. His teaching spans introductory surveys to advanced seminars on Soviet Russia and comparative cultural history, with recent courses including HIST 2021F (Soviet Russia) and HIST 3088F (History & Memory Russia and West) for 2024-2025. While no dedicated research labs are mentioned, his collaborative projects like the NEH-funded conference "The Thaw: Soviet Society and Culture during the 1950s and 1960s" demonstrate his role in building scholarly networks. Current work focuses on Soviet migration patterns and their ideological implications.
Daniel L. Schlafly is a Professor in the Department of History at Saint Louis University 's College of Arts and Sciences . His career spans decades of research in Russian and East European history, with a focus on cross-cultural exchanges between Russia and Western Europe. Education : Ph.D. (Columbia University, 1972), M.A. in Russian Studies (Columbia, 1965), Certificate from the Russian Institute (Columbia, 1965), A.B. (Georgetown University, 1961), and M.B.A. (Saint Louis University, 1998). Research interests include cross-cultural history, Jesuit educational institutions in Russia and America, religious minorities in post-Soviet Russia, and East-West encounters during the Enlightenment. His work emphasizes primary source analysis in original languages like Russian, French, and Italian. Publication trends highlight comparative studies of Jesuit schools, diplomatic records, and religious identity formation. His articles span 1970-2008 , with a focus on Russia's engagement with Catholicism and Western institutions. Scientific awards and grants include: Mellon grants for international research (1991-1996) Adenauer Scholarship for German studies (1961-62) Conference funding from 2002-2014 Grants for translating Marek Inglot's Jesuit history (2008-2013) He has taught courses on the origins of the modern world , history of Eastern Europe , Russian history , and nationalism studies .
Grzegorz Berendt is an Associate Professor at the University of Gdańsk, where he is affiliated with the Faculty of History and the Institute of History. His research focuses on Eastern European history, particularly the experiences of Jewish communities in Poland during the 20th century. Key aspects of his work include Polish-Jewish relations during the Holocaust, the extermination of Jews in Polesie, and the policies of the Polish People's Republic toward Jewish populations. Berendt's scholarly output examines themes such as Jewish cultural associations under communist rule, regional histories (e.g., Gdańsk Pomerania), and post-WWII societal transformations. His publications analyze political regimes, diaspora dynamics, and identity preservation, reflecting a consistent emphasis on: Socio-political impacts of totalitarian regimes Jewish organizational resilience State-minority relations in Eastern Europe
Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyUnited States
Paul Hanebrink serves as Professor of History at Rutgers University, where he has been teaching since 2001. Holding a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (2000), his academic career has focused on the complex intersections of religion, nationalism, and political ideology in modern European history. His research centers on Modern East Central Europe with particular emphasis on Hungarian history. Hanebrink investigates how religious identity, particularly the concept of 'Christian Hungary,' shaped national consciousness and contributed to antisemitic political movements during the interwar period. His work examines the transnational circulation of political ideas, especially the Judeo-Bolshevik myth that linked Jewish identity with communist revolution across national boundaries. Hanebrink's publications reveal a consistent focus on the relationship between religious identity and political ideology in twentieth-century Europe. His work demonstrates how religious concepts were deployed to define national boundaries and justify exclusionary politics. The trajectory of his scholarship shows increasing attention to transnational connections in European intellectual history, tracing how ideas about religion, nationalism, and Jewish identity crossed borders and adapted to local contexts. Hanebrink has authored two major monographs: In Defense of Christian Hungary: Religion, Nationalism, and Antisemitism, 1890-1944 (Cornell University Press, 2006) and A Specter Haunting Europe: The Myth of Judeo-Bolshevism (Harvard University Press, 2018), which has received significant scholarly attention for its comprehensive analysis of this dangerous political myth. At Rutgers, Hanebrink teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including History of the Holocaust, Eastern Europe (1800-1948), Jews of Germany and Austria-Hungary, and specialized seminars on religion and secularization in modern Europe. His teaching reflects his research interests in European history, religious studies, and the history of political ideologies.
John Connelly is a Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, holding the Sidney Hellman Ehrman Professorship of European History. His academic career spans three decades of research and publication in modern East-Central European history, Catholicism, and the dynamics of dictatorships. Education: PhD in History, Harvard University (1994) MA in History, Harvard University (1988) BSFS in International Relations (magna cum laude), Georgetown University (1982) Research Interests: Modern East and Central European Political and Social History Comparative Education History of Nationalism and Racism History of Catholicism His work examines the intersection of religion and politics, particularly in Eastern Europe under totalitarian regimes, and the transformation of academic institutions under ideological control. Scientific Awards: Humanities Research Fellowship (UC, 2007) Institute for Advanced Study Membership (Princeton, 2002-03) George L. Beer Prize (AHA, 2001) Spencer Fellow (1996-98) German Marshall Fund Fellow (1996-97) 82nd Airborne Division Scholarship (Georgetown, 1978-82) Publications: Connelly has authored or co-authored five major books, including From Enemy to Brother (2012) on Catholic-Jewish relations and Captive University (2000) on Sovietization of higher education. His 50+ journal articles span topics like Nazi racial theory, Stalinist university policies, and postwar Catholic moral theology.
Karolina Lendák-Kabók is an Associate Professor at the Department of Minority Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest, Hungary. She simultaneously holds an Assistant Professorship at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. Currently serving as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow (2022-2024), her academic journey spans multiple institutions across Europe including visiting researcher positions at Central European University, University of Sydney, Université Paris-Est Créteil, University of Lausanne, Purdue University, and University of Victoria. Her educational background includes a BA (2010) and MA (2012) in Law from the University of Novi Sad, followed by a PhD in Gender Studies (2019) from the Center for Gender Studies at the same institution. Her research focuses on the intersection of ethnicity, gender, and language barriers within academic and social contexts, with particular emphasis on ethnic minorities in Serbia, intermarriage dynamics, and gender disparities in higher education. Dr. Lendák-Kabók's scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on ethnic minority experiences in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly examining how language barriers and gender intersect to create unique challenges for minority communities. Her publications demonstrate expertise in both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, with recurring themes of identity formation, social integration, and the impact of historical conflicts on contemporary interethnic relations. She has made significant contributions to understanding intermarriage patterns across different European contexts, contrasting Western Europe's immigrant-host society dynamics with Central and Eastern Europe's minority-majority relationships. Her scientific recognition includes the ELTE Promising Researcher Award (2023), Anđelka Milić Award for enhancing gender equality (2022), Crystal Ball Award (2017), and the prestigious Bolyai János Research Scholarship (2024). She has received multiple scholarships including the National Excellence scholarship in Hungary (2014) and the Collegium Talentum research scholarship (2013-2016). ELTE Promising Researcher Award (2023) Anđelka Milić Award for gender equality (2022) Crystal Ball Award for outstanding scientific contribution (2017) Bolyai János Research Scholarship (2024) National Excellence scholarship in Hungary (2014) Collegium Talentum research scholarship (2013-2016) As a mentor, she has supervised MA students Nisreen Alsoudi (who received the Best MA Award) and Julia Pecker, and collaborates with PhD student Rebeka Bakos on research related to the Marie Curie Fellowship. Her scholarly work has resulted in over 50 publications including the monograph Ethnic Minorities in Serbian Academia – the Role of Gender and Language Barrier (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022) and the edited volume Üvegplafon? (Glass ceiling?, Forum 2020). She has also established research collaborations across multiple countries, conducting fieldwork in Japan, Australia, France, Switzerland, USA, and Canada.
Prof. Dr. Miloš Řezník is a prominent historian and Professor of European Regional History at the Faculty of Philosophy, Chemnitz University of Technology. He has held this position since 2009 and served as Pro-Dean of the Faculty. From 2014 to 2024, he was Director of the German Historical Institute in Warsaw. His academic career spans institutions in Prague, Liberec, Leipzig, and Chemnitz, reflecting a deep engagement with Central and Eastern European history. PhD and Habilitation in General History, Palacký University Olomouc Extensive research on collective identities, nationalism, borderlands, and elite transformations in Central Europe Expertise in Polish, Czech, Galician, and Habsburg history Longstanding leadership roles in German-Czech and German-Polish historical commissions His research interests center on the cultural and political dynamics of regional identities in Central and Eastern Europe, especially in border regions such as Silesia, Bohemia, Pomerania, and Galicia. He explores how historical memory, nationalism, and elite strategies have shaped regional consciousness from the 18th to the 20th century. His work bridges historiography, cultural studies, and political history, with a strong focus on transnational and comparative perspectives. The 15 most recent publications reveal a consistent thematic trajectory: the interplay between regionalism, ethnicity, memory, and state formation in Central Europe. Key sub-themes include the Kashubian movement, Habsburg provincial governance, German-Czech-Polish relations, and the symbolic politics of historical figures and events. His scholarship increasingly engages with theoretical frameworks such as retrotopia, ethnoregionalism, and the institutionalization of historical science. Scientific Awards and Honors: Foreign Member, Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences (2023) Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Federal Foundation for the Study of Communist Dictatorship in East Germany (2025) Member, Scientific Council, Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Kohl-Stiftung (2022) Member, Johann Gottfried Herder Research Council (2011–present) Prof. Řezník has supervised numerous academic projects and dissertations, particularly through collaborative EU and DFG-funded initiatives focused on cross-border history. He has served as editor for multiple academic series and journals, including Journal of Modern European History (2019–2024). His institutional roles include membership in evaluation committees for the European Research Council, DFG, and Czech Science Foundation. He leads or has led several major research initiatives, including the Interreg Project: Cultural Heritage of the Vogtland and Egerland , and has organized numerous international conferences on Central European history, memory, and regionalism. His work is deeply embedded in transnational academic networks, particularly through the German Historical Institute in Warsaw and the Kompetenzzentrum Mittel- und Osteuropa Leipzig.
