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Geeta LudhraView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Black Feminist Theory
• Decolonial Feminist Theory
• Critical Pedagogies
• +5 more

Dr Geeta Ludhra is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Brunel University London within the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences (CBASS). She serves as Associate Dean for Equality and Diversity (Staff) and is a member of the 'Interculturality for diversity and global learning' research group. Her research focuses on Black Feminist and Decolonial Theories, exploring intersections of gender, race, class, caste, and migration histories in South Asian women's educational experiences. She supervises doctoral students and leads community impact initiatives through her registered Community Interest Company (CIC), collaborating with DEFRA, National Parks, and museums sectors. Her recent publications examine narrative research ethics, cultural identity in education, and institutional legitimacy. She has received a Brunel Seminar Series Award for 'Decolonising Green Spaces' (2023) and contributes to national conversations on diversity in natural landscapes via media appearances (BBC Woman's Hour, BBC Asian Network). She works part-time and maintains active roles in educational outreach, including an External Examiner position at Leeds Beckett University and governor roles in three schools. Her work bridges academia and grassroots activism through the 'educating geeta' women's writing group and Chilterns conservation projects.

Leah RobertsView profile

Professor

• Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
• Psycholinguistics
• Bilingualism
• +4 more

Leah Roberts is a Professor in the Department of Education at the University of York, leading the Centre for Advanced Studies in Language and Education. With prior research scientist roles at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (2003-2011) and University of Essex (2000-2003), her academic journey bridges theoretical and applied research in second language processing. Education: PhD in Syntactic Processing in Second Language Learners (University of Essex, 2003), MA in Language Acquisition (University of Essex, 1999), BA in Linguistics with Education Studies (University of East London, 1997) Her research focuses on second language acquisition and bilingual processing , spanning word-, sentence-, and discourse-levels. Key areas include cross-linguistic influences in SLA, classroom intervention studies, and real-time processing mechanisms in adult vs. child language learners. Recent work examines article acquisition in L2 English, prosody's role in syntactic ambiguity resolution, and visual processing asymmetries in motion event analysis. Collaborations include institutions across Europe (University of Osnabruck, Lund University, Utrecht University) and North America (Penn State University). She contributes to journals as Managing Editor of the EUROSLA Yearbook and Co-Editor of IRAL , with editorial board memberships spanning five international publications. Key Research Trends: Temporal and referential processing in bilingual discourse Classroom vs. naturalistic language learning mechanisms Information structure acquisition in multilingual contexts Prosodic and syntactic cue integration in real-time comprehension Cross-linguistic influences on morphosyntactic development Visual-spatial cognition in language processing She teaches MA modules including Cross-linguistic Influences in SLA, Developmental Psycholinguistics, and Research Methods for Applied Linguistics, emphasizing methodological rigor in both experimental and classroom-based studies.

Nicola CapuanoView profile

Associate Professor

• Machine Learning
• Natural Language Processing
• Artificial Intelligence for Education
• +3 more

Nicola Capuano is an Associate Professor at the Department of Information and Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics (DIEM) of the University of Salerno, Italy. He is a member of the SmartLearn research group at the Open University of Catalonia and has previously held academic roles at the University of Basilicata and technical positions at the University of Salerno. Current positions: Associate Professor (University of Salerno) since 2023 Former Associate Professor (University of Basilicata, 2022-2023) Former Researcher (University of Basilicata, 2019-2022) His research focuses on machine learning applications in education, including Artificial Intelligence for Education , Natural Language Processing , and Fuzzy Systems . He has pioneered zero-shot vulnerability detection using LLMs and developed novel graph-based approaches for misinformation analysis. Key projects include the ALICE adaptive learning system and SmartLearn research initiatives. Scientific contributions span 15+ peer-reviewed publications in IEEE, Springer, and Elsevier outlets. Recent work examines persuasive comment detection in social media and optimization techniques in fuzzy genetic algorithms. Best Paper Award recipient (2017) 2nd Best Paper Award (2008) Editorial roles: Associate Editor for 3 journals since 2019 Active in academic service, he chairs conference tracks (INCoS, AINA) and serves as independent evaluator for Horizon Europe projects. His teaching portfolio includes Software Engineering, Algorithms, and AI applications.

Genny BallardView profile

Professor

• Spanish Language Education
• Hispanic Studies
• Latin American Cultures
• +12 more

Genny Ballard is the Charles T. Hazelrigg Professor of Spanish at Centre College, where she has been a dedicated educator since 2004. She teaches a range of Spanish language, literature, and culture courses with a strong emphasis on community-based learning and international engagement. She has directed study abroad programs in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Nicaragua, Spain, France, and Andorra, and has been instrumental in developing high-impact educational practices at the college. Education: PhD in Hispanic Studies, University of Kentucky MAT in Teaching, Foreign Language, and Social Studies, University of Louisville BA in Government, Centre College Her research focuses on intercultural competence, language learning, and experiential education. She integrates reflection, service-learning, and writing-intensive pedagogies into her courses. She has developed innovative curricula for study abroad, particularly in Central America and the Caribbean, emphasizing reciprocity and community engagement. The most recent publications and presentations reflect a strong interdisciplinary trend, combining education, cultural studies, language pedagogy, and social justice. Her work frequently explores how language, culture, and identity intersect in both formal and informal learning environments, especially in international and bilingual contexts. Scientific Awards: Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award (Colombia ICETEX, 2019–2020) NEH Summer Scholar (2019) Ballard has secured multiple institutional grants to support community-based learning and international programs. She mentors students through study abroad, internships, and capstone research projects, particularly in the Spanish senior seminar (SPA 500). She played a key role in establishing the Centre College After-School Program for immigrant and first-generation K–12 students and has facilitated internships for the Lincoln Scholars Program in Guatemala and Costa Rica. She collaborates with universities in Colombia, including Universidad del Norte and Universidad de la Guajira, on research and pedagogical development. She is actively involved in academic teams focused on diversity, inclusion, and international education. Her work bridges classroom learning with real-world engagement, especially through partnerships with organizations like FIMRC and Safe Passage.

Audun RosslundView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Early language development
• Infant-directed speech
• Cognitive development
• +4 more

Audun Rosslund is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Health, Developmental and Personality Psychology, University of Oslo. His research focuses on early language development, infant-directed speech, cognitive development, and open science methodologies. He holds a PhD in Early Language Development from the Center for Multilingualism (UiO), a Master's in Developmental Psychology (UiO), and a Bachelor's in Education (UiO). PhD, Early Language Development, Center for Multilingualism, UiO MSc, Developmental Psychology, Department of Psychology, UiO BEd, Education, Department of Education, University of Oslo His research investigates how environmental linguistic input shapes infant language outcomes, particularly through infant-directed speech. Longitudinal studies track Norwegian infants from 6 to 18 months, analyzing acoustic properties, word comprehension, and expressive vocabulary. Projects also examine statistical learning in dialect-exposed infants, sibling influences, pacifier use effects, and tablet-based assessment tools. Key collaborations include Natalia Kartushina, Julien Mayor, and Alejandrina Cristia. His work is shared via Open Science Framework and disseminated through projects like BabyLing and ManyBabies Consortium. Topics span from cognitive development to eye-tracking and pandemic impacts on daycare vocabulary growth.

Sacha DavisView profile

Lecturer

• European History
• German History
• History of Nationalism
• +7 more

Dr. Sacha Davis is a Lecturer in History at the University of Newcastle, Australia, where he has been teaching since 2008. He is affiliated with the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, specializing in European history with a focus on German communities in Central and Eastern Europe and the historical persecution of Roma communities. Dr. Davis received his PhD in History from the University of New South Wales following additional studies in Sydney and Cluj-Napoca, Romania. His academic journey includes teaching positions at the University of Sydney, Macquarie University, and Australian Catholic University, as well as being a visiting researcher at the University of Turku. Dr. Davis's research spans two primary interconnected strands: German diaspora communities in Eastern Europe and historical representations of Roma. His work on Transylvanian Saxons examines how these communities negotiated their identity between German nationalism and local contexts, while his Romani studies investigate how negative stereotypes developed over centuries and continue to shape contemporary discrimination. He has made significant contributions to understanding how travel writing, ethnography, and state policies reinforced anti-Romani attitudes, particularly through analyses of costume descriptions, civilizing missions, and child removal policies that parallel Australia's Stolen Generations. His recent publications reveal sophisticated interdisciplinary approaches, blending visual history, cultural studies, and linguistic analysis. The research shows consistent thematic development from early work on Transylvanian Saxons to more recent examinations of Romani history and German heritage language maintenance in Australia, demonstrating how historical processes continue to shape present-day realities for minority communities. Dr. Davis has successfully supervised multiple PhD students to completion and currently oversees nine doctoral candidates working on diverse historical topics. His research has been supported by grants from the Australian Linguistic Society, including projects on German as a heritage language in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, totaling over $14,000 in funding since 2017. He collaborates extensively with Dr. Jaime Hunt on German diaspora studies in Australia.

• Natural Language Processing
• Machine Learning
• Computational Linguistics
• +7 more

Professor Julie Weeds is a faculty member at the School of Engineering and Informatics , University of Sussex. Her academic journey includes a DPhil in Natural Language Processing (2003), MPhil in Computer Speech and Language Processing (2000), and MA in Computer Science (1998). She has held positions including Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2003-2005, 2012-2016, part-time), Lecturer in Data Science (2016-present), and Professor of Artificial Intelligence (2023-present). MA Computer Science - Trinity Hall, Cambridge University (1995-1998) MPhil Computer Speech and Language Processing - Cambridge University (1999-2000) DPhil Natural Language Processing - University of Sussex (2000-2003) Her research spans Natural Language Processing , Machine Learning , and Computational Linguistics , focusing on semantic compositionality , vector representation analysis , and linguistic variation . Recent work applies NLP to dream reports , wildlife conservation , and mental health support . She leads grants related to hate speech analysis , suicide prevention , and illegal wildlife trade detection . Publications reveal trends in semantic entailment modeling , dream analysis using LLMs , and ecological informatics applications . Key themes include syntax-driven compositionality , multilingual modeling , and structure-aware paraphrase identification . Professor Weeds supervises research projects and teaches courses including Advanced Natural Language Engineering, Natural Language Processing, and Data Science methods. Collaborators include David Weir, Luca Bertolini, and Qi Peng, with affiliations to CASM Consulting LLP and Innovate UK projects.

Barbara BordalejoView profile

Professor

• Digital Humanities
• Textual Scholarship
• Scholarly Editing
• +4 more

Barbara Bordalejo is a Professor at the University of Lethbridge with dual appointments in Digital Humanities and English . She serves as President of the Canadian Society for Digital Humanities/Société canadienne des humanités numériques and has held leadership roles in Global Outlook:: Digital Humanities and the European Association of Digital Humanities . Her work focuses on: Digital Editions : Leading the CantApp project (2020) for mobile access to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales , co-developing the Textual Communities platform with Peter Robinson, and editing Darwin’s Origin of Species . Textual Scholarship : Exploring phylogenetic methods for manuscript analysis, collation techniques, and the intersection of bioinformatics with textual criticism. Equity in Digital Humanities : Investigating gender and minority representation through publications like Minority Report (2018) and co-organizing ADHO diversity workshops (2017–2022). AI and Academic Integrity : Analyzing false positives in AI detection software (2025) and advocating for responsible AI policies in education. Her research projects include collaborations with Richard North and Peter Robinson on digital tools, work with Roopika Risam on intersectional DH, and contributions to global DH initiatives across disciplines and regions.

• Social Computing
• Natural Language Processing
• Dialogue Systems
• +5 more

Gerasimos (Jerry) Spanakis is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Advanced Computing Sciences and Maastricht Law+Tech Lab, Faculty of Law, both at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. His research focuses on Social Computing, including computational social media modeling, dialogue systems, information retrieval, and multimodal pattern discovery using Large Language Models. Member of Cognitive Systems research area at DACS/UM Member of Maastricht Law and Tech Lab Principal Investigator for EU project VOXReality Researcher for NSMD, HumanAds, RegTech4AI Technical expert for European Commission E-enforcement academy project Coordinator of MaastrichtNLP reading group Jerry leads the supervision of bachelor's and master's theses across various computational topics and has advised numerous ongoing and completed students. His work intersects AI ethics, legal tech, and behavioral modeling, with a focus on responsible AI deployment and social bias detection in language models. Technical expert for European Commission Co-organizer of the Natural Legal Language Processing (NLLP) Workshop Active in Open Science Community Maastricht

• Reading Practices in Higher Education
• Children's Literature
• Contemporary Picturebooks
• +7 more

Dulce Helena Morgado Raimundo Melão is an Assistant Professor at the School of Education of the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, where she is a member of the Department of Language Sciences. She is a full member of the Center for Studies in Education and Innovation (CI&DEI) and has been actively involved in research projects addressing representations and experiences of reading and literature for children since 2016. Her educational background includes a PhD in Education - Didactics and Curricular Development from the University of Aveiro (2011-2016), a Master's degree in Portuguese Literature from the University of Coimbra (1992-1996), and a Master's degree in Nineteenth Century Literary Research from Lancaster University, UK (1998-1999). She also holds a Certificate of Advanced Training in Teaching and Training from the University of Aveiro and a Post-Experience Certificate in Professional and Personal Development from Lancaster University. Dr. Melão's research focuses on reading practices in higher education and children's literature, particularly contemporary picturebooks and their role in teacher training. Her work explores how literature can foster empathy, address grief and loss, support inclusion, and promote global citizenship education. She investigates spatial representations in children's books, examining how urban spaces, war, and pandemics are depicted in literature for young readers. Her research also examines the intersection of Portuguese language and mathematics through children's literature, demonstrating interdisciplinary connections in educational contexts. Her recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on emotional literacy, with particular attention to how picturebooks can help children process difficult emotions like grief and loss. She has made significant contributions to understanding how contemporary children's literature can address social issues including peace education, inclusion of children with disabilities, and intergenerational relationships. Her work often analyzes the role of illustrations and the materiality of books, especially pop-up books and wordless picturebooks, in educational settings. Dr. Melão holds various leadership positions including Coordinator of LAPE (Local for Application and Promotion of Portuguese Language Exams), member of the Self-Evaluation Committee for Master's programs, and member of the Department Council of Language Sciences. She has coordinated the Portuguese Language Area and served on the Scientific Committee of the Department of Language Sciences. She actively collaborates on research projects including 'Imaginários iluminados na didática do Português' and 'Representações e experiências da leitura,' demonstrating her commitment to advancing educational practices through scholarly inquiry. Her work bridges theoretical research with practical applications in teacher training and classroom instruction.

• Gender Studies
• Critical Race Theory
• Youth Cultures
• +4 more

Pamela Bettis serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education within Washington State University's College of Education, Health and Social Sciences. Her work critically examines how gender and race intersect with youth cultures and schooling practices to challenge inequitable educational systems. Based at the Pullman campus, she maintains an active research and teaching profile focused on dismantling oppressive structures in educational settings. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Educational Theory and Social Foundations from the University of Toledo (1994), an M.Ed. in Secondary Education from the University of Arkansas (1983), and a B.A. in Political and Social Thought of the Western Hemisphere from the University of Virginia (1977). Bettis' research centers on critical interrogations of gender and race discourses in everyday educational contexts, examining phenomena like the word "nice" in professional settings, Star Wars narratives, and whiteness in teacher identity formation. Her work consistently bridges theoretical rigor with practical applications for creating equitable learning environments, emphasizing how common-sense cultural practices perpetuate systemic inequalities. Through cultural studies and feminist frameworks, she analyzes youth identity construction and challenges normative assumptions about adolescence. Her publication trajectory reveals sustained engagement with critical gender studies, evolving from cheerleading culture analyses (2003-2009) toward contemporary examinations of antiblackness (2021) and postfeminist landscapes (2016). The body of work demonstrates methodological diversity across discourse analysis, narrative inquiry, and cultural critique while maintaining consistent focus on power dynamics in educational spaces. Ranked in the top 5% of Fun Faculty as assessed on all Fun indicators A great ROI (Return on Investment) for R1 University Metrics Bettis excels in doctoral advising, cultivating intellectual and emotional connections that produce innovative cultural studies dissertations. Her former students hold faculty positions at Evergreen University, University of Portland, and Lewis Clark State College, along with leadership roles including Assistant Dean of Diversity and McNair program directors. She teaches undergraduate courses on diversity and classroom management while directing graduate seminars in youth cultures, gender studies, and qualitative research methods.

Jonas SöderholmView profile

Researcher

• Public libraries
• Community development
• Materiality
• +4 more

Jonas Söderholm is a researcher at the Department of Library and Information Science within the Academy of Library, Information, Education and IT at the University of Borås. His work focuses on public libraries' evolving roles in communities, examining materiality, borrowing practices, and libraries' potential for sustainable development. He leads the Culture, Libraries and Politics (KUBIK) research group (2023–2024) and has served on the university's Sustainability Council (2014–2019). His research explores how libraries function as community models through studies on tool lending libraries, public library trust dynamics, and multilingualism promotion. He has contributed to academic discourse through editorial roles for the magazine Human IT (2008, 2010–2012, 2014–2018) and participation in the Parenting in Academia working group (GU, 2009–2010). Recent publications examine library patron experiences, media strategies, and welfare library implementations. His scholarly work reveals consistent themes: library materiality (tool lending, physical collections), community engagement (trust metrics, welfare functions), and sustainability (environmental impact, resource sharing). The research spans both theoretical analyses of library concepts and empirical studies of library practices. He has been actively involved in academic service through research leadership, editorial contributions, and organizational committees. His work bridges practical library innovation with critical theoretical frameworks about libraries' societal roles.

Alice FavaroView profile

Researcher

• Hispanic American Literature
• Graphic Novel Studies
• Transmediality
• +3 more

Alice Favaro is a Researcher at the Department of Comparative Linguistic and Cultural Studies, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, specializing in Hispanic American literature with particular focus on graphic novels, transmediality, and postcolonial narratives. Current office hours: Wednesdays by appointment at Ca' Bernardo (third floor) Active in teaching postgraduate courses like Lenguajes Artísticos Populares and Literatura Hispanoamericana Her research explores: Transmedial transformations between literature and graphic novels Migration and border studies in Latin American contexts Gender representations and violence narratives Post-dictatorship cultural memory Recent publications analyze: Chilean performative poetry paradigms Body politics in post-dictatorship literature Transatlantic Italo-Cuban linguistic bridges She employs innovative pedagogical approaches integrating comics into Hispanic literature teaching, and has published extensively on: Raúl Zurita's multimedia poetics Hugo Pratt's transnational influence Contemporary Argentine graphic narratives

• Language Learning
• Swedish Language
• Integration
• +4 more

Sofia Sevon serves as a Lecturer at Aalto University, specializing in language education and integration initiatives. Her work centers on developing accessible digital resources for Swedish and Finnish language learning, directly supporting the integration of international students and staff into Finnish society through projects like Kielibuusti.fi. Her research spans Language Learning , Educational Technology , and Sociolinguistics , with emphasis on MOOC development , 360-degree immersive environments , and digital autonomy tools . She investigates teacher-student dynamics in online settings and assessment challenges in multilingual academic contexts, consistently prioritizing practical solutions for language integration in Finland. Analysis of her publication history reveals sustained innovation in digital language pedagogy since 2019, with recent work (2022-2024) focusing on minority culture representation in MOOCs, 360° production pipelines, and integration-focused language frameworks. Her research demonstrates a clear trajectory toward scalable, technology-driven solutions for linguistic inclusion. Her achievements include the Menestyksen mahdollistaja 2023 award for the Kielibuusti project, recognizing its impact as an open portal for barrier-free language learning. This initiative exemplifies her commitment to removing structural obstacles in language education. Through the Kielibuusti project, Sevon collaborates with a multidisciplinary network of over 50 educators and researchers across Finland. While no formal student advising is documented, her project leadership demonstrates significant mentorship in developing language pedagogy resources and training materials for academic staff.

• Natural Language Processing
• Image Captioning
• Multimodal Dialogue
• +5 more

Dr. Ece Takmaz is a Researcher at the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication , Utrecht University, affiliated with the Humanities and Institute for Language Sciences . She works in the Language, Logic and Information division under Jakub Dotlacil and Albert Gatt, focusing on Natural Language Processing , Multimodal Dialogue , and Eye-Tracking research. PhD, Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC), University of Amsterdam (2019-2024) M.Sc., Artificial Intelligence, University of Amsterdam (2017-2019) M.Sc., Cognitive Science, Middle East Technical University B.Sc., Computer Engineering, Bilkent University Her research investigates the intersection of vision and language integration , with a focus on eye-tracking and perception-action dynamics . Her work includes developing multimodal contextual models , analyzing CLIP's cognitive plausibility , and studying human signal variation in visuo-linguistic tasks. She has contributed to frameworks for audience-aware dialogue adaptation and transformer-based reading behavior prediction . Recent publications cover topics like semantic violation analysis (COOCO dataset, 2025), emotion decoding in art (CogSci, 2024), and visuo-linguistic predictability (EACL, 2024). She has received recognition for best shared task paper (CMCL, 2022). Best Shared Task Paper Award, CMCL 2022 Dr. Takmaz actively contributes to academic service as an Area Chair for CoNLL 2025 and reviewer for top NLP/ML conferences. She serves on the organization committee for CMCL 2024-2025 and the EACL Student Board (2020-2022).