Find Academic Supervisors

Jean BessetteView profile

Associate Professor

• Rhetoric and Composition
• Gender Studies
• Queer Theory
• +4 more

Jean Bessette is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of English at the University of Vermont (College of Arts and Sciences). Her interdisciplinary work bridges rhetoric and composition, gender/sexuality studies, archival theory, and digital humanities. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh (2013) and has been recognized with awards including the Winifred Bryan Horner Outstanding Book Award (2018) and the Rhetoric Society of America Dissertation Award (2014). Her research examines how marginalized communities, particularly lesbian collectives, leverage archives to shape identity and navigate cultural challenges. Notable works include Retroactivism in the Lesbian Archives: Composing Pasts and Futures (2018) and essays on queer historiography and digital methods. Courses taught include Feminist Critical/Rhetorical Theory, Digital Rhetorics, and Expository Writing. Education: Ph.D. in English, University of Pittsburgh (2013) Bessette’s scholarship emphasizes feminist and queer approaches to pedagogy, historiography, and digital archives. Her articles explore topics like archival ethics, queer temporalities, and the intersections of sound studies with activism. Awards also include the CCCC Lavender Rhetorics Award (2017) and the UVM Excellence in Teaching Award (2018). Awards: Winifred B. Horner Book Award, RSA Dissertation Award, CCCC Lavender Rhetorics Award Her work spans institutional critique, digital humanities methodologies, and the politics of memory. Bessette actively contributes to feminist and queer academic communities through teaching, publishing, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

David SlompView profile

Professor

• Writing Assessment
• Literacy Education
• Classroom Assessment
• +3 more

Dr. David Slomp serves as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research and Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge. Previously holding positions at the University of Ottawa and University of Alberta, he specializes in writing assessment and literacy education across educational levels. His leadership includes co-directing the MEd General program in Curriculum and Assessment and serving as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Assessing Writing . His educational background features a Master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and a PhD in Secondary Education focused on writing assessment. Key research interests include principled assessment design, ethics and validity in writing evaluation, and writing development across the lifespan. His work critically examines justice, fairness, and equity in literacy assessment practices. Recent publications (2019-2025) demonstrate consistent focus on workplace communication assessment, digital literacy frameworks, and dismantling anti-Black assessment practices. Key trends include sociocognitive construct development, equity-centered design, and big data implications for formative assessment. His scholarship bridges theoretical rigor with practical classroom applications. Dr. Slomp's scientific contributions have been recognized through prestigious awards: Graduate Student Teaching Award, University of Alberta Writing Program Certificate of Excellence, Conference on College Composition and Communication President's Achievement Award, University of Alberta Issak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship Board of Governor's Teaching Chair, University of Lethbridge As Associate Dean and MEd program co-director, he mentors graduate students and shapes curriculum development. His editorial leadership at Assessing Writing significantly influences global assessment scholarship. Current projects address workplace English communication frameworks and equity-centered design principles through major collaborative research initiatives. Dr. Slomp actively contributes to scholarly communities through editorial work and professional organizations, advancing writing assessment theory and practice globally while addressing contemporary challenges in digital literacy and assessment justice.

Jenifer Jasinski SchneiderView profile

Professor

• Literacy Studies
• Children's Literature
• Arts-Based Literacy Education
• +3 more

Dr. Jenifer Jasinski Schneider serves as Interim Dean and Professor of Literacy Studies in the College of Education at the University of South Florida. Her leadership spans academic administration, research innovation, and community literacy initiatives, with significant contributions to K-12 writing instruction and children's literature scholarship. She earned her Ph.D. in Language, Literature, and Reading Education from The Ohio State University, establishing foundational expertise in literacy development and pedagogical theory. Dr. Schneider's research centers on children's composing processes through arts-based approaches, examining how process drama and children's literature foster symbolic development and meaning-making. Her work explores digital literacies' impact on multimodal composition, Irish children's literature through Fulbright-supported research in Ireland, and family literacy initiatives across diverse community contexts. She investigates evolving student strategies for print-based and digital text communication, emphasizing inclusivity and technological integration. Analysis of her recent publications reveals strong trends in diversity and inclusion through immersive technologies, interdisciplinary writing instruction (particularly mathematics integration), and critical digital literacies in post-truth discourse. Her scholarship bridges theoretical frameworks with practical classroom applications, consistently addressing contemporary challenges in teacher preparation and K-12 literacy education. Key scientific recognition includes: Fulbright Scholar award for research in Ireland Dr. Schneider has directed the Suncoast Young Authors Celebration for 20 years, championing student writing achievement, and currently serves on the Hillsborough Literacy Council Board. She pioneered open-access educational resources through her digital textbook The Inside, Outside, and Upside Downs of Children's Literature , demonstrating commitment to accessible pedagogy and community engagement in literacy advancement.

Federico VisiView profile

Visiting Professor

• gesture in music
• motion-sensing technologies
• interactive machine learning
• +4 more

Federico Visi (he/they) serves as Guest Faculty in the Sound Studies and Sonic Arts Master's program at Berlin University of the Arts. Based in Berlin, Germany, Visi is a researcher, composer, and performer whose work bridges technology and artistic expression through innovative musical interfaces and performance systems. Visi completed doctoral research on instrumental music and body movement at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research (ICCMR), University of Plymouth, UK. They have held postdoctoral positions at Luleå University of Technology (Sweden) and Goldsmiths, University of London (UK), establishing a foundation for their interdisciplinary approach to music technology. Visi's research focuses on gesture in music, motion-sensing technologies, interactive machine learning, and embodied interaction. Their work explores how body movement and physiological signals can be harnessed in electronic music creation through both theoretical frameworks and practical implementations. They have developed novel instruments like the Sophtar and biosignal-based performance systems that translate physiological data into sound. Recent scholarly output reveals a trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated integration of machine learning in musical contexts, with significant contributions spanning computer music, psychology, and human-computer interaction domains. Visi's publications demonstrate how algorithmic processes can be embedded in musical instruments to create new forms of musical expression and co-creativity between humans and machines. As an active member of the research community, Visi co-edited a thematic issue of Organised Sound on 'Embedding Algorithms in Music and Sound Art' and organized the Embedding Algorithms Workshop at Berlin University of the Arts. They contribute to the Wilding AI collective that explores creative applications of AI in spatial audio environments. Visi releases music under the moniker AQAXA, combining conventional electronic music production with machine learning exploration of personal sonic memories. Their work has been supported by the European Research Council, Swedish Research Council, Boström Fund, and Helge Ax:son Johnsons foundation.

Richard SaveryView profile

Research Fellow

• Artificial Intelligence
• Robotics
• Human-Robot Interaction
• +3 more

Richard Savery is an Honorary Research Fellow at Macquarie University's Faculty of Arts, affiliated with the Performance and Expertise Research Centre and the Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence. His work bridges artificial intelligence, robotics, and music, focusing on creative interactions and trust-building through robotic musicianship. He holds a PhD in Music Technology from Georgia Institute of Technology (2021) and a Master's from UC Irvine. Key roles include developing the NSF-funded Keirzo rapping/drumming robot and publishing the edited book Sound and Robotics (2023). Research interests include emotional musical prosody, human-robot collaboration, and robotic performance. Notable projects include Shimon the singing robot and IVF sonification. Awards include a GANG Award (2015) for game audio. Active in interdisciplinary collaborations, he has composed music for films, ads, and video games, including Gunman Taco Truck and Gathering Sky . His work spans academic grants ($800k NSF-NRI grant), industry partnerships, and public installations like the Un[contained] Arts Festival's beehive exhibit. Over 50 publications highlight his contributions to robotics, music tech, and AI ethics.

Raffaella BernardiView profile

Associate Professor

• Computational Linguistics
• Natural Language Processing
• Artificial Intelligence
• +6 more

Raffaella Bernardi is an Associate Professor at the University of Trento, affiliated with the Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science (DISI) and the Center for Mind/Brain Science (CIMeC). She holds a PhD in Logic and Language from Utrecht University (2002) and has held academic positions at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano and the University of Trento. Her research focuses on computational linguistics, formal semantics, distributional semantics, and multimodal models, with a particular emphasis on integrating vision and language systems. Education: PhD in Logic and Type Theory (2002, Utrecht University), Master's in Philosophy (1994, University of Chieti), and High School Diploma (1990). Research Interests: Natural Language Processing, Categorial Type Logic, Compositional Distributional Semantics, Visual Dialogues, and Multimodal Reasoning. She has pioneered work on grounding language in visual contexts and has contributed to key projects like the ERC-funded COMPOSES initiative. Grants & Leadership: Principal Investigator on EU projects (e.g., CACAO, Galateas) and member of the ERC COMPOSES team. She chairs conferences like ACL and EMNLP and serves on editorial boards for journals like the Journal of Logic, Language, and Information. Labs: Leads the LaVi (Language and Vision) research group and collaborates with the CLIC Lab. Active in organizing workshops on Formal Grammar and Vision-Language Integration.

Simon PerrilView profile

Professor

• Creative Writing
• Practice Research
• Contemporary Poetry
• +14 more

Professor Simon Perril is a distinguished academic and creative practitioner at De Montfort University (DMU), serving as Professor of Poetic Practice in the School of Humanities within the Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities. He is the director of the Leicester Centre for Creative Writing, a hub for innovative literary activity, public events, and interdisciplinary collaboration. His work bridges creative writing, critical scholarship, and visual art, with a strong focus on experimental and avant-garde traditions in contemporary poetry. His research interests include Creative Writing, practice-based research, and contemporary Anglo-American poetry, with specializations in Modernism, Surrealism, Postmodernism, and Linguistically Innovative poetics. He also maintains a visual practice in collage and poetry films, exploring multimodal forms of expression. His current major project, The Diver’s Manual , is a triptych of poetry collections that interweaves art history, philosophy, and the history of Marseille during WWII as a site of exile and intellectual refuge, drawing parallels to contemporary issues of displacement and cultural transmission. The body of his recent publications reveals a consistent engagement with interdisciplinary thought, speculative poetics, and formal innovation. His works span poetry collections like Two Duets with Occasion (2024), The Slip (2020), and Archilochus on the Moon (2013), alongside critical essays on figures such as Tom Raworth, John James, and Brian Catling. His articles frequently explore the cognitive and philosophical dimensions of poetic practice, often linking poetry with collage, cinema, and speculative thought. National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE) ALCS (Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society) Simon Perril is actively involved in PhD supervision, currently first supervising five and second supervising five additional practice-based doctoral students, whose projects span memoir, speculative biography, neurodiversity, and visual storytelling. He has secured both internal and external research funding, including a grant from the Henry Moore Foundation for Tending the Vortex: The Works of Brian Catling . He regularly presents at international conferences and participates in public poetry readings and multimedia installations, such as the Sun Deck Set Cogitation collaboration with composer Prof. John Young. He also contributes to public engagement through BBC Radio Leicester and co-organizes the States of Independence publishers’ fair, promoting independent literary voices. His teaching includes Uncreative Writing, Articulating Practice, and supervision across undergraduate, MA, and PhD levels. He is the MA Creative Writing Programme Leader, shaping pedagogical approaches that emphasize experimentation and critical reflection.

Laura McGrathView profile

Professor

• Environmental Communication
• Science Communication
• Digital Rhetoric
• +4 more

Laura McGrath is a Professor of English and Professional Writing at Kennesaw State University, specializing in digital rhetoric, environmental communication, and science communication. Her work bridges humanities scholarship with practical applications in digital media and environmental advocacy. She holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Georgia (2003) and a B.A. in English from Smith College (1998), with dissertation research focused on online composition environments. McGrath's research examines visual rhetoric in biodiversity conservation , youth environmental stewardship , and digital literacies across age groups . Her Environmental Humanities work analyzes historical and contemporary birding rhetoric, while her Digital Rhetoric scholarship investigates Instagram practices among midlife women and makerspace pedagogy. Current projects explore STEM/STEAM rhetoric and online learning dynamics. Her publication trajectory shows an evolution from digital writing pedagogy (2003-2011) toward environmental communication (2018-2022), maintaining consistent focus on community engagement through digital platforms. Recent work emphasizes affective dimensions of visual storytelling in conservation efforts and historical rhetoric of nature study. McGrath actively contributes to the Digital Media and Composition Institute (DMAC), shaping technological professional development frameworks and multimodal composition teaching methods. She serves on editorial boards and contributes to major publications like the forthcoming Teaching with Science Writing in the Humanities Classroom (MLA).

Emilia DjonovView profile

Associate Professor

• Language and Literacy in Early Childhood
• Multiliteracies
• Multimodal Discourse Analysis
• +5 more

Emilia Djonov is an Associate Professor in the Macquarie School of Education at Macquarie University, with affiliations to the Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre and The Centre for Research in Early Childhood Education (CRECE). Her research focuses on multimodal communication, early childhood literacy, and the role of technology in education. She leads major projects like Language for Learning - MQ TaLK and MQ Toddler TaLK, investigating language environments and learning-oriented talk in early childhood settings. Her teaching expertise spans undergraduate and postgraduate courses in language and literacy, emphasizing innovative digital technologies and reflective learning. She serves as an Associate Editor for Linguistics and Education and editorial board member for journals like Multimodal Communication and Journal of Early Childhood Literacy . Research interests include multimodality, social semiotics, and multilingualism, with a focus on how modes (language, visuals, gestures) and technologies shape learning. Key areas of study involve children’s literacy development, digital tools in education, and cross-cultural language experiences. Emilia supervises numerous PhD and Master’s students, guiding projects on topics like multilingual toys, EFL apps, and heritage language maintenance. She has completed over a dozen research projects, including analyses of EFL textbooks and digital documentation apps in early childhood education. Key Projects: MQ TaLK (ARC Discovery, 2018–2023), MQ Toddler TaLK (NSW Department of Education, 2021–2023) Editorial Roles: Associate Editor, Linguistics and Education ; Editorial Board Member, Multimodal Communication , Multimodality & Society , and Journal of Early Childhood Literacy Labs/Teams: CRECE, Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre

Ganesh Neelakanta IyerView profile

Lecturer

• Software Engineering
• Agile Software Development
• Cloud Computing
• +13 more

Ganesh Neelakanta Iyer is a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at the School of Computing, National University of Singapore (NUS). He holds a PhD (2012) and MSc (2008) from NUS and a B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering from Mahatma Gandhi University, India (2004), where he ranked first. He brings over a decade of industry experience from companies like Salesforce, NXP, and Progress Software, and prior academic roles at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and IIIT-Hyderabad. His research interests span Software Engineering , Cloud/Edge Computing , Machine Learning , AI for Cultural Heritage , and Software Engineering Education . He founded the STeAdS (Software Engineering and Technological Advancements for Society) research group in 2021, focusing on technology applications in healthcare, education, and traditional arts like Kathakali and Wayang Kulit. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in AI-driven educational technologies , including LLMs for curriculum customization, web-based DevOps learning platforms, and agile project management tools. Another major theme is AI in cultural preservation , with works on Kathakali gesture and facial expression recognition. A third stream involves distributed systems and networking , particularly in edge computing and federated learning. Faculty Teaching Excellence Award 2024, NUS AWS Educate Cloud Faculty Ambassador (2019, 2020) Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) University Topper (First Rank, 2004) NUS Postgraduate Research Scholarship (2009–2012) Dr. Iyer mentors students through UROP, FYP, Master’s, and PhD projects, and has led numerous grants and initiatives in cloud computing education and AI for societal benefit. He has delivered workshops and keynote speeches across the USA, Europe, Australia, and Asia. He actively leads the STeAdS virtual research group, fostering global collaborations. As a maestro in Kathakali, he integrates traditional art with technology, composing and staging performances while applying AI to preserve and analyze this heritage.

Stephen J. QuigleyView profile

Teaching Professor

• Digital Rhetoric
• Digital Literacy
• Basic Coding Education
• +5 more

Stephen J. Quigley serves as a Teaching Professor in the Department of English at the University of Pittsburgh's Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, where he teaches in the Digital Narrative and Interactive Design (DNID) Program. His academic affiliations include Homewood CEC, Pitt Cyber, Remake Learning, and the STEM Coding Lab. Quigley's research centers on digital rhetoric and basic coding education, with particular focus on craft theory applications in digital composition. His work bridges woodworking craftsmanship principles with digital pedagogy, emphasizing scaffolded learning approaches where technical skills inform theoretical development. Key projects include Open Fuego web tools for classroom coding integration and My Nature Study for environmental digital literacy. His publication portfolio demonstrates consistent contributions to digital humanities journals including Kairos , Reflections , and Computers and Composition Online . Recent work analyzes multimodal environmental education frameworks and digital archiving practices, showing strong interdisciplinary connections between rhetoric, computer science, and environmental studies. Quigley actively participates in educational technology initiatives, serving on the Senate Computing Committee and contributing to NSF-funded Computer Science for All (CSforALL) projects. His teaching portfolio spans technical communications, digital composing, usability studies, and project-based design courses that integrate writing with computational thinking.

• Computer Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• +3 more

Dr Zheyuan Liu is a Research Fellow at the Australian Institute for Machine Learning within the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology at The University of Adelaide. His research focuses on machine learning, computer vision, and multimodal learning, particularly in areas like federated learning, semantic segmentation, and vision-language models. His research interests include: Federated fine-tuning of large language models Text-to-video generation with diffusion models Weakly supervised semantic segmentation techniques Multimodal image retrieval systems Audio-visual source localization Recent publications demonstrate expertise in cross-domain adaptation, contrastive learning, and re-ranking methods. He is eligible to supervise Masters and PhD students.

Enda BatesView profile

Assistant Professor

• Spatial Music
• Virtual Reality (VR)
• Spatial Audio
• +4 more

Dr. Enda Bates is an Assistant Professor and Deputy Course Director in the Music and Media Technologies Programme at Trinity College Dublin. He leads research in spatial music, spatial audio for VR, and electroacoustic aesthetics while maintaining active roles as a composer, producer, and performer. His work bridges academic and artistic domains, with notable contributions to immersive media, accessibility in health data design, and interdisciplinary digital humanities projects. Educated at Trinity College Dublin, he completed a PhD titled *The Composition & Performance of Spatial Music* in 2010. His research has been supported by grants from Trinity College Dublin and Rode Microphones, focusing on projects like the Trinity 360 initiative producing immersive 360-degree music videos. He collaborates widely, including with the Spatial Music Collective and on virtual reality adaptations of Samuel Beckett’s works. Research interests span spatial audio technologies, VR audio design, and the aesthetics of contemporary electroacoustic music. He explores the intersection of sound and technology in performance contexts, such as augmented instruments and site-specific compositions. His work on accessibility includes evaluating health data representations for older adults, emphasizing user-centric design principles. Recent publications highlight advancements in ambisonic decoder methodologies, VR audio systems, and interdisciplinary arts. Awards include the Gaudeamus Music Prize shortlist (2009) and Música Viva Competition Prize (2010). His music has been performed globally by ensembles like the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and Crash Ensemble. Bates advises on audio engineering projects and leads collaborative initiatives like *Virtual Play, after Samuel Beckett*, merging theater, VR, and sound design. His lab’s work often explores the technical and creative potentials of 360 media and free-viewpoint video.

André MestreView profile

Research Fellow

• Creativity Research
• Educational Technology
• Virtual Reality
• +3 more

André Mestre is a Research Fellow and PhD Candidate at the University of Bergen's SLATE (Science of Learning & Technology Centre), investigating emerging technologies like AI and VR in education. He holds a doctorate in music composition from Boston University. His research bridges creativity, technology, and learning, with a focus on interdisciplinary projects. Education: PhD in Music Composition, Boston University Research Fellow, University of Bergen Research Interests: Creativity in education, VR environments, dialogic education, new music interfaces, and environmental acoustics. His work explores how technologies reshape learning and artistic practices, often through collaborations with institutions like the Austral University of Chile and NICS. Publications: His articles span creative learning frameworks, sound installations (e.g., A Queda do Céu ), and engineering education reforms. Recent work emphasizes ethical considerations in VR data privacy and interdisciplinary soundscapes. Awards & Grants: No explicit awards noted, but his doctoral project involves grants from InnovING:2030 and SLATE initiatives. Teaching: Courses include Teaching Creativity (UPED688) and Innovation Facilitation (LSCI 649), blending theory and hands-on creativity. Labs & Affiliations: SLATE (UiB), NICS (UNICAMP), and the Arts & Technology Lab (UACh). Collaborates with global networks like Arts Connect International.

Katrina TourView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Digital Literacies
• TESOL
• English as an Additional Language (EAL)
• +5 more

Professional Overview Katrina Tour is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Monash University, specializing in digital literacies and their application in English as an Additional Language (EAL) contexts. She leads research on how digital technologies empower refugee and migrant communities, focusing on education, employment, and policy. Her roles include Course Leader for MTESOL and expertise in generative AI, multimodal composing, and strengths-based practices. Educational Background Began career as a school teacher in Belarus. Taught English and Spanish across primary to tertiary levels before moving to Australia. Completed postgraduate studies at Monash University, including an Australian Postgraduate Award (2010). Research Interests Dr. Tour's work centers on digital literacies in EAL/TESOL, with projects exploring: Technology use in refugee/migrant education. Generative AI applications for language learning. Strengths-based pedagogies and policy development. Visual methodologies and sociocultural theories. Recent Projects & Media Recent initiatives include the AMEP Digital Literacies Framework (2021–2022) and contributions to media discussions on AI in language learning. Her work aligns with UN SDGs related to quality education and reducing inequalities. Awards & Recognition Recipient of Best Paper Award (2021). Dean's Award for Teaching and Learning (2023). ACTA Conference Scholarship (2018). Professional Engagement Leads the Digital Literacies in EAL Special Interest Group and chairs the Digital Technologies Advocacy Group (Australian Council of TESOL Associations). Active in international conferences, delivering keynote speeches on refugee empowerment and AI integration.