Liviu Lutas is a Professor of French Literature at Linnaeus University, specializing in narratology , intermediality , and French West Indian literature . He actively participates in the Linnaeus University Centre for Intermedial and Multimodal Studies (IMS), exploring storytelling's transmedial potential across literature, cinema, and visual culture. His research bridges ecocriticism with media studies, analyzing Anthropocene representations in children’s films and family media . Collaborations with Babes-Bolyai University focus on New Romanian Cinema and Eastern European film developments. He has served as vice chair of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities appointment committee. Key Research Areas: Intermediality, Metalepsis, Ecocriticism, Translation Theory Projects: Intermedial Ecocriticism, Communication Across Media Borders, Romanian New Wave Cinema Lutas' recent publications examine transmedial narrators , ekphrastic dichotomies , and pedagogical adaptations . His work combines theoretical rigor with empirical analysis, notably in eye-tracking experiments on cinematic ekphrasis.
Maria Karlsson is a Senior Lecturer in Rhetoric at the Department of Literature, Uppsala University. She holds a Ph.D. in Literary Studies and has built her academic career around Scandinavian literature, rhetoric, and audience studies. Her work bridges literary scholarship with contemporary media analysis, particularly focusing on vulnerability as a productive resource in cultural expression. Her research primarily centers on vulnerability in Scandinavian art and culture, with particular attention to how audiences interact with literary and media works. She has conducted extensive studies on Selma Lagerlöf's reception, analyzing over 40,000 letters sent to the author between 1891-1940. Her work explores how 'ordinary' people, particularly from working-class backgrounds, used vulnerability as a rhetorical strategy when corresponding with the famous writer. She also investigates true crime media, art scandals, and the intersection of affect theory with cultural production. Karlsson's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on vulnerability as a framework for understanding cultural production and reception. Her work spans historical literary analysis (particularly on Selma Lagerlöf), contemporary media studies (especially true crime radio documentaries), and interdisciplinary cultural theory. She frequently examines how vulnerability functions both as a rhetorical strategy employed by audiences and as a productive element in artistic creation, particularly within the context of Scandinavian welfare states. Karlsson currently leads two major research projects funded by The Swedish Research Council: 'True crime on the air' (2021-2023), examining crime representation in Swedish radio documentaries, and 'The scandal syndrome' (2023-2025), analyzing the aesthetics and politics of art scandals. Previously, she worked as a researcher at The Centre for Gender Studies at Uppsala University and co-edited the significant volume 'Vulnerability in Scandinavian Art and Culture' (2020). Her teaching focuses on graduate-level courses where theories of vulnerability play a central role, including ecocriticism, narratives from precarious suburbs, gender/queer theory, and autofiction. Her academic journey began with her 2002 dissertation on melodrama in Selma Lagerlöf's novels, establishing her long-standing engagement with this important Scandinavian author.
Hannah Klaubert is a postdoctoral fellow at Theme Technology and Social Change (THEME) , Linköping University. With dual PhDs in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies from Stockholm University and Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Germany, she specializes in analyzing nuclear disaster narratives in fiction and non-fiction texts. Her research explores intersections of technology, culture, and environmental humanities. PhD from Stockholm University and JLU Research Assistant at JLU's Department of English and American Literature and Cultural Studies Academic Coordinator for international PhD program “Literary and Cultural Studies” Research Focus Hannah investigates nuclear power's environmental impact across Sweden, Finland, and Germany through the Nuclear Nature project (funded by VR, 2022-2026). She analyzes visitor centers at nuclear plants and the German term “grüne Wiese” in nuclear discourses. Her dissertation Narrating Nuclear Disaster examined Chernobyl and Fukushima in global literature, focusing on formal features and socio-political implications of disaster genres. Publications address nuclear silence, affective exposures in contaminated environments, and feminist ecocritical perspectives. She co-authored teaching resources on interdisciplinarity and contributed to anthologies on environmental hermeneutics.
Cecilia Björken-Nyberg is an Associate Professor in English Literature at Halmstad University's School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences . She teaches courses in English literature and didactics and supervises degree projects within the teacher programme. Her research focuses on the intersection of English fiction, sound, and technology. Key works include The Player Piano and the Edwardian Novel (Ashgate, 2015) and studies on audiobook narration of literary classics. Her current projects examine how vocal performance transforms textual material into affective and immersive experiences. Recent publications address speculative storytelling for sustainability, vocal configurations in postcolonial narratives, and dialect use in audiobooks. She also explores affect theory, empathy in auditory engagement, and the historical mechanisation of music. Notable research themes include: Sound technology in literary contexts Gender and musical pedagogy Medical humanities and voice pathology Edwardian cultural history Future mobility and narrative interventions
Maria Olaussen is a Professor at the University of Gothenburg in the Department of Languages and Literatures . Her academic career includes previous roles at Linnaeus University and the University of Stellenbosch, with fellowships at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study and University of Cape Town. Research Focus: English-language African literature, Indian Ocean narratives of slavery, ecocritical perspectives on human-animal relationships Key Projects: Nobel Symposium in African Literature, The Narrating Animal (Riksbankens Jubileumsfond funded) Her publications since 2013 analyze themes of colonialism, memory, and ecological critique across African and Indian Ocean literatures. Recent work explores narrative techniques for representing social justice and authoritarianism. Contact: maria.olaussen@sprak.gu.se
Torbjörn Svensson is an Assistant Professor in Media, Aesthetics and Narrative at the Department of Information Technology, School of Informatics, University of Skövde. He is a member of the GAME (Games Art Media Experience) research group and works primarily with Media, Aesthetics and Narrative subjects within the Bachelor's and Master's programs for Computer Game Development. His academic journey culminated in February 2024 with the successful defense of his doctoral thesis "From Games to News: Creating an Engagement Model for Digital Local News," which represents a significant contribution to understanding how game engagement principles can be applied to digital journalism. Dr. Svensson holds a PhD in Information Technology from the University of Skövde (2024), a Master's degree in Film Studies from Lund University (2006) with thesis "The Big Lebowski: The Story, the Narration and the Narrator," and a Bachelor's degree in Film Studies from the University of Skövde (1994) with thesis "Machine Man – Creation and Creations in Film." His educational background bridges film theory, narrative structures, and digital media technologies. Dr. Svensson's research focuses on the intersection of game studies, digital media, and narrative theory. He specializes in applying game engagement principles to digital news contexts, exploring how interactive narratives can enhance user engagement with local journalism. His work investigates the transfer of psychological engagement mechanisms from computer games to digital news platforms, with particular attention to Self Determination Theory. He has developed a novel engagement model for digital local news that moves beyond traditional gamification approaches, examining how digital maturity of features ranges from substitution through modification to disruption. His research also encompasses VR/AR storytelling, pervasive gaming for cultural heritage, and the design of interactive news experiences. Dr. Svensson's publications reveal a clear trajectory from game studies toward innovative applications in digital journalism. Starting with cultural heritage games like "The Mystery of Elin" (2014), his work evolved to examine user engagement in interactive narratives (2017), then progressed to VR/AR storytelling applications (2018-2019), culminating in his comprehensive engagement model for digital local news (2024). His research consistently applies game engagement principles to non-game contexts, but with increasing sophistication - moving from direct game implementations to abstracted engagement mechanisms. The interdisciplinary nature of his work bridges computer science, media studies, psychology, and journalism, with a particular focus on how digital technologies can transform traditional media consumption patterns. While specific awards aren't detailed in the available information, Dr. Svensson's research has been presented at prestigious international conferences including ICIDS (Interactive Digital Storytelling), DiGRA (Digital Games Research Association), and POCG (Philosophy of Computer Games). His work has been featured at events like the Digital Media Europe conference in Copenhagen. Dr. Svensson has served as program coordinator for Computer Game Development Game Writing (2012-December 2015) alongside Marcus Toftedahl. He has supervised student projects and research within game development and digital media. His Level Up project (August 2015-February 2020) investigated how gamification and game technology could increase news consumption among young citizens (16-39 years old). He has also led the development and maintenance of the Game Demonstrator at the University of Skövde, which showcases student games and program information in the Portalen building entrance hall. Dr. Svensson is an active member of the GAME (Games Art Media Experience) research group at the University of Skövde. He has collaborated extensively with colleagues including Katrin Dannberg, Ulf Wilhelmsson, Mikael Lebram, and Anette Andersson from the Department of Game Development/Department of Information Technology, as well as Anna Vibrandt and Cecilia Renström from AMK (Department of Marketing and Communication) on projects like the Game Demonstrator. His interdisciplinary collaborations extend to researchers like Lissa Holloway-Attaway (his PhD supervisor) and Etienne Beroldy on VR/AR storytelling projects.
Mia Liinason is a Professor of Gender Studies at Lund University, affiliated with the LU Profile Area: Human Rights and eSSENCE: The e-Science Collaboration. She holds a PhD in Gender Studies from 2011 and has held academic positions at the University of Gothenburg before joining Lund University in 2021. Her research focuses on intersections of transnational feminism, queer studies, digital cultures, and religiosities/secularities. She leads major projects like Liveability at the crossroads of religion, gender and sexuality and TechnAct: Transformations of Struggle , exploring digital technologies' impact on social movements and LGBTQ+ communities' lived experiences within religious contexts. Her work addresses global issues such as hate speech mitigation (via the NETHATE network), language evolution’s cultural impact (in the Change is Key! program), and transnational activism across Scandinavia, Russia, and Turkey. Awards include the Wallenberg Academy Fellowship (2015) and Wallenberg Scholar (2024). Recent publications analyze secular-religious divides in LGBTQ+ rights, Sámi cosmology, and digital protest dynamics. She supervises PhD students and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives like the Futures of Democracy Graduate School. Key research themes include gender struggles in new political conjunctures, AI’s societal impacts, and the role of hope in feminist theory. Her projects often bridge qualitative methods with computational social sciences, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.
Martin Shaw is a Senior Lecturer in English literature and cultural studies at Mid Sweden University's Department of Humanities and Social Sciences in Sundsvall, Sweden. Originally from Sheffield, England, he relocated to Sweden in 1994 and earned his Doctor of Philosophy from Umeå University in 2006. His educational background includes: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in English Literature from Umeå University (2006) with dissertation "Narrating Gypsies, Telling Travellers: A Study of the Relational Self in Four Life Stories" focusing on Romani/Traveller autobiography. Shaw's research critically examines autobiography studies, Romani/Traveller life narratives, and postcolonial ecocriticism through the lens of (mis)recognition politics, discursive violence, and paratextual analysis. His scholarship centers on UK-based marginalized communities, investigating how nostalgia and categorization mechanisms perpetuate systemic inequalities in cultural narratives. He employs interdisciplinary methodologies to deconstruct power dynamics in life writing, particularly regarding Romani, Gypsy, and Traveller identities. Analysis of his 2019-2024 publications reveals consistent engagement with paratextual ethics in life stories, imperialist nostalgia manifestations, and environmental justice themes in postcolonial contexts. His corpus-based educational research on Swedish National Tests demonstrates applied scholarship bridging literary theory and language pedagogy, reflecting evolving interdisciplinary trends in his work. No major scientific awards or fellowships are documented in available sources. Shaw actively supervises bachelor's and master's theses across multiple educational levels including teacher training programs (F3, 4-6, and 7-9). His research portfolio includes the ongoing "Collaboration for Advancing Classroom Teaching (CoACT)" project and completed "Digital Database for National Tests" initiative, with corpus linguistics work representing significant contributions to educational assessment methodology. As an active participant in international academic communities, he regularly presents at Gypsy Lore Society conferences and International Auto/Biography Association events, demonstrating collaborative engagement through projects like the Swedish National Tests corpus development with Allan and Shaw.
Johanna Lindbladh is a Senior Lecturer at Lund University's Centre for Languages and Literature, specializing in Russian Studies. She serves as Head of Section 5 and Manager of Research and Research Education for Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian Studies. Her work bridges literary analysis, memory studies, and post-Soviet cultural identity. PhD in Slavic Languages (Russian Literature) from Stockholm University (2003) Organized 2007 international conference on memory in post-totalitarian narratives Her research focuses on memory-narration-identity intersections, Bakhtinian theory, 19th/21st century Russian literature, and Chernobyl's cultural legacy. She has translated two modern Russian novels and contributes regularly to Swedish media outlets. Key administrative roles include: Chairperson of Section 5 Board Member of Centre Board Research Education Management Current teaching includes courses like LIVR50 (Literature-Culture-Media Introduction) and Russian language specializations.
Elisabeth Wåghäll Nivre is Professor of German Literature at Stockholm University, where she has been teaching since 2004. She previously taught at Växjö University (1995-2012), Högskolan Karlskrona-Ronneby (1994-95), and Davidson College in the USA (1992-94). She earned her Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1992. Her academic affiliation is with the Department of Slavic and Baltic Studies, Finnish, Dutch and German within the Faculty of Humanities at Stockholm University. She has been appointed as visiting fellow at Clare Hall, Cambridge, for fall 2024. Wåghäll Nivre served as Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Deputy Vice President for the Area of Human Science at Stockholm University from 2018 to 2023. She holds board positions at The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanities and Society (WASP-HS) and Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, and is a founding member of several academic networks including Germanistische Literaturwissenschaft in Schweden (GLS), PhDNet Literary and Cultural Studies, and Movens: Phänomene ästhetischer und kultureller Grenzüberschreitungen. Her research primarily focuses on 16th and 17th-century German literature, with particular interest in women's roles, marriage, and family life in early modern German literature. She has extensively explored early modern biographical writing, panegyrics, and travel narratives, with current research examining biographical writing on Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689). Additional research interests include German children's literature and pedagogical approaches to teaching literature in foreign language classrooms. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent scholarly trajectory centered on early modern German cultural production. Her work demonstrates methodological sophistication in analyzing gender representations, spatial concepts, and historical consciousness in literary texts. A notable research thread across multiple publications concerns Queen Christina of Sweden, indicating this as a major scholarly contribution bridging Swedish and German historical-literary scholarship. Her interdisciplinary approach connects literary analysis with cultural history, gender studies, and spatial theory. Wåghäll Nivre has supervised nearly twenty Ph.D. students and over one hundred B.A. and M.A. theses. She has held editorial positions including German editor of Moderna språk journal and editor of the Stockholm German and Dutch Studies series. As founder of the Swedish network for empirical research in German as a foreign language, she has made significant contributions to language pedagogy alongside her literary scholarship.
Carina Jahani is a Professor of Iranian Studies at the Department of Linguistics and Philology, Uppsala University. Her academic work focuses on Iranian languages, particularly Balochi and Persian, with special emphasis on language documentation, revitalization, and linguistic analysis. Her research interests include: Iranian Studies Balochi language and literature Persian language studies Language documentation and revitalization Minority languages Oral narration in Iranian cultures Professor Jahani's scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on Balochi language and literature, with significant contributions to understanding its literary development, dialectal variations, and sociolinguistic status. Her research spans both theoretical linguistics and practical language documentation efforts, including the collection and translation of Balochi short stories. She has examined various linguistic aspects of Balochi including phonology, syntax, and narrative structures across different dialects. Her work shows particular attention to language preservation and the challenges facing minority languages in Iran and diaspora communities. Her scientific contributions have been referenced in numerous Wikipedia pages and academic platforms, demonstrating the impact of her work in the field of Iranian linguistics. She has also edited significant anthologies that preserve Balochi literary heritage, such as 'Unheard Voices: Twenty-one short stories in Balochi with English translations,' which documents the evolution of Balochi short story writing across generations. Through her extensive publications in journals like Orientalia Suecana and contributions to major reference works such as The Iranian Languages and Encyclopædia Iranica, Professor Jahani has established herself as a leading authority on Balochi language and Iranian linguistic studies.
Alexander Bareis is an Associate Professor and Manager of Research and Research Education at the Centre for Languages and Literature within the Faculty of Humanities at Lund University. His academic work centers on German literature and language studies, with specialized expertise in narratology and contemporary German literary theory. Education: PhD in German Literature, University of Gothenburg (2007) Bareis's research focuses on contemporary German literature, diachronic narratology (particularly unreliable narration and metafiction), theories of fiction, intermediality (especially novel-film relations), literary translation, and the Nobel Prize in literature. His scholarly approach bridges theoretical frameworks with practical literary analysis, examining how narrative structures evolve across historical periods and media formats. His doctoral work combined Kendall Walton's theory of fiction with contemporary narratology, establishing a foundation for his ongoing research in fictionality and narrative theory. Scientific Awards: Arbetande ledamot i Vetenskapssocieteten Lund (2021) Bareis actively supervises doctoral candidates, including Maja Lindholm who is researching love discourse in contemporary German-language women writers within late capitalist and postmodern contexts. He has secured research funding from the Swedish Research Council and currently manages research and research education at the German section of the Centre for Languages and Literature. His administrative responsibilities include serving on the Board of Section 4 and coordinating the international master's programme 'Literature - Culture - Media.' Bareis maintains significant international scholarly connections as a member of the European Narratology Network, external corresponding member of the Centre for Narrative Research at University of Wuppertal, and founding member of the international Society for Fiction and Fictionality Studies. He also serves as editor for 'Lunder Arbeitspapiere zur Germanistik,' contributing to the dissemination of German literary scholarship.
Roger Hildingsson is a Senior Researcher in Political Science at Lund University, Department of Political Science. He is affiliated with BECC (Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate) and contributes to research on environmental politics and sustainability governance. His research interests focus on environmental politics, sustainability governance, climate change governance at various sites, green state theory, industrial decarbonisation, urban sustainability, and climate futures. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action and sustainable cities. His recent publications show a strong focus on Swedish climate policy, sustainable welfare models, urban climate governance, and eco-social integration. The research spans theoretical political science, empirical studies of public attitudes, and practical applications in municipal sustainability planning, with particular emphasis on the Swedish context and welfare state model. Roger Hildingsson actively participates in numerous research projects including Klimatneutrala städer 2030, Urban Arena, LU Land, and Narrating Climate Futures. He has also engaged in media activities, providing expert commentary on climate policy issues. His collaborative network spans multiple disciplines and institutions, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of climate change research. He works closely with researchers across Lund University and collaborates with scholars internationally on climate governance issues.
Sara Håkansson is a Senior Lecturer in English Studies at the Centre for Languages and Literature, Lund University, and serves as Deputy Dean at the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology. She teaches literature at Lund University and has also instructed grammar and phonetics at teacher training colleges in Malmö and Kristianstad. Her pedagogical focus includes international and multilingual classroom environments, and she contributes to teacher training as an educational developer at AHU (Division for Higher Education Development). Affiliations: Centre for Languages and Literature, Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology, AHU (Division for Higher Education Development) Research Interests: Sara’s research centers on narratorial commentary in George Eliot’s novels, examining how narrative voices shape reader engagement. She also explores interdisciplinary pedagogy, corpus stylistics, and the role of visual and humorous elements in Eliot’s works. Her projects, such as ATLAS and The Visual in George Eliot, emphasize academic teaching, learning, and supervision. Administrative Roles: Sara holds leadership positions including Chairperson of Grundutbildningsnämnden and membership on the Faculty Board and its subcommittees.
Moa Petersén is a Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor at the Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences , Lund University, and serves as Programme Coordinator for Digital Cultures. She is a member of the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology and contributes to the LU Profile Area on Human rights. Education : PhD in Art History and Visual Studies, MA in History, MA in Comparative Literature Research Focus : Interdisciplinary intersections of technology, biology, and nature; history of photography, biohacking, climate change, and cashless societies Key Projects : FRIDA: The Future of Human Rights in a Digitised Age (Swedish Research Council-funded), DigiJustice: Human Rights in the Age of AI , and Narrating Climate Futures Research Trends : Her recent work bridges digital humanities, ethics, and human rights. Publications like Among slave-droids, cockroaches, and cognitive robots (2025) and What is Lost // What is Found (2025) emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to AI, robotics, and environmental challenges. The 2024 report Kontanternas värde examines digital exclusion in Sweden's cashless economy. Scientific Awards : Inducted into the Royal Society of Sciences in Lund (2022) Advising : Supervises PhD students and contributes to the dīcit: Disinformation, Conspiracy Theories, and Infrastructures of Information network. Her activities include organizing conferences like DigiJustice and What is Lost? // What is Found? , engaging in media outreach, and leading interdisciplinary research collaborations.
