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Auritro Majumder is Associate Professor of English at the University of Houston's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, holding a courtesy appointment in the India Studies Program. His academic profile spans literary scholarship, critical theory, and intellectual history with a focus on non-Western perspectives. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in English from Syracuse University (2014), a Certificate in Critical Theory from Cornell University (2012), an M.A. (First Class) in English from Jadavpur University (2009), and a B.A. (First Class Honours) in English from Jadavpur University (2007). Majumder's research centers on peripheral internationalism and decolonial knowledge production , examining literary traditions across India, the Soviet Union, China, Latin America, and the United States. His work bridges literary theory , critical race studies , and global political movements , with particular emphasis on Bengali literature, caste-race intersections, and South-South cultural networks. His monograph Insurgent Imaginations: World Literature and the Periphery (Cambridge University Press, 2020) redefines world literature through non-Western frameworks. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent engagement with decolonial aesthetics , transnational solidarity , and subaltern epistemologies . His scholarship demonstrates interdisciplinary reach spanning literary studies, political theory, film criticism, and comparative intellectual history, with increasing focus on contemporary debates around planetary consciousness and peripheral modernities. His scientific recognition includes: Project Completion Grant, CLASS (2019) William Lee Pryor College Professorship (2018-2019) Research Progress Grant (2017) CLASS Research Funds (2016) New Faculty Summer Research Grant (2015) Majumder actively contributes to academic service as Executive Committee member of the Modern Language Association’s South Asian and South Asian Diasporic Language, Literature and Culture Forum, editorial board member for Mediations , jurist for the National Endowment for the Humanities, and reviewer for multiple international journals. He has lectured globally across North America, South Asia, Europe, and Brazil. His teaching portfolio includes courses on postcolonial literature, modern Indian literature, and graduate seminars in postcolonial theory. Current projects include a monograph titled The Global South in Literature and Theory and a co-edited anthology Cultures of the Cold War in South Asia .

• Literary and Critical Theory
• Postcolonial Studies
• World Literature
• +7 more

William H. Nienhauser, Jr. is the Halls-Bascom Professor of Classical Chinese Literature in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, College of Letters and Science. He is a leading authority on early Chinese literature, historiography, and poetry, with a particular focus on Sima Qian’s Shiji and the poetry of Du Fu. He has held visiting and research positions in China, Japan, Germany, and Taiwan, and remains academically active, including a 2018 appointment as Visiting Professor at Nankai University. His research interests include early traditional Chinese fiction, historiography, chuanqi and zhiguai tales, and the application of modern Western critical theories to Chinese literary texts. He is deeply engaged in the translation and annotation of classical works, especially the Shiji , often in collaboration with graduate students. His scholarship bridges philology, literary theory, and historical contextualization, contributing significantly to the global understanding of pre-modern Chinese literature. Nienhauser’s publications reveal a sustained focus on textual analysis, narrative structure, and the interplay between history and literature. His work spans from early Shijing poetry to Tang dynasty fiction, with a strong emphasis on Sima Qian’s historiographical methods and legacy. He has also contributed foundational reference works and critical editions, shaping the field of Chinese literary studies. His scientific awards reflect the international recognition of his scholarship: Woodrow Wilson Fellowship ACLS Fellowship NEH Fellowship Fulbright-Hayes Fellowship Japan Foundation Fellowship German Research Foundation Fellowship Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship Humboldt Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award (2003) Nienhauser has advised numerous graduate students in collaborative research projects, particularly on the Shiji and Du Fu. He has secured major fellowships and grants from prestigious organizations including the NEH, ACLS, Fulbright-Hayes, and the Humboldt Foundation, enabling extended research and translation work. His editorial roles, especially as a founding editor of Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews (CLEAR), have been instrumental in advancing the field. While no formal lab or research center is mentioned, Nienhauser leads a major international collaborative translation project on the Shiji , involving scholars and students across institutions. His seminars and graduate courses foster a close-knit research community focused on classical Chinese texts.

• Classical Chinese Literature
• Early Traditional Chinese Fiction
• Chinese Historiography
• +8 more

Steven T. Brown is a Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Oregon, affiliated with the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages within the College of Arts and Sciences. His scholarship examines Japanese visual culture through transnational frameworks, with expertise in horror cinema, posthumanism, and critical theory. His academic credentials include: B.A. in East Asian Studies and Classics, University of Illinois (1987, Summa Cum Laude) M.A. in East Asian Studies, Stanford University (1988) Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, Stanford University (1994) Brown's research investigates sensory dimensions of Japanese cinema—particularly sound design in J-horror and slow-burn aesthetics—while exploring anime's engagement with posthuman identity. His work bridges Surrealist film theory, transnational cultural flows, and Japanese popular media, revealing how visual narratives interrogate human-machine boundaries in digital societies. Key contributions include analyzing Kurosawa Kiyoshi's sonic landscapes and Ghost in the Shell's technological uncanny. His publication trajectory from Noh theater studies (1990s) to contemporary anime/horror analysis (2000s-2010s) demonstrates evolving focus on sensory experience in visual media. Articles consistently address transnational cultural exchange, with recurring themes of gender representation, technological embodiment, and Japanese-Western artistic dialogues across 27 years of scholarship. Scientific awards: No awards listed in source material While the text doesn't specify current advisees or grants, Brown's extensive publication record—including three monographs with Palgrave Macmillan and Stanford University Press—suggests significant research impact. His editorial work on special journal issues indicates scholarly leadership in Japanese performance studies and anime criticism. No dedicated research labs or collaborative teams are mentioned, though his transnational approach implies cross-institutional academic networks.

• Comparative Literature
• Film Studies
• Japanese Popular Culture
• +4 more

Dr. Wendy Kurant serves as the Associate Department Head in the Department of English at the University of North Georgia (UNG), within the College of Arts & Letters. She holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Georgia (2001) and a B.A. in English from Oglethorpe University (1990). Her research focuses on Early and Nineteenth-Century American Literature, Southern Literature, and New Historicism, with a particular emphasis on depictions of the South and the Civil War. Dr. Kurant teaches courses such as American Literature I, Early American Literature, and The Civil War in Literature. She is currently working on a book manuscript analyzing Mary Boykin Chesnut’s unpublished novels alongside her Civil War diary revisions. Education: Ph.D., English, University of Georgia, 2001 B.A., English, Oglethorpe University, 1990 Research Interests: Unpublished works of Mary Boykin Chesnut Gender roles in historical narratives Southern identity and Civil War legacy Professional Background: Joined UNG in 2005 Previously taught at Wilmington College

• Early American Literature
• Nineteenth Century American Literature
• Southern Literature
• +3 more

Oliver Krüger is a Full Professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Appointed in 2007, he has served as president of the Swiss Association for the Study of Religion (2011-2014) and is a Fellow of the International Centre for Advanced Studies Morphomata at the University of Cologne. His academic journey spans from studying Sociology, Archaeology and Religious Studies in Bonn to research positions at Princeton University and Heidelberg University, establishing him as a leading scholar at the intersection of religion, media, and digital culture. Dr. Krüger studied Sociology, Archaeology and Religious Studies at the University of Bonn (1994-1999), working with scholars including Werner Gephart, Karl Hoheisel, and Wolfgang Gantke. He received his doctorate in 2003 from the University of Bonn with a dissertation on "Virtuality and Immortality: The Visions of Posthumanism," which was awarded by the German Association for the History of Religion. His academic development included research at Heidelberg University's Collaborative Research Center Ritual Dynamics (2002-2005) on Wicca movement communication online and at Princeton University's Center for the Study of Religion (2005-2007) exploring alternative funeral culture in the United States. Professor Krüger's research focuses on the intersection of religion, media, and digital culture, with particular emphasis on posthumanism and transhumanism. His work critically examines how religious concepts and practices transform in digital environments, analyzing phenomena like online rituals, virtual communities, and the religious dimensions of emerging technologies. He has developed significant theoretical frameworks for understanding "virtuality" as "the availability of the unavailability" and has consistently challenged normative preconceptions in the study of religion and media. His scholarship demonstrates how religious studies frameworks can illuminate technological discourses that often present themselves as purely secular. His publications reveal a consistent trajectory from early work on internet-based religious communities to current explorations of AI, posthumanism, and digital religion. Recent works increasingly analyze the relational aspects between secular and religious interpretations of technological progress, showing how posthumanist visions often replicate traditional religious patterns while claiming scientific objectivity. Krüger's approach emphasizes dynamic, relational perspectives over static definitions of religion, contributing significantly to paradigm shifts in the field. Professor Krüger has received notable recognition for his scholarly contributions, including: Dissertation Prize from the German Association for the History of Religions (2003/2004) Fellowship at the International Centre for Advanced Studies Morphomata, University of Cologne (2012/13) At the University of Fribourg, Krüger supervises graduate students researching digital religion, posthumanism, and media theory. He has edited several special journal issues that have shaped scholarly discourse, including "Theory and Methodology" (2005), "Religion and Ecology" (2022), and "The Dynamics of Religion, Media and Community" (2022). His habilitation thesis "Media-based religion. Problems and perspectives of media research in religious studies and the sociology of knowledge" (2012) comprehensively examines the history and research field of religion and media. Professor Krüger has been instrumental in developing academic networks around digital religion and posthumanism. He co-founded and edits the journal AЯGOS (Argonauts), which focuses on innovative approaches in religious studies. At Fribourg, he leads research initiatives examining the intersection of religion, media, and technology, fostering collaborations between scholars in religious studies, sociology, philosophy, and digital humanities. He has also worked extensively on the history of religious studies, particularly on Edmund Hardy (1852-1904), contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the discipline's development.

• Religion and Media
• Sociology of Religion
• Posthumanism and Transhumanism
• +6 more

Johanna Oksala is the Arthur J. Schmitt Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University Chicago, where she teaches in the Department of Philosophy within the College of Arts and Sciences. She maintains an additional affiliation as Docent in Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Helsinki, in the Department of Philosophy, History, Culture and Art Studies. Previously, she has taught at Pratt Institute, New School for Social Research, University of Helsinki, and University of Dundee. Oksala's research spans political philosophy, feminist philosophy, environmental philosophy, and phenomenology, with particular expertise in Foucault studies. Her work critically examines neoliberal governmentality, feminist politics, and the intersections of capitalism with ecological crisis. She approaches these topics through both Foucauldian and phenomenological frameworks, developing what she terms 'critical phenomenology' as a method for social critique. Her recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward integrating feminist theory with ecological concerns in the context of capitalist critique. The 2023 book Feminism, Capitalism, and Ecology represents a major contribution to ecofeminist thought, arguing that neither feminists nor environmentalists can merely preserve an imagined 'nature' outside capitalism—they must challenge the capitalist system itself. Her conference presentations and articles increasingly focus on climate change as an existential threat, the subject of capitalism, and the possibilities for feminist politics in the Anthropocene. Oksala has been honored with the Arthur J. Schmitt Professorship at Loyola University Chicago and previously held a Research Fellowship from the Academy of Finland (2005-2007). She has participated in numerous prestigious research projects including 'Rethinking Feminist Politics: Gender, Globalization and Neoliberal Governmentality' (2012-2017) and the Centre of Excellence PolCon / Politics of Philosophy and Gender. With over 100 conference papers and invited talks internationally, Oksala is an active contributor to philosophical discourse. Her editorial work includes serving on the boards of several academic journals. Her research projects have received significant funding, particularly through the Academy of Finland, reflecting the importance of her interdisciplinary work bridging philosophy, gender studies, and environmental thought. Oksala's academic leadership extends to directing and participating in major research initiatives that bring together scholars across disciplines to examine the intersections of philosophy, politics, and gender. Her work with the Centre of Excellence PolCon demonstrates her commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary research that addresses pressing contemporary issues through philosophical inquiry.

• Political Philosophy
• Feminist Philosophy
• Environmental Philosophy
• +5 more

Andrew Logie is an Associate Professor at the Department of Cultures, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, with affiliations to Asian Studies and the Helsinki Institute of Urban and Regional Studies (Urbaria). His academic profile demonstrates deep expertise in Korean historical studies with a critical approach to narrative construction. Dr. Logie's research centers on Korean pseudohistory and comparative historiography, examining how historical narratives are shaped and deployed in contemporary contexts. His work spans multiple interconnected domains including early Korean history, religious movements, popular culture, and cross-cultural comparisons with Thailand and Cambodia. His doctoral background includes a comprehensive survey of Korean historiography from the 13th century to present. His recent publications reveal a consistent scholarly trajectory with increasing emphasis on comparative frameworks. The 2024 works demonstrate his continued critical engagement with Korean historical narratives while expanding into religious studies and gender analysis. His article on Chŭngsando religious movement represents an innovative intersection of religious studies and gender analysis within Korean context. Dr. Logie actively contributes to academic discourse through extensive conference participation and organization. He serves as supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in Gender, Culture, and Society and teaches courses including 'Introduction to Korean History and Culture,' 'Early Modern Korean History, Culture and Thought,' and '20th century Korean popular culture, arts and society.' His leadership in the NSEANET project (2020-2023) highlights his commitment to international scholarly collaboration between Nordic countries and Southeast Asia.

• Korean Pseudohistory
• Comparative Historiography
• Early Korean History
• +7 more

Margo Natalie Crawford serves as Professor of English and holds the prestigious Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Professorship for Faculty Excellence at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences. Formerly the Director of the Center for Africana Studies (appointed 2019), she maintains an active teaching schedule through spring 2025 with courses including New Directions in Twenty-First Century Black Studies and Twenty-First Century African American Literature . Her research traverses 20th and 21st-century American literary landscapes with deep engagement in Global Black Studies, Radical Feminism, and Queer Theory . Crawford's scholarship uniquely bridges literature, visual art, and cultural movements to explore black radical imaginations across historical periods. Her methodological innovation lies in analyzing affective dimensions of African American literature through concepts like 'moodscape' and 'black collective nervous system'. Her publications reveal evolving scholarly trajectories from early psychoanalytic examinations of black masculinity to contemporary explorations of 21st-century black aesthetics. The 2024 Boundary 2 article demonstrates her current focus on Black Feminist Thought through Spillers and Morrison, while her 2021 monograph redefines the entire field of African American literary studies through affect theory. Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Professor for Faculty Excellence (2019-present) Crawford has chaired six doctoral dissertations since 2020 examining topics including AfroAsian connections, black experimental writing, black girl vulnerability, and black urban revolution. Her editorial work includes serving on the boards of Society for Textual Scholarship , James Baldwin Review , and Wiley Blackwell Anthology of African American Literature . She actively participates in major academic conferences including the Postcolonial Dreams Conference and Legacy of 1619 events.

• 20th and 21st-Century American Literature
• Visual Culture
• Global Black Studies
• +7 more

Jonathan K. Paulien is a Professor and Program Director in the School of Religion at Loma Linda University, specializing in Theological Studies. He holds a PhD from Andrews University and has been a leading figure in Adventist theological scholarship for decades. Position: Professor, Religion - Theological Studies School: School of Religion University: Loma Linda University Program Director: SR-Religion and Health, DSc Paulien earned his BA from Atlantic Union College (1972), MDiv from Andrews University (1975), and PhD from Andrews University (1987). His academic journey reflects a deep commitment to theological education within the Seventh-day Adventist tradition. His research interests center on biblical interpretation, particularly the Book of Revelation, New Testament theology, hermeneutics, and the writings of Ellen White. He explores themes such as the remnant, eschatology, Christology, and the relationship between faith and modernity. His recent publications continue to engage with contemporary theological and pastoral issues, including spirituality in healthcare. Paulien’s scholarly output includes numerous articles, book chapters, and reviews. His works often analyze apocalyptic literature through historical, literary, and theological lenses, contributing significantly to Adventist biblical scholarship. He has also engaged in public theology through presentations, sermons, and media appearances. Among his notable recognitions are active participation in major academic societies such as the Society of Biblical Literature and the Adventist Society for Religious Studies. He has served on influential committees including the Biblical Research Institute Committee of the General Conference and the North American Division Health Ministries Committee. Paulien has mentored students and chaired dissertation defenses, demonstrating his commitment to academic formation. He teaches courses such as Biblical Hermeneutics, New Testament Thought, and Dissertation Research, shaping the next generation of theologians. His service extends globally through international lectures, conferences, and interfaith dialogues, particularly in areas of Adventist-Muslim relations. He is involved in several institutional committees at Loma Linda University, including the Campus Spiritual Life Committee and the Center for Spiritual Life and Wholeness. His leadership roles have included Chair of the School of Religion Faculty and member of the Dean’s Council.

• Theological Studies
• Biblical Hermeneutics
• New Testament Thought
• +7 more

Johannes Zachhuber serves as Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at the University of Oxford's Faculty of Theology and Religion. Previously, he held academic positions at Humboldt University in Berlin, establishing a distinguished career bridging ancient and modern theological traditions. His research spans two primary domains: late ancient Christian theology with its philosophical foundations and nineteenth-century Christian thought. Zachhuber demonstrates exceptional expertise in Patristics, particularly the works of Gregory of Nyssa and the Cappadocian Fathers, while simultaneously exploring the development of German theology from Kant to contemporary times. His work reveals how early Christian thinkers engaged with philosophical traditions and how these engagements evolved through the modern period. Zachhuber's publications reveal a consistent focus on the philosophical dimensions of theological concepts across historical periods. His recent work on Gregory of Nyssa's Hexaemeron, Platonism in late ancient cosmology, and nineteenth-century German theology demonstrates his ability to analyze complex theological-philosophical intersections. The trajectory of his scholarship shows increasing attention to how theological concepts develop in dialogue with broader intellectual currents. As editor of significant reference works including the Oxford Handbook of Nineteenth Century Christian Thought and the Oxford History of Modern German Theology, Zachhuber has shaped scholarly conversations in his field. His editorial work complements his monographs by providing comprehensive frameworks for understanding theological development. Zachhuber's academic contributions extend to interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly in examining concepts like sacrifice and individuality across theological, philosophical, and anthropological perspectives. His work on the reception of ancient philosophical concepts in Christian thought has established him as a leading scholar bridging historical and systematic theological approaches.

• Historical Theology
• Systematic Theology
• Patristics
• +4 more

Patricia Parker serves as the Margery Bailey Professor in the Department of English and Dramatic Literature at Stanford University, holding a permanent faculty position since 1988 after initial appointment as a Visiting Professor in 1986. Her academic journey spans global institutions including the University of Toronto (11 years), University of East Africa, UC Berkeley (as Visiting Professor), and Cornell University's School of Criticism and Theory. Her educational background features: Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, Yale University (1976) M.A. in English, University of Toronto (1968) B.A., University of Manitoba (1967) Professor Parker's research pioneers intersections of Shakespeare studies, early modern literature, feminism, and race theory, with particular focus on global receptions of Shakespeare and decolonial approaches to Renaissance texts. Her scholarship consistently bridges literary criticism, cultural studies, and postcolonial theory, examining marginalized perspectives through frameworks of rhetoric, gender, and property relations across historical contexts. Her publication trajectory reveals evolving critical engagement: early foundational work on poetic modes ( Inescapable Romance , 1979) expanded into theoretical explorations of gender and rhetoric ( Literary Fat Ladies , 1987), culminating in groundbreaking race studies ( Shakespeare from the Margins , 1996) and contemporary critical keyword analysis ( Shakespearean Intersections , 2018). Her edited collections consistently shape discourse around Shakespearean theory and early modern women's writing. Her scholarly distinction includes: Margery Bailey Professorship at Stanford University Gauss Seminar Lecturer at Princeton Shakespeare's Birthday Lecturer at Folger Shakespeare Library Northrop Frye Professor Lecturer at University of Toronto Paul Gottschalk Lecturer at Cornell University Professor Parker actively mentors graduate students through community performance programs and directed the major 2003-4 international conference 'Shakespeare in Asia,' demonstrating sustained grant acquisition for cross-cultural scholarly initiatives. She currently serves as General Editor for the Stanford Global Shakespeare Encyclopedia, a significant digital humanities project. Her ongoing work integrates classroom teaching with global community engagement through performance-based programs examining Shakespeare's transnational legacy.

• Shakespeare
• Comparative Early Modern Studies
• Feminism
• +6 more

Jih-Fei Cheng is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Scripps College, where he teaches and researches at the intersection of science, media, surveillance, and social movements. He holds a PhD in American Studies and Ethnicity with an emphasis in Visual Studies from the University of Southern California, an MA in Asian American Studies from UCLA, and a BA in Communication from UC San Diego. His interdisciplinary scholarship engages feminist, queer, and decolonial theories to analyze the political economies of virology, global health, and racial capitalism. His research centers on the historical and transnational entanglements of science, empire, and social justice. Key areas include the institutionalization of queer politics, the geopolitics of HIV/AIDS, and the racialized foundations of virology. His co-edited volume AIDS and the Distribution of Crises (Duke UP, 2020) rethinks the pandemic as a network of overlapping crises shaped by colonialism and neoliberalism. He is currently working on a book project titled Materialist Virology , which historicizes virology within Euro-American empire. Cheng’s recent publications span journals such as History and Technology , Radical History Review , and GLQ , with 2025 articles on financial contagion and reservoirs signaling his continued engagement with interdisciplinary frameworks linking finance, disease, and history. His work often collaborates with artists and activists, exemplified by writings on Candice Lin’s art and co-organized dialogues on care and intravention during the pandemic. He has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Lavender Graduation Award (2023, 2016), Professional Development Grants (2019–2020, 2016–2017), and fellowships from USC and the American Antiquarian Society. His teaching and service reflect a deep commitment to LGBTQIA inclusion, racial justice, and community-based scholarship. Lavender Graduation Award for providing safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA students, Queer Resource Center, The Claremont Colleges (2023) Professional Development Networks Grant at The Claremont Colleges (2019–2020) Diversity Teaching Award Nominee, The Claremont Colleges (2018) EnviroLab Asia Research and Conference Award (2017–2018) Lavender Graduation Award (2016) Professional Development Networks Grant (2016–2017) Research Fellow, Summer Institute for the Center for Historic American Visual Culture, American Antiquarian Society (2014) Visual Studies Summer Research Award, USC (2014) New Directions Fellow, USC Center for Feminist Research (2011–2012) Tritia Toyota Fellowship (2001–2002) Cheng has advised and collaborated with numerous scholars and activists, though no formal advisees are listed. His work is deeply rooted in community engagement, having previously worked in HIV/AIDS social services and served on the Board of Directors at the HIV League. He was managing editor of American Quarterly (2010–2013) and has taught at UCLA and Hunter College. His research is supported by interdisciplinary networks and collaborative projects, including digital humanities initiatives and art-theory praxis. He is involved in multiple collaborative research and publishing projects, often working with artists like Candice Lin and scholars such as Alexandra Juhasz and Nishant Shahani. His recent special issue on 'Reservoirs' brings together scholars from anthropology, media studies, and philosophy to rethink historical and ecological crises. His lab-like collaborative environments include feminist media praxis collectives and interdisciplinary workshops on crisis, care, and decolonial knowledge.

• Feminist Studies
• Gender and Sexuality Studies
• Critical Race Theory
• +12 more

Dr. Katrien Pype is an Associate Professor at the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at KU Leuven University and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Department of African Studies and Anthropology at the University of Birmingham. Her work bridges anthropology, media studies, and African studies with a particular focus on urban Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She has established herself as a leading scholar in the anthropology of communication technologies, Pentecostalism, and urban social dynamics in Central Africa. Dr. Pype received her academic training at KU Leuven, earning an MA in Literature (German literature), an MA in Social and Cultural Anthropology, and an Advanced Masters in Social and Cultural Anthropology, before completing her PhD in Anthropology in 2008. Her doctoral research examined the production of evangelizing TV drama in Kinshasa. Following her PhD, she held prestigious postdoctoral positions including a Newton International Fellowship at the University of Birmingham (2009-2011) and a Marie Curie Fellowship at MIT and KU Leuven (2011-2013). Dr. Pype's research centers on the social and cultural contours of communication in urban Africa, particularly examining how people make sense of communication technologies in their daily lives and how these technologies impact urban lifeworlds. Her work spans multiple interconnected themes: the anthropology of Pentecostal media and religious expression, digital cultures and social media in African urban contexts, intergenerational dynamics and aging in relation to technology, and the politics of urban space and state-citizen relations. She approaches these topics through long-term ethnographic fieldwork in Kinshasa, employing participant observation and in-depth interviews to understand communication practices and their broader social implications. Her extensive publication record reveals a scholar deeply engaged with theoretical developments in media anthropology while maintaining empirical grounding in Central African contexts. Over time, her work has evolved from studying television media to examining mobile phone cultures, digital technologies, and their implications for social relations, political expression, and religious practice. A consistent thread throughout her scholarship is attention to how communication technologies mediate social relations, power dynamics, and cultural transformations in urban African settings. Newton International Fellowship (2009-2011) Marie Curie Fellowship (FP7-2009) (2011-2013) Odysseus grant (FWO G.A005.14N) FWO-ERC-Runner Up Budget (FWO G.0.E65.14N) Dr. Pype actively mentors students interested in popular culture, technology and society interactions, gender, and aging. She leads a research team working on technology cultures in urban DR Congo and beyond (1960-present), which includes five doctoral and postdoctoral scholars. This project, funded by an Odysseus grant and an FWO-ERC-Runner Up Budget, produces ethnographies of medical, energy, and communication cultures in Kinshasa, Kikwit, and Nakuru. Additionally, she is involved in a comparative research program on New Media Practices in a Changing Africa, funded by the Norwegian Research Council. Beyond her formal mentorship, she fosters academic community through the Congo Research Network, which she founded in 2009 to connect scholars working on the Democratic Republic of Congo. Dr. Pype directs the Congo Research Network, which brings together humanities scholars studying the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her current research team investigates technology cultures across urban Africa, examining how digital technologies intersect with medical practices, energy systems, and communication patterns. This work positions her at the forefront of scholarship on digital transformations in African urban contexts, while maintaining deep connections to historical trajectories and local cultural practices.

• Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Media Studies
• Urban Studies
• +5 more

Beshara Doumani is the inaugural Mahmoud Darwish Professor of Palestinian Studies and Professor of History at Brown University. He also holds the former title of Joukowsky Family Distinguished Professor of Modern Middle East History (2012-2020). As founding director of Brown's Center for Middle East Studies (2012-2018), he spearheaded New Directions for Palestinian Studies and contributed to the Palestinian Museum's strategic planning (2009-2011). His academic journey includes tenures at UC Berkeley and the University of Pennsylvania, alongside fellowships at institutions like the Woodrow Wilson Center and the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton. His research focuses on marginalized histories of the Middle East, emphasizing Palestinian social, economic, and legal dynamics. Notable works include Rediscovering Palestine (1995) and Family Life in the Ottoman Mediterranean (2017). He has also edited key volumes on family history and academic freedom post-9/11. Education: PhD (1990), MA (1980) from Georgetown University; BA (1977) from Kenyon College Research Interests: Ottoman social history, Palestinian Studies, displacement phenomena, academic freedom Recipient of the 2015 Mellon Foundation Sawyer Seminar Award for interdisciplinary work on displacement's global impact. His current project explores Palestinian history through stone's socio-cultural significance. Awards: Mellon Sawyer Seminar Award (2015) Woodrow Wilson Fellowship (1997-1998) Radcliffe Institute Fellowship (2006-2007) Teaching & Leadership: Courses include History of the Palestinians, Middle East Studies, and displacement studies. Served as President of Birzeit University (2021-2023).

• Middle East Studies
• Ottoman History
• Social History
• +4 more

Taylor Carman is a Professor of Philosophy at Barnard College, with a focus on 19th- and 20th-century European philosophy, particularly the works of Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty. His research explores phenomenology, existentialism, and the intersections of Continental and analytic traditions. Education: B.A., University of Wyoming; Ph.D., Stanford University. Research interests include Heidegger’s ontology, Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology of perception, and existentialist thought. He has authored influential books such as Heidegger’s Analytic (2003) and Merleau-Ponty (2008), and co-edited The Cambridge Companion to Merleau-Ponty (2005). His current project involves a new book on Heidegger. Recent articles engage with existentialism, metaphysics, and critiques of philosophical traditions. His work bridges analytic and continental philosophy, emphasizing rigorous interpretation and methodological clarity. Advising and grants: No specific advisees or grants listed. His academic contributions reside in scholarly publications and editorial work. He is affiliated with Barnard College’s Philosophy Department, where he continues to advance scholarship in continental philosophy and phenomenology.

• 19th- and 20th-century European Philosophy
• Phenomenology
• Existentialism
• +3 more