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Dr. Anna A. Berman serves as Associate Professor of Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature and Culture within the Slavonic Studies section of the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge, where she is also a Fellow of Clare College. Previously, she held an Associate Professorship at McGill University's Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures in Montreal, Canada. Her academic credentials include: B.A. from Brown University M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge Ph.D. from Princeton University Dr. Berman's research centers on nineteenth-century Russian and English novels, with specialized focus on family structures, kinship dynamics, love, and marriage. She extensively examines the intersection of scientific thought (particularly Darwinism and Mechnikov's phagocyte theory) with literary production, alongside operatic adaptations of Russian classics. Her current scholarly mission prioritizes recovering the legacy of marginalized nineteenth-century Russian women novelists, especially Nadezhda Khvoshchinskaya and Evgenia Tur. Her publication trajectory reveals sustained investigation into familial relationships within nineteenth-century literature, with sibling dynamics constituting a dominant theme across both Russian and English novels. She has pioneered critical analysis of science-literature dialogues in Russian contexts while recently shifting toward feminist recovery projects that challenge canonical exclusions in Russian literary history. Dr. Berman actively supervises postgraduate research, welcoming MPhil and PhD candidates pursuing topics aligned with her expertise in nineteenth-century Russian literature, comparative family narratives, and science-literature intersections. Within Cambridge's academic ecosystem, she contributes to the Slavonic Studies research community and participates in the Cambridge Centre for Central and East European Studies (CamCCEEES), advancing collaborative scholarship on Eastern European cultural production.

• Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature
• Nineteenth-Century English Literature
• Family and Kinship in Literature
• +3 more

Dr. Emily Cuming is a Senior Lecturer in the Humanities and Social Science school at Liverpool John Moores University , specializing in British literature, culture, and social history from the 19th century to the present. Her research focuses on maritime relations, working-class girlhood, life writing, and representations of domestic spaces including council estates, slums, and bedsits. PhD, MA, BA in English & Russian from University of Manchester (2006, 2002, 2001) Editor of Key Words: A Journal of Cultural Materialism Co-leader of the Home and Domestic Cultures research network Committee member of the Research Institute for Literature and Cultural History Board member of the Centre for Port and Maritime History Her research combines literary analysis with historical and cultural studies, emphasizing material culture, port cities, and marginalized voices. Recent publications include Maritime Relations: Life, Labour and Literature at the Water’s Edge, 1830-1914 (Cambridge University Press, forthcoming 2025) and Housing, Class and Gender in Modern British Writing, 1880-2012 (CUP, 2016). She has received multiple research grants including AHRC Connected Communities funding and Liverpool John Moores University QR awards. Dr. Cuming teaches undergraduate modules on Life Stories , Representing Domestic Space , and Waterscapes , as well as MA courses on Place: Imagining Place in Modern Times . She supervises three PhD projects and welcomes new supervisees in her research areas. 2025: Enhancing Research Cultures funding for 'The Sinking of the Lancastria' 2024: Editorial board member of Journal of Victorian Culture 2023: NCCPE Engage Prize for 'Around the Toilet' project 2022: Caird Short-term Research Fellowship 2016: NCCPE Engage Prize winner

• British literature
• Cultural history
• Working-class studies
• +6 more

Dr. Catherine Brown is the Assistant Dean for Humanics and Associate Professor of English at Northeastern University London, where she leads the English program and focuses on 19th- and 20th-century literature, comparative studies (particularly Anglo-Russian), and veganism in literature. She holds a PhD in English and Russian Literature from the University of Cambridge and has taught at institutions including the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Greenwich. Her research includes a major project on the intersection of torture and fiction, emphasizing contemporary democratic practices. Dr. Brown’s educational background includes a BA in English Literature (University of Cambridge, 1998), an MSc in Russian and Post-Soviet Studies (London School of Economics, 1999), an MA in Comparative Literature (University College London, 2003), and a PhD (Cambridge, 2008). She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and serves as Vice President of the D.H. Lawrence Society, directing its London reading group. Her research interests span George Eliot, D.H. Lawrence, ecocriticism, and vegan theory. Recent work explores themes of modernism, cultural identity, and the body in literature. She has published extensively, including co-editing Journal of DH Lawrence Studies and The Reception of George Eliot in Europe . Dr. Brown has received the Academic Podcaster of the Year award (University of Oxford, 2012). She advises on academic programs, contributes to global university partnerships, and serves as an external examiner for Edinburgh Napier University and Blackpool and the Fylde College. Her advocacy extends to mental health and academic outreach, and she actively participates in committees for international D.H. Lawrence conferences.

• Comparative Literature
• Victorian Literature
• Twentieth-Century Literature
• +5 more

Dr. Margarita Vaysman is an Associate Professor of Russophone Literature, Thought, and Culture (1820–1945) at the University of Oxford, serving as a Tutorial Fellow at New College and a Lecturer at Jesus and Merton Colleges. She holds MPhil and DPhil degrees from Wadham College, Oxford, and a к.ф.н. (Candidate of Philological Sciences) from Perm State University. Her academic leadership roles include chairing the National Research and Development Committee for BASEES and co-convening its 19th-Century Study Group. Her research focuses on 19th-century Russian literature, particularly Realist fiction, and the history of gender and sexuality. Key works include Self-Conscious Realism: Metafiction and the Nineteenth-Century Russian Novel (2021) and an upcoming monograph on queer and transgender erasure in Russian culture. She co-edits The Oxford Handbook of Global Realisms (OUP). Teaching spans undergraduate Russian literature (with emphasis on 19th-century texts and gender studies) and postgraduate supervision in gender/queer theory, Realist novels, and Ukrainian/Russian cultural contexts. Her work is supported by grants from the British Council, British Academy, and others. Recent publications analyze transgender narratives in historical texts and re-evaluate socialist realist canons. Grants and awards include funding from UKRI, CEELBAS, and Princeton/Columbia Universities. She actively contributes to academic discourse through peer-reviewed journals and public engagement initiatives.

• Russian Literature
• Gender Studies
• Queer Theory
• +3 more

Helen Smith is an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia (UEA), where she contributes to teaching and research in literary studies. She is a member of the Creative Writing Research Group and holds a PhD from UEA, where her thesis explored the influence of editor Edward Garnett on early twentieth-century fiction. BA (part-time), University of East Anglia MA in Studies in Fiction, University of East Anglia PhD, University of East Anglia Helen Smith's research centers on Life Writing , literary Modernism , 19th- and early 20th-century Russian fiction , and author-publisher relations . Her work delves into how literary editors like Edward Garnett shaped modernist literature through mentorship and editorial guidance. She is particularly interested in the cultural transmission of Russian literature into English and the dynamics of literary biography and creative non-fiction. Her publications, including the acclaimed biography An Uncommon Reader: A Life of Edward Garnett , reflect a sustained engagement with editorial influence, literary networks, and biographical writing. The works span book-length studies, book chapters, and peer-reviewed articles, all contributing to the understanding of modernist literary culture and translational practices. Her scholarly excellence has been recognized with several honors: Joint winner of the Biographer's Club Prize Shortlisted for the Simply Foxed First Biography Prize Recipient of the RSL/Jerwood Award for Non-Fiction Helen Smith teaches two key modules: FROM PUSHKIN TO CHEKHOV: NINETEENTH CENTURY RUSSIAN FICTION and WRITING LIFE: BIOGRAPHY AND CREATIVE NON-FICTION . These courses reflect her dual expertise in Russian literary traditions and the art of life writing. She has not been mentioned as supervising students, but her teaching and publications suggest a strong mentorship role in creative and academic writing. Her research was supported by prestigious awards, including the RSL/Jerwood grant. She is affiliated with the Creative Writing Research Group at UEA, which fosters interdisciplinary work in writing and literary scholarship.

• Life Writing
• Literary Biography
• Literary Modernism
• +6 more

Dr Claire Whitehead is an Associate Professor in the Russian Department at the University of St Andrews, within the School of Modern Languages. She specializes in Russophone literature and culture, with a focus on crime fiction, the fantastic, and narrative theory. Her research highlights the sociohistorical context of 19th-century Russian literature, particularly through projects like 'Lost Detectives: Adapting Old Texts for New Media' , a collaboration with artist Carol Adlam. She holds a BA (Hons) in Russian and French from the University of Bristol (1995) and a PhD in Russian and French from the same institution (2002). Her teaching spans beginner Russian language courses to advanced modules on crime fiction and comparative literature. She has been awarded the St Andrews Public Engagement with Research Collaboration Award (2019) and the St Andrews Students Association Prize for Outstanding Dissertation Supervisor (2023). Her research outputs include monographs like The Poetics of Early Russian Crime Fiction (2018) and articles exploring gender dynamics in late imperial Russian crime narratives. She actively supervises PhD students and leads interdisciplinary projects, such as graphic novel adaptations of forgotten texts and podcast initiatives.

• Crime Fiction
• Russophone Literature
• The Fantastic
• +4 more

Professor Angelique Richardson is a distinguished academic at the University of Exeter, specializing in the history of science and literature. She serves as a member of staff in the Department of English and Creative Writing and is affiliated with the Centres for Medical History and Victorian Studies. Richardson is also a research associate of Egenis, the Centre for the Study of Life Sciences, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her work spans multiple interdisciplinary fields, connecting literary studies with historical and scientific inquiry. Richardson earned her BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Oxford, followed by an MA and PhD in the history of literature and science from Birkbeck, University of London. Her educational background bridges traditional literary studies with scientific history, forming the foundation for her interdisciplinary approach. Her research interests focus on the intersection of science and literature, particularly examining the uses and misuses of scientific theories throughout history. Richardson investigates reformers and class revolutionaries from Malthus, Marx, and Mona Caird to the Russian anarchist Kropotkin. Her literary analysis spans European and Russian authors from the Brontës, Gaskell, and Eliot to Gide, Thomas Mann, Zola, and Tolstoy. She also explores contemporary issues including eugenics, racism, gender politics, Victorian studies, medical history, and digital humanities. Her work frequently addresses how historical scientific discourses continue to influence modern social and political thought. Richardson's publications reveal a consistent focus on interdisciplinary connections between literary texts and scientific thought. Her work demonstrates how Victorian scientific theories, particularly around evolution, eugenics, and racial thinking, permeated literary culture and continue to influence contemporary debates. She examines both historical contexts and their modern manifestations, showing how scientific ideas have been weaponized for political purposes across different eras. Her scholarship bridges historical analysis with urgent contemporary concerns about racism, gender politics, and the misuse of science in public discourse. English Guild Teaching Award AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Award for Radio 4 documentary 'Bad Blood, The Story of Eugenics' Nominated for Guild Best Research Supervisor Award Shortlisted for the 2017 Modernist Studies Association Book Prize Richardson has supervised 25 PhD students to successful completion and currently mentors several researchers working on diverse topics including political prisoners, eugenics in Britain and China, hunger strikes, feminist writers, censorship, and Victorian fake news. She supervises six AHRC-funded South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership PhD researchers and leads the Hardy's Correspondents project in collaboration with Dorset Museum and Exeter's Digital Humanities Lab. Her public engagement work includes contributions to BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour, BBC 1 News, and multiple documentaries. She serves as co-chair of the Hardy Country Partnership and leads its education strategy, demonstrating her commitment to connecting academic work with public understanding. Richardson leads significant collaborative projects including the Hardy's Correspondents project at Exeter and co-supervises an AHRC DTP Collaborative Doctoral Award on Eugenics at the Royal Society 1860-1950. She has developed extensive collaborations with local government, museums, and the National Trust, reflecting her dedication to public engagement in both teaching and research. Her work bridges academic scholarship with community outreach, creating meaningful connections between university research and broader societal concerns.

• History of Science and Literature
• Eugenics
• Victorian Studies
• +10 more

Luca Costa is a DPhil Student and Tutor at the University of Oxford, specializing in the existentialist interpretation of Giacomo Leopardi’s poetry and philosophy. His roles include teaching undergraduate courses on academic writing, ethics, and existentialism, alongside delivering lectures on Albert Camus at University College London (UCL). University: University of Oxford Department: Department of Italian Academic Rank: Tutor Costa’s research situates Leopardi as a precursor to existentialism, examining his philosophical contributions to European thought. His publications span comparative analyses with Dostoevsky and Pavese, Latin translations of Leopardi’s works, and explorations of nihilism through modern interpretations. His academic administration roles include Secretary of Leopardi Studies at Oxford and the Oxford Italian Research Seminar. Public engagement efforts include articles in The Conversation and YouTube lectures on Leopardi’s existentialist philosophy.

• Existential Philosophy
• Italian Literature
• Comparative Literature
• +3 more

Rudolph Ng is a Lecturer in Global History at the University of Portsmouth, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, within the School of Area Studies, Sociology, History, Politics and Literature. He is affiliated with the Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures and the Centre for European & International Studies Research. He is actively involved in research and teaching, supervising PhD students and contributing to major research projects. His research interests include: 19th-century global migration Chinese diaspora and labour migration Transcultural history Labour rights and humanitarianism Modern China and Japan Maritime and port city histories Rudolph Ng’s recent publications focus on Chinese migration to Latin America, particularly Cuba and Nicaragua, analyzing the socio-economic and diplomatic dimensions of these movements. His work often bridges history, migration studies, and transcultural exchange, highlighting the understudied roles of Chinese labourers in post-slavery economies. The articles show a consistent thematic focus on migration, identity, and global interconnectivity in the 19th and early 20th centuries. His current research projects include: S2S: From Sail to Steam, Carbon to Green (Co-Investigator) Collaboration with University of Macau (Principal Investigator) The discursive making of the Indo-Pacific event: Viewed from Taiwan (Co-Investigator) He has contributed expert commentary to media, such as on a 184-foot shipwreck in the Carquinez Strait, reflecting his maritime history expertise. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses on Modern China, Modern Japan, and the Cold War, and is actively involved in advising and research collaboration.

• Global History
• Nineteenth-Century Migration
• Chinese Diaspora
• +9 more

Professor Alastair Renfrew serves as Professor of English and Comparative Literature in the Department of English Studies at Durham University, with contact details including email alastair.renfrew2@durham.ac.uk and telephone +44 (0) 191 33 43821. His institutional affiliation is clearly documented through university-hosted profile pages and publication records. Renfrew specializes in literary and critical theory with deep expertise in Mikhail Bakhtin and Russian Formalism, evidenced by his monograph Towards a New Material Aesthetics (2006) and the Routledge Critical Thinkers volume on Bakhtin (2015). His research extends to Russian Literature, Scottish Literature, Russian and Soviet Cinema, and emerging interests in the Theory and History of the Novel alongside Popular music studies, reflecting a consistent interdisciplinary approach bridging Eastern and Western critical traditions. Analysis of his recent publications reveals sustained engagement with Bakhtinian concepts across literary and cinematic contexts, particularly in adaptation studies (e.g., Kizhe adaptations) and Soviet cultural history. His work demonstrates recurring themes of parody, utopian thought in Lenin, and the formalist paradigm, often examining Tarkovsky's films as intersections of narrative theory and political ideology. This output consistently connects Russian theoretical frameworks with broader Western critical discourse.

• literary and critical theory
• Bakhtin studies
• Russian Formalism
• +5 more

Dr Oliver Ready serves as a College Lecturer in Russian at the University of Oxford's Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, specializing in nineteenth-century and contemporary Russian literature. His dual expertise spans academic scholarship and literary translation, making significant contributions to cross-cultural literary exchange. His research centers on philosophical dimensions of Russian literary tradition, particularly wisdom-seeking motifs in post-1960s writing and Gogol's enduring legacy. Current projects include a monograph on Nikolai Gogol and translations of Vladimir Sharov's works, reflecting his focus on Soviet/post-Soviet intellectual history and theological themes in fiction. Dr Ready's publication portfolio reveals consistent engagement with Russian literary canon and contemporary voices. His translation work demonstrates particular attention to historical trauma, religious philosophy, and political allegory, with strong representation of Soviet-era narratives and postmodern reinterpretations of Russian history. His scientific awards include: International Read Russia Prize (2018) Read Russia Prize (2015) Rossica Prize (2005) As an educator, Dr Ready teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students across Oxford University while maintaining active roles in literary curation. His service includes editorial work for Columbia University Press's Russian Library series and seven years as Consultant Editor for Russia and East-Central Europe at the Times Literary Supplement (2008-2017).

• Russian Literature
• Nineteenth-Century Literature
• Contemporary Russian Literature
• +1 more

Alfie Bown is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Media Culture and Technology at King’s College London’s Department of Digital Humanities, within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. He is affiliated with the Centre for Digital Culture and the Digital Humanities Game Lab (DHGL). His research focuses on psychoanalysis, digital media, and popular culture, with particular emphasis on the intersections between technology, capitalism, and cultural theory. Bown’s work explores topics such as dating apps, video games, and the gig economy, often employing psychoanalytic frameworks. His notable publications include *Post-Comedy* (2024), *Dream Lovers* (2022), and *The PlayStation Dreamworld* (2017). He has contributed to journals like *Postmedieval* and *American Journal of Psychoanalysis*, and his journalism appears in outlets such as *The Guardian*, *The Paris Review*, and *Newsweek*. Bown is also the editor of *Everyday Analysis* and a writer/producer for *The Magician’s Niece*. His current research investigates the relationship between psychoanalysis and cybernetics. Bown supervises PhD students in areas like psychoanalysis, labor studies, film, and video games. His academic and public engagement bridges scholarly and popular discourse on digital culture.

• Psychoanalysis
• Digital Media
• Popular Culture
• +5 more

Professor Andrei Zorin is a Professor of Russian and Fellow of New College at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Faculty of Medieval & Modern Languages. His research focuses on Russian literature and cultural history from the 18th to early 19th centuries, with emphasis on ideological frameworks, emotional cultural history, and late Soviet/post-Soviet literature. He has published extensively on topics such as Russian imperial symbolism, European intellectual networks, and comparative urban studies. His notable works include Кормя двуглавого орла... (2004) and Где сидит фазан (2003), alongside editorial contributions like the Berlin-Moscow chronicle (2003). He has also authored seminal articles on the Holy Alliance's mysticism (Kritika, 2003) and semiotic theory applications in Russian contexts (History and Theory, 2001). Research Themes: Enlightenment Studies, Russian Cultural History, Literary Ideology Teaching Focus: Slavonic Languages, Russian Cultural Analysis Awards and grants are not explicitly listed in available materials. He has advised no formally recorded students in this dataset. Prof Zorin collaborates closely with the Taylor Institution Library and contributes to interdisciplinary programs in European cultural history at Oxford.

• Russian Literature
• Cultural History of 18th-19th Century Europe
• Russian Literary Ideology
• +3 more

Professor Stanley Bill serves as Professor of Polish Studies and Director of the Slavonic Studies Section at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, where he is affiliated with Sidney Sussex College. His research bridges literary scholarship and political analysis, focusing on twentieth-century Polish literature and contemporary political developments in Poland. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Comparative Literary Studies, Northwestern University, United States Professor Bill's scholarly interests span multiple interconnected domains: Twentieth-century Polish literature, particularly the works of Czesław Miłosz and Bruno Schulz Contemporary Polish politics, including populism, civil society dynamics, and the Law and Justice (PiS) government's impact Postcolonial theory applications to Eastern European contexts Legacies of Polish Romanticism in modern cultural identity Translation studies and transnational reception of Polish literature His publication trajectory reveals consistent interdisciplinary innovation, with recent work increasingly integrating political science frameworks into literary analysis. Key thematic clusters include the interplay between literature and authoritarianism, the evolution of Polish national identity through historical trauma, and critical examinations of populism's impact on civil society. His collaborative research with Ben Stanley on Poland's political trajectory has established him as a leading voice in democratization studies for Central and Eastern Europe. Notable recognitions include: 2025: Forthcoming Jan Kochanowski Prize nomination for Good Change (anticipated) 2024: Honorable Mention, Anna M. Cienciala Award for edited volume 2023: Jan Kochanowski Prize for Polish Studies 2018: Cambridge University Student Union Best Lecturer Award Professor Bill actively mentors postgraduate researchers including Jordan Lian and Juliette Bretan, while leading institutional initiatives such as the Cambridge Committee for Central and East European and Eurasian Studies (2019-23). His externally funded projects include the Notes from Poland digital platform, which receives support from philanthropic foundations focused on Central European studies. He maintains active collaborations with Jagiellonian University and Polish cultural institutions. He directs the Slavonic Studies Section and co-founded the Cambridge Central and East European Studies network, while his Notes from Poland initiative operates as a hybrid academic-public engagement platform featuring a podcast series and expert commentary on contemporary Polish affairs.

• Polish Literature
• Slavic Studies
• Contemporary Polish Politics
• +3 more

Caroline Collins is a Tutor and Research Collaborator at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Divinity. Her research focuses on intersections of religion with literature, politics, and Russian revolutionary movements. She holds a BA from Southwestern University (USA) and an MTS from Southern Methodist University (USA). Her current projects explore the devil in literary works, Russian terrorism, and religious symbolism in texts like The Brothers Karamazov. Education: BA (magna cum laude), Southwestern University (USA), Religion (2019) MTS (summa cum laude), Southern Methodist University (USA), Biblical Studies (2022) Research interests: Collins examines how religious themes manifest in Gothic and Russian literature, particularly through devil symbolism and revolutionary narratives. Her work bridges theological concepts with historical contexts, analyzing texts like Dostoevsky’s works and Sadean libertine novels. Her recent publications include analyses of Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov and a film critique of Jesus Camp . She actively participates in conferences like the American Academy of Religion and the SGSAH Postgraduate Research Day. Awards: Charley T. and Jesse James Bible Award (2022) David Knox Porter Award (2020) Collins contributes to undergraduate teaching, including courses on philosophy of religion and early modern European witchcraft. She collaborates with the North American Research Collective - Religious Trauma (NARC-RT) on trauma-related religious studies.

• Religion and Literature
• Religion and Politics
• The Devil in Poetry, Plays, and Prose
• +3 more