Find Academic Supervisors

Harsha RamView profile

Associate Professor

• Russian and European Enlightenment
• Romanticism and Modernism
• Georgian and Caucasus Literary History
• +8 more

Harsha Ram is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on Russian and European Enlightenment, modernist literature, and the cultural histories of the Caucasus region. He holds dual B.A. Honors degrees in Italian and Russian from the University of Sydney and University of New South Wales, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Yale University. His work bridges literary theory, post-colonial studies, and geopoetics, with a particular emphasis on Georgia's literary modernism and its intersections with Russian imperial culture. Key themes include spatial theory, peripheral modernisms, and the transnational dimensions of cultural production. Recent work examines the role of ritual feasts in Georgian national identity and the geopoetics of Eurasian avant-garde movements. Ram has published extensively on figures like Velimir Khlebnikov and Boris Pasternak, exploring their engagement with imperial legacies and revolutionary aesthetics. His book The Imperial Sublime: A Russian Poetics of Empire (2003) remains a seminal study of Russian imperial poetics. Current projects include studies on Georgian literary encounters with Russian culture and the symbolic dimensions of Caucasus representations. His scholarship frequently appears in leading journals such as Modernism/Modernity , Slavic Review , and Ab Imperio . He has held visiting positions at institutions globally and actively participates in interdisciplinary dialogues between literary studies, history, and cultural geography.

• Gender Studies
• Intersectionality
• Queer Studies
• +6 more

Angelika Sjöstedt serves as Professor and Chair of Gender Studies within the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Mid Sweden University. Her academic leadership spans teaching across Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programs in Gender Studies and Sociology, while actively contributing to institutional discourse through roles such as delivering the 2024 academic celebration lecture. She maintains significant engagement with contemporary academic freedom debates, notably co-organizing the 2024 seminar series addressing responsible internationalization amid the Gaza conflict. Her research profile reveals deep expertise in intersectional analysis of gender, settler colonialism, and labor precarity, particularly examining how chronic crises manifest in peripheralized regions. Recent work demonstrates acute responsiveness to geopolitical emergencies, with 2024 publications directly confronting academic complicity in genocide. Her methodological approach bridges ethnographic rigor with activist scholarship, evident in long-term collaborations like the Båskoes Sámi research network and Forum for Gender Research. Sjöstedt's scholarly trajectory shows consistent thematic development from early work on flexible knowledge-work subjectivity (2012) through nuanced examinations of rural resilience (2017-2020) to current urgent interventions in academic freedom. Her publications reveal distinctive geographic focus on Norrland's inland regions while maintaining transnational theoretical relevance, particularly regarding mining resistance movements and crisis management frameworks. The 2021-2024 output demonstrates accelerated engagement with acute political emergencies, signaling scholarly adaptation to escalating global crises. Professional networks constitute a critical dimension of her work, with sustained involvement in the Forum for Gender Research since at least 2015 and leadership in the Båskoes network advancing Indigenous research methodologies. Her editorial work on critical anthologies like Aktivism: En antologi om arbete för social och politisk förändring (2022) demonstrates commitment to bridging academic and activist knowledge production.

Rashmi VarmaView profile

Professor

• Postcolonial Studies
• Urban Studies
• Global Feminism
• +5 more

Rashmi Varma is a Professor at the University of Warwick, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts. She has previously taught at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi. Education: BA in English (Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi MA in English Literature from University of Delhi PhD in English and Women’s Studies from University of Illinois at Chicago Research interests: Varma specializes in the postcolonial city, postcolonial Indian and African theory, global feminism, representations of indigeneity, and world literature theory. Her work interrogates urban political ecologies, feminist pedagogy, and subaltern politics. Scientific awards: British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship (2011-2012) for Modern Tribal: Representing Indigeneity in Postcolonial India Supervision: She currently supervises PhD students Angel Maria Varghese, Shavena Malvika Nair (Chancellor's International Scholar), Ragesree Roy, and Archana Vinod (Chancellor's International Scholar). Collaborations: Varma co-edited journals like Feminist Dissent and special issues on transnational feminism, urban political ecologies, and postcolonial theory. She was involved in the Tate Exchange workshop on 'Production, Truth and Justice' (2021).

Allen J. ScottView profile

Research Professor

• Urban geography
• Regional development
• Globalization
• +3 more

Allen J. Scott is a Distinguished Research Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, with a joint appointment in the Department of Public Policy (School of Public Affairs) and Department of Geography. He has held prestigious positions at UCLA since 1994 and previously at the University of Toronto (1969–1994). His career spans over five decades, focusing on urban geography, regional development, and cultural economy. Education : BA (1961) from Oxford University; MA and PhD (1962, 1965) from Northwestern University. Research Interests include: Creative cities and cognitive-cultural capitalism Political economy of urbanization and globalization Industrial clusters and labor-intensive economies Human capital distribution in metropolitan areas Cultural landscapes and peripheral development Publication Trends (2005–2014) emphasize: Globalization's impact on low-technology industries Cognitive-cultural capitalism in urban contexts Human capital dynamics in metropolitan hierarchies Celebrity culture and urban glamour Creative field theories and urban policy implications Scientific Awards : 1986 Guggenheim Fellow 2003 Vautrin Lud Prize 2005 Meridian Book Prize 1999–2013: Chaires d’Excellence, Fellowships, and Doctor Honoris Causa 2008 Carol and Bruce Mallen Lifetime Achievement Award 2003 ISI Highly Cited Author

Judit BodnarView profile

Professor

• Urban Theory
• Urban History
• Modernity and Capitalism
• +8 more

Judit Bodnar is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at Central European University (CEU), affiliated with the Doctoral School of History. Her research spans urban theory, political economy of globalization, public space, and the cultural dimensions of capitalism. She actively contributes to academic discourse through publications and editorial roles. Research Interests: Urban theory and history Modernity and capitalism (comparative and historical) Uneven development Public space and public art Political economy and culture of globalization Sharing economy and digital platforms Food and politics Her recent work focuses on the transformation of public and private boundaries in the context of digital platforms like Airbnb and home restaurants, as well as the racial and spatial segregation of Roma communities in urban Europe. She critically examines the legacies of 1968 as a global moment and the gentrification of urban spaces such as Chicago’s Cabrini Green. The publication trends reflect a deep engagement with urban sociology, political economy, and cultural critique, especially in the context of neoliberalism, digital transformation, and global inequality. Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary urban challenges. Editorial Role: Co-editor, Critical Historical Studies , University of Chicago Press Academic Events: Privacy Goes Public: Airbnb, Home Restaurant and the Reconfiguring of Public and Private in the Sharing Economy (November 24, 2021) Racial Cities: The Segregation of Roma in Urban Europe (October 5, 2017) She advises doctoral students in the Doctoral School of History and supervises research on urban and historical sociology. Her work is supported by interdisciplinary collaborations and engagement with global scholarly networks. She is involved in critical urban research, often linking theory with social justice concerns. Labs and Research Groups: Active participant in urban sociology and globalization research clusters at CEU Contributor to transnational dialogues on the right to the city and urban commons

Claire MercerView profile

Professor

• Human Geography
• Urbanization in Africa
• Middle Class Dynamics
• +5 more

Claire Mercer is a Professor of Human Geography at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), based in the Department of Geography and Environment. Her research focuses on urbanization in Africa, particularly in Tanzania, examining how middle-class identities are constructed through suburban housing and self-build practices. She explores themes of class reproduction, urban inequality, and the intersection of civil society with development policies. Mercer is a leading scholar in African urban studies, with expertise in diaspora networks, postcolonial geographies, and NGO dynamics. Her current research project, funded by the ESRC, investigates how self-build housing in Ghana and Tanzania drives urban and economic growth. She has authored multiple books and articles, including the upcoming monograph The suburban frontier: middle class construction in Dar es Salaam (University of California Press, 2024). Mercer serves on editorial boards for journals such as the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research and Antipode , contributing to critical debates in development geography. Her work spans interdisciplinary themes including African urbanism, spatial inequality, and the politics of belonging. Key regions of focus include Tanzania, Cameroon, and the UK. Mercer’s research bridges theoretical frameworks from human geography with empirical studies of African urbanization, emphasizing the material and aesthetic dimensions of class formation in peripheral urban areas.

Priti NarayanView profile

Assistant Professor

• Urban Development
• South Asia
• State-Society Relations
• +7 more

Priti Narayan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Faculty of Arts. Her research and teaching focus on urban processes and politics in India, with an emphasis on state-society relations, feminist methodologies, and public scholarship. Prior to joining UBC, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University’s Mellon Initiative in Architecture, Urbanism, and the Humanities. PhD in Geography, Rutgers University (2019) Narayan’s research explores how marginalized communities in Chennai, India, negotiate slum evictions through collective action. She collaborates with the Pennurimai Iyakkam (“Women’s Rights Movement”) to document working-class activists’ lived experiences and theorize their contributions to urban studies. Her work bridges academic and activist knowledge, advocating for interdisciplinary approaches to environmental justice and labor rights. Recent projects examine urban development in Tamil Nadu, labor codes, and occupational health for construction workers. Her academic publications span journals like Gender, Place & Culture , Urban Studies , and Environment and Planning D: Society and Space , often co-authored with local activists. She emphasizes ethnography, archival analysis, and collaborative methods. Scientific Awards : SSHRC Insight Development Grant (2023) UBC PRE Fund Award (2023) CIHR Operating Grant (Co-PI, 2021-23) Hampton New Faculty Research Grant Narayan supervises graduate students in Geography and Interdisciplinary Studies, including Varun Panickar and Paroma Wagle (postdoctoral). She currently does not accept new supervisees. Her courses at UBC include topics like urban environmental politics and climate change.

Steinar AasView profile

Professor

• Urban History
• Urban Planning
• World War II History
• +11 more

Steinar Aas is a Professor at Nord University since 2012, specializing in modern Norwegian and European history with a particular focus on World War II memory studies. He holds a Dr.artium degree from the University of Tromsø (UiT) obtained in 2007. His academic career spans several institutions including the University of Tromsø where he served as Senior Consultant (1993-1998), Researcher for Narvik municipality (1998-2001), Office Manager of the Department of History (2001-2010), and Researcher at University College Bodø/University of Nordland (2010-2012) before joining Nord University. Professor Aas's educational background includes his doctoral work at UiT completed in 2007. His extensive academic journey reflects deep engagement with Northern Norwegian history and institutions. His research focuses on the interwar period, urbanization and urban life, urban planning, modernization processes, polar history, political history, and the use of history through memory studies. His work particularly emphasizes Second World War experiences in Norway. His expertise spans diverse areas including Urban History/Planning, Bodø during WWII, European History, Fascism/National Socialism, History Didactics, War History, Women/Gender History, Local and Regional History, Memory Studies, Modern and Norwegian History, High North Studies, Polar/Circumpolar History, Social History, and Labor History. Professor Aas's recent publications (2023-2024) demonstrate a strong focus on Northern Norwegian urban development, particularly Bodø, with numerous works examining small town urbanization from historical and contemporary perspectives. He has made significant contributions to understanding polar exploration history, particularly regarding Roald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile's expeditions, as well as the complex history of Narvik during WWII and the interwar period. His work often intersects urban studies with memory studies, examining how historical events shape contemporary urban identity. Professor Aas is actively engaged in public discourse, frequently contributing to local newspapers like Avisa Nordland with historical commentary on contemporary issues, demonstrating his commitment to historical dissemination beyond academic circles. His work bridges academic research and public understanding of history. His academic advising and potential research grants are not explicitly detailed in the available information, though his extensive publication record suggests active mentorship and research leadership. His work on the history of Bodø and Northern Norway represents a significant contribution to regional historical scholarship while connecting to broader European and global historical narratives.

• Cultural Geography
• Geopolitics
• Cartography
• +4 more

Davide Papotti is a Full Professor of Geography (M/GGR-01) at the University of Parma's Faculty of Letters and Philosophy, where he has been a faculty member since 2005 (Researcher) and 2010 (Associate Professor). He teaches Cultural Geography, Geopolitics, and Literary Geography, primarily within the Master's programs in Educational Services Planning and Modern Foreign Civilizations. PhD in 'Man and Environment' (2002, University of Padua) MA in Italian Literature (1996, University of Virginia) BA in Literature (1993, University of Parma) His research focuses on cultural geography, landscape representation, and the intersection of cartography with literature and marketing. Recent publications explore cartographic symbolism in urban literature, landscape commodification at global expositions, and the role of literary narratives in understanding small towns. Key Research Areas: Cultural Geography, Geopolitics, Landscape Analysis, Literary Geography Recent Article Trends: 2024-2025 works emphasize spatial perception in literary texts, commercial cartography, and cultural representation of landscapes. As a member of the Italian Geographical Society, Society of Geographical Studies, and other academic associations, he contributes to geographic education through teaching and curriculum development.

David NugentView profile

Professor

• Sociocultural anthropology
• Political economics
• Agrarian society
• +5 more

David Nugent is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Emory University. He holds a PhD from Columbia University (1988) and specializes in sociocultural anthropology, political economics, and Latin American studies. His research focuses on state formation, race/ethnicity, agrarian societies, and the interplay between knowledge systems and power. Nugent’s fieldwork spans diverse regions including the Peruvian Andes, East Africa, the Canadian Arctic, and the U.S. Southwest. Key publications include The Encrypted State (2019), Modernity at the Edge of Empire (1997), and co-edited volumes such as State Theory and Andean Politics (2015). He has received the Choice Magazine ‘Outstanding Academic Title’ award for his collaborative work. Current projects explore vernacular sovereignties in Pacific-facing Latin America and underground democratic forms in Peru. Nugent’s research bridges historical and political anthropology, examining how states negotiate legitimacy through symbolic systems, fear, and displacement. His work critiques colonial and neocolonial knowledge frameworks while analyzing contemporary challenges like urban inequality and smart city governance. Education: PhD in Anthropology, Columbia University (1988) Awards: Choice Magazine ‘Outstanding Academic Title of 2004’ Projects: Co-editing ReOrienting Latin American History and authoring Sacropolitics: Group Sacrifice and the State of Redemption

Shakirah HudaniView profile

Assistant Professor

• African Urbanism
• Post-Conflict Urban Change
• Urban Planning Processes
• +3 more

Shakirah Hudani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina, with an affiliation in the Department of African, African American, & Diaspora Studies. She holds a PhD in City and Regional Planning from UC Berkeley. Her work centers on African urbanism, post-conflict urban change, and spatial politics in East Africa. Key research focuses include Rwanda's post-genocide urban reconstruction, Nairobi's peripheral development, and Luanda's oil-driven transformations. Her research examines how urban spaces reflect and reshape social dynamics, particularly around memory, identity, and governance. Recent projects analyze commemoration practices in Rwanda, land disputes in Nairobi, and carceral architectures. She critiques master planning processes and explores grassroots urban agency in marginalized communities. Publications span urban studies, critical geography, and postcolonial theory, with a focus on decolonizing urban narratives. Her work bridges academic analysis with practical urban policy debates, emphasizing equity and participatory planning in transitional societies.

Mikaela VasstrømView profile

Associate Professor

• Energy transitions
• Energy democracy
• Energy governance
• +5 more

Mikaela Vasstrøm (b.1977) is an Associate Professor at the Department of Global Development and Planning, University of Agder. She holds a PhD from the University of Copenhagen and leads significant research projects including the Norwegian Research Council-funded WINDPLAN initiative, which analyzes social acceptance and governance challenges in onshore wind power development across Norway, Scotland, and Denmark. She co-leads work packages in the WINDREG project focusing on procedural justice and knowledge co-production for energy transitions. Her research examines: Just energy transitions and energy democracy Governance challenges in renewable energy deployment Public participation in environmental conflicts Local/regional development implications of energy policies She co-directs UiA's participation in the Empowered Futures research school, developing PhD-level expertise in energy policy frameworks. Publications focus on wind energy governance, policy legitimacy, and spatial planning conflicts, with consistent themes of: Energy justice in policy design Local government capacity in energy transitions Participatory approaches in sustainability planning Research group affiliations include: Energy and Society Urban and Regional Planning (URPLAN)

Lana SalmanView profile

Assistant Professor

• International Development
• Urban Politics
• Social Reproduction
• +3 more

Lana Salman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto . A scholar of international development and urban politics, her research focuses on everyday statecraft, social reproduction, and urbanism in the Middle East and North Africa. PhD, University of California, Berkeley (City and Regional Planning, Global Metropolitan Studies) MUPP, American University of Beirut Her research explores how urban populations negotiate citizenship and state formation through: Land access and infrastructure development Microfinance institution operations Post-revolutionary governance practices Transdisciplinary north-south comparative analysis Current projects include: Tunisia State-Making: Ethnographic study of urban poor communities' role in statecraft Brussels-Beirut Comparison: Analysis of social workers' roles in refugee resettlement and urban displacement

Priya LalView profile

Associate Professor

• Modern African History
• Decolonization
• African Socialism
• +4 more

Priya Lal is an Associate Professor in the History Department at Boston College, based in Stokes Hall. She holds a B.A. from Columbia University and a Ph.D. from New York University. Her research focuses on modern African history, particularly East Africa, with an emphasis on decolonization, nationalism, development policies, African socialism, and gender dynamics. She currently leads a project on the transnational training and labor of educational/medical professionals in post-independence southeastern Africa, supported by major fellowships from the ACLS. Her first book, African Socialism in Postcolonial Tanzania , examines the ujamaa villagization initiative and won prestigious recognition. Her work bridges micro-historical analysis with global frameworks, exploring how Tanzanian socialist policies intersected with transnational movements. Research interests include Cold War-era ideological exchanges, the gendered dimensions of developmental labor, and the material connections between African and Asian revolutionary movements. She has published widely in top journals like Humanity and Africa: Journal of the International African Institute , with articles addressing topics such as Maoism in Tanzania and the New International Economic Order. Professor Lal’s awards reflect her scholarly impact, including the ACLS Burkhardt Fellowship and a book prize honorable mention. Her teaching spans African history and global modern history, with courses emphasizing comparative postcolonial experiences. Current research expands beyond Tanzania to consider broader themes of resource sovereignty and transnational professional networks in decolonizing contexts.

Sebastian HennView profile

Professor

• Economic Geography
• Regional Development
• Transnational Entrepreneurship
• +7 more

Sebastian Henn is a Professor of Economic Geography at the Institute of Geography, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, where he has held the Chair since 2014. He serves as Dean of Studies for the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences (since 2020) and Deputy Director of the Leibniz ScienceCampus "Eastern Europe - Global Area". His research spans transnational entrepreneurship, knowledge-based regional development, cluster dynamics, polarization/peripheralization, and migration studies . Education: Dipl.-Geogr. (University of Mannheim, 2001); Dr. rer. nat. (University of Halle, 2006); Habilitation (University of Halle, 2014) Key research areas include spatial perception, mobilities, health geography, and global-local interactions in sectors like pharmaceuticals, medical technology, and the diamond industry. Publications (2013-2024) focus on global production patterns, cluster evolution, regional embitterment, and the role of transnational entrepreneurs in industries from Gujarat to Antwerp. His 2023 work explores populist resentments in rural regions and health infrastructure disparities in Thuringia. Awards include the 2017 Journal of Economic Geography Best Referee Award. He co-edits the Springer series "Perspectives in Human Geography" and holds leadership roles in academic societies like the Schumpeter Centre for Social and Economic Change. Editorial and Review Activities : Active on boards of the Journal of Economic Geography and ZFW journal. Regular reviewer for 20+ journals and funding bodies including DFG and DAAD. Leads research on BRIC investments, Southern multinationals, and spatialization processes under globalization .