Find Academic Supervisors

• Political Theory
• Turkish Politics
• Islamic Political Thought
• +3 more

İsmail Yazıcı is a full-time Research Assistant in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Turkey. He holds a PhD in Political Science (2020) and an MSc in Political Science (2018) from Bilkent University, alongside dual BA degrees in History (2016) and Political Science (2015) from Middle East Technical University. PhD: Political Science, Bilkent University (2020) MSc: Political Science, Bilkent University (2018) BA: History, Middle East Technical University (2016) BA: Political Science, Middle East Technical University (2015) His research focuses on political theory , Ottoman intellectual history , and contemporary Turkish political thought , particularly examining concepts like justice , governance , and civilizational discourse . His work intersects with international relations , public administration , and media studies . Recent publications analyze topics such as TRT World’s media diplomacy , anti-Westernism in Islamic thought, and historiographical approaches in Turkey. He also explores cross-border operations , alternative historiographies , and migration security dynamics. Member, European Consortium for Political Research (2023–) Member, Middle East Studies Association (2023–)

• Medical and psychological anthropology
• Sleep studies
• Global mental health
• +6 more

Julia Vorhölter is Senior Research Fellow and Head of Research Group in the Department ‘Anthropology of Politics and Governance’ at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Halle (Saale), Germany. Previously she was lecturer and researcher at the Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Göttingen (2009–2020), and visiting fellow at Washington University in St. Louis (2016/17). Education: MA in Anthropology, University of Hamburg, 2008 PhD in Anthropology, University of Göttingen, 2014 Habilitation, Leipzig University, 2022 Research Interests: Her work integrates medical and psychological anthropology, science & technology studies, and African studies. She investigates sleep as cultural practice , global mental health and the globalization of psychotherapy in Uganda, post-war youth and generational change , and gender, sexuality & development interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Theoretically she draws on Foucauldian and neo-Marxist frameworks. Recent Publications: Since 2022 she has published extensively on sleep laboratories in Germany, the medicalization of unhappiness in Uganda, and debates on universality in science. The articles cluster around three themes: (1) ethnographies of sleep and insomnia in Germany, (2) the rise of psychotherapy and “psy” discourses in Uganda, and (3) critical reflections on anthropology’s role in global health and science studies. Grants & Fellowships: German Research Foundation (DFG) project “Sleep as Cultural Practice” (ongoing) Volkswagen Foundation Fellowship, Washington University in St. Louis (2016/17) Departmental Activities: She co-convenes the working groups “Lived Utopias” and “Science and Universality” and leads the “Well-being Profile” research topic cluster.

• International Relations Theory
• Chinese Foreign Policy
• East Asian Security
• +3 more

Christina Lai serves as an Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Political Science, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, and holds an adjunct faculty position in Global Security Studies at Johns Hopkins University. She earned her Ph.D. from Georgetown University and previously held a post-doctoral fellowship in Princeton University's China and the World Program (2015-2016). Academic Background: Ph.D., Georgetown University Dr. Lai's research centers on International Relations Theory, Chinese Foreign Policy, East Asian Security, and U.S.-China Relations, employing rigorous Qualitative Research Methods. Her work critically examines historical statecraft, norm contestation, and identity politics in the Asia-Pacific region, with particular focus on Taiwan's evolving political landscape and China's strategic behavior. She frequently investigates how historical analogies shape contemporary foreign policy decisions and how economic instruments intersect with security concerns. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2015-2025) reveals consistent thematic focus on China's territorial claims, U.S.-Taiwan strategic alignment, and economic coercion dynamics. Her scholarship demonstrates sophisticated integration of historical analysis with contemporary security challenges, particularly regarding South China Sea disputes, cross-strait relations, and institutional competition. Methodologically, she combines discourse analysis with case study approaches to unpack complex interactions between identity formation, norm diffusion, and strategic decision-making in East Asia. At Academia Sinica's Institute of Political Science, Dr. Lai contributes to research groups examining cross-strait relations and international relations theory. Her collaborative work extends through affiliations with Princeton University's China and the World Program and Johns Hopkins University's Global Security Studies program, reflecting her engagement with transnational academic networks focused on Asian security dynamics.

Nicole Mitchell GanttView profile

Professor

• Afrofuturism
• Jazz
• Experimental Music
• +7 more

Nicole Mitchell Gantt is a Professor of Composition & Computer Technologies at the University of Virginia , celebrated for her pioneering work in Afrofuturism , Experimental Jazz , and Intercultural Collaboration . Her career spans over two decades as a flutist, composer, and educator , blending science fiction narratives with Black cultural legacy . United States Artist Fellow (2020) Doris Duke Artist Award (2012) Herb Alpert Award in the Arts (2011) Downbeat Magazine/Critics Poll Top Flutist (2010–2022) Her research and creative practice explores: Mythological and ancestral storytelling in sound Integration of Octavia Butler’s Earthseed philosophy Human-computer musical dialogue via systems like VIVO Reimagining social structures through speculative composition Expanding the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) legacy Key projects include: Mandorla Awakening II: Emerging Worlds (2017) - MCA Chicago commission EarthSeed (2020) - Octavia Butler-inspired sonic manifesto Medusae (2022) - Human-AI improvisation experiment Bamako*Chicago Sound System (2024) - Malian-American sonic fusion

Tobias KaltView profile

Research Professor

• Political ecology
• Energy justice
• Socio-ecological transformation
• +5 more

Dr. phil. Tobias Kalt is a Research Professor at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin) and a political scientist specialising in socio-ecological transformation, energy justice, and the political economy of the global hydrogen economy. His work combines political-ecological and political-economic perspectives to analyse power relations, conflicts, and justice issues arising from global energy and industrial transformations. Research focus: Socio-ecological transformation and transformation conflicts North–South relations, (green) extractivism, and energy justice Work and ecology, with particular attention to trade unions and employees in transformation processes (Neo-)Gramscian approaches in political ecology Within the research project „Industrial Employees in Transformation“ (funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation), Dr Kalt investigates how industrial employees experience and shape transformation processes, how they articulate justice concerns within organisational change, and how these dynamics influence intra- and inter-organisational transitions. Across his 2021–2025 publications, a clear thematic trajectory emerges: from domestic labour–climate coalitions in the German coal phase-out, through trade-union strategies in green transitions, to a critical interrogation of the emerging global hydrogen economy. His recent work increasingly centres on the Global South, interrogating green extractivism, hydrogen justice, and the continuities of colonial patterns in renewable-energy supply chains. Selected collaborators: Johanna Tunn, Franziska Müller, Jesko Hennig, Jenny Simon, Anne Tittor, Imeh Ituen, Nina Glatzer. Contact: Tobias.Kalt@hwr-berlin.de

• History of Islam
• Formative period of Islam
• Classical Islam
• +9 more

Al Makin is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Ushuluddin, State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He is also a regular contributor to The Jakarta Post's op-ed column, where he writes extensively on issues related to Islam, politics, and society in Indonesia and the broader Muslim world. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany (2008), an M.A. in Islamic Studies from McGill University, Montreal, Canada (1999), and a B.A. in Islamic Studies from State Islamic University, Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Indonesia (1996). Dr. Makin's research primarily focuses on the history and literature of the formative period of Islam. He proposes that during Islam's emergence, there were multiple local Arab cults with Judeo-Christian influences and several claimants to prophethood, including figures like Musaylima and Umayya. His work challenges traditional narratives by suggesting a more complex religious landscape during Islam's formative years. Additionally, he extensively researches modern Indonesian Islam, examining the tensions between radical and moderate interpretations, religious pluralism, and the role of Islam in contemporary Indonesian politics and society. His body of work demonstrates a consistent concern with religious freedom, pluralism, and the dangers of religious extremism in Indonesia. Throughout his career, Dr. Makin has been awarded several scholarships and grants that have supported his academic work. He previously served as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Käte Hamburger Kolleg from April 2009 to March 2010, where he conducted research on 'Self-Reflection in the Transmission of the Rival's Message,' comparing the poems of Umayya (a contemporary claimant to prophethood during Muhammad's time) with the Quran. Dr. Makin has established himself as a prominent voice in Indonesian intellectual discourse, particularly regarding the challenges facing Indonesian Islam. His writings consistently advocate for religious tolerance, intellectual freedom, and a nuanced understanding of Islam that can coexist with modern democratic values. He has documented the increasing influence of conservative and radical voices in Indonesian religious institutions and politics, while offering critical analysis of how these developments affect Indonesia's social fabric and democratic institutions.

Erica De BruinView profile

Associate Professor

• Civil-Military Relations
• Civil War
• Policing
• +4 more

Erica De Bruin is an Associate Professor of Government at Hamilton College , where she directs the Policing Lab at the Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center. Her research spans civil-military relations , policing dynamics , armed group legitimacy , and democratic backsliding , with a focus on how regimes prevent coups through counterbalancing strategies and the global rise of militarized policing. Education: Ph.D., M.Phil., and M.A. in Political Science from Yale University; B.A. from Columbia University Appointments: Research Associate at Council on Foreign Relations; Non-Resident Fellow at Modern War Institute (West Point); Visiting Scholar at George Washington University Her recent projects include National Science Foundation -funded studies on civilian support for armed groups and global police militarization trends. De Bruin's scientific awards include the Spencer Foundation grant for teaching evaluation methods and the Stanton Foundation course development award for her 'Nuclear Politics' curriculum. She actively contributes to media discourse on coups, democratic erosion, and security policy. De Bruin's professional affiliations include the American Political Science Association, International Studies Association, American Association of University Women, and Women in Conflict Studies. Her teaching portfolio features courses on International Security, Nuclear Politics, Civil War, and Civil-Military Relations.

Brahim ChakraniView profile

Associate Professor

• Sociolinguistics
• Language Policy
• Arabic Dialects
• +5 more

Brahim Chakrani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Languages at Michigan State University. His work focuses on sociolinguistics, language policy, and Arabic dialects, with a particular emphasis on language ideologies, cross-dialectal communication, and the sociolinguistic landscape of Morocco. Education: Ph.D. and M.A. in Linguistics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; B.A. in English Literature from the University of Cadi Ayyad in Morocco. Dr. Chakrani’s research examines the complex interplay between language policies, education systems, and identity formation in Moroccan and broader Arabic-speaking contexts. He explores topics such as language alternation in STEM instruction, stance display in interdialectal interactions, and covert language attitudes. His recent publications highlight trends in language policy debates, code-switching dynamics, and the sociolinguistic implications of Arabic language teaching. A recurring theme is the tension between colonial legacies and modern language planning efforts in post-colonial settings.

Luigi MarinelliView profile

Professor

• Polish Language and Literature
• Polish Studies
• General Slavic Studies
• +5 more

Luigi Marinelli is Full Professor at the Department of European, American and Intercultural Studies of Sapienza University of Rome, specializing in Polish Language and Literature. He teaches courses like Polish Literature III and Polish Language I , with lectures held in the Marco Polo Building (3rd floor, Lab 4 & 5). PhD in Slavic Studies (Sapienza, 1991) MA in Polish Language and Literature (Florence, 1983) His research spans Polish literary history from the Middle Ages to contemporary, with emphasis on intercultural dynamics, translation studies, and gender/minority discourses. Recent publications focus on Czeslaw Milosz's Dantism, the Esau Complex in European literatures, and Polish avant-garde movements. Scientific Awards include the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship and the Italian Ambassador's Cultural Medal. He co-organized the 2022 international conference on minor/major cultural hierarchies. Articles reveal interdisciplinary engagement: 12 out of 15 focus on Polish-Italian intertextuality, Renaissance comparative studies, and postmodern translation theories. Subfields include cybernetic art, interwar intellectual networks, and ethical dimensions of canonical texts.

• International Relations
• Peace Studies
• Postcolonialism
• +4 more

Dr. Suthaharan Nadarajah is a researcher in the Department of Politics and International Studies (POL) at SOAS University of London . His work critically examines international relations, peacebuilding, and postcolonial theory with a focus on Tamil diaspora politics, Sri Lankan conflict dynamics, and liberal peace interventions. Key Research Themes : International Relations, Postcolonialism, Peace Studies, Tamil Diaspora, Liberal Peace, State Crime Publications highlight interdisciplinary research trends in post-conflict governance, diaspora security practices, and critical analyses of counter-terrorism. His scholarship engages with Foucauldian governmentality, hybrid peacebuilding, and non-linear conflict transformation frameworks. Email : sn22@soas.ac.uk

Georg GlaszeView profile

Professor

• Cultural Geography
• Political Geography
• Digital Geography
• +5 more

Georg Glasze is a Full Professor at the Institute of Geography, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, leading the Working Group on Cultural/Political/Digital Geographies. His research explores how spaces are (re)produced through socio-technical processes, focusing on discourse theory, digital sovereignty, and geopolitical conflicts. Key Research Areas: Discourse and practice theory in geographies Digital transformation's political implications OpenStreetMap governance and inequalities Smart City critiques and digital governmentality His recent publications analyze European digital policies, environmental crises' spatial dimensions, and contested digital sovereignty frameworks. The working group collaborates with institutions in Canada, France, and Jordan, addressing global challenges through localized case studies. Notable Projects: Resilienz digitaler Infrastrukturen (2024-2028, funded by BMFTR) Offene Geodaten (2024-2026, DFG-funded) Geo-Daten zur digitalen Dokumentation von Menschenrechtsverletzungen (2022-2025, BMFTR)

Phillip John UsherView profile

Associate Professor

• Renaissance Studies
• Classical Reception
• Epic Literature
• +6 more

Phillip John Usher, Associate Professor of French at New York University, specializes in Renaissance Studies, classical reception, and interdisciplinary explorations of geography, ecology, and visual culture. His research interrogates the complex relationships between literary epics and artistic production during the French Renaissance. Current project: The Humanist Anthropocene Key methodologies: Literary criticism, art history, spatial theory Professor Usher's monograph Epic Arts in the French Renaissance examines visual-literary dissonance in Renaissance epic production, analyzing works by Ronsard, Dolet, and d'Aubigné. His Errance et Cohérence explores Renaissance spatial concepts through transnational literature, while his annotated translation of Ronsard's Franciade revitalized this foundational text for English audiences. Research interests include: Renaissance epic literature and its artistic connections Classical mythological reception in early modern Europe Geographic and ecological thought in 16th-century France Visual studies and architectural representations in literature Recent publications investigate: Crete's symbolic role in Ronsard's Franciade (2017) Prophetic architecture in d'Aubigné's Parisian works (2009) Virgil's influence on 1530s Limoges enamels (2012)

• Criminology
• Sociology
• Racial and Ethnic Studies
• +5 more

Dr Waqas Tufail is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the School of Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University. His work bridges academic research, activism, and policy critique, focusing on the intersections of race, crime, and policing. Key research areas include: Racialisation of crime and anti-racism Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism Critical policing studies Media representation of criminality Decolonising criminology His research on the racialised framing of UK 'grooming gang' scandals has had significant policy impact, notably influencing a 2020 Home Office report. He co-founded the Northern Police Monitoring Project, a grassroots initiative addressing police harassment. Current supervised doctoral research explores the far-right's impact on ethnic minority perceptions of Britishness. Waqas collaborates with international human rights organisations and contributes to public discourse through media commentary.

Bedour AlagraaView profile

Assistant Professor

• Political Theory
• Caribbean Political Thought
• Black Marxism
• +5 more

Bedour Alagraa is Assistant Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. Her scholarship centers on Black radical genealogies, Caribbean political thought, and African anti-colonial frameworks, with foundational contributions to Sylvia Wynter studies and conceptual history of catastrophe. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Africana Studies from Brown University (2019), where she held an Andrew W. Mellon Graduate Fellowship, a Master's in Race, Ethnicity, and Post-Colonial Studies from the London School of Economics, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Toronto. Dr. Alagraa's research interrogates Political Theory through Black Marxism and Caribbean Thought , focusing on epistemic ruptures in plantation modernity. Her forthcoming monograph The Interminable Catastrophe (Duke University Press) reconfigures catastrophe as a political category, while her editorial work on Sylvia Wynter's Black Metamorphosis establishes new paradigms for Black studies. She co-edits the 'Black Critique' book series at Pluto Press and recently completed archiving Wynter's papers. Analysis of her publications reveals consistent engagement with decolonial philosophy , Caribbean literary aesthetics , and radical political praxis , particularly through Sylvia Wynter's epistemology and Kamau Brathwaite's poetics. Her work bridges political theory, literary criticism, and Caribbean intellectual history. Scientific recognition includes: Andrew W. Mellon Graduate Fellowship Dr. Alagraa actively shapes scholarly discourse through editorial leadership and co-edits I Am a Revolutionary!: Speeches by Chairman Fred Hampton (Pluto Press, 2024). Her teaching portfolio spans Black Political Thought (AFR 351N), Liberation in the African Diaspora (LAS 310), and Political Autobiographies (AFR 370), emphasizing critical engagement with Black radical traditions across 15+ courses since 2020. She leads collaborative intellectual projects including the Sylvia Wynter editorial team and international archiving initiatives, positioning UT Austin as a hub for Caribbean thought and Black radical critique.

Justin PodurView profile

Professor

• International Conflicts
• Political Science
• Post-colonial Studies
• +5 more

Justin Podur is a Professor at York University's Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change in Toronto, Canada. His academic work spans political science, international conflicts, environmental justice, and creative writing. Podur's research focuses on international conflicts, US foreign policy, post-colonial studies, and environmental justice. He has critically examined topics including Indian independence movements, British eugenics history, Colombian peace processes, Palestinian liberation, and Congo's post-conflict development. His work often challenges mainstream narratives about imperialism, human rights organizations, and economic sanctions. His publications reveal a consistent pattern of examining power structures through multiple lenses - political science, historical analysis, and creative fiction. Recent work shows increasing focus on social justice movements, environmental conflicts, and critiques of Western hegemony in global affairs. Podur leads the 'Mapping Land Theft' project, an interactive map documenting Crown land expansion in Canada from 1680 to 1903. He also advises graduate students, including PhD candidate Tracy Timmins, on urban wildlife research. His academic trajectory demonstrates a unique integration of environmental science (particularly early work on forest fire modeling) with political analysis, creating a distinctive interdisciplinary approach to understanding power, resistance, and environmental justice.