Prof. Dr. Sebastian Conrad holds the Chair of Modern History at Freie Universität Berlin , specializing in Global History , (Post-)colonial History , and Intellectual History . He joined the faculty in 2010 after teaching at European University Institute in Florence and serving as visiting scholar at institutions including NYU Abu Dhabi and The New School, New York. Director of MA "Global History" (FU Berlin/Humboldt University joint program) Director of Graduate School "Global Intellectual History" Principal Investigator, Cluster of Excellence "Temporal Communities" (2024) Research Interests focus on transnational historical frameworks , globalization of historical narratives , and postcolonial historiography . His latest book Die Königin: Nofretetes globale Karriere (2024) analyzes cultural globalization through Nefertiti's iconography, while his current project explores global history of bodily aesthetics and identity formation since the 19th century. Recent Publications include: 2022: "Empire and Nationalism" (American Historical Review) 2021: "Globalizing the Beautiful Body" (Journal of World History) 2020: "Greek in Their Own Way" (American Historical Review) Scientific Honors : Elected member, Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (2024) Elected member, Academia Europaea (2024) Finalist, German/NDR non-fiction book awards (2024) for Nefertiti study Academic Leadership includes editorial roles at Geschichte und Gesellschaft , Past & Present , and Globalgeschichte book series (Campus Verlag). His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary debates on memory, identity, and global cultural dynamics.
Dr. Victor Kempf is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institut für Philosophie , Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, since March 2025. He completed his PhD at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt in 2017 and focuses on social and political philosophy from a critical theory perspective.
Dr. Stefanie Burkhardt is a Research Associate at the Department of Religious Studies and Intercultural Theology , University of Münster, since October 2024. She previously served as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Research Coordinator at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (2016–2024) and completed her doctorate in 2022 with a dissertation on Mircea Eliade's dual work in Religious Studies and Literature. Education: PhD (2022, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg), MA in 'Ethics of Textual Cultures' (2013), BA in Religious and German Studies (2012). Research Interests span the intersection of Religion and Literature , Postcolonial Religious Studies , and the Spectral Turn in Cultural Theory . Her work critically examines Eliade's methodologies, the role of African and diasporic narratives in decolonizing the 'spectral turn', and the socio-cultural implications of border crossings in postcolonial contexts. Recent Publications include a monograph on Eliade's literary and academic duality (Brill 2024) and upcoming edited volumes on authenticity in esoteric practices (Brill 2026) and Eliade's entanglements in religious history (Brill 2025). She has contributed to debates on postcolonialism, spectral theory, and Eliade's exoticism in Indian studies. Grants and Projects include participation in the DFG Advanced Study Group 'Alternative Rationalities and Esoteric Practices in Global Perspective' (2023–2024) and leadership in projects on post-Eurocentric cultural theory.
Sebastian Conrad is a Professor of Modern History and Global History at the Friedrich Meinecke Institute, Freie Universität Berlin. He earned his academic credentials through training in German and Japanese history, later expanding into colonial/postcolonial and global history. His roles include directing the MA program 'Global History' and the graduate school 'Global Intellectual History,' alongside leading the Cluster of Excellence 'Temporal Communities.' Research focuses on global history frameworks, including colonialism, nationalism, and the Enlightenment's global dimensions. Notable works include What is Global History? (2016) and Die Königin: Nofretetes globale Karriere (2024), exploring cultural globalization and historical iconography. He has held fellowships at institutions like the Institute for Advanced Study in Berlin and has authored over 20 books and numerous articles. Advises PhD projects on topics like veterans' movements, waste moralities, and Ottoman political communities. Awards include membership in the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy and Academia Europaea. His work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary debates on memory, colonial restitution, and global interconnectedness.
Prof. Dr. Ute Fendler holds the Chair of Romance Literature and Comparative Studies with Special Emphasis on Africa at the University of Bayreuth. Her academic journey includes a 2006 Habilitation and 1992 PhD from Saarland University, with research spanning Francophone African literatures , intermedial phenomena , and postcolonial cinematic analysis . She coordinates the Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies as Vice-Director and serves on multiple editorial boards. 2006-Present: Professor at University of Bayreuth 2011-2015: Director of Institute for African Studies 2015-Present: Vice-Director of Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies Her research interrogates urban ecotonal spaces through African music videos, transnational cinematic flows in African and Afro-Asian contexts, and mediated memory practices . Recent publications explore post-apocalyptic storytelling and decolonial aesthetics in music videos and films. Scientific contributions include: 2025: Staging Atmosphere: Urban Ecotonal Spaces in African Music Videos (Brill) 2024: Co-edited Asia-Africa: Multifaceted Engagement (Palgrave Macmillan) 2022: Animating the Future: Superheroes in Africa (Brill) 2020: Ghosts as Mediators: Memory and Hauntology (iwalewabooks) 2019: K-Pop Fandom in Germany (Korea University Press) She received the Faculty Enrichment Award from the Canadian Embassy in 2005 and serves on multiple academic committees including the University Library Commission (2007-2016).
Hartmut Rosa holds the Professorship of General and Theoretical Sociology at Friedrich Schiller University Jena since 2005. He serves as Director of the Max Weber College in Erfurt and leads multiple DFG-funded research groups including the Collaborative Research Center TRR 294 'Structural Change in Property'. A leading theorist in social acceleration and resonance theory , he combines temporal analysis with democratic theory and critical sociology. Born: August 1965 Current: Director of Max Weber College Key Positions: New School for Social Research affiliation His research spans : Social acceleration across technological, cultural, and experiential dimensions Resonance as alternative to alienation Democratic theory under time pressure Modernity diagnostics Critical theory foundations Recent article themes include: Digital self-tracking motivations (2021) - intersection of big data and temporal ethics Corona crisis as temporal disruption (2020) - rethinking economic priorities Acceleration's impact on democracy (2005-2023) - temporal overload analysis World relations theory (2011-2022) - new materialist approaches Major scientific awards : 2023 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (Germany's highest research honor) 2018 Erich Fromm Prize for Social Psychology 2018 Paul Watzlawick Ring of Honor 2016 Tractatus Prize for Philosophical Essays He leads multiple research projects : SFB TRR 294 Subproject C06 'Making Things Available' DFG Priority Programme on Aesthetic Eigenzeiten Research Group 'Land Grabbing, Acceleration, Activation' VW Foundation project on 'Aporias of Perfection' in acceleration
Katrin Bromber is a German Researcher at the Centre for Modern Oriental Studies in Berlin, where she has led the research group "Progress and its Discontents: Ideas, Practices, Materiality" since 2014. Her career spans senior research roles at ZMO and academic teaching positions at the University of Vienna. Nationality: German. Language skills: Native German, fluent English/Swahili, moderate Amharic, good reading knowledge in French/Russian, basic Tigrinya. Habilitation (2009–): African Studies, University of Vienna PhD (1993): African Linguistics, University of Leipzig MA (1988): Swahili Studies, University of Leipzig Katrin Bromber's research interrogates intersections of body politics , sports history , Swahili linguistics , and Ethiopian modernity . Her work traces how physical culture, media representation, and colonial/imperial narratives shape national identities across Africa and Asia. Current focus: "Progress" as contested concept in Ethiopian and Gulf urbanism. Key article trends reflect her translocal methodology: 2017 studies on Ethiopian stadiums and fitness culture ; 2014-2013 publications analyzing East African military press , sports branding in the Gulf , and Swahili poetry ; 2007-2000 works on colonial linguistic politics , Indian Ocean slavery , and German colonial Swahili promotion . Recurring sub-fields: body as political text, translocal modernity, media historiography. Scientific Awards: Research Grant of the Berlin City Council (1999-2000): Gendered Slavery study Service to the Scientific Community: Chairwoman, Academic Association for Horn of Africa Studies (2012–) Editorial Advisory Board - Stichproben. Vienna Journal of African Studies (2015–) Editorial Advisory Board - Studies of Department of African Languages and Cultures (2015–) Teaching Experience: Textlinguistics, Mediacommunication, African Linguistics, Swahili (elementary/advanced), Swahili Literature, Swahili in Arabic Script at Leipzig, Humboldt-Berlin, Free Berlin, and Vienna universities Anthropology of the Body at Mekelle University Summer School Field Research: Tanzania (1993-2003): Swahili Poetry, Intellectual History Kenya (2005): Indian Ocean WW2 UAE/Bahrain (2009): Sports and Body Cultures Ethiopia (2009-2015): Sports, Body Politics
Sergiusz Michalski is a Professor at the Institute of Art History within the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Tübingen, where he has held his position since 2001. Previously, he served as Managing Director of the Art History Institute at TU Braunschweig from 1996-2001 and completed his Habilitation at Goethe University Frankfurt in 1995. His distinguished academic career spans multiple European institutions including universities in Munich, Leipzig, Frankfurt, Kiel, Fribourg, Zurich, and Torun. Michalski's research focuses encompass Reformation and Art, Mannerism, 16th and 17th century Dutch and Flemish painting, Art theory, 18th century French painting, 20th century art, Public monuments, and Methodological questions in art history. His scholarly output includes approximately 270 publications with notable books such as 'The Reformation and the Visual Arts' (1992), 'Public Monuments' (1998), 'L'art de l'Europe Centrale' (2008), and 'Einführung in die Kunstgeschichte' (2015). His recent publications demonstrate continued engagement with contemporary issues in art history, particularly in public monument discourse, digital methodologies, and Central European art traditions. Michalski has edited several prominent art history journals including Ars Artibus et Historiae, Folia Historiae Artium, and Ikonotheka. Member of Royal Swedish Academy for Literature and Humanities Member of Polish Academy for Sciences and Arts Member of Göttingen Academy of Sciences Member of Academia Europaea / The Academy of Europe London Member of Latvian Academy of Sciences Member of Council of Experts of European Science Foundation Michalski maintains an active research profile with recent publications addressing digital methodologies in art history, contemporary monument discourse, and Central European art traditions. His international scholarly network is reflected in his editorial roles and academy memberships across Europe.
HUANG Fei is a Professor of Chinese History and Society in the Department of Chinese Studies at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Tübingen, Germany. She has held this position since 2020, following a Junior Professorship at the same institution from 2014 to 2020. Her academic journey began with a BA in History from Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, 2005) and culminated in a PhD in Chinese Studies from Leiden University (2012). University: University of Tübingen School: Faculty of Humanities Department: Department of Chinese Studies Academic Rank: Professor Email: fei.huang@uni-tuebingen.de Her research spans an interdisciplinary terrain, combining landscape studies, environmental history, history of the body, cultural geography, historical anthropology, art history, and material culture studies . Her work primarily investigates China’s historical development from the 16th to the 20th century, with a regional focus on Southwest China, especially Yunnan, and thematic attention to frontier dynamics, urban environments, and the interplay between natural resources and cultural memory. Professor Huang’s recent publications reveal a consistent and evolving scholarly trajectory centered on the transformation of natural and urban landscapes. Her research on hot springs —such as Huaqing Hot Springs—explores their roles in public health, urban planning, and ideological representation in modern China. Her earlier work on Dongchuan examines how imperial and local actors reshaped frontier landscapes through cultural representation, religious practice, and economic interests. Articles on sulfur manufacturing, bathing culture, and Tusi succession highlight her ability to connect local practices with broader global and environmental networks. Scientific Awards and Recognition: No specific awards or fellowships are mentioned in the provided texts. Advising and Grants: She supervises PhD and Master’s theses in Chinese history and culture, though specific student names are not listed. No explicit mention of grants or funded research projects is made in the texts, but her extensive publication record in top-tier journals suggests active research engagement. Labs and Research Teams: She is affiliated with the Department of Chinese Studies at the University of Tübingen and participates in interdisciplinary research within the Faculty of Humanities. Her work often involves collaboration with scholars in anthropology, geography, and environmental history, as evidenced by her co-taught courses and international academic engagement.
Gero Bauer is an Associate Professor of English and Managing Director of the Center for Gender and Diversity Research at the University of Tübingen. He holds a Dr. phil. summa cum laude (2014) and a venia legendi for English Literature and Cultural Studies (2022). His research focuses on Victorianism, Modernism, gender/queer studies, ecocriticism, and postcolonial/decolonial discourses. Key roles include Managing Director of the Center for Gender and Diversity Research since 2017, Interim Professor at the University of Dortmund (2023–2024), and Visiting Professorships at the University of Maryland (2021) and King's College London (2014–2015). He has organized major conferences like 'Queer Ecology and the Temporal Imagination' (2026) and 'Non-Reproductive Matters: Global Perspectives on Religion, Gender, and Procreation' (2024). Research interests span contemporary literature's temporalities, kinship structures, and intersections with queer theory and new materialism. Recent publications include Hope and Kinship in Contemporary Fiction (2024) and edited volumes on global South studies and discrimination practices. His work critiques heteronormative frameworks and explores marginalized narratives in literature, media, and cultural policy. Education: Dr. phil. in English Literature, University of Tübingen (2014) Staatsexamen (Masters), English and History (2009) Grants/Awards: Doctoral Award (2015), German Academic Scholarship Foundation grants (2008–2012), and Habilitation (2022). Teaching: Courses on Victorian poetry, queer modernisms, and ecofiction. Recent lectures include 'Queer Futures' and 'Literature of the Fin de Siècle.' Service: Academic Senate deputy member (2021–present), reviewer for journals like Anglia and ZfA , and committee member for the German Academic Scholarship Foundation. His interdisciplinary approach bridges literature, gender studies, and activism, with a focus on global South perspectives and institutional equity initiatives.
Benjamin Kohlmann serves as Professor of English Literature and Culture at the University of Regensburg, where he has held a full professorship since November 2020. Previously, he was Assistant/Associate Professor at the University of Freiburg (2011-2019) and held visiting positions at Columbia University, Cambridge University, UC Davis, and Queen Mary University of London. An elected member of Academia Europaea and the International Association of University Professors of English, Kohlmann maintains an active international research profile with current visiting fellowships at Clare Hall, Cambridge (2024-25). Education Habilitation in English Literature, University of Freiburg (2011-2017) PhD in English Literature, Lincoln College, University of Oxford (2007-2010) MA in Philosophy/English Literature, University of Freiburg and Yale University (2004-2007) Undergraduate Studies in Philosophy/English Literature, University of Freiburg (2001-2004) Research Focus Professor Kohlmann specializes in British literature and culture from 1860 to the present, with particular expertise in the relationship between literature and politics. His scholarship explores the literary and cultural histories of socialism and communism, politicized modernism of the interwar years, the prehistory of the welfare state (c.1860-1940), literary histories of populism, and global approaches to literature. His theoretical work examines how literature conceptualizes political structures and revolutionary events, bridging historical analysis with contemporary theoretical concerns. Publication Trends Kohlmann's research trajectory reveals a consistent engagement with literature's political dimensions across historical periods. Early work focused on modernist political aesthetics, particularly in the 1930s, as seen in his monograph Committed Styles (2014). Recent scholarship demonstrates increasing attention to global revolutionary narratives and the bildungsroman as political form, culminating in his British Literature and the Life of Institutions (2021) and the forthcoming Revolutionary Subjects . His most recent publications show sophisticated integration of theoretical frameworks with historical analysis, particularly in examining how literature processes revolutionary events and conceptualizes institutional frameworks. The 2023-2025 publications reveal heightened focus on contemporary political formations while maintaining historical depth. Scientific Recognition Heisenberg Programme grant from German Research Foundation (2020-2025) Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize (2018) Feodor Lynen Fellowship from Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Elected Life Member of Clare Hall, University of Cambridge Member of Academia Europaea Academic Leadership Professor Kohlmann has supervised numerous PhD theses including Nikolina Hatton's award-winning work on decommodified things in 18th-19th century novels and current projects examining democratic essay forms and literary histories of collective resistance. He serves on editorial boards for Critical Quarterly and CUSP , co-edits the Oxford UP book series "Literature and Politics," and has organized multiple international conferences on literature and political thought. His research leadership includes directing the "Writing Collectivity" research group at Regensburg and coordinating international collaborations through the Heisenberg grant. Research Environment At Regensburg, Kohlmann contributes to a vibrant research environment within the Department of English and American Studies, collaborating on interdisciplinary projects examining literature's relationship to political economy and social structures. His "Thinking Revolution" project connects with global scholarly networks through visiting fellowships at Cambridge and other institutions. The department's research focus on British literary history benefits from Kohlmann's leadership in organizing international conferences and securing substantial research funding, creating a dynamic environment for graduate students and junior researchers working at the intersection of literature and political thought.
Bettina Kümmerling-Meibauer is a Full Professor of German Literature and Literary Didactics at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, specializing in children's literature, picturebook research, and intermedial studies. With a habilitation from Tübingen (2001) and a PhD from Cologne (1990), she has held guest professorships in Sweden and Austria, declined a chair at the Free University of Bolzano (2014), and led EU-funded projects like Canon Constitution and Canon Change in Children's Literature (2017) and The Digital Literacy and Multimodal Practices of Young Children (2015–2019). Her research spans avant-garde children's literature, Jewish children's books, and early literacy. Education : PhD in German Philology (University of Cologne, 1990); Habilitation in Children's Literature (Tübingen, 2001). Her research interests focus on intersections between children's and adult literature, avant-garde aesthetics in picturebooks, and the political dimensions of children's media. She has co-edited The Routledge Companion to Picturebooks (2018) and Canon Constitution and Canon Change in Children's Literature (2017). Recent publication trends highlight her work on cognitive challenges in picturebooks, the impact of digital media on young adult literature, and the legacy of classical myths in contemporary children's works. She has also explored topics like propaganda in GDR photographic books and multilingual children's literature. Scientific awards include the 2017 ChLA Edited Book Award for Children’s Literature and the Avant-Garde (co-edited with Elina Druker). She serves on editorial boards for journals like International Research in Children’s Literature and Libri & Liberi . Advising includes completed doctorates on topics like Swedish fantasy reception in Germany, initiation novels in 20th-century children's literature, and gender discourse in Erich Kästner adaptations. She has advised on international doctoral projects in the UK, Belgium, South Africa, Portugal, Sweden, and Spain.
Oliver Janz is Professor of Modern History at the Department of History and Cultural Studies at Free University of Berlin, where he has been teaching since 2007. He previously served as Dean of the Department from 2017-2021 and has held visiting professorships at institutions including the German Historical Institute in Rome, University of Bern, and University of Trient. His academic leadership extends to editorial roles for multiple book series and journals focusing on modern Italian history, transnational history, and World War I studies. Doctorate (1991): Freie Universität Berlin - History of Protestant clergy in Prussia 1850-1914 (summa cum laude) Magister Artium (1985): Freie Universität Berlin - History Studies (1978-1985): History, Philosophy and Sociology at University of Heidelberg, Bielefeld, and Freie Universität Berlin Professor Janz specializes in several interconnected research areas that examine European history through transnational and comparative lenses. His primary focus is on the history of World War I, particularly examining commemoration practices, the cult of fallen soldiers, and the war's transnational dimensions. He has extensively researched the history of the European bourgeoisie, nation and nationalism in Europe, and the intersection of family, gender, and political identity. His work on Italian history spans from the Risorgimento through the Fascist period, with particular attention to religious and cultural dimensions of political movements. Janz is a leading scholar in transnational history methodology, exploring how historical phenomena transcend national boundaries and how comparative approaches can illuminate shared European experiences. Janz's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on memory, commemoration, and the cultural dimensions of warfare, particularly World War I. His work reveals how societies process collective trauma through rituals, monuments, and narratives that intertwine religious, familial, and national identities. The international encyclopedia project 1914-1918-online represents a significant contribution to digital humanities, creating a global platform for understanding the war's multifaceted impacts. His research increasingly examines the digital representation of historical memory, bridging traditional scholarship with contemporary digital culture. Research fellowship from the DFG (2000-2004): "The Cult of the Fallen: Soldiers in Italy during the First World War" DAAD Fellowship (1996): "Exchange of Young Scholars between Italy and Germany" Fellow of the FAZIT-Stiftung (1990) Maison des Sciences de l'Homme Fellowship (1985) Fellowship Grant from the "Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes" (1979-1985) Professor Janz has supervised numerous master's students at Freie Universität Berlin, with thesis topics spanning European history from the 19th century to the contemporary period. His students have examined subjects including war commemoration, gender history, colonial encounters, and political movements across Europe. As editor of the "1914-1918-online" International Encyclopedia of the First World War, he has coordinated significant international research funding. His leadership extends to multiple research projects including Collaborative EuropeaN Digital/Archival Infrastructure (CENDARI), Making War, Mapping Europe, and studies on German Soldiers and the Ottoman Empire. Janz leads the research team focused on World War I studies at the Friedrich-Meinecke-Institut, which includes multiple researchers working on the 1914-1918-online encyclopedia project. His team collaborates with international partners across Europe and beyond, creating a network of scholars dedicated to transnational approaches to war history. The research group maintains strong connections with institutions including the German Historical Institute in Rome and participates in the Berlin Program for Advanced German and European Studies.
Professor Gesine Müller is a distinguished scholar in the Department of Romance Studies at the University of Cologne's Faculty of Humanities. Her academic work focuses on Latin American literature within global contexts, particularly examining how literary works engage with post-global conditions and create alternative world visions. Her research centers on post-global aesthetics , world literature circulation , and conviviality studies in Latin American contexts. Müller investigates how contemporary Latin American authors navigate between collapse narratives and visions of conviviality, challenging traditional universalist frameworks of world literature. Her work bridges literary theory, cultural studies, and postcolonial perspectives to examine how literature from the Global South contributes to reimagining global literary landscapes. Analysis of Müller's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on post-global literary production in Latin America, with particular attention to how authors like Fernanda Trías, Samanta Schweblin, and Benjamín Labatut construct alternative worlds amid ecological and social crises. Her scholarship demonstrates how Latin American literature actively participates in reshaping global literary discourses while maintaining regional specificity. Müller leads significant research initiatives including the Maria Sibylla Merian Center Convivality-Inequality in Latin America and contributes to the Graduate School 2661 'Connect-Exclude' . Her work receives substantial institutional support through projects like Mecila (Maria Sibylla Merian Centre) and 'Reading Global: Constructions of World Literature and Latin America,' reflecting the importance of her research within contemporary literary studies. She maintains an active research presence through the Maria Sibylla Merian Center, where interdisciplinary teams examine the complex relationships between conviviality and inequality in Latin American societies, using literary and cultural analysis as key methodological approaches.
Muthesius University of Fine Arts and DesignGermany
Christiane Kruse is a Professor of Art History and Visual Cultures at the Muthesius University of Art and Design Kiel since 2011. She serves as the Managing Director of the Institute for Art, Design, Media (IKDM) since 2014 and previously held the Equal Opportunities Officer role until 2020. Education: Doctorate (Dr. phil.) at LMU Munich (1994) Habilitation at University of Konstanz (2002) with Venia Legendi Studies in Art History, Modern German Literature, and Medieval Studies (1983–1989) Research Interests span art history, visual cultures, image anthropology, media theory, and cultural studies. Her work explores the intersection of art, technology, and identity, with a focus on iconoclasm, gender representation, and sustainability in design. She investigates how visual media shape historical memory and contemporary discourse. Recent Publications address topics like contemporary iconoclasm, eco-art practices, and the role of masks in global visual cultures. Her edited works trace historical dialogues between art and science, religious imagery, and interdisciplinary approaches to image-making. Scientific Awards: Research Fellowship from Herzog August Library Wolfenbüttel (2007) Fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (2010–2011) Other Roles include Visiting Professorships at Humboldt University Berlin (2013/14) and University of Karlsruhe (2004/05), Acting Professorships at TU Dresden and Braunschweig University of Fine Arts, and contributions to curatorial projects like documenta 13.
