Postcolonial State-Making Professors and Supervisors

Shail MayaramView profile

Professor

Linnaeus UniversitySweden

Shail Mayaram is Professor at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies , New Delhi, with a transdisciplinary focus spanning history, anthropology, political philosophy, and religious studies. She currently serves as Chair of the Academic Advisory Board at the University of Heidelberg's Käte Hamburger Centre for Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic Studies (2020-24), and previously co-directed the Merian-Tagore International Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities (2018-19). Key Affiliations : Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Käte Hamburger Centre (Heidelberg), Merian-Tagore ICAS-MP Academic Roles : Professor (CSDS), Visiting Chair (Tel Aviv University 2010), Fellowships (Fulbright, Rockefeller) Research Focus centers on: Critique of modernity's pathologies and potential reenchantments State formation and resistance from medieval to contemporary periods Subaltern historiography with emphasis on Muslim and Dalit communities Political imagination in agrarian movements and religious encounters Scientific Contributions include: Foundational works: Resisting Regimes (1997), Against History, Against State (2003) Editorial leadership: Subaltern Studies (2007), Modernity, its Pathologies and Reenchantments (2020) Contemporary analyses: Farmers' protests, Tablighi Jamaat during pandemic, Goa's religious syncretism Contact : shail@csds.in

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Larissa FleischmannView profile

Researcher

Martin Luther University Halle-WittenbergGermany

Larissa Fleischmann is a Scientific Team Leader at the European Centre of Just Transition Research and Impact-Driven Transfer (JTC) at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU Halle-Wittenberg). Her research spans critical migration and border studies , more-than-human political geographies , and biosecurity , with a regional focus on Eastern Germany, Europe , and Sub-Saharan Africa . She has been affiliated with MLU Halle-Wittenberg since 2018 and previously worked at the University of Konstanz. Education : Doctorate in Social Sciences (Dr. rer. soc.), University of Konstanz (2018) Master’s in Human Geography, University of Glasgow (2014) B.Sc. in Geography, University of Bayreuth (2013) B.A. in Geographical Development Studies of Africa, University of Bayreuth (2013) Research Projects : Animals, Power and Space (2021–present): Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), explores biosecurity practices (fencing, zoning, mapping, killing) for African Swine Fever (ASF) through a more-than-human lens. The Contested Solidarities of Refugee Support (2014–2018): Analyzed refugee volunteering during the 2015 European crisis, focusing on power and political ambiguity. Key Publications : Contested Solidarity (2020, open access monograph) Guest Editorial in Political Geography (2023) Peer-reviewed articles in journals like sub/urban , Environment and Planning E , and Preventive Veterinary Medicine Scientific Awards : 2021 Promotion Prize, Migration and Ethnic Minorities Section of the German Sociological Association Teaching and Mentorship : Co-leads courses in Human Geography at MLU Halle-Wittenberg Contributed to workshops on more-than-human borderlands and biosecurity Labs/Teams : Lead of Innovation Team A6 "Demographic Change and Migration" at JTC Collaborates with institutions across Europe and Southern Africa

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Lotte HughesView profile

Researcher

University of QuebecCanada

Lotte Hughes is a historian at The Open University, specializing in Africa, empire, and postcolonial issues, with a focus on Kenya. She is the Principal Investigator of an ESRC-funded collaborative project, 'Cultural Rights and Kenya's New Constitution.' Her research explores heritage, memory, and peacebuilding through interdisciplinary frameworks. Research Interests include: Colonial and postcolonial history of Kenya Memory and memorialization in conflict resolution Heritage as a tool for political dissent or empowerment Museum studies and cultural policy Constitutional changes in postcolonial states Major Projects she has led include an AHRC-funded initiative (2008-11) on heritage and peacebuilding in Kenya, resulting in the co-authored book Managing Heritage, Making Peace . Her earlier works, such as Moving the Maasai and Environment and Empire , analyze colonial displacement and ecological impacts of imperialism.

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Caroline MellyView profile

Professor

Smith CollegeUnited States

Caroline Melly is a Professor of Anthropology at Smith College and Director of the Sherrerd Center for Teaching and Learning. She specializes in sociocultural anthropology with a focus on urban studies, science and technology studies, and disability studies, employing a feminist, decolonial, and anti-ableist framework. Ph.D. and M.A. in Anthropology from University of California, Irvine B.A. in Anthropology from University of Pittsburgh Her research explores urban life in Dakar, Senegal, through infrastructure ethnography, examining how traffic bottlenecks, housing, and digital technologies shape belonging and policy-making. Her newer work investigates cannabis medicine production, emphasizing embodied expertise and interdisciplinary alliances. Recent publications analyze PowerPoint's role in governance, infrastructural tinkering in transportation networks, and urban futures in Senegal. She has received prestigious grants including the National Science Foundation and Fulbright-Hays awards. Anthony Leeds Prize in Urban Anthropology (2018) Sherrerd Prize for Distinguished Teaching (2014) Rally Day Teaching Award (2012) Melly's teaching portfolio includes courses on disability studies, science and technology, and contemporary cannabis debates. She advocates for inclusive pedagogical practices and contributes to public anthropology through media outlets like openDemocracy.com and Limn.

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Verena EbertView profile

Researcher

Julius-Maximilians-Universität WürzburgGermany

Verena Ebert serves as a researcher at the Institute for German Philology, University of Würzburg, specializing in linguistic approaches to decolonization through the analysis of colonial street name renamings. Currently leading a DFG-funded project (2022-2025) titled Sprachliche Praktiken der Dekolonisierung? Umbenennungen kolonialer Straßennamen , she examines historical and contemporary renaming processes in German urban landscapes since 1945 through three methodological pillars: name inventories, decision-making scenarios, and public documentation forms. Her educational background includes First (2014) and Second State Examinations for teaching at German secondary schools (Gymnasien) in German, History, and Social Studies. While maintaining teaching credentials, her research focuses on the intersection of linguistics, onomastics, and postcolonial studies, investigating how street names reflect colonial legacies and how renaming functions as linguistic decolonization practice. Ebert's scholarly output reveals consistent thematic concentration on colonial topography in German cities, with increasing methodological sophistication. Her work combines historical analysis of colonial-era naming (1884-1945) with contemporary discourse studies of renaming debates, identifying patterns in argumentation types, decision processes, and textual documentation. Recent publications demonstrate expansion into comparative frameworks and educational applications, such as adapting renaming processes for German language classrooms. She actively engages public discourse through presentations at the GAL conference in Dresden (2024) and the Kiel research workshop Wen interessieren schon Straßennamen? (2024), plus representation at the Africa Festival (2025). As principal investigator for significant DFG projects (Grant No. 492996932), Ebert demonstrates substantial research leadership. Her current project analyzes renaming processes across democratic contexts, incorporating both top-down administrative perspectives and bottom-up public participation. The upcoming 2025 follow-up project will develop an integrated database documenting colonial street name handling since 1945. Within the Chair of German Linguistics, Ebert collaborates with colleagues including Breyl, Fritz-Scheuplein, Fulst, and Schulz, contributing to the institute's broader linguistic research ecosystem that includes the Bavarian Dialect Database and Würzburg Language Doubt Database. Her work represents a critical bridge between academic linguistics and contemporary societal debates about colonial legacies in public space.

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Laura De GregorioView profile

Associate Professor

University of FlorenceItaly

Laura De Gregorio serves as Associate Professor of Law and Religion (SSD GIUR-07/A) at the University of Florence's Department of Legal Sciences since 2018, following her researcher appointment (2009-2018) at the Faculty of Political Sciences Cesare Alfieri. Her institutional affiliations include the Doctoral Faculty in Legal Sciences (2022-present) and Departmental Board membership (2024-present). Her academic background includes: Law Degree (2002, summa cum laude ) from Catholic University of Milan PhD in Canon Law and Ecclesiastical Disciplines (2007) from University of Milan Gratianus Doctoral Program at Université Paris-Saclay/Institut Catholique de Paris (2002-2003) Her research centers on State-religion relations with distinctive expertise in pontifical diplomacy, Episcopal conferences, and comparative religious freedom frameworks—particularly examining Italian and Canadian contexts. Current investigations focus on religious cultural routes through the €450,000 PRIN-PNRR ITINEREL project, exploring how pilgrimage paths like Camino de Santiago embody European values. Her methodological approach integrates historical-legal analysis of Vatican diplomatic records, court decisions, and ecclesiastical documents with contemporary sociological perspectives. Recent scholarly output (2022-2024) demonstrates concentrated productivity in three interconnected domains: papal diplomatic practices (5 publications), Canadian religious freedom jurisprudence (4 publications), and religious food regulations (3 publications), appearing in leading journals including Il Diritto Ecclesiastico and Archivio Giuridico . Her supervision follows structured academic pathways requiring prerequisite coursework completion before thesis assignment in Canon Law, Law and Religions, or Religions and International Relations. Current funding includes the PRIN-PNRR ITINEREL project (€450,000), Departmental Excellence Project mobility grants, and three dedicated research fellowships. Public engagement constitutes significant scholarly translation through SCIENZESTATE and BRIGHT NIGHT initiatives, transforming research on religious heritage into accessible public formats—from Renaissance execution narratives to contemporary Camino de Santiago explorations.

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Gilbert KalondeView profile

Associate Professor

Montana State UniversityUnited States

Dr. Gilbert Kalonde serves as Associate Professor and Program Leader for Curriculum and Instruction within the Department of Education, College of Education, Health & Human Development at Montana State University. He maintains a dual affiliation with the Montana Engineering Education Research Center, focusing his expertise on technology integration across educational contexts. His office is located in Reid Hall 138B, and he can be contacted at kalonde@montana.edu. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Southern Illinois University (2014) M.S. in Education from Southern Illinois University (2010) B.S. in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College (2008) A.A. in Liberal Arts from Los Angeles Southwest College (1995) Dr. Kalonde's research centers on practical technology implementation in K-12 and teacher education settings, with special emphasis on rural and inclusive classrooms. He investigates how engineering design concepts and computer science can transform math education while addressing systemic barriers like those exposed during the pandemic. His work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks such as the SMAR model and ADDIE with real-world classroom applications. Analysis of his 10 publications (2020-2024) reveals three dominant trends: 1) Rural technology integration challenges and solutions, 2) AI and computer science applications in special/general education, and 3) Decolonizing STEM curricula with focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. His work appears primarily in SITE conferences and educational technology journals, demonstrating strong methodological diversity from case studies to literature reviews. His scholarly recognition includes: Outstanding Paper Award (2018) from Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE) As Program Leader, Dr. Kalonde advises graduate students in curriculum development while maintaining active service roles including past Board Membership with ACLU Montana (2016-2022) and Science Olympiad leadership. His teaching portfolio spans foundational technology integration methods to advanced curriculum construction, with courses scheduled through 2025. Through the Montana Engineering Education Research Center, he contributes to interdisciplinary projects connecting engineering principles with K-12 pedagogy, particularly focusing on making STEM accessible in rural communities through contextually relevant technology solutions.

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Molly FitzpatrickView profile

Research Fellow

University of ZurichSwitzerland

Molly Fitzpatrick is a medical and political anthropologist affiliated with the University of Zurich , where she completed her PhD in 2022 and currently serves as a Research Fellow and lecturer in the ‘Social Transformation Processes’ chair led by Prof. Dr. Annuska Derks. Her work bridges Medical Anthropology, Gender Studies, and Political Anthropology , focusing on how individuals negotiate state and medical authority through practices of care, reproduction, and moral autonomy. Research Interests Care as a moral and political practice Anthropology of reproduction and childbirth Gender, kinship, and bodily autonomy Globalization, transnationalism, and social movements Affect theory and emotional labor in healthcare Scientific Awards Jahrespreis (2023): Recognized by the University of Zurich’s Philosophical Faculty for her PhD dissertation Publications reflect a commitment to ethnographic rigor and interdisciplinary critique, spanning topics such as care ethics in Bali , methodological challenges in birth research , and transnational Gujarati communities . Her work emphasizes sensory ethnography and feminist theory.

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Michał MurawskiView profile

Associate Professor

Academy of Fine Arts in WarsawPoland

Michał Murawski is an Associate Professor in Critical Area Studies at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), University College London. He also serves as Co-Director of UCL's FRINGE Centre for the Study of Social and Cultural Complexity and convenor of PPV. His academic journey began with a PhD in Social Anthropology from Cambridge University in 2014, focusing on the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw. Murawski's research centers on the anthropology of architecture and cities, with particular focus on Eastern European state socialism's architectural legacy and its ongoing impacts on contemporary urban environments. His work explores the complex relationship between socialist, post-socialist, and post-colonial processes as manifested in built environments. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, his research has increasingly focused on the relationship between resistance, occupation, and reconstruction in Ukraine. His scholarly output includes several influential books, such as The Palace Complex: A Stalinist Skyscraper, Capitalist Warsaw, and a City Transfixed (2019), A Form of Friendship: The Museum on the Square (2024), and the forthcoming Only to Hell: Architecture, Nature and Violence in Recolonial Russia (2026). His work demonstrates a consistent engagement with how architecture serves as both a manifestation and mediator of political power, particularly in post-socialist contexts. Murawski's research reveals significant trends across architecture, political ecology, and urban anthropology. His analysis of 'wild capitalism' in post-socialist urban environments has been particularly influential, examining how architectural forms reflect and shape economic and political transformations. His recent work increasingly focuses on decolonial approaches to architecture and the role of built environments in resistance and reconstruction processes, especially in the context of Ukraine's ongoing conflict with Russia. Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship recipient Co-curator of Ukraine's national pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale Di Venezia (2025) Editor of Mini–Atlas , guide to the Ukrainian Pavilion exhibition Murawski is actively engaged in public scholarship, frequently contributing to media outlets and cultural platforms. His work bridges academic research with public engagement, making complex theoretical concepts accessible to broader audiences while maintaining rigorous scholarly standards. His current research investigates how reconstruction processes contribute to Ukraine's resistance against Russia and to the formation of a just and equitable commons during wartime and in the postwar period.

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Thibaut SchiltView profile

Professor

College of the Holy CrossUnited States

Thibaut Schilt serves as Professor and Program Director of French and Francophone Studies at College of the Holy Cross, where he also holds the position of Ombud within the Department of World Languages, Literatures & Cultures. Education Ph.D., Ohio State University Research Interests Schilt specializes in French Cinema, Contemporary French Literature and Culture, and Gender Studies, with significant contributions to Francophone and European cinema scholarship. His work critically examines road movies, Quebec filmmaking, and transnational perspectives in global French-language cinema, frequently intersecting with postcolonial and gender frameworks. Scholarly Trends His publications reveal a consistent focus on decentering national narratives in French-language cinema, evolving from auteur studies (Ozon monograph) toward transnational frameworks (Cinéma-monde) and contemporary regional cinema (Quebec). The recurring themes include mobility, border politics, and the negotiation of cultural identity across francophone spaces. Teaching He instructs courses spanning language pedagogy (Intermediate French 1), genre studies (The Fantastic), and cinema surveys (Masterpieces of French Cinema, Introduction to French Cinema, Women Make Film).

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Thomas B. EllisView profile

Professor

Appalachian State UniversityUnited States

Thomas B. Ellis serves as Professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Appalachian State University, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. His interdisciplinary scholarship uniquely bridges religious studies with biological sciences, focusing on South Asian traditions and their cognitive-cultural dimensions. His academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Pennsylvania M.A. in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies – Indology from the University of Pennsylvania B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of South Carolina Ellis's research program centers on South Asian religious and philosophical traditions (classical and contemporary), the psychology and biology of religion, infectious disease-culture interactions, secular humanism, and methodological theories. His groundbreaking 2022 monograph Religion, Disease, and Immunology establishes him as a leader in examining immunological aspects of religious practices and pandemic responses, while his cognitive science work explores ritual behavior and religious cognition through biological frameworks. Recent publications (2025-2016) reveal intensifying focus on cross-cultural religious comparisons and disease-religion dynamics. His 2025-2024 Athens Journal of Philosophy articles compare Western and South Asian religious frameworks, while 2022 book chapters in Hinduism in 5 Minutes make complex concepts accessible. This body of work consistently bridges humanities and sciences, addressing topics from Tantra's biological dimensions to behavioral ecology of ritual. No scientific awards are listed on the department webpage. As a professor, Ellis advises undergraduate students in religious studies with research opportunities in his specialty areas. His sustained publication record—including books, journal articles, and reviews—demonstrates active research engagement, though specific grant details aren't provided. The department's Religion in Life program offers additional platforms for public scholarship through its weekly show exploring contemporary faith practices.

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Michael Stambolis-RuhstorferView profile

Assistant Professor

Free University of BrusselsBelgium

Michael Stambolis-Ruhstorfer is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Université Bordeaux Montaigne and Associate Professor at Université Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, where he serves as co-director of the Master's program in Gender Studies. A Junior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France, he holds a PhD in Sociology from UCLA and École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (2015), with research focusing on how political, legal, and scientific institutions shape social change through expert knowledge. His research follows two primary axes: 1) the role of 'experts' in controversial political issues including climate change, abortion, and same-sex marriage; and 2) the influence of cultural and legal contexts on how societies address sexuality and family. His comparative approach examines differences between the United States and Europe, particularly France, revealing how 'expert capital' is context-dependent and shaped by local institutional frameworks rather than universal scientific merit. Stambolis-Ruhstorfer's influential book By the Power Vested in Me: How Experts Shape Same-Sex Marriage Debates (Columbia University Press, 2025) analyzes how decision-makers in the US and France relied on different types of experts during same-sex marriage legalization processes, demonstrating how cultural norms and institutional contexts determine which experts gain authority in democratic debates. His work has been published in journals including American Journal of Cultural Sociology , Social Movement Studies , and Annual Review of Sociology . His research has received significant funding from the National Science Foundation (US), IdEx Bordeaux, Institut Universitaire de France, and the Fulbright Commission. As associate editor of the International Social Science Journal and frequent peer reviewer for major sociology publications, he plays an active role in academic knowledge production. Dissertation Year Fellowship, UCLA (2014) Karpf Peace Prize, UCLA (2012-2013) Chateaubriand Fellowship, Fulbright Commission (2012) European Studies Fellowship, UCLA (2012) Stambolis-Ruhstorfer coordinates multiple academic initiatives including the Gender and Sexualities Research sessions at the Council for European Studies and Sociology of Culture Roundtables at the American Sociological Association. His current project analyzes 'experts' in climate change and abortion debates across the US and France, continuing his examination of how knowledge gains political traction in democratic societies.

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Laura Emdal NavneView profile

Assistant Professor

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Laura Emdal Navne serves as Assistant Professor at the Section for Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, and concurrently holds a research position at VIVE – The Danish Centre for Social Science Research. Her academic work bridges medical anthropology and science and technology studies within Denmark's healthcare ecosystem. She received her PhD in Anthropology on May 29, 2008, with foundational research examining life-and-death decision-making in neonatology. Her scholarly trajectory evolved to encompass reproduction, neonatal care, genetics, and personalized medicine, consistently focusing on ethnographic exploration of healthcare decision processes and user engagement. Navne's research investigates how medical technologies and health policies reshape clinical practices through ethnographic fieldwork across healthcare settings. Current work centers on the Carlsberg Foundation-funded MeInWe project led by Professor Mette N. Svendsen, where she examines social and ethical dimensions of personalized medicine implementation in diabetes care and clinical genetics, specifically analyzing patient, clinician, and researcher experiences. Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate methodological consistency in qualitative approaches while spanning obstetrics, critical care, genomics, and chronic disease management. Recurring analytical themes include decision-making under uncertainty, professional identity formation, patient agency, and ethical tensions in integrating genomic data into welfare-state healthcare. As an educator, Navne teaches qualitative research methods and maintains active collaboration within interdisciplinary healthcare research networks. She contributes significantly to the MeInWe consortium investigating precision medicine's societal integration within Denmark's welfare framework.

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