Michael Lucey is the Sidney and Margaret Ancker Chair and Distinguished Professor of French and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. His work bridges French literature from the 19th to 21st centuries with social theory, sexuality studies, and linguistic anthropology. He has authored the critically acclaimed What Proust Heard: Novels and the Ethnography of Talk (2022) and Thinking about Sexuality with Novels (forthcoming). As founding director of the Center for the Study of Sexual Culture , he has shaped interdisciplinary research in queer theory and gender studies. Current research focuses on novels as ethnographic tools Specializes in Proust, Balzac, Woolf, and contemporary French fiction Translation work includes Didier Eribon and Édouard Louis His recent articles explore phonetics in narrative, readability frameworks, and sociological implications of literary form. He actively engages with comparative methodologies and critical theory, while his teaching spans British and American literature’s intersections with French modernism. Lucey’s academic leadership includes directing Berkeley’s Center for the Study of Sexual Culture, which supports global discourse through fellowships and conferences. His office hours are held in Dwinelle Hall and via Zoom. Contact: mlucey@berkeley.edu
Andrew Lynch serves as Professor and Associate Dean for Program Development in the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures within the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Miami. His academic leadership extends beyond teaching responsibilities to include significant administrative contributions to program development across the institution. Lynch's research interests center on sociolinguistics with particular focus on Spanish language dynamics in Miami, heritage language socialization, bilingualism, and language ideology. His work examines how language functions within specific social contexts, especially in workplace environments where Spanish heritage speakers navigate linguistic demands. He investigates the complex interplay between language, identity, and social structures in postmodern urban settings, with special attention to the Cuban diaspora experience in South Florida. His publication record reveals consistent scholarly engagement with heritage language education, Spanish language variation, and the sociolinguistic landscape of global cities. Lynch's research demonstrates how language practices in Miami reflect broader patterns of linguistic adaptation and resistance within diasporic communities. His work often addresses the tension between linguistic heritage and social integration, examining how language ideologies shape educational practices and community identity. Lynch's scholarly contributions span multiple formats, including single-authored books, co-authored publications, handbook chapters, and journal articles in both English and Spanish. His work frequently appears in high-impact sociolinguistics and language education journals, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach that bridges theoretical linguistics with practical educational implications.
Matthew Potolsky is Professor of English at the University of Utah, specializing in nineteenth-century literature and literary theory. His career spans from 1998 Lecturer at Harvard University to current University Professorship. He earned a BA in Comparative Literature and Philosophy (1990), followed by MA and PhD in Comparative Literature (1992, 1997) from UC Irvine. Chair of English Department (2013-2016) University Professor (2014-2016) Research focuses on Decadence , Mimesis , Finance-Aesthetics intersections , and Government Secrecy . His work traces connections between financialization and decadent aesthetics, revealing how economic cycles influence artistic production. Key themes include: Decadent anti-realist literary movements Finance capital's cultural impact Decadent counterpublic formations Victorian aesthetic education debates Sublime aesthetics in national security Cosmopolitanism in literary communities Recent publications analyze: Decadent style as financialization rhetoric Reintroduction of verisimilitude theory Decadent responses to financial crises Mimetic labor in artistic production Decadent cosmopolitan counterpublics Historical parallels between financialization and literary decadence
Jan Alber is a Professor of Modern English and American Literature at the Department of English and American Literature and Culture, Justus Liebig University Giessen . He previously held positions at RWTH Aachen, Aarhus University, TU Darmstadt, and the University of Freiburg. His work bridges narrative theory, cognitive studies, and postcolonial literature, with a focus on unnatural narratives and empirical approaches to literary analysis. Fields of Interest: Unnatural Narratology, Cognitive Literary Studies, Climate Fiction, Postcolonial Literature Key Themes: Storyworlds, Ideology, Empirical Methods, Narrative Beginnings Alber's recent publications explore narrative theory's intersections with cognition and ideology, including analyses of digital post-postmodernist novels and climate change narratives. His empirical studies examine how readers process experimental narratives, particularly unnatural narrators and metaleptic structures. He has received prestigious awards such as the Habilitation Prize from the German Association of Anglists (2013) and the FRIAS junior group competition (2008). His research is funded by the AHRC, DFG, and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, notably supporting interdisciplinary work on post-truth political narratives and Ukrainian scholars. Alber co-founded the Aachen Center for Cognitive and Empirical Literary Studies and serves as President of the International Society for the Study of Narrative. He organizes international workshops on cognitive narratology and teaches courses spanning literary history, theory, and postmodern fiction.
John Redmond is Professor of English Literature at the University of Liverpool's School of the Arts, specializing in contemporary poetry and creative writing. He holds a D.Phil and is an established poet with three collections published by Carcanet Press. His critical work examines privacy in poetic interpretation and Irish literary traditions. Research intersects creative practice with critical analysis, exploring poetry's relationship with folk drama, online culture, and food (gastro-criticism). Authored the textbook 'How to Write a Poem' and edited James Liddy's Selected Poems. Current projects include a novel and new poetry collection. Regularly participates in literary events including readings at the Anthony Burgess Foundation and Christ Church, Oxford. Chairs the School Extenuating Circumstances Committee and contributes to the Centre for New and International Writing.
Kate Holland is an Associate Professor and Acting Associate Chair (Graduate) at the University of Toronto, specializing in 19th-century Russian literature and its cultural contexts. Her work focuses on the history of the novel, Russian literary theory, and the interplay between Russian and European literary traditions. She teaches courses such as 'The Golden Age of Russian Literature' and 'Dostoevsky in Literary Criticism and Theory.' Dr. Holland earned her PhD from Yale University (2004) and a BA/MA from the University of Cambridge (1998). Her research explores themes like genre evolution in Dostoevsky’s works, the publication culture of 19th-century Russian periodicals, and the theoretical frameworks of Historical Poetics. Her recent publications include A Dostoevskii Companion: Texts and Contexts (2018) and The Novel in the Age of Disintegration (2013), analyzing Dostoevsky’s engagement with genre and modernity. Her scholarship frequently examines narrative form, cultural history, and the intersection of literature with philosophical and religious thought.
Professor Amy Maguire is a leading academic in human rights and public international law at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She holds roles as Deputy Head of the School of Law and Justice (2021-2024) and co-founder Director of the Centre for Law and Social Justice. Her research focuses on human rights accountability, Indigenous rights, climate change displacement, and refugee rights. She has secured over $2.7 million in grants, including an ARC Mid-Career Industry Fellowship (2024-2028) for national human rights reform initiatives. Maguire advises the Queensland Parliament on human rights compliance and collaborates with global institutions like the Australian Human Rights Commission. Her work has influenced policy, including Australia’s death penalty abolition strategy and Indigenous rights frameworks. She has been awarded multiple accolades for research and teaching excellence, including the 2020 Leadership Excellence Award and 2016 Early Career Researcher of the Year. Maguire’s education includes a BA, LLB (Hons), and PhD from the University of Newcastle. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges law and social justice, addressing issues like climate migration and legal responses to global crises. She leads projects such as the Hunter Region climate displacement study and the Human Rights Measurement System. Maguire’s public engagement includes over 70 articles for The Conversation, reaching 920,000+ readers, and expert media commentary globally. She advocates for inclusive education through initiatives like early entry programs for Indigenous and refugee students, earning a 2021 Senior Fellowship from Advance HE. Her research outputs span 60+ publications, with key works on MH17 litigation, climate justice, and Indigenous legal frameworks. Grants include a 2021 stimulus grant to establish the Centre for Law and Social Justice, supporting postdoctoral research and international collaborations. Maguire’s leadership extends to global networks, including the UN Human Rights Council evaluation project and the Human Rights for NSW Alliance. She remains committed to translating research into policy, education, and community impact through clinics, youth forums, and law reform advocacy.
Annette Schellenberg-Lagler serves as Professor of Old Testament Studies at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Protestant Theology, where she concurrently holds leadership roles as Vice Dean, Director of Studies, and Deputy Head of the Institute for Old Testament Studies and Biblical Archaeology. Her academic career spans over two decades with significant contributions to biblical scholarship since joining Vienna in 2015 after positions at the University of Zurich and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Her educational foundation includes Protestant Theology studies at the University of Zurich (1991-1998), followed by doctoral completion in 2002 and habilitation in 2011 at the same institution. Key developmental phases include Swiss National Science Foundation research in Los Angeles (2003-2005) and tenure-track professorship in California (2007-2015). Schellenberg-Lagler's research centers on Prehistory (Genesis 1-11), Priestly literature, Wisdom literature, and the Song of Songs, with specialized focus on Old Testament Anthropology and theological controversies within ancient Near Eastern contexts. Her work consistently bridges textual analysis with anthropological and epistemological frameworks, particularly examining human cognition in wisdom texts and sensory dimensions in biblical poetry. Current projects include a Song of Songs commentary for Eerdmans' Illuminations series. Recent publications reveal evolving scholarly trajectories toward negative theology in Hebrew Bible studies and interdisciplinary epistemology, while maintaining deep engagement with Wisdom literature. Her editorial leadership as Editor-in-Chief of Vetus Testamentum since 2020 significantly shapes contemporary Old Testament scholarship. She actively mentors students through STEOP-Mentoring programs and doctoral seminars, building on early-career support from Swiss National Science Foundation and Zurich Young Talents scholarships. Her academic service extends to steering committees for the Society of Biblical Literature's 'Wisdom in Israelite Traditions' group and the Working Group on Old Testament Reception (AKRAT). As a core member of Vienna's Research Center 'Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society' (RaT), she collaborates across multiple networks including the 'Epistemology in ancient Israel' consortium. Her institutional leadership drives curriculum development for Evangelical Theology programs while maintaining active participation in European scholarly societies like EABS and SBL.
Peter Brodersen is a Professor at the Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen , specializing in Bioinformatics and RNA Biology . His research focuses on RNA modification (m6A), YTHDF proteins, and small RNA pathways in plants. Recent research trends from his group include: (1) molecular mechanisms of ARGONAUTE-small RNA interactions, (2) m6A-YTHDF regulatory systems in plant development, and (3) RNAi-independent roles of DICER-LIKE proteins in antiviral defense. Collaborations span Denmark and international institutions. Publications highlight cross-disciplinary work bridging computational biology and experimental plant genetics. Key subfields include RNA structure, epigenetic regulation, and antiviral immunity.
Max Cavitch is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences, specializing in American literature, psychoanalytic studies, and cinema. He joined Penn in 1999 after earning his B.A. from Yale and Ph.D. from Rutgers. His research spans 19th- and 20th-century literature, African American studies, and interdisciplinary fields like animal studies and gender theory. Cavitch has authored influential works such as *American Elegy* (2007) and co-edited volumes on Whitman and early American studies. He directs Penn's Psychoanalytic Studies program and edits the blog *Psyche on Campus*, honored with the 2022 American Psychoanalytic Association's Excellence in Journalism Award. His teaching includes courses on psychoanalysis, autobiography, and American poetry. Cavitch has held fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation, Newcombe Foundation, and others. His recent projects explore world autobiography, psychoanalysis in academia, and the history of 'ashes' as a conceptual and material symbol. Award-winning scholar and educator, Cavitch's work bridges literary criticism with clinical theory, media studies, and transnational frameworks. He advises doctoral students in American literature and affiliated programs, maintaining active collaborations with institutions like the McNeil Center for Early American Studies and the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia.
Megan Sweeney is Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of English, Afroamerican and African Studies, and Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Michigan. Her research examines African American literature, reading practices in carceral settings, and autotheory through works like Reading Is My Window and the lyric essay collection Mendings . Her scholarship has been supported by the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Ford Foundation, and Woodrow Wilson Foundation. Sweeney received the university's highest teaching awards including the 2021 John D'Arms Award for graduate mentoring and 2014 Thurnau Professorship. She serves as Director of Graduate Studies in English and Interim Editorial Director for Feminist Studies .
Professor Peter John Edgley Robinson is a distinguished academic and poet at the University of Reading, where he holds the position of Professor in the Department of English Literature, part of the School of Humanities. He is renowned for founding the English Literature with Creative Writing joint degree program and the MA in Creative Writing. His research focuses on modern and contemporary poetry, publishing, and translation, with a particular interest in 20th-century literary movements and interdisciplinary studies. Responsibilities include leading the Poetry & Poetics strand of the Modern Studies Centre and supervising doctoral research in creative writing and academic topics such as post-war Japanese poetry, Muriel Rukeyser’s work, and travel writing. He has held roles as poetry editor for Two Rivers Press and contributed to academic publications like The Fortnightly Review . His career includes teaching at Tohoku University in Japan and organizing events like the Reading Poetry Festival. Key awards include the Cheltenham Prize (1988), the John Florio Prize (2008), and Poetry Book Society recommendations. His publications span poetry collections, critical essays, translations, and novels, reflecting his expertise in literary analysis and creative expression. Notable works include The Sound Sense of Poetry (2018), Ravishing Europa (2019), and Retrieved Attachments (2023). Education: BA from University of York (1974), PhD from University of Cambridge (1981). Translations: Includes works by Vittorio Sereni, Pietro De Marchi, and Giorgio Bassani. Editorial Roles: Numbers magazine, Reading Poetry Festival , and The Oxford Handbook of Contemporary British and Irish Poetry . His research explores intersections between poetry, economics, and cultural identity, with a focus on publishing policies and lyrical forms. He remains active in mentoring emerging writers and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
Dr. Kelsey Onderdijk is a Post-doctoral Researcher at Tilburg University in the Department of Communication and Cognition within the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences. Her research focuses on the intersection of music cognition, virtual reality, and social connectedness, with publications spanning neuroscience, psychology, and human-computer interaction domains. Dr. Onderdijk completed her doctoral studies at Ghent University with a dissertation titled "Come together: Exploring unity in music interaction through agency and social connectedness." Her academic journey reflects a strong commitment to understanding human interaction through musical experiences, particularly examining how technological mediation affects social bonding. Her research interests include: Music cognition and embodied music interaction Virtual reality applications in musical contexts Social connectedness in digital music environments Effects of technological constraints on musical collaboration Physiological measures of emotional engagement in music Impact of external constraints on creative expression Dr. Onderdijk's publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory examining how people connect through music in both physical and virtual spaces. Her work bridges psychology, musicology, and human-computer interaction, with particular attention to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on musical collaboration. Recent publications have focused on concert experiences in virtual reality environments and the physiological correlates of emotional engagement during musical performance. Her research has garnered significant attention, with multiple publications receiving citations and mentions in news outlets, policy sources, and social media platforms. The "Impact of Lockdown Measures on Joint Music Making" paper has been particularly influential, accumulating 39 citation indexes and 50 Mendeley readers. Dr. Onderdijk actively collaborates with researchers across institutions, particularly with scholars from Ghent University including Marc Leman and Pieter-Jan Maes, indicating a strong network within the music cognition research community. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to well-being and innovation.
Zoe Lee is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Marketing at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University , and Programme Director for MSc Strategic & Digital Marketing. She serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Strategic Marketing and editorial board member for Journal of Business Research and Journal of Philanthropy & Marketing . Research Interests: Responsible Branding Brand Purpose & Activism Sustainability Communications in Fashion Nonprofit Marketing Strategy Digital Brand Management Recent Publications (2023-2025) examine brand activism in permacrisis, social media banter between brands, disability inclusion in luxury fashion, and sustainability communication strategies. Her work combines empirical studies with systematic literature reviews across Journal of Marketing Management , European Journal of Marketing , and Journal of Business Research . Scientific Awards: Outstanding Article in Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Quarterly (2018) Nominated for ESLA Awards (2021-2025) for teaching excellence Dean's Award for Citizenship (2017) Supervision: Currently supervising PhD students in corporate brand purpose, sustainability, and brand activism. Actively engaged in grant-funded projects including British Council research on inclusive policies and Hodge Foundation public value internships.
Dr. Heather Inwood serves as University Associate Professor in Modern Chinese Literature and Culture within the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge. She is also a Fellow and Director of Studies at Trinity Hall, maintaining dual institutional affiliations that support her teaching and research activities across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Her educational background includes a BA in Chinese Studies from the University of Cambridge (Trinity Hall), followed by advanced studies at Tsinghua University and Peking University, culminating in a PhD in modern Chinese literature from SOAS, University of London in 2008. Prior academic appointments include Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University (2008-2013) and Lecturer in Chinese Cultural Studies at the University of Manchester before returning to Cambridge in 2016. Professor Inwood's research program investigates the dynamic interactions between digital media and literary production in contemporary China, with particular focus on poetry communities, genre fiction, and transmedia storytelling. Her work bridges traditional literary analysis with digital humanities approaches, examining how online platforms transform authorship, reception, and cultural value. She has pioneered scholarship on internet poetry scenes, demonstrating their vitality despite public perceptions of poetry's decline in modern China. Her publication trajectory reveals a clear evolution from early work on poetry communities ( Verse Going Viral: China's New Media Scenes , 2014) toward broader investigations of digital narrative forms, game studies, and Sinophone cyberspace. Recent publications increasingly engage with science fiction, transmedia storytelling, and the algorithmic structures shaping literary production, reflecting both the changing digital landscape and her expanding methodological toolkit. Professor Inwood actively supervises five PhD students working on diverse projects spanning Misty poetry, queer narratives, gender studies, and poetic animality, demonstrating her commitment to nurturing next-generation scholarship in Chinese literary studies. Her research has been supported by British Academy Small Grants and similar funding mechanisms that enable sustained fieldwork and publication. Her teaching responsibilities include undergraduate courses on East Asian media and popular culture, Modern Chinese texts, and Modern Chinese literature, connecting classroom instruction directly to her research expertise. She also maintains public engagement through Chinese-language columns for BBC China and other media outlets, bridging academic and public discourse on contemporary Chinese culture.
