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Prof. Dr. Isabelle Stauffer holds the Professorship for Modern German Literature at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt , where she also serves as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Literature and Deputy Director of the Center for Religion, Church, and Society in Change (ZRKG) . She co-leads the ZRKG Research Field III on "Religiosity in Contemporary Transformation Processes" and examines intersections of literature with gender/queer studies , postcolonial theory , and cultural history of gallantry . Studied at University of Zurich and Humboldt University Berlin Doctorate (2006) and Habilitation (2015) from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Previously held positions at Goethe University Frankfurt, Philipps University Marburg, and Saarland University Her research spans early modern to contemporary German literature , with specializations in intermediality (film, digital media), epistolary culture , and dandyism/fashion history . Current projects include organizing the 2025 IVG congress panel "Figures of Crisis – Crisis of the Figure" and editing the complete works of Aurora von Königsmarck. She has published extensively on topics including: Postcolonial transformations in early modern texts Religious discourse in contemporary literature Intermedia reflexivity in digital age narratives Queer performativity in historical and modern contexts Translation as cultural transfer mechanism Surface aesthetics in cinema and art

• German literature (early modern period, fin de siècle, contemporary)
• Literary theory
• Cultural studies (gender/queer studies, performativity, postcolonial studies)
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Dr. Kerrin v. Engelhardt is an Associate Scientist at the Humboldt University Berlin's Department of History of Education within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. She also holds roles as Project Leader in the BMBF-funded collaborative project 'MythErz' and as a lecturer in science history at the Technical University of Berlin. Her research focuses on Cold War educational practices, historical pedagogical technologies, and the Abitur examination system in Germany. She has held positions including Research Assistant at the Humboldt University’s Institute of Education Studies and the Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, and led projects on educational film analysis and university collection utilization. Education: PhD in History of Natural Science from Friedrich-Schiller University Jena (2013), M.A. in Cultural History/Folklore Studies (2011), and Diploma in Fine Art from Bauhaus University Weimar (2003). Her work integrates interdisciplinary approaches to explore the intersection of education, science, and cultural history. Research Interests: Cold War pedagogical media, history of educational assessment practices, cultural history of science education, and institutional practices in historical education systems. She emphasizes praxeological methods to analyze historical educational materials and rituals. Key Projects: Leadership in the 'MythErz' project examining GDR educational myths through films; co-coordination of the 'Abitur examination practices' project; development of interdisciplinary teaching strategies using university collections. Publications: Over 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on topics such as East German educational spaces, historical examination rituals, and Weimar-era art education. Notable works include analyses of GDR science education films and the socio-cultural dimensions of Abitur practices.

• History of Education
• History of Science
• Educational Film Studies
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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.

• Art History
• Reformation and Visual Arts
• Mannerism
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PD Dr. Jens Wolff is a German theologian and researcher at the Faculty of Theology, University of Rostock . His work bridges image theory , cultural hermeneutics , and negative theology , with a focus on Lutheran theology and its intersections with literature and art . Education : Studied at Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle/Wittenberg, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Academic Timeline : 1995–1998 Heidelberg Academy researcher, 1998–2002 assistant at Münster's Faculty, 2003 PhD, 2005 ordained pastor, 2009–2012 DFG project on Sigmund von Birken, 2012–2015 DFG project on Image Theory, 2015 habilitation. Wolff's research explores image and media theory through theological lenses, interrogating figurative knowledge , religious rhetoric , and intercultural hermeneutics . His work connects Baroque literature (e.g., Klopstock, Hamann) with contemporary philological and deconstructive methods , examining tensions between sacralization and secularization . His recent publications analyze the word of God as performative polysemy in Lutheran thought, death and utopia in Stefan Andres' work, and iconic anthropology in Reformation contexts. He co-edited the two-volume Bild und Tod (2016), a foundational text on image-death relations. Awards: Martin-Luther-Preis für den akademischen Nachwuchs (2005) for his dissertation on Metapher und Kreuz . Wolff's advising and collaborative work focus on interdisciplinary image studies , including DFG-funded projects and symposia like the Image and Sound conference (2014). He maintains links to institutions in Bratislava , Frankfurt , and Brazil .

• Image and Media Theory
• Cultural Hermeneutics
• Figurative Knowledge
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Prof. Dr. Sabine N. Meyer is a Professor of American Studies and Co-Director of the North American Studies Program at the University of Bonn. Her research focuses on Native American writing and law, Indigenous identity formation, and the history of social movements in the U.S. She holds a Ph.D. from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and habilitation from the University of Osnabrück. Her major works include Native Removal Writing: Narratives of Peoplehood, Politics, and Law (2022) and We Are What We Drink: The Temperance Battle in Minnesota (2015). Her current projects include analyzing Black Indigenous expression and the transformative potential of contemporary literature. She has held fellowships at the University of Minnesota and the Center for Advanced Study 'Law as Culture' in Bonn. Awards include the Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship and nominations for teaching and research excellence. Meyer has participated in major collaborative projects such as the DFG-funded The Claims of History (2016–2020) and serves as an editorial board member for Brill Research Perspectives in Art and Law . Her work bridges law, literature, and Indigenous studies, addressing themes like settler colonialism, legal narratives, and cultural sovereignty. Key affiliations include the Bonn Center for Slavery and Dependency Studies and the TRA-Research project on democratization. Her research also explores transnational Indigenous perspectives and the intersection of race, gender, and migration in North America.

• Native American Studies
• Indigenous Law and Politics
• Settler Colonialism
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Prof. Anja Müller-Wood holds a Professorship in English Literature at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz since 2003. She earned her Ph.D. (1995) from Philipps-Universität Marburg and completed her Habilitation (2002) at the University of Trier. Her research focuses on early modern English literature (16th-17th centuries), 19th-20th century English literature, and interdisciplinary fields like narratology, stylistics, and literary linguistics. She teaches advanced BA/MA courses on these topics and co-leads core modules like 'Introduction to Literary Studies' and 'Colloquium' for literature and education students. Her work explores intersections between literature and cultural identity, particularly in post-Reformation religious dynamics and narrative form. She actively supervises theses aligned with her research areas. Her recent publications include analyses of Jacobean drama, cognitive approaches to narrative, and studies on Angela Carter and Ian McEwan. She serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Literary Linguistics and maintains academic profiles on ResearchGate and academia.edu. Research emphasizes cognitive narratology, examining how literary forms interact with human cognitive processes. She also investigates transnational cultural exchanges in early modern and modern British literature, blending historical analysis with contemporary theoretical frameworks.

• Early Modern English Literature
• 19th-20th Century English Literature
• Narratology
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Prof. Dr. Matthias Bruhn is a Professor of Art History and Media Theory at the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design (HfG Karlsruhe), where he leads the DFG priority program project "Designing Habits" (2023–2025) and its predecessor "Adaptive Images" . He is also a co-editor of the series Image Worlds of Knowledge: Art Historical Yearbook for Image Criticism and a member of the DFG Cluster of Excellence "Matters of Activity" . His academic journey began with studies in art history and philosophy in Hamburg, culminating in a 1997 doctorate on Nicolas Poussin's correspondence. Co-founded ArtHist network (2001) Directed Berlin's "The Technical Image" research unit (2005) His research spans art history, media theory, and digital humanities, focusing on the intersection of technology, visual culture, and critical theory. His recent work in The Digital Image DFG program explores adaptive images as social interfaces and their role in shaping digital interaction patterns. He also co-founded the KIM research group on AI and media philosophy (2018), addressing societal impacts of artificial intelligence. His publications include monographs like The Image: Theory - History - Practice (2008) and edited volumes such as Images of Precision: Practices of Refinement in Technology, Art, and Science (2018). He has participated in international conferences like After Memory – Recalling and Foretelling (2024) and Image Servitude: New Dependencies in the Digital Age (2019). Current affiliations include membership in the advisory board of the Stiftung Forum Recht and leadership roles in DFG-funded projects. His teaching emphasizes the relationship between traditional arts, media technology, and electronic production processes, aligning with HfG Karlsruhe's mission as a reform university.

• Art History
• Media Theory
• Digital Humanities
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Prof. Dr. Birgit Ulrike Münch serves as Professor of General Art History with focus on Dutch Art and Vice Rector for International Affairs at the University of Bonn's Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Her academic leadership includes directorship of the Institute of Art History (2018-2020) and membership in university-wide committees including the Faculty Council and Habilitation Commission. Her educational background encompasses Magistra Artium in Art History and Medieval/Modern History from Heidelberg University (1995-2003), with additional studies at Paris-Sorbonne and FU Berlin. Her doctoral dissertation Geteiltes Leid. Die Passion Christi in Bildern und Texten der Konfessionalisierung (2007, summa cum laude) and habilitation Jenseits der Académie: Studies on Alternative Art Publics in France and the Netherlands from 1450 to around 1815 (2016) established foundational contributions to Northern European art historiography. Münch's research spans Flemish, Dutch, German, and French art (15th-18th centuries), with pioneering work on genre painting genesis, proverb visualization, and illness representation. She investigates how emotions like existential anxiety shaped artistic production during crises such as the Reformation, and examines court dwarf agency through interdisciplinary collaborations. Recent projects analyze syphilis's impact on art and colonialism's representation in Dutch still lifes, demonstrating her commitment to methodological innovation at the intersection of art history and medical humanities. Her publication trajectory reveals increasing engagement with postcolonial frameworks, particularly in re-examining Northern European art's entanglement with slavery and dependency systems. The 2022-2025 works demonstrate sophisticated interdisciplinary approaches connecting visual culture with critical race theory, gender studies, and economic history. International Wolfgang-Ratjen Prize (2008) for research on graphic arts Nomination for DFG's Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize (2016) Senior Global Fellowship at University of St Andrews (2022) Membership in Comité International d'histoire de l'Art (CIHA) As Principal Investigator for the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (2020-present), she directs the project "Prostitution, Serfdom, Slavery: Picturing Female Dependencies in Early Modern Amsterdam." Her leadership in the GOTH Symposium and MeWo Mentoring Program for women at the Centre d'Excellence Denis Mukwege highlights commitment to gender equity. Major grants include DFG Excellence Cluster funding and BMBF research fellowships for collection recontextualization projects. She co-founded the Kunsthistorisches Forum Irsee (2014-2020), producing 7 edited volumes on premodern art communities. Current leadership includes the "Aby Warburg's Bonn Years" research group and the Crossroads project on Frankfurt's 16th-century art market with North American collaborators. Her curation of the "A Feast for the Eyes? Dutch Still Lifes in Detail" exhibition exemplifies her commitment to public scholarship and decolonial museum practices.

• Flemish Art
• Dutch Art
• German Art
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JoAnne Mancini is an Associate Professor in History at Maynooth University. She previously held visiting roles, including the Terra Visiting Professorship at the John F. Kennedy Institute, Freie Universität Berlin (2021–2022). Her research bridges American art history with interdisciplinary topics like urban environments, migration, and policy, emphasizing global and transpacific perspectives. She has published extensively, including Art and War in the Pacific World (2018) and co-edited Architecture and Armed Conflict (2015). Mancini has received major awards such as the Royal Irish Academy membership (2022) and the Charles C. Eldredge Prize (2008). Her work appears in journals like American Quarterly and Journal of American History . Education: PhD and MA from Johns Hopkins University; B.A. from University of Virginia. Research Interests: Interdisciplinary American art history, material culture, citizenship, and urban studies. Her recent focus includes education policy and unequal access to resources in Ireland. Awards and Fellowships: Over 20+ grants and fellowships from institutions like the Getty Research Institute and the Smithsonian. Notable honors include the Peggy O'Brien Book Prize (2021) and the Yasuo Sakakibara Prize (2002). Outreach: Active in public engagement through media appearances (RTÉ, BBC), radio programs (Newstalk Radio's Talking History), and contributions to platforms like RTÉ Brainstorm.

• American Art History
• Global Art and War Studies
• Citizenship and Migration
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Dr. Mina Ibrahim is a Researcher at the Center for Conflict Research (ZfK) at Philipps University of Marburg , Germany. She is also the founder and director of Shubra’s Archive for Research & Development (SARD) in Cairo, Egypt, and serves as a project manager for the MENA Prison Forum and Institute for Foreign Relations (IFA) in Lebanon and Germany. PhD in Cultural Studies & Social Sciences (2022, Summa Cum Laude), Justus Liebig University & GCSC Giessen Master of Arts (2015, Cum Laude), Central European University (CEU), Hungary Bachelor of Arts (2014, Highest Honours), American University in Cairo (AUC), Egypt Her research explores minority dynamics , prison studies , urban sociology , and archives of conflict in the Middle East. Recent publications focus on Coptic Christian identity, sectarianism, and post-revolutionary Egypt. She has received prestigious fellowships from the DFG , Arab Council for Social Sciences , and Carnegie Endowment . Dr. Ibrahim supervises graduate students and teaches courses on prison systems, ethnography, and Middle Eastern cultural studies. Her fieldwork bridges Germany , Egypt , and Lebanon , emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to power, memory, and urban marginalization .

• Middle East Studies
• Migration Studies
• Prison Studies
• +5 more

Prof. Dr. Gabriele Weiß is a Professor of Educational Science specializing in General Pedagogy at the University of Siegen (Faculty II). Her work bridges educational theory, philosophy, and cultural studies, focusing on aesthetic education, museum pedagogy, and phenomenological analyses of pedagogical phenomena. Key research areas: Educational theory-practice transformation, subjectivity theories, ethics/aesthetics/politics intersections Teaching spans topics like social inequality theories, post-digital education, Foucauldian subjectivation, and Nietzsche's educational philosophy Collaborations include co-editing with Klaus Mollenhauer, Christian Thompson, and Jörg Zirfas Recent publications examine ludification/gamification, educational conscience, and participation in practice theory

• Educational Theory
• Philosophy of Education
• Aesthetic Education
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Melanie Gruß is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Theatre Studies at Leipzig University, where she has been employed since March 2018. She also works with the NFDI4Culture consortium of the DFG-funded National Research Data Infrastructure since January 2021. In addition to her university position, she voluntarily supports various projects of the Tanzarchiv Leipzig e.V., demonstrating her deep commitment to dance heritage preservation. Dr. Gruß received her doctorate in 2015 from Leipzig University with a dissertation entitled "Synesthesia as Discourse. A Figure of Longing and Thought between Art, Media, and Science," which was supported by a scholarship from the Free State of Saxony and awarded the distinction "opus eximium." Her academic journey began with studies in theater studies, psychology, and general and comparative literature at Leipzig University and Université Paris X (Nanterre) through an Erasmus exchange program. Her research spans dance and dance research in the GDR, research data management in dance and theatre studies, the institutionalization of the independent scene in Germany since the 1990s, and inclusion in dance and theatre projects. Her work consistently explores the interfaces between movement cultures and knowledge systems, as well as the connections between arts, media, and sciences. Current research projects include "Cultural Heritage Dance in the GDR" and work with the NFDI4Culture consortium on dance and theatre studies research data between collection and research. Dr. Gruß has taught numerous courses at Leipzig University covering topics from digital dance platforms and folk dance documentation in the GDR to inclusive dance practices and Bauhaus media experiments. Her teaching connects historical dance practices with contemporary issues in dance documentation and theory, often incorporating hands-on experience with the "Tanz digital" online platform. Dance and cultural history of the GDR Research data management in performing arts Inclusive dance practices Historical dance documentation methods Interdisciplinary approaches to movement studies Through her work with the Tanzarchiv Leipzig and various research projects, she contributes significantly to the preservation and analysis of dance heritage, particularly from the East German context, while advancing contemporary approaches to dance research data infrastructure.

• Dance and dance research in the GDR
• Research data and research data management in dance and theatre studies
• The institutionalization of the independent scene in Germany since the 1990s
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Walter Funkat (1906–2006) was a prominent figure in art and design education, serving as Professor, Director, and the first Rektor (President) of Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle. He held academic leadership roles from 1946 onwards, including directing the Institute for Werkkunst (Applied Arts) and establishing the Fachklasse für Gebrauchsgrafik (Class for Applied Graphics). His career spanned teaching, design practice, and administrative leadership in the German art education system. Education: Bauhaus Dessau (1927–1930), Diploma in Printing and Advertising Research & Practice: Specialized in applied graphics, design pedagogy, and the intersection of art and industrial practices. His 1970 publication Kunsthandwerk der DDR documented East German design traditions. He championed modernist approaches in art education and institutional development. Awards: Ehrensenator (Honorary Senator) of Burg Giebichenstein (1994) Legacy: Pioneered design education reforms, led institutional expansions, and curated exhibitions. His work influenced post-war German design strategies and cultural policies.

• Graphic Design
• Applied Arts
• Industrial Design
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Prof. Dr. Felix Mundt is a prominent scholar in Classical Philology, specializing in Latin studies at the Humboldt University of Berlin. Currently serving as a private lecturer in Latin studies, he has held academic roles including junior professor (W1) from 2008–2017 and visiting professorships at the University of Vienna (2012, 2015), University of Graz (2015), and LMU Munich (2016). His research focuses on Augustan poetry, epistolary literature, and ancient representations of Carthage. He has led projects such as The Image of Carthage in Ancient Literature and edited works like Cityscaping . Notable publications include Römische Klassik und griechische Lyrik (2018) and Berolinum Latinum (2011). Mundt’s work bridges classical texts with modern scholarship, emphasizing textual criticism and cultural reception. He has contributed to interdisciplinary initiatives, including the DFG-funded project on Melanchthon’s writings and organized conferences on ancient medicine and communication spaces. Education & Academic Milestones - Born in Frankfurt/Main (1973) - Abitur (1992) from Arndt-Gymnasium Berlin - State examination (2002) in Latin and History (Free University) - MA in Greek Philology (2007) - PhD (2007), Habilitation (2015) in Classical Philology (Humboldt University) Research Interests His primary fields include Roman literature, Greek lyric poetry, and the reception of classical texts in Neo-Latin works. Mundt explores how Augustan-era writers reinterpreted archaic Greek traditions, particularly in panegyric and urban discourse. Recent work examines the interplay between Christian and classical elements in late antique historiography. Grants & Collaborations - Co-leads DFG proposal for Melanchthon’s writings on soul doctrine - Collaborates with institutions like the Akademie für historische Aufführungspraxis on musical adaptations of classical plays - Active in Berlin’s academic networks, including the Topoi research center Labs & Teams Mundt contributes to the Institute of Classical Philology’s research on ancient medicine via projects like Galen’s commentary on Hippocratic Aphorisms. He co-organizes workshops on topics like Galen as Commentator and Medical Puzzles of Alexander of Aphrodisias .

• Augustan poetry
• Epistolary literature
• Augustan History
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Dr. Karl Tetzlaff is the Managing Director of the Leucorea Foundation in Wittenberg since October 1, 2023. He serves as a Lecturer at the Faculty of Theology of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and an associated postdoctoral researcher in the DFG long-term project on Friedrich Schleiermacher's Christian Moral Teaching. Primary Affiliation: Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (Faculty of Theology, Chair of Systematic Theology/Ethics) Current Role: Managing Director, Leucorea Foundation (Wittenberg) Education: PhD in Systematic Theology (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 2021–2022; grade: summa cum laude) Studies in Protestant Theology (Humboldt University Berlin, Charles University Prague, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 2008–2016) Research Interests intersect across Social Theory , Systematic Theology , and Romanticism , with a focus on Schleiermacher's ethics, religion-literature interplay, and theology of recognition. His work bridges historical context with modern cultural tensions. Scientific Awards : Dorothea Erxleben Prize (2023) for humanities German Academic Scholarship Foundation (2018–2021) Konrad Adenauer Foundation fellowship (2009–2015) Publications analyze themes like religion in contemporary fiction , modernity's theological ethics , and romanticism's cultural legacy . He edited volumes on Traugott Koch and Falk Wagner's theological-economic critiques. Leadership & Collaboration : He co-organizes conferences at Leucorea Foundation, contributes to DFG Research Training Group Model Romanticism , and participates in interdisciplinary networks like the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of the European Enlightenment (IZEA).

• Social Theory
• Systematic Theology
• Friedrich Schleiermacher
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