Prof. Dr. Asghar Seyed-Gohrab is a leading scholar in Persian and Iranian Studies at Utrecht University’s Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. His academic career spans over two decades, including roles as Chairman of Persian Studies at Leiden University and Principal Investigator of the ERC-funded 'Beyond Sharia' project examining Sufism’s role in Islamic intellectual history. He holds a PhD from Leiden University and has authored over 50 monographs and edited volumes on Persian poetry, Sufism, and Iranian cultural history. Education: B.A. in English (Vrije Universiteit), M.A. in Persian Studies (Leiden University), PhD (Leiden University) Research Focus: Medieval Persian poetry’s modern political and cultural relevance, Sufi movements, and the interplay between mysticism and state power in Iran. Grants: ERC Advanced Grant (2021), NWO VIDI/VENI (2009-2014), KNAW Fellow (2023). His research highlights how classical Persian poetry shapes modern Iranian identity, including its use in the 1979 Revolution and Iran-Iraq War. He has supervised 43+ students and edited journals like Iranian Studies and Persica .
Lara Green is a Lecturer in the Department of History at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, Erasmus University Rotterdam. She joined the department in 2021 after teaching at Durham University, UK. Her research focuses on modern and contemporary Russian history, particularly revolutionary movements, transnational networks, political violence, and gender. Her primary research interests include: Revolutionary emigration and transnational activism Gender and political violence in Russian history Anarchism and revolutionary terrorism Martyrdom and political sacrifice Publishing and intellectual networks in exile Imperial and Soviet history Lara's recent scholarly work explores the intersections of biography, exile, and revolutionary identity. Her publications span topics such as the transnational life of Peter Kropotkin, the representation of penal exile in memoirs, the British reception of Russian nihilism, and the response to revolutionary terrorism in imperial contexts. These studies reveal a consistent engagement with how political ideologies travel across borders and are reinterpreted in new cultural settings. Her recent articles, published in journals like Slavonic and East European Review , Anarchist Studies , and History of European Ideas , demonstrate a strong thematic focus on revolutionary subjectivity, transnational solidarity, and the gendered dimensions of resistance. The articles collectively highlight her methodological approach, combining intellectual history, cultural analysis, and transnational perspectives. Lara is currently working on two major projects: The Russian Free Press Fund and the Russian Revolutionary Emigration, 1881-1926 : A study of transnational information networks and publishing activities among Russian revolutionaries in exile. Violent Women in Russia, 1864-Present Day : An exploration of female political violence from the era of penal reform to contemporary movements like Pussy Riot. Her work contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly through her engagement with themes of heritage, identity, and global futures within the ERMeCHS research clusters (GFCP - Global Futures, Colonial Pasts; HI - Heritage & Identity). Lara has co-authored works with scholars such as D. Saunders, D. Laqua, and G. Brewis. While no formal advising or grant information is available, her collaborative research and publication record indicate active academic engagement. She also contributes to broader scholarly discourse, with her work being cited in Scopus, mentioned in news outlets, referenced on Wikipedia, and discussed on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
Prof. Maarten Prak is a renowned historian specializing in Economic and Social History at Utrecht University. His research focuses on medieval and early modern European urban societies, with particular emphasis on citizenship, guilds, and the Dutch Golden Age. He has held significant academic roles, including chair of the Humanities Board at NWO (2014–2016) and membership in the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW, 2016–2020). Currently, he contributes to ALLEA (All European Academies). Prak's expertise spans citizenship dynamics, guild structures, and the 'polder model' of Dutch governance. His work bridges economic, social, and political history, examining institutions' role in shaping early modern societies. He has been a visiting scholar at institutions like Cambridge University and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris. His teaching covers programs such as Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Studies (RMA), History (BA), and History of Politics and Society (MA). Research interests include the lives of urban dwellers in medieval and early modern Europe, with notable contributions to understanding guilds' socio-economic roles and citizenship evolution. His recent publications analyze pre-modern citizenship, apprenticeship systems, and the Dutch Republic's economic foundations. Advising includes supervision of PhD candidates like Piet Groot (2018–2023). Prak remains active in academic governance and public engagement, contributing to documentaries on the Golden Age and historical analysis for broader audiences.
Geert Buelens (born 1971) is a Professor of Modern Dutch Literature at Utrecht University and guest professor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Affiliated with the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication within the Faculty of Humanities, he works at the Humanities Institute for Cultural Inquiry. His research focuses on the intersection of literature and society, particularly examining how writers and artists respond to moments of crisis. His areas of expertise include Environmental History, Literary History, Modern Dutch Literature, Cultural History, 1960s in Global Perspective, Avant-Garde Poetry from the First World War, and Poetry Song Culture. Buelens has published extensively on European poets of the First World War, the global cultural upheaval of the 1960s, the history of Flemish poetry, literature and decolonization, and cultural responses to the environmental and climate crisis. His notable publications include Wat we toen al wisten. De vergeten groene geschiedenis van 1972 (2022), which explores the environmental year 1972 and was awarded the Boon Prize while longlisted for the Jan Wolkers Prize; De Jaren Zestig: Een Cultuurgeschiedenis (2018), a comprehensive global perspective on the 1960s; and Europa Europa! Over de dichters van de Grote Oorlog (2008), examining WWI poetry across Europe. He has also published poetry collections including Ofwa (2020). Boon Prize for Best Fiction or Non-Fiction book of 2022 Longlisted for the Jan Wolkers Prize Buelens is actively involved in the Network for Environmental Humanities and participates in the HERA project 'Cultural Exchange in a Time of Global Conflict.' He frequently contributes to public debates on literature, environmental issues, and cultural history through media appearances and public lectures. His current research examines the relationship between literature and the climate crisis, with a particular focus on Dutch and Flemish literary responses to environmental challenges.
Prof. Dr. Ido de Haan is a faculty member at Utrecht University's Department of History and Art History , holding the chair in Political History . His work spans modern Western European history, focusing on regime changes , large-scale violence , and the memory of the Holocaust in the Netherlands. Research Interests Institutional history and political ideologies Democratic theory and alternative forms of governance Postwar reconstruction in France and the Netherlands Jewish diaspora and memory studies Migration's societal impact Recent publications analyze social justice , reparations , and memory dynamics across Europe. He contributes to journals like Journal of Modern European History and Krisis , emphasizing democratic evolution and institutional innovation . Notable Projects Institutions for Open Societies (IOS) initiative Migration and Societal Change research Pathways to Sustainability program De Haan serves on editorial boards for BMGN - The Low Countries Historical Review and Krisis , and has organized conferences on European security culture , democracy , and historical memory . His academic leadership includes directing research on constitutional history and political representation .
Adrienne Rooney is an Assistant Professor of Visual and Material Culture at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities). She holds a PhD in Art History from Rice University (2023), with certificates in African and African American Studies and Critical Theory. Her research examines the intersections of decolonization, visual/material culture, and Caribbean artistic practices, particularly focusing on the Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta). She co-founded the Racial Geography Project and contributed to the Digital Archive of Guyanese and Caribbean Festivals, Culture and Literature. Her work bridges art history, Black Studies, and decolonial theory. Education: PhD in Art History (Rice University, 2023), MA in Art History (Rice University, 2019), BA in Art History (Barnard College). Research emphasizes Carifesta’s role in unifying the Caribbean through cultural resistance to colonialism, and explores themes like racial capitalism, aesthetics, and modernity. Recent projects include a book derived from her award-winning dissertation and collaborative public history initiatives. She teaches in Media/Art/Architecture (MKDA), Arts & Culture, and Humanities programs. Awards: Recognized for her PhD dissertation on Carifesta’s revolutionary era (1966–1981). Grants and collaborations include work with the Frederick Douglass Institute and University of Guyana. Key activities: Co-organized the 2022 symposium on Carifesta and chairs the Racial Geography Project at Rice University’s Task Force on Slavery and Racial Injustice.
Erik de Lange (born 1991) is an Assistant Professor in the History of International Relations at Utrecht University's Department of History and Art History, Faculty of Humanities. His work operates at the intersection of diplomatic, maritime and imperial history, with a primary focus on the Mediterranean Sea in the nineteenth century, particularly North Africa. Dr. de Lange obtained his PhD from Utrecht University in February 2020 for his research on piracy repression conducted within the ERC-funded research project 'Securing Europe, fighting its enemies 1815-1914'. He completed both his research master's (cum laude) and bachelor's degree in history (cum laude) at the University of Amsterdam. From 2021-2024, he was affiliated with King's College London as a visiting postdoctoral research fellow. His research primarily explores the role of the sea in international history, with central themes including the workings of diplomacy at sea, international engagement with maritime violence, and operational aspects of overseas imperial expansionism. His work demonstrates how novel security concepts drove European cooperation and imperial expansion in the Mediterranean after the Napoleonic Wars. Dr. de Lange's publications reveal a consistent focus on nineteenth-century Mediterranean security dynamics, European diplomatic history, and the relationship between maritime violence and imperial expansion. His work spans both scholarly journals and public commentary, demonstrating his commitment to engaging broader audiences with historical perspectives on contemporary issues. NWO Rubicon Postdoctoral Fellowship (2021) Charlie Crouch Award, Best Graduate Paper (2019) Charlie Crouch Award, Best Graduate Paper, Third Place (2018) As a founding member and co-organizer of the Security History Network, Dr. de Lange actively contributes to building academic communities focused on the historical dimensions of security. His ERC-funded PhD research and subsequent fellowships demonstrate his capacity to secure competitive research funding. His editorial work for the ERC Project blog 'Utrecht School of Historicizing Security Blog' further demonstrates his commitment to scholarly communication. Dr. de Lange is involved in teaching courses including 'Research Seminar in International Relations in Historical Perspective' and 'What is Europe?' at both bachelor's and master's levels, demonstrating his active role in academic education.
Annelien de Dijn is Professor of Modern Political History at Utrecht University's Department of History and Art History, College of Humanities. Her work examines the evolution of Western political thought, focusing on freedom, democracy, and republicanism. Academic Affiliation: Utrecht University Research Focus: History of political thought (1700–present), freedom as anti-democratic tool Her research traces how freedom transformed from a collective self-governance ideal to a defense of elite privileges. She critiques conservative reinterpretations of liberty and explores implications for contemporary democracy. Key publications include Freedom: An Unruly History (2020, PROSE Award winner) and French Political Thought from Montesquieu to Tocqueville (2008). She co-edited Rethinking Liberty Before Liberalism (2022) and contributes to academic journals and public discourse. Scientific awards: 2021 PROSE Prize in Philosophy. She holds room 1.11 at Utrecht University's Drift 6 building.
Dirk van de Vijver is an Associate Professor of Art History at Utrecht University's Department of History and Art History. He holds a dual background as an engineer-architect and art historian, with his research focused on architectural history, particularly Belgian architecture and conservation of historic buildings. His scholarly activities demonstrate sustained engagement with architectural history through publications, conference presentations, and exhibition contributions. Dr. van de Vijver's research interests center on architectural history with particular emphasis on Belgian architecture, Victor Horta's work, 18th-19th century architectural theory, and Franco-Belgian architectural relations. His expertise spans architectural measurement techniques, monument conservation, and the influence of French cultural hegemony on Low Countries architecture. He has made significant contributions to understanding the connections between architecture, national identity, and technological development across different historical periods. His publication record reveals a strong focus on architectural history spanning from the 18th to 20th centuries, with particular attention to Belgian and Dutch contexts. Key themes include architectural measurement techniques, structural engineering history, the work of Victor Horta, and cross-cultural architectural exchanges. His most recent work examines Horta's connection to Egyptian motifs and continues his long-standing interest in architectural relations between European regions. Dr. van de Vijver maintains an active scholarly presence through conference presentations and exhibition contributions, with notable recent activities including the Horta en Egypte exhibition at Maison Autrique (2019-2020). His academic career demonstrates consistent engagement with architectural history communities through invited talks at international conferences and participation in scholarly events across Europe.
Clara Vlessing is an Affiliate Researcher at the Institute for Cultural Inquiry (ICON) within Utrecht University's Humanities faculty, specializing in Modern and Contemporary Literature. She has served as a lecturer at Utrecht University since 2018 and completed her PhD in June 2023 as part of the ERC-project 'Remembering Activism.' In 2024, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher on the NWO NWA-ORC project 'Heritages of Hunger' at Radboud University, Nijmegen. Vlessing currently holds leadership roles including co-chair of the Memory Studies Association's Memory and Activism Working Group, and has previously held organizational positions with the International Auto/biography Association and Netherlands Research School for Literary Studies. Her research focuses on the intersection of memory studies, social movements, and gender, with particular expertise in the cultural remembrance of radical women. Vlessing's work examines how revolutionary figures like Louise Michel, Emma Goldman, and Sylvia Pankhurst are remembered and mobilized in contemporary contexts. Her methodological approach combines literary and cultural analysis across media with theoretical frameworks from memory studies, decolonization theory, and gender studies. She also engages with creative writing practices as both subject and methodology in her scholarly work. Vlessing's publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output through 2025, with recent contributions spanning book chapters, journal articles, and edited collections. Her work shows a clear trajectory from examining specific revolutionary figures to broader theoretical questions about reparative remembrance and the mobilization of activist legacies. The publications reveal growing engagement with visual culture and comics as memory sites, alongside continued focus on life writing and feminist memory practices. Her research increasingly addresses how scarcity in visual memory shapes commemorative practices for marginalized historical figures. Vlessing has been actively involved in teaching literary and cultural analysis, theories of memory, decolonization and gender, and both creative and academic writing. Her organizational work with professional associations demonstrates commitment to building scholarly communities around memory studies and life writing. She is currently developing a monograph titled 'Remembering Revolutionary Women: The Cultural Afterlives of Louise Michel, Emma Goldman and Sylvia Pankhurst' for De Gruyter's series on Media and Cultural Memory Studies.
Dr. Jane Tynan is an Assistant Professor of Design History and Theory at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam's Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. She holds degrees from Ulster University, University College Dublin, and a PhD from the University of the Arts London. Her research bridges history, fashion, and politics, focusing on clothing practices as tools for understanding governance and citizenship. Key projects include studies on military uniforms' cultural legacy, hydrophobic textiles' environmental impact, and clothing's role in conflict and social movements. She leads the MA Design Cultures program and contributes to the BSc Creative Technology (VU-UT). Her work has been featured in media like BBC, CNN, and National Geographic. Awards include a Fellowship from Advance HE. Tynan co-edits Palgrave Studies in Fashion and the Body and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Design History . Education: PhD (University of the Arts London), MA/BA (Ulster University and University College Dublin). Research Interests: Military and civilian clothing cultures, material politics, fashion's environmental impact, and interdisciplinary methodologies. Recent projects examine waterproof fabrics' fossil fuel dependencies and the keffiyeh's global symbolism. Public Engagement: Regular media contributions, including TV/radio interviews and podcast appearances. Peer reviews for journals like Cultural History and Technology & Culture . Advising: Supervised six completed PhDs. Current roles include external examining and visiting lectureships at institutions like Goldsmiths University and Royal College of Art. Teaching: Courses on Design Histories, Critical Studies, and interdisciplinary art-design collaborations.
Aleksandar Bošković is a Senior Lecturer in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian at Columbia University's Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, where he also serves as Co-Director of the Institute of East Central Europe. His academic career spans both American and European institutions, bringing a transnational perspective to his work on Eastern European cultural production. Bošković received his Ph.D. in Slavic Studies from the University of Michigan (2013) and an M.A. in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory from the University of Belgrade (2007). Prior to joining Columbia, he was a research fellow at the Institute of Literature and Art in Belgrade (2003-2008), where he worked on Serbian literature of the 20th century. His academic journey reflects a deep engagement with both Western academic traditions and Eastern European intellectual contexts. Bošković's research focuses on experimental art from the former Yugoslavia, examining how creative practices across literature, film, visual arts, and radio express decolonial aesthetics and radical epistemologies. His work demonstrates how Yugoslav artists used techniques of refusal and negation to reframe questions of value and imagine new cultural narratives. He argues that radical Yugoslav art practices offer insights applicable to both post-Balkan and European contexts, emphasizing that culture is founded not on identity but on responsibility. His current project, "Nothing (:) Made in Yugoslavia," investigates how negation practices across different media in former Yugoslavia relate to the notion of artistic value, while he is also completing "Constructivist Cinépoetry Book," which explores cine-dispositive concepts in relation to early Soviet agit-poetry books. Bošković's scholarly output reveals a consistent engagement with avant-garde traditions, experimental media forms, and the intersection of political theory with artistic practice. His publications span multiple disciplines including literary studies, film theory, visual culture, and memory studies, with a particular focus on how artistic practices respond to political and historical circumstances in Eastern Europe, especially regarding negation, refusal, and the rethinking of cultural value systems. Collegium de Lyon Fellowship (2019-2020) Michael I. Sovern/Columbia Affiliated Fellowship at the American Academy in Rome (2023-24) NIAS Fellow (Semester 1, 2025-2026) Research support from the Harriman Institute Bošković has made substantial contributions to academic discourse through his numerous publications, including monographs, edited volumes, journal articles, and book chapters. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary theoretical concerns, particularly regarding how artistic practices engage with questions of value, memory, and political imagination in post-socialist contexts. His research demonstrates how artistic practices can serve as powerful tools for reimagining cultural narratives beyond conventional identity frameworks.
Dr. Renée Vulto is an Assistant Professor of Intangible Cultural Heritage at Utrecht University's Department of History and Art History (Humanities). Her research focuses on sound's role in historical contexts of conflict, colonialism, and identity. She holds a PhD in Literary Studies from Ghent University and combines methods from emotion history, sensory history, and digital humanities. Current projects include Sound of Oppression and Subversion , examining Dutch colonial sound politics in the Caribbean. Co-founder of the Song Studies Network , she also serves on the board of Camerata Trajectina and Utrecht Centre for Early Modern Studies. Education: BA Musicology (University of Amsterdam), RMA Musicology (Utrecht University), PhD Literary Studies (Ghent University). Teaching includes courses on cultural heritage, media history, and postcolonial cultures in BA History and MA Cultural History programs. Research interests span early modern Dutch revolutionary song culture, postcolonial music theory, and the intersection of sound studies with colonial history. She contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives like Institutions for Open Societies and Pathways to Sustainability programs.
William Figueroa is an Assistant Professor of History and Theory of International Relations at the University of Groningen’s Faculty of Arts. His research focuses on historical and contemporary Sino-Iranian relations, emphasizing transnational exchanges, revolutionary movements, and performative diplomacy. He holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and has conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge and University of Pennsylvania’s Middle East Centre. Education: PhD in History (University of Pennsylvania), B.A. in Anthropology and Asian Studies (Rice University) Research Interests: Iran-China relations from 1920–present, Cold War history, transnational left-wing networks, Silk Road exchanges, and non-Western diplomatic models Public Engagement: Host of the Reading Beijing podcast on China-MENA relations, frequent media commentator for Bloomberg , Al Jazeera , and Reuters His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary geopolitics, particularly examining how performative diplomacy and ideological networks shape Sino-Middle Eastern ties. Recent publications include studies on the 1920 Sino-Persian Treaty, Maoist influences in 1960s Iran, and the limits of the 25-year China-Iran strategic agreement. Teaching responsibilities include Theory of International Relations and a research seminar on China and the Global South .
Rachel Gillett is an Assistant Professor in Cultural History at Utrecht University's Department of History and Art History. Her work bridges European colonial history, Black Atlantic studies, and contemporary identity politics through lenses like Hip Hop and media representation. She co-founded the Decolonization Group @Utrecht University and leads the NWO-funded Re/Presenting Europe consortium. Education : PhD in World History (Northeastern University, 2010), BA in English and History (University of Otago, 1998) Her research explores racialization in Europe, anti-colonial solidarity , and popular culture as political tools. Recent projects analyze Hip Hop's role in European belonging and global perceptions of France as a land of liberty. The 15 most recent publications span from 2012 to 2024, focusing on topics like colonial soundscapes, transnational Black intellectual history, and postcolonial film analysis. Keywords include World War I , Black Panther , Settler Colonialism , and Neoliberalism . Scientific Awards include Aspasia Grants (2017, 2020) for career development and a Chateaubriand Fellowship (2006). She received a Certificate of Excellence in Teaching (2016) and secured a Decolonization Research Group Continuance Grant (2019). Gillett engages in public outreach through workshops like Teaching Beyond the Canon and events such as Rise Up, Take a Knee (2019), connecting historical scholarship to contemporary social justice movements.
