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Jochen Hellbeck is a Distinguished Professor of History and Vice Chair for Graduate Education in the Department of History at Rutgers University's School of Arts and Sciences, where he has been teaching since 2003. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and specializes in the history of the Soviet Union, with particular focus on individual life stories and the shaping of the self in modern Europe. Professor Hellbeck's research centers on the place and self-understandings of individuals during cataclysmic 20th century events, including the Russian Revolution, Stalin's terror regime, and World War II. His work examines how narratives of redemptive violence and transformation attached themselves to individuals on the ground, revealing how authors of diaries and personal texts became co-authors of the revolutionary script. More recently, he has explored comparative and transnational aspects of how Soviet, German, and British states mobilized citizens during World War II, highlighting the centrality of the Soviet war effort to the broader history of the conflict. His acclaimed book Stalingrad: The City that Defeated the Third Reich (2015) was the first Western study to probe the meaning of the Battle of Stalingrad for Soviet soldiers and civilians. The book draws on dozens of oral histories recorded by Moscow historians during and after the battle. Hellbeck's research consistently focuses on personal narratives and eyewitness accounts to provide grounded perspectives on major historical events. Morphomata Fellowship, Cologne (2019) Guggenheim Fellowship (2017) Short list, non-fiction prize of the Moscow Book Fair (2017) Davis Center Fellowship, Princeton (2016) Damals prize for best historical monograph (2013) American Academy in Berlin Fellowship (2009) Rutgers Board of Trustees Fellowship for Scholarly Excellence (2007) Michigan Society of Fellows (1997-1999) As a member of the Rutgers graduate faculty, Professor Hellbeck works with students interested in modern Russia and the Soviet Union, and in transnational explorations of Communism, World War II, and the Cold War. He encourages prospective graduate students to contact him before application deadlines. His website, Facing Stalingrad , features portraits and voices of veterans he interviewed during his research.

• History of the Soviet Union
• Individual life stories in modern Europe
• Russian Revolution
• +5 more

Vladislav Zubok is a Professor of International History at the London School of Economics (LSE), where he also leads the Russia International Affairs Programme at LSE IDEAS. His career spans teaching roles at institutions like Amherst College, Ohio University, Stanford University, University of Michigan, and Temple University (tenured in 2004). Born and educated in Moscow (Moscow State University BA, PhD from the Institute for the USA and Canada), his work focuses on Cold War history , Soviet Union , Stalinism , and Russian intellectual history in the 20th century. Research Interests : Zubok’s scholarship bridges political history and cultural analysis , particularly examining the USSR’s Cold War dynamics, the collapse of authoritarian regimes, and the role of intellectuals in post-Stalinist Russia. His publications reveal trends in ideological evolution , geopolitical miscalculations , and economic fragility of superpowers. Recent works like Collapse (2021) emphasize authoritarian state failure and democratic populism in the USSR’s final decade. Awards & Grants : Lionel Gelber Prize (for A Failed Empire ) Marshall Shulman Prize (for A Failed Empire ) Grants from MacArthur Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Yeltsin Foundation, and Russkii Mir Foundation Fellowships at Norwegian Nobel Institute, Woodrow Wilson Center, Collegium Budapest, Rockefeller Center (Bellagio), Hoover Institute

• Cold War History
• Soviet Union
• Stalinism
• +5 more

Simon Miles is an Associate Professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University , where he has been affiliated since 2017. His research specializes in Cold War diplomatic and military history, with a focus on US-Soviet relations and the relevance of historical lessons to contemporary geopolitics. Ph.D. in History from the University of Texas at Austin (2017) M.A. in International Relations from the London School of Economics (2011) B.A. in History from the University of Toronto (2010) Miles analyzes Cold War-era archives from both Western and Eastern bloc nations to understand superpower cooperation and rivalry. His work challenges prevailing narratives, such as the mythologized Able Archer 83 military exercise, and examines the Warsaw Pact's role in Cold War security dynamics. His current research extends to the lived experiences of Soviet intelligence officers during Gorbachev's reforms. The trajectory of his recent publications highlights a shift from high-level diplomatic analysis (e.g., Johnson and Reagan administrations) to grassroots perspectives within Soviet institutions. His cross-disciplinary approach bridges public policy, history, and political science, often contextualizing Cold War strategies within modern geopolitical frameworks.

• Cold War
• International Relations
• Diplomatic History
• +3 more

Ted Gerber is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with active affiliations at the Center for Demography and Ecology, Center for Russian East Europe and Central Asia, Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies, and University of Wisconsin Survey Center. Education: Ph.D. in Sociology, University of California, Berkeley, 1995 His research integrates Demography and Ecology, Education, Statistical Methods, and Social Stratification to analyze post-Soviet societies—particularly Russia—through quantitative lenses. Key investigations include housing regimes, migration patterns, social mobility, and collective memory of historical trauma like Stalinist repressions, examining how geopolitical contexts shape socioeconomic outcomes and public attitudes. Gerber's 2016-2021 publications reveal consistent focus on stratification dynamics in transitional economies, utilizing survey data from Russia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan. Recurring themes include the interplay between migration and gender, propaganda effects on public opinion, and methodological innovations in measuring housing status and social mobility within hybrid political systems. Scientific Awards: No major scientific awards listed in provided information Teaching Soc 360 (Statistics), Soc 496 (Population in Russia), and advanced seminars on stratification/migration, Gerber's mentorship appears through co-authored publications with colleagues like Jane Zavisca and Qian He, though specific student advisees and grant details remain unmentioned in the text. His collaborative work across four UW-Madison research centers enables interdisciplinary exploration of demography, post-Soviet transitions, and science-policy interfaces, particularly regarding how historical legacies influence contemporary social structures in Eurasia.

• Demography and Ecology
• Education
• Methods and Statistics
• +1 more

Colin D. Smith is a Senior International and Defense Researcher and Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy, RAND Corporation. His expertise spans national security, military strategy, Russia and Eastern Europe, U.S.-European relations, NATO, military logistics, and cyber warfare. He has held significant roles in defense research and policy analysis, drawing on decades of military experience. Education: M.A. in National Security Affairs (Russia and the former Soviet Union), Naval Postgraduate School B.S. in Engineering, U.S. Naval Academy Graduate, Amphibious Warfare School Graduate, Marine Corps Command and Staff College (Non-Resident) Graduate, Defense Language Institute CMC Senior Fellow, Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Smith’s research focuses on defense policy and global security challenges, particularly amphibious operations, cyber acquisition, and geopolitical vulnerabilities in semiconductor supply chains. He has led analyses on U.S. Marine Corps logistics, Navy readiness, and the strategic implications of China-Taiwan unification. His work combines operational military insight with rigorous policy analysis. His recent publications reflect a strong trend in defense modernization, strategic competition, and the interplay between technology and national security. Themes include naval survivability, cyber capabilities, reserve force readiness, and critical supply chain dependencies in high-stakes geopolitical environments. Scientific Awards: No awards listed in the provided text. Smith has not advised any named students in the provided material. His grants and funding sources are not explicitly mentioned, though his research is institutionally supported by RAND. He brings extensive operational and policy experience to his academic and research roles. He is actively involved in research teams at RAND, particularly within the National Security Research Division (NSRD), Arroyo Center, and Health Sciences Research Division (HSRD), focusing on defense strategy and international security. He also contributes to public discourse through commentary and expert analysis.

• National Security
• Military Strategy
• International Affairs
• +10 more

Golfo Alexopoulos is a Professor and Director of the USF Institute for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies at the University of South Florida's School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and an M.A. from Yale University. Her research focuses on Soviet and Russian authoritarianism, Stalinist systems, political violence, and human rights, with a particular emphasis on disinformation and medical exploitation in the Stalinist Gulag. A key work is Illness and Inhumanity in Stalin’s Gulag (2017), examining prisoner dehumanization through archival health records. Teaching spans contemporary Russian politics, comparative authoritarianism, and the Soviet Union. She integrates multimedia and personal experiences, including slides from her time in the USSR during Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin eras. Her advising has supported students entering academia, diplomacy, and international law. Her research also explores Stalin’s disenfranchisement policies and Soviet citizenship through petitions discovered in Siberian archives. Current work links 20th-century Soviet authoritarianism to modern Russian disinformation strategies. She directs the USF Institute for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies, fostering interdisciplinary scholarship on global political systems.

• Russia and the Soviet Union
• Stalinism and authoritarianism
• Medicine/Health and society
• +3 more

Nina Tumarkin is the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Professor of Slavic Studies and Professor of History at Wellesley College, with affiliations to Harvard University's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies. Her career spans decades of teaching, research, and public engagement in Russian and Soviet history. Department of History Russian Area Studies Program Harvard's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies Her research focuses on historical memory in Russia, particularly how political elites and groups interpret the Soviet past. She has authored influential works on World War II commemoration, the Lenin cult, and the intersection of history and politics under Stalin and Putin. Politics of historical narratives World War II in Russian and global contexts Soviet cultural and political legacies Comparative memory studies At Wellesley, Tumarkin has taught courses spanning medieval to post-Soviet Russian history, including seminars on World War II as Memory and Myth. She twice chaired the History Department and directed the Russian Area Studies Program for many years. HIST116: Vladimir Putin: Personage, President, Potentate HIST246: Vikings, Icons, Mongols, and Tsars HIST247: Splendor and Serfdom: Russia Under the Romanovs HIST248: The Soviet Union: A Tragic Colossus RAST322: Firebird! The Russian Arts Under Tsars and Commissars She holds a B.A. from the University of Rochester, and M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University. Her scholarly work has engaged with Harvard's Davis Center for decades through seminars and collaborative research. Notably, Tumarkin advised President Reagan on Soviet affairs before the 1985 Geneva Summit and influenced President Clinton's 1995 Moscow visit through her book The Living and the Dead . She actively participates in travel-study programs, lecturing on Russia, Japan, and World War II memory in Hiroshima and aboard the Trans-Siberian Railroad.

• Russian history
• Soviet history
• Historical memory
• +6 more

Michael Brinley is an Assistant Professor of History at Princeton University, specializing in Soviet Union and Modern Russia. His research explores the urban revolutions of the twentieth century, focusing on social and political conflicts that shaped the modern world. Research Interests: His work investigates Soviet city planning institutions during the postwar era, examining the roles of planners and architects in urban politics. He also studies late imperial Russian historiography and the professionalization of history through the Feodor Kuz'mich legend. Scientific Awards: Honorable mention for the Selma V. Forkosch Prize for best article (2023) Email: mb0604@princeton.edu

• Cold War History
• Intellectual History
• Political History
• +6 more

Sophie Pinkham is Professor of Practice in the Comparative Literature Department at Cornell University and an IES Faculty Associate at the Institute for European Studies. She holds teaching positions in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, where she contributes to the Russian and Comparative Literature programs, teaching courses including 'The Revolutionary as Author: Autobiography and Political Myth' and 'Writing for the Public: Adapting Academic Work for a General Audience' for Spring 2025. Columbia University (PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures) Harriman Institute (MA in Russian, Eurasian, and Eastern European Studies) Yale University (BA) Pinkham's research centers on post-Soviet and post-socialist literature, culture, and politics, with a particular focus on Russia and Ukraine. Her academic interests encompass literature and film of the Russian Empire, Soviet Union, and post-Soviet states; memory politics and post-socialism; environmental humanities; poetics of censorship; language politics and translation; and Siberia. Her current major project is a history of the forest in the Russian imagination, exploring the forest's role in myth, culture, and politics throughout Russian history from Mongol invasions to contemporary conflicts in Ukraine. Her extensive publications reveal consistent thematic trends across disciplines including Russian studies, political analysis, environmental history, and literary criticism. Pinkham's work demonstrates particular expertise in analyzing the intersection of cultural production with political realities in post-Soviet spaces, often highlighting how historical narratives shape contemporary conflicts. Her articles frequently examine how environmental factors, historical memory, and cultural artifacts intersect with political power structures. 2023 British Journalism Award for 'Lost in a Dark Wood' on migrants in the forest on the Belarusian-Polish border Shortlisted for True Story Award for the same article Pinkham has received significant research support, most notably a 2022-23 National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholar grant supporting both her book project 'The Oak and the Larch: A Forest History of Russia and Its Empires' and her award-winning Economist 1843 story. Her work bridges academic scholarship and public intellectual engagement, with frequent contributions to major publications serving as a critical voice on Russian and Ukrainian affairs during a period of escalating geopolitical tensions. While she previously worked in international public health in Eastern Europe and Central Asia focusing on HIV, drug use, and women's health, her current focus remains firmly on cultural and political analysis of the post-Soviet space. Though not explicitly affiliated with a specific research lab, Pinkham's work connects with broader scholarly networks through her involvement with Cornell's Institute for European Studies and her interdisciplinary approach that bridges literary studies, history, political science, and environmental humanities.

• Post-Soviet literature
• Post-socialist culture
• Russian politics
• +6 more

Dr. Ivan Dinev Ivanov is an Associate Professor at the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), University of Cincinnati. His research focuses on international security, NATO and EU politics, alliance dynamics, and global governance. He is the author of Transforming NATO: New Allies, Missions and Capabilities (2011) and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. Ivanov has received multiple awards, including the 2012 Sarah Grant Barber Faculty Advisor Award and the 2017 e-Learning Champion Award for his innovative use of technology in teaching. Education & Roles: Ivanov has served as Director of Undergraduate Studies (2015–2019) and oversees SPIA’s Internship for Academic Credit program. He leads a study abroad program on International Institutions and Global Governance, offered annually in Brussels and The Hague. Research & Teaching: His work examines NATO-EU cooperation, cyber threats, and organizational response to emerging security challenges. He teaches courses on international relations, U.S. foreign policy, and Russian politics, emphasizing interactive learning methods. Awards & Grants: He has secured grants totaling $60k+ for study abroad initiatives and curriculum development. Awards include recognition for advising, teaching, and contributions to student success. Advising & Mentorship: Ivanov has advised two master’s students and chairs thesis committees. He is actively involved in SPIA’s academic advising and program development. Labs/Teams: His research interests have led to collaborations with international institutions and participation in global conferences on security studies and international relations.

• International Relations
• Comparative Politics
• International Security
• +7 more

Edward Geist is a Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation and a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. His research focuses on Russia's defense policy, civil defense, artificial intelligence, nuclear weapons, and the impact of emerging technologies on nuclear strategy. He holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of North Carolina. Previously, he served as a MacArthur Nuclear Security Fellow at Stanford and a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at RAND. His notable works include Armageddon Insurance: Civil Defense in the United States and Soviet Union, 1945–1991 (2019) and Deterrence under Uncertainty: Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Warfare (2023). His expertise spans nuclear deterrence, AI's role in military strategy, and U.S.-China strategic competition. He frequently analyzes how emerging technologies like AI reshape military capabilities and global security dynamics. Geist’s research emphasizes the risks of technological arms races and their potential to escalate conflicts, advocating for policy frameworks to mitigate these risks. Education: Ph.D. in History, University of North Carolina Awards: MacArthur Nuclear Security Fellowship, Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship Key Themes: Nuclear strategy, AI governance, Russia-China-U.S. strategic dynamics Geist’s recent work explores scenarios of prolonged conflict with China, AI limitations in warfare, and the implications of advanced computing for nuclear stability. His insights inform policymakers on balancing technological advancement with strategic stability.

• Nuclear Weapons and Warfare
• Artificial Intelligence
• Russia Defense Policy
• +4 more

Peter Rutland is a Professor in the Government Department at Wesleyan University , specializing in contemporary Russian nationalism, politics, and economics. With over three decades of expertise on Russia and the former Soviet Union, he has authored two books ( The Politics of Economic Stagnation in the Soviet Union and The Myth of the Plan ) and edited four others. Rutland is the editor-in-chief of Nationalities Papers and associate editor of Russian Review , and maintains a blog at Nationalism Watch . Education : BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from Oxford University; Doctorate in Sociology from the University of York. Visiting Roles : Visiting Professor at Columbia University, University of Manchester, European University in St. Petersburg, Sophia University in Tokyo, and Visiting Fellow at the University of York, Australian National University, and Nanyang Technological University. Rutland's research focuses on political nationalism, its expression in media, and the interplay between economics and national identity. He has extensively analyzed Putin's regime, sanctions, and post-Soviet transformations. His current project Visualizing the Nation examines nationalism in film, TV, and online platforms.

• Russian Nationalism
• Post-Soviet Politics
• Russian Economy
• +5 more

Melissa A. Chakars, PhD, is Professor and Chair of the Department of History at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. An expert in Eurasian history, she focuses on the Mongolian and Siberian peoples of Russia, with particular attention to empire, identity, religion, and media. Education BA, Hunter College, City University of New York MA, PhD, Indiana University Research Interests Dr. Chakars’s scholarship interrogates the intersections of Buddhism, ethnicity, and state power across the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. She explores how Buryat, Kalmyk, and Tyvan communities negotiated modernity, socialist transformation, and cultural survival. Her work delves into sacred geography, gendered economic practices, media representations, and minority-language education. Publication Trends Her recent publications reveal a shift from institutional histories of Buryat literature and television toward granular studies of Buddhist networks, repression, and transnational memory. A forthcoming monograph on Buddhism in the Russian Empire and USSR promises to synthesize decades of archival research and ethnographic insight. Books and Editorial Projects Buryat Intellectuals in Empire and Revolution (Routledge, 2025), co-edited with Nikolay Tsyrempilov Modernization, Nation-Building, and Television History (Routledge, 2015), co-edited with Stewart Anderson The Socialist Way of Life in Siberia: Transformation in Buryatia (Central European University Press, 2014); Russian translation 2022 International Experience Dr. Chakars has lived, studied, and conducted research in Ulan-Ude, Vladivostok, Riga, and Ulaanbaatar, cultivating networks that enrich her transnational perspective on Eurasian history.

• Eurasian History
• Russian and Soviet History
• Mongolian Studies
• +5 more

Sergey Glebov is Professor of History at Smith College with a joint appointment in the History Departments of Smith and Amherst colleges. His academic work centers on the intellectual, political and cultural history of the Russian empire and Soviet Union, particularly examining ideologies of imperial expansion, Russian nationalism, and Russia's nationalities. He maintains an active scholarly profile with numerous publications and serves as a founding editor of Ab Imperio: Studies in New Imperial History and Nationalism in the Post-Soviet Space . Glebov's research interests focus on the history of the Russian Empire in Siberia, the Far East, and North America, with particular attention to interactions between native peoples and imperial structures, and the history of missionary activities and scholarly exploration. His work on the Eurasianist movement connects reimaginings of Russian imperial space with the emerging structuralism in interwar Europe, creating important theoretical bridges between Russian intellectual history and broader European thought. His scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with themes of imperial subjecthood, colonialism, and post-colonial theory, particularly examining how these concepts apply to the Russian imperial context. Glebov frequently collaborates with other leading scholars in the field, as evidenced by his co-authored publications with researchers like Ilya Gerasimov and Marina Mogilner. Major Publications: From Empire to Eurasia: Politics, Scholarship and Ideology in Russian Eurasianism, 1920s – 1930s (2017) Between Europe and Asia: The Origins, Theories and Legacies of Russian Eurasianism (2015, co-edited) Region v istorii imperii: istoricheskie esse of Sibiri (2013) As an active member of the academic community, Glebov maintains regular office hours for students and continues to produce significant scholarly work, with publications extending through 2023. His research contributes substantially to our understanding of Russian imperialism, Eurasian identity, and the complex relationship between center and periphery in imperial systems.

• Russian History
• Soviet History
• Imperial History
• +7 more

Willard Sunderland is a professor of history specializing in Russian and Soviet history, with primary focus on the Russian Empire. Teaching since 1996, he covers Russia/USSR, modern Europe, and world history through courses like \"The History of Russia: From Perun to Putin\" and \"Anna Karenina's Russia\". He earned a BA in Russian Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and MA/PhD in history from Indiana University, Bloomington. His research centers on modern Russian imperial history, informed by extensive travel throughout the former Soviet Union. Current projects include a travelogue/history of John Quincy Adams' 1809 diplomatic voyage to Russia (retraced via sailboat \"Clio\" in 2023), a Peter the Great era book, and research on Russian maritime history, the Far East, Northern Pacific, and Sino-Russian relations. His award-winning \"The Baron's Cloak\" (2014) examines imperial frontiers through war and revolution. Recent publications analyze 19th-century revolutions, regional identities, and borderland dynamics, reflecting consistent engagement with imperial administration, cross-cultural encounters, and comparative frontier studies across Eurasia. Scientific recognition includes: Publication Award from Association for the Study of the Nationalities (ASN) Publication Award from Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) Publication Award from Ohio Academy of History Research funding is secured from: National Endowment for the Humanities Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Fulbright Scholar Program International Research and Exchanges Board Social Sciences Research Council National Council for Eurasian and East European Research He co-edited \"Kritika: Explorations in Russian and Eurasian History\" (2015-2022) and supervised the \"Russia's Regions in Historical Perspective\" lab at Moscow's Higher School of Economics (2018-2021), directing international collaborative research on imperial regionalism.

• Russian Imperial History
• Soviet History
• World History
• +4 more