Ksana Blank is a Senior Lecturer at Princeton University’s Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. She coordinates the Russian Language Program and directs the Princeton-in-Petersburg Program, fostering academic exchange and interdisciplinary research. With a PhD in Russian Literature (Columbia University, 1997) and a BA in French Philology (St. Petersburg State University, 1979), her academic career spans over two decades at Princeton, preceded by teaching roles at Hunter College and Middlebury College Russian Summer School. Education: PhD, Russian Literature, Columbia University (1997) BA, French Philology, St. Petersburg State University (1979) Her research centers on Russian literature, emphasizing stylistic analysis and interdisciplinary connections with music, visual arts, folklore, and religious philosophy. Notable works include studies on Dostoevsky’s dialectics, Gogol’s The Nose , and the interplay between Russian modernism and Western art movements. She has authored multiple books and articles, many translated into Russian, and has published in academic journals across Russia, Europe, and China. Recent publications explore Dostoevsky’s paradoxes, Gogol’s linguistic innovation, and the intersection of Russian literature with music (Shostakovich), art (Malevich), and philosophy. Her 2023 book Парадоксы классики expands traditional interpretations of classic works through interdisciplinary lenses, while her 2021 The Nose guide deciphers Gogol’s wordplay and its narrative function. Earlier works address Tolstoy’s spiritual crisis and Bakhtinian dialogism in Russian literary theory. While no scientific awards are listed, her contributions to pedagogy include advanced Russian language courses and graduate-level Tolstoy studies. She currently works on Leo Tolstoy’s The Prisoner of the Caucasus and teaches courses on Russian literature, spirituality, and translation.
Rachel Applebaum is Associate Professor of History at Tufts University specializing in Soviet and Eastern European history, the global Cold War, and transnational studies. Her award-winning book 'Empire of Friends' examines Soviet-Czechoslovak relations through the lens of socialist internationalism. Current research investigates Russian language politics during and after the Cold War, tracing Soviet efforts to establish Russian as a global language and its legacy in Putin's 'Russian World' concept. The project has received a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship. Teaching covers Russian history surveys, Eastern Europe, global communism, Stalinism, and Cold War politics. Awards include the Radomír Luža Prize for Austrian/Czechoslovak history and ASEEES First Book Subvention Award.
Professor Beatrice Heuser is a distinguished academic in the Department of Politics within the School of Social & Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow. Her career spans multiple prestigious institutions across Europe, including King's College London, University of Reading, and visiting professorships at Sciences Po Paris, Bundeswehr University Munich, and MGIMO. She maintains significant affiliations with major strategic research institutes including Chatham House, RUSI, IFRI, and IRSEM. Education: BA from Bedford College London, MA from LSE, DPhil from Oxford (St Antony's/St John's), Habilitation from University of Marburg Professional Experience: Former Director of Studies at German Bundeswehr's military history research office, NATO Headquarters consultant, and extensive teaching across European institutions Her research centers on strategic studies with particular focus on the cultural dimensions of warfare, nuclear strategy, and the historical evolution of strategic thought. Key research areas include strategic culture, military exercises as political instruments, laws of war development, and European defense policy. Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary security challenges, examining how cultural narratives shape strategic decision-making from antiquity to the nuclear age. Professor Heuser's recent publications demonstrate consistent scholarly output across strategic theory, military history, and contemporary security issues. Her work shows particular emphasis on the conceptual foundations of strategic culture, historical analysis of warfare evolution, and practical applications to modern security challenges including nuclear deterrence and asymmetric warfare. The interdisciplinary nature of her research connects political theory, historical analysis, and security studies. She actively supervises graduate students in strategic theory, nuclear strategy, insurgency studies, and defense policy-making within NATO/EU contexts. Her teaching portfolio includes War and International Relations, Defense Policy, and Strategic Theory courses.
Dr. Marina Miron is a post-doctoral researcher at King’s College London’s Department of War Studies and Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Military Ethics. Her work focuses on military strategy, cybersecurity, and ethical education in conflict contexts. She holds a PhD from the University of New South Wales (Australian Defence Force Academy) and has taught at institutions like the NATO School and Colombian War College. Current projects include analyzing Russia/China’s information warfare strategies and developing country-specific military ethics programs for Colombia’s armed forces. She also advises on cyber defense, AI in military contexts, and drone technology impacts. Research interests span counterinsurgency, hybrid warfare, cyber operations, and ethical dilemmas in modern conflict. She co-leads a British Academy-funded project on Western countermeasures against information warfare and contributed to NATO’s counterterrorism training programs. Her work bridges technological advancements with ethical considerations, particularly in unmanned systems and medical ethics. Publications analyze Russian cyber capabilities, drone public perception, and historical conflict resolution cases like Peru. She frequently appears in media discussions on Ukraine and cybersecurity threats. Professional networks include King’s Cybersecurity Centre and Freeman Air & Space Institute.
Prof. Dr. Christoph U. Werner is the Chair of Iranian Studies at Otto-Friedrich-University Bamberg since 2019, following his 12-year professorship at Marburg University (2007-2019) and previous academic roles. He specializes in Iranian Studies with focus areas in social history , legal institutions , Shiite religious structures , and Persophone literary history . As a Research Dean of Humanities and Cultural Studies (2023-2025) Managing Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies (2021-2025) President of Societas Iranologica Europaea (2019-2023) , he leads major academic initiatives. His research spans Qajar-era legal contracts Waqf (endowment) systems Persian-Ottoman-Georgian historical interconnections Manuscript studies of Persian documents , often combining archival analysis with interdisciplinary approaches. Recent publications focus on 20th-century Persian cultural politics, early modern Persian-Ottoman interactions, and legal epigraphy. He collaborates extensively with institutions like the University of Oxford's Invisible East and DFG Priority Programme Transottomanica . His editorial work includes Orientalistische Literaturzeitung (2022-) Persimone blog (2022-) Bamberg University Press publications and multiple Iranian academic journals.
Margus Pärtlas is Professor of Music Theory and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Research at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (EAMT). He earned his Doctorate from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1992 with a dissertation on Eduard Tubin's symphonies. His career includes positions as Associate Professor (1993-2003), Senior Teacher (1987-1993), and Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the University of North Texas (1999-2000). Pärtlas's research focuses on music analysis methodologies , specializing in the works of Eduard Tubin and Richard Strauss. Key areas include symphonic form, tonal transformation in Romantic music, semiotic analysis of choral works, and cultural identity in exile compositions. His publications consistently explore structural innovation in 19th-20th century European music. His recent articles reflect a thematic emphasis on Estonian musical heritage , institutional development of music academies, and analytical studies of concerti/symphonies. A significant trend involves examining how composers negotiate cultural identity through structural elements. Awards & Honors: Fulbright Visiting Scholar Grant (1999) Best Music Article Award from 'Teater. Muusika. Kino' (1992) Academic Leadership: Chaired accreditation committees internationally (Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Armenia), serves on editorial boards of Res Musica and Eduard Tubin's Complete Works, and organized major conferences including 'Eduard Tubin 100'. Doctoral Supervision: Guided 4 PhD students in music analysis and interpretation, focusing on topics like Tubin's piano sonatas, Estonian song traditions, and analytical approaches to contemporary performance.
Jeffrey Rossman is an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia , affiliated with the Department of History and serving as Director of the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies . His work bridges historical analysis with cultural and literary studies, focusing on Russia/USSR, Modern Europe, Communism, Genocide, Espionage, and Jewish Cultural Studies. Education: Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1997 A.B., Harvard University, 1989 His research explores worker resistance under Stalin, the intersection of Jewish identity and German literature, and the role of translation in cultural exchange. He has authored key works on Soviet labor movements and Holocaust memory, blending historical narratives with literary theory. Jeffrey’s recent publications and Google Scholar contributions highlight trends in 20th-century European history , Yiddish-German literary dynamics , and translation as a tool for identity formation . His work spans comparative literature, cultural memory, and diaspora studies, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. Scientific Awards: ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowship (2013-15) Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation Research Grant (2013-15) Multiple grants from the University of Virginia’s College of Arts & Sciences and Faculty Summer Research Grant program Fulbright-Hays and IREX fellowships for international research As an educator, Rossman has taught courses such as Genocide: A Global History and Stalinism , mentoring students in historical and literary analysis. His lab, the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, fosters research on Soviet history, Jewish cultural studies, and transnational literary exchange.
Dr. Anna A. Berman serves as Associate Professor of Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature and Culture within the Slavonic Studies section of the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge, where she is also a Fellow of Clare College. Previously, she held an Associate Professorship at McGill University's Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures in Montreal, Canada. Her academic credentials include: B.A. from Brown University M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge Ph.D. from Princeton University Dr. Berman's research centers on nineteenth-century Russian and English novels, with specialized focus on family structures, kinship dynamics, love, and marriage. She extensively examines the intersection of scientific thought (particularly Darwinism and Mechnikov's phagocyte theory) with literary production, alongside operatic adaptations of Russian classics. Her current scholarly mission prioritizes recovering the legacy of marginalized nineteenth-century Russian women novelists, especially Nadezhda Khvoshchinskaya and Evgenia Tur. Her publication trajectory reveals sustained investigation into familial relationships within nineteenth-century literature, with sibling dynamics constituting a dominant theme across both Russian and English novels. She has pioneered critical analysis of science-literature dialogues in Russian contexts while recently shifting toward feminist recovery projects that challenge canonical exclusions in Russian literary history. Dr. Berman actively supervises postgraduate research, welcoming MPhil and PhD candidates pursuing topics aligned with her expertise in nineteenth-century Russian literature, comparative family narratives, and science-literature intersections. Within Cambridge's academic ecosystem, she contributes to the Slavonic Studies research community and participates in the Cambridge Centre for Central and East European Studies (CamCCEEES), advancing collaborative scholarship on Eastern European cultural production.
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)United Kingdom
Tomila Lankina is a Professor of Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics (LSE), specializing in democratization, popular protest, and Russian and Eastern European politics. She holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford and has held research appointments at institutions such as Stanford University and Humboldt University in Berlin. Her work examines historical legacies of social structure and their implications for democracy, inequality, and political regimes. Her groundbreaking book The Estate Origins of Democracy in Russia (Cambridge University Press, 2022) explores how pre-communist social stratification in Russia shapes contemporary political outcomes. The book has received major accolades, including the 2023 J. David Greenstone Prize and Davis Center Book Prize. Lankina’s research also addresses modern issues like Russian media manipulation, post-communist social resilience, and the impact of historical institutions on modern governance. Active in supporting Ukrainian scholars during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Lankina co-founded an LSE Taskforce to assist displaced students and researchers. She has been recognized for her excellence in PhD supervision by LSE and has published widely in top journals like the American Political Science Review and World Politics . Her interdisciplinary approach combines historical analysis with contemporary political dynamics, emphasizing the persistence of social hierarchies and their role in shaping autocracy and democracy. Current projects include a book on Russian dissent history and comparative studies of post-colonial and post-communist societies.
Zaur Gasimov is a Lecturer at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and currently serves as DAAD Departmental Coordinator and Co-Head at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Turkish-German University. He holds a habilitation in Modern History and Eastern European History, with a focus on Eastern European History, political science, and sociology. Education : B.A. in International Relations from Baku State University; M.A. from Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt; Doctorate in Eastern European history Research : Concentrates on Russian-Turkish relations, nationalism in Eastern Europe, cultural transfer processes, and historical narratives. His habilitation thesis analyzed Polish-Turkish anti-Soviet alliances. Publications : Authored monographs on Prometheism, Azerbaijani historiography, and Russification policies. Collaborated on comparative studies of cultural transfer and Ottoman-Russian entanglements.
Odd Arne Westad is the Elihu Professor of History at Yale University, specializing in modern international and global history with a focus on East Asia since the 18th century. He previously held positions at Harvard University and the London School of Economics. His research bridges Cold War studies, empire/colonialism, and China's economic reforms. Education: BA in History, Philosophy, and Modern Languages (University of Oslo) Graduate Degree in US/International History (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) Research Interests: Global Cold War dynamics and post-colonial transformations China’s international history and imperial trajectories Economic reforms in late 20th century China and their global impact Key Publications: The Cold War: A World History (2017) Restless Empire: China and the World Since 1750 (2012) The Global Cold War (2007) Awards: Fellow of the British Academy Fellow of multiple national academies Professional Activities: Active in global history networks, advising doctoral students on Cold War and Asian history. Teaches courses on empire, decolonization, and modern East Asia.
Laurence Bertrand Dorléac is a Full Professor of Contemporary History (Art History) at Sciences Po Paris, affiliated with the Centre for History (CHSP). She serves as Chairperson of the Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques and leads the bilingual "Art and Society" seminar since 2004, publishing its newsletter. Research focuses on cultural history, art history, and political history of art Specializes in visual history, war representations, and material culture Active in editorial collaborations and international exhibitions Her recent work explores intersections of art with AI, environmental politics, and historical trauma. She supervises multiple HDR and PhD students in art history and cultural analysis. No explicit scientific awards mentioned, though her projects receive institutional support like Fondation de France. Her publications span monographs, exhibition catalogs, and interdisciplinary essays.
Robert S. Ross is Professor of Political Science at Boston College and holds affiliate positions at Harvard University's John King Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies and MIT's Security Studies Program. He specializes in Chinese security policy, East Asian security dynamics, and US-China relations. Ross has held visiting roles at institutions including Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Fudan University, reflecting his deep engagement with Chinese academic and policy communities. Education: B.A., Tufts University M.A. & Ph.D., Columbia University His research interests focus on the intersection of Chinese domestic politics and foreign policy, particularly in the context of power transitions and strategic competition. Key themes include Sino-American relations, regional security architecture, and the implications of China's rise for global governance. Ross has authored influential works such as Chinese Security Policy and Normalization of U.S.-China Relations , and his analyses frequently appear in journals like International Security and Foreign Affairs . Ross has advised U.S. government agencies and testified before Congress, emphasizing practical policy insights alongside academic rigor. His grants and fellowships include support from the MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation. He currently serves on multiple editorial boards and academic advisory committees, including the U.S.-China Working Group of Congress and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. His recent work explores Europe's role in the Asia-Pacific balance of power and the evolving U.S.-China strategic rivalry, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to contemporary geopolitical challenges.
Susan Smith-Peter is a Professor of History at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York, specializing in Russian history beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg. Her research focuses on regional identity, civil society development, and imperial governance in 19th-century Russia, with particular attention to Siberia and provincial dynamics. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.A. from Ohio University. Her work analyzes how Tsarist administrative frameworks fostered subnational identities through statistical bureaus, agricultural societies, and provincial newspapers. Notable contributions include *Imagining Russian Regions* (2018), which argues that autocracy’s civil society initiatives inadvertently fueled revolutionary movements. Her research has been supported by grants from the Fulbright Program, American Historical Association, and IREX. Professor Smith-Peter’s publications span journals like *Slavic Review* and *Kritika*, exploring topics from sugar beet industries to colonial Alaska. She has translated key texts into Russian and edited historical documents such as *The Great Republic Tested by the Touch of Truth*. She serves on campus committees and previously chaired Columbia University’s Seminar on Slavic History and Culture. Key Awards: Fulbright Fellowship, American Historical Association Grant, IREX Grant Grants: Fulbright-Hays Fellowship, University of Illinois Grant, CUNY Grant Her interdisciplinary approach bridges economic, cultural, and political history, emphasizing regional agency within imperial contexts. Ongoing projects explore Siberian historiography and the legacy of 19th-century provincial activism.
The Courtauld Institute of Art, University of LondonUnited Kingdom
Sarah Wilson is Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art at The Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London. She has been a faculty member since 1982 and has held leadership roles including Head of the Modern and Contemporary Section (2005-2008) and Head of Diploma programmes (2014-2015). She is internationally recognized as the English-language expert on Post-War European art and has held visiting positions at Paris-IV Sorbonne and the University of Versailles-Saint Quentin. Wilson was educated at the University of Oxford (BA English Literature) and at the Courtauld Institute of Art (MA and PhD). She was awarded the title Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 1997 for services to French art and culture, and received the International Association of Art Critics' Award for Distinguished Contribution to Art Criticism in 2015. She has held visiting professorships at Paris-IV Sorbonne (2002-2004), École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (2006-2007), and University of Versailles-Saint Quentin (2012-2013). Sarah Wilson's research spans post-war and Cold War European art, contemporary global art practices, and the intersections between conceptual art, political theory, and visual culture. Her work extends from European avant-gardes to contemporary art across the former Soviet Union and Asia. She is particularly known for her expertise in French Stalinism, neo-Marxism and the arts, and conceptual art practices beyond the 'first world.' Wilson has initiated important academic programs such as the 'Global Conceptualism' MA course with Boris Groys, which connects Anglo-American conceptual art with practices from Moscow and beyond. She has also expanded her research to include modern and contemporary Asian art since 2013. Her extensive publication record shows a consistent focus on European art history with increasing engagement with global perspectives, particularly Asian contemporary art since 2013. Wilson's scholarship bridges art historical analysis with philosophical inquiry, especially regarding French theory and its visual manifestations. Her major publications include 'Paris, Capital of the Arts, 1900-1968' (2002) and 'The Visual World of French Theory: Figurations' (2010), with a second volume 'The Visual World of French Theory II: Interventions' in preparation. Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (1997) International Association of Art Critics' Award for Distinguished Contribution to Art Criticism (2015) Marie Curie Actions – RBUCE-UP, Chaire d'excellence, Université de Versailles-Saint Quentin (2012-2013) Professor Wilson has supervised 36 PhD students to completion and over 230 MA dissertations, creating what she describes as 'a unique English-language archive in the field of post-1945 European and global art history.' Her former students now hold prominent positions in major institutions worldwide including Tate, the British Museum, Design Museum, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, British Council, Centre Georges Pompidou, Kunsthalle Bremen, and universities across Europe and North America. She has received significant research funding including a Marie Curie Actions grant for her project 'Globalisation before globalisation: avant-gardes, academies, revolutions.' Wilson is actively involved with the Courtauld alumni's former East Wing Collection (now VS1, Vernon Square) and has contributed to the Research Forum's programmes. She has curated numerous exhibitions including the 'Global Conceptualism'-related projects and served on the curatorial team of the 1st Asian Biennale (China-Guangzhou) in 2014. Her commitment to women artists has led to early exhibitions of artists like Zofia Kulik and Alina Szapocznikow before their international prominence. She is involved with CCRAC (Cambridge-Courtauld Russian Art Centre), Calvert 22, and Pushkin House in London, reaching out to Russia and Eastern Europe.
