Find Academic Supervisors

• Theory of Religion
• History of Religions
• Religious Pluralization
• +5 more

Prof. Dr. Volkhard Krech is a Professor of Religious Studies at Ruhr-Universität Bochum and Director of the Center for Religious Studies (CERES). He also serves as Spokesperson and Principal Investigator of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1475 'Metaphors of Religion'. His work focuses on theoretical and historical dimensions of religion, including religious pluralization, globalization, sacralization, and metaphor analysis. Krech leads multiple projects such as the 'Theory and Empiricism of Religious Evolution (THERE)' and has extensive editorial roles in academic publications. His research integrates semiotics, systems theory, and comparative approaches to understand religious dynamics. Key affiliations include the Käte Hamburger Kolleg and participation in international research networks like Entangled Religions. He coordinates interdisciplinary initiatives exploring religious encounters, art-religion intersections, and global religious diversity. His academic leadership includes directing CERES and overseeing the CRC 1475, which examines metaphorical processes in religious communication. His recent publications emphasize metaphorical frameworks, religious semiotics, and historical comparative studies. Projects like 'Semantic and Social Network Analysis (SeNeReKo)' reflect his focus on digital humanities and data-driven religious analysis. Krech's work bridges theoretical religion studies with empirical research, addressing modern secularization debates and globalization impacts on religious expression. Notable contributions include the book Die Evolution der Religion (2021), exploring sociological foundations of religious evolution. He collaborates internationally, leading studies on religious diversity in Europe and Asia. His research spans ancient texts to contemporary digital communication, maintaining a balance between historical depth and modern methodological innovation.

Angelika ZirkerView profile

Associate Professor

• Shakespeare
• Early Modern Poetry
• Children's Literature
• +7 more

Angelika Zirker is an Associate Professor of English Literature at the University of Tübingen, where she also serves as Co-Dean of the Faculty of Humanities. Her academic career is deeply embedded in the Department of English within the Faculty of Humanities, where she leads significant research initiatives and contributes to major editorial projects including Connotations: A Journal for Critical Debate and Literaturwissenschaftliches Jahrbuch . Zirker completed her studies in English, French, and German at the Universities of Saarbrücken (Germany), Metz (France), and Cardiff (Wales). She earned her PhD in English Literature in July 2009 with a dissertation on The Pilgrim as a Child: Concepts of Play, Language and Salvation in Lewis Carroll's Alice Books , followed by her Habilitation William Shakespeare and John Donne: Stages of the Soul in Early Modern English Poetry published by Manchester University Press in 2019. Her research spans multiple interconnected fields with a strong focus on Shakespeare studies, Early Modern poetry, children's literature, and concepts of childhood. She has developed significant expertise in literature and religion, the theory of literary annotation, and nineteenth-century literature with emphasis on the novel. Zirker is particularly noted for her innovative work at the intersection of traditional literary scholarship and digital humanities methodologies, exploring how digital tools can enhance textual analysis and annotation practices. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory toward interdisciplinary collaboration and methodological innovation. Her work increasingly bridges literary studies with computational approaches, particularly in the areas of ambiguity studies, co-creativity in pre-modern literature, and systematic annotation of literary texts. This reflects her leadership in the Tübingen CRC "Andere Ästhetik" (Different Aesthetics) where she serves as principal investigator for project C5 on "The Aesthetics of Co-Creativity in Early Modern English Literature," and in CRC 1718 "Common Ground" where she co-chairs project C5 on "Multiple Common Grounds: Literary Mechanisms for Literary Meaning." Zirker actively supervises Bachelor's and Master's theses on topics including literature from 1550-1900, digital literary studies, children's literature, poetry (medieval to present day), and literature and linguistics. Her grant portfolio demonstrates sustained success in securing major research funding, including her involvement in the successful CRC 1718 "Common Ground" proposal, her role as PI in the Tübingen CRC "Andere Ästhetik," and previous participation in GRK 1808 on Ambiguity: Production and Perception (2013-2022) and SFB 833's project A2 "Interpretability in Context" (2010-2022). She leads the digital humanities project on explanatory annotation of literary texts (annotation.es.uni-tuebingen.de) and plays a central role in the Tübingen research ecosystem through her leadership in multiple collaborative research centers focused on textual analysis, ambiguity, and co-creativity in literary production. Her work demonstrates how traditional literary scholarship can be enriched through digital methodologies while maintaining rigorous philological standards.

Piotr MakowskiView profile

Researcher

• Byzantine and Islamic Near East archaeology
• Settlement Patterns in Syro-Palestine
• Christian Communities during Byzantine-Islamic Transition
• +3 more

Dr. Piotr Makowski is affiliated with the University of Warsaw as a member of the Department of Oriental Archaeology . His research focuses on the archaeology of the Byzantine and Islamic Near East, with particular emphasis on settlement patterns, Christian communities during the Byzantine-Islamic transition, and material culture analysis. Specializes in handmade ceramic wares of the Islamic Near East Investigates post-Byzantine urban adaptation in Jordan and Lebanon Collaborates on Polish-Lebanese archaeological missions Recent publications highlight his work on chronological modeling of handmade wares, environmental changes in Bilad Al-Sham, and adaptive reuse of sacral spaces after disasters. His fieldwork spans sites in Jordan (Dharih, Khirbat edh-Dharih), Lebanon (Rachkida, Jiyeh), and Tunisia (Mustis). Makowski contributes to academic discourse through environmental archaeology approaches and regional synthesis studies, combining pottery analysis with landscape evolution and cultural continuity patterns across the Byzantine-Islamic transition.

Büşra ZENCİRCİView profile

Assistant Professor

• Neuroscience
• Anatomy
• Morphometry
• +3 more

Dr. Büşra ZENCİRCİ is an Assistant Professor at Adiyaman University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, specializing in the Anatomy department. She has established herself as a dedicated researcher and educator in the field of medical sciences with a focus on neuroscience and anatomical morphometry. Her educational background includes a Doctorate in Anatomy from Adiyaman University (2019), a Master's degree in Anatomy from Gaziantep University (2015-2019), and a Bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation from Dumlupinar University (2010-2015). She progressed from Research Assistant to Assistant Professor, with her promotion date listed as March 14, 2025. Dr. ZENCİRCİ's research focuses on neuroscience, anatomical morphometry, Alzheimer's disease, medical imaging techniques, and histological studies. Her work often involves morphometric analysis of the cerebral cortex, particularly investigating the effects of compounds like Cortexin on neurological disorders. She has developed expertise in comparative analysis of different neuroimaging methodologies and their clinical applications. Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a strong trend toward Alzheimer's disease research, neuroimaging techniques, and morphometric analysis, with significant contributions to understanding anatomical variations and their clinical implications across multiple organ systems. English (YDS) Level: C English (YÖKDİL) Level: B As an educator, Dr. ZENCİRCİ teaches Human Anatomy Practical and Theoretical courses across multiple programs at the Faculty of Medicine, including for students in both the main campus and Besni campus. She has actively addressed challenges in anatomy education, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical teaching methodologies. Dr. ZENCİRCİ has demonstrated consistent scholarly output with numerous publications in international journals, covering diverse aspects of anatomy, neuroscience, and medical imaging. Her collaborative work with researchers like Zümrüt DOĞAN and Muhammed Emre YÜZER reflects her integration into the broader scientific community.

Rose HartzellView profile

Lecturer

• Sex Therapy
• Human Sexuality
• Sexual Medicine
• +4 more

Dr. Rose Hartzell serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Counseling and School Psychology at San Diego State University (SDSU) and has been the sole therapist at San Diego Sexual Medicine (SDSM) since 2010, working alongside Dr. Irwin Goldstein. A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC 53079) and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist/Educator Supervisor, she integrates clinical practice with research in sexual medicine through a biopsychosocial framework. Her educational credentials include: PhD in Health Behavior with Human Sexuality emphasis, Indiana University EdS and MS in Mental Health Counseling with Development minor, Indiana University Dr. Hartzell's research focuses on sexual dysfunction (PGAD, Peyronie's disease, vaginal atrophy), sex education, and clinical sexology. She employs biopsychosocial methodologies to address complex sexual health issues, emphasizing patient-centered care and multidisciplinary collaboration. Her work has shaped clinical guidelines through leadership roles in ISSWSH and SSSS. Analysis of her 2018-2023 publications reveals consistent contributions to sexual medicine literature, particularly in persistent genital arousal disorder, erectile dysfunction, and evidence-based women's sexual health protocols. These works demonstrate strong international collaboration and clinical translation focus. Her key recognition includes: Emerging Professional Award from Society for Scientific Study of Sexuality (2007) Dr. Hartzell actively mentors through SDSU teaching and SDSM supervision. While specific grant details aren't public, her research output indicates sustained funding support. Her leadership as ISSWSH Scientific Program Chair (2018-2020) and contributions to consensus guidelines reflect significant impact on the field. Though not leading a named laboratory, she drives clinical research at SDSM through collaborative teams focused on advancing sexual medicine via integrated biopsychosocial approaches, with strong ties to publications in The Journal of Sexual Medicine and Sexual Medicine journals.

• Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Spinal Cord Injury
• +5 more

Carmelo Bellardita is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. His research focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying motor control, with particular emphasis on spinal cord function, locomotion circuits, and the consequences of spinal cord injury. He is affiliated with the Kiehn Lab, a prominent neuroscience research group led by Professor Ole Kiehn. Position: Associate Professor Institution: University of Copenhagen Department: Neuroscience Research Focus: Neural circuits for movement, spinal cord physiology, locomotion control Contact: cbellardita@sund.ku.dk ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6198-243X Lab Website: https://in.ku.dk/research/kiehn-lab Dr. Bellardita's research program investigates how neural circuits generate and regulate movement, with particular emphasis on spinal cord function. His work spans multiple levels of analysis from cellular and molecular mechanisms to systems-level circuit function and behavioral outcomes. Key research areas include organization of spinal locomotor circuits, sensory processing in motor control, pathophysiological changes following spinal cord injury, and development of therapeutic interventions for movement disorders. His laboratory frequently employs rodent models and techniques including electrophysiology, genetic manipulation, and behavioral analysis. Analysis of Dr. Bellardita's publication record reveals a strong trajectory of impactful research in motor neuroscience. His work demonstrates progression from fundamental studies of spinal cord circuitry to translational research with therapeutic implications. Recent publications show an expansion into neuroimmunology, investigating how immune cells interact with neural circuits to influence motor function. His research appears in top-tier journals including Nature, Nature Communications, and Science Translational Medicine, with his 2018 Nature paper on midbrain circuits controlling locomotion receiving over 300 citations. The broad dissemination of his work through news outlets, social media (including over 200 mentions on X for his most cited paper), and academic platforms demonstrates significant impact within and beyond the neuroscience community. Dr. Bellardita's research has received notable attention across multiple platforms. His work has been featured by numerous news outlets (totaling over 40 mentions across publications), shared extensively on social media including X (over 400 total mentions), Facebook, and Bluesky, and referenced on Wikipedia pages. His most cited paper has reached 590 readers on Mendeley, indicating substantial academic interest. This broad dissemination suggests his research has implications beyond basic neuroscience, potentially influencing clinical approaches to movement disorders and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Dr. Bellardita maintains active collaborations within the neuroscience community, particularly with Professor Ole Kiehn's research group. His work demonstrates integration of multiple approaches to understand motor control systems, from single-cell transcriptomics to systems-level circuit analysis. The progression of his research from basic circuit mechanisms to translational applications suggests a comprehensive approach to addressing fundamental questions in neuroscience with potential clinical relevance. His recent foray into neuroimmunology represents an innovative direction that bridges traditionally separate fields to address complex questions about motor function.