Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric ResearchGermany
Dr. Arun Babu Suja is a Research Scientist at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig, Germany, affiliated with the Department of Atmospheric Microphysics . His research focuses on aerosol-climate interactions in extreme environments including the Arctic, Himalayas, and oceanic regions. Education: Ph.D. in Physics, University of Kerala, India (2018-2022) M.Phil. in Physics, University of Kerala (2014-2015) M.Sc. in Physics, University of Kerala (2011-2013) B.Sc. in Physics and Computer Application, University of Kerala (2008-2011) Research Experience: 2022-Present: Research Scientist at TROPOS, Germany 2016-2022: Research Scholar at ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre 2015-2016: Research Fellow at Indian Institute of Science Research Interests: Specializes in aerosol mixing state, aerosol-cryosphere interactions, radiative forcing, and ice nucleating particles. Current projects include studies of Arctic aerosol transport (APAICA) and Bay of Bengal aerosol characteristics (BIOCAT-IIOE2). Publications: His 10 publications (2019-2024) focus on aerosol properties in Himalayan/Arctic regions, with emphasis on carbonaceous aerosols, black carbon distribution, and radiative effects. Research methodologies combine field measurements and chemical analysis. Awards: ISRO Junior Research Fellowship (2016)
Irene Albers is a full Professor at Free University of Berlin's Department of Philosophy and Humanities, holding dual appointments at the Peter Szondi Institute for General and Comparative Literature and Institute for Romance Philology since 2004. She chairs both the Examination Board and Doctoral Committee for General and Comparative Literature, serves as Trustee of Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes since 2004/05, and has been Principal Investigator for the Friedrich-Schlegel Graduate School for Literary Studies and Cluster Languages of Emotion since 2007. Her research bridges comparative literature, anthropology, and visual culture with institutional leadership spanning editorial projects and international conferences. Her educational background includes: Born in Bremen (1967) Romance Studies, Philosophy, and German Studies at Universities of Tübingen, Tours, and Konstanz M.A. from University of Konstanz (1993) Ph.D. from University of Konstanz (1999) on literature and photography in Émile Zola, Proust, and Claude Simon Albers' core research examines literary anthropology through colonial/postcolonial lenses, focusing on French literary engagement with Africa, surrealism, and literature-photography intersections. She pioneered studies on Michel Leiris' ethnological poetics and Claude Simon's photographic techniques, extending to historical emotion research (anatomy of affects, body language) and romance novella traditions. Her work consistently challenges Eurocentric literary canons through primitivism critique and heteronomy aesthetics, emphasizing textual restitution and cultural reclamation. Recent publications (2018-2025) reveal a sharp turn toward colonial restitution ethics, particularly in oral literature provenance. Articles increasingly analyze literature as colonial loot, connecting French modernism with African/Caribbean contexts through collaborative projects with anthropologists like Eléonore Devevey. This trajectory builds from earlier surrealist studies to concrete frameworks for decolonizing literary scholarship, spotlighting institutional complicity in cultural appropriation while advancing symmetrized modernity revisions. Scientific awards include: Senior Fellow and Prize Winner of the Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz (2009) Albers supervises master's and doctoral students through dedicated AVL colloquia while securing major research funding as Principal Investigator for Friedrich-Schlegel Graduate School (2007-present) and Cluster Languages of Emotion (2007-2012). Her current DFG-funded project 'Literature as Colonial Loot?' with Andreas Schmid pioneers philological provenance research. Earlier, she contributed to Collaborative Research Center 511 'Literature and Anthropology' (Konstanz, 1999-2002) and DFG-funded conferences on Claude Simon. She leads the DramaNet research project and co-edits the 'machina' series at transcript Verlag since 2010. As board member (2007-2009) and deputy (2008-2012) of Cluster Languages of Emotion, she coordinates Area D 'Cultural Codings of Emotions'. Her Zukunftskolleg fellowship (2012-2013) and Marcel Proust Society collaborations underscore sustained engagement with literary anthropology networks.
Prof. Dr. Lorenz Korn is a Professor of Islamic Art History and Archaeology at Otto-Friedrich University Bamberg since 2003. His academic journey includes studies at the University of Tübingen and Oxford, followed by postdoctoral research at Harvard University. He specializes in medieval Islamic architecture, focusing on Egypt, Syria, Iran, and Central Asia, with particular attention to religious symbolism, epigraphy, and material culture. His research spans projects funded by institutions such as the DFG and Gerda Henkel Foundation, including studies on Mongol migration routes in Iran, Seljuk mosque architecture, and the Rabʿ-i Rashidi in Tabriz. He has led archaeological expeditions in Iran, Oman, and Spain, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches combining art history with archaeology and scientific analysis. Key research interests include Islamic metalwork, stucco decoration techniques, and the role of inscriptions in architectural context. Korn has authored over 60 publications, including monographs on Ayyubid architecture and co-edited volumes on Islamic art and archaeology. His work bridges scholarly rigor with public engagement, evident in exhibitions and educational outreach. Recent projects include dendrochronological analysis of the Alhambra dome and field research in Spain’s Aljarafe region. He advises students in the Islamic Art History and Archaeology master’s program, fostering next-generation scholars through hands-on training in fieldwork and artifact analysis.
Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity at the Humboldt University BerlinGermany
Dr. Oliver Hampe serves as Scientific Director of the Vertebrate Paleontology and Geology Collections at the Museum für Naturkunde (Museum of Natural History), Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research in Berlin, Germany. He also holds the position of Head of the Paleontological Preparation Laboratory. His expertise spans extinct aquatic vertebrates, paleopathology, and geoarchaeology, with significant contributions to cetacean evolution research. Hampe completed his studies in Chemistry and Geology-Paleontology from 1981-1987 at universities in Düsseldorf and Mainz, earning his Diploma in 1987. He received his PhD from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in 1991 and completed his habilitation for Palaeobiology and Zoology at Humboldt University Berlin in 2003, qualifying him as a Privatdozent. His research focuses on cetacean evolution, particularly Miocene whale fossils from German sites like Groß Pampau, with significant work on periotic bone anatomy. Hampe integrates traditional morphological analysis with advanced imaging techniques including CT scanning to study fossil specimens non-destructively. His paleopathological research examines diseases in fossils, such as osteomyelitis in Tyrannosaurus rex and bone tumors in whale specimens. He also maintains scholarly interest in the history of paleontology, particularly Werner Janensch's work and German expeditions to Tendaguru, Tanzania. Analysis of Hampe's recent publications reveals consistent focus on cetacean evolution, especially baleen whales from the Miocene epoch. His methodological approach frequently combines detailed morphological analysis with geological context to understand evolutionary patterns. He has made significant taxonomic contributions through studies of whale ear bone anatomy and has extended his research to pathological conditions in diverse fossil vertebrates. His interdisciplinary work bridges paleontology with medical imaging techniques and historical studies. As Head of the Paleontological Preparation Laboratory, Hampe oversees the curation and preparation of vertebrate fossil collections. His current research projects include cetacean studies from Groß Pampau, pathology research on dinosaurs and mammals, and investigations into aquatic adaptation in Cetartiodactyla supervised with PhD student Apolline Alfsen. His collaborative approach is evident in numerous publications with international researchers across Europe.
Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of BonnGermany
Christoph Witzenrath is a Professor for Premodern Slavery and Strong Asymmetrical Dependencies at the University of Bonn's Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS). His research spans Eurasian history, focusing on nomadic-settled relations, slave trade, and state-dependent group dynamics. Education: Ph.D. in History, King’s College, University of London (1999–2005) M.A. in History and Political Science, University of Freiburg, Humboldt University, and Free University Berlin (1991–1998) Witzenrath's work interrogates the structural gaps between premodern states and dependent populations, comparing Eurasian systems to community-oriented African models. His transdisciplinary approach integrates legal, cultural, and political frameworks, emphasizing liberation narratives and asymmetrical dependencies. Key article themes include Muscovite-Ottoman interactions, Siberian expansion, and transcultural legitimacy. His award-winning monograph Cossacks and the Russian Empire (2009) explores frontier governance and rebellion dynamics. Scientific Awards & Funding: DFG Priority Program funding (2017–2020) King’s College London research studentship (1998–2001) Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2007–2009) Shklar Fellowship at Harvard (2010) He has supervised 40 national/international lectures and mentored researchers like Turkana Allahverdiyeva and Stanislav Mohylnyi. As founding member of the Transottomanica project (2017–2020), he advanced mobility studies across Eurasia.
Dr. Julia Carina Böttcher is a research associate in the field of scientific reflection at ZIWIS (Zentrum für Interdisziplinäre Wissenschaftsforschung) at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg. She holds a habilitation from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (2025) and is a member of the Leopoldina Center for Science Studies project group. Her work bridges the history of science, early modern history, and the interplay between natural science and politics. PhD in History of Science (University of Regensburg, 2017) Habilitation in History of Science (LMU Munich, 2025) Researcher at University of Regensburg and LMU Munich post-2017 Her research focuses on observation practices during 18th-century exploration trips, academic communities (e.g., Leopoldina Academy), and the political behavior of scholars . Key themes include elite identity formation, bodily practices, and the institutional dynamics of scientific networking. She is currently concluding her DFG-funded project on The Politics of Networking (2020–2023) and will serve as interim professor for History of Science at LMU Munich in 2025. Her 15 most recent publications (2024–2019) analyze collection practices, scientific communities, and the cultural history of expeditions. Articles span topics from 18th-century anatomical research to Enlightenment botanical enthusiasm, often emphasizing methodological innovation and institutional interplay. She is an alumna of the Young Research Fellows program at the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities and maintains active collaborations in international research networks. Her work has contributed to re-evaluating the Leopoldina Academy's role as a strategic scholarly collective in early modern Europe.
PD Dr. Tobias Delfs is a Visiting Professor at the Chair for Cultures and Societies of South Asia at Humboldt University during the 2024/25 winter semester . Previously, he was a Research Associate (2018-2024) in the DFG-funded Modern India in German Archives (MIDA) project and a Researcher (2015-2018) in the DFG project on Nathaniel Wallich's botanical network . He holds a habilitation (2023/24) on German botanists' role in 19th-century South Asian imperialism . Education: Studied Medieval/Modern History, Political Science, and Sociology at Kiel University; PhD (2017) on Deviance in the Halle Mission at the University of Zurich Research Stays: Serampore College (India), Archive of the Francke Foundations (Halle), and funded by Fritz Thyssen Fellowship Fields of Interest include imperial/global history , modern South Asian history , history of knowledge , environmental history , and colonial natural science . His 2022-2024 publications focus on German botanical imperialism , missionary knowledge transfer , and colonial alcohol debates . Scientific Awards: Fritz Thyssen Fellowship Collaborative Projects include co-editing Benjamin Schultze's Dialogue Book on Madras and South Asia Chronicle 12 . He contributes to postcolonial historiography , missionary deviance studies , and imperial scientific networks .
Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity at the Humboldt University BerlinGermany
Dr. Sylke Frahnert is a Researcher at the Museum of Natural History Berlin (Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research), where she serves as Curator of the Ornithological Collection and Women's Representative. Her work spans ornithology, taxonomy, and historical collection studies, focusing on avian systematics, evolutionary morphology, and the legacy of colonial-era expeditions like Ernst Schäfer's Tibet missions. She employs advanced techniques such as 3D geometric morphometrics to analyze corvid skulls and bird footscale patterns. Research Interests: Evolutionary morphology of birds, type specimen documentation, historical context of colonial collections, and functional integration of avian species in urban ecosystems. Publications: Her publications (2004–2011) emphasize type specimen cataloging, taxonomic revisions, and the intersection of ornithology with cultural heritage. Notable works include analyses of the Oppenheim Collection, Nauru bird specimens, and 3D morphometric studies on corvid skulls. Team Involvement: She collaborates on projects like the digital catalog of German ornithological type specimens under GBIF and contributes to museum-wide initiatives such as the 'Class, Order, Art' anniversary volume.
Dr. Helena Herr is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Marine Mammal Ecologist at the University of Hamburg, working within the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, specifically at the Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fisheries Sciences. Her office is located at Große Elbstraße 133 in Hamburg, where she conducts critical research on marine mammal populations and their conservation. Her research interests focus on marine mammal ecology and conservation, with particular emphasis on population surveys to investigate abundance, distribution, and habitat use of whales. Dr. Herr specializes in large whales in the Antarctic, examining their population status and recovery from commercial whaling. Her work integrates field studies with advanced analytical methods to develop scientific foundations for marine conservation and management policies. She actively uses aerial surveys, satellite tagging, and ecological modeling in her research approach. Analysis of Dr. Herr's recent publications reveals a strong focus on fin whale ecology in the Antarctic region, with particular attention to population dynamics, feeding behavior, and recovery from historical whaling impacts. Her research employs innovative methods including drone imagery, machine learning for photo identification, and multi-source data integration for habitat modeling. A significant portion of her work examines anthropogenic impacts on whale populations while documenting natural ecological patterns and recovery trends. Member of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission Chair of the Southern Hemisphere Baleen Whales subcommittee German representative in the Southern Ocean Research Partnership (IWC-SORP) Leader of the 'Southern Hemisphere fin whales' focus area Guest scientist at Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung Dr. Herr leads a DFG-funded project on fin whale population status along the Antarctic Peninsula (SPP 1158), collaborating with the Alfred Wegener Institute. Her research has been supported by multiple third-party funding sources including the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food, and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. She has participated in numerous Antarctic research expeditions aboard vessels including RV Polarstern and RV Maria S. Merian. She is part of the Marine Ecosystem Dynamics and Management research team at the University of Hamburg, collaborating with international researchers across multiple institutions. Her work contributes to global efforts in cetacean conservation and Antarctic ecosystem management through participation in international frameworks including the International Whaling Commission and CCAMLR.
Alicia Hein is a Research Fellow in the Department of Literary History of the Old Testament at the Faculty of Protestant Theology, University of Tübingen, since August 2023. Previously, she completed her PhD in Old Testament at the University of St. Andrews in June 2024, with prior teaching experience at institutions in Canada and St. Andrews. Her educational background includes: Bachelor of Evangelical Theology (2010-2014), Caroline, Canada Master of Theological Studies (2016-2020), Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary, Cochrane, Canada PhD in Old Testament (2020-2024), University of St. Andrews, Scotland Dr. Hein's research focuses on Old Testament studies, particularly the Elijah narratives, intertextuality, and the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. Her work delves into the literary and theological aspects of biblical texts, with a special interest in the Book of Malachi and the reception of Elijah in Second Temple Judaism and early Christianity. She employs literary criticism and rhetorical analysis to explore allusion and intertextuality in the Bible. Her recent publications examine the role of Elijah in biblical theology and the rhetorical use of allusion in the Chronicles. These works highlight a trend towards interdisciplinary approaches combining literary theory, historical criticism, and reception history in biblical scholarship. Dr. Hein has not received any scientific awards mentioned in the provided text. Regarding advising and grants, Dr. Hein does not have any listed advisees. She was offered a DAAD fellowship for doctoral studies in 2023 but declined the award. Dr. Hein participated in the Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition in Israel in 2023, contributing to archaeological excavations at Tel Azekah.
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine ResearchGermany
Dr. Maren Jenrich is a Project and Expedition Manager specializing in Permafrost Research at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI). Her work focuses on Arctic environmental systems, particularly the carbon cycle dynamics in permafrost regions and the impacts of marine inundation on permafrost landscapes. She leads projects like COLDSPOT and contributes to the Permafrost Gateway Discovery Project's outreach efforts. Key research interests include thermokarst lagoon distribution, greenhouse gas emissions from thawing permafrost, and pan-Arctic coastal processes. Her fieldwork spans Arctic regions such as Alaska and Siberia, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding climate change effects. Notable contributions include studies on organic carbon and mercury dynamics in Arctic sediments, as well as the role of thermokarst processes in subsea permafrost degradation. She collaborates widely, contributing to conferences and publications on Arctic environmental science and climate feedback mechanisms. Dr. Jenrich’s expertise bridges expedition management with scientific research, ensuring effective execution of field campaigns and data collection in challenging Arctic environments.
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine ResearchGermany
Dr. Jan Streffing is a Scientific Programmer in the Climate Dynamics department at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) in Bremerhaven, Germany. His work focuses on advancing Earth System Models (ESMs) with an emphasis on coupled climate modeling, paleoclimate simulations, and ensuring model scalability while preserving mass and energy conservation. He coordinates Earth System Model development efforts, particularly with the AWI-CM3 climate model framework. His research interests include high-resolution climate projections, atmosphere-ocean coupling mechanisms, and improving model physics through numerical methods. Streffing contributes to global kilometer-scale simulations using frameworks like IFS-FESOM, addressing challenges in resolving ocean eddies and cloud processes. He has developed ESM-Tools infrastructure to modularize climate modeling workflows and enhance computational efficiency. Key projects involve the MOSAiC expedition evaluation, where nudging techniques were applied to align model outputs with in-situ observations, revealing model deficiencies in cloud dynamics and snowpack representation. His work also explores deep-water formation impacts on climate sensitivity and integrates data assimilation techniques to improve sea ice forecasts in the AWI coupled prediction system. Streffing's contributions bridge climate science and computational practices, supporting advancements in model resolution, scalability, and accuracy for understanding future climate scenarios.
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine ResearchGermany
Inga Kirstein is a Scientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, specializing in the Ecology of Shelf Sea Systems. She leads the Heligoland Roads long-term ecological time series, managing teams, laboratories, and data communication. Her research focuses on microbial food webs, biofilm communities, microplastic pollution, and long-term ecological dynamics. She contributes to projects like the FRAM Ocean Observing System and collaborates on initiatives such as the MOSAiC expedition. Her work bridges marine microbiology, environmental monitoring, and climate change impacts. Key contributions include studies on microplastic distribution in sediments and drinking water, microbial interactions in plankton blooms, and ecosystem resilience under climate stressors. Her publications highlight advancements in understanding microplastic toxicity, fungal communities on plastics, and the role of microbial necromass in carbon cycles. She emphasizes methodological rigor in detecting microplastics using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Her interdisciplinary approach addresses both fundamental ecological processes and applied challenges in environmental management.
Max Planck Institute for the History of ScienceGermany
Ayako Sakurai is an Associate Professor at the School of Business Administration, Senshu University, Japan, where she has taught since 2013. Her research focuses on the international mobility of 19th-century German scientists and their impact on the development of the scientific community in Meiji Japan. She is affiliated with the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science through a collaborative workshop she co-organized in 2020. PhD in History of Science, University of Cambridge (2007) Her work bridges historical analysis of science with transnational cultural exchanges, emphasizing material culture, collecting practices, and the globalization of scientific knowledge. The 2020 workshop at the Max Planck Institute highlighted her interest in natural-historical surveys and expeditions in the Asia Pacific region. Her sole documented publication, "German Naturalists in 19th-century East Asia" (2020), reflects her expertise in 19th-century German scientific expeditions. Her research intersects with subfields such as imperialism, visual culture, and practical knowledge exchange.
Bettina Martin is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Hamburg , affiliated with the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences and the Department of Biology . She works within the Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fisheries Sciences under the research focus of Marine ecosystem dynamics and management . Education: Diplom Biologie (1994), Dr. rer. nat. (2008) from the University of Hamburg Research Interests: Her work spans Zooplankton Ecology , Deep-Sea Ecology , and the Ecology of Seamounts and Upwelling Systems . She investigates spatio-temporal dynamics of zooplankton biomass, carbon demand in seamount ecosystems, and interactions between oceanographic features like the Agulhas Leakage and marine microbial communities. Recent Publications (2024–1996): Focuses include Trichodesmium transport pathways , salps and doliolids in Benguela Upwelling , zooplankton variability in seamounts , and historical oceanographic research in the Indian Ocean. Key subfields: Marine Biodiversity , Biogeochemical Cycles , and Deep-Sea Food Webs .
