Professor Jan Breckenridge is a leading academic and researcher at the School of Social Sciences , University of New South Wales (UNSW) , and serves as Head of School. She co-convenes the UNSW Gendered Violence Research Network and is a Research Fellow at the UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute . Her work focuses on gendered violence, including domestic/family violence, economic abuse, and workplace responses. Bachelor of Social Studies (Hons), Sydney University PhD, UNSW Her research emphasizes social policy development , service provision , and outcome measurement in gendered violence contexts. She leads the Gendered Violence & Organisations Program , advising governments and NGOs on best practices. Recent publications highlight her expertise in technology-facilitated violence , disaster response , and economic abuse . She has received multiple awards, including the 2019 Dean's Award for Society Impact and ARC Award for Research Supervision . 2020-2024: Economic and Financial Abuse research funded by Commonwealth Bank 2020-2022: Insurance sector responses to domestic violence 2017-2020: National Safe at Home Program Audit She supervises HDR students in areas like child abuse , family court mediation , and gender dynamics . Her collaborations include institutions like West Virginia University and CARE Australia .
Prof. Dr. Antje Langer is a Professor of School Pedagogy with a focus on Gender Studies at the Institute of Educational Science , Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Paderborn University. She specializes in discourse analysis and ethnographic methodologies to examine gender dynamics, power relations, and corporeality in educational institutions. Email: antje.langer@uni-paderborn.de Office: Warburger Str. 100, 33098 Paderborn, Room H5.310 Supervision: Will resume thesis supervision in Summer 2026 (requires topic suggestions) Her research explores: Gender and sexuality in education Intersectional analysis of pandemic-era pedagogy Digital parenting apps as normative tools Sexual discrimination in academic environments Discourse analysis methodology Current projects include: GeFoWiss (BMBF-funded): Gender as analytical category in university knowledge production Digital Parenting (DFG resubmission): Normative impacts of pregnancy/parenting apps Queer Pedagogy (2023-2029): Expanding heteronormative educational frameworks She teaches courses on: Sexuality and Education Intersectional Research Methods Childhood and Youth Studies
Jean-Charles Languilaire is an affiliated researcher at the Centre for Family Entrepreneurship and Ownership (CeFEO) at Jönköping University. His work bridges academic research and practical applications in organizational behavior, focusing on boundary management in work-life dynamics. Research Interests Work-Life Balance Family Firm Dynamics Emotional Boundary Management Sustainable Organizational Culture His research explores emotional boundaries in family firms, sustainable urban development, and the intersection of personal identity with professional roles. Articles highlight cross-disciplinary collaborations and fieldwork in Sweden, Rwanda, and urban environments. Key themes include strategic decision-making, intergenerational ownership rights, and inclusivity in entrepreneurship.
Prof. Dr. phil. Torsten Linke holds a Professorship in Social Work Science at HTWK Leipzig , specializing in individual casework, social management, and ethics within social work contexts. His research focuses on sexual education in child and youth welfare , protection against sexual traumatization , and family dynamics in social services .
Dr. Nafiseh Ghafournia is an Honorary Lecturer at the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She completed her PhD in Social Policy and Gender Studies at The University of Sydney in 2017, supported by the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) Scholarship. Dr. Ghafournia has extensive experience as a researcher and sessional academic, with teaching appointments spanning from 2009 to 2020 across various courses in sociology, health sciences, and nursing. Her educational background includes: Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work), University of Sydney Bachelor of Arts, Ferdowsi University of Meshed - Iran Master of Arts, University of Tehran - Iran Graduate Certificate in Policy Studies, University of Sydney Dr. Ghafournia's research focuses on the complex intersections of domestic violence, gender, culture, religion, and immigration. Her pioneering 2019 book 'Faith in Freedom: Muslim Immigrant Women's Experiences of Domestic Violence' examines how Muslim immigrant women in Australia experience domestic violence through an intersectional lens. She has published extensively on Islamic feminism, domestic violence policy, immigration policy, and cultural considerations in service provision. Analysis of her recent publications (2022-2024) reveals a continued focus on Muslim women's experiences, domestic violence, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Her work demonstrates how pandemic conditions exacerbated existing vulnerabilities for refugee and immigrant communities while also highlighting community resilience and innovative communication strategies. Professional recognition includes: International Sociological Association (ISA) membership (2017) The Australian Association for the Study of Religion (AASR) membership (2019) The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) membership (2016) Australian Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies (AAIMS) membership (2019) Dr. Ghafournia has received the Hunter New England Health Excellence award in the category of Integrated Health (2017) and held the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) Scholarship for her PhD studies (2011). Prior to her academic career, she worked as a Multicultural Health Liaison Officer with Hunter New England Health since 2010, delivering lectures and trainings to health professionals on cultural aspects of health and cultural competency. Her research has been supported by grants totaling $10,000, including projects focused on building capacity of refugee and immigrant women to live free from violence.
Enikő Anna Virágh is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Empirical Studies, Eötvös Loránd University, and a lecturer in the Department of Social Research Methodology. Her work bridges academic research with policy analysis, focusing on marginalized communities and gender-related issues in Hungary. Assistant Professor, Institute of Empirical Studies Lecturer, Department of Social Research Methodology Research Interests: Dr. Virágh specializes in social policy, gender studies, and media discourse analysis. Her research explores how authoritarian neoliberalism shapes narratives around Roma communities, sexual violence victims, and startup culture in Hungary. Publication Trends: Recent works examine hegemonic masculinity in startups, justice systems for sexual violence survivors, and media framing of gender and class issues. She employs qualitative and discourse analysis methods to critique societal power structures. Contact: Email: viragh.eniko@tatk.elte.hu | Office: 2.79A, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest.
Dr. John Grych is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Marquette University , where he has worked since 1991. He directs the Resilience and Relationships (RAR) Lab and teaches courses including Psychology of Marriage and Family, Child Psychopathology, and couples/family therapy. His research focuses on family and school contexts for youth resilience, aggression measurement, and violence prevention. Education: Ph.D. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1991) Research Highlights : • Developing resilience portfolios to identify protective factors across ecological contexts • Partnering with the Center for Peacemaking to evaluate restorative justice programs in schools • Advancing bystander intervention metrics for college campus safety • Studying emotion socialization in preschoolers and aggression patterns in adolescent relationships Publication Trends (2012–2024): Spanning family systems , violence prevention , and resilience frameworks , his 15 most recent articles (2024–2020) show increasing focus on restorative justice implementation and developmental trauma responses . Lab Engagement : The RAR Lab collaborates with Milwaukee organizations and campus partners to design community-engaged research with real-world applications.
Amy Anderson serves as an Honorary Associate Lecturer at the School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, while working as a Senior Research Officer specializing in health behavior research. Her academic career is deeply intertwined with the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, where she investigates critical health risk factors including alcohol use during pregnancy, tobacco consumption, overweight and obesity, and violence against women. Dr. Anderson earned both her PhD and Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) from the University of Newcastle. She is affiliated with the Centre for Women's Health Research and contributes extensively to survey development for longitudinal health studies. Her methodological expertise spans quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches, allowing comprehensive investigation of women's health behaviors across the lifespan. Her research concentrates on antenatal health behaviors with particular emphasis on alcohol use in pregnancy, public health guideline adherence, and predictors of negative health behaviors. Through the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, she has produced significant findings about how women interact with health guidelines, especially regarding alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Her work has evolved to include broader aspects of women's health, including intimate partner violence impacts and health behaviors across different life stages. Dr. Anderson has secured research funding totaling $57,500, including a $32,500 grant in 2020 for 'Integrated approaches for domestic and family violence, mental health issues and alcohol and other drugs misuse' and a $25,000 grant in 2013 for 'A life course perspective on the identification of risk factors for low birth weight.' Her scholarly output includes 31 journal articles, 7 conference presentations, and 12 reports, demonstrating consistent productivity across multiple domains of women's health research. Her research has garnered attention across academic and policy spheres, with citations in policy documents, news coverage, and significant engagement on academic platforms like Mendeley. Notably, her work on alcohol use during pregnancy revealed that eight in ten expectant mothers consume alcohol during pregnancy, which received media coverage. She maintains extensive collaborations with researchers including Deborah Loxton, John Wiggers, and Emma Doherty, contributing to interdisciplinary research teams addressing complex women's health issues.
Christy E Newman (they/them) is a Professor at the Centre for Social Research in Health and serves as Deputy Dean Research for UNSW Arts, Design and Architecture. With over two decades of experience as a qualitative sociologist, they have established themselves as a leading researcher in gender, sexuality, and health. Research Focus: Social aspects of queer and trans health Sexual and reproductive health Diverse genders, sexualities, relationships, and families Sociology of health and family relationships Their work emphasizes inclusive approaches to health, education, and social systems reform, with particular attention to marginalized communities. Newman is a passionate advocate for the contributions of social sciences, humanities, and creative arts in addressing contemporary social and health challenges. Publication Trends: Newman's recent research shows a strong focus on queer generations, digital health trust among communities affected by blood-borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections, and sustaining sexual health services during the pandemic. Their work consistently bridges academic research with practical applications for health systems and policy. Awards and Recognition: 2020 Research Supervisor Award, UNSW Arc Postgraduate Council 2017 Mid-Career Interdisciplinary Achiever Award, Australasian Sexual Health Alliance 2010 Paul Bourke Award for Early Career Research, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia 1998 University Medal in Arts, Murdoch University Research Supervision and Grants: Newman has supervised numerous doctoral students working on topics including rainbow families, queer justice, gender in family violence policy, and health needs of Bi+ communities. Their research has secured over $18 million in grants from the Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, and other health agencies. Professional Engagement: Newman serves on the NSW Health LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy Implementation Committee, is a member of the Australian Sociological Association and AusPATH, and sits on editorial boards for Culture, Health & Sexuality and Health Sociology Review.
Associate Professor Melissa Curley is a prominent scholar in the School of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Queensland, where she also serves as Deputy Director of the Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). Her academic career spans over two decades with significant contributions to Southeast Asian studies, international relations, and non-traditional security issues. Dr. Curley's educational background includes a Ph.D. in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University in the UK and a BA(Hons) in Government from the University of Queensland. These qualifications established the foundation for her expertise in political science and international relations, particularly focused on Southeast Asia. Her research interests span several interconnected domains, with primary focus on Southeast Asian politics and international relations, Cambodian politics and post-conflict reconstruction, and non-traditional security in East Asia. She has made significant contributions to understanding trafficking in persons, migrant smuggling, pandemic disease, and child protection issues. A key aspect of her work examines how civil society operates under authoritarian rule and navigates relations with the state. Her research on securitisation theory, particularly its application in non-democratic contexts, has been influential in the field of international relations. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on governance challenges in Southeast Asia, particularly regarding civil society in authoritarian states, human security frameworks, and migration-security nexus. Her work demonstrates interdisciplinary approaches bridging political science, law, public health, and human rights, with particular attention to Cambodia and Myanmar. The publications show increasing engagement with contemporary security challenges including pandemic responses, child protection frameworks, and transnational crime governance. Paul Harris Fellow, The Rotary Foundation (2016) Fellowship, Higher Education Academy (UK) (2020) Executive Advisory Board Member, Bravehearts (2015) Professor Curley has supervised numerous PhD students across diverse topics including Southeast Asian politics, civil society governance, human trafficking, health systems, and international law. Her research has been supported by funding including a UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund for her project 'Governance, Sovereignty and Civil Society: The Emergence of Civil Society in Cambodia Post-UNTAC' (2006-2007). She co-facilitated the UQ Working Group on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling in the T.C Bernie School of Law from 2012-2016. Dr. Curley maintains active engagement with non-academic organizations including Bravehearts, an Australian not-for-profit organization focused on child protection, and The Rotary Foundation. Her work bridges academic research with practical policy applications, particularly in the areas of human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and non-traditional security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.
Stine Eckert is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Wayne State University's College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts in Detroit. She serves as Editor of the bilingual open access journal Journalism Research/Journalistik and is Co-Principal Investigator on the NSF ADVANCE grant WSU-GEARS (Gender Equity Advances Retention in STEM, 2020-2024). Additionally, she chairs the Helen Award Committee for Emerging Feminist Scholarship of the Feminist Scholarship Division of the International Communication Association. Eckert earned her Ph.D. in Journalism Studies from the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism, an M.S. in Journalism from Ohio University, a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies from the University of Maryland, and her undergraduate equivalent in Journalism, Communication and Media Studies, and American Studies from Universität Leipzig. Her research spans journalism studies, gender media studies, new media, marginalized groups, public spheres and democracy, and online harassment . Eckert's work demonstrates a consistent commitment to intersectional feminist approaches to media scholarship, with particular attention to gender equity in both media content and newsroom structures. Recent projects examine feminist responses to Big Data/AI, the #MeToo movement in academia, and women's leadership in journalism. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trajectory connecting feminist media scholarship with practical interventions in STEM equity and digital literacy. Her work increasingly bridges academic research with community engagement, particularly through initiatives like the Wikid GRRLs project that teach online skills to teenage girls. Chair, Helen Award Committee for Emerging Feminist Scholarship Co-PI, NSF ADVANCE grant WSU-GEARS (2020-2024) Editor, Journalism Research/Journalistik Eckert leads the Wikid GRRLs project, which teaches online skills to teenage girls in Detroit Public Schools with the goal of addressing Wikipedia's gender gap. Through this initiative, she has supervised numerous Wayne State University honors students who have reflected on the transformative impact of teaching middle school girls about internet safety, digital content creation, and Wikipedia editing. Her NSF GEARS project represents a significant institutional effort to advance gender equity in STEM fields at Wayne State University.
Dr. Marleigh Hefner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Texas Tech University, where she leads the Integrative Nutrition and Cardiometabolic Health (INCH) Laboratory. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) since 2021, she combines clinical practice in intensive care unit nutrition with translational research on metabolic health. 2024 – PhD, Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University 2024 – MS, Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University 2020 – BS, Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Texas Tech University Dr. Hefner’s research bridges nutrition and metabolic health, prioritizing hormonal and genetic regulation of metabolism. Her work explores dietary interventions for obesity-related conditions like MASLD, body composition optimization during pharmacological obesity treatment, and sexual dimorphism in disease progression. She emphasizes methodological rigor in clinical trials and translational approaches to redefine obesity management paradigms. The 2021–2025 publications highlight her contributions to obesity (dietary interventions, pharmacological approaches), Alzheimer’s disease (amyloid beta, cardiometabolic factors), and translational research methodology (cluster trial analysis). Articles reflect a trend toward evidence-based, interdisciplinary strategies for metabolic and neurodegenerative conditions. Dr. Hefner is certified as a Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian (LD), and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC). She mentors dietetics students through her INCH Laboratory, integrating clinical practice and scientific rigor.
Dr. Michalis Stylianou is a Senior Lecturer at The University of Queensland's School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences. He is also an Associate Member of the Centre for Community Health and Wellbeing and an Affiliate of the Centre for Sport and Society. His academic work focuses on creating active and healthy school environments through comprehensive approaches that engage school staff, parents, and the broader community. Stylianou's research interests center on physical activity in schools, health and physical education, and school-based interventions. His work often examines how movement and physical activity impact educational outcomes, classroom engagement, and children's overall wellbeing. He has developed expertise in before-school physical activity programs, high-intensity interval training in educational settings, and comprehensive school physical activity programs. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on physical activity interventions across various populations including university students, LGBTQA+ youth, autistic children, and Australian adolescents. The research employs diverse methodologies including systematic reviews, qualitative investigations, and mixed-methods approaches to understand movement behaviors and their relationship to educational outcomes. Stylianou actively contributes to the Active Healthy Kids Australia research working group, which uses the Physical Activity Report Card for Children and Young People as a core monitoring metric to advocate for increased physical activity among Australian children. As a supervisor, he guides multiple PhD candidates researching topics including feedback in physical education, physical activity and wellbeing in teachers, and interventions for children with autism. His former students have completed doctoral work on before-school physical activity and high-intensity interval training interventions. His collaborative approach is evident in his numerous co-authored publications across multiple institutions, demonstrating his commitment to interdisciplinary research that bridges education, health sciences, and community practice.
Maria Veronica Elias is an Associate Professor of Public Administration at the College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), specializing in border governance and public administration theory. Education: Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Public Affairs, The University of Akron, 2008 M.A. in Geography and Urban Planning, The University of Akron, 2003 Graduate Certificate in Management and Preservation of Natural Areas, The International University of Andalusia, 1999 B.A. in Geography, The National University of the South, Argentina, 2000 Research Interests: Her work critically examines public administration epistemology through borderland governance frameworks, focusing on street-level bureaucrats' responses to political pressures in Latin America and human rights claiming at the U.S.-Mexico border. She employs interpretive methodologies drawing on Foucault and Habermas to analyze how nonprofit organizations navigate white supremacy culture while serving marginalized communities. Publication Trends: Her 2023-2025 publications reveal three dominant trajectories: (1) border governance during crises (e.g., COVID-19 migration management), (2) interorganizational dynamics in asylum seeker care, and (3) critical examinations of power structures in social service organizations. These works consistently bridge theoretical public administration with practical human rights advocacy. Scientific Awards: International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior/Literati Awards-Outstanding Paper Awards (2021) Advising and Grants: No specific student advising records or grant funding details were documented in the source materials, though her extensive conference presentations indicate active scholarly collaboration.
Jenny Harlock is an Associate Professor at the University of Warwick's Warwick Medical School, specializing in Health Sciences. Her research focuses on health and social care policy, with expertise in qualitative and mixed methods. She has held academic positions at the University of Birmingham and University of Oxford. Research Interests: Adult social care and community health Sexual violence survivor support Homelessness and marginalized populations Emergency care treatment planning (ReSPECT evaluation) Voluntary sector engagement in healthcare Service decommissioning and integration Selected Article Trends: Recent publications address sexual violence services (PROSPER study), emergency care planning in care homes (ReSPECT), Nigerian lay consultation networks, and social prescribing evaluation. Methodologically, she emphasizes stakeholder engagement and mixed-methods approaches. Scientific Contributions: NIHR-funded ReSPECT evaluation (2023-2028) NIHR-funded sexual violence services study (2019-2022) Collaborative projects with voluntary sector organizations Decommissioning research cited in Parliamentary reports Harlock actively promotes practitioner and public engagement in research, particularly within the voluntary and community sector. Her work has influenced end-of-life care policy through the ReSPECT evaluation findings.
