Find Academic Supervisors

Christopher Rea is a Professor of Modern Chinese Literature in the Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Arts. He serves as a faculty member and former Associate Head of the Department of Asian Studies, former Director of the Centre for Chinese Research, an associate of the Hong Kong Studies Initiative, and a Faculty Fellow of St. John's College. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. from Columbia University (2008) and a B.A. from Dartmouth College (1999). Rea's research focuses on the modern Chinese-speaking world, with particular expertise in Chinese literature, cinema, print culture, translation, and the cultural history of humor and deception. His scholarly approach bridges literary analysis, cultural history, and film studies, creating a distinctive interdisciplinary perspective on modern Chinese cultural production. He is particularly known for his work on Republican-era China (1912-1949), exploring how cultural forms evolved during this transformative period. His major publications reveal a trajectory from studies of humor and laughter in modern China ( The Age of Irreverence , 2015) to literary hoaxes and deception ( The Book of Swindles , 2017), Chinese cinema ( Chinese Film Classics , 2021), and research methodology ( Where Research Begins , 2022). His current projects include China on the Make: Stories of Chinese Deception and The Unfinished Comedy , a sequel to The Age of Irreverence . National Endowment for the Arts Translation Fellowship (2024) UBC Dean of Arts Mentorship Award (2024) UBC Killam Research Prize (2022) Joseph Levenson Book Prize (2017) Rea actively supervises graduate students and has developed significant digital resources, including the Chinese Film Classics project (chinesefilmclassics.org) featuring 40+ subtitled Chinese films and 22 video lectures, and a YouTube channel with over 250 videos on Chinese cinema and culture. His teaching extends to free online courses on The Modern Chinese Novel and early Chinese cinema, demonstrating his commitment to making scholarly resources accessible beyond traditional academic boundaries.

• Modern Chinese literature
• Cinema and film history
• Cultural history
• +5 more

Christopher Merkner is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of English at the University of Colorado Denver's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His expertise spans the short story, its historical evolution, compressed fiction, and creative writing pedagogy. Education: MFA from University of Florida, PhD from University of Denver Courses Taught: Narrative Form & Theory, Introduction to Creative Writing, Fiction Workshop, Advanced Fiction Workshop, The American Novel, The American Short Story Awards: Recognized in O. Henry Prize Stories and Best American Mystery Stories anthologies His published work The Rise & Fall of the Scandamerican Domestic has been featured in prestigious literary collections, including the W.W. Norton anthology New Micro .

• Short Story
• History of American Short Story
• Compressed Fiction
• +2 more

Adam Johnson is the Phil and Penny Knight Professor of Creative Writing and Professor of English at Stanford University. His work focuses on narrative theory, the novel's development, indigeneity, and speculative fiction. He holds a B.A. in Journalism from Arizona State University (1992), M.A. and M.F.A. in English and Creative Writing from McNeese State University (1996), and a Ph.D. in English from Florida State University (2000). Education: B.A., Journalism, Arizona State University (1992) M.A., English, McNeese State University (1996) M.F.A., Creative Writing (Fiction), McNeese State University (1996) Ph.D., English, Florida State University (2000) Johnson’s research explores themes such as oral tradition, counter-narrative, and trauma theory. His acclaimed works include Fortune Smiles (National Book Award) and The Orphan Master’s Son (Pulitzer Prize). His stories appear in prestigious journals like Esquire , Harper’s , and The Paris Review . Awards: National Book Award (2015) Pulitzer Prize (2013) Whiting Award Guggenheim Fellowship No advising or grant information is provided. He is affiliated with Stanford’s Creative Writing program and identifies as an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

• Creative Writing
• Fiction
• Narrative Theory
• +6 more

Rashmi Varma is a Professor at the University of Warwick, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts. She has previously taught at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi. Education: BA in English (Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi MA in English Literature from University of Delhi PhD in English and Women’s Studies from University of Illinois at Chicago Research interests: Varma specializes in the postcolonial city, postcolonial Indian and African theory, global feminism, representations of indigeneity, and world literature theory. Her work interrogates urban political ecologies, feminist pedagogy, and subaltern politics. Scientific awards: British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship (2011-2012) for Modern Tribal: Representing Indigeneity in Postcolonial India Supervision: She currently supervises PhD students Angel Maria Varghese, Shavena Malvika Nair (Chancellor's International Scholar), Ragesree Roy, and Archana Vinod (Chancellor's International Scholar). Collaborations: Varma co-edited journals like Feminist Dissent and special issues on transnational feminism, urban political ecologies, and postcolonial theory. She was involved in the Tate Exchange workshop on 'Production, Truth and Justice' (2021).

• Postcolonial Studies
• Urban Studies
• Global Feminism
• +5 more

Laura Maria Lojo Rodriguez is a Professor in the Department of English and German Philology at the University of Santiago de Compostela , specializing in British literature and modernist/postmodernist fiction. She leads the Discourse and Identity research group (GI DI-1924), focusing on English language, literature, and culture through interdisciplinary frameworks. Her work intersects with the Humanities Research Institute (iHUS) . Her research spans: Gender and identity in Woolfian studies Migration narratives in contemporary short fiction Postcolonial themes in British-Irish literature Ecocritical and posthuman anxieties in Johnson's works Recent publications examine border politics, maternal discourses, and cross-cultural literary bonds. She has also contributed to translation studies, particularly Woolf's Spanish reception. Her academic output bridges literary theory with socio-political analysis.

• British Literature
• Postcolonial Studies
• Gender and Identity in Modernist/Postmodernist Fiction
• +4 more

Prof. Yan Lianke (born 1958) is a renowned contemporary Chinese writer and academic. He currently holds the IAS Sin Wai Kin Professor of Chinese Culture at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and serves as Professor at the School of Liberal Arts of Renmin University of China. His work spans novels, short stories, and literary theory, often exploring political, historical, and social themes through a critical lens. Education: BA in Political Education (Henan University, 1985), MA in Literature (PLA Academy of Art, 1991) Awards: Lu Xun Literature Prizes, Franz Kafka Prize, Newman Prize, and international recognition for his humanistic and socially conscious writing Yan’s research and writing focus on the intersection of literature, memory, and truth-telling in authoritarian contexts. His theoretical work, such as the 2020 lecture On Memory , critiques the erasure of personal and collective recollection in modern China. His novels, including Four Books and Dreams of Ding Village , are celebrated for their allegorical depth and spiritual realism. Scientific awards and honors include: 2014 Franz Kafka Prize (first Chinese recipient) 2017 Dream of the Red Chamber Award 2021 Newman Prize for Chinese Literature 2022 Lee Hochul Prize for Peace 2024 Nebula Award for Contribution to Global Chinese Literature Yan’s teaching and creative writing programs at HKUST and Renmin University emphasize the ethical role of literature in documenting human experiences and challenging historical amnesia. His work has been translated into over 30 languages, with more than 150 foreign publications.

• Chinese Literature
• Creative Writing
• Literary Theory
• +8 more

Julie Rak is the HM Tory Chair and Professor in the Department of English and Film Studies at the University of Alberta. She holds a BA and PhD from McMaster University and an MA from Carleton University. Her research focuses on auto/biography, life writing, and nonfiction in North America, with specialties in gender, Canadian literature, and publishing studies. She has authored or co-edited numerous books, including False Summit: Gender in Mountaineering Nonfiction (2021) and The Routledge Introduction to Auto/biography in Canada (2023). Rak’s academic roles include interim Chair of the EFS Department (2023–2024) and leadership in the Stories of Change research group. She has received prestigious awards such as the J. Gordin Kaplan Award (2023) and the Killam Annual Professorship (2017–2018). Her research explores marginalized narratives, including Inuit literature and digital life writing, with a commitment to inclusivity and community engagement. Her teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses on autobiography, gender theory, and Canadian literature. She actively supervises research projects and supports student initiatives like the Roger Smith Undergraduate Research Award. Rak’s work bridges academic rigor with public scholarship, with over 90 media engagements. Education: PhD in English, McMaster University MA in Canadian Studies, Carleton University BA in English, McMaster University Grants & Projects: SSHRC Insight Grant for Government Agents, Literary Agents: Inuit Books and Government Intervention, 1968–1985 Leadership in the Stories of Change initiative Awards & Honors: Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2022) Henry Marshall Tory Chair (2019–2025) 2024 Visiting Professor at Merton College, Oxford

• Life Writing
• Autobiography
• Diaries and Journals
• +9 more

Olivia Badoi is a faculty member in the Department of English at Saint Louis University-Madrid. She holds a Ph.D. in English from Fordham University and contributes to the academic mission through teaching and research in modernist studies, graphic narratives, and ecocriticism. Education: Ph.D. in English, Fordham University M.A. in English, Wroclaw University B.A. in American Studies, University of Bucharest Dr. Badoi's research lies at the intersection of modernist literature, visual culture, and environmental thought. Her work explores how wordless narratives, particularly woodcut novels, engage with ecological themes and nonhuman agency. She introduces the concept of arboreal modernism to describe how trees and forests serve as structural and symbolic models in modernist art. Her scholarship spans ecocriticism, feminist modernism, adaptation studies, and the representation of animals and nature in media. She is currently completing her first book, Arboreal Modernism and the Woodcut Book , under contract. Her recent publications and conference presentations reveal a strong interdisciplinary trajectory, combining literary analysis with visual culture, environmental philosophy, and translation studies. Themes such as deep time, materiality, liminality, and nonverbal communication recur across her work, reflecting a sustained engagement with the boundaries between human and nonhuman, word and image, nature and culture. Scientific Awards: No scientific awards listed in the provided text. Dr. Badoi actively contributes to academic discourse through peer-reviewed publications and international conference presentations. While specific grant funding is not mentioned, her book contract and scholarly output indicate a robust research profile. She mentors students through her academic role, though no named advisees are listed. Her work is supported by her affiliation with Saint Louis University-Madrid, where she participates in scholarly events such as the Landscape, Narrative, and Deep Time conference. She is associated with academic teams and initiatives focused on modernism, adaptation, and environmental humanities, as evidenced by her conference organization and participation.

• Visual and Literary Modernism
• Graphic Narrative Studies
• Ecocriticism
• +5 more

Niklas Salmose is a Professor at the Department of Languages , Linnaeus University , Sweden. His research integrates Nostalgia , Intermediality , and Ecocriticism , focusing on Environmental Humanities and Modernist Literature . PhD in English from the University of Edinburgh (2012) Visiting Professor at UCLA (Autumn 2018) Vice-Chair of Department of Languages (Linnaeus University) Co-coordinator of the graduate school MIDWorld (Swedish Research Council-funded) His recent work explores the intersection of Climate Crisis and Intermediality through monographs like Mediations of Nostalgia: Aesthetics, Intermediality, Ecology (Edinburgh UP, 2024). He co-edits special issues on Ecological Emergencies and Blue-Eco Stories with journals Humanities and Textus . Salmose supervises four PhD projects on topics ranging from Intermedial Ecocriticism to Western Imperialism and Nostalgic Aesthetics . He is a member of the Linnaeus University Centre for Intermedial and Multimodal Studies and leads projects like Future Food Cultures in the Anthropocene and IMS Green . His publications span Climate Crisis , Anthropocene , Nordic Noir , and Sensorial Aesthetics , with notable works in The Palgrave Handbook of Intermediality , The Routledge Handbook of Nostalgia , and Contemporary Ecocritical Methods . Salmose is actively involved in editorial boards for Humanities and Text Matters , and serves on the executive board of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Society .

• Nostalgia
• Intermediality
• Ecocriticism
• +6 more

Dr. Michele Shaul serves as Professor of Spanish and Chair of the World Languages Department at Queens University of Charlotte, where she also directs the Center for Latino Studies. A dedicated scholar and educator, she co-founded the e-journal Label Me Latina/o and leads community-focused initiatives bridging academia and social outreach. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Spanish-American Literature from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill M.A. in Spanish from the University of Florida, Gainesville B.A. with honors in Spanish from the University of Florida, Gainesville Dr. Shaul's research interrogates Latinx identity through literary criticism, translation, and creative writing, emphasizing intersectional experiences of race, gender, and disability within U.S. institutions. Her work actively challenges monolithic narratives while centering marginalized voices in both scholarly and artistic contexts. Analysis of her recent publications (2016-2023) reveals a cohesive trajectory exploring bilingual expression, cultural memory, and systemic inequity. Edited volumes on Latinx literature in Spanish and theater demonstrate scholarly rigor, while creative works like poetry and short stories employ personal narrative to examine reincarnation, hybrid identity, and border-crossing experiences. Her contributions have earned significant recognition: Queens’ 2016 Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award for pedagogical excellence 2023 Con A de Arte Award from the Latin American Coalition for cultural leadership Through the student/faculty Latino Studies Project, Dr. Shaul mentors researchers documenting Charlotte's Latino community history while collaborating with artists on tolerance-focused initiatives. Her editorial work with international scholars demonstrates sustained commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices across academic and creative domains. Dr. Shaul co-leads the e-journal Label Me Latina/o and directs the Latino Studies Project, fostering collaborative research between students, faculty, and Charlotte's Latino community. Her social outreach partnerships integrate art installations and performance to address diversity through experiential learning and public engagement.

• Latinx Literature
• Spanish-American Literature
• Translation Studies
• +3 more

Filipa Melo Lopes is a Lecturer in Social and Political Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, affiliated with the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. She currently directs the Scottish Feminist Philosophy Network. Her research focuses on feminist philosophy, social theory, sexual ethics, and the work of Simone de Beauvoir, with recent attention to incel extremism, fashion ethics, and gender-based violence. Education: B.A. from Simon Fraser University (Canada), Ph.D. from University of Michigan (USA). Teaching includes undergraduate courses like 'Advanced Topics in Feminist Philosophy: Gender and Beauty' and PhD supervision in feminist ethics and political theory. She has supervised several doctoral students, including Lilith W. Lee (now Assistant Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam). Publications analyze themes such as misogynistic dehumanization, feminist fashion ethics, and Beauvoirian critiques of incel ideology. Her work bridges academic philosophy with public discourse on topics like sugar dating and incel violence. Active in feminist knowledge networks, she also writes for broader audiences on fashion, misogyny, and cultural criticism.

• Feminist Philosophy
• Social Theory
• Sexual Ethics
• +4 more

Sujatha Fernandes is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Sydney, joining in 2016. Previously, she held positions at Queens College and the City University of New York’s Graduate Center, and was a Wilson-Cotsen Fellow at Princeton University. She earned a PhD in Political Science from the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on social and labor movements, global Black cultures, migrant workers, and anti-Blackness in the Americas. She has authored six books, including The Cuban Hustle (2020) and Curated Stories (2017), and her work explores storytelling, climate justice, and marginalized communities. Dr. Fernandes has received grants such as the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Project (2021) and contributed to initiatives like the Racial Justice and the Curriculum Project at the University of Sydney. She has been featured in global media, including The New York Times , NPR , and Orion Magazine . Her writing spans academic articles, creative nonfiction, and op-eds addressing climate displacement, migrant rights, and cultural policy. Notable works include analyses of Venezuela’s urban movements, Cuba’s cultural politics, and domestic worker advocacy. She sits on the editorial board of Transition: The Magazine of Africa and the Diaspora . Her interdisciplinary approach bridges sociology, anthropology, and literature, with ongoing projects in climate fiction and interlinked short stories.

• Social and Labour Movements
• Participatory Media and Art
• Global Black Cultures
• +6 more

Zoe Goldstein is an Amro Lecturer in Postcolonial and Environmental Literature at Stanford University. She holds a PhD in English from CUNY Graduate Center (2024), an MFA in Creative Writing from NYU (2016), and a BA in English from UCLA (2014). Her research focuses on intersections of waste, queerness, and post-1945 anti-colonial literature and practice, particularly in challenging capitalist hierarchies of matter through reclamation of discarded spaces. Her work spans academic criticism and creative projects including a poetry manuscript and short story collection. Key publications include Void Ecologies: Resistance, Commoning and Pleasure in the Discard Space (2024 dissertation) and articles in The Radical History Review and Digital China . Supported by the Futures Initiative and recipient of the Jane Marcus Award, her interdisciplinary research bridges environmental humanities, postcolonial studies, and queer theory. Goldstein's academic contributions emphasize activist interventions in marginalized geographies and the transformative potential of creative writing to confront ecological crises.

• Environmental Humanities
• Postcolonial Literature
• Gender and Sexuality Studies
• +3 more

Melissa McCormick, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Japanese Art and Culture at Harvard University, holds a Ph.D. in Japanese Art History from Princeton University (2000) and a B.A. in art history and Japanese from the University of Michigan (1990). She has taught at Columbia University as the Atsumi Assistant Professor of Japanese Art (2000-05) and at Harvard since 2005, where she was promoted to Professor with tenure in 2009. She has held visiting professorships at the University of Zurich and Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil. Education : University of Michigan (B.A.), Princeton University (Ph.D.), Gakushūin University (1996-98) Affiliations : Harvard Art Museums, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NHK Documentaries, Getty Foundation Her research explores the interplay of text and image in Japanese art, focusing on emaki (narrative scrolls), The Tale of Genji , and Buddhist themes. Her 2018 monograph The Tale of Genji: A Visual Companion and 2009 book Tosa Mitsunobu and the Small Scroll in Medieval Japan established new frameworks for analyzing scroll format and narrative. Current projects examine Buddhist nun-artist Ōtagaki Rengetsu and bridal manuscript traditions. Selected articles highlight her work on Hakubyō (ink-line painting), medieval Genji genealogies, and the poetics of chigo (novice) tales. She has contributed to exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Dartmouth College’s Hood Museum. Scientific Awards : Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities (1990) At Harvard, McCormick teaches courses ranging from introductory surveys ( Arts of Japan ) to advanced seminars on gender, tea culture, and museum research. She co-curated the 2019 Tale of Genji exhibition at the Met, which received critical acclaim, and developed an edX course with over 20,000 enrollments. Her consultancy work extends to opera and dance companies, including Japan Society and Asia Society of Texas.

• Japanese Art History
• Visual Storytelling
• Text-Image Relationship
• +7 more

Kathryn Lanouette is an Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences and Science Education at William & Mary’s School of Education. She holds faculty affiliate appointments in the Arts & Sciences (ENSP, IIC). Her research explores place-based pedagogies, emerging technologies, and their roles in fostering joyful, ethical science and data science learning for K-8 students. She collaborates with schools, museums, and youth-serving organizations to design curricula and outdoor learning experiences. Education: Ph.D. in Learning Sciences and Human Development, University of California, Berkeley (2017) M.A. in Museum and Childhood Education, Bank Street Graduate School of Education B.A. in Politics, Oberlin College Research Interests: Lanouette focuses on intersections between emotion, place, and data literacy, emphasizing participatory approaches to environmental and socio-ecological education. Her work bridges theory and practice, advocating for equitable, interdisciplinary STEM+ curricula that connect students to local ecosystems and global challenges. Recent Trends in Publications: Her articles emphasize participatory methodologies (e.g., digital mapping, data storytelling), socio-political dimensions of learning, and ethical frameworks for data science education. Recent work highlights collaborations between educators and community organizations to co-create knowledge about climate change and socio-ecological systems. Awards: Outstanding Short Paper Award (2025), International Society of the Learning Sciences NSF-funded ‘Writing Data Stories’ postdoctoral research (2017–2020) Teaching & Mentorship: Lanouette teaches courses on education research, science pedagogy, and applied conservation sciences. She mentors students through interdisciplinary projects, such as the NSF-funded ‘Writing Data Stories’ initiative and NOAA’s Teacher at Sea program. Labs/Teams: Collaborations include partnerships with UC Berkeley’s Science Education Lab, museums, and K-12 schools to develop place-responsive curricula and community-driven data projects.

• Learning Sciences
• Science Education
• Data Science Education
• +6 more