Dr. Christine Matzke is a Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Bayreuth's Faculty of Languages and Literatures. She joined in 2011 after teaching at Goethe-University Frankfurt and Humboldt-Universität Berlin. Her research focuses on African theatre (especially Eritrean), postcolonial crime fiction, and medical humanities. She has held editorial roles for African Theatre and Matatu , and is active in academic societies like AfTA and IFTR. Her academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Leeds (2003) and studies at Goethe-University and Queen Mary, University of London. She has authored/co-edited volumes on African theatre history, crime fiction, and diaspora studies. Recent works include entries in Kindlers Literatur Lexikon and co-editing African Theatre 19: Opera & Music Theatre (2020). Research interests span Eritrean performing arts, Shakespeare adaptations, and transnational cultural studies. She collaborates internationally on projects like analyzing a 1960s German-Nigerian TV production. Her publications reflect interdisciplinary engagement with theatre historiography, colonial legacies, and performance in conflict zones.
Professor Robert Esser holds the Chair of German, European and International Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law and White-Collar Crime at the University of Passau's Faculty of Law since 2007. He heads the Human Rights in Criminal Proceedings (HRCP) Research Center, which he founded in 2010 as a specialized research and advanced training center for international human rights protection in criminal proceedings. His research focuses on the systematization of European Court of Human Rights adjudication and UN human rights committees' decision-making practices within criminal law contexts. Professor Esser specializes in developing minimum standards for criminal law proceedings based on the European Convention on Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, with particular emphasis on East and Southeast Asian jurisdictions including China, Japan, Nepal, Taiwan, and Vietnam. His scholarly work demonstrates consistent trends in transnational criminal justice, with publications spanning human rights protection in policing, European Public Prosecutor's Office challenges, asset forfeiture reform, and media relations in criminal proceedings. His research bridges theoretical legal scholarship with practical implementation in diverse legal systems across Europe and Asia. Professor Esser organizes interdisciplinary guest lectures, expert conferences, workshops, and continuing education events on human rights protection for judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and criminal defense attorneys. His work includes significant international policy advice and capacity building, particularly in Nepal and Vietnam where he has led multi-stakeholder cooperation projects. His research activities include: analysis of ECHR and UN Human Rights Committee decisions (since 2007), European Public Prosecutor's Office research (since 2021), transnational recognition of government decisions research network (2021-2025), Criminalization of Torture in Nepal project (2019-2023), German-Taiwanese Criminal Law Forum (biennial conference), and reform of criminal law in Vietnam (since 2011).
Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of BonnGermany
Karin Peters is a Full Professor of Romance Literature and Cultural Studies with a Focus on Ibero-Romania at the University of Bonn since 2023. Her academic journey includes a habilitation at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (2021-2022), a doctorate from LMU Munich (2010), and a Magister Artium from the same institution (2006). Her research spans transnational literary history, affect theory, pastoral poetry, and intersections of gender and politics in Spanish and Argentinian literatures. Key projects include co-editing The Face as Scene. Virtuality and Embodiment of Affect and leading the network 'Comic Literacies. Cultural Techniques of the Comic' at KWI Essen. She has supervised doctoral work on Iberoamerican Baroque theater and published extensively on Roland Barthes, Georges Bataille, and contemporary Latin American narratives. Her recent publications analyze the European myth of the emotional subject, pastoral masks in Cervantes, and affective economies in 18th-century literature. She has received scholarships from DAAD, Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, and e-fellows.net, and actively contributes to academic organizations including the Romanistenverband and the Bonn Center for Dependency Studies.
Christopher Hernandez-Roy serves as a senior fellow and deputy director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., while maintaining an academic affiliation as an affiliated practitioner at James Madison University's Department of Political Science. His research focuses on democratic backsliding, transnational organized crime, geopolitics, and economic and national security issues across the Western Hemisphere including North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Dr. Hernandez-Roy's educational background includes: BA honors degree in history from Carleton University MPhil in international relations from the University of Cambridge His research portfolio demonstrates deep expertise in monitoring democratic governance challenges throughout the Americas, analyzing transnational criminal networks, and assessing geopolitical competition in the region. Hernandez-Roy has developed specialized knowledge in U.S.-Latin American relations, with particular attention to how great power competition—especially China's expanding influence through legitimate and criminal channels—affects regional stability. His work consistently examines the intersection of security, governance, and economic policy in the hemisphere, with recent emphasis on trade dynamics, democratic resilience, and transnational security threats. Analysis of his publication history reveals growing concern about China and Russia's military diplomacy in Latin America, the impact of U.S. trade policies on North American integration, and the evolving challenges of transnational crime affecting hemispheric security. His research demonstrates how democratic backsliding, corruption, and organized crime intersect to undermine regional stability and U.S. interests. Hernandez-Roy's practical policy experience is substantial: Served as first director of the Department of Public Security at the OAS Led the Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions at the OAS Documented human rights abuses in Venezuela and co-led ICC case efforts Oversaw OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia Negotiated anti-corruption missions in Honduras Resolved border disputes between multiple Central American nations Early in his career, Hernandez-Roy worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, providing foundational security expertise. His policy insights are frequently sought by major media outlets including CBS, CTV, CBC, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and New York Times, and he has testified before Congress on Western Hemisphere affairs. His work bridges academic analysis and practical policy implementation through his dual roles at CSIS and James Madison University.
André Beckershoff is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the European Research Center on Contemporary Taiwan (ERCCT) at the University of Tübingen's Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences . His research spans political economy , social movements , migration/labor studies , and Cross-Strait relations , with a focus on Taiwan's role in global semiconductor supply chains and transnational political dynamics . He received his PhD from the University of Tübingen and previously studied in Münster and Toulouse.
Prof. Dr. Theresa Reinold is a Junior Professor for Global and Transnational Cooperation Research at the Institute of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Duisburg-Essen. Her work focuses on international law, global governance, and transnational cooperation, with particular attention to anti-impunity mechanisms, rule of law, and sovereignty issues. Dr. Reinold's research interests span international law, global governance, human rights, and transnational cooperation. She has extensively examined hybrid governance structures, particularly anti-impunity commissions in Central America and Africa. Her work explores how international organizations can be held accountable, the role of subsidiarity in global governance, and the complex relationship between sovereignty and international legal norms. She has also investigated civil society participation in regional integration processes across Africa. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on the intersection of international law and domestic politics, particularly regarding anti-impunity mechanisms. She has analyzed the Comisión Internacional contra la Impunidad en Guatemala (CICIG), examined rule of law challenges in Central America, and explored accountability mechanisms for international organizations. Her work also addresses organized crime issues in Germany, particularly concerning the Mafia's transnational operations. Dr. Reinold leads a research team including Laura Isabella Brunke, Jannis Saalfeld, Ramin Asadi, and Karin Teuchler. She is actively engaged with the International Criminal Court Forum as an invited expert on legal traditions, contributing to discussions about incorporating non-Western legal perspectives into international criminal law.
Dolf-Alexander Neuhaus serves as a senior research fellow at the German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ) since February 2024, specializing in the research field 'Japan in transregional perspective.' His academic foundation includes advanced degrees in Japanese Studies and History from Freie Universität Berlin, where he completed his doctoral work on transnational networks in East Asia. His educational trajectory features: Master's degree in Japanese Studies and History, Freie Universität Berlin PhD in History (2022), Freie Universität Berlin, with thesis 'Entangled Asia: Korean Exchange Students and Japanese Protestants, 1880-1923' Neuhaus investigates modern Japanese and Korean history through the lens of transregional entanglements, focusing on educational exchanges, Christian missionary networks, and postcolonial dynamics. His current DIJ research examines Japanese development aid projects and the adaptation of technical education systems across Asia, contextualized within Cold War and post-Cold War discursive shifts regarding Asia. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals consistent interdisciplinary engagement with East Asian historical networks, particularly examining intersections of religion, education, and political movements. His work bridges diplomatic history, religious studies, and postcolonial theory while maintaining empirical focus on Korean-Japanese interactions and international organizations. Key scholarly recognition includes: DAAD Scholarship supporting research at Tokyo University and Tsukuba University TIFO Scholarship enabling archival work at Yonsei University (Seoul) Neuhaus has secured competitive research funding that facilitated multiple long-term academic stays in Japan and Korea during his doctoral studies. He actively contributes to DIJ's collaborative research environment through projects analyzing transnational actors in East Asian independence movements and Japan's postwar technical assistance frameworks. He currently participates in DIJ's core research initiatives 'Transregional actors across East Asia: Christianity, education, and independence movements' and 'Transforming Empire: Japanese technical assistance and education in postwar Asia,' building upon prior involvement in the Carl Schmitt Reading Group that explored geopolitical thought in East Asian contexts.
Ingrid Hotz-Davies is Professor of English Literature and Gender Studies at the English Seminar, Philosophische Fakultät, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. She has held this position since 2001 and leads a dynamic research environment focused on gender, queer theory, early modern literature, and cultural narratives. She is actively involved in multiple academic programs and leadership roles, including co-directing the Tübingen Center for Gender and Diversity Studies and serving as the Gender Equality Representative for academic staff and students. Her academic journey includes a PhD from Dalhousie University (Canada), an MA/State Examination from the University of Munich, and a habilitation completed in Munich in 2000. Her research interests include Gender/Queer Studies, Women’s Literature from the Renaissance to the present, Early Modern Prose, and the dynamics of censorship and identity formation. She has organized numerous seminars on topics such as queer theory, camp aesthetics, postmodern realism, and the cultural construction of heterosexuality. Her work bridges literary analysis with philosophical, psychoanalytic, and sociopolitical inquiry. The recent publications analyzed reflect a consistent engagement with gender performativity, camp aesthetics, closet narratives, and the intersections of literature with psychoanalysis, religion, and political power. Her scholarship spans from Renaissance texts to contemporary science fiction, demonstrating a broad and interdisciplinary reach. Gender Equality Representative, University of Tübingen (since Nov. 2023) Academic Coordinator, Erasmus Mundus MA Program 'Crossway in Cultural Narratives' (since 2017) Co-Director, Tübingen Center for Gender and Diversity Studies (since 2013) Equal Opportunities Officer, University of Tübingen (2014–present; also 2002–2006) Academic Coordinator, Erasmus Mundus Doctoral Program 'Cultural Studies in Literary Interzones' (2010–2018) She supervises a diverse group of PhD candidates working on topics such as precariousness in Jean Rhys, polymigrant imagination, feminist speculative fiction, posthuman weird fiction, and the representation of subaltern female workers. Her mentorship extends into interdisciplinary research involving affect theory, postcolonial studies, and identity politics. While no direct mention of funding grants is made, her leadership in international Erasmus Mundus programs implies significant grant acquisition and project management experience. She is affiliated with the English Seminar's research environment and contributes to collaborative projects such as the 'Dark Side of Camp Aesthetics' and 'Naturalization of Gender'. Her work fosters transnational academic exchange and critical inquiry into marginalized voices and cultural border zones.
Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International LawGermany
Mateja Steinbrück Platise is an Honorary Professor at the University of Frankfurt Faculty of Law (since 2025) and Senior Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg (since 2012). Her academic career includes senior lecturing positions at the University of Frankfurt (2017-2024), University of Heidelberg (2013-2017), Université Catholique de Lille (2010-2012), and University of Hamburg (2007-2010), along with a legal officer position at the European Court of Human Rights (2007-2011). Her educational background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Ljubljana (2002-2005), Master of Jurisprudence (MJur) from the University of Oxford (2003-2004), and undergraduate studies at the University of Ljubljana (1993-1998). Additional training includes postgraduate courses at the European University Institute in Florence (2000), Thessaloniki Institute (2001), and United Nations Office in Geneva (2002). Steinbrück Platise specializes in General International Law with particular expertise in Human Rights, International Institutional Law, European Law, International Dispute Settlement, Global Security, and Comparative Public Law. Her research consistently examines the evolving relationship between international organizations and domestic legal systems, focusing on organizational accountability, immunities, and human rights protection mechanisms. She has made significant contributions to understanding the legal frameworks of international bodies like the OSCE and WHO, particularly regarding their responses to contemporary security and health challenges. Her recent publications (2022-2024) demonstrate a strong focus on business and human rights, EU regulatory frameworks, and global health governance, revealing trends toward examining how traditional legal concepts adapt to transnational corporate activities and pandemic responses. These works show increasing attention to implementation gaps between international standards and domestic enforcement, particularly regarding corporate accountability and human rights due diligence. Marie Curie Fellowship of the European Commission (2012) Max Planck Fellowship (2011) DAAD scholarship (2005) Dulverton Scholarship from Oxford University (2003) UN Fellowship for International Law Seminar (2002) Italian Ministry Scholarship for Human Rights Course (2000) As a Senior Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute, Steinbrück Platise leads research on the Responsibility of International Organizations for Human Rights Violations. She has served as commentator for numerous academic projects and regularly presents at major international law conferences. Her teaching portfolio includes courses on International Dispute Settlement, International Human Rights Law, EU Fundamental Rights, and International Organizations at Frankfurt and Heidelberg Universities. She maintains active memberships in the European Society of International Law, American Society of International Law, and German Association for International Law.
Dr. Tobias Berneiser is a Researcher in Romance Literature and Cultural Studies at the University of Siegen, Faculty I. He has been a research assistant since 2019 and currently leads a DFG-funded habilitation project on Republican memory and female revolutionary icons in the context of the Neapolitan Republic of 1799. His work bridges literary analysis, media studies, and cultural memory, with a strong interdisciplinary focus. Research Interests: Cultural Memory and Revolution Gender and Historiography Urban Spaces in Literature Intermediality and Transmediality 19th-Century Italian and French Literature Contemporary European and Latin American Narratives His recent publications span monographs, edited volumes, and numerous articles in journals and anthologies, focusing on themes such as literary obsession, posthumous autofiction, and historical representation in television. The trend in his work shows a consistent engagement with how historical trauma, identity, and memory are mediated through literary and cinematic forms across Romance cultures. Scientific Awards: Reinhard-Kiesler-Preis (2019) for article on Lisbon's literary nautics Dr. Berneiser has secured competitive funding through the DFG and collaborates widely with scholars across Europe. He has organized academic sections, such as on historical icons in Romance television, and contributes to major reference works like the Metzler Lexicon. He has no listed advisees but plays a significant role in academic editing and translation. Labs and Research Groups: He is part of the research team at the Romance Department of the University of Siegen and contributes to interdisciplinary projects on urbanity, war, and memory in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Anja Menzel is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Chair of International Relations at the Otto-Friedrich University Bamberg and a Senior Research Fellow at the SARChI Chair: African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. She is also a Fellow of the Bavarian Science Alliance for Peace, Conflict and Security Research (FoKS). Education: Diploma in Political Science and Adult Education (Otto-Friedrich University Bamberg, 2006–2013) Doctorate in Philosophy (University of Greifswald, 2019; Dissertation: "Sailing the Waters of Institutional Complexity – State-to-State Cooperation on the Combat of Maritime Piracy") Research Focus: Anja Menzel specializes in complex international governance structures , with a focus on ocean governance at the intersection of maritime security , sustainability , and the Blue Economy . Her work explores institutional effectiveness, policy outcomes in maritime regions, and the interplay between security and sustainable development. Publication Trends: Her recent works (2022–2026) emphasize maritime security , institutional complexity , Blue Economy , and global governance . She has contributed to journals like Politics and Governance and edited volumes such as Sustainability and the Sea (2024) and International Institutions (2025). Scientific Awards: Fellow of the Bavarian Science Alliance for Peace, Conflict and Security Research (FoKS) Grants & Projects: Currently involved in International Monitoring without Ratification and Deliberation in the UN Security Council . Previously contributed to projects on UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies, Western democracies' extraterritorial human rights violations, and institutional legitimacy. Labs & Teams: Affiliated with the SARChI Chair: African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy (University of Johannesburg) and the Bavarian Research Alliance for Peace, Conflict and Security Research (FoKS). Actively participates in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) project, guiding student delegations to international conferences.
Dr. Kalika Mehta is a Lecturer and Researcher in Law at the Centre for British Studies, Humboldt University of Berlin. Specializing in international criminal law and international human rights law , her work critically engages with Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) and postcolonial theory. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Hamburg and an LL.M. from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Her research explores corporate complicity in international crimes, leveraging TWAIL frameworks to challenge structural biases in legal systems. Teaching includes courses on Constitutional Law and Political Systems and Advanced Academic Writing and Debating . She supervises MA theses and organizes the GBZ Lunch Talks series. Her publications include a monograph on strategic litigation and corporate accountability (Routledge, 2023) and co-edited collections on counterhegemonic approaches to international law. Professional experience includes roles with human rights organizations in India, Germany, Myanmar, Switzerland, and the UK. Her work bridges legal practice, scholarly critique, and advocacy for marginalized communities.
Dr. Juan Felipe Ortiz-Riomalo is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Environmental Economics, Department 9 - Economics, University of Osnabrück, Germany. He works under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Stefanie Engel and is actively involved in research on participatory governance, collective action, and pro-social behavior in natural resource management. His research integrates insights from environmental economics, political economy, institutional analysis, and behavioral science. His research interests include: Participatory governance in environmental policy Collective action and cooperation in social dilemmas Behavioral mechanisms in natural resource management Institutional design for socio-ecological systems Economic experiments (lab and field) to study policy interventions Political economy of environmental conflicts, particularly in Latin America His recent publications reveal a strong trend in using integrative frameworks such as IAD, NAS, and SES to analyze participatory interventions. His work combines theoretical modeling with empirical validation through experiments and case studies, focusing on how communication, perspective-taking, and participatory processes can foster cooperation and sustainable outcomes. Much of his fieldwork is conducted in Colombia and Peru, reflecting a deep engagement with socio-ecological challenges in the Global South. His scientific contributions include multiple peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals such as Journal of Environmental Economics and Management , Sustainability Science , and World Development , as well as book chapters and policy guidelines. He has been involved in several funded research projects, including a DFG-funded project on participatory vision building and initiatives supported by USAID, GIZ, and Universidad de los Andes. Dr. Ortiz-Riomalo advises on methodological design and has coordinated multi-stakeholder workshops in Peru and Colombia. He has not supervised formal students yet, but has played key roles in collaborative research teams. He is also a contributing author to methodological assessments on the values of nature, demonstrating engagement with interdisciplinary policy-relevant science. He is affiliated with research centers including the Institute for Environmental Systems Research at the University of Osnabrück and has collaborated with the Institute for Nature, Earth, and Energy (INTE) at Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP). His work often involves transdisciplinary teams and international partnerships, particularly with scholars from Colombia and Germany.
Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and LawGermany
Benjamin Vogel is a Senior Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, specializing in criminal law theory and comparative law. He leads research groups on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing, focusing on corporate roles in crime detection and supranational crime responses. Education: Law studies at Universities of Potsdam, Paris X, and Cambridge (LL.M.); German Academic Scholarship Foundation-sponsored PhD on fraud law Career: Clerkship at Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court, head of English Criminal Law section since 2013 Research emphasizes culpability concepts, private-sector involvement in criminal justice, and globalized crime networks. Current projects examine public-private partnerships against terrorism financing and the role of corporations in criminal proceedings. He oversees a postdoctoral research group and has collaborated with UN and diplomatic missions in Africa/Asia. No specific awards are listed, but his work bridges doctrinal and socio-legal perspectives.
Prof. Lorena Bachmaier is a Full Professor of Law at the Complutense University of Madrid, where she has taught since 2009. She holds a PhD in Law (1994) and a degree in Political Science (1989) from the same university, awarded the best doctoral thesis in public law in 1994. Her expertise spans criminal procedure, civil procedure, justice systems, and comparative law, with a focus on human rights, transnational organized crime, and rule of law reforms in Eastern Europe. She has held visiting roles at Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford, and the Max Planck Institute, and is an Honorary Professor at the University of La Rioja (Argentina). Notable awards include the Luis Portero Award (2015) and an Honorary Doctorate from San Pedro University (2015). As Chair of the Council of Europe’s Working Group on Transnational Organized Crime (2013–present), she advises on international legal frameworks. Prof. Bachmaier’s international engagements include teaching at Saint Louis University’s Madrid Campus and serving as an expert in criminal justice reforms across Europe and Latin America. Her research bridges comparative law, human rights, and transnational legal challenges.
