Gerhard Hirschfeld is an Honorary Professor at the Department of History, University of Stuttgart, and has served as Director of the Bibliothek für Zeitgeschichte since 1989. His research focuses on Social and Cultural History of World War I , Comparative Occupation History of World War II , 20th Century Netherlands History , and Academic Emigration post-1933 . He has been a Fellow of the Netherlands Institute of Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences (1996/1997, 2006/2007) Fellow of the German Historical Institute London and held leadership roles including Chair of the German Committee for the History of WWII (1991–2000) and President of the International Committee for the History of WWII (2000–2010). His publications span monographs, edited volumes, and essays on occupation policies, collaboration, and exile studies. Recent works emphasize the media representation of WWI , continuity of nationalist rhetoric , and ethical dimensions of historical taboos . He contributes to journals like Zeithistorische Forschungen and Tijdschrift voor Geschiedenis . Scientific awards include Fellowships at NIAS and DHIL Editorial leadership in academic series like Zeit der Weltkriege and Schriften der Bibliothek für Zeitgeschichte and advocacy for interdisciplinary war studies.
Dr. Stefanie Burkhardt is a Research Associate at the Department of Religious Studies and Intercultural Theology , University of Münster, since October 2024. She previously served as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Research Coordinator at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (2016–2024) and completed her doctorate in 2022 with a dissertation on Mircea Eliade's dual work in Religious Studies and Literature. Education: PhD (2022, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg), MA in 'Ethics of Textual Cultures' (2013), BA in Religious and German Studies (2012). Research Interests span the intersection of Religion and Literature , Postcolonial Religious Studies , and the Spectral Turn in Cultural Theory . Her work critically examines Eliade's methodologies, the role of African and diasporic narratives in decolonizing the 'spectral turn', and the socio-cultural implications of border crossings in postcolonial contexts. Recent Publications include a monograph on Eliade's literary and academic duality (Brill 2024) and upcoming edited volumes on authenticity in esoteric practices (Brill 2026) and Eliade's entanglements in religious history (Brill 2025). She has contributed to debates on postcolonialism, spectral theory, and Eliade's exoticism in Indian studies. Grants and Projects include participation in the DFG Advanced Study Group 'Alternative Rationalities and Esoteric Practices in Global Perspective' (2023–2024) and leadership in projects on post-Eurocentric cultural theory.
Dr. Harry O. Maier is Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Studies at Vancouver School of Theology since 1994, with ongoing fellowships at the Max Weber Center for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies at the University of Erfurt since 2017. His academic career spans over 25 years with significant contributions to understanding early Christianity within the context of the Roman Empire. His educational background includes a D. Phil from Oxford University (1987), Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Seminary (1989), and B.A. from Pacific Lutheran University (1981). Maier's research focuses on the intersection of New Testament studies, early Christianity, and spatial theory within the Roman Empire. His work examines how early Christian communities navigated urban spaces, constructed religious identity, and engaged with imperial ideologies. He has pioneered approaches that analyze biblical texts through spatial theory, examining how geography, urban structures, and neighborhood dynamics shaped early Christian thought and practice. His research particularly emphasizes the Book of Revelation, the Shepherd of Hermas, and Pauline literature, with attention to how these texts engaged with Roman imperial culture. His scholarly contributions include significant publications such as New Testament Christianity in the Roman World (Oxford University Press, 2018) and Picturing Paul in Empire (Bloomsbury, 2013), which won recognition for their innovative approaches to understanding early Christian texts within their socio-spatial contexts. Canadian Christian Writers Association Award for Best Book in Philosophy and Christian Leadership (2003) for Apocalypse Recalled: The Book of Revelation after Christendom Canadian Corportation of Religion Award for Best Dissertation in Religion (1990) for The Social Setting of the Ministry as Reflected in the Writings of the Shepherd of Hermas, Clement and Ignatius Maier has organized numerous academic conferences including "The Shepherd of Hermas and Religious Experience" (2018), "Religion of Quarters" (2018), and "Locating Martyrs and Space/Time" (2017). He serves on editorial boards for several prestigious publications including as associate editor for the Bryn Mawr Classical Review since 2016 and co-editor of the Christian Religion and Public Life book series since 2020. His external reviewing work includes major academic presses such as Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press. As founder and co-organizer of The Greater Vancouver Biblical Colloquium since 2008, Maier has fostered interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars of biblical studies and related fields. His academic leadership extends to professional societies including the Society of Biblical Literature and the North American Patristics Society.
Dr. Jochen Lingelbach is a Research Associate at the Chair of African History within the Faculty of Cultural Studies at the University of Bayreuth, working in the Cluster of Excellence "Africa multiple. Reconfiguring African Studies" since 2019. He earned his doctorate in 2018 from the Institute of African Studies at the University of Leipzig, where he had previously worked as a doctoral student and research assistant in the DFG Research Training Group "Fracture Zones of Globalization" from 2012-2016. Prior to that, he was a Research Associate at the Centre Marc Bloch in Berlin (2016-2017). His academic background includes studies in Geography and African Studies at the University of Leipzig and the University of Dar es Salaam (2003-2010). Dr. Lingelbach's research focuses on migration history, particularly colonial history (with emphasis on German and British contexts), the history of East Africa (especially Tanzania and Uganda), and the history of refugee camps and international refugee aid organizations. His work demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary approach that bridges historical analysis with contemporary refugee studies. His publication record reveals consistent scholarly output with a clear thematic focus on refugee movements during and after World War II, particularly examining Polish refugees in colonial Africa. His recent work has expanded to include comparative analyses of refugee experiences across different historical periods, including connections to contemporary refugee situations such as the Ukrainian crisis. The publications demonstrate expertise in both European and African historical contexts, with particular attention to the intersections of race, colonial administration, and refugee status. Dr. Lingelbach is actively involved in several academic networks including the Working Group Africa in the Refugee Research Network, the Network for Displaced Persons Research, and AEGIS CRG African Migration, Mobility, and Displacement (AMMODI). His current research project, "Africa in the Global History of Refugee Camps (1940s to 1950s)," builds upon his completed doctoral work on "Polish refugees during and after the Second World War in East and Central Africa," demonstrating a sustained commitment to understanding refugee movements within colonial contexts and their implications for contemporary refugee studies.
Kristine Andra Avram is a Visiting Researcher at the Center for Conflict Research (ZfK) at Philipps University of Marburg, serving as a Post-doctoral fellow in the BMBF project 'Transformations of Political Violence' (2024-2025). Her work bridges peace and conflict studies, narratology, and social sciences with a focus on meaning-making in contexts of political violence and state repression. Her educational background includes a PhD in Political Science (summa cum laude, 2022) from Philipps University of Marburg, an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies (2010-2013) with study abroad at the University of Haifa, and a BA in Communication Science and Romance Studies (2007-2010) from the University of Erfurt, including Erasmus at Complutense University of Madrid. Avram's research examines how narratives shape interpretations of violence, influence reckoning with traumatic pasts, and inform transitional justice efforts. Using interdisciplinary narrative and (auto)ethnographic methods, she reveals storytelling as a site of agency and resistance—both for processing historical violence and envisioning just futures. Her work centers on concepts like responsibility, truth, and hope within post-communist contexts, particularly Romania. Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate methodological innovation in narrative analysis applied to political violence, with increasing attention to researcher positionality and reparative methodologies. Articles span qualitative frameworks, courtroom narratives, postcolonial critiques of peacebuilding, and ethical dimensions of studying violence. Key scientific awards include: Dissertation Award from Südost-europagesellschaft (2023) Honorable Mention from Gert-Sommer-Award for Peace Psychology (2023) Mobility Grant from EISA (2023) Scholarships from MARA, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and University of Haifa She has secured significant research funding including a Fritz Thyssen Foundation grant (2017-2022) as co-applicant and has taught courses on narrative reconstructions of the past at Philipps University Marburg and Goethe University Frankfurt. Her advisory work includes designing memory projects and conflict resolution initiatives with pax christi Rhein-Main. Avram actively collaborates within the Center for Conflict Research's interdisciplinary teams, focusing on political violence, transitional justice, and narrative methodologies in post-communist contexts through projects like 'Ascribing Individual Criminal Responsibility' and 'Transformations of Political Violence'.
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.
Bani Gill is a Junior Professor in Urban Futures of the Global South at the Institute of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Tübingen. She is based in Tübingen, Germany, and her work bridges urban anthropology, migration studies, and postcolonial theory. She has held research affiliations with the University of Oxford, University of Copenhagen, and Utrecht University, reflecting her transnational academic profile. PhD in Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen (2015–2019), funded by the DFF ‘Emerging Worlds’ project MA in Migration and Intercultural Relations, Erasmus Mundus (2011–2013) MA in Modern History, Jawaharlal Nehru University (2008–2010) BA in History, University of Delhi (2005–2008) Her research focuses on South-South migration, particularly the experiences of African migrants in urban India. She explores themes of race, racialization, gender, illegality, and state surveillance through ethnographic methods. Her work critically examines urban governance, migration infrastructures, and the everyday coexistence of marginalized communities in postcolonial cities. She also investigates the transnational trade in human hair between India and Africa, highlighting unexpected connections across the Global South. Her recent publications, including in American Anthropologist and Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies , analyze migrant illegality, proximity, and urban futures. Her co-edited volume Proximity as Method (2024) advances interdisciplinary approaches to coexistence. The articles reflect a consistent focus on ethnographic depth, critical race theory, and the intersection of migration, urban space, and power. Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (2022, to begin 2023) DFF International Postdoctoral Grant (declined, 2022) John Fell Research Fund, University of Oxford (2020–2022) DFF ‘Emerging Worlds’ PhD Scholarship (2015–2018) Erasmus Mundus MA Scholarship (2011–2013) Bani Gill has advised and mentored emerging scholars through her role as editor of Refugee Review and as a member of the Executive Committee of ESPMI. She has secured multiple grants for fieldwork and research, including from Danish and UK-based foundations. Her current work continues to explore the sensory and embodied dimensions of migration, supported by interdisciplinary collaboration and public engagement through policy briefs and podcasts. She is a member of the curatorial board of Majha House, a cultural center in Amritsar, India, and has co-organized academic seminars and workshops on race, migration, and performance at Oxford and Copenhagen. Her research is deeply collaborative, often involving co-authored publications and collective editorial work, reflecting a commitment to building scholarly networks across the Global South.
Prof. Dr. Jan Eckel is a Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at the University of Freiburg . His academic career includes prior professorships at the University of Tübingen (2016-2021) and the University of Cologne (2015-2016). He researches human rights history , transnational politics , and globalization discourses since the late 19th century. Research Focus: Interactions between state/non-state actors, Cold War dynamics, decolonization, and ethical governance frameworks. Grant Involvement: DFG-funded projects, including SFB 923 sub-project on globalization narratives (1990s-2000s). His 15 most recent publications analyze globalization discourses, human rights evolution, and transnational conflict resolution, with keywords spanning 20th-Century History , Political Science , and Conflict Studies . Scientific Awards include the 2024 Opus Magnum Scholarship and multiple honors for historical analysis excellence. He advises seven doctoral students in contemporary history and globalization studies.
Prof. Dr. phil. Dipl. Psych. Ulrike Kluge is a Professor and Head of the Center of Cross-Cultural Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (ZIPP) at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. She concurrently leads the Research Division for Intercultural Migration and Care Research within Social Psychiatry and serves as a Senior Researcher at the Berlin Institute for Integration and Migration Research (Humboldt University). Her work focuses on intercultural mental health services and migration-related psychosocial challenges. Research Focus: Kluge specializes in critical migration studies examining psychological impacts of displacement, ethno-psychoanalysis, psychotherapy with cultural interpreters, and group-analytic approaches in transcultural contexts. Her research portfolio includes qualitative investigations into: Mental health consequences of racism and structural discrimination Refugee-host community dynamics Language barriers in healthcare Innovative care models for forced migrants Intercultural opening of mental health systems Key Projects: FOCUS: Forced displacement and refugee-host community solidarity TransVer: Network for intercultural opening of psychosocial care systems reWoven: Refugee women and psychosocial volunteer engagement SeGeMi: Study group on Mental Health and Migration Effectiveness studies on native-language counseling Professional Engagement: She develops training programs for clinicians working with refugees, provides supervision services, and coordinates Berlin-wide networks for refugee mental health care. Her work significantly contributes to professionalizing psychosocial support for asylum seekers through the 'Welcome Culture at Charité' initiative.
University of Applied Sciences for Police and Public Administration North Rhine-WestphaliaGermany
Elisabeth Schilling serves as Associate Professor of Social Sciences at the University of Applied Sciences for Police and Public Administration North Rhine-Westphalia (HSPV NRW), holding a W2 professorship since December 2009. She previously taught at the Cologne department until 2012 and now works at the Bielefeld location. Her academic appointments include habilitation in Sociology at the University of Erfurt (2022) and guest professorship at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (2015). Schilling's institutional affiliations extend to the Max-Weber-Kolleg at the University of Erfurt and the Institute for Diversity Research at Göttingen. Her education includes a PhD in Sociology from Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf (2005, magna cum laude), with dissertation titled "Die Zukunft der Zeit: Vergleich von Zeitvorstellungen in Russland und Deutschland im Zeichen der Globalisierung." Additional academic training includes specialized sociology studies at RWTH Aachen (2000-2001) and University of California at Davis (2000), where she achieved top 5% standing in her cohort. Schilling's research fundamentally examines how time structures shape social experience across multiple domains. Her work explores temporal dimensions of migration, particularly how Ukrainian refugees construct future perspectives amid trauma. She investigates gendered time inequalities in public administration careers, analyzing how interrupted career paths disproportionately affect women. Her scholarship reveals how bureaucratic systems administer time through scheduling practices that reinforce social inequalities. Schilling develops methodological approaches for studying temporal diversity through qualitative time practice assessments, bridging classical life course theory with biographical subjectivity. Her publication trajectory shows consistent focus on time, migration, and biography since 2005, with recent work increasingly addressing refugee experiences and temporal aspects of public administration. The articles reveal methodological sophistication in qualitative time research, with growing emphasis on practical applications for public sector management. Schilling's work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between sociology, gender studies, and public administration. Her current research portfolio includes multiple funded projects examining time perspectives among Ukrainian refugees (2023-2024), integration of Ukrainian refugees (2022-2023), and time management during remote work periods (2020-2021). These projects reflect her ability to address timely social issues through her temporal lens while maintaining theoretical rigor. Schilling maintains active research collaborations including the Time Perspective Network around Philip Zimbardo and the Max-Weber-Kolleg. Her editorial work includes special issues of BIOS journal and edited volumes with Springer VS. She directs research groups focusing on time structures as inequality-reproducing classification systems, demonstrating sustained scholarly impact in her field.
Corine Defrance is a Research Director at CNRS and Deputy Director of UMR SIRICE (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne). Her work focuses on Franco-German relations, Cold War history, post-war reconstruction, and European reconciliation processes. She co-leads the research theme 'Time, Traces and Territories of War (19th–21st centuries)' Research Director at CNRS since 2012 Deputy Director of UMR SIRICE (2021–present) Senior Research Fellow, Leibniz-Institut für Europäische Geschichte (2020/21) Visiting Professor, Freie Universität Berlin (2011/12) Research Interests: Specializing in 20th/21st-century German history, Franco-German reconciliation, Cold War in Europe, post-war university systems, and cultural diplomacy. Her work examines historical memory, transnational education, and Cold War sociopolitical dynamics. Scientific Contributions: Recipient of the Gutenberg Research Award (2019) and Maurice Baumont Prize (2001). Key publications include co-edited volumes on the Élysée Treaty, German universities post-1945, and Franco-German cultural relations. Editorial roles in journals like Monde(s) and Revue d'Allemagne Collaborator in international research projects (Germany, Poland, Albania) Media consultant for documentaries on post-war European history Contributor to public debates on reconciliation and historical memory
Benjamin Kohlmann serves as Professor of English Literature and Culture at the University of Regensburg, where he has held a full professorship since November 2020. Previously, he was Assistant/Associate Professor at the University of Freiburg (2011-2019) and held visiting positions at Columbia University, Cambridge University, UC Davis, and Queen Mary University of London. An elected member of Academia Europaea and the International Association of University Professors of English, Kohlmann maintains an active international research profile with current visiting fellowships at Clare Hall, Cambridge (2024-25). Education Habilitation in English Literature, University of Freiburg (2011-2017) PhD in English Literature, Lincoln College, University of Oxford (2007-2010) MA in Philosophy/English Literature, University of Freiburg and Yale University (2004-2007) Undergraduate Studies in Philosophy/English Literature, University of Freiburg (2001-2004) Research Focus Professor Kohlmann specializes in British literature and culture from 1860 to the present, with particular expertise in the relationship between literature and politics. His scholarship explores the literary and cultural histories of socialism and communism, politicized modernism of the interwar years, the prehistory of the welfare state (c.1860-1940), literary histories of populism, and global approaches to literature. His theoretical work examines how literature conceptualizes political structures and revolutionary events, bridging historical analysis with contemporary theoretical concerns. Publication Trends Kohlmann's research trajectory reveals a consistent engagement with literature's political dimensions across historical periods. Early work focused on modernist political aesthetics, particularly in the 1930s, as seen in his monograph Committed Styles (2014). Recent scholarship demonstrates increasing attention to global revolutionary narratives and the bildungsroman as political form, culminating in his British Literature and the Life of Institutions (2021) and the forthcoming Revolutionary Subjects . His most recent publications show sophisticated integration of theoretical frameworks with historical analysis, particularly in examining how literature processes revolutionary events and conceptualizes institutional frameworks. The 2023-2025 publications reveal heightened focus on contemporary political formations while maintaining historical depth. Scientific Recognition Heisenberg Programme grant from German Research Foundation (2020-2025) Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize (2018) Feodor Lynen Fellowship from Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Elected Life Member of Clare Hall, University of Cambridge Member of Academia Europaea Academic Leadership Professor Kohlmann has supervised numerous PhD theses including Nikolina Hatton's award-winning work on decommodified things in 18th-19th century novels and current projects examining democratic essay forms and literary histories of collective resistance. He serves on editorial boards for Critical Quarterly and CUSP , co-edits the Oxford UP book series "Literature and Politics," and has organized multiple international conferences on literature and political thought. His research leadership includes directing the "Writing Collectivity" research group at Regensburg and coordinating international collaborations through the Heisenberg grant. Research Environment At Regensburg, Kohlmann contributes to a vibrant research environment within the Department of English and American Studies, collaborating on interdisciplinary projects examining literature's relationship to political economy and social structures. His "Thinking Revolution" project connects with global scholarly networks through visiting fellowships at Cambridge and other institutions. The department's research focus on British literary history benefits from Kohlmann's leadership in organizing international conferences and securing substantial research funding, creating a dynamic environment for graduate students and junior researchers working at the intersection of literature and political thought.
Prof. Dr. Miloš Řezník is a prominent historian and Professor of European Regional History at the Faculty of Philosophy, Chemnitz University of Technology. He has held this position since 2009 and served as Pro-Dean of the Faculty. From 2014 to 2024, he was Director of the German Historical Institute in Warsaw. His academic career spans institutions in Prague, Liberec, Leipzig, and Chemnitz, reflecting a deep engagement with Central and Eastern European history. PhD and Habilitation in General History, Palacký University Olomouc Extensive research on collective identities, nationalism, borderlands, and elite transformations in Central Europe Expertise in Polish, Czech, Galician, and Habsburg history Longstanding leadership roles in German-Czech and German-Polish historical commissions His research interests center on the cultural and political dynamics of regional identities in Central and Eastern Europe, especially in border regions such as Silesia, Bohemia, Pomerania, and Galicia. He explores how historical memory, nationalism, and elite strategies have shaped regional consciousness from the 18th to the 20th century. His work bridges historiography, cultural studies, and political history, with a strong focus on transnational and comparative perspectives. The 15 most recent publications reveal a consistent thematic trajectory: the interplay between regionalism, ethnicity, memory, and state formation in Central Europe. Key sub-themes include the Kashubian movement, Habsburg provincial governance, German-Czech-Polish relations, and the symbolic politics of historical figures and events. His scholarship increasingly engages with theoretical frameworks such as retrotopia, ethnoregionalism, and the institutionalization of historical science. Scientific Awards and Honors: Foreign Member, Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences (2023) Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Federal Foundation for the Study of Communist Dictatorship in East Germany (2025) Member, Scientific Council, Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Kohl-Stiftung (2022) Member, Johann Gottfried Herder Research Council (2011–present) Prof. Řezník has supervised numerous academic projects and dissertations, particularly through collaborative EU and DFG-funded initiatives focused on cross-border history. He has served as editor for multiple academic series and journals, including Journal of Modern European History (2019–2024). His institutional roles include membership in evaluation committees for the European Research Council, DFG, and Czech Science Foundation. He leads or has led several major research initiatives, including the Interreg Project: Cultural Heritage of the Vogtland and Egerland , and has organized numerous international conferences on Central European history, memory, and regionalism. His work is deeply embedded in transnational academic networks, particularly through the German Historical Institute in Warsaw and the Kompetenzzentrum Mittel- und Osteuropa Leipzig.
Cecilia Valenti is a Junior Professor for Film Studies at the Institute for Film, Theatre, Media and Cultural Studies, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Her research spans feminist postcolonial theory, archival practices of world cinema, television history, and militant documentary traditions. She actively organizes the IMACS Master's program and participates in academic self-governance via the Georg Forster Forum. Valenti's publications focus on global film heritage, feminist media critique, and political film practices. Her work intersects with 1930s left-wing cinema, archival activism (e.g., Cinemien network), and feminist reworkings of militant film. She teaches seminars on anti-colonial film practice, including Sarah Maldoror's work. She is affiliated with the Zeughauskino Berlin's archival department and co-founded the curatorial collective 'The Canine Condition,' which organized film series in Berlin, Frankfurt, Vienna, and London (2009–2017). Her contact details: cevalent@uni-mainz.de, phone +49 (6131) 39-31750, office hours Wednesday 4-5 PM by appointment.
Prof. Dr. Julia Bernstein is a Professor of Discrimination and Inclusion in Immigration Society at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (since 2015), affiliated with the Department of Social Work and Health. Her academic background includes a B.A. in Sociology, Cultural Anthropology, and Art History (1992–1995), an M.A. in Sociology and Cultural Anthropology (1996–2000) from the University of Haifa, Israel, and a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from Goethe University Frankfurt (2009). She leads the research area Social Legacy of National Socialism and coordinates international projects on antisemitism prevention. Bernstein's research examines discrimination through interdisciplinary lenses, focusing on: Antisemitism in institutional and everyday contexts Migration, identity, and transnationalism among Russian-speaking Jews Stereotyping mechanisms and racialization processes Holocaust memory and its societal repercussions Food sociology as a marker of cultural identity Her recent publications (2020–2022) demonstrate a strong focus on antisemitism in educational settings, analyzing victim perspectives, teacher training gaps, and pedagogical counter-strategies. She frequently addresses media representations of Jewish communities and the normalization of Israel-related antisemitism. Honors include the Barbara-und-Piergiuseppe-Scardigli-Preis for her dissertation (2011) and nomination for the WISAG-Preis (2010). Bernstein directs federally funded projects like Mach mal keine Judenaktion! (2017–2019) and collaborates with institutions including the German Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, Anne Frank Educational Center, and Tel Aviv University's Kantor Center. At Frankfurt UAS, she teaches courses on antisemitism, social inequality, and Holocaust legacy in Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Diversity and Inclusion programs. She mentors emerging scholars through the Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk and co-leads the Frankfurt meets Haifa academic exchange initiative.
