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Annette Schellenberg-Lagler serves as Professor of Old Testament Studies at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Protestant Theology, where she concurrently holds leadership roles as Vice Dean, Director of Studies, and Deputy Head of the Institute for Old Testament Studies and Biblical Archaeology. Her academic career spans over two decades with significant contributions to biblical scholarship since joining Vienna in 2015 after positions at the University of Zurich and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Her educational foundation includes Protestant Theology studies at the University of Zurich (1991-1998), followed by doctoral completion in 2002 and habilitation in 2011 at the same institution. Key developmental phases include Swiss National Science Foundation research in Los Angeles (2003-2005) and tenure-track professorship in California (2007-2015). Schellenberg-Lagler's research centers on Prehistory (Genesis 1-11), Priestly literature, Wisdom literature, and the Song of Songs, with specialized focus on Old Testament Anthropology and theological controversies within ancient Near Eastern contexts. Her work consistently bridges textual analysis with anthropological and epistemological frameworks, particularly examining human cognition in wisdom texts and sensory dimensions in biblical poetry. Current projects include a Song of Songs commentary for Eerdmans' Illuminations series. Recent publications reveal evolving scholarly trajectories toward negative theology in Hebrew Bible studies and interdisciplinary epistemology, while maintaining deep engagement with Wisdom literature. Her editorial leadership as Editor-in-Chief of Vetus Testamentum since 2020 significantly shapes contemporary Old Testament scholarship. She actively mentors students through STEOP-Mentoring programs and doctoral seminars, building on early-career support from Swiss National Science Foundation and Zurich Young Talents scholarships. Her academic service extends to steering committees for the Society of Biblical Literature's 'Wisdom in Israelite Traditions' group and the Working Group on Old Testament Reception (AKRAT). As a core member of Vienna's Research Center 'Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society' (RaT), she collaborates across multiple networks including the 'Epistemology in ancient Israel' consortium. Her institutional leadership drives curriculum development for Evangelical Theology programs while maintaining active participation in European scholarly societies like EABS and SBL.

• Old Testament Studies
• Biblical Archaeology
• Wisdom Literature
• +4 more

Alexander Kaiser serves as Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Knowledge Management at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Wien). With over two decades of academic experience since his appointment in March 2000, he has established himself as a leading figure in knowledge management, organizational learning, and strategic vision development. His position as Head of Department and Deputy Director demonstrates his significant institutional leadership within the university. Dr. Kaiser completed his education at the University of Vienna, where he studied business informatics. He earned his doctorate with distinction from the Vienna University of Economics and Business, followed by his habilitation in Business Administration and Business Informatics in December 1999, which was awarded the prestigious Cardinal Innitzer Promotion Prize and Senator Wilhelm Wilfling Promotion Prize . His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in both business administration and information systems. His research focuses on the intersection of knowledge management, organizational learning, and spiritual dimensions of professional work. Kaiser has pioneered approaches to spiritual knowledge management, exploring how individuals and organizations can develop toward their 'best version' through meaningful knowledge processes. His work on vision development as a knowledge-creating process has significantly contributed to strategic management literature. He investigates how organizations can identify hidden needs, develop sustainable visions, and implement learning processes that incorporate future-oriented thinking, with recent work examining the connection between spirituality, calling, and knowledge management. Over his prolific career, Kaiser has published 91 scholarly works spanning from 1988 to 2025, with a noticeable acceleration in output since 2010. His publication pattern reveals a clear evolution from technical business informatics topics toward more holistic approaches integrating knowledge management with organizational psychology, spirituality, and sustainability. Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate his growing focus on wisdom, AI, and the integration of rational and non-rational knowledge in business contexts. Cardinal Innitzer Promotion Prize Senator Wilhelm Wilfling Promotion Prize Beyond his academic work, Professor Kaiser maintains strong practical connections through his role as founder and managing director of WaVe - Center for Growth and Change. His professional training as a systemic coach complements his academic research, creating a unique bridge between theoretical knowledge management frameworks and practical organizational applications. He has developed innovative methodologies like the 'Theory Wave' for sustainable vision development and tools for assessing transversal professional competences that have been implemented in both academic and business settings. As department head, Kaiser leads a research team focused on advancing knowledge management theory while maintaining strong connections to practical applications. The department hosts symposium series that foster interdisciplinary dialogue between academia and practice, reflecting Kaiser's commitment to ensuring knowledge management research remains relevant to real-world organizational challenges.

• Knowledge Management
• Organizational Learning
• Business Informatics
• +4 more

Jan Ziolkowski (b. 1956) is Arthur Kingsley Porter Professor of Medieval Latin at Harvard University and served from 2007 to 2020 as Director of the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection , Harvard’s leading institute for Byzantine, Pre-Columbian, and Garden & Landscape studies. Education A.B. summa cum laude , Princeton University (1977) Ph.D. Medieval Latin, University of Cambridge (1982) – Marshall Scholar Fellow, American Academy in Rome (1980–1981) Research Interests His scholarship centers on Medieval Latin literature and Comparative Literature , with particular attention to folklore and fairy-tale traditions , beast poetry , grammar and sexuality , memory studies , and the classical tradition in the Middle Ages . He has produced critical editions, translations, and wide-ranging monographs that illuminate the intellectual and cultural life of medieval Europe. Across nearly four decades his publications have ranged from Alan of Lille’s Grammar of Sex (1985) to the six-volume Juggler of Notre Dame and the Medievalizing of Modernity (2018), exploring how medieval texts were read, adapted, and remembered. His editorial leadership of the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library has further expanded the availability of medieval Latin, Greek, and Old English texts with facing-page translations. Honours & Awards Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2010) Fellow, Medieval Academy of America (2008) Member, American Philosophical Society (2017) Corresponding Member, Austrian Academy of Sciences (2006) Member, Academia Europaea (2015) Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, First Class (2015) John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship (1987–1988) Multiple Hoopes Prizes for outstanding thesis direction Advising & Grants At Harvard he has chaired the Department of Comparative Literature , the Committee on Medieval Studies , and the Department of Classics . He has directed numerous senior honors theses recognized by the Hoopes Prize and has held residential fellowships at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (2005–2006) and Villa I Tatti (1992–1993, 1997–1998). Laboratories & Teams As Director of Dumbarton Oaks he oversaw an international community of scholars, librarians, and curators, expanded public programming, and forged partnerships with institutions throughout Washington, D.C. He founded and continues to guide the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library , a major series published by Harvard University Press.

• Medieval Latin Literature
• Comparative Literature
• Medieval Studies
• +3 more

Dr. Andreas Vonach is a University Professor of Old Testament at the Department of Biblical Studies and Historical Theology within the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Innsbruck. His research focuses on biblical exegesis, ancient Near Eastern religions, Jewish-Christian relations, and ecological theology. He leads the Innsbruck Research Center 'Synagoge und Kirchen' and has authored/co-edited over 30 books, including works on religious authorities, ecological challenges, and interfaith dialogue. His recent work explores digital age anthropology and ancient textual criticism. Key research areas include the Septuagint, Wisdom Literature (Ecclesiastes), and Maccabean studies. He has organized international conferences on topics like democracy, globalization, and Vatican II’s Nostra Aetate. Collaborations with institutions like the University of Pune highlight his engagement with global theological discourse. Vonach’s teaching spans Old Testament theology, biblical interpretation, and religious ethics. He serves on editorial boards for journals like theologische trends and contributes to public theology through media interviews, radio discussions, and articles in pastoral publications.

• Biblical Studies
• Theology
• Jewish-Christian Relations
• +4 more

Ellen van Wolde is a Full Professor of Exegesis of the Old Testament/Source Texts of Judaism at Radboud University Nijmegen (since 2009) and Chair of the Department of Source Texts of Judaism and Christianity. Previously, she held a Full Professorship at the University of Tilburg (1992-2008) and visiting positions at the University of South Africa and the University of Sheffield. She is an Academy Board Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). Education includes a PhD (cum laude) from the Catholic University of Nijmegen, an MA in Semiotics from the University of Bologna under Umberto Eco, and advanced studies in Biblical and Theological disciplines at institutions including the Pontificium Institutum Biblicum in Rome. Her research focuses on Hebrew Bible exegesis Cognitive linguistics applied to ancient texts Biblical Hebrew syntax and semantics Narratology and semiotics in religious literature Cultural and cognitive contextualization of biblical narratives Notable publications include her 2009 monograph Reframing Biblical Studies , which revolutionized methodological approaches, and groundbreaking work on the Hebrew verb bara in Genesis 1. Her research has sparked interdisciplinary dialogue and media attention, including a documentary in the KNAW series The Magic of Science . Awards include the Radboud Science Award (2010), NIAS Fellowship (2012), and knighthood in the Order of the Netherlands Lion (2011). She has secured grants for projects like The Jacob Case: Text and Cognition in Context and supervised numerous students in research programs rated among the best in Dutch academia. Her leadership has fostered collaborative conferences uniting biblical scholars and linguists.

• Hebrew Bible
• Ancient Near Eastern Studies
• Biblical Hebrew
• +6 more

Albrecht Dihle (1925–2020) was a renowned German scholar of classical antiquity, specializing in Greek studies, ancient philosophy, and cultural history. He held professorships at the University of Heidelberg (1974–1989), University of Köln (1958–1974), and University of Göttingen (1950–1958), and served as Guest Professor at UC Berkeley (1973–1974). His research focused on ancient ethics, Greek literature, and cross-cultural interactions between antiquity and the Orient. He was a member and later president of the Heidelberg Academy for Sciences and Humanities. Notable achievements include the Pour le Mérite Order (1994), Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (1997), and Reuchlin-Preis (1997). His work explored themes like the theory of will in antiquity, the evolution of historical biography, and Greek perceptions of 'the foreign.' Major publications include Die griechische und lateinische Literatur der Kaiserzeit and The Theory of Will in Classical Antiquity . His academic contributions span literary history, philosophy, and cultural studies, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to classical texts and their historical contexts.

• Classical Studies
• Ancient History
• Philosophy
• +3 more

Jörg Ahrens is a researcher in Systematic Theology at the University of Salzburg, Austria, actively advancing Jewish-Christian dialogue through scholarly analysis of rabbinic traditions and contemporary theological documents. Holding a Doctorate with prior Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Arts, his work bridges academic theology with practical interfaith engagement in German-speaking contexts, focusing on trust-building mechanisms and historical reconciliation processes between Jewish and Christian communities. His academic credentials include: Bachelor of Arts (BA) Master of Arts (MA) Doctorate (Dr.) Dr. Ahrens' research centers on Jewish perspectives within Christian theological frameworks, examining how Talmudic wisdom and Torah interpretation inform modern interfaith relations. He investigates creation theology through Jewish lenses, analyzes Pauline reception in rabbinic literature, and decodes contemporary dialogue initiatives like the Rheinischer Synodalbeschluss. His methodology combines textual exegesis with real-world application, emphasizing how ancient wisdom traditions address current ethical and social challenges in multicultural societies. Analysis of his 2023-2024 publications reveals a concentrated scholarly effort on German-Jewish-Christian relations, with recurring themes of document-based dialogue evolution and practical theology. His book chapters consistently address trust-building mechanisms, contemporary Jewish theological responses to Christianity, and the application of rabbinic wisdom to daily life, demonstrating a cohesive research trajectory that merges historical analysis with forward-looking interfaith solutions for European contexts. Through 10 documented activities between 2021-2023—including public lectures on 'Paul in Rabbinic Reception' and 'Jewish Theology of Christianity'—he actively translates academic research into community engagement, positioning theological scholarship as a catalyst for social cohesion in post-Holocaust Germany.

• Jewish-Christian Dialogue
• Systematic Theology
• Rabbinic Literature
• +3 more