معرفی
Dr. Annelies Kusters is Professor of Sociolinguistics at Heriot-Watt University's School of Social Sciences, where she has served since 2017. She earned her PhD from the University of Bristol in 2012 and previously researched at the Max Planck Institute. Her leadership roles include Co-Director of Engagement and founder of SIGNS@HWU, an interdisciplinary research group focused on sign languages and deaf communities.
Research Expertise
Kusters specializes in:
- Sign language ideologies and multimodal communication
- Deaf transnationalism and mobility studies
- Ethnographic film methods and visual research
- Translanguaging in deaf communities
Publication Trends
Kusters' recent research (2021-2024) demonstrates strong emphasis on cross-cultural deaf communication, particularly analyzing International Sign as a global lingua franca. Her studies frequently employ ethnographic methods to examine language policy, media representation, and family communication dynamics in deaf communities. Film-based research and visual methodologies feature prominently across her work.
Awards and Honors
- ERC Starting Grant (€1.5M) for MobileDeaf project
- Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Award (2024)
- Jean Rouch Award for ethnographic film (2016)
- Francis Maginn Award (2023)
- HWU Research Team of the Year (2022)
Academic Leadership
Kusters leads multiple funded projects including an AHRC Doctoral Award on deaf heritage (£85,000) and serves as Programme Director for the MA in British Sign Language. She mentors deaf PhD students and early-career researchers through initiatives like Dr Deaf. Her ERC-funded MobileDeaf project (2017-2023) pioneered research on deaf mobility and intersectionality.
Research Infrastructure
As founder of SIGNS@HWU, Kusters has established a research hub focusing on sign language studies. The group collaborates with organizations like the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust and World Federation of the Deaf. Her team utilizes innovative methodologies including participatory filmmaking and collaborative ethnography.
