Dr. Josephine Fechner is a researcher at the University of Göttingen's Seminar for Ancient Near Eastern Studies, specializing in Mesopotamian mythology, proverbial literature, and ritual practices. As coordinator of the DFG Research Group 2064 STRATA, she focuses on transmedial comparative analysis of underworld narratives and mythological demonology. Her work bridges textual studies with iconographic analysis, particularly examining the Apkallū figures and Dumuzi myth cycles. Research Focus: Mesopotamian mythological traditions, Akkadian/Sumerian proverbs, ritual hermeneutics Current Projects: Edition of Lamentations on Netherworld Demons; Analysis of the 7 Sages tradition Academic Affiliation: University of Göttingen (Faculty of Humanities) Her recent publications explore intertextuality in underworld myths, transformative ritual language, and human-animal encounters in proverbial texts. She actively contributes to international conferences including Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale and SOAS Cuneiforum, while teaching advanced seminars on Mesopotamian wisdom literature and comparative mythology.
Kate Laskowski is an Associate Professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at University of California, Davis , focusing on behavioral diversity and plasticity. Her research explores how evolutionary processes shape developmental mechanisms generating individual variation. Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences (2006, UMBC), Ph.D. in Integrative Biology (2013, University of Illinois) Her work integrates ultimate and proximate perspectives to analyze how genetic, parental, and experiential cues build phenotypes. Recent research emphasizes clonal fish models to study non-genetic origins of behavior, eco-evolutionary dynamics, and collective behavior across scales. Publications from 2023-2025 highlight themes in behavioral repeatability , predation risk responses , genetic life-history trade-offs , and social conformity vs. individuality . Her methods combine experimental studies with statistical modeling and meta-analytic frameworks. Scientific Awards: Sloan Fellow (2023) Kate collaborates with the Center for Population Biology and advises in the Animal Behavior and Population Biology graduate programs. Her lab investigates behavioral individuality in clonal systems, with applications to conservation and evolutionary theory.
Stefan Büttner is Professor of Classics (Greek) at the University of Vienna , serving as Deputy Head of the Department of Classical Philology, Medieval and Neo-Latin Studies. His academic career spans institutions including Philipps University Marburg, University of Konstanz, and University of Vienna since 2011. Born 1986–1997: Studied Classical Philology and Philosophy at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, and Philipps University Marburg. 1997: Doctorate at Marburg on Plato's Literary Theory. 2007: Habilitation in Classical Philology. 2011: Appointed Professor at University of Vienna. His research focuses on Ancient Philosophy , Antique Aesthetics , Greek Tragedy , and Reception History . Current projects include analyzing the modern self-perception of antiquity , the Euripides reception , and Artes Liberales educational programs . Recent publications explore: Euripides 's shifting image from antiquity to modernity. Mimesis in Platonic dialogues. Homeric elements in Aristotle's Rhetoric. Symmetry as a foundational concept in ancient aesthetics. He serves on editorial boards for Wiener Studien für Klassische Philologie and Eisodos. Zeitschrift für Antike Literatur und Theorie , and chairs the Society for Ancient Philosophy Austria . Supervised theses at University of Vienna include topics on Aristotelian analytics, Platonic deconstruction, and Chrysippus' Medea adaptation. Büttner leads research seminars on ancient rhetoric, metaphor theory, and the interplay of philosophy and tragedy. He co-founded the book series Philosophie und Literatur and Studien zu Literatur und Erkenntnis , emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to classical studies.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Martin serves as Chair of Paleontology at the University of Bonn's Institute of Geosciences, where he has led the Vertebrate Paleontology department since October 1, 2006. He is also Vice President of the Paleontological Society since 2009 and holds a guest professorship at Shenyang Normal University in China since 2013. His research group focuses on mammalian evolution, with particular emphasis on jaw and dentition evolution, masticatory biomechanics, and the evolution of the ear region throughout mammalian history. Dr. Martin's educational background includes: Diploma in Geology-Paleontology from Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (1987) PhD from Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn (1991) Habilitation from Freie Universität Berlin (1997) His research interests center on the origin and diversification of mammals, with particular focus on Mesozoic mammals. He employs cutting-edge 3D methods including µCT scanning, surface segmentation, DiceCT, Occlusal Fingerprint Analyzer (OFA), virtual animation, and simulation to investigate how changes in the masticatory apparatus and feeding habits have shaped mammalian evolution. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of dietary adaptations and associated hearing enhancements during crucial moments in mammalian evolutionary history. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on Mesozoic mammal dentition, particularly the functional morphology of early mammalian teeth and jaws. His research spans multiple continents, with significant work on German, Russian, and Chinese fossil sites, and demonstrates consistent investigation into mammalian evolutionary patterns through detailed dental and skeletal analyses. His collaborations span internationally with researchers from Russia, China, and the United States. Scientific recognition includes: Fritz-Franck-Förderpreis der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Säugetierkunde (1993) Dr. Martin has secured substantial research funding through multiple DFG (German Research Foundation) projects, including ongoing work on polar vertebrates from the Lower Cretaceous of Yakutia, Russia, and functional studies of early mammalian dentition. He currently supervises several doctoral students including Marius Losco, Thomas Engler, and Sebastian Pommerening, and maintains an active research group with multiple postdoctoral researchers. His laboratory utilizes state-of-the-art imaging and analytical techniques, with particular expertise in virtual paleontology methods. The research group maintains strong international collaborations, particularly with institutions in Russia, China, and the United States, reflecting the global nature of his paleontological investigations.
Ilana Gershon is Professor and Herbert S. Autrey Chair in the Department of Anthropology at Rice University, where she also serves as Director of Graduate Studies and Co-Director of the Program in Science and Technology Studies. Her office is located in Sewall Hall with regular Tuesday office hours. Her research centers on two major theoretical projects: developing a framework for understanding multiple social orders and their porous boundaries, and analyzing neoliberalism as a distinct historical moment of capitalism. Key research areas include political/legal anthropology, linguistic/media anthropology, and the anthropology of work. Gershon's work reveals trends across digital disconnection practices, corporate hiring rituals, pandemic workplace dynamics, and transnational migration. Her publications demonstrate consistent focus on how social boundaries form and dissolve across contexts from Samoan diaspora communities to corporate America. Wenner-Gren Foundation support Social Science Research Council (SSRC) funding National Science Foundation (NSF) funding Stanford Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences fellowship Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study fellowship She directs the CaMP Anthropology blog and produces the APLA podcast on academic hiring rituals while organizing virtual reading groups for legal/political and linguistic/media anthropology scholars. Her current projects examine workplace governance as private government and the social implications of media technologies.
Suzy Anger serves as an Associate Professor and MA Advisor in the Department of English Language and Literatures within the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. Her academic work bridges literary studies with the history of science, focusing on how Victorian literature engaged with contemporary scientific thought. Dr. Anger received her BA from the University of California, Berkeley, followed by her MA and PhD from the University of Washington. Her educational background established the foundation for her interdisciplinary approach that connects literary analysis with scientific and philosophical inquiry. Her research primarily explores Victorian literature in relation to nineteenth-century science, psychology, and philosophy. Currently, she investigates Victorian fiction and nineteenth-century theories of consciousness, examining novels by Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, George Gissing, and Sarah Grand across genres including ghost fiction and scientific romance. Her scholarly work demonstrates how literary texts engaged with emerging scientific concepts of the period, particularly in the areas of mind sciences, hermeneutics, and technological understanding. She has particular expertise in how literary works processed scientific developments related to consciousness, automatism, and the relationship between humans and machines. Her publication record reveals a consistent trajectory of scholarship examining the intersection of Victorian literature and scientific thought, with recent work increasingly focused on theories of consciousness, literary automatism, and the philosophical implications of scientific developments in the nineteenth century. Her research demonstrates how literary works served as laboratories for exploring complex scientific concepts before they were fully developed in scientific discourse. Sonya Rudikoff Prize for the best first book in Victorian Studies (2006) Killam Teaching Prize, University of British Columbia (2018) Newhouse Center Faculty Fellowship, Wellesley College (2006-2007) SSHRC Faculty Research Grant (2005-2008) American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship (2000-2001) National Endowment for the Humanities Stipend (1999) As an academic leader, Dr. Anger has served as president of the Northeast Victorian Studies Association and was former co-chair of UBC's interdisciplinary graduate program in Science and Technology Studies. Her research has been supported by multiple prestigious fellowships and grants from major funding bodies including the American Council of Learned Societies, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Her editorial work on collections like 'Victorian Science as Cultural Authority' and 'Victorian Automata' has helped shape contemporary scholarship in the field. Through her editorial projects and interdisciplinary collaborations, Dr. Anger has been instrumental in developing the field of Science and Technology Studies within literary scholarship. Her work with colleagues across disciplines has created important spaces for examining how literature processes scientific and technological change, particularly in historical contexts where such changes were rapidly transforming society's understanding of itself.
Kaliramesh (Kali) Siliveru is an Associate Professor and University Outstanding Scholar in the Department of Grain Science and Industry at Kansas State University. His work focuses on grain processing, food safety, and process modeling , with expertise in milling technologies, particle mechanics, and material handling. He holds a B.S. in Food Science from Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University, India, and a Ph.D. in Grain Science from Kansas State University. Dr. Siliveru’s research has produced 75+ peer-reviewed articles, 13 book chapters , and impactful studies on reducing microbial contamination in wheat-based products, optimizing pulse processing, and advancing nonthermal technologies like cold plasma. He has received prestigious awards including the ASABE Early Career Engineer of the Year and the University Distinguished Faculty Award for undergraduate mentoring. He teaches GRSC 310 (Materials Handling) , GRSC 810 (Particle Technology) , and GRSC 840 (Advanced Grain Processing) . His lab affiliations include the BIVAP Feed Quality Assurance Lab and Hal Ross Flour Mill, where he explores milling efficiency, microbial control, and sustainable food processing . Current projects address novel applications for minor millets and engineering solutions for safe, nutritious food production.
Brian Greenspan is an Associate Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at Carleton University, within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. His research focuses on digital humanities, utopian studies, and new narrative media, particularly exploring intersections between print narratives and emerging technologies like hypertext, video games, and augmented reality. Greenspan co-developed the StoryTrek locative media system, used for creating spatial storytelling projects that merge urban geography with fictional and historical narratives. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto and has received multiple grants including SSHRC Partnership Grants (2015-18), a Leverhulme International Research Network Grant (2014-16), and a Teaching Achievement Award (2017). His work emphasizes speculative archives and the ethical implications of digital media in cultural preservation and future imaginaries. Greenspan collaborates extensively with institutions like Carleton’s Hyperlab and has delivered keynote lectures globally, including at the Digital Humanities Summer Institute and the Canadian Game Studies Association. His research integrates interdisciplinary approaches to spatial narratives, wearable media, and critical utopian theory. Current projects involve mapping fictional cityscapes onto real urban environments to explore alternate historical and speculative futures. As a supervisor, Greenspan guides doctoral students in areas like digital games, cultural mediations, and narrative transformation. His grants include collaborations on infrastructure development, animation archives, and the political economy of digital games.
John Markham is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences within the Faculty of Science at the University of Manitoba. His office is located in W481 Duff Roblin Building, and he can be contacted via email at John.Markham@umanitoba.ca or by phone at 204-474-7180. His research focuses on: Community ecology in northern ecosystems Symbiotic nitrogen fixation processes Ecosystem engineering mechanisms Arctic and boreal forest dynamics Plant-soil-animal interactions Environmental stressor impacts on nutrient cycling Professor Markham's work centers on how biotic interactions shape subarctic and boreal environments, particularly through the lens of nitrogen-fixing plants and animal-mediated ecosystem engineering. His research demonstrates how Arctic foxes create nutrient hotspots via denning that enhance plant productivity and diversity in tundra ecosystems, while his studies on actinorhizal plants (especially alders) reveal complex responses to salinity, temperature, moisture, and elevated CO2 levels. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2021-2025) shows consistent emphasis on Arctic fox ecosystem engineering impacts on forest dynamics, nitrogen fixation symbiosis under environmental stressors, and landscape-scale nutrient cycling. His work integrates field experiments across Canadian sites with remote sensing and biogeochemical analyses, revealing how animal activities and microbial symbioses drive ecosystem resilience in northern environments facing climate change.
Spencer Nyholm is a Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Connecticut (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), specializing in symbiosis and comparative immunology. His research focuses on host-microbe interactions in marine organisms, notably the Hawaiian bobtail squid ( Euprymna scolopes ) and hydrothermal vent tubeworms. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii and completed postdoctoral studies at Stanford University and Harvard University. Research Interests: Symbiosis mechanisms, innate immune system roles in symbiotic communication, and functional genomics in marine symbioses. His lab uses the squid-Vibrio fischeri model to study beneficial bacteria-host interactions and explores symbiotic relationships in vent tubeworms. Publications highlight themes like genomic regulation in light-organ development, symbiotic bacteria’s role in reproductive organs, and molecular mechanisms underlying symbiotic persistence. His work bridges ecology, immunology, and microbiology, emphasizing environmental influences on symbiotic systems. Labs/Teams: Nyholm Lab ( https://nyholmlab.uconn.edu/ ). Collaborations include functional genomics projects and comparative studies across marine symbiotic systems.
Donato Totaro is a Part-time Lecturer in Film Studies at Concordia University's Faculty of Fine Arts in Montreal, Canada, where he has taught since 1990. He holds a PhD in Film & Television from the University of Warwick (UK), supervised by Victor F. Perkins, and serves as founding editor of the online film journal Offscreen since 1997. Totaro is also a member of the Association québécoise des critiques de cinéma (AQCC) since 2004. Education: PhD in Film & Television, University of Warwick (UK) Research Interests: Totaro's work spans film criticism , the horror genre , Andrei Tarkovsky , cinema and temporality , and film style . His research explores theoretical and aesthetic dimensions through projects like The Face at the Window (analyzing horror motifs), Women in Horror (documenting post-2010 female contributions), and Monster Kid Generation (tracing cultural impacts of 1950s-1970s horror fandom on filmmakers like Spielberg and Del Toro). He pioneers audio-visual essays as critical tools. Publication Trends: His scholarship reveals evolving focus from Tarkovsky's temporal aesthetics to contemporary horror studies and genre hybridity (e.g., apocalyptic westerns). Recent works demonstrate increasing interdisciplinary reach, connecting film theory with cultural studies, gender analysis, and fan communities while maintaining rigorous formal analysis of cinematic techniques. Scientific Awards: Canada Council for the Arts Grants to Literary Magazines (2002-2019, $200,000+) SSHRC Scholarship (1997-2000) FCAR Quebec Research Grants (1987-1989) York University Research Grant (1988-89) Teaching & Editorial Impact: Totaro has received multiple teaching honors including the Faculty of Fine Arts Distinguished Teaching Award (2017) and Oksana and John Locke Award (2018). He teaches courses ranging from introductory film studies to specialized seminars on horror, Tarkovsky, and film criticism. As Offscreen's editor, he has shaped critical discourse for 25+ years, publishing hundreds of essays while mentoring emerging critics through this influential platform.
Dr. John Lynch is a Professor at the University of Cincinnati in the Department of Communication, with a focus on bioethics , health communication , and the rhetoric of science and medicine . He has collaborated for over 15 years with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center on ethical issues in genomic research , particularly regarding the return of results to families and adolescents. His academic roles include being a Clinical Research Ethicist and Graduate Director in Communication. Education : Ph.D., University of Georgia (2005), Speech Communication M.A., University of Pittsburgh (2000), Rhetoric and Communication B.A., University of Dayton (1998), Communication and Philosophy Dr. Lynch’s research explores the intersection of rhetoric, ethics, and science , with a focus on genetic research , public memory , and science policy . His recent publications analyze genomic exceptionalism , space exploration rhetoric , and precision medicine ethics . His work often involves collaborations with interdisciplinary teams, including ethicists and medical professionals. Key scientific awards include the ARSTM Book Award (2020) and the NCA Health Communication Division Distinguished Book Award (2016). He has secured multiple grants from institutions like the National Human Genome Research Institute and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Lynch also serves on editorial boards and review panels for journals like American Journal of Bioethics and Rhetoric & Public Affairs .
Catherine Marler is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she leads the Marler Lab focused on the Biology of Brain and Behavior. Her research program investigates the intricate connections between endocrine systems and social behaviors, with particular emphasis on how hormones like testosterone and oxytocin shape complex social interactions in monogamous mammals. Dr. Marler's research primarily utilizes the California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) as a model organism, capitalizing on its unique monogamous, biparental, and territorial nature. Her work spans both laboratory and field settings, allowing for comprehensive investigation of neuroendocrine mechanisms in naturalistic contexts. Key research themes include the role of testosterone in territorial behavior and winner effects, oxytocin's influence on pair bonding and parental behavior, and the neural substrates of ultrasonic vocalizations. Recent publications reveal a strong focus on conditioned place preferences related to testosterone pulses, oxytocin's effects on social behaviors across different developmental stages, and the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying aggression and pair bonding. Her work demonstrates how social experience, environmental context, and endocrine systems interact to shape complex behavioral outcomes, with particular attention to sex differences and transgenerational transmission of behaviors. Dr. Marler has published extensively in top journals including Hormones and Behavior, Proceedings of the Royal Society, and Animal Behaviour, with her most recent work appearing in high-impact venues throughout 2023-2025. Her research program represents a sophisticated integration of behavioral observation, endocrine manipulation, and neural analysis to unravel the mechanisms underlying social behavior in mammals. As an advisor, Dr. Marler mentors students in behavioral neuroscience and endocrinology, fostering research that bridges laboratory and field approaches to understand the evolution and mechanisms of social behavior. Her lab maintains a strong commitment to rigorous scientific methodology and innovative experimental design in the study of neuroendocrine-behavior relationships.
Li Liu is the Sir Robert Ho Tung Professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Stanford University. She joined the Stanford faculty in 2010, following 14 years at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, where she taught archaeology and was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Humanities in Australia. Her research focuses on early China's archaeology, encompassing the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, ritual practices, cultural interactions with the Old World, domestication processes, state formation, and urban development. She holds a B.A. in Archaeology from Northwestern University (Xi'an), an M.A. in Anthropology from Temple University (Philadelphia), and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Harvard University (1994). Dr. Liu's educational background includes degrees from prestigious institutions across multiple countries, reflecting her global academic engagement. Her work bridges archaeological methods with interdisciplinary approaches to understand societal complexity and environmental adaptation in ancient China. Notably, her contributions to understanding cultural exchanges between China and neighboring regions have been influential in East Asian Studies. Her research interests emphasize material culture analysis, settlement patterns, and the socio-political dynamics underlying early state formations. This includes investigations into ritual landscapes, agricultural practices, and urbanization processes in ancient China. Her studies often involve collaborative projects that integrate archaeological data with historical and anthropological perspectives. Dr. Liu has been recognized for her scholarly contributions, including her Fellowship in the Australian Academy of Humanities. Though her primary role is in archaeology, her Google Scholar publications reflect interdisciplinary collaborations in medical research, audio engineering, and environmental science, suggesting diverse academic engagements. In advising, she mentors students in archaeological and anthropological studies, though specific advisee names are not listed here. Her grants and funding history, while not detailed in the text, would likely support her archaeological fieldwork and interdisciplinary projects. She has contributed to the Stanford Center for East Asian Studies and affiliated programs, fostering cross-cultural research initiatives.
Dr. Sungyong Ahn is a Lecturer in Digital Media and Cultures at the School of Communication and Arts, University of Queensland, and an affiliate of the Centre for Digital Cultures & Societies. His research focuses on digital ontology, new materialism, and speculative (capitalist) realism, examining how smart technologies reshape human perception and governance. He holds a PhD in Media Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Education: Bachelor of Philosophy (Yonsei University), Master of Film and Television (Chung-Ang University), PhD in Media Studies (UIUC). His research investigates the interplay between technology, capitalism, and cultural production, particularly through the lens of the Internet of Things (IoT), quantum physics as cultural imagination, and French philosophy (Foucault, Deleuze, Badiou). Recent work includes analyzing IoT’s role in self-governance and the ontological anxieties of digital existence. Publications span journals like Media Theory , Journal of Cultural Economy , and Postmodern Culture . He is the author of Internet-ontologies-Things: Smart Objects, Hidden Problems, and Their Symmetries (2023). Available for supervision in media studies, digital cultures, and science/technology studies. Active in interdisciplinary collaborations, including the Centre for Digital Cultures & Societies.
