Nicholas Evans is Distinguished Professor of Linguistics and Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language (CoEDL) at the Australian National University’s School of Culture, History & Language. His work bridges fieldwork-based language documentation with theoretical questions in typology, cultural evolution, and social cognition. Focus on endangered Australian and Papuan languages Director of ARC Laureate Project on 'The Wellsprings of Linguistic Diversity' Co-leader of SCOPIC (Social Cognition Parallax Corpus) study Collaborator in global linguistic diversity initiatives His research explores how micro-level community multilingualism shapes macro-level linguistic diversity, with fieldwork spanning seven years in remote Indigenous communities. Recent projects include PARABANK (paradigm syncretism analysis) and Southern New Guinea language studies, particularly Nen and Yam family languages. Scientific recognition includes the Ken Hale Award (Linguistic Society of America), Anneliese Maier Forschungspreis, and fellowships in the Australian Academy of Humanities, Australian Social Sciences Academy, and the British Academy.
Dr. Luisa Calè is a Professor of Romantic and Nineteenth-Century Literature & Visual Culture and Research Lead at Birkbeck, University of London. She holds degrees from the University of Rome 'La Sapienza' (1993), University of Genoa (1997), and the University of Oxford (M.St. 1998, D.Phil 2002). Her research explores the interplay between literature and visual/material culture, focusing on book history, intermediality, and practices of reading/collecting. Her Leverhulme Trust-funded project 'The Book Unbound' examines how works by Blake, Walpole, and Dickens subverted traditional book formats. Education: PhD in Literary Studies, University of Genoa (1997) D.Phil., University of Oxford (2002) M.St. in English, University of Oxford (1998) Letters Degree, University of Rome (1993) Her research interests include Romantic aesthetics, material texts, and critical disciplinarity. Notable publications include Fuseli’s Milton Gallery (2006) and co-edited volumes like Dante on View (2007). She edits Blake/An Illustrated Quarterly and serves on editorial boards for Word & Image and Romantic Circles Gallery . Recent awards include a Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship (2019) and a Mercator Fellowship (2018-19). She supervises graduate students in Romantic literature, material culture, and book history.
Amanda Phillips is an Associate Professor at Georgetown University, affiliated with the Departments of English, Film and Media Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and American Studies. Their research focuses on feminist and queer theory in digital media, with a particular emphasis on critical game studies and digital humanities. Selected publications include Gamer Trouble: Feminist Confrontations in Digital Culture and co-editing the Queer/Trans/Digital book series. Their scholarship appears in journals such as ROMchip , Feminist Media Histories , and Games and Culture . Research Interests: Digital media and gender politics Queer theory in gaming contexts Decolonial and anti-racist digital humanities Critical analysis of game mechanics Digital labor and precarity Affective histories of gaming Scientific Awards: Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellow Academic Leadership: Former chair of the American Studies Association Digital Humanities Caucus Co-founder of the #transformDH Collective Editorial work on special issues of Game Studies and Antares: Letras e Humanidades Previous Institutions: IMMERSe Postdoctoral Fellow at University of California, Davis Ph.D. recipient from University of California, Santa Barbara with emphasis in Feminist Studies
Avi Loeb , the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University, is a leading astrophysicist and former Chair of Harvard's Department of Astronomy (2011-2020). He directs the Institute for Theory and Computation (ITC) and the Galileo Project (2021-present), while holding the Sackler Senior Professorship at Tel Aviv University. His research spans cosmology, black holes, interstellar objects, and the search for extraterrestrial life. Education: PhD in Physics from Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1986) Former Positions: Member of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton (1988-1993) Loeb's research interests include: Gravitational wave detection and interstellar object analysis Simulation hypothesis and cosmic reality Technological signatures beyond the Standard Model His recent publications focus on 3I/ATLAS , gravitational SETI, and AI alignment in space exploration. Awards include being named among TIME's 25 Most Influential People in Space (2012), 14 Most Inspiring Israelis (2020), and ranking #3 in global astronomical impact (2024). He chairs the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative and advises the National Academies' Board on Physics and Astronomy.
Lutz Schubert is a researcher at the Institute of Computer Science , University of Cologne. He focuses on efficient distributed and parallel execution environments for heterogeneous systems, notably the MyThOS operating system in collaboration with Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus-Senftenberg. His interdisciplinary work bridges computer science and digital archaeology , addressing modeling of non-deterministic events from sparse excavation data and exploring human behavior constraints in archaeological contexts. Research Interests Design of modular, scalable operating systems for distributed systems Optimization of execution environments for heterogeneous hardware Application of complex systems modeling to digital archaeology Statistical and probabilistic methods for archaeological interpretation Autonomic resource distribution and adaptation in computing Publication Trends : His work spans operating systems , parallel computing , and digital humanities , with recent emphasis on probabilistic reasoning in archaeology and adaptive OS design for multicore architectures. Labs & Collaborations : He collaborates with Brandenburg University of Technology on MyThOS and leads research in computational archaeology as chair of Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA) , Germany.
Bettina Sejbjerg Sommer serves as a Research Assistant and External Lecturer at the SAXO-Institute within the Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen, specializing in interdisciplinary humanities research. Her scholarly focus integrates Archaeology , Norse Mythology , and Scandinavian History , with emphasis on material culture analysis and mythological narratives in pre-Christian Scandinavia. This is exemplified by her examination of ritual sites like Lejre through combined ethnological and historical methodologies. Her publication output centers on a single 2015 study in Numen investigating Óðinn's archaeological correlates, reflecting concentrated expertise in Germanic religious studies rather than broad interdisciplinary trends. No scientific awards or student mentorship activities are documented in available records.
Elizabeth Frood is an Associate Professor of Egyptology at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. She holds dual college fellowships as a Fellow of St Cross College and Honorary Fellow of The Queen's College, with research centered on ancient Egyptian self-presentation, sacred landscapes, and social experience including gender and disability studies. Her academic journey began with first degrees completed in Aotearoa New Zealand, establishing her foundation in Egyptology before her current Oxford appointment. Professor Frood's scholarship uniquely reconstructs non-royal Egyptian lives through biographical texts, graffiti, and visual culture, specializing in the late New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period (mid-second to early first millennium BCE). Her work bridges textual analysis with material culture studies, examining how individuals expressed identity through sacred spaces, ritual practices, and social interactions. This approach has generated significant insights into elite self-representation and non-elite participation in religious contexts. Analysis of her 14 most recent publications (2007-2023) reveals consistent thematic threads: sustained focus on Karnak temple graffiti projects, evolving methodologies in biographical text interpretation, and increasing interdisciplinary engagement with gender/disability studies. Her collaborative work with the Centre Franco-Égyptien d’Étude des Temples de Karnak demonstrates fieldwork integration with epigraphic analysis. Her academic distinctions include: Fellow of St Cross College Honorary Fellow of The Queen's College Professor Frood actively mentors doctoral researchers across diverse topics including Deir el-Medina statuary, Hatshepsut's iconoclasm, ancient graffiti contexts, gendered domestic spaces, and kinship practices. Her Karnak Graffiti Project (2011-present), co-directed with Chiara Salvador and supported by CFEETK, represents a major sustained research initiative involving fieldwork at the temple of Ptah and eighth pylon, yielding publications, media features, and international scholarly collaborations. She co-directs the Karnak Graffiti Project, a decade-long international collaboration with the Centre Franco-Égyptien d’Étude des Temples de Karnak and Montpellier-based scholars, combining archaeological documentation, epigraphic recording, and digital analysis of temple graffiti across multiple Karnak sectors.
Dorothy Kim serves as Assistant Professor of English at Brandeis University with cross-appointments in the Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies and the Women's Studies Research Center. Her innovative scholarship bridges medieval literary studies, digital humanities, and critical race theory, examining how medieval history is weaponized by contemporary white supremacist movements and advocating for antiracist frameworks in academia. She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles and her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. Her educational trajectory reflects deep engagement with interdisciplinary approaches to literature and cultural studies. Kim's research centers on exposing the racialized foundations of medieval studies, particularly through projects analyzing digital white supremacy and medievalism's role in alt-right ideology. She pioneers methodologies connecting medieval women's literary cultures with contemporary trans feminism while interrogating Jewish/Christian difference in manuscript studies. Her work consistently challenges the field's historical whiteness and develops decolonial digital humanities practices. Her publication trends reveal a decisive shift toward critical race interventions in premodern studies, with increasing focus on database methodologies, sonic histories, and the material politics of medieval manuscript transmission. Recent works demonstrate how digital tools can either reinforce or dismantle racial hierarchies in academic knowledge production. Her distinguished honors include: 2023 Medieval Academy of America Article Prize in Critical Race Studies American Studies Association Digital Humanities Book Prize (2021) Society for Medieval Feminist Scholarship's Best Feminist Article Award (2021) AAUW Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018-2019) Folger Shakespeare Library Long-Term Fellowship (2025-2026) SSHRC, Ford Foundation, Fulbright, and Mellon fellowships Kim directs major collaborative projects including the NEH-funded An Archive of Early Middle English (161-manuscript database) and co-leads the Global Middle Ages Project. As co-director of RaceB4Race and the Reckonings Institute, she creates platforms for community archiving and social justice praxis. Her mentorship focuses on training students in critical digital methodologies through Brandeis' DH Lab while developing antifascist frameworks for humanities education. She currently leads the Brandeis University DH Lab housing her NEH project, co-edits Literature Compass's pre-1800 section, and develops two major book projects: Race, the Crusades, and the Katherine Group (based on her AAUW fellowship) and Music, Multimodal Manuscripts, and Remediating the Medieval Lyric for ArcPress.
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taşağıl is a prominent historian specializing in Turkic studies, Eurasian history, and pre-Islamic cultures. He holds the rank of Professor at Yeditepe University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, History Department, since 2015, and previously served at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. His academic journey includes a PhD from Istanbul University (1989-1991) and extensive research on ancient Turkic empires like the Gokturks and Huns. Education: PhD in General Turkish History (Istanbul University), MSc in Medieval History (Istanbul University), BA in History (Istanbul University). Affiliations: Currently at Yeditepe University; previously at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and Kirgizistan-Türkiye Manas Üniversitesi. Research Interests : Focuses on early Turkic states (Gokturks, Huns, Uyghurs), cross-cultural relations between Turkic and Chinese empires, shamanism, and pre-Islamic Turkic societies. His work bridges archaeology, ethnohistory, and political analysis, with a particular emphasis on primary sources like Chinese records and Orkhon inscriptions. Publications : Over 50 books and articles, including seminal works like Kök Tengri’nin Çocukları , Avrasya'nın Sekiz Asrı Çengizoğulları , and İslamiyet Öncesi Türkler . His research often examines the socio-political structures of nomadic empires and their legacy in Eurasian history. Awards : Recipient of the Moğalistan Devlet Onur Madalyası, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Tarih Ödülü, and numerous academic honors. His contributions to Turkic cultural heritage are widely recognized internationally. Grants & Projects : Led projects on Central Asian archaeology, cultural atlas of the Turkic world, and historical studies of Siberian tribes. Collaborated with institutions in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey. Teaching : Offers courses on pre-Islamic Turkic history, Eurasian empires, and historical methodology in Turkish and English.
Hans Beck serves as Professor of Greek History at the University of Münster (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität) since 2018, with an additional appointment as Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Arts at McGill University. His academic career includes previous positions as Professor of Ancient History and Director of Classical Studies at McGill University (2005-2018), Heisenberg Fellow at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt (2004-2005), and Research Assistant at the University of Cologne (1997-2004). Beck earned his academic training through doctoral studies at the Universities of Erlangen, Canterbury, and Cambridge (1989-1996), followed by a fellowship at the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, DC (2001-2002). His educational background reflects a strong international foundation in classical studies. His research spans multiple interconnected fields within ancient history, with particular emphasis on the history and culture of ancient Greece, historical geography of Greece, environmental studies of the ancient Greek world, political culture of the Roman Republic, and ancient historiography. Beck's work consistently explores themes of localism, federalism, and political structures across ancient societies, with notable contributions to understanding Greek city-states, regional identities, and comparative political systems. His approach often bridges geographical, historical, and cultural perspectives to examine how ancient communities organized themselves politically and maintained regional identities within larger frameworks. Analyzing his recent publications reveals a sustained focus on local political structures within broader contexts, particularly examining how Greek city-states maintained autonomy while participating in federal leagues. His work increasingly incorporates comparative approaches, connecting Greek political structures with those of Rome and even ancient China, reflecting his editorial work on cross-cultural studies. Beck demonstrates particular expertise in analyzing how physical landscapes shaped political organization and how religious practices reinforced regional identities. Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2018) Anneliese Maier Research Award from Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (2014) Heisenberg Fellowship from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2004) Doctoral scholarship from German Academic Exchange Service (1995) Doctoral scholarship from Hanns Seidel Foundation (1994) Beck has supervised numerous doctoral students including Jordan Christopher (2022), Chandra Giroux (2021), Wentian Fu (2020), Rebecca Robinson (2017), Alex McAuley (2015), and François Gauthier (2015), covering diverse topics from ancient Qin and Macedon to cult practices in ancient empires. His academic leadership extends to directing research projects B3-49 'Belonging in/to Lakonia' and B3-40 'Localism and Religion in Ancient Greece' within the Excellence Cluster focusing on 'Religious Diversity and Legal-Political Unity.' As head of the project 'Belonging in/to Lakonia' and 'Localism and Religion in Ancient Greece,' Beck leads interdisciplinary research teams examining archaeological and historical evidence from the Sanctuary of Apollo at Amyklai and its surroundings. His work integrates textual analysis with material culture studies, creating comprehensive approaches to understanding ancient regional identities and religious practices. Beck's leadership in these projects demonstrates his commitment to bridging traditional disciplinary boundaries in classical studies.
Mohsen Goudarzi is an Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at Harvard Divinity School (HDS), part of Harvard University. He joined the faculty in 2021 after teaching at the University of Minnesota. His academic background includes a PhD from Harvard University and an MA from Stanford University. His research focuses on the Qur’an and early Islamic history, employing literary, linguistic, comparative, and historical approaches. Key interests include the Qur’an’s role in Late Antique religious developments, Islamic exegetical traditions (tafsīr), and theological frameworks (kalām). His current projects explore the Qur’anic worldview’s interpretation and the significance of Meccan cultic rituals to early Islamic identity. He has received teaching excellence awards, including a certificate from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Educational Innovation and three teaching distinctions from Harvard’s Office of Undergraduate Education. Research outputs include groundbreaking articles on Qur’anic exegesis, cultic practices, and interreligious dynamics. Notable works analyze the Qur’an’s engagement with Abrahamic traditions, ritual practices in Mecca, and the textual history of early Islamic manuscripts. His collaborative work on the Ṣan‘ā’1 codex redefined understandings of early Qur’anic canonization. Teaching spans HDS and Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), covering Islamic studies, Qur’anic studies, and religious history. He advises students in HDS programs and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives at the intersection of theology, history, and textual criticism.
Albrecht Fuess is a Professor of Islamic Studies at Philipps University of Marburg since 2010, specializing in Middle Eastern History (13th–17th centuries), Mamluk socio-cultural dynamics, and contemporary European Islamic discourses. His research spans historical continuity in Ottoman-Mamluk-Safavid interactions, Islamic youth cultures, and Mediterranean geopolitics. Research Focus: Medieval Islamic history, Transottomanica mobility studies, Islam in Europe, and cultural integration of Muslim migrants. Awards: Le Studium Fellowship (2007–2009) at Université de Tours. His publications emphasize military-economy interplay, legitimacy through religious narratives, and resource management in empires, with a focus on Mamluk and Ottoman transformations. He has advised on doctoral projects covering topics like Islamic welfare, Arabic ʾAmālī literature, and Cypriot-Ottoman relations. Leadership: Co-coordinator of Transottomanica (DFG-SPP 1981), member of ANR and DAAD committees, and liaison professor for the German National Academic Foundation. Editorial Roles: Co-editor of 'Transottomanica' and 'Muslim Worlds' series, and advisory board member for journals in Cairo, Paris, and Leuven.
Susan Pfeiffer is a Research Professor of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, affiliated with the Department of Anthropology within the Faculty of Arts and Science. Her research focuses on bioarchaeology, skeletal biology of past populations, and repatriation of human remains, particularly among Southern African Khoe-San and North American Great Lakes communities. She holds a Ph.D. (1976), M.A. (1972), and B.A. (1968) in Anthropology and Religion from the University of Toronto and the University of Iowa. Education: Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of Toronto (1976) M.A. in Anthropology, University of Toronto (1972) B.A. in Religion, University of Iowa (1968) Her research interests include paleopathology, adult age estimation, evolutionary theory, and collaborations with Indigenous communities. Notable works include her 2022 book Osteobiographies , which explores repatriation frameworks globally, and studies on Huron-Wendat ancestral repatriation and Southern African skeletal analysis. Dr. Pfeiffer has received prestigious awards such as the 2019 AAAS Fellowship and the 2016 J. Norman Emerson Medal. Her publications bridge bioarchaeological methodological advancements with ethical repatriation practices, emphasizing cross-cultural collaboration in anthropology. Key Awards: AAAS Anthropology Section Fellowship (2019) Ontario Archaeological Association Medal (2016) University of Toronto Teaching Excellence Award (2001) Her work integrates skeletal analysis with community partnerships, addressing both scientific and cultural dimensions of human remains research. Collaborations with First Nations and African groups highlight her commitment to ethical, culturally sensitive archaeology.
Laurent Bricault is a Professor of Roman History at the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès, affiliated with the ERASMUS research team (Reception of Antiquity: Sources, Memory, Issues) under the Heritage, Literature, History (PLH) unit. His academic career spans institutions like the University of Poitiers (Master's 1986), Sorbonne (Doctorate 1994, HDR 2006), and Toulouse (since 2008). He specializes in the history of ancient religions, particularly Egyptian cults in the Roman world, provincial coinage, and Lagid/Roman Egypt. University of Poitiers - Master's in Ancient History (1986) Sorbonne - Doctorate in Egyptology (1994) Sorbonne - Habilitation to Direct Research (2006) Bricault's research explores the diffusion of Isiac cults, religious syncretism, and numismatic evidence for ancient beliefs. His recent publications focus on Mithraic studies, Egyptian deities in the Mediterranean, and domestic religious practices. He organizes international conferences and edits the Bibliotheca Isiaca series, contributing to the understanding of polytheistic traditions. Bricault co-edits the Supplements to the Bibliotheca Isiaca and collaborates on the Roman Provincial Coinage project. He curated the international exhibition Rome and the Mystery of Mithra (2021-2023) and maintains the RICIS online database for Isiac cult inscriptions. His work bridges epigraphy, numismatics, and cultural history to analyze religious networks across the Roman Empire.
Rodney Harrison is a Reader in Archaeology, Heritage and Museum Studies at the UCL Institute of Archaeology, University College London. He serves as the founding editor of the Journal of Contemporary Archaeology and has been Vice President of the Association of Critical Heritage Studies since 2012. His research focuses on critical heritage studies, contemporary archaeology, and future-making practices in heritage contexts. Harrison's work challenges traditional boundaries between past, present, and future in heritage discourse, emphasizing how heritage functions as a future-oriented practice. His research spans cultural and natural heritage, exploring connections between heritage conservation and other material legacy management systems, including nuclear waste disposal. Harrison leads the major international 'Heritage Futures' research program funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council. This project represents one of the largest critical, comparative ethnographic studies of heritage practices, examining how different forms of heritage function as distinctive future-making practices across diverse contexts. His scholarly contributions include more than a dozen books and over 60 peer-reviewed articles. Notable publications include Collecting, Ordering, Governing: Museums, Anthropology and Liberal Government (2016), Heritage: Critical Approaches (2013), Reassembling the Collection (2013), Understanding the Politics of Heritage (2011), and The Heritage Reader (2008). Harrison's work consistently engages with critical theory, challenging conventional heritage frameworks and exploring innovative approaches to understanding how material and cultural legacies shape future possibilities. His research has significant implications for heritage policy, conservation practice, and theoretical developments in critical heritage studies.
