Professor Sue Niebrzydowski holds a professorship in Medieval Literature at Bangor University's School of Arts, Culture and Language. She serves as Dean of Postgraduate Research and previously directed the Graduate School for the College of Arts and Humanities. Her scholarly work focuses on medieval women's writing, devotional practices, and the intersections of gender, material culture, and life course studies. PhD supervision in medieval women's literature Director of Stephen Colclough Centre for History and Culture of the Book Editorial leadership in Yearbook of English Studies Research themes include: Medieval women's engagement with literature Materiality of devotional texts Ageing and female representation Marian devotion in lay contexts Recent publications examine: Chaucerian manuscript traditions Medieval book of hours practices Global medieval women's writing Scientific Awards: Fellow of the Royal Historical Society Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales Fellow of the English Association Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Dr Rehana Ahmed is a Reader in Postcolonial and Contemporary Literature at Queen Mary University of London's School of English and Drama. She holds a BA from Oxford, MA from Sussex, and PhD from Nottingham Trent. Previously, she worked at Teesside University and contributed to the AHRC-funded 'Making Britain' project at The Open University. She co-leads the AHRC-funded 'Remaking Britain' project with Bristol University, exploring South Asian connections from the 1830s. Her research focuses on British Muslim/Asian literature, multiculturalism, and diaspora history. She co-edits Wasafiri , Journal of Commonwealth Literature , and the Multicultural Textualities book series. Her teaching includes courses on postcolonial and global literatures, such as ESH285 and ESH6086. Current research explores solidarity in British South Asian writing and the historical South Asian diaspora. She supervises PhD projects on topics like the Wasafiri archive and race in post-millennial fiction. Public engagement includes curation of literary festivals, database projects on South Asian history, and decolonizing cultural initiatives.
Csaba Horvath (born 1967) is an associate professor at the Department of Modern Hungarian Literature and Comparative Literature within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Károli Gáspár Reformed University. He holds a habilitation from ELTE (2017) and earned his PhD from ELTE in 2002 with a dissertation on 'Education and narration in the European novel.' Previously, he worked as a senior research fellow at the Petőfi Literary Museum and as a secondary school teacher at Óbudai Gimnázium. His educational background includes an MA in Hungarian language and literature from ELTE (1993) and a Diploma in advanced studies from Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris (1994). Horvath's research focuses on contemporary Hungarian literature, 20th century Hungarian literature, aesthetics, literary theory, and popular culture, with particular emphasis on post-postmodern and epimodern literary theory. Horvath has published extensively from 1995 to 2025, with recent work exploring epimodern Hungarian literature, contemporary narrative structures, and the relationship between literature and philosophy. His publications reveal a consistent engagement with Hungarian literary modernity and its evolution through postmodern and epimodern phases, examining how contemporary Hungarian authors navigate historical consciousness, narrative form, and aesthetic innovation. National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDIO) Project No. 150051: 'Researches of ERA (Epimodern Research Atelier)' Contemporary Central European Novel Research Group Hungarian Literary History for Foreigners MTA-ELTE Elegy research group Lajos Grendel research group Biofiction Research Group Horvath has served as a doctoral supervisor for Adam Barta (ELTE, 2023) and as an opponent in doctoral defenses for Janos Fejes (2018), Deák Szebeni Imola (2024), and András Pikó (2025). He has held numerous guest professorships across Europe including at Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris (2006, 2012), Charles University in Prague (2019, 2022), Nouvelle Sorbonne in Paris 3 (2021, 2023), and the University of Warsaw (2023).
Prof. dr. Willemijn Ruberg is a Full Professor of Cultural History of the Body at Utrecht University since 2025 and Head of the Cultural History group. She is affiliated with the Humanities Research Institute for History and Art History and serves on the editorial board of the Journal for the History of Knowledge . Her research focuses on the intersection of gender, law, forensic practices, and body history in modern Europe. Key Projects : Principal investigator for the ERC-funded FORCe project (2018-2024) on forensic practices in Europe (1930-2000). Leadership : Founded the Research Network for Culture, Law and the Body with Elwin Hofman. Research Interests include: Cultural History of Bodily Integrity Rights (19th-21st Century) Gender and Forensic Expertise History of Medical Jurisprudence Emotions in Legal Contexts Material Turn in Humanities Recent Publications span edited volumes and articles on forensic cultures, bodily integrity, and gender in legal history. She has contributed to Law and History Review , Gender and History , and History of Psychiatry . Scientific Awards : ERC Consolidator Grant (2018) Praemium Erasmianum (2025) as co-promotor Aspasia Grants (2014, 2015) DAAD Scholarship (2003) Supervision includes PhD students on topics ranging from queer bar heritage to forensic psychiatry and Roman borderlands. She serves on doctoral committees at Ghent and KU Leuven. Additional Roles : Coordinating editor for the International Journal for History, Culture and Modernity (2012-2016), current board member of Huizinga Institute.
Ilaria Riccioni is an Associate Professor of General Sociology at the Faculty of Education , Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. She earned her PhD in Social Theory and Research from Sapienza University in Rome and has been a tenured academic since 2007. Her work bridges sociological theory with applied research in multicultural contexts. Education: PhD in Social Theory and Research, Sapienza University, Rome. Research Focus: Sociological theory, avant-garde art as critique, multicultural coexistence, and institutional roles in education and social dynamics. Her recent publications analyze theatre's role in mediating social boundaries, art's relationship with capitalist markets, and methodologies for integrating qualitative research with artistic expression. As President of the ISA's Research Committee RC37 (Sociology of the Arts), she leads global discourse on art's sociological implications. Scientific Leadership: President of RC37 (ISA), 2025–. Teaching: Courses include Epistemology of Educational and Social Sciences and Fundamentals of General Sociology. Her empirical studies focus on South Tyrol's trilingual society, examining how artistic practices foster cohesion across cultural divides and redefine public spheres in digital globalization.
Anna Weinstein is an Associate Professor of Screenwriting in the Department of English at Kennesaw State University, where she coordinates the Graduate Certificate in Screen & Television Writing. She is a core faculty member in the Master of Arts in Professional Writing program and an affiliated faculty member in the Gender and Women's Studies program. Her educational background includes an M.F.A. in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts from the University of California, Riverside, and a B.A. in Speech Communication from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Anna's research focuses on screenwriting, women's representation in film and television, and industry studies. Her creative work includes developing a limited series on Georgian author Lillian E. Smith and adapting 'The Jack Tales' for film. She frequently explores contributions of women both in front of and behind the camera, advancing critical discourse on gender in media. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent emphasis on female-driven narratives and global women directors. Her work predominantly features interviews with filmmakers and critical analyses of women's roles in cinema history, highlighting diverse voices and underscoring her commitment to documenting underrepresented perspectives in screenwriting and media studies. Anna Weinstein serves as Secretary for the Screenwriting Research Network (2022-2024) and Co-chair of the Film Area for the Popular Culture Association (2021-present). As Coordinator of the Graduate Certificate program, she mentors students in screenwriting and professional writing, fostering next-generation media creators through curriculum development and personalized guidance.
Dr. Richard Vytniorgu is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care within the School of Health and Social Work at the University of Hertfordshire. His interdisciplinary research focuses on LGBTQ+ belonging and inclusion across the life course, with methodological expertise in narrative and autobiographical representation in diverse media. PhD in English Literature, De Montfort University (2017) MA in Victorian Studies, De Montfort University (2013) BA (Hons) in History and Sociology, De Montfort University (2011) Vytniorgu explores intergenerational exchange, male homosexuality across cultures (particularly effeminacy and 'the bottom' identity), and the impact of online sexual identity mediation on wellbeing. His recent work investigates how wisdom and belonging emerge through LGBTQ+ intergenerational dialogue via arts engagement. He also studies loneliness and belonging among higher education students, supported by grants from AHRC , ESRC , and Wellcome . His publications span narrative analysis of gay men's experiences on platforms like Reddit, effeminate belonging, and intersectional studies of marginalized LGBTQ+ communities. Vytniorgu supervises students in DClinPsy and Professional Doctorate schemes, bridging clinical psychology with literary and sociological perspectives.
Sarah Jacoby is a Professor of Religious Studies at Northwestern University , specializing in Tibetan Buddhism with particular focus on gender and sexuality, religious autobiography, Buddhist revelation, and Tibetan literature. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and previously held a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University’s Society of Fellows in the Humanities. Key academic affiliations: Northwestern University (2009–present), Columbia University (postdoc), University of Virginia (Ph.D.) Teaching areas: Introduction to Buddhism, Buddhism and Gender, Tibetan Religion and Culture, Feminist Theory, Religion and Celibacy Research Themes : Jacoby’s work centers on Tibetan Buddhist women’s voices through textual translation and analysis. Her groundbreaking study of Sera Khandro (1892–1940) explores: Autobiographical ventriloquy and spiritual legitimacy Interdependent personhood and relational ethics Translation methodology as ethical practice Gender dynamics in tantric Buddhist practices Academic Impact : 2016 E. Gene Smith Book Prize for Love and Liberation 2015 American Academy of Religion Book Award Finalist Co-organizer of 2022 Tibetan translation workshop Advocate for Tibetan script in academic publications Key Projects : Current book project on Lelung Zhepai Dorjé’s biographical texts Khyentse Foundation Buddhist Studies Lecture Series chair Collaborative translation initiatives with Tibetan writers and scholars
Andrea Bachner is a Professor of Comparative Literature at Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences. She served as Director of the East Asia Program (2019–2022) and contributes to transregional research through editorial and committee roles. Her work bridges Sinophone, Latin American, and European cultural productions. MA, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich PhD, Harvard University Her research focuses on theories of interculturality, media studies (visuality/textuality), gender/sexuality, and transcultural queer theory. She examines how cultural comparison reshapes literary and media analysis, with attention to Sinophone diasporic and minor cultural expressions. Her recent publications explore Sinographic practices in global contexts, poststructuralist media theory, and cross-Pacific cultural projects. Key journals include Comparative Literature , Modern Chinese Literature and Culture , and Oxford Handbook of Modern Chinese Literatures . Notable awards include the 2002 Owen A. Aldridge Prize for her article in Comparative Literature Studies . She teaches courses on literary theory, Judith Butler, and global literature at Cornell.
Kata Gyuris is an Assistant Professor at Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, Department of English Studies, specializing in African literature, gender studies, and trauma theory. She holds a PhD in comparative African literature with a focus on violence in contemporary Anglophone and Francophone fiction, currently adapting her dissertation into a book. Visiting scholar at University of Kwazulu-Natal’s School of Oriental and African Studies Co-organized 2019 conference on Performativity in Contemporary Culture Co-authored Turning the Page: Gendered Identities in Contemporary Literary and Visual Cultures (2018) Her research intersects African literature with gender studies , trauma analysis , and postcolonial discourse , examining how violence and identity are represented in works by authors like Coetzee, Adichie, and Le Clézio. Her recent articles explore feminist narrative structures in African coming-of-age stories and ethics of reconciliation in apartheid literature. While no explicit scientific awards are documented, her scholarly output spans critical essays on postcolonial allegory, queer theory, and intertextuality across Hungarian, English, and French contexts.
Kyoko Iwaki is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Literature of the University of Antwerp, with a focus on Japanese theatre, performance studies, and post-catastrophe narratives. She actively engages in collaborative research and holds internal governance roles, including membership in the Departmental Council for Literature and the Education Committee for the Educational Master in Languages. Her research explores Japanese contemporary theatre's intersections with ethics, digital performance, and nuclear trauma. Key themes include collaborative methodologies, liminality, and the philosophical implications of post-Fukushima art. Her work spans classical adaptations, avant-garde practices, and interdisciplinary approaches to performance. Recent publications analyze experimental Japanese theatre (Okada Toshiki, Sankai Juku), post-disaster memory, and the politics of digital pandemic spaces. She contributes to global discourse through interviews with practitioners and critiques of institutional frameworks in theatre and academia.
Alan Stewart is a Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, specializing in early modern British literature, history, and culture. He previously taught at Queen Mary and Birkbeck, University of London, before joining Columbia in 2003. His research focuses on early modern English literature, manuscript studies, gender studies, queer theory, and the history of the book. Education: B.A. (1988) and M.A. (1992) from the University of Cambridge; Ph.D. (1993) from the University of London. Research Interests: Stewart’s work spans early modern literature, cultural history, and manuscript studies. He has published extensively on figures like Francis Bacon, Philip Sidney, and James VI and I. His notable books include Close Readers: Humanism and Sodomy in Early Modern England , Hostage to Fortune: The Troubled Life of Francis Bacon , and Philip Sidney: A Double Life . He co-edited the Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of English Renaissance Literature and directs the Oxford Francis Bacon project. Publications Trends: His articles and books analyze early modern intellectual history, biography, and the intersection of literature with political and social contexts. Recent works emphasize life-writing, textual editing, and the materiality of manuscripts. Scientific Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship (2011–12), British Academy awards, Folger Shakespeare Library grants. Advising & Grants: He served as Director of Graduate Studies (2012–2015), Chair (2018–2021), and Associate Chair (2023) in Columbia’s English department. He co-chairs the University Seminar in the Renaissance and leads the Centre for Editing Lives and Letters in London. Labs/Teams: Directs the Oxford Francis Bacon project and co-leads the Centre for Editing Lives and Letters , focusing on early modern correspondence and textual scholarship.
Aaron Cassidy is an American composer and conductor based in Berlin and Hannover. He serves as Professor of Composition and Director of Incontri – Institut für neue Musik at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover. His work emphasizes innovative graphical notations prioritizing physical sound production and non-geometrical rhythm theory. Cassidy’s compositions have been performed globally across 29 countries, with 12 commercial recordings on major labels like Kairos and NEOS. As a conductor, he specializes in contemporary and historical repertoire, leading over 100 world premieres with ensembles such as Ensemble Musikfabrik and ELISION. Notable engagements include the Munich Biennale and Melbourne Recital Centre. His recent research includes a 2025 reflection on non-geometrical rhythm and collaborative Erasmus+ residencies in Klagenfurt. Current projects include works for bassoon, violin-piano duet, and ANAM residency with ELISION in Melbourne (2025). Cassidy’s academic focus bridges compositional theory and performance practice. His research explores notation’s role in shaping musical interpretation, with particular attention to rhythm’s non-metric frameworks. Recent works like Reassessing Non-Geometrical Rhythm (2025) synthesize a decade of theoretical development. His teaching integrates experimental techniques and historical context, fostering innovation in Hannover’s new music institute.
Dr. Troy Michael Bordun is an Assistant Professor in the English Department within the Faculty of Indigenous Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Northern British Columbia, where he teaches film and television studies. He holds a PhD in Cultural Studies from Trent University, an MA from Brock University, and a BA Honours from the University of Toronto. His academic journey includes prior teaching positions as a contract instructor at Concordia University (Film Studies, Sociology, Art History, Communication Studies), Trent University (Cultural Studies, Sociology), and Bishop's University (English and Film Studies), where he received Trent University's part-time teaching award. Dr. Bordun's research spans film and media studies, celebrity studies, porn studies, and comics studies, with particular expertise in contemporary superhero comics, continental philosophy, and online pornography. His work examines genre theory, spectatorship, and the intersections of cinema with gender, sexuality, and power structures. His scholarship demonstrates a consistent theoretical sophistication, drawing on phenomenological approaches, affect theory, and continental philosophy to analyze cinematic experiences. His publications reveal a thematic trajectory connecting extreme cinema, pornography studies, and superhero narratives. The articles show his ability to bridge theoretical frameworks with close readings of specific films, often focusing on how cinematic form engages with philosophical concepts. His work consistently addresses how film genres function as sites for ethical and political critique, particularly regarding gender representation and power dynamics. Genre Trouble and Extreme Cinema: Film Theory at the Fringes of Contemporary Art Cinema (2017) SSHRC Explore Grant recipient Research Strategic Initiatives Grant (UNBC) Editorial board member for Comics Studies: Theory and Practice and Porn Studies Co-Chair of Comics Studies Special Interest Group (Society for Cinema and Media Studies) Dr. Bordun actively supervises graduate students in English and is available as a media expert on film and television studies. His current research includes developing a manuscript linking contemporary superhero comics and continental philosophy, an edited collection about the Invincible transmedia franchise, and ongoing research on online pornography, labor, platforms, and celebrity.
Austin Bunn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University, where he also serves as Director of the Milstein Program in Technology and Humanity. His career bridges academia, filmmaking, and literary arts, with expertise in screenwriting, short film production, and creative nonfiction. Education B.A. in American Studies, Yale University M.F.A. in Fiction & Playwriting, University of Iowa Writers' Workshop Research and Creative Interests: Austin's work spans screenwriting pedagogy, LGBTQ+ narratives in film, and interdisciplinary storytelling. His recent focus includes audio drama development and rural queer representation in documentary media. Selected Scientific Awards: Carpenter Memorial Advising Award (2017) Audie Award for Best Fiction Collection (2017) Michener-Copernicus Fellowship International Days Prize, Venice Film Festival Advising and Professional Impact: He has mentored at the Screenwriters' Colony and Outfest Screenwriting Lab, and won the Carpenter Memorial Advising Award for connecting students with industry professionals. His Milstein Program leadership fosters collaborations between technology and humanities.
