Professor Feng Li is a faculty member at Columbia University, holding the position of Professor of Early Chinese History and Archaeology and serving as Director of the Tang Center for Early China. He is a visiting scholar at the University of Hamburg’s Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC) from June to August 2024. His research focuses on the rise of complex societies, early bureaucracies, epigraphy, and economic dynamics in ancient China. He has led international archaeological projects, including a survey in China (2006–2011), and authored influential works such as *Landscape and Power in Early China* (2006) and *Early China: A Social and Cultural History* (2014). During his CSMC residency, he is investigating the role of text templates in Western Zhou bronze inscriptions (1045–771 BCE). Education: PhD from University of Chicago (2000), MA from Institute of Archaeology, CASS (1986) Affiliations: Columbia University, CSMC (visiting), Tang Center for Early China His research integrates archaeology and textual analysis to explore state formation and material culture. Current projects include a new book on the economic history of late Bronze-Age China and interdisciplinary collaborations on manuscript cultures.
apl. Prof. Dr. Heike Sternberg-el Hotabi has served as Associate Professor (apl. Prof.) in the Department of Egyptology and Coptic Studies at the University of Göttingen since 2000. She previously held visiting positions at the University of Graz (2000-2010) and interim professorships in Basel (1999) while directing the DFG-funded Prosopographical Lexicon of Non-Royal Women of the New Kingdom (1999-2005). Education & academic milestones: 1974-1978: Undergraduate studies in Egyptology, Coptology and Assyriology, Göttingen & Tübingen 1980: M.A. Göttingen 1983: Ph.D. Tübingen 1995: Habilitation, Göttingen Research focus: Her work concentrates on Egyptian religion of the 1st millennium BCE, especially temple texts and decorative programs of the Greco-Roman period, Horus stelae, gender-specific prosopography, and cultural contacts under Persian rule. She combines philological analysis of hieroglyphic, Demotic and Coptic sources with broader questions of religious history and syncretism. Publication profile: Across five monographs and c. seventy articles she has treated royal annals, funerary religion, divine kingship, and the transformation of script and myth in Late Antique Egypt. Recent papers continue her long-term editorial commitment to the Göttinger Miszellen and the TUAT series, illustrating an enduring interest in editing and contextualising primary sources. Editorial & collaborative roles: Co-editor, Texte aus der Umwelt des Alten Testaments (Egyptology section), 1980-2000 Co-editor, TUAT.NF , since 2001 Editorial board, Göttinger Miszellen , since 2004 Member, Graduate School 896 “Images of Gods – Images of God – Worldviews” Advisory Board, journal Abgadiyat , Bibliotheca Alexandrina She currently advises from her office at Heinrich-Düker-Weg 14, 37073 Göttingen, and can be contacted at hsternb@uni-goettingen.de .
Lukas Bohnenkämper is a Research Associate at the Egyptian Museum and Assistant in the Department of Egyptology at the University of Bonn. He holds an MA and has been actively involved in teaching and research since 2012, with prior affiliations at the University of Basel, where he served as Assistant and Research Assistant. His work is centered on ancient Egyptian social systems, interregional contacts, and the historiography of Egyptology and Sudan archaeology, particularly from postcolonial and decolonial perspectives. His research interests include migration in the Middle Kingdom, priestly genealogies during the Kushite and Saite periods, and the colonial dynamics of American Egyptology in Sudan. He has taught courses on Abydos, the Middle Kingdom, and classical Egyptian texts, and has delivered lectures at institutions such as the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen and the University of Freiburg. The trends in his publications reflect a strong interdisciplinary focus, combining archaeology, epigraphy, and critical theory. His recent works analyze migration economies, colonial narratives in archaeology, and the transmission of religious titles, demonstrating a commitment to both empirical scholarship and methodological reflection. Startstipendium des Doktoratsprogramms der Basler Altertumswissenschaften (2015) Lukas Bohnenkämper has advised no formal students listed in the sources. He has not received external grants mentioned in the text but has been supported by stipends. He is affiliated with the Verband der Ägyptologie e.V. and the Verein zur Förderung des Ägyptischen Museums der Universität Bonn e.V. His academic work contributes to ongoing efforts to decolonize the field of Egyptology and promote inclusive scholarship.
Dr. James M. Burgin is a researcher at the University of Würzburg, where he serves as Head of the DFG Emmy Noether Junior Research Group 'The Hittite Annals: Origins, Purpose, and Afterlife' since 2021. He is affiliated with the Chair of Ancient Near Eastern Studies within the Institute of Classical Studies in the Faculty of Philosophy. Previously, he worked as a Research Assistant (leader) from 2017-2021 on the philological processing and analysis of the Hittite palace administration corpus. Born on October 9, 1984, Burgin earned his BA in South Asian Language and Civilization with a focus on Sanskrit from the University of Chicago (2002-2006), followed by an MA in Ancient Near Eastern Studies with a focus on Hittite studies (2008-2010). He completed his doctorate at the University of Chicago in 2016 with a dissertation titled 'Aspects of Religious Administration in the Hittite Late New Kingdom.' Burgin's research spans multiple dimensions of Hittite and Ancient Near Eastern studies, with particular expertise in Hittitology, the history of the Hittites, economic and administrative history, and Hieroglyphic Luwian. His work demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the interplay between linguistic, historical, and archaeological evidence. He has made significant contributions to understanding Hittite festival texts, economic administration, textile production, and linguistic phenomena such as the 'Initial-A-Final' in Hieroglyphic Luwian. His research often bridges disciplines, connecting linguistic analysis with historical context and material culture. His recent publications reveal a trajectory of increasingly sophisticated analysis of Hittite textual corpora, with a growing emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches that incorporate linguistic, historical, and archaeological perspectives. Burgin's work on the Hittite palace-temple administrative corpus has challenged conventional understandings of royal administration, while his linguistic studies have illuminated previously obscure aspects of Anatolian languages. Röntgen Prize of the University of Würzburg (2022) Burgin has been involved in significant research projects including the Corpus of Hittite Festival Rituals (2016-17) and the DFG-funded project on the Hittite palace administration corpus (2017-21). As leader of his Emmy Noether Research Group, he directs a major investigation into the Hittite Annals, examining their origins, purpose, and historical legacy. His work has been supported by prestigious funding mechanisms including the DFG Emmy Noether Program, which targets exceptional early-career researchers. As head of his research group, Burgin leads a team investigating the complex textual tradition of the Hittite Annals, which document the military campaigns and political activities of Hittite kings. His research environment combines philological expertise with interdisciplinary approaches to understanding Bronze Age Anatolian civilization.
Dr. Elena Luise Hertel is an affiliated researcher at the University of Hamburg’s Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC). She holds a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Basel (2024) and specializes in ancient Egyptian cursive scripts (Hieratic, Abnormal Hieratic, Demotic), focusing on materiality, writing across media, and cultural change during Egypt’s Late Bronze and Iron Ages. Her current project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, investigates the use of cursive script on stelae during the Third Intermediate Period. She also serves as Principal Investigator for this project (2025–2027). During her Petra Kappert Fellowship (Oct 2024–Mar 2025), she prepared interdisciplinary collaborations, finalized publications, and established technical frameworks for 3D scanning of stelae inscriptions. Education: PhD in Egyptology, University of Basel (2024); studies in Egyptology in Germany and the Netherlands. Research Focus: Materiality of writing, cultural transitions in ancient Egypt, and stelae inscriptions. Her work bridges archaeological and textual analysis, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to manuscript cultures. Projects & Labs: Leading a project on stelae inscriptions, integrating digital technologies like 3D scanning. Collaborates with scholars across disciplines at CSMC to explore script use beyond traditional media contexts.
Felix Blocher is a Professor of Near Eastern Archaeology at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. His career spans institutions including Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, and significant excavation projects in Syria. Key affiliations include the German Oriental Society (Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft), where he served as Deputy Secretary (1988-1994) and Secretary (2003-2015), and collaborative work with the Reiss Museum Mannheim. Born: 1956 in Basel, Switzerland Education: Doctorate (1985) and Habilitation (1995) in Near Eastern Archaeology Research Focus: Cylinder seals, Mesopotamian-Syrian cultural interactions, religious iconography, and Bronze Age stratigraphy. His work bridges epigraphic analysis with material culture studies, particularly in ancient Syria. Publications: Over 30 works including catalogues of Old Babylonian seal rolls, studies on Euphrates Valley stratigraphy, and reviews of key archaeological texts. His articles highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining art history and administrative archaeology. Scientific Contributions: DFG Postdoctoral Fellowship (1986-1989) Co-editor of Mitteilungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft (1988-1993, 2003-2014) Fieldwork: Deputy Director (1998-2010) and Editor (2000-2015) of Tall Munbaqa/Ekalte excavations in Syria, contributing to Late Bronze Age chronology.
Professor Imre Galambos is a leading scholar in Chinese Studies, affiliated with the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on Chinese manuscript culture, early Buddhist texts, and the material history of writing systems. He has held fellowships at the Center for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC) in Hamburg and contributed to projects like the SFB 950 ‘Manuscript Cultures in Asia, Africa and Europe’. His work bridges codicology, paleography, and cultural history, with notable publications on Dunhuang manuscripts and Tangut culture. Key projects include analyzing early Buddhist scrolls and codicological methods for dating undated manuscripts. His expertise spans medieval Chinese history, Sino-Tibetan relations, and the transmission of knowledge through material texts. Research Interests: Medieval Chinese manuscript culture Early Buddhist textual transmission Writing systems of early China and the Tangut empire Codicology and material analysis of scrolls Recent Work: Professor Galambos has emphasized the codicological study of early Chinese Buddhist manuscripts, exploring their role in the evolution of East Asian book forms. His 2020 book Dunhuang Manuscript Culture remains a landmark in the field. He collaborates internationally, leveraging interdisciplinary methods to decode the material and cultural dimensions of ancient texts.
H. Blum is a Senior Lecturer in Ancient History at the Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, University of Tübingen, where he has been serving since 2002. He also holds the senior academic staff position of Akademischer Oberrat since 2009, reflecting his long-standing contribution to teaching and research. Research Interests: His scholarly work focuses on ancient Anatolia, cultural interactions in the eastern Mediterranean, historical geography—particularly of Lycia—Homeric studies, Luwian presence in Greek epic, ancient epigraphy, and early Christian church organization. He has made significant contributions to understanding cultural continuity and exchange between Anatolia and its neighbors from the Neolithic to the Roman period. Publication Trends: His recent publications reflect an interdisciplinary approach, combining historical geography with archaeological and quaternary science methodologies. Earlier works emphasize textual analysis of hagiography, Homeric epics, and symbolic material culture such as purple dye. His research demonstrates a consistent focus on Anatolia's role in broader Mediterranean cultural dynamics. Scientific Awards: No specific awards mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: While no direct mention of advised students or specific grants is made, his role as Senior Lecturer and his involvement in research training groups and collaborative projects suggest active participation in mentoring and funded research. He was part of a research training group on 'Anatolia and her neighbors' and has co-edited volumes with colleagues, indicating collaborative academic leadership. Labs and Teams: He was affiliated with the research training group 'Anatolia and her neighbors – cultural interactions and development of civilization from the Neolithic Age to the Roman Empire' and has collaborated with scholars such as Betina Faist, Peter Pfälzner, and Anne Wittke. His work is embedded within the Institute of Ancient History at Tübingen, contributing to its strong tradition in Anatolian and classical studies.
Dr. Andreas Fuls is a Researcher at the Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation Science at TU Berlin, specializing in historical cartography, archaeoastronomy, and ancient writing systems. He earned his doctorate in History of Natural Sciences from the University of Hamburg (2007) and has worked at TU Berlin since 1988. His research includes analysis of Ptolemy's world map, astronomical dating of Maya culture, and decipherment of ancient scripts like Indus Valley and Cretan Hieroglyphics. He has developed computational methods for analyzing archaeological inscriptions and reconstructing historical maps. Fuls received scientific awards including Jugend forscht prizes and maintains research websites on epigraphy and archaeoastronomy.
Dr. Metin Alparslan is an Associate Professor at Istanbul University, specializing in Hethitology. He has been actively involved in archaeological excavations at Hattusha/Boğazköy, Elbistan Karahöyük, Oylum Höyük, and the Yesemek Survey since the late 1990s. His academic career spans roles as a scientific assistant (1997), assistant professor (2008), and associate professor (2018). He is a member of the Türk Eskiçağ Bilimleri Enstitüsü (since 2013) and corresponding member of the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (since 2015). Education: Began with Classical Archaeology, later obtained Magister Artium (2000) and PhD (2007) in Hethitology from Istanbul University. Metin Alparslan focuses on Hittite historical geography, political structures, and trade routes in Anatolia. His research explores the topography of Hattusa, administrative practices in the Hittite Empire, and the integration of archaeological and textual evidence. He contributes to interdisciplinary projects under the DFG Centre for Advanced Study 2615, particularly on rethinking 'Oriental Despotism' through Hittite and Anatolian studies. His publications from 1999–2019 include analyses of Hittite trade, historical geography, seals, hieroglyphs, and archaeological contexts. Collaborative works often involve his spouse, M. Doğan-Alparslan, and colleagues like A. Dinçol and E. Konyar. He has contributed to projects such as the Boğazköy-Hattuşa excavations and the Yesemek Survey, combining philology with fieldwork. As a visiting scientist at KFG 2615 (May–July 2020), he collaborated on interdisciplinary research. His expertise bridges textual analysis with material culture, emphasizing the synthesis of historical and archaeological data in Anatolia.
Dr. Ondřej Škrabal is a Research Fellow at the University of Hamburg’s Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC) and a member of the Cluster of Excellence ‘Understanding Written Artefacts’ (UWA). He serves as spokesperson for Research Field J: 'Situating Graffiti' and co-leads the 'Theory and Terminology' working group. His primary affiliation is with the CSMC, part of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Hamburg. Dr. Škrabal holds a PhD in ancient Chinese history from Peking University (2019) and a Sinology degree from Charles University (2011). He has held visiting positions at institutions including the University of Oxford, University of Chicago, and Beijing Normal University. His research focuses on the intersection of history, philology, and art history in early China, with a specialization in epigraphic and manuscript sources. His current projects include investigating the role of manuscripts in the production of early Chinese bronze inscriptions and the longue durée social history of graffiti in East Asia. Key outputs include the co-edited volume Graffiti Scratched, Scrawled, Sprayed (2023) and contributions to the English-Chinese Glossary of Manuscriptology (2025). He has received the Petra Kappert Fellowship (2019) and has presented widely on topics such as Shang-Zhou bronze craftsmanship and the Tsinghua manuscripts. His work bridges material culture studies and textual analysis, emphasizing the materiality of written artifacts. He collaborates with the CSMC’s Graduate School and contributes to interdisciplinary projects on cultural heritage preservation.
Thomas Asselborn is a Researcher at the University of Hamburg, affiliated with the Institute for Humanities-Centered Artificial Intelligence (CHAI) and the Artificial Intelligence in Humanities group under Prof. Dr. Möller. His work focuses on creating sustainable information systems and AI models for humanities research. Current projects include OCR error correction using transformer models Development of chatbots for tabular data evaluation Data curation frameworks for cultural heritage preservation His research intersects artificial intelligence and digital humanities, particularly in digitization and data sustainability challenges. Recent publications address data linking infrastructure, repository usability, and AI applications for manuscript analysis. Asselborn contributes to initiatives like the Excellence Cluster 'Understanding Written Artefacts' (UWA) and participates in workshops on language models in humanities research.
Jochen Hermann Vennebusch is a Researcher at the University of Hamburg's Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures, where he leads the project 'Epigraphies of the Corpus: Textual Negotiations of Sacred Power on Medieval Liturgical Artefacts'. His research examines the interplay between text, object, and devotion in medieval religious artifacts. Vennebusch investigates how inscriptions on liturgical objects like baptismal fonts, reliquaries, and candelabra mediated sacred power in late medieval Europe. His work connects material culture with theological concepts through detailed analysis of objects from German ecclesiastical collections, particularly focusing on Lübeck's church treasures.
Professor Dr. Kai Vogelsang leads research in Sinology at the University of Hamburg's Department of State and Society, focusing on Chinese manuscript traditions and historical linguistics. His work bridges ancient legal texts, administrative documents, and cultural preservation. Research domains include: Reconstruction of classical Chinese linguistic systems Analysis of dynastic administrative frameworks Conservation of fragile manuscript artifacts Comparative analysis of East Asian historiographies Publications emphasize philological rigor and material analysis of primary sources. Recent works explore textual transmission pathways and manuscript authentication methodologies. No awards or student mentorship details were documented.
Marie Louise B Nosch is a Professor of Ancient Greek History at the University of Copenhagen since 2009, with significant leadership roles including Vice-President of ALLEA (All European Academies) and former President of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters (2020-2024). Her academic journey includes studies in Ancient Greek History at institutions in Nancy (France) and Napoli (Italy), culminating in a doctoral thesis completed at the University of Salzburg (Austria). Professor Nosch's research specializes in Aegean epigraphy and Mycenaean Linear B inscriptions , with groundbreaking work on ancient textile production that bridges archaeological evidence with textual analysis. Her interdisciplinary approach has established new methodologies for studying Bronze Age administrative systems through textile economies. She directed the Danish National Research Foundation's Centre for Textile Research (2005-2016), creating a globally recognized hub for experimental archaeology and material culture studies, and co-founded a university-wide talent program for early-career scholars in 2018.
