Cesar Dominguez Prieto is an Associate Professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela. His research focuses on comparative literature, including Transatlantic Studies, Comparative European Literature, and the methodology of comparative literary analysis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Valencia (1994) and a Doctorate from the University of Santiago de Compostela (2000-2001), both with Excellence Awards. He has received significant recognition, including the Jean Monnet Chair (2012) for his work on European Integration's cultural dimensions and membership in the prestigious Academia Europaea (2010). His academic career emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to literary studies across Iberian and European contexts. Key Awards: Jean Monnet Chair (European Commission) Academia Europaea Membership Galician Government Academic Excellence Award (2009) His work bridges theoretical frameworks in comparative literature with practical applications in translation studies and world literature, reflecting a commitment to transnational cultural analysis.
Martin Procházka is Professor of English, American, and Comparative Literature at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague. He holds visiting roles at the University of Porto and the University of Kent, including Honorary Visiting Professor since 2021. His research spans Intercultural communication Romanticism Comparative literature Scottish literature American colonial literature , with a focus on authorship, adaptation studies, and the intersections of European Romanticism with Czech cultural contexts. Procházka's recent publications include the 2024 edited book From Shakespeare to Autofiction , which critically engages with Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault's theories of authorship, and the 2022 theoretical work on autopoietic systems and intercultural communication. His scholarship often bridges historical and contemporary debates, such as in the 2021 Romanticism and Periodisation roundtable. He has received the Comenius Medal (1992) for educational research and led the H2020 MSCA ITN European Joint Doctorate Migration and Modernity (MOVES) from 2018 to 2023. Procházka also served as President of the Czech Association for the Study of English (2004-2014) and on the Advisory Board of the International Association of Byron Societies (1999-2024). As founding editor of the Scopus-indexed journal Litteraria Pragensia , he has shaped academic discourse on literary theory and comparative studies. His work on Scottish Enlightenment and Czech modernist reception of William Blake highlights his interdisciplinary approach.
Nicolas Mathevon is a Professor at the University of Saint-Etienne and a Senior Member of the Institut universitaire de France (IUF). His research focuses on bioacoustics and animal communication, spanning from marine mammals to birds. He has held visiting positions at Hunter College (City University of New York) and the University of California, Berkeley. Education Habilitation à diriger les Recherches (2002, University of Saint-Etienne) PhD (1996, University of Lyon 1) Master's Degree (ranked 2nd, University of Lyon 1) Agrégation in Life and Earth Sciences (ranked 8th) Mathevon's research explores how animals use sound for social interactions, mate selection, and environmental adaptation. His work bridges bioacoustics, neuroethology, and behavioral ecology, with a focus on decoding vocal signals' complexity. His publications cover diverse topics including animal soundscapes, vocal memory in seals, and neural encoding of communication calls. The articles highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining neuroscience, behavioral studies, and acoustic signal analysis. Scientific Awards Prose Award for Excellence in Biological and Life Sciences, AAP (2024) Chevalier des Palmes Académiques (2017) IUF Senior Member (2015-present) IUF Junior Member (2005-2010) Mathevon has supervised 17 PhD students, 10 postdocs, and contributed to public outreach through media, documentaries, and public lectures. He leads the International Master of Bioacoustics program and serves as President of the International BioAcoustic Society.
Celâl Sengör serves as Professor of Geology at Istanbul Technical University since 1992, following prior roles as Reader (1986-1992) and Lecturer (1981-1986) in the same department. His international experience includes Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Oxford's Department of Earth Sciences (1989), Visiting Scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (1984-1985), and Research Assistant at the University of Houston (1975-1976). He earned all academic degrees from the State University of New York: Bachelor's (1978), Master's (1979), and PhD (1982). Professor Sengör's research centers on continental formation mechanisms , regional tectonics , seismotectonic processes , and Asian plate dynamics . His work integrates field geology with theoretical models to reconstruct Earth's crustal evolution, particularly focusing on the complex deformation history of Eurasia. This research has established fundamental frameworks for understanding mountain belt formation and continental collision zones. His exceptional contributions are recognized by numerous prestigious honors: Mary C. Rabbitt Award (Geological Society of America, 2017) Membership in Leopoldina National Academy of Sciences (2012) Gustav Steinmann Medal (Geological Union, 2010) Gordon W. Moore Distinguished Scholar at Caltech (2001-2002) Election to US National Academy of Sciences (2000) Bigsby Medal (Geological Society of London, 1999) Membership in Société Géologique de France (1994) Honorary membership in Austrian Geological Society (1990) Fellowship in Geological Society of America (1988) Honorary doctorate from Université de Neuchatel (1988) Foreign membership in American Philosophical Society, US National Academy of Sciences, and Russian Academy of Sciences Professor Sengör has held significant leadership roles including President of the Earth Sciences Society of Turkey (2005) and Chairman of the History of Geology Division at the Geological Society of America (2001-2002). While his academic supervision and grant activities aren't detailed in available records, his institutional leadership demonstrates substantial influence in global geological communities. His current research continues to advance tectonic theory through comparative analysis of continental collision zones worldwide.
Jonathan R. Lyon is Professor of History of the High and Late Middle Ages at the Institute for Austrian Historical Research within the Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies at the University of Vienna. He maintains office hours on Thursdays from 14:00-16:00 (available via Zoom by appointment) and can be contacted at jonathan.lyon@univie.ac.at or +43-1-4277-27297. His educational background includes: B.A. in History and Latin, Colgate University (1997, Summa cum laude) Exchange year at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (1996) M.A. in History, University of Notre Dame (1999) Ph.D. in History, University of Notre Dame (2005) Lyon's research centers on the Holy Roman Empire during the High and Late Middle Ages, European political and social structures (1000-1500), the evolution of statehood, corruption mechanisms, medieval kinship systems, and gender dynamics with particular emphasis on masculinity. His work examines how political power, social networks, and religious institutions intersected in shaping medieval governance and community life, often challenging traditional narratives about medieval state formation through comparative analysis of German and Hungarian contexts. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent chronological focus on the 12th-15th centuries with increasing attention to corruption, gender, and monastic institutions since 2015. His scholarship demonstrates methodological diversity through charter analysis, prosopography, and comparative institutional studies, while maintaining thematic continuity in examining power dynamics between nobility, monarchy, and religious entities across Central Europe. His major scientific awards include: 2024 Otto Gründler Book Prize for Corruption, Protection and Justice in Medieval Europe: A Thousand-Year History 2017 John Nicholas Brown Prize for Princely Brothers and Sisters: The Sibling Bond in German Politics, 1100–1250 Lyon has secured prestigious research funding including the Fulbright Fellowship (2000-2001), DAAD Research Fellowship (2007), FWF Lise Meitner Fellowship (2013-2014), and Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship (2017-2018). He served as Academic Director of the Berlin Consortium for German Studies (2012-2013) and currently advises the Manchester Medieval Sources Series. His ongoing projects include editing charters of Quedlinburg abbesses and authoring an introductory text on the medieval Holy Roman Empire.
Annette Schellenberg-Lagler serves as Professor of Old Testament Studies at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Protestant Theology, where she concurrently holds leadership roles as Vice Dean, Director of Studies, and Deputy Head of the Institute for Old Testament Studies and Biblical Archaeology. Her academic career spans over two decades with significant contributions to biblical scholarship since joining Vienna in 2015 after positions at the University of Zurich and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Her educational foundation includes Protestant Theology studies at the University of Zurich (1991-1998), followed by doctoral completion in 2002 and habilitation in 2011 at the same institution. Key developmental phases include Swiss National Science Foundation research in Los Angeles (2003-2005) and tenure-track professorship in California (2007-2015). Schellenberg-Lagler's research centers on Prehistory (Genesis 1-11), Priestly literature, Wisdom literature, and the Song of Songs, with specialized focus on Old Testament Anthropology and theological controversies within ancient Near Eastern contexts. Her work consistently bridges textual analysis with anthropological and epistemological frameworks, particularly examining human cognition in wisdom texts and sensory dimensions in biblical poetry. Current projects include a Song of Songs commentary for Eerdmans' Illuminations series. Recent publications reveal evolving scholarly trajectories toward negative theology in Hebrew Bible studies and interdisciplinary epistemology, while maintaining deep engagement with Wisdom literature. Her editorial leadership as Editor-in-Chief of Vetus Testamentum since 2020 significantly shapes contemporary Old Testament scholarship. She actively mentors students through STEOP-Mentoring programs and doctoral seminars, building on early-career support from Swiss National Science Foundation and Zurich Young Talents scholarships. Her academic service extends to steering committees for the Society of Biblical Literature's 'Wisdom in Israelite Traditions' group and the Working Group on Old Testament Reception (AKRAT). As a core member of Vienna's Research Center 'Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society' (RaT), she collaborates across multiple networks including the 'Epistemology in ancient Israel' consortium. Her institutional leadership drives curriculum development for Evangelical Theology programs while maintaining active participation in European scholarly societies like EABS and SBL.
Ramón Soneira Martínez is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Austrian Archaeological Institute's Department of Classical Studies. He holds a Degree in History from the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain) with a focus on Ancient History, a Master's degree in Religious Studies, and a PhD in Religious Studies from the Max-Weber-Kolleg of the University of Erfurt (Germany) and the University of Graz (Austria). His academic career centers on interdisciplinary approaches to ancient religious phenomena. Education : Bachelor's Degree in History (Ancient History focus), Complutense University of Madrid Master's Degree in Religious Studies Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Religious Studies, Max-Weber-Kolleg (University of Erfurt) and University of Graz Research Interests : Ramón specializes in Ancient History of Religion, Theory and Methodology of Religious Studies, Religious Deviance, and Atheism in the ancient Mediterranean. His work explores unbelief narratives, sacred spatial practices, and biopolitical dimensions of religious systems in Greco-Roman contexts. Publication Trends : His recent scholarship (2020–2025) examines atheistic positions in Classical Athens, interdisciplinary frameworks for analyzing ancient religion, biopolitical dimensions of marriage, and ecological interpretations of sacred landscapes. These works frequently engage with Platonic philosophy, pre-Socratic thought, and comparative methodologies across Mediterranean civilizations. Current Research Projects : Doubt and religion in the ancient Mediterranean: A comparative analysis of unbelief narratives Lodging/Living in a Sacred Context: Investigating spatial dynamics of religious environments
Walter Pohl serves as Professor of Medieval History at the University of Vienna since 2006 and Director of the Institute for Medieval Research at the Austrian Academy of Sciences since 1998. His distinguished career includes visiting professorships at UCLA, CEU Budapest, Leiden University, and the University of Ishevsk. His academic credentials include: Born 1953 in Vienna Dr. Phil. (University of Vienna, 1984) Habilitation for Medieval History (University of Vienna, 1989) Habilitation for Historische Hilfswissenschaften (University of Vienna, 2001) Pohl's research fundamentally explores cultural memory systems and identity formation in transition periods, with particular expertise in the collapse of Roman political structures and emergence of early medieval societies. His comparative methodology bridges textual analysis with archaeological evidence to examine migration processes, religious transformation, and the construction of political legitimacy across Europe between 400-1200 CE. This interdisciplinary approach has reshaped scholarly understanding of ethnicity as a fluid social construct rather than biological determinant. His major honors include: Wittgenstein Prize of the FWF (2004) - Austria's highest academic award ERC Advanced Grant recipient (2010) Full Fellow of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (2004) Corresponding Fellow of the Medieval Academy of America (2018) Pohl directs the FWF-funded SFB 'Visions of Community (VISCOM)' and previously led the HERA project 'Cultural Memory and the Resources of the Past' (2010-2013). His ERC-funded SCIRE project pioneered network analysis of religious communities in early medieval Europe. He has served on European research governance bodies including the ERC Advanced Grants panel and the European Science Foundation's Standing Committee for Humanities. As Director of the Institute for Medieval Research, he oversees one of Europe's largest medieval studies hubs, fostering collaborations between historians, archaeologists, and philologists through the 'Transformation of the Roman World' research framework.
Claus Lamm is a Full Professor of Biological Psychology at the University of Vienna , where he leads the Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit (SCAN-Unit) . He serves as Vice Dean for Research and Advancement of Early Career Researchers at the Faculty of Psychology and holds affiliations with the Vienna Cognitive Science Hub , Environment & Climate Change Hub , and Austrian Academy of Sciences . His academic career spans international collaborations and formative research experience abroad. Scientific Focus: Lamm investigates the neural underpinnings of empathy and prosocial behavior , employing multi-modal approaches combining neuroimaging, psychopharmacology, and psychoneuroendocrinology . His work extends to comparative studies with ravens and dogs, and explores environmental social neuroscience through climate change decision-making research. Recent publications show trends in cross-cultural psychology , machine learning applications , and neurobiological pathways related to social behavior. Awards & Grants: Recipient of the APS Mentor Award for his support of early career researchers. Funded by European Research Council , Austrian Science Fund , Vienna Science and Technology Fund , and intramural grants exceeding €10 million. Key projects include "Unravelling the opioid system in empathy" and "Comparative dog-human fMRI" . Media Engagement: A prominent public science communicator, Lamm has appeared in Nature , Science Magazine , and Austrian media outlets like Ö1 Mittagsjournal and ORF2 , discussing topics from pandemic psychology to social media effects . He maintains active outreach through Science TV and educational programs .
Wang Ning is a distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature with affiliations at Tsinghua University (part-time) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His career spans prestigious roles including Zhiyuan Chair Professor (2009–present) and Changjiang Distinguished Professor (2013–present). Born in 1955, he holds academic qualifications from institutions in China, Europe, and North America. Research interests focus on cosmopolitanism, translation studies, Northrop Frye's mythopoeia, cultural studies, and Chinese-Western comparative literature. He has secured over ten grants since 1991 aimed at introducing European theory to China and has conducted research across Europe, North America, and Australia as a visiting professor/research fellow. Key achievements include the Changjiang Scholars Award (2013), membership in Académé de la Latinité (2010), and fellowships at Cambridge and Gottingen Universities. He co-founded Chinese editions of New Literary History and Critical Inquiry , advancing transnational literary discourse. Wang has delivered keynote lectures globally and led initiatives to bridge Chinese and Western literary traditions. His work emphasizes global literary dynamics, translation’s role in cultural exchange, and reinterpreting modern Chinese literature within global contexts.
Dr. Wolfgang Wieshaider serves as Associate Professor and Deputy Head of the Institute for Legal Philosophy at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Law. He is also the Academic Director of the LL.M. program in Religious Law and holds a position as permanent visiting professor at Charles University in Prague. His scholarly work bridges legal theory with practical applications in religious freedom, cultural heritage, and minority rights. Professor Wieshaider's research spans multiple intersecting domains with particular emphasis on religious law in Central and Eastern Europe, monument protection law, and the legal status of religious minorities. His scholarly output demonstrates deep engagement with the tension between religious practices and state regulation, especially regarding ritual slaughter, religious architecture, and religious minorities' rights. A significant portion of his work focuses on Jewish and Muslim communities in Austria and Central Europe, examining their legal status, rights, and challenges within national and European frameworks. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the intersection of religious practice and state law, with growing attention to contemporary challenges like religious freedom during the pandemic, Islamic law in European contexts, and the legal recognition of philosophical organizations. His work demonstrates methodological diversity, combining doctrinal legal analysis with comparative approaches and historical perspectives. Professor Wieshaider has made substantial contributions through editorial work, serving as co-editor of the book series Law and Religion in Central and Eastern Europe and Intarsia · Interpretations of Culture and Law , as well as co-editing the Austrian Archives for Law & Religion . His academic leadership extends to directing the LL.M. program in Religious Law, which appears to be a significant educational initiative at the University of Vienna. His scholarly activities include advising graduate students, though specific names are not mentioned in the available materials. Professor Wieshaider maintains active international collaborations, particularly with scholars in Central and Eastern Europe, as evidenced by his numerous co-edited volumes and multilingual publications. The Institute for Legal Philosophy, where Professor Wieshaider works, appears to maintain a strong focus on religious law and cultural heritage, with several team members sharing similar research interests. His office is located in Room 4OG039 at Schenkenstraße 8-10 in Vienna, and he holds consultation hours on Thursdays from 2:30-3:30 pm during academic terms.
Vera Fischer is an Associate Professor and Privatdozent in the Department of Mathematics at the Faculty of Mathematics, University of Vienna. She has been an active researcher since 2008, with a strong publication record in mathematical logic and set theory. Her research centers on set-theoretic combinatorics , focusing on cardinal characteristics of the continuum, forcing, definability, and structures such as maximal almost disjoint families, cofinitary groups, and independent families. She investigates foundational questions in independence, spectra of combinatorial objects, and the interplay between definability and generic extensions. Her work often involves constructing models to separate cardinal invariants or to realize specific spectra under forcing. The recent publications show a consistent trend in combinatorial set theory , with a focus on tower spectra, tight families, mad families, and their behavior under various forcing notions like Cohen and Sacks forcing. Her research frequently explores the definability and destructibility of combinatorial families, often in collaboration with leading researchers such as Corey B. Switzer, Stefan Geschke, and Saharon Shelah. FWF START Prize, 2017 Förderungspreis der ÖMG, 2018 Förderungspreis, 2018 She leads and participates in research projects such as Comparing the Real Line to Combinatorics of the Uncountable and A Sacks-like model with large continuum , indicating active grant funding and supervision of research activities. She also organizes academic events like Colloquium Logicum and engages in public outreach on topics like infinity. Her research is conducted within the Set Theory Group at the University of Vienna, where she collaborates with other logicians and contributes to the academic community through publications, conferences, and mentorship.
Barbara M. Kehm is a Research Fellow at the Leibniz Research Centre for Science and Society (LCSS) , affiliated with Leibniz University of Hannover since 2018. She previously held professorial roles as Professor of Leadership and International Strategic Development in Higher Education at the University of Glasgow (2013–2017) and Professor of Higher Education Research at the University of Kassel (2003–2011), where she also served as Director of the International Centre for Higher Education Research (INCHER-Kassel) from 2004 to 2011. Education: Ph.D. (summa cum laude) from Ruhr-University Bochum (1989). Her research focuses on internationalisation and globalisation in higher education, doctoral education reform, academic work and professions , and the Europeanisation of higher education . She has extensively examined governance, management, and policy in higher education systems, with particular emphasis on organisational change and stakeholder engagement. Her publications reflect a comparative analysis of higher education systems across Europe and beyond, including collaborations with institutions in China, Argentina, Australia, and the United States. Notable works include studies on university boards , the excellence initiative in Germany , and academic career development in Europe. Advising and Grants: She has led funded projects such as 'Transformation of European Universities' (2009–2012) supported by the European Science Foundation and German Research Association, and 'Lifelong Learning and the University in Europe' (1998–2000) under the European Commission’s 4th Framework Programme. She has also contributed to editorial activities, including co-editing Tertiary Education and Management and serving on academic journal boards. Labs and Teams: Kehm is associated with the LCSS and INCHER-Kassel, both leading centers for higher education research in Europe.
Philip Poole is a Professor of Plant Microbiology at the University of Oxford's Department of Plant Sciences and Senior Research Fellow at Somerville College. His research focuses on plant-microbe interactions, nitrogen fixation, and rhizosphere microbiology. He has led major international projects including the BBSRC-NSF Synthetic Symbioses program (2014-2019) and the India-UK Nitrogen Fixation Consortium (2016-2019). With 26 grants as PI from the UK's BBSRC, he has secured over £10.5 million in funding. His work includes pioneering bacterial Lux biosensors for metabolite analysis, transcriptomics under sterile conditions, and metatranscriptomics in soil to study microbiome-plant interactions. Current projects model nitrogen fixation biochemistry in legume nodules and investigate rhizobia lifecycle transitions from rhizosphere colonization to symbiotic bacteroid differentiation. He co-directs the Oxford Centre for Plants for the 21st Century and serves on editorial/advisory boards for Microbiology UK, The Journal of Bacteriology, and Pivot Bio. His contributions include elucidating the ammonia-alanine pathway for nitrogen secretion and demonstrating symbiotic auxotrophy dependencies in bacteroids. Key achievements include developing global mutagenesis strategies (INSeq) and advancing understanding of microbial community structures in the rhizosphere. His research integrates molecular, genetic, and systems biology approaches to address global challenges in sustainable agriculture.
Janusz Bujnicki is a Professor and head of the Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB), Poland. He holds concurrent roles in science policy advisory bodies, including the European Commission's Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (2015-2020, then expert) and the Polish Academy of Sciences’ advisory panel (2024-). He is also a founding member of the Association of ERC Grantees (AERG) and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Life Science Center at Vilnius University. Academia Europaea Member (2018-) EMBO Member (2018-) Leadership Academy for Poland (2018) His research spans structural biology, RNA modification, computational biology, and molecular evolution. He has pioneered computational methods like ModeRNA, SimRNA, and ClaRNA for RNA structure prediction and analysis, and developed databases like MODOMICS for RNA modification pathways. His work has applications in understanding RNA function and drug design targeting RNA-processing enzymes. The 15 most recent publications focus on RNA structural modeling (e.g., ModeRNA, ClaRNA, SupeRNAlign), RNA-ligand interactions (LigandRNA), and RNA modification biology (MODOMICS database). These works bridge computational methods with experimental validation in RNA enzymology and structure-function relationships. Scientific Awards: ERC Starting Grant (2010), EMBO Member (2018), Crystal Brussels Sprout (2016), Prime Minister’s Award (2014), Knight’s Cross of Polonia Restituta (2014) Grants & Leadership: Founded RNA bioinformatics infrastructure at IIMCB, led EU science policy advisory groups, and organized international research competitions (RNA Puzzles)
