Gábor Bodnár is a Professor at the Institute of Arts Communication and Music , Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) , where he serves as Head of the Department of Music Culture. His work bridges music pedagogy, creative education, and interdisciplinary studies. Academic Focus : Music education, creative teaching methods, and the integration of formal and non-formal education. Research Themes : Application of the Kodály concept in global teacher training, translation theory in musical contexts, and the interplay between text and music in art song repertoires. Publications : Recent works explore Aldous Huxley's musical ideas, Schumann's Dichterliebe revisions, and innovative pedagogical frameworks for music educators. Professional Impact : Bodnár has developed postgraduate programs emphasizing talent care and Kodály principles, influencing music education curricula and assessment systems in Hungary and beyond.
Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen is a Professor of Craft Studies at the University of Helsinki and Docent at Aalto University. She leads the Co-inquiry, co-design, co-teaching, and co-regulation (Co4-Lab) laboratory and contributes to the Maker@STEAM research group. Her work bridges cognitive theories of design with collaborative learning environments, emphasizing materiality and knowledge building in education. University of Helsinki: Professor of Craft Studies Aalto University: Docent Her research focuses on: Cognitive theories of design processes and expertise development Collaborative learning and social creativity in maker education Role of external representations (sketching, visualization) in design Scaffolding mechanisms in craft and technology education Materiality in digital age pedagogy Knowledge building theory applications Recent publications (2020-2025) demonstrate sustained output in collaborative design education, virtual reality learning environments, and STEAM pedagogy. Her work consistently explores intersections between cognition, collaboration, and digital/material artifacts in educational settings.
João Florêncio is Professor of Gender Studies at Linköping University's Tema Genus, focusing on queer cultures through interdisciplinary lenses of media studies, cultural studies, and medical humanities. His research examines how bodies, sexualities, and media technologies interact in shaping ethical, political, and affective frameworks. Established new research area in 'Sexmedia och sexkulturer' Co-founder of NordSex network Editorial Board member at Sexualities journal Research explores queer corporeality, public sex spaces, chemsex practices, and the cultural dimensions of contagion/immunity narratives. Key themes include: Queer pedagogies through pornography Cruising as creative spatial practice Technological mediation of intimacy His 2025 book Crossings: Creative Ecologies of Cruising (with Liz Rosenfeld) analyzes queer spatial-temporal practices. Earlier work includes Bareback Porn, Porous Masculinities, Queer Futures (2020), which interrogates risk ethics in HIV-era pornography. Recent publications span: Far-right sexual imaginaries Viral masculinities Pharmaceutical self-technologies Queer pandemic responses
Jon Thomson is an Associate Professor (Reader) in Fine Art at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, where he works with MA/MFA and PhD students. He is a visual artist specializing in digital and new media art, collaborating with Alison Craighead since 1993 under the name Thomson & Craighead. Their work explores how internet and communications networks transform our understanding of the world, examining the relationship between physical and digital space and how the internet alters our socio-political understanding of reality. Thomson studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee. In 1995, he co-founded The Slade Centre for Electronic Media in Fine Art (SCEMFA), bringing together artist-researchers working digitally on the cutting edge of contemporary art practice. He has maintained this research focus while developing his collaborative practice with Craighead. Thomson's research examines how the development of the internet has transformed perception of the world, particularly how our constant ability to be physically somewhere but virtually anywhere affects our understanding. His work considers the tension between global and local perspectives, and how modern communications inform our sense of place and self. Recent projects increasingly examine the impact of Big Data on society and how individuals can measure their experience against unfathomably large bodies of information and inhuman timescales. Thomson & Craighead's extensive exhibition history shows a consistent exploration of networked communication, with works spanning from early internet-based projects to contemporary explorations of genomic data and nuclear culture. Their practice demonstrates an evolution from examining basic internet infrastructure to addressing complex issues of data sovereignty, deep time, and the societal impacts of pervasive networked technologies. Thomson's research has been supported by significant funding including: AHRC small grant in the creative and performing arts (2007) Wellcome Trust Arts Award (£38,000) for Stutterer (2014) Collaborations with Channel 4 Television, Animate Projects, New Media Scotland, and Creative Scotland for Flat Earth Trilogy Thomson advises MA/MFA and PhD students at the Slade School of Fine Art. His collaborative practice has resulted in numerous exhibitions worldwide and three published monographs. They have developed innovative approaches to using live data streams, social media content, and scientific information as artistic materials, creating works that challenge conventional boundaries between art, technology, and science. Thomson co-founded SCEMFA, which remains a significant research center bringing together artist-researchers working at the intersection of digital technology and fine art. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaborations, such as with computational biologists at the University of Dundee and participation in the Nuclear Culture research project with Arts Catalyst London.
Associate Professor Rémi Armand Tchokothe is affiliated with the University of Vienna , where he serves as Head of the Department of African Studies. He also maintains affiliations with the Department of European and Comparative Literature and Language Studies, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to African and diasporic literatures. Academic Rank: Associate Professor Email: remi.tchokothe@univie.ac.at His research centers on African literature , postcolonial theory , and the intersections of migration, identity, and cultural production . He explores decolonial methodologies in literary analysis, with particular attention to Swahili literature, Comorian geopoetics, and diasporic narratives in Europe. Recent publications analyze topics such as the Balladur Visa and its implications for migration from the Comoros, Angelo Soliman's legacy in African arts, and the decolonial writing practices in Mayotte. His work bridges literary criticism, cultural theory, and socio-political critique. Teaching roles include courses on African literary theory, pluridentities in African diasporic voices, and introductions to African literatures. He co-organizes the Tage der Afrikanischen Literaturen in Graz and leads the Africa-Lab initiative at the University of Vienna.
Dominick M Rivers serves as Assistant Professor of Digital Art in the Department of Art & Design at Indiana State University's College of Arts & Sciences. His academic role centers on bridging historical media techniques with contemporary digital practices through teaching and creative research. His educational background includes a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) from Indiana University (2023) with a major in Fine Arts, establishing foundational expertise in experimental media creation. Rivers' research investigates the materiality of obsolete technologies through lenses of sustainability and cultural preservation. His work explores analog-digital hybridity in moving image art, sound design, and alternative photographic processes, with particular emphasis on Czech New Wave Cinema influences and public access television legacies. Current projects examine how obsolete media formats inform contemporary digital art practices within globalized cultural contexts. Recent scholarly output reveals consistent exploration of signal manipulation and sustainability, demonstrated through optical sound experimentation, festival curation, and conference presentations addressing alternative processes in moving image creation. His work connects technical innovation with ecological consciousness across multiple media platforms. Bloomington Arts Projects Grant, Bloomington Arts Commission (2025) Rivers actively secures external funding for creative projects, currently serving as Principal Investigator for two Bloomington Arts Commission grants: a $3,000 Arts Project Grant (2025-present) and a $2,000 Artist Advancement Grant (2025-2027). These funds support his experimental work in obsolete technology repurposing and community-based digital art initiatives.
Maria Lantin serves as Director of Research and Director of Intersections Digital Studio at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, where she bridges computing science expertise with artistic practice. With a PhD in Computing Science from Simon Fraser University, she previously led the Visualization Research Lab at Banff Centre's Banff New Media Institute before joining Emily Carr. Her research focuses on immersive digital environments , particularly exploring the intersection of physical and virtual breath in interactive installations. Lantin's work combines stereoscopic video, biometric sensing, and data visualization to create experiences that examine how humans interact with media environments. Her projects often investigate how information flows through social groups and how virtual spaces affect bodily awareness . Lantin's creative output reveals a consistent pattern of transforming abstract concepts into tangible visual experiences. Her projects demonstrate expertise in creating interactive systems that visualize social dynamics, group behavior, and environmental relationships through stereoscopic and immersive technologies. SSHRC-funded Breath I/O project investigating breath in virtual environments Collaborations with Leila Sujir (Concordia University), Joy James, and Ron Burnett Regular participation in conferences like Interactive Futures Lantin maintains an active research blog where she explores theoretical connections between technology, perception, and human behavior, particularly examining how digital environments affect physiological processes like breathing patterns. Her work positions her at the forefront of art-science collaborations that investigate human interaction with emerging media technologies.
Federico Visi (he/they) serves as Guest Faculty in the Sound Studies and Sonic Arts Master's program at Berlin University of the Arts. Based in Berlin, Germany, Visi is a researcher, composer, and performer whose work bridges technology and artistic expression through innovative musical interfaces and performance systems. Visi completed doctoral research on instrumental music and body movement at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research (ICCMR), University of Plymouth, UK. They have held postdoctoral positions at Luleå University of Technology (Sweden) and Goldsmiths, University of London (UK), establishing a foundation for their interdisciplinary approach to music technology. Visi's research focuses on gesture in music, motion-sensing technologies, interactive machine learning, and embodied interaction. Their work explores how body movement and physiological signals can be harnessed in electronic music creation through both theoretical frameworks and practical implementations. They have developed novel instruments like the Sophtar and biosignal-based performance systems that translate physiological data into sound. Recent scholarly output reveals a trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated integration of machine learning in musical contexts, with significant contributions spanning computer music, psychology, and human-computer interaction domains. Visi's publications demonstrate how algorithmic processes can be embedded in musical instruments to create new forms of musical expression and co-creativity between humans and machines. As an active member of the research community, Visi co-edited a thematic issue of Organised Sound on 'Embedding Algorithms in Music and Sound Art' and organized the Embedding Algorithms Workshop at Berlin University of the Arts. They contribute to the Wilding AI collective that explores creative applications of AI in spatial audio environments. Visi releases music under the moniker AQAXA, combining conventional electronic music production with machine learning exploration of personal sonic memories. Their work has been supported by the European Research Council, Swedish Research Council, Boström Fund, and Helge Ax:son Johnsons foundation.
Victoria Malawey serves as Professor of Music at Macalester College, where she teaches courses in music theory, songwriting, gender and music, and popular music. Her academic home is within the Department of Music, where she contributes to both the theoretical and practical aspects of musical education. Malawey's research program bridges multiple disciplinary perspectives: Analysis of songs and vocal delivery in popular music Gender studies as applied to musical interpretation and performance Music theory pedagogy and innovative teaching approaches Intersections between academic theory and creative composition Her scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on how vocal performance conveys meaning, particularly examining the relationship between gender identity and musical expression. Malawey approaches popular music with rigorous theoretical frameworks typically reserved for classical traditions, expanding the boundaries of musicological inquiry. Malawey's scholarly recognition includes the International Alliance of Women in Music Pauline Alderman Award (2015) for her groundbreaking work on Aretha Franklin's reinterpretation of 'Respect,' which exemplifies her feminist approach to music analysis. Her book A Blaze of Light in Every Word: Analyzing the Popular Singing Voice (Oxford University Press) represents a significant contribution to the field, developing analytical tools specifically for examining vocal delivery in popular music. As a composer, Malawey maintains an active creative practice with numerous awards including the Uncommon Music Festival Composer Competition (2020) for her choral work On Dark Earth and the International Alliance of Women in Music New Music Competition Patsy Lu Prize (2017) for her song cycle Chansons Innocentes . Her compositions have been performed by ensembles worldwide, including the William Ferris Chorale and the Macalester Symphony Orchestra. Malawey earned her Ph.D. in music theory from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where her dissertation on Björk's Medúlla received the Dean's Dissertation Prize in 2009. She has completed artist residencies at prestigious institutions including Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences and Dorland Mountain Arts Colony.
Steven Zhou is an Assistant Professor of Psychological Science at Claremont McKenna College, where he leads the STATS Lab (www.statslabatcmc.com). His academic work bridges quantitative methods with psychological research, focusing on leadership, personality, and vocational psychology. With methodological expertise in psychometrics, machine learning, and data visualization, he actively contributes to both academic and practitioner communities through research, teaching, and consulting. Dr. Zhou's educational background includes: PhD in Organizational Psychology + Certificate in Computational Social Sciences from George Mason University BA in Organizational Psychology + Certificate in Conflict Resolution from Pepperdine University His research program centers on developing and refining psychological assessments while investigating bias in measurement systems. Dr. Zhou specializes in forced-choice personality assessments, leadership evaluation methodologies, and career calling research. His work consistently addresses the gap between academic research and practical application in organizational settings, with recent projects incorporating large language models and agent-based simulations to study complex behavioral phenomena. Dr. Zhou's publication record shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated methodological approaches to organizational psychology questions. His recent work demonstrates growing integration of computational techniques (machine learning, NLP) with traditional psychological research, while maintaining strong connections to practical organizational applications. The research consistently addresses measurement challenges in leadership assessment and career development. His notable scientific achievements include: 2025 Jablin Dissertation Award from the International Leadership Association and Jepson School of Leadership Studies 2025 Chapman Dissertation Award from the Network of Leadership Scholars and Academy of Management 2023 Dissertation Research Award from the American Psychological Association 2022 Free Inquiry Grant from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression 2022 Graen Grant for Student Research on Leaders and Teams from SIOP 2021 Kenneth E. Clark Student Research Award from ILA and Center for Creative Leadership 2021 Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor from GMU Department of Psychology Dr. Zhou actively mentors both graduate and undergraduate students, with numerous student co-authors across his publication record. He has secured nearly $40,000 in external research funding to support his work on leadership assessment and psychometric methodology. His professional service includes editorial roles for multiple journals and leadership positions within the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. As director of the STATS Lab, Dr. Zhou leads a research team focused on applying quantitative methods to understand leadership, career development, and personality. The lab's five research pillars include Psychometrics & Measurement Science, Bias in Measurement & Analytics, Leadership Assessment & Team Dynamics, Integrating Novel Methods into Research, and Career Development & Vocational Psychology, all emphasizing both methodological rigor and practical application.
Dr. Julie Andreyev is an Associate Professor in the Audain Faculty of Art at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Her work bridges art and ecology, focusing on multispecies collaboration and biophilic ethics. She teaches courses in New Media + Sound Arts and Critical Studies. Education: PhD in Biophilic Ethics and Creativity with More-Than-Human Being from Simon Fraser University (2016). Research Interests: Interspecies creativity Eco-poetics and soundscapes Climate emergency adaptation Acoustic ecology Animal ethics in art Urban forest ecosystems Grants & Support: 2021 Art Apprenticeship Network Grant 2018 Emily Carr University Internal Research Grant Funded by Canada Council for the Arts and SSHRC Key Projects: Bird Park Survival Station (2015-ongoing) – climate emergency project with local birds Branching Songs (2024) – multispecies art project with old-growth trees Wild Empathy (2018) – VR project for ecological empathy EPIC_Tom (2014-16) – canine creativity performance Vegan Congress (2013) – activist art collective Publications: Lessons from a Multispecies Art Studio (2021 book), Responding to Dogs (2017 essay), and articles in BC Studies , Humanimalia , and Public Art Dialogue . Labs/Teams: Her Animal Lover studio and collaborations with researchers like Simon Lysander Overstall.
Mag. phil. Mag. art. Dr. phil. Stephan Hametner is a Professor at PH-OÖ (University College of Teacher Education Upper Austria) since 2014, specializing in Subject Didactics for General Music Education across elementary and secondary levels. His expertise spans Systemic-constructivist didactics Empirical research in music education Curriculum development Academic supervision Organizational development Academic background highlights include: PhD in Music Education/Pedagogy (2004, magna cum laude ) Diploma in Music Education (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna & University of Vienna, 2000 magna cum laude ) Diploma in Rhythmics (1996 magna cum laude ) Research focuses on systemic-constructivist music pedagogy , with key contributions in Didactic frameworks for music interpretation Empirical validation of teaching methods Integration of movement and music Subject-oriented educational theory His publications analyze music's role in cognitive development and pedagogical innovation, emphasizing experiential learning. He also contributes to media education through 50 ethnomusicological radio programs (Radio Orange 94.0, 2000-2005) Interactive educational CD-ROMs Academic case studies Active in international collaborations, he serves as expert for Bern University of the Arts and contributes to the Rhythmic Expositur Biel project. Current projects include reception-aesthetic film analysis for teacher training and music identity development in educational settings.
Marina Grishakova serves as Chair Professor of Literary Theory and Intermedial Studies at the Institute of Cultural Research, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Tartu. Elected to Academia Europaea in 2016, she holds prominent leadership roles including membership on the International Comparative Literature Association (ICLA) Executive Council and supervision of the International Research Training Group Baltic Peripeties (Universities of Greifswald, Tartu, and Trondheim). Her academic trajectory shows steady progression from Lecturer (1993-2004) to Associate Professor (2008-2015) and finally to full Professor (2015-present), with significant international engagement through Fulbright, DAAD, and British Academy fellowships. Professor Grishakova's research spans narratology, literary theory, intermedial studies, and semiotics of culture, with particular focus on narrative complexity, literature-film relationships, and cognitive approaches to narrative. Her scholarly evolution demonstrates movement from early work on Nabokov's spatial models toward increasingly sophisticated interdisciplinary frameworks that bridge humanities with cognitive science. She has made substantial contributions to understanding how narrative structures shape human cognition and cultural evolution, especially during periods of crisis and transformation. Her recent publications reveal thematic concentration on narrative complexity, intermediality in digital contexts, and pandemic narratives. The 15 most recent articles show consistent exploration of how narrative forms adapt to represent complex systems and experiences, with growing emphasis on cross-media applications and the epistemological dimensions of fiction. Her work increasingly integrates insights from cognitive science, systems theory, and media studies to develop new theoretical frameworks for understanding narrative representation. Member of Academia Europaea (2016) British Academy Visiting Scholar grant (2011) Honorary badge of the University of Tartu (2011) Fulbright scholarship for senior researchers (2008) DAAD research scholarship (2007) NordForsk grant as project leader (2008) Special issue of CompLit nominated for ESCL Excellence Award (2023) Professor Grishakova has supervised 9 doctoral students and 5 postdoctoral researchers across international institutions, with projects spanning cognitive approaches to fiction, narrative ethics, and digital storytelling. She has led major international collaborations including the European Network of Comparative Literary Studies (2011-2013) and Nordic Network of Narrative Studies (2007-2011), and currently participates in COST Action INDCOR on Interactive Narrative Design and the CELSA project 'Re-Familiarizing the Body and its Umwelt.' Her extensive service includes editorial board membership for five international journals and advisory roles for prestigious book series. Directing the Narrative, Culture, Cognition research group at the University of Tartu, Professor Grishakova maintains an active international presence with over 30 recent guest lectures and plenary presentations across Europe. Her scholarly impact extends through translation of her works into French, Spanish, Czech, Bulgarian, and Chinese, demonstrating significant global influence in literary theory and narratology.
Dr. Saima Ahmad is a Senior Lecturer at RMIT University's School of Management, focusing on cultivating sustainable work environments and investigating leadership's impact on individual well-being. With a PhD in Management from Monash University, her research spans organizational behavior, workplace dynamics, and leadership ethics, addressing critical issues such as bullying, resilience, and digital disruption. She coordinates courses in the RMIT MBA program and serves on editorial boards for the European Management Journal and PLoS One . Education: PhD in Management from Monash University Her research emphasizes positive leadership styles and their influence on employee engagement and organizational sustainability. Recent work explores servant leadership in the construction industry and the role of green human resource management in fostering environmental citizenship. She has pioneered studies on workplace bullying and its mitigation through ethical leadership frameworks. Her scientific awards include the 2022 RMIT GSBL Dean’s Merit Award for HDR Leadership Excellence for her contributions as HDR Coordinator (2022-2024), where she enhanced PhD completion rates and student support systems. She actively supervises Masters and PhD research candidates, focusing on leadership and organizational behavior.
Stevie Johnson ("Dr. View") is an Assistant Professor of Creative Practice in Popular Music at The Ohio State University, combining scholarship with DJ/producer work. He holds a PhD in Higher Education Administration from the University of Oklahoma (2019), and is a 2023 Nasir Jones Hip Hop Fellow at Harvard University and 2023 Women’s and Gender Studies Center for Social Justice Activist-in-Residence at the University of Oklahoma. Education: PhD (Higher Education Admin, OU 2019), M.Ed. (Student Affairs, OU), B.S. (Health & Exercise Science, OU) Key Projects: Fire in Little Africa (Motown-signed album, documentary, podcast, curriculum addressing Tulsa Race Massacre legacy) Research focuses on anti-Blackness in higher education through BlackCrit frameworks, sonic storytelling, and intersectional studies of race/gender in music. His dissertation Curriculum of the Mind pioneered hip-hop-based academic writing, winning a landmark award in 2019. Current work blends artistic production with social justice education through multimedia platforms. Awards highlight both scholarly and creative impact, including the first non-traditional dissertation recognized by ASHE and the Harvard fellowship supporting hip-hop innovation.
