Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of BonnGermany
Elke Brüggen is a Professor for Older German Studies at the University of Bonn, specializing in German medieval literature, culture, and transcultural narratology. Her research explores political influence, counseling dynamics, and gender roles in premodern societies. Education: Habilitation (1995), Ph.D. (1986), M.A. (1975–1982) from the University of Cologne. Her work focuses on asymmetrical dependencies , narratives of female rulers and advisers , and transcultural configurations . Recent publications examine representations of captivity, cultural exchange, and stylistic didacticism in Middle High German epics like Parzival and Willehalm . Key subfields include courtly interaction, manuscript studies, and gendered power dynamics. Brüggen has supervised 8 completed and 5 ongoing Ph.D. theses as reviewer, alongside mentoring numerous Magister, M.A., and B.A. students. She serves as Deputy Spokesperson for the DFG Collaborative Research Center 1167 on premodern power structures and co-founded the Bonn Center for Transcultural Narratology.
Mathias Jopp is a Professor holding honorary appointments at the University of Passau and Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. He previously served as Director of the Institute for European Politics (IEP) in Berlin, an EU-funded organization focused on European policy research and practical implementation since 1959. His work bridges academic analysis with real-world policy solutions. Research focuses on Germany's role within the EU, European integration dynamics, and the EU's engagement with Central Asia and the Caucasus. He leads the EUCACIS PhD funding initiative supporting scholars from these regions, and authored definitive handbooks on Germany's European policy. Publications include the German European Policy (2024) and Europe from all sides (2020), analyzing Germany's EU interactions and integration processes. While no awards are explicitly listed, his sustained contributions to EU policy discourse reflect significant academic impact. His advisory role through IEP involves fostering cross-regional academic collaboration via the EUCACIS program, emphasizing doctoral training and knowledge transfer. The IEP operates under EU funding but maintains editorial independence.
Professor Tseng Yen-Fen serves in the Department of Sociology at National Taiwan University and is currently a visiting scholar at the European Research Center on Contemporary Taiwan (June 16–28, 2024). Her academic foundation includes a PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research specializes in intra-Asian migration dynamics with particular focus on skilled migration flows to and from Taiwan. Key investigation areas include: Migration policy implementation gaps Taiwanese white-collar migrants in Japan Cultural workers' identity negotiation in China Shanghai's appeal as a migration destination Southeast Asian skilled migrants in Taiwan Publication analysis reveals consistent examination of skilled migration within East/Southeast Asia, emphasizing the tension between formal immigration policies and migrants' lived experiences. Her work frequently employs qualitative methodologies to explore identity formation and settlement patterns across Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Taiwan. Professor Tseng currently investigates Southeast Asian skilled migrants in Taiwan, specifically those utilizing study-migration pathways, documenting discrepancies between policy frameworks and ground realities.
Dr. Lin Ya-Yin is a Research Fellow at National Defense University's College of International & National Defense Affairs and a PhD Candidate at National Cheng-Chih University's Graduate Institute of East Asian Studies. Her research focuses on Chinese governance strategies in popular culture, cross-strait relations, and cognitive warfare against Taiwan. She has conducted extensive analysis on CCP propaganda, united front work, and gray zone strategies. Her doctoral research examines governance strategies in pop culture through a typological framework, while her current work explores China’s cognitive warfare tactics via case studies of military drills. Lin has published in journals like Mainland China Journal (TSSCI) and Publication of Military Social Science . Key research themes include: state-society dynamics in China, ideological control mechanisms, and Taiwan’s countermeasures against asymmetric threats. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges military strategy, cultural studies, and political sociology. Notable conference presentations include analyses of Chinese military cinema’s national image construction and discourse competition around historical commemorations. Her work addresses critical geopolitical issues in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly Taiwan’s security challenges.
Chang Mau-Kuei is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica, and adjunct Professor at National Taiwan University's Sociology Department. His research focuses on social movements, identity politics, and nationalism in Taiwan. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Purdue University (1984) and has held visiting positions at UC Berkeley, McGill University, and Leiden University as a Visiting Chair Professor. He served as President of the Taiwanese Sociological Association (2008–2009). Key research areas include social movement dynamics, ethnic/national identity formation, and multiculturalism policy. Notable works include Nation and Identity: Some Thoughts of Waishengren (2010) and co-edited volumes on cross-Strait social movements. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical studies of Taiwan's sociopolitical transformations. Publications span topics like anti-nuclear activism, civil society development, and comparative nationalism. His interdisciplinary approach addresses how sociopolitical discourses intersect with ethnic and national identity construction in post-authoritarian Taiwan.
Dr. Giouli Korobili is a former academic staff member at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, affiliated with the Faculty of Language, Literature and Humanities and the Department of Classics . Her research focuses on ancient philosophy, particularly Aristotle's works on natural philosophy, medicine, and biological theories. She has contributed significantly to the analysis of classical texts such as De Juventute et Senectute and their relationship with Hippocratic medical writings. Research Interests: Aristotle's methodology, ancient medical theories, philosophical analysis of vitality, and interdisciplinary approaches to classical texts. Publications: Authored/co-edited volumes on Aristotle's biological and medical thought, including a monograph on Youth and Old Age and co-edited The Nutritive Soul in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy and Medicine . Dr. Korobili’s work bridges ancient philosophy, medicine, and natural science, with notable contributions to understanding Aristotle's engagement with empirical evidence and his integration of philosophical inquiry with physiological observation. She has also collaborated on exhibitions like The Soul is an Octopus , exploring ancient concepts of life and the body. Contact: gkorobili@hotmail.com
Prof. Kate Rigby is a leading scholar in Environmental Humanities, holding the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship at the University of Cologne and directing the Multidisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities (MESH). She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Monash University. Her work bridges German Studies, ecocriticism, and interdisciplinary environmental research, focusing on topics like ecopoetics, climate change, and multispecies ethics. She has authored/co-authored seven books and numerous articles, and led projects such as 'Unsettling Extinction' and 'Religion, Resilience and the Multispecies City'. Rigby has held fellowships including the Marie S. Curie FCFP and is a Fellow of the Australian Humanities Academy. Research interests include Romanticism’s ecological dimensions, posthuman ethics, and narratives of resilience. Her recent work examines extinction’s theological implications and urban multispecies dynamics. Her publications span academic journals like Environmental Humanities and Worldviews , with a focus on blending literary analysis with environmental philosophy. Awards include the Humboldt Professorship (2015–2016) and multiple international research grants. Education: BA/MA (University of Melbourne), PhD (Monash University) Key Projects: 'Narratives of Resilience', 'Religion and Extinction Studies' Grants: UKRI research networks, LUCE-funded 'Facing the Anthropocene' Her work emphasizes transdisciplinary collaboration, evident in initiatives like the Rachel Carson Center Fellowship. Rigby’s scholarship critiques anthropocentrism while advocating for ecologically grounded ethics across disciplines.
Daniel Eschkötter is a Researcher at Bielefeld University, affiliated with the Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology and the Department of History, specializing in Historical Visual Studies and Art History. He is currently a research associate in the Collaborative Research Center SFB 1288 'Practices of Comparison. Ordering and Changing the World,' where he contributes to Subproject E05[C05] 'Media Devices of Comparison. The Operative Image after Harun Farocki.' His research focuses on film and series theory, media aesthetics, media history, and media anthropology. Key interests include procedural forms in media, film phantom theory, the role of substances in media, re-education as a cinema complex, and the emergence of tutorialism and tutorial cultures in digital environments. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary media theory, particularly in the context of comparative practices and operative images. Daniel has previously held research and teaching positions at TU Dresden (ERC Research Group 'The Principle of Disruption'), University of Vienna, University of Basel, and University of Cologne. He was also a DAAD Short Term Fellow at Princeton University and served as Scientific Coordinator in a DFG Research Training Group at Bauhaus University Weimar. He studied German, Philosophy, and Political Science at the University of Hamburg, Johns Hopkins University, and the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster. He actively contributes to public discourse through essays, reviews, and critiques published in CARGO Film/Media/Culture, Filmbulletin, and Deutschlandfunk Kultur. Daniel Eschkötter is involved in structured, interdisciplinary research within funded projects, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing theoretical and historical understanding of media practices. His work contributes significantly to the growing field of visual and media studies at Bielefeld University.
Marian Pradella is a Research Associate in the Department of Sociology at the Faculty I of Social Sciences, University of Siegen, Germany. She has been affiliated with the university since September 2022, working at the Chair of Sociology – Comparative Cultural Sociology and Political Sociology of Europe. Her work includes participation in the EU Horizon 2020 project 'EnTrust – Enlightened Trust in Governance' from October 2022 to March 2024. Education: Doctorate in Social Sciences, University of Rostock (2023) Joint International Master in Cultural Sociology, Karl-Franzens University Graz & Masaryk University Brno (2013–2016) Bachelor in Applied Literature and Cultural Studies & Sociology, TU Dortmund & University of Tartu (2009–2013) Marian Pradella's research centers on cultural sociology , political sociology , discourse theory , and populism in Europe . She explores sociological interpretations of contemporary crises in liberal democracy, focusing on right-wing populism, hegemony, and the cultural dynamics of the public sphere. Her teaching includes courses on Zygmunt Bauman’s sociology, populism, and sociological diagnosis of the present. She draws from critical theory and cultural analysis to examine ambivalence, modernity, and interpretive power in civil society. Her recent publications show a strong trend in analyzing right-wing populism , cultural hegemony , and democratic legitimacy through a cultural sociological lens. She frequently engages with key thinkers like Bauman and Illouz, linking emotional and cultural dimensions to political transformations. Her work bridges theoretical depth with empirical analysis of European political developments. Scientific Contributions: Author of monographs on Bauman and PEGIDA Contributor to edited volumes on cultures of debate and interpretive conflicts Published in journals such as Journal of Cultural and Collective Studies Marian Pradella has supervised academic teaching and research but no formal advisees are listed. She has participated in externally funded research, notably the EU Horizon 2020 EnTrust project, indicating experience with collaborative, interdisciplinary research. She is actively involved in advancing cultural sociological perspectives on contemporary political challenges. She is affiliated with a research team focusing on trust, governance, and cultural conflict, contributing to both theoretical and policy-relevant discourse. Her current work appears to continue exploring the sociocultural foundations of political legitimacy and democratic resilience in Europe.
Bernd Kollmann is a full Professor of Protestant Theology, specializing in Exegesis and Theology of the New Testament at the University of Siegen, Faculty of Philosophy. He is based in the Seminar for Protestant Theology and maintains an active academic presence with recent publications and ongoing teaching responsibilities. His office is located at Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2, Siegen, and he holds regular office hours. His research interests include: New Testament exegesis and historical context Miracle stories and their interpretation Early Christian ethics and social structures (e.g., slavery) Hagiography and saint legends (e.g., Mark, Barnabas, Thekla) Religious education and biblical didactics Pauline theology and the Epistle to the Galatians Historical Jesus research and apologetics His recent scholarly output shows a consistent focus on New Testament themes, particularly miracle narratives, early Christian communities, and biblical figures. From 2021 to 2025, his publications span topics from Luther’s Bible translation to early Christianity and slavery, indicating broad yet coherent engagement with theological and historical questions. His works appear with major academic publishers such as Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Mohr Siebeck, and Herder. Professor Kollmann has contributed to significant academic discourse through edited volumes and encyclopedic entries, including in Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart and The Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception . He has also reviewed numerous scholarly works in journals such as Theologische Literaturzeitung and Clio . He supervises academic work and collaborates with scholars such as Ruben Zimmermann and Burghard Schröder. While no direct mention of advisees is provided, his editorial and collaborative projects suggest academic mentorship. He is involved in biblical translation projects, including German editions of ancient texts like the Vita et miracula sanctae Theclae and De inventione sanctae crucis , contributing to the accessibility of early Christian literature.
Dr. Tobias Berneiser is a Researcher in Romance Literature and Cultural Studies at the University of Siegen, Faculty I. He has been a research assistant since 2019 and currently leads a DFG-funded habilitation project on Republican memory and female revolutionary icons in the context of the Neapolitan Republic of 1799. His work bridges literary analysis, media studies, and cultural memory, with a strong interdisciplinary focus. Research Interests: Cultural Memory and Revolution Gender and Historiography Urban Spaces in Literature Intermediality and Transmediality 19th-Century Italian and French Literature Contemporary European and Latin American Narratives His recent publications span monographs, edited volumes, and numerous articles in journals and anthologies, focusing on themes such as literary obsession, posthumous autofiction, and historical representation in television. The trend in his work shows a consistent engagement with how historical trauma, identity, and memory are mediated through literary and cinematic forms across Romance cultures. Scientific Awards: Reinhard-Kiesler-Preis (2019) for article on Lisbon's literary nautics Dr. Berneiser has secured competitive funding through the DFG and collaborates widely with scholars across Europe. He has organized academic sections, such as on historical icons in Romance television, and contributes to major reference works like the Metzler Lexicon. He has no listed advisees but plays a significant role in academic editing and translation. Labs and Research Groups: He is part of the research team at the Romance Department of the University of Siegen and contributes to interdisciplinary projects on urbanity, war, and memory in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of BonnGermany
Prof. Jörg Seip is a Professor of Pastoral Theology at the University of Bonn's Catholic Theological Faculty. He holds a doctorate from Paderborn University and a habilitation from Würzburg University. His academic career includes roles as Lecturer in Homiletics at Paderborn and Würzburg Universities, and he became a full professor at Bonn in 2012. His research focuses on the intersections of theology, literature, and contemporary cultural studies, particularly exploring pastoral theology's aesthetic dimensions and the relationship between biblical texts and modern literature. He has authored monographs, edited volumes, and numerous peer-reviewed articles. Education: Studied Catholic Theology at Paderborn and Munich Universities (2001 PhD), habilitated at Würzburg (2008). Academic memberships include the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Homiletik and the Zentrum für Religion und Gesellschaft (Bonn). His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining theological analysis with literary criticism and spatial theory. Research interests span pastoral theology, homiletics, biblical hermeneutics, and the role of literature in religious discourse. Notable publications include Der weiße Raum (2009) and Schrift ahoi! (2013). He engages with contemporary thinkers like Latour and Agamben to reframe pastoral practices in postmodern contexts. His publications often bridge theology and the arts, analyzing how literature and media shape religious expression. Recent work explores spatial theology and the application of actor-network theory to pastoral care. Labs/Teams: Active in the Zentrum für Religion und Gesellschaft at Bonn, collaborating on projects like Die Leere halten (2021). His mentoring includes guiding doctoral research at Bonn and Würzburg.
Dr. Isabel Rith-Magni is a Lecturer in Art History at Alanus University of Arts and Society's Department of Philosophical and Aesthetic Education (Faculty of Educational Science). She holds a PhD from 1993 on 'Ancestralismo' in Latin American art and has been a part-time research assistant to Prof. Gabriele Oberreuter since 2013. Her work bridges art theory, cultural participation, and educational outreach. Education: 1981-1986: Art History, Philosophy, and German Studies at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg 1986: Master's thesis on Erwin Panofsky's iconology applied to Bosch's 'Garden of Earthly Delights' 1993: PhD on 20th-century Latin American cultural identity through art Research focuses on participatory art strategies, cultural identity in Latin America, and transitional art spaces. Her work emphasizes methodological critiques and socio-political dimensions of art practices. Key contributions include organizing the 'Offenes Forum' series and co-founding the 'Partizipative Kunst' initiative with the Montag Foundation. Publications span art theory, cultural mediation, and exhibition catalogs, with a focus on Andean art contexts and German-Latin American cultural exchange. She has held teaching roles at multiple institutions including the Cologne University of Applied Sciences and Bonn's Sokolov Art Academy. Her international experience includes over 30 years of editorial leadership for the Humboldt journal targeting Latin America, plus fieldwork in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Spain, and the U.S. She has also served in cultural institutions like the Lima Museo de Arte and participated in critical symposia on Peruvian artistic traditions.
Prof. Melanie Ulz is a Visiting Professor of Historical Image Studies at the University of Regensburg’s Faculty of Philosophy, Arts, History and Social Sciences. She has held visiting professorships at Bielefeld University (Gender Studies, 2021/22), Munich, Oldenburg, Zurich, and Heidelberg. From 2010-2016, she was a Junior Professor for Art History (18th–21st centuries) at the University of Osnabrück. Her research focuses on 18th–21st century art and cultural history, postcolonial and gender studies, transcultural object history, and migration visualization. She co-leads the DFG-funded project on 'Antigypsyism in Europe (1850-1950)'. Education: Doctorate (2005, University of Trier) on French history painting; postdoctoral work in Trier’s DFG Research Training Groups on Slavery and Media Studies. Research interests include colonialism’s visual culture, museum practices, abolitionism’s imagery, and European history painting’s racial/gender constructs. Her monographs address Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign masculinity and Osnabrück’s architectural history. She edited volumes on migration visuality, slavery in art, and postcolonial museum studies. Recent publications analyze colonial world’s fairs, migration exhibition design, and postcolonial art historiography. Her work interrogates how visual media construct colonial power, racial hierarchies, and transnational identities. Current projects examine antigypsyism’s visual narratives and migration’s transcultural museum representations. Awards: None explicitly listed, but her extensive editorial and research leadership indicate significant academic recognition. Advising/Grants: Supervised numerous collaborative projects; co-spokesperson of the Ulm Association’s migration art working group (2018-2020). Active in interdisciplinary migration/film research initiatives. Labs/Teams: Collaborates in the DFG research group on Antigypsyism and the IMIS research network on migration visualization.
Maren Lickhardt is a Professor of Modern German and General Literature at the University of Siegen, Faculty I. She has previously held academic positions at the University of Innsbruck, University of Greifswald, and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Her research is centered on pop and popular culture, literary theory, narratology, serial and intermedial storytelling, and the literature and culture of the Weimar Republic. W3 Professor, University of Siegen (2024–present) Associate Professor, University of Innsbruck (2022–2024) Habilitation, University of Innsbruck (2022) Doctorate, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Her research interests include pop and popular culture, the picaresque novel from the 16th to the 21st century, narratology, serial storytelling, media aesthetics, and the interplay between literature and film. She investigates how popular narratives function across media, particularly in magazines, television, and digital platforms. Her recent publications and research projects focus on prefigurations of pop in 1920s and 1930s entertainment magazines, binge-watching culture, and transformations of literary forms in contemporary media. She is a principal investigator in the Collaborative Research Center 'Transformations of the Popular' and leads subprojects analyzing early pop culture formations. Prefigurations of Pop in 1920s Entertainment Magazines (SFB Project) Binge Watching: Cultural and Aesthetic Dimensions Handbook of the Weimar Republic: Literature and Culture (co-edited) Lickhardt has received recognition through research fellowships and guest lectureships, and she contributes regularly to public discourse via podcasts, radio interviews, and media commentary. She has co-edited several book series and journals in pop culture and literary studies, and she supervises academic projects and publications in her field. She is actively involved in academic communities, delivering invited lectures at institutions such as the University of Liverpool and participating in international conferences. Her public engagement includes features on BR2, MDR, NDR, and SWR, as well as contributions to online platforms like pop-zeitschrift.de and ZEIT ONLINE. Lickhardt leads and participates in collaborative research teams, including the SFB 'Transformations of the Popular' and editorial boards for journals such as Pop Culture and Criticism . She is also a regular contributor to the podcast series Problematisch Populär , engaging in interdisciplinary dialogues on contemporary cultural phenomena.
