Dr. Katherine Hockey is Lecturer in New Testament Studies at the University of Aberdeen's School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History. Originally the Kirby Laing Postdoctoral Fellow, she specializes in the formation of early Christian identity through interdisciplinary approaches. Her research examines: Emotion in 1 Peter using Stoic philosophy and rhetorical analysis Inter-group dynamics in New Testament communities Methodist hermeneutics in pluralist contexts Ecumenical dialogue through Scriptural Reasoning Hockey's publications focus on Petrine theology, with recurring analysis of shame, non-retaliation, and resilience motifs. Recent work explores love/hate emotions in inter-group relations across biblical texts. She co-convenes Sophia: DRS Women's Network and serves on Society of Biblical Literature committees. Current collaborations include co-editing the T&T Clark Handbook to the Bible and Emotion. She supervises doctoral projects on Pauline community formation, Matthean divine presence, Lukan Mariology, and disability theology. Teaching includes 'Isaiah and the New Testament' and biblical interpretation courses.
Tao Jiang is a Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Rutgers University. He serves as Director of the Rutgers Center for Chinese Studies and co-chairs the Neo-Confucian Studies Seminar at Columbia University. His academic work bridges classical Chinese philosophy, Mahāyāna Buddhist thought, and cross-cultural analysis. Education: Ph.D. from Temple University Service: Former chair of the Religion Department (2010-2016, 2020-2023); co-founder of the Rutgers Workshop on Chinese Philosophy Research spans comparative philosophy , Buddhist psychology , and political thought . He explores intersections between Chinese and Western philosophy, focusing on concepts like subliminal mind and virtue ethics. His 15 most recent articles reflect trends in cross-cultural dialogue, particularly between Buddhist/Yogācāra traditions and Western philosophy (2012-2025). Topics range from Zhuangzi's freedom theories to Linji's Chan Buddhism and Nagārjuna's metaphysics. Awards include: Honorable Mention, Joseph Levenson Prize (2023) Active in academic leadership, Jiang serves on editorial boards of Dao , Journal of Buddhist Philosophy , and Neo-Confucian Studies . Contact: tjiang@rutgers.edu
Ben McFarlane is Professor of English Law at the University of Oxford and Fellow of St John's College. His research examines the intersection of property law and obligations, with particular focus on developing coherent principles from common law precedents. Research specialties include: Proprietary estoppel and equitable remedies Structural analysis of property rights Trust law and equitable obligations Land law frameworks and case law development Private law responses to building safety failures His influential publications include 'The Structure of Property Law' and 'The Law of Proprietary Estoppel', which provide systematic analyses of complex legal doctrines. Recent work addresses legal responses to the Grenfell Tower fire, examining private law's role in regulatory reform. Professor McFarlane teaches Land Law and Advanced Property and Trusts, emphasizing doctrinal clarity and historical context. He supervises graduate research in property and trusts, and maintains professional connections through the Chancery Bar Association and Property Bar Association.
Prof. Dr. Carsten Herresthal is a full-time Professor at the University of Regensburg, Faculty of Law, where he holds the Chair of Civil Law, Commercial and Corporate Law, European Law and Legal Theory. His work is centered on German and European corporate law, with a focus on banking, capital markets, compliance, arbitration, and European private law. He emphasizes methodological rigor and foundational legal principles in both national and EU contexts. University: University of Regensburg School: Faculty of Law Department: Department of Civil Law, Commercial and Corporate Law, European Law and Legal Theory Position: Professor Email: carsten.herresthal@ur.de, sekretariat.herresthal@jura.uni-regensburg.de Prof. Herresthal’s research spans key areas such as corporate governance, financial regulation, contract law, and legal methodology. He is particularly active in analyzing judicial decisions on standard terms, prepayment penalties, and EU legal harmonization. His work often critiques legislative and judicial overreach, advocating for clarity and coherence in legal frameworks. The recent publications of Prof. Herresthal reveal a strong trend in banking and capital markets law, especially concerning consumer protection, contract validity, and EU regulatory alignment. His articles frequently engage with rulings from the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) and the European Court of Justice (ECJ), analyzing their doctrinal soundness and practical implications. Topics include prepayment compensation, negative interest clauses, and the scope of consumer credit directives. His contributions are primarily in authoritative German legal journals such as NJW, ZIP, and WuB, reflecting his influence in national legal discourse. Prof. Herresthal is deeply involved in academic publishing and education. He serves as co-editor of the book series 'Writings on Corporate Law' (Nomos Verlag) and has contributed to major legal commentaries including the Münchener Kommentar zum HGB and the Staudinger Kommentar. He also co-authored a textbook on legal methodology for law students. He supervises doctoral and master’s theses and organizes a lecture series that bridges theoretical and practical aspects of corporate law, featuring leading practitioners from international law firms. His editorial roles and consistent scholarly output underscore his leadership in legal academia. He has not received explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided text, but his editorial positions and frequent publications in top-tier journals indicate high professional recognition. He also contributes to public legal discourse through commentary on legislative proposals, such as those concerning dormant accounts and supply chain due diligence. Prof. Herresthal leads a research team comprising scientific staff, student assistants, and a dedicated secretariat. He organizes academic events and fosters collaboration between academia and legal practice. His chair supports young scholars through thesis supervision and participation in scholarly publications. The ongoing projects include major commentary works on commercial and civil law, reflecting a sustained commitment to doctrinal scholarship and legal education.
Professor Ioana Cismas is a leading international law scholar at the University of York , where she serves as Chair in International Law and Co-Director of the Centre for Applied Human Rights (2022-2025). Her academic roles include Joint Programme Leadership of the LLM in International Human Rights Law and Practice (2017-2022, 2025-present) and membership in university ethics committees. Education: PhD in International Law (summa cum laude), Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva I oana's research intersects public international law, human rights law, international humanitarian law, law and religion, and transitional justice . She focuses on legal accountability, state/non-state actor dynamics, and interdisciplinary approaches to conflict and disease. Her work includes the Beyond Compliance Consortium (2024-2027), which analyzes armed actor restraint, and the Noma Project (2019-2021) on neglected diseases. Recent publications explore compliance mechanisms in armed conflict , disease framing in global health , and religious actors' influence on humanitarian law . Her scholarship combines doctrinal, socio-legal, and empirical methods to address real-world challenges. Scientific Awards: 2018 Graduate Students’ Association ‘Making Postgrads Matter’ Award (York) 2016 RATE Award for Excellence in Teaching (Stirling) 2013 Credit Suisse Award for Transitional Justice Law Clinic Ioana supervises PhD research in public international law, human rights, and compliance processes. She consults for UN agencies, NGOs, and the WHO, with expertise in noma disease and transitional justice.
Holger Strutwolf is a Professor at the University of Münster , where he chairs Patristics and New Testament Textual Research. He also serves as director of the Institute for New Testament Textual Research (INTF) and the Bible Museum. Education Studied Protestant theology at Bethel and Heidelberg Universities 1988: First theological examination at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Oldenburg; MTheol at Heidelberg 1991: Doctorate at Heidelberg 1997: Habilitation at Münster Research Focus Strutwolf specializes in New Testament textual research, ancient church history (with particular interest in Gnosticism, Origen, and Eusebius of Caesarea), and the intersection of ancient theology with philosophy. His work explores Platonic influences on early Christian thought and methodological approaches to biblical textual criticism. Publications & Methodological Contributions His scholarship spans critical editions, book reviews, and analyses of scribal practices in manuscript transmission. Key themes include the reception of Gnosis in patristic writings, theological cosmology in late antiquity, and digital tools like the New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room for textual analysis. Academic Roles After academic and pastoral roles (1998–2004), he has led the INTF since 2004. His career integrates textual scholarship with systematic theological inquiry, particularly in patristic contexts.
Dr. Fred Sanders is a Professor at the Torrey Honors College (Biola University), specializing in Systematic Theology with an emphasis on the Doctrine of the Trinity . He has been affiliated with Biola since 1999 and serves as an amateur historian of the university’s institutional legacy. Education: Ph.D. (Graduate Theological Union), M.Div. (Asbury Theological Seminary), B.A. (Murray State University) Research Interests: Sanders’ scholarship bridges classical Christian doctrine with contemporary theological frameworks, focusing on Trinitarian theology’s exegetical and dogmatic underpinnings. His work explores intersections between soteriology, ecclesiology, and the Nicene tradition, emphasizing the Trinity’s role in uniting theological disciplines. Recent Publications: His 2025 article in the International Journal of Systematic Theology examines the Nicene Creed’s structural role in doctrinal formulation. Earlier works analyze patristic influences, scriptural authority in Trinitarian theology, and the integration of faith with work ethics. Affiliations: Member of the Evangelical Theological Society , American Academy of Religion , and Wesleyan Theological Society .
Aditya Bamzai is a Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law, specializing in administrative law, constitutional law, and national security. He teaches courses including Administrative Law, Civil Procedure, and Computer Crime Law. His research focuses on separation of powers, executive authority, and judicial deference, with notable publications in top-tier law journals like the Yale Law Journal and Harvard Law Review . He served as a Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (2019–2021) and is an elected member of the American Law Institute. Prior to academia, Bamzai held roles as an attorney-adviser in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel, a clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia and Judge Jeffrey Sutton, and practiced appellate law in national security cases. His legal career includes arguing cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts on issues such as executive power and national security. His scholarship emphasizes foundational questions in administrative law, including the removal power of the President, federal agency independence, and historical interpretations of constitutional doctrines. Recent work explores the intersection of presidential authority and institutional design in cases like those involving the Federal Reserve and emergency sanctions. He has authored numerous amicus briefs and op-eds on structural constitutional issues, reflecting his engagement with contemporary legal debates. His teaching and writing underscore the interplay between historical legal principles and modern governance challenges.
Diane Desierto holds a joint appointment as Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs and Notre Dame Law School, where she serves as LLM faculty director. She is also co-principal investigator of the Notre Dame Reparations Design and Compliance Lab, one of Kellogg's Policy and Practice Research labs. As a Kellogg Institute faculty fellow since 2018, she maintains significant affiliations with multiple research centers at Notre Dame. Dr. Desierto earned her JSD and LLM degrees from Yale University Law School and completed her JD and BS at the University of the Philippines. Her academic journey includes previous faculty appointments at the University of Hawaii and Peking University School of Transnational Law. She was a faculty fellow at Stanford University's Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences and served as director of studies and faculty at The Hague Academy of International Law. Professor Desierto specializes in international law with particular expertise in international economic law, human rights, development, humanitarian law, comparative constitutional law, and maritime security. Her research addresses dispute settlement mechanisms and the evolving regional law of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). She has written more than 100 law review articles, book chapters, and other publications, and is the sole author/editor of three books and co-author of two others. Her scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on the intersection of human rights and economic governance, with particular attention to reparations mechanisms, ASEAN integration, and the challenges of balancing national policy space with international obligations. Recent publications highlight her growing interest in climate change impacts, reparative justice, and the practical implementation of international human rights standards. Honor Award for Environmental Advocacy (2024) As an advisor, Professor Desierto currently mentors Rachel DeGaugh. She has secured significant research funding through her role as co-principal investigator of the Notre Dame Reparations Design and Compliance Lab, which has partnered with the Commission of Human Rights in the State of Mexico. Her lab also collaborates with international organizations including the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Asian Development Bank. Professor Desierto leads the Notre Dame Reparations Design and Compliance Lab, which brings together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from leading institutions in international human rights law compliance. The lab recently convened a workshop on reparations design and compliance with participants from across the globe, focusing on human rights, climate change, and international development.
Celeste Black is an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney's Law School. She holds a BA from Harvard, JD from Penn, LLM (Hons) from Sydney, and a PhD from Macquarie. Her research focuses on tax law intersections with climate policy, gig economy taxation, international tax administration, and carbon trading implications. She is a member of The Net Zero Institute and affiliated with the International Fiscal Association. Education: BA (Harvard), JD (Penn), LLM (Sydney), PhD (Macquarie). Research interests include climate law and tax, tax administration responses to gig work, state taxes, international tax exchange of information, and mandatory disclosure rules. She teaches courses on Australian Income Tax, Advanced Taxation Law, and Comparative International Tax. Awards: 2013 Graham Hill IFA Research Prize. Notable publications include Principles of Taxation Law series and work on carbon markets, tax compliance, and animal law. Her research addresses tax system adaptations to emerging economic and environmental challenges. Grants include projects on carbon emissions taxation (2009), human-animal research (2013), and water rights taxation (2006). She advises on tax policy, climate law, and international cooperation mechanisms.
Edmund Hayes is a postdoctoral researcher at Leiden University and a faculty member at Radboud University Nijmegen. His research focuses on early Islamic history, particularly the history of Shiʿi groups and opposition movements within the Islamic empire. He examines the intersection of intellectual developments with social and political dynamics, with a current emphasis on the institutional evolution of Twelver Shiʿism during the Occultation period. Hayes' work challenges traditional historiographical frameworks by analyzing socio-political processes behind doctrinal formations and the role of financial-sacral institutions in maintaining communal coherence. His academic contributions include analyses of key texts like the khums demand letter attributed to Imam al-Jawād, the role of the Imamate's agents post-874 CE, and the socio-legal boundaries shaped by Imami fiscal practices. He has organized conferences on topics like excommunication in late antiquity and early Islamicate societies, reflecting his interest in transregional connections and religious boundary-making. Hayes’ publications span peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Al-Masāq , Islamic Law and Society , and Annales islamologiques , alongside reviews of seminal works on Shiʿi origins and doctrinal controversies. His doctoral dissertation, Agents of the Hidden Imam , provides a groundbreaking analysis of the Occultation doctrine’s institutional underpinnings. Despite his prolific output, the text does not mention awards or grants, though his active conference participation signals academic leadership in his field.
Michael Mosser is a Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of Texas at Austin , with joint appointments in the Department of Government , Center for European Studies (CES), and International Relations and Global Studies (IRG) program. He serves as Executive Director of the Global Disinformation Lab and Assistant Director of the Center for European Studies , while also holding the title of Distinguished Scholar at the Strauss Center for International Security and Law . Education: PhD and MA in Political Science from University of Wisconsin-Madison; BA in Political Science and History from University of Pittsburgh Teaching Areas: European Security, European Environmental Politics, International Affairs, Comparative Politics, Disinformation Studies His research focuses on European security institutions , disinformation dynamics , and the intersection of military sociology with political processes . He has led initiatives like the Peace Corps Prep program and serves on experiential learning advisory boards. Recent publications explore the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) , military power diffusion , and post-conflict reconciliation . He has received prestigious teaching awards including the 2021 Texas Ten and 2016 Raymond Dickson Centennial Fellowship . Scientific Awards 2021 Texas Ten Teaching Award 2016 Raymond Dickson Centennial Endowed Teaching Fellowship Dr. Mosser regularly contributes to KUT Radio's Texas Standard and publishes op-eds on security and disinformation topics in major Texas newspapers.
Dr. Steven Hurst serves as Reader in the Department of History, Politics and Philosophy at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he has been a faculty member since 1993. He currently holds dual leadership roles as Section Head of Politics and Programme Leader for the MA in International Relations and Global Communications, teaching undergraduate units on US foreign and domestic politics while mentoring doctoral candidates. His academic foundation includes a BA and MA in History and International Relations from the University of Birmingham, followed by a PhD from Lancaster University examining Jimmy Carter's normalization efforts with Vietnam. His scholarly trajectory reflects deep expertise in post-1945 US foreign policy through both historical and contemporary lenses. Hurst's research centers on US-Iran nuclear negotiations, US-China trade dynamics, and partisan polarization's impact on foreign policy. His work consistently applies two-level game theory to demonstrate how domestic political constraints shape international outcomes, particularly evident in analyses of sanctions regimes and diplomatic breakthroughs. This theoretical approach bridges historical Cold War scholarship with urgent contemporary issues like trade wars. Recent publications reveal a sustained focus on policy continuity across presidential transitions, especially during the Trump administration. His scholarship demonstrates remarkable consistency in examining how institutional frameworks and bureaucratic processes maintain strategic coherence despite rhetorical shifts, with particular emphasis on US-China relations and nuclear diplomacy. He has successfully supervised six postgraduate researchers to completion, including Clair Wilkins (PhD, 2011) on US Supreme Court dynamics and Mahmoud Suleiman (PhD, 2023) on Kurdish referendums. His academic service extends through external examining roles at Durham and Nottingham Trent Universities, along with rigorous peer review for top journals including International Politics and Security Dialogue.
Professor Julia Ya Qin is a Professor of Law at Wayne State University Law School, where she has been a faculty member since 2000. She holds an LL.B. from Peking University and LL.M. and S.J.D. degrees from Harvard Law School. Her academic roles include a joint appointment as professor at Tsinghua University Law School (2014–2016) and a research associate at Peking University International Law Institute. She has served as a visiting professor at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Michigan, Seoul National University, and Washington University in St. Louis, and has taught as an adjunct professor at New York University Law School. Education: LL.B. (Peking University), LL.M. and S.J.D. (Harvard Law School) Professional Experience: Former practicing attorney at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (Hong Kong/New York offices), and clerk to late Chief Judge Dominick DiCarlo of the U.S. Court of International Trade. Her research focuses on international trade law, WTO law, Chinese law, and subsidies regulation. She has authored influential works on WTO jurisprudence, including a widely cited article on subsidies to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and WTO accession protocols. Her scholarship addresses challenges in global governance, trade policy conflicts, and legal interpretations of WTO agreements. Professor Qin serves on the Board of Consulting Editors of the Chinese Journal of International Law and has contributed to organizations like the Society of International Economic Law and the Chinese Society of International Law. Her recent publications analyze WTO reform, US-China trade dynamics, and the legal implications of trade policies. Though no formal awards are listed, her work has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court, underscoring its impact on international legal discourse.
Claudio Michelon is Professor of Philosophy of Law at the University of Edinburgh's School of Law, where he serves as Director of the Edinburgh Centre for Legal Theory and Head of Subject Area for Legal Theory. He holds a Personal Chair in Philosophy of Law and is affiliated with both the Edinburgh Centre for Legal Theory and the Edinburgh Centre for Private Law. LLB from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (1992) M.Phil from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (1996) PhD from University of Edinburgh (2001) Professor Michelon's research focuses on two main interconnected areas: legal reasoning and decision-making, and the normative structure of private law. His work on legal reasoning explores the role of subjectivity and practical perception in judicial decision-making, the structure of different legal arguments, and draws on diverse philosophical resources including virtue theory, virtue epistemology, and argumentation theory. His private law theory research investigates the relationship between private law and justice (both corrective and distributive), the role of private law in structuring the private sphere, and whether aspects of private law can possess intrinsic value. His recent scholarly output shows a consistent focus on doctrinal authority, legal reasoning structures, and the philosophical foundations of private law. Michelon frequently examines how coherence operates in legal argumentation, the nature of precedent in legal systems, and the public dimensions of what is traditionally considered private law. His work bridges theoretical legal philosophy with practical concerns of legal decision-making. British Academy Visiting Fellowship (2006-2007) HLA Hart Visiting Fellowship at Oxford (2007) IVR Young Scholar Prize (2001) Professor Michelon has served as Secretary General of the International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy (IVR) from 2007 to 2011. He is actively involved in academic leadership as co-editor of Routledge's Critical Studies in Jurisprudence series and serves on the editorial boards of Springer's Law and Philosophy Library and several academic journals. His research has been supported by projects including the Law in Theory and History Project and The Law and Polity project. As Director of the Edinburgh Centre for Legal Theory, Professor Michelon leads one of the most prominent research groups in legal philosophy, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between law, philosophy, and political theory. The Centre organizes regular seminars and workshops that bring together scholars from around the world to explore foundational questions in legal theory.
