Beth Piatote is an Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. She holds a PhD in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University and is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (Nez Perce). Her work bridges scholarly and creative realms, focusing on Indigenous literature, law, language revitalization, and cultural studies. Education: PhD in Modern Thought and Literature (Stanford University). Research interests include Native American legal systems, Nez Perce language preservation, global Indigenous literatures, and creative writing. She co-founded and chairs Berkeley’s Designated Emphasis in Indigenous Language Revitalization and directs the Arts Research Center, where she leads the Indigenous Poetics Lab. Her publications include Domestic Subjects: Gender, Citizenship, and Law in Native American Literature (2013) and the short story collection The Beadworkers (2019), which received multiple literary recognitions. Her plays Antíkoni and Tricksters, Unite! explore Indigenous narratives through performance. Awards include MLA honorable mentions, PEN/Bingham Prize longlistings, and a 2020 Playwrights Retreat win. Current projects involve a scholarly monograph on sensory representations of Indigenous law and creative works in poetry and essays.
Lynn S. Meskill is a Professor at Toulouse Jean-Jaurès University, affiliated with the Center for Anglophone Studies (CAS). Her academic work bridges literature, history of ideas, and translation, with a strong focus on early modern British culture. She teaches Medieval and Early Modern Literature and Translation. Her research interests include: 16th and 17th Century Theatre Stuart and Caroline Court Masque History of the Book History of Ideas Translation Studies Authorship in Early Modernity Ben Jonson and Shakespearean Drama Her publications reveal a deep engagement with themes of authorship, fame, religious symbolism, and cultural representation in Renaissance literature. She frequently explores the intersections of performance, politics, and print culture, particularly in court masques and tragedies. Her work often combines literary analysis with intellectual and cultural history. Her scholarly contributions include a monograph on Ben Jonson and numerous articles in leading journals such as Huntington Library Quarterly and English Studies . She has also contributed chapters to authoritative handbooks and translated significant works in print culture. She has supervised doctoral research and holds an HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches), qualifying her to direct research in France. While no specific grants are listed, her involvement in structured research axes at CAS suggests active participation in collaborative projects. Lynn S. Meskill is a core member of the Center for Anglophone Studies (CAS), contributing to its seminars, research programs (such as AXIS 1–3), and academic events. The center fosters interdisciplinary research in Anglophone cultures, and she plays a vital role in its scholarly community.
Kyung-Ho Cha serves as Junior Professor of Modern German Literature at the University of Bayreuth's Faculty of Languages & Literature within the Department of New German Literature. His academic journey includes studies at Bonn, Oxford, and Columbia University, followed by doctoral work at Technical University Berlin completed in 2010. His research centers on three interconnected domains: literature-science intersections with focus on evolutionary biology and Walter Benjamin's writings; literary representations of migration; and human rights discourse in contemporary literature. This tripartite framework informs his critical analysis of authors like Elfriede Jelinek and Fatih Akin. Cha's publications reveal consistent engagement with transnational themes, particularly examining German-Turkish cultural dynamics, refugee narratives, and ethical dimensions of literary representation. His work demonstrates methodological rigor in bridging literary analysis with philosophical and scientific discourse. German National Merit Foundation Fellowship DAAD Fellowship ICI Berlin Institute Fellowship DFG Fellowship Volkswagen-Foundation Support Harvard Mahindra Humanities Center Fellowship (2011-2012) Cha has directed significant research projects including the DFG-funded 'Seelenwanderung und literarische Kommunikation' at Freie Universität Berlin and contributed to the DFG Graduiertenkolleg 'Körper-Inszenierungen'. His editorial work on human rights literature demonstrates leadership in establishing interdisciplinary scholarly dialogues. Current research continues to explore migration narratives within the 'Future Migration' initiative at Bayreuth.
Stephen Spector is a Professor of English at Stony Brook University since 1972, with a PhD from Yale University (1973). His work bridges medieval literature, religious studies, and language history. He has held visiting positions at the Hebrew University (Jerusalem, 1996–97) and fellowships at the National Humanities Center and Wesleyan University. His research focuses on medieval English literature, particularly mystery plays and biblical texts, alongside modern topics like Christian Zionism and the Ethiopian Jewish rescue operation (Operation Solomon). He has authored influential books such as Evangelicals and Israel (2009), which won the London Book Festival Prize, and Operation Solomon (2005), honored with the JDC-Herbert Katzki Award. Education: B.A. in English and Psychology from Penn State University (1968), M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Yale University (1973). He has taught courses ranging from the history of the English language to medieval literature and the Bible as literature. Research highlights include pioneering studies on anti-Semitism in medieval mystery plays, textual editing of the N-Town Play, and modern analyses of religious-political intersections. His recent work explores biblical prophecy’s influence on US foreign policy and contemporary grammar usage guides. Awards include the Van Courtlandt Elliott Prize (1980) for medieval scholarship, National Endowment for the Humanities grants, and SUNY Research Foundation fellowships. He has also contributed op-eds on topics like Sarah Palin’s religious influences and Israel-Evangelical relations. Grants and fellowships span decades, including directing NEH summer seminars on Jewish presence in early English literature (1993, 1996). His work often integrates historical methodologies with contemporary cultural analysis. Labs/Teams: Not explicitly listed, but his research collaborations are evident in co-edited volumes like The Olde Daunce (1991) and contributions to interdisciplinary projects like the Early English Text Society.
Debdeep Jena is the David E. Burr Professor of Engineering at Cornell University, holding appointments in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, and serving as a field member in Applied and Engineering Physics. He joined Cornell in 2015 after twelve years on the faculty at the University of Notre Dame. Professor Jena's research focuses on the quantum physics of semiconductors and electronic/photonic devices based on quantized semiconductor structures. His work spans Nitrides, Oxides, and 2D Materials, with applications in energy-efficient transistors, LEDs, RF and power electronics, and quantum computation. His group explores the fundamental limits of computation, memory, and communications by exploiting new physics in semiconductor devices, particularly investigating ultrahigh-speed GaN and AlN transistors, ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors for power electronics, deep-UV LEDs and lasers, and novel materials for quantum computing. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory toward integrating semiconductors with superconductors, ferroelectrics, and magnets to create hybrid quantum systems. This research direction aims to overcome classical device limits while dramatically improving energy efficiency across computing, communications, and power management applications from the chip to the grid level. Art Gossard MBE Innovator Award, North American Conference on Molecular Beam Epitaxy (NAMBE) 2024 Intel Outstanding Researcher Award 2020 David Burr Chair Professor of Engineering 2020 Fellow, American Physical Society 2016 MBE Young Scientist Award 2014 IBM Faculty Award 2012 Professor Jena leads a $34 million research center focused on energy-efficient semiconductor materials and technologies. His research group actively engages in materials synthesis using Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) while collaborating with theoretical physicists to develop comprehensive understanding of electron transport, light-matter interactions, and correlated electron physics. In 2022, he published the textbook 'Quantum Physics of Semiconductor Materials and Devices' through Oxford University Press, which has become a top seller in solid-state physics and electromagnetism categories. The Jena research group operates at the intersection of multiple advanced materials systems, maintaining expertise in Nitride Electronics, Oxide Electronics, UV Lasers/Photonics, 2D Materials, Ultrapolar/Ferro Semiconductors, and Super/Semi Electronics. Their work spans fundamental materials science to device engineering, with strong connections to energy systems, advanced materials processing, and quantum information science applications.
He Chengzhou is a full Professor of English, Drama, and Comparative Literature, and currently serves as Dean of the School of Arts at Nanjing University. He holds a Doctor of Arts from Oslo University, following B.A. and M.A. degrees from Nanjing Normal University. His academic leadership roles include Chinese Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies (2013-2017), President of Jiangsu Comparative Literature Association (2016-present), and former Chairman of the International Ibsen Committee (2010-2012). Research focuses on Henrik Ibsen, Scandinavian literatures, intercultural theatre, and comparative drama. Key works include (2004) and (2009). He has been honored with the Ibsen Medal (2002) and the prestigious Changjiang Distinguished Professor title (2015). Professional contributions include directing the Chinese-Nordic Cultural Centre and European Studies Centre at Nanjing University. His academic trajectory spans over three decades, with influential publications in intercultural performance, gender studies, and environmental literary analysis.
Minh Hue Nguyen is a Senior Lecturer in EAL/TESOL Teacher Education at Monash University's School of Curriculum, Teaching and Inclusive Education within the Faculty of Education. She holds a PhD in Education (TESOL focused) from Monash University and has taught at Vietnam National University, Deakin University, and the University of Melbourne. Her educational background includes: PhD in Education (TESOL focused), Monash University (2015) MA in Applied Linguistics, Victoria University of Wellington (2008) BA in English Language Teaching, Vietnam National University (2003) Nguyen's research centers on teachers' professional learning, curriculum, and pedagogy in TESOL and EAL contexts, with specific focus on emotional experiences, identity development, mentoring, agency, and collaboration. She explores sociocultural contexts of teacher development through activity theory and sociocultural perspectives, examining how institutions support teachers' learning journeys from preservice to in-service stages. Recent work investigates professional learning for teacher educators and implementation of the Victorian EAL Curriculum. Her 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a strong thematic focus on language teacher agency, identity negotiation, and multilingual pedagogies. The research increasingly examines emotional dimensions of teaching, cross-cultural identity tensions, and collaborative models between EAL and content teachers, with significant contributions to understanding how teachers navigate complex educational contexts while developing professional identities. Her scientific recognition includes: Penny McKay Award Special Commendation Monash Education Research Community's Publication Award ATEA/Kay Martinez Award for Best Paper Monash Dean of Education’s ECR Project Award Advancing Women's Research Success Grant Vietnamese Government Merit-based Scholarships Nguyen actively supervises PhD research in TESOL teacher professional learning, teacher identity, and curriculum development, though is currently unavailable for new PhD students until 2027. She contributes to editorial boards for Teaching and Teacher Education, Second Language Teacher Education, and System journals, and serves on the Australian Teacher Education Association. Her work supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) through inclusive pedagogical frameworks. She leads research projects including 'Elucidating practices to assist EAL learners to acquire specialised science vocabulary' and 'Establishing an online community-of-practice model for learner agency during work placements,' demonstrating commitment to practical educational innovations.
Katherine Saltzman-Li is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), affiliated with the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultural Studies, the Program in Comparative Literature, and the Department of Theater and Dance. Her research focuses on Japanese performing arts, particularly Kabuki theater, Japanese literature, and folklore. She holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Her work examines Edo-period Kabuki playwriting through studies of rare treatises like Kezairoku , interactions among Edo artists, and adaptations of puppet theater into Kabuki. She co-edited Cultural Imprints: War and Memory in the Samurai Age (2022) and Realisms in East Asian Performance (2023), challenging Eurocentric theatrical realism frameworks. She co-curated exhibitions on Japanese theater prints at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and directs the Japanese Performing Arts Research Consortium (JPARC). Her teaching spans Japanese literature, folklore, and performance studies, including courses on traditional theater, comparative drama, and digital humanities applications in theater research.
David M Feldshuh is a Professor in Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University with over 40 years of service, uniquely combining a board-certified emergency medicine physician career with theater artistry. As founding Artistic Director of the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, he leads a resident company of professional actors collaborating with students across Cornell. His education spans Dartmouth College (B.A. Philosophy, Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude), London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, and dual Ph.D. (Theatre) and M.D. (Medicine) from the University of Minnesota, followed by Emergency Medicine residency at Hennepin County Medical Center and board certification. Feldshuh’s research centers on theater as a vehicle for social change, particularly at the arts-healthcare intersection. He pioneers creativity training methodologies derived from Zen meditation, Gestalt Therapy, and martial arts to enhance professional presence. His work examines ethical dilemmas in medical practice through performance, with emphasis on cultural bias mitigation and historical trauma processing. His creative output reveals consistent focus on social justice narratives, evolving from historical adaptations like Antigone to contemporary explorations of systemic inequity. Recent works demonstrate increasing formal innovation through multi-role performance structures and transmedia storytelling approaches that bridge academic and public engagement. Major honors include: Pulitzer Prize Finalist and 5 Emmy Awards for Miss Evers' Boys Cornell’s Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellowship (highest teaching honor) Distinguished Service Award from Tuskegee University’s National Bioethics Center AMA “Freddy” Award for medical film excellence CINE Golden Eagle for documentary work Feldshuh mentors through honors tutorials and developed the globally adopted eCornell course Acting in Public , teaching 1,600+ students across 15 countries. His Schwartz Center leadership established institutional grant frameworks supporting large-scale productions like Bernstein’s Mass with 138 performers. Current initiatives include leadership workshops for Cornell Tech and corporate clients, extending his presence-training methodology beyond academia. He maintains active creative practice through the Schwartz Center’s resident company, directing major productions while integrating medical ethics into performance pedagogy. His stadium announcing role at Cornell commencements for 20+ years exemplifies his commitment to institutional community engagement.
Emmanuel Saez is a Professor of Economics and Director of the Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality at the University of California, Berkeley , where he has been a leading figure in the Department of Economics within the College of Letters and Science. His research is foundational in the study of income and wealth inequality, optimal taxation, and empirical public policy. His academic journey began with a PhD from MIT in 1999. His work, particularly in collaboration with Thomas Piketty and Gabriel Zucman, has revolutionized how economists measure and understand economic inequality. He is best known for constructing long-term top income share series, which reveal the dramatic rise in U.S. inequality since the 1980s. His influential 2019 book, The Triumph of Injustice , co-authored with Gabriel Zucman, presents a compelling critique of the decline in U.S. progressive taxation and proposes bold policy reforms for the 21st century. Saez's recent research spans a wide range of topics including real-time inequality measurement, wealth tax enforcement, labor market dynamics for older workers, and macroeconomic models of unemployment. His publications, often appearing in top journals like the Quarterly Journal of Economics , American Economic Review , and Brookings Papers on Economic Activity , consistently focus on empirical analysis with direct policy relevance. His work shows a strong trend toward integrating macroeconomic models with distributional data and evaluating the real-world impact of fiscal and social policies. John Bates Clark Medal, American Economic Association, 2009 MacArthur 'Genius' Fellowship, 2010 Honorary degree from Harvard University, 2019 Saez is deeply involved in mentoring and advising, though specific student names are not listed in the provided texts. He has been instrumental in major data initiatives such as the World Inequality Database (WID.world) and Real-Time Inequality , which provide open-access, high-quality data on economic distribution. He has also secured significant research funding from foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Russell Sage Foundation, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. He leads the Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality, fostering interdisciplinary research on economic disparity.
Professor Roland J. Pieters is a distinguished academic at Utrecht University's Faculty of Science, where he serves as a full Professor in the Department of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery. With over two decades of experience at the institution, he has progressed from Assistant Professor (1998) to Associate Professor (2005) and ultimately to Full Professor (2010-present). His research group is internationally recognized for groundbreaking work at the intersection of carbohydrate chemistry, chemical biology, and drug discovery, with particular emphasis on developing novel therapeutic approaches against bacterial infections and pathogenic mechanisms. Full Professor, Utrecht University (2010-present) Associate Professor, Utrecht University (2005-2010) Assistant Professor, Utrecht University (1998-2005) NWO Talent Post-doctoral Fellow, ETH-Zürich (1995-1996) Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Groningen (1996-1998) Professor Pieters earned his M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Groningen in 1990, where he worked with Professor Ben Feringa, and completed his Ph.D. at MIT in 1995 under the supervision of Professor Julius Rebek Jr. His doctoral research focused on molecular recognition and template effects in bisubstrate systems, establishing the foundation for his lifelong interest in molecular interactions. Professor Pieters' research primarily centers on glycodrugs and the strategic interference with protein-carbohydrate interactions using multivalent systems of varying architectures. His laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding how rigid spacers in multivalent ligands can dramatically enhance binding affinity to target proteins, with applications against viral and bacterial adhesion proteins, toxins, galectins, and glycosidases. A particular focus has been on developing inhibitors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin LecA, cholera toxin, influenza virus hemagglutinin, and more recently, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interactions with host cell receptors. His group also pioneered the use of glyco- and peptide-microarrays for high-throughput screening of carbohydrate-protein interactions and drug discovery, particularly in the area of O-GlcNAcylation research. The publication record of Professor Pieters demonstrates consistent innovation in the field of multivalent carbohydrate-based therapeutics. His recent work (2020-2024) shows a strategic expansion into viral pathogenesis (particularly influenza and SARS-CoV-2), immune modulation through glycan recognition, and novel approaches to vaccine development. A notable trend is the increasing sophistication of multivalent architectures, moving from simple divalent systems to tetra- and hexavalent ligands with precisely engineered spatial arrangements. His research bridges fundamental chemical principles with practical therapeutic applications, maintaining strong connections to pharmaceutical development while advancing basic science understanding of carbohydrate-mediated biological processes. Professor Pieters' scientific achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards including a Fellowship from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) in 1999 and a VICI personal grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) in 2008. These competitive awards reflect the significance and innovation of his research program. He has also served on editorial advisory boards, notably as Section Editor-in-Chief for Chemical Biology in the journal Molecules (2018-2022), contributing to the scholarly community through peer review and academic leadership. Fellowship of Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW), 1999 VICI, personal grant, NWO, 2008 Section Editor-in-Chief Chemical Biology for Molecules (2018-2022) Throughout his career, Professor Pieters has coordinated significant research projects including the EU project POLYCARB and secured competitive funding that has sustained his innovative research program. His laboratory has fostered numerous collaborations across Europe and internationally, creating a vibrant research environment that has trained many scientists now working in academia and industry. His research on multivalent carbohydrate systems represents a sustained intellectual contribution to chemical biology with direct relevance to developing new anti-infective strategies and therapeutic approaches. Professor Pieters leads an active research group within Utrecht University's Department of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, situated in the David de Wied Building. His laboratory maintains strong connections with other research groups both within Utrecht University and internationally, particularly in the fields of glycobiology, infectious diseases, and drug discovery. The research environment he has cultivated emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining synthetic chemistry, biophysical analysis, and biological testing to address fundamental questions in carbohydrate-mediated biological processes with therapeutic applications.
Professor Annie Mahtani is a Professor of Electroacoustic Composition and Practice at the University of Birmingham's Department of Music. She holds a BMus (Hons), MA, MPhil, and PhD from the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University. Her work focuses on electroacoustic music, acousmatic composition, multichannel audio, spatialisation, and field recordings, with significant contributions to site-specific installations and cross-disciplinary collaborations. She co-directs the SOUNDkitchen collective and serves on key boards such as the British ElectroAcoustic Network (BEAN) and the British Section of ISCM. Her research explores the sonic identity of environmental sounds, large-scale multichannel composition, and ambisonic audio techniques. As a performer with BEAST (Birmingham Electroacoustic Sound Theatre), she develops live acousmatic performances and soundwalks. Recent projects include Becoming Tree (an immersive audio retelling of a literary work) and Minimum Monument , performed at Birmingham Hippodrome. She actively collaborates with dance and theatre companies like Rosie Kay Dance Company. Professor Mahtani teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules in electroacoustic composition and is involved in admissions and curriculum leadership. Her works have been performed globally in festivals like Klang! Électroacoustique and Sound + Environment, showcasing her innovative contributions to contemporary music and sound art.
Edward Nesbit is Senior Lecturer in Composition at King's College London's Department of Music within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. He studied at Cambridge University, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and King's College London under Julian Anderson and George Benjamin. His compositions are regularly performed by major ensembles including the London Sinfonietta, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Philharmonia Orchestra at venues like Wigmore Hall and Royal Festival Hall. Research interests focus on: Contemporary choral and vocal composition techniques Integration of literary and dramatic elements in musical works Collaborative performance practices Community music engagement methodologies Recent compositions demonstrate diverse approaches to narrative storytelling through music, with frequent exploration of biblical/historical themes and nature-inspired programmatic elements. His work includes collaborations with the Choir of King's College London, resulting in commercial recordings on the Delphian label. Nesbit has secured funding including an AHRC Impact Acceleration Award for community music projects. He leads the 'Singing for Wellbeing' initiative developing choral repertoire for community engagement and directs composition studies at undergraduate/postgraduate levels.
Toril Moi is the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Literature at Duke University, holding additional professorships in English, Romance Studies, Philosophy, and Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies. She directs the Center for Philosophy, Arts, and Literature (PAL). Her work bridges feminist theory, literary criticism, and philosophy, with a focus on modernism, existentialism, and ordinary language philosophy. Educated at the University of Bergen (Dr. Art., 1985), her research spans Simone de Beauvoir, Ibsen, and Cavellian thought. She has held fellowships at the Radcliffe Institute, Guggenheim Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation. Recognized with honorary doctorates from four universities, her teaching emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, including courses on Wittgenstein, existentialism, and feminist classics. Moi advises graduate students across disciplines and has supervised over 20 PhD dissertations, many winning top academic prizes. Her research explores intersections between literature and philosophy, particularly through feminist frameworks. Notable books include Sexual/Textual Politics (1985) and Henrik Ibsen and the Birth of Modernism (2006). Recent work addresses Beauvoir’s literary theory and crises in humanities education. Moi’s global lectures span 29 countries, and she advises institutions like Norway’s National Library. Awards highlight her contributions to feminist scholarship and mentorship.
Patricia Sieber is a Professor of Chinese Literature in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at The Ohio State University. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Chinese literature from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on print culture, performance culture, and transcultural studies, with emphasis on traditional Chinese drama's global afterlives. She directs the Translation and Interpreting Program and leads the Chinese Theater Collaborative project funded by OSU's Arts and Humanities Grant. Notable works include Theaters of Desire (2003) and editorial work on How To Read Chinese Drama (2022). Awards include the 2023 Ratner Teaching Award. She has held fellowships at the Library of Congress, Princeton Library, and Taipei's National Central Library. Active in scholarly societies, she serves on editorial boards for journals like Journal of Chinese Literature and Culture . Her teaching spans traditional Chinese literature, translation theory, and interdisciplinary courses. She pioneered experiential learning initiatives including a drama translation residency with Amy Ng. Her research has been supported by NEH, ACLS, Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation, and DAAD grants. Public outreach includes collaborations with the Royal Shakespeare Company and media appearances (BBC, New York Times).
