Esther González Martínez is Full Professor of Sociology at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) in the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Department of Social Sciences. She earned her PhD in sociology and social sciences from the University of Lausanne and EHESS (2003), followed by postdoctoral research at Boston University, Cornell University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and UCLA. Her research specializes in institutional interactions using conversation analysis and ethnomethodology, with current focus areas including: Healthcare communication practices (nurse coordination, corridor interactions) Legal settings (interrogation techniques, judicial procedures) Workplace mobility and multimodal interaction Request formulation in institutional contexts She leads the Interaction and Social Practices Research Group (GRIPS) and directs FNS-funded projects on hospital communication dynamics. Her recent publications (2015-2025) predominantly analyze healthcare interactions, demonstrating consistent focus on conversation patterns in mobile workplace settings, particularly nurse-doctor coordination and institutional request sequences. Notable research projects include: Requesting in hospital nurses' unscheduled interprofessional interactions (FNS 2019-2024) Mobile and Contingent Work Interactions in Hospital Care (FNS 2011-2015) Interactional competences in institutional practices (IC-You project 2012-2015) She maintains active collaboration networks internationally, including partnerships with University of York.
Professor Lucy Bolton (BA, MA, PhD) is an academic at Queen Mary University of London's School of Languages, Linguistics and Film, specializing in Film Studies. Her research focuses on the intersection of film and philosophy, particularly feminist philosophy, phenomenology, and stardom studies. Director of the Living British Cinema forum Editorial board member for journals Film-Philosophy , Celebrity Studies , and Open Screens Co-editor of the book series Visionaries: Thinking through Female Filmmakers Her work examines ethical and aesthetic dimensions of cinema, with particular attention to women's cinema, British and Hollywood film traditions, and philosophical approaches to film. Recent publications analyze James Bond's gender dynamics, Mary Magdalene's cinematic representation, and stardom in cross-cultural contexts. Scientific awards include the BAFTSS Award for Best Edited Collection (2017) for Lasting Stars . She supervises PhD students exploring topics like Vivien Leigh's vocal performance, immersive museums, and women's avant-garde cinema. Prominent public engagement activities include BBC Radio 3/4 appearances, BFI panel discussions on Ingmar Bergman, and film introductions at the British Film Institute. Her research has been featured in The Conversation and Times Higher Education Supplement .
Darrin Martin serves as Professor of Art and Co-Chair of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of California, Davis within the College of Letters and Science. Appointed in 2005 with formal education including an M.F.A. from UC San Diego (2000) and B.F.A. from Alfred University (1992), he maintains an active studio practice alongside academic responsibilities. His research centers on synesthetic perception through video, sculpture, and print-based installations, specifically exploring accessibility through tactility, sonic analogies, and audio descriptions informed by personal experiences with hearing loss. Key research trajectories include disability representation in contemporary art, audio description as generative artistic practice, and speculative educational frameworks examining post-apocalyptic scenarios. Analysis of Martin's recent publications reveals consistent engagement with disability aesthetics and sensory translation, particularly through sound-based works exploring breath and resonance. His 2023-2024 output demonstrates significant institutional recognition including SFMOMA's acquisition of 'Crash Satellite' and MIT List Visual Arts Center commissioning 'Steel Tongue Accordion Ears.' Scientific Recognition: SFMOMA Permanent Collection Acquisition (2024) Honorable Mention, Chicago Underground Film Festival (2013) Recology San Francisco Artist Residency (2023) Electronic Arts Intermix Collaboration (2023) Martin actively mentors emerging artists including alum Torreya Cummings (2022 Recology residency recipient) and maintains significant collaborative relationships, notably with Torsten Zenas Burns on projects like 'ARK3: The Workshop Scenarios.' His curatorial work with Electronic Arts Intermix examines disability representation in media archives, while his Ann Arbor Film Festival programming explores accessibility frameworks. Through residencies at Cité Internationale des Arts, Eyebeam, and Experimental Television Center, Martin develops installations that have exhibited internationally at venues including The Kitchen (NY), University of Toronto, and Grand Central Art Center. His current research investigates breath politics through projects like 'Resistance & Respiration' at Contemporary Calgary.
Sarah Gilmore is Professor of Organization Studies and Director of Research Impact at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. She also serves as Head of the Management, Employment and Organisation Department. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Professor Gilmore brings interdisciplinary expertise that bridges management studies, sport science, and psychoanalytic theory. Professor Gilmore's educational background includes a PhD in Business and Management from the University of Portsmouth (2001), an MSc in Theoretical Psychoanalytic Studies from University College London (2006), a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education from the University of Portsmouth (2001), a Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Management from the University of Portsmouth (1990), and a BA (Hons) in English and European Literature from the University of Essex (1982). Professor Gilmore's research makes significant contributions across three interconnected areas. First, her longitudinal ethnographic studies in elite sport examine the precariousness of sport science professionals, contributing to knowledge about emergent professions within management and organization studies. Second, she explores the emotional labor of sport scientists and the challenges this poses for their professional formation. Third, her work on organizational change and strategic HRM has provided models for how sports clubs can secure high performance outcomes through asset maximization, which has been adopted by several English Premier League and Championship clubs. Her secondary research stream employs psychoanalytical (object relations) theories to examine managerial work in fast-paced environments, particularly focusing on English football managers. This work has evolved to explore the materiality of leadership, collective leadership, and new understandings of socialization. These investigations build upon her earlier papers that used psychoanalytical theory to highlight the role of anxiety in professionally accredited environments. Professor Gilmore's extensive publication record demonstrates her influence across multiple disciplines. Her recent work shows a clear trajectory toward examining precarious work conditions, leadership pathologies (particularly vulnerable narcissism), gender dynamics in organizations, and the intersection of psychoanalytic theory with organizational studies. Her 2023-2025 publications reveal a growing focus on social justice issues, particularly around gender discrimination and resistance in organizational contexts. Best paper award for: Barker, J., Gilmore, S., & Gilson, C. (2013). Rhetorical profiling: Modes of meaning generation in organizational topoi. Canadian Journal of Administrative Science, 30(4), 280-291. Winner of EmeraldLiterati outstanding paper award (2008): Gilmore, S., & Williams, S. (2007). Conceptualizing the 'Personnel Professional': A Critical Analysis of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's Professional Qualification Scheme. Personnel Review, 36(4), 398-414. Professor Gilmore actively supervises PhD students and serves as Series Editor for Dialogues in Critical Management Studies. She is also a valued member of editorial boards for several prestigious journals including Academy of Management Learning & Education, Canadian Journal of Administrative Science, Journal of Organizational Change Management, and Organization. Her commitment to academic service extends to her role as Representative at Large for the Academy of Management CMS Division (2012-2014 & 2015-2017). Professor Gilmore maintains strong connections with professional practice, having worked for not-for-profit organizations and one of the UK's largest public sector trade unions before entering academia. Her current research projects focus on Universal Basic Income impacts on the changing world of work and vulnerable narcissistic leadership, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to addressing contemporary organizational challenges.
Nuno N. Correia is an Associate Professor in Digital Transformation at Tallinn University , with over two decades of experience in media art and interaction design. He holds a PhD in Art and Design in New Media from Aalto University (Finland) and is a visiting lecturer at Aalto University and an associated researcher at the Interactive Technologies Institute (U. Lisbon, Portugal) . Previously, he worked at design consultancy Fjord (now Accenture Song). Education: PhD in Art and Design in New Media, Aalto University His research spans human-computer interaction , sound and music computing , and multisensory user experience . Recent projects focus on ethical AI in music, interactive dance technologies, and VR environments for performance arts. His work bridges machine learning, embodiment, and audiovisual systems. Key trends in his publications include: AVUI (Audio-Visual User Interfaces) design Biosignal integration in dance Screen scores and performance ecologies Browser-based interactive installations Scientific contributions include a Marie Curie fellowship and Creative Europe projects . He has published extensively in top conferences like CHI, DIS, TEI, NIME, and ISEA.
Professor Emily Keightley is a leading scholar in Media and Memory Studies at Loughborough University, where she has held the position since 2007. Her academic journey includes a PhD from Loughborough University (2007) and a prestigious £1m Research Leadership Award from The Leverhulme Trust (2017–2022). She serves as editor for the journal Media, Culture & Society and co-founded the Global Media Studies Network. Her work bridges media studies with interdisciplinary themes of memory, migration, and postcolonialism. Key research focuses include the mediation of memory in everyday life, temporal structures of modernity, and the role of media in shaping individual and collective memory. She explores topics like diasporic heritage, gendered mnemonic experiences, and the intersection of migration and identity. Recent projects examine the Partition of British India’s legacy in South Asian diasporas and the impact of AI on power dynamics. Her publications span methodological innovations (e.g., embodied memory practices) and critical analyses of digital media’s role in nostalgia and cultural transmission. She critiques Western media theory through decolonial lenses and emphasizes creative methodologies in memory research. Awards and editorial roles reflect her global influence in shaping media and memory discourse. Emily’s work engages with transnational mnemonic encounters, digital disconnection, and the ethics of commemoration. She explores how media technologies mediate historical events, personal narratives, and cultural identities across diverse geographies and temporalities.
Guenther Knoblich is a Professor of Cognitive Science at Central European University (CEU), holding this position since 2011. His research focuses on joint action, social cognition, communication, and problem-solving. He coordinates interdisciplinary projects like the ERC Synergy project on Coordination, Communication, and Cultural Transmission (2015–2022), EuroCores EuroUnderstanding (2011–2014), and the ZiF research year on Embodied Communication (2005–2006). Knoblich has held academic roles at institutions including the Max Planck Institute for Psychological Research, Rutgers University, and the Donders Institute. He earned his PhD from Hamburg University in 1997. Education PhD in Psychology, Hamburg University, 1997 Research Interests Joint action dynamics and coordination mechanisms Sense of agency and self-other distinction Cognitive foundations of social interaction Embodied communication in human and machine systems Articles Trends Recent work emphasizes experimental studies on human and primate cooperation, infant social expectations, and the neurological underpinnings of joint action. Key themes include decision-making in collaborative settings, temporal coordination, and the role of predictability in successful interaction. Grants/Projects ERC Synergy (2015–2022) ZiF Research Year (2005–2006) EuroCores (2011–2014) Labs/Teams Leads the Somby Lab and contributes to the Social Mind Center at CEU, focusing on interdisciplinary research in cognitive and social neuroscience.
Jessica Andrews is a Lecturer in Creative Writing at City, University of London, and a former Associate Lecturer at the University of Roehampton. She is an acclaimed novelist and creative nonfiction writer, with a PhD in Creative Writing from City, University of London (2023–2025). Her work interrogates themes of gender, social class, bodily autonomy, and the boundaries between fiction, memory, and truth. Education PhD in Creative Writing, City, University of London (2023–2025) MA in Creative Writing, University of Kent (2014–2015) BA in English Literature and Language, King's College London (2010–2013) Research Interests Andrews explores intersections of gender and social class through embodied narratives, focusing on bodily shame, desire, and the performance of identity. Her creative practice often blurs formal experimentalism with intimate, lyrical prose to dissect cultural pressures on femininity and precarity. Scientific Awards Portico Prize (2020) for Saltwater Shortlisted for Royal Society of Literature Encore Award (2023) for Milk Teeth Shortlisted for Women’s Prize for Fiction Futures (2022) Longlisted for BBC National Short Story Award (2022) Advocacy and Collaborative Work Andrews co-runs the literary magazine The Grapevine and hosts the Tender Buttons podcast, featuring prominent writers like Sheila Heti and Max Porter. She advocates for widening participation in the arts and has taught at institutions such as Faber Academy and National Trust.
Helene Illeris is a Professor in Art Subject Pedagogy at the University of Agder (UiA), Department of Visual and Performing Arts. Her work focuses on art-based educational practices, environmental sustainability, and aesthetic learning processes in the Anthropocene. She leads research groups exploring art’s role in youth education and social relations, emphasizing performative and sensory approaches. Her research integrates a/r/tography and interdisciplinary methodologies to address ecological awareness, community engagement, and transformative education through art. Recent projects include studies on material practices (e.g., wool felting), landscape fieldwork, and border-crossing artistic methodologies. Publications highlight her contributions to art education theory, including co-editing the 2024 anthology *Art Subject Didactics as Artistic, Research-Based, and Attentive Teaching Practice*. Her work bridges art, ecology, and pedagogy, advocating for inclusive and socially responsive educational frameworks.
Dr Carlos Iglesias-Crespo serves as a Stipendiary Lecturer in Spanish at Hertford College and St Peter's College, University of Oxford. His research focuses on the literary, cultural, and intellectual history of the early modern Hispanic world , with particular emphasis on intersections between medical, rhetorical, theological, and political theories of memory within Petrarchan poetry traditions. Education: Universidad de Extremadura (Classics/Spanish Philology), University of Cambridge (MPhil/PhD in Spanish) Previous Affiliation: Affiliated Lecturer at Cambridge Using a transhistorical approach , he investigates embodied cognition and bodily representations in literature. His work connects Aristotle's theories with Viktor Shklovsky's formalism, analyzing poets like Juan Boscán, Fernando de Herrera, and Juan de Jáuregui. Research outputs include peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from Garcilaso's sonnets to Giulio Camillo's memory theater. Recent publications examine cognitive poetics, rhetorical synthesis, and the translatio imperii et studii in early modern Spanish texts. Scientific support includes grants from: "La Caixa" Foundation Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Cambridge Trust He teaches preliminary and final honors school papers at Oxford, covering medieval/modern languages, and contributes to academic editing as co-editor of key volumes on Iberoamerican corporeal history and global Spanish poetry.
Nancy Harding is a Professor at the University of Bath, affiliated with the Management Strategy & Organisation department within the Centre for Future of Work and the Centre for Qualitative Research. Her research focuses on qualitative methodologies, exploring the lived experiences of individuals in organizational contexts, with particular attention to hierarchies, gender dynamics, and the intersection of technology and work. Her recent work includes studies on software development cultures, posthumanism, and feminist theories in organizational studies. Key research interests include autoethnography, the embodiment of identities, and challenges to gender inequality in leadership roles. She currently supervises doctoral students examining topics such as the absence of women in trade unions and the emotional labor of human resource managers. Harding is also writing a book redefining organizational theory through a critical lens. Her recent publications analyze organizational soundscapes, workplace toxicity in tech professions, and neoconservative influences in organizations. Harding has been recognized with the Reviewer of the Year Award in 2015 and 2016 for her contributions to academic peer review. She contributes to editorial roles at journals like Journal of Management Studies and Human Relations . Harding’s interdisciplinary approach integrates philosophical theories (e.g., Judith Butler, Karen Barad) with empirical research, addressing systemic inequalities and the evolving nature of work in the 21st century.
Mehrad Moeini Jazani is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Groningen, affiliated with the Faculty of Economics and Business and the Department of Marketing. He leads the Scientific Committee of the Business Research Lab and coordinates the Department of Marketing's Brown Bag Seminars. His research focuses on consumer behavior, strategic brand management, and decision-making under intertemporal contexts. He also investigates experimental design and data analysis methodologies. Key research interests include how psychosocial resources like power and financial status influence consumer decisions, as well as the role of situational factors in moral judgments across cultures. Recent work explores opportunity cost salience, economic inequality effects on control preferences, and gut-brain interactions affecting reward sensitivity. Dr. Jazani has contributed to high-impact journals like Nature Human Behaviour and Psychological Science , often collaborating internationally. His work bridges behavioral science and marketing, addressing topics from self-affirmation effects to ego-depletion theory.
Surya Nurzaman is a Senior Lecturer at Monash University Malaysia, specializing in soft robotics, embodied intelligence, and bio-inspired systems. He holds a PhD from Osaka University (2011) and has held research fellowships at ETH Zürich and the University of Cambridge. His work bridges robotics engineering with biomedical applications, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. He teaches courses such as Dynamics II, Electromechanics, and Engineering Design. Research focuses on soft robotics for industrial and biomedical applications, including soft grippers, exoskeletons, and adaptive control systems. Projects include aerial robotics for oilfield inspection and AI-driven sensor frameworks. Nurzaman has received awards like the ITEX 2021 Gold Medal and the 2024 School of Engineering Excellence Award. He is actively involved in editorial roles for journals like IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine and Frontiers in Robotics and AI. His contributions span over 50 publications, with recent work addressing tremor prediction, soft sensor modeling, and cross-domain learning. Collaborations include international partners in Japan, Switzerland, and the UK. Nurzaman’s research aligns with UN SDGs, particularly in advancing sustainable industry solutions and health innovations.
Andy Lavender serves as Provost & Vice Principal (Academic) at Guildhall School of Music & Drama since 2024, previously holding the roles of Vice-Principal & Director of Production Arts and Professor of Theatre & Performance from 2020. His academic leadership spans the University of Warwick (Professor and Head of Theatre & Performance Studies), University of Surrey (Head of School of Arts), and Royal Central School of Speech & Drama (Head of Postgraduate Studies and Dean of Research). His research centers on contemporary theatre practices, with emphasis on documentary performance, intermediality, and multimodal performance. He investigates political engagement through protest theatre, neoliberalism's impact on artistic production, and the integration of robotics/digital technologies in live performance, often drawing from his practical experience as a theatre practitioner. Analysis of his 2019-2024 publications reveals consistent exploration of documentary forms, protest aesthetics, and technological mediation in performance. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with creative practice, particularly through collaborations examining textual construction, object agency, and cross-media performance. Scientific awards: No awards mentioned in source material. While specific students aren't listed, his leadership involved developing the UK's largest postgraduate theatre platform and PhD programs. He has extensive international validation experience across Hong Kong, Ireland, Singapore, and multiple European countries, plus consultancy for US, Dutch, French, Cypriot, and Australian institutions. As former artistic director of Lightwork, he created collaborative multimedia productions incorporating robotics, puppetry, and digital technologies through close work with designers and movement directors, documented in his co-edited 'Lightwork' texts (2022).
Dr. Laura Bissell is an Athenaeum Research Fellow and Lecturer in Contemporary Performance Practice at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS). Her interdisciplinary work bridges performance studies, feminism, ecology, and technology, with a focus on matrescence and mobility. She holds a PhD from the University of Glasgow and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her education includes a first-class MA (Hons) in English Literature and Theatre Studies, an MPhil in Performance Studies, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Arts Education. She previously taught at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow School of Art, and Transart Institute Berlin. Research interests include contemporary performance practices, technology’s role in art, eco-theatre, and feminist praxis. Her collaborative Making Routes project explores creative mobilities. She co-edits the International Journal of Performance Art and Digital Media ’s Matrescence and Media special edition, and is authoring a monograph on matrescence and performance. Recent work includes COP26-related climate performance studies and a 2023 life-writing article. Awards include the Athenaeum Research Fellowship and HEA Senior Fellowship. She advises doctoral research across video game performance, eco-queer theory, and neuroqueering dance practices. Professional roles include RCS Sustainability Committee Co-Chair and External Examiner for University of Salford and Rose Bruford College. Qualifications include Yoga teaching and Mental Health First Aid certifications.
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