Dr. Edyta Chlebowska is an Assistant Professor at the Cyprian Norwid Research Center, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Specializing in the visual art and literary legacy of Cyprian Norwid, she explores intersections between Polish Romanticism, art history, and cultural studies. Her work extends to album art analysis and interdisciplinary connections with music (e.g., Pink Floyd, Czesław Niemen). Her research focuses on Norwid's self-portraits, eschatological themes in his drawings, and comparative studies with 19th-century Warsaw painting. She reconstructs lost artworks, documents private collections (e.g., Konstancja Górska, Victor Gomulicki), and examines Norwid's reception in Florence and Odessa. Key projects include translating Studia Norwidiana and critical editing of Norwid's complete works. As editor-in-chief of multiple On Cyprian Norwid. Studies and Essays volumes and organizer of conferences like Niemen Non Stop and Colloquia Norwidiana , she bridges academic rigor with public engagement. Her publications span peer-reviewed books, journal articles, and popular science pieces, emphasizing Norwid's unpublished works and symbolic programs.
Gerhard Hirschfeld is an Honorary Professor at the Department of History, University of Stuttgart, and has served as Director of the Bibliothek für Zeitgeschichte since 1989. His research focuses on Social and Cultural History of World War I , Comparative Occupation History of World War II , 20th Century Netherlands History , and Academic Emigration post-1933 . He has been a Fellow of the Netherlands Institute of Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences (1996/1997, 2006/2007) Fellow of the German Historical Institute London and held leadership roles including Chair of the German Committee for the History of WWII (1991–2000) and President of the International Committee for the History of WWII (2000–2010). His publications span monographs, edited volumes, and essays on occupation policies, collaboration, and exile studies. Recent works emphasize the media representation of WWI , continuity of nationalist rhetoric , and ethical dimensions of historical taboos . He contributes to journals like Zeithistorische Forschungen and Tijdschrift voor Geschiedenis . Scientific awards include Fellowships at NIAS and DHIL Editorial leadership in academic series like Zeit der Weltkriege and Schriften der Bibliothek für Zeitgeschichte and advocacy for interdisciplinary war studies.
Professor Tim Bergfelder is a leading scholar in Film Studies at the University of Southampton, specializing in European and Asian cinema history, film industries, and transnational reception studies. He holds a professorial role in the Department of Film Studies, contributing to both research and academic leadership. Prior to his academic career, Bergfelder studied English Literature, Journalism, and History in Berlin before transitioning to film criticism. He earned his MSc and PhD in Film at the University of East Anglia, UK. His research has been internationally recognized through keynote speaking engagements across Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas. He advises on documentaries, exhibitions, and film retrospectives, blending academic expertise with public engagement. Current research focuses on the ERC-funded STUDIOTEC project examining European film studios (1930–1960). He leads the German-speaking émigrés in British cinema project and has coordinated AHRC-funded research on Brazilian stardom. Editorial roles include editor for Screen journal and Berghahn’s Film Europa series. Teaching interests include European film history, transnational cinema, and critical theory. He supervises multiple PhD students in Film Studies. Professional memberships span NECS, BAFTSS, and MeCCSA, with peer review roles for REF2014/2021 and various institutions.
Prof. Dr. Heike Bungert is a leading scholar in North American History at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster , focusing on ethnic migration, cultural history, and civil religion. Habilitation (2004) and Doctorate (1995) from German institutions Extensive teaching career since 2000, including visiting roles at UC Berkeley and Columbia University Her research bridges: German-American identity formation through festivals and cultural practices Transnational university history and academic networks Civil religion in US patriotic holidays Native American representation in film and collective memory Key article trends: 19th-20th century German migration patterns Academic institutions in transnational contexts Civil religion analysis in political rituals Historiography of indigenous peoples Scientific Honors : Heisenberg Fellowship (DFG, 2005) DAAD and DFG research fellowships Stuart L. Bernath Prize (1995) As a supervisor , she has guided doctoral research on topics like: Russian-American periodicals Symbolic communication in colonial legislatures Evangelical responses to immigration
Lara Green is a Lecturer in the Department of History at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, Erasmus University Rotterdam. She joined the department in 2021 after teaching at Durham University, UK. Her research focuses on modern and contemporary Russian history, particularly revolutionary movements, transnational networks, political violence, and gender. Her primary research interests include: Revolutionary emigration and transnational activism Gender and political violence in Russian history Anarchism and revolutionary terrorism Martyrdom and political sacrifice Publishing and intellectual networks in exile Imperial and Soviet history Lara's recent scholarly work explores the intersections of biography, exile, and revolutionary identity. Her publications span topics such as the transnational life of Peter Kropotkin, the representation of penal exile in memoirs, the British reception of Russian nihilism, and the response to revolutionary terrorism in imperial contexts. These studies reveal a consistent engagement with how political ideologies travel across borders and are reinterpreted in new cultural settings. Her recent articles, published in journals like Slavonic and East European Review , Anarchist Studies , and History of European Ideas , demonstrate a strong thematic focus on revolutionary subjectivity, transnational solidarity, and the gendered dimensions of resistance. The articles collectively highlight her methodological approach, combining intellectual history, cultural analysis, and transnational perspectives. Lara is currently working on two major projects: The Russian Free Press Fund and the Russian Revolutionary Emigration, 1881-1926 : A study of transnational information networks and publishing activities among Russian revolutionaries in exile. Violent Women in Russia, 1864-Present Day : An exploration of female political violence from the era of penal reform to contemporary movements like Pussy Riot. Her work contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly through her engagement with themes of heritage, identity, and global futures within the ERMeCHS research clusters (GFCP - Global Futures, Colonial Pasts; HI - Heritage & Identity). Lara has co-authored works with scholars such as D. Saunders, D. Laqua, and G. Brewis. While no formal advising or grant information is available, her collaborative research and publication record indicate active academic engagement. She also contributes to broader scholarly discourse, with her work being cited in Scopus, mentioned in news outlets, referenced on Wikipedia, and discussed on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States
George Z. Gasyna is a Professor at the Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures and the School of Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He also serves as Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies and is affiliated with the Program in Comparative and World Literature, the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory, and the Program in Jewish Culture and Society. Education: PhD, University of Toronto MA, McGill University BA, McGill University Gasyna’s research spans 20th-century Polish literature, diasporic and minority cultures, and Jewish cultural history in pre-1939 multiethnic Poland. His work explores migration, exile, autobiography, memory, postmemory, and travel literature, with a focus on heterotopia and transcultural narratives. His recent publications analyze Polish literature through transnational and postcolonial lenses, emphasizing borderlands, national identity, and cultural displacement. Themes like imperialism, diaspora, and avant-garde poetics recur across his scholarship. Scientific Awards: Conrad Humanities Scholar (2020-2025) Humanities Research Institute Fellowship (2017-18) Gasyna has taught courses on Polish culture, modernism, Joseph Conrad, and radical political thought. His affiliations with interdisciplinary programs reflect his broad scholarly engagement.
Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyUnited States
Melissa Feinberg is a Professor of History at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where she has been a faculty member since 2008. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and specializes in modern Eastern European history, with particular focus on Czechoslovakia, gender history, Cold War politics, and human rights. Her work examines political culture, feminism, and everyday experiences under communist regimes. Research Focus: Her scholarship centers on gender equality debates in interwar Central Europe, truth politics during Stalinism, and the societal transformations under communism. She employs ordinary voices to analyze historical change, with recurring themes including: Gender citizenship in democratic and socialist systems Cold War propaganda and information warfare Emotions as political tools Post-1989 legacies of communism Publication Trends: Feinberg's 15 most recent works (2017-2025) predominantly explore Eastern Europe's communist era through lenses of gender, dissent, and daily life. Her 2022 book Communism in Eastern Europe reexamines socialist governance through civilian experiences, while earlier works like Curtain of Lies (2017) analyze truth manipulation during Stalinism. Recurrent keywords include Cold War propaganda, women's activism, state surveillance, and post-socialist transition. Teaching: Regularly teaches undergraduate courses on 20th Century Europe, Communism, Human Rights, and Cold War seminars. Graduate instruction includes Women's/Gender History and Eastern European studies.
National Institute of Oriental Languages and CivilizationsFrance
Piotr Bilos is a Professor at INALCO - National Institute of Oriental Languages and Cultures in Paris. He specializes in Polish literature (ancient, modern, and contemporary), literary theory, the history of the novel, and intermediality. His research focuses on exile literature, critical theory, and cultural exchanges between Poland and France. Head of the Polish Section at INALCO Organizer of international colloquia on Polish literature and exile His scholarly work examines the intersection of fiction and reality, the role of exile in literary modernity, and comparative studies of Polish and European writers such as Gombrowicz, Herling, and Myśliwski. His publications span peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and co-edited volumes. Recent research includes analyzing 21st-century Polish novels and their challenge to traditional genre boundaries, as well as the concept of 'coexistence' in cultural mediation. He has presented at conferences in Krakow, Turin, Vilnius, and Białystok, and contributed to documentaries and radio programs on Polish cultural themes.
Sophie Pinkham is Professor of Practice in the Comparative Literature Department at Cornell University and an IES Faculty Associate at the Institute for European Studies. She holds teaching positions in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, where she contributes to the Russian and Comparative Literature programs, teaching courses including 'The Revolutionary as Author: Autobiography and Political Myth' and 'Writing for the Public: Adapting Academic Work for a General Audience' for Spring 2025. Columbia University (PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures) Harriman Institute (MA in Russian, Eurasian, and Eastern European Studies) Yale University (BA) Pinkham's research centers on post-Soviet and post-socialist literature, culture, and politics, with a particular focus on Russia and Ukraine. Her academic interests encompass literature and film of the Russian Empire, Soviet Union, and post-Soviet states; memory politics and post-socialism; environmental humanities; poetics of censorship; language politics and translation; and Siberia. Her current major project is a history of the forest in the Russian imagination, exploring the forest's role in myth, culture, and politics throughout Russian history from Mongol invasions to contemporary conflicts in Ukraine. Her extensive publications reveal consistent thematic trends across disciplines including Russian studies, political analysis, environmental history, and literary criticism. Pinkham's work demonstrates particular expertise in analyzing the intersection of cultural production with political realities in post-Soviet spaces, often highlighting how historical narratives shape contemporary conflicts. Her articles frequently examine how environmental factors, historical memory, and cultural artifacts intersect with political power structures. 2023 British Journalism Award for 'Lost in a Dark Wood' on migrants in the forest on the Belarusian-Polish border Shortlisted for True Story Award for the same article Pinkham has received significant research support, most notably a 2022-23 National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholar grant supporting both her book project 'The Oak and the Larch: A Forest History of Russia and Its Empires' and her award-winning Economist 1843 story. Her work bridges academic scholarship and public intellectual engagement, with frequent contributions to major publications serving as a critical voice on Russian and Ukrainian affairs during a period of escalating geopolitical tensions. While she previously worked in international public health in Eastern Europe and Central Asia focusing on HIV, drug use, and women's health, her current focus remains firmly on cultural and political analysis of the post-Soviet space. Though not explicitly affiliated with a specific research lab, Pinkham's work connects with broader scholarly networks through her involvement with Cornell's Institute for European Studies and her interdisciplinary approach that bridges literary studies, history, political science, and environmental humanities.
Dr. Alexandra Smith is Reader in Russian Studies at the University of Edinburgh's School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, where she has been teaching since 2007 and was promoted to Readership in 2008. She previously held academic positions at the University of Essex, University of Bristol, University of Canterbury (New Zealand), and the University of Sheffield. Dr. Smith is an active researcher, supervisor, and member of numerous editorial boards, including The Dostoevsky Journal and Experimental Poetics and Aesthetics . Her research spans Russian literature from the 19th through 21st centuries, with particular focus on literary and film theory, critical theory, comparative literature, émigré writing, and the relationship between literature and other arts. Dr. Smith has published extensively on Russian modernism, particularly on Marina Tsvetaeva, Pushkin reception, and Soviet-era literature. Her work demonstrates a consistent interest in canon formation, memory studies, and intermediality, examining how literary works interact with other art forms like theater, film, and visual culture. Dr. Smith's scholarly output reveals a trajectory from early work on Tsvetaeva and Pushkin toward broader examinations of canon formation, national identity, and post-Soviet cultural memory. Her recent publications increasingly address contemporary Russian literature and film, examining how modern Russian writers and filmmakers engage with historical trauma, national mythology, and cultural memory. This evolution reflects both her deepening expertise in Russian literary history and her responsiveness to contemporary cultural developments in Russia. Alexander Nove Prize (2022) for Poetic Canons, Cultural Memory and Russian National Identity after 1991 Co-winner of ASEES's Pushkin Prize contest for 'The Poetics of Expressiveness and Some Aspects of Non-Verbal Communication in Pushkin's Work' Dr. Smith has supervised an impressive number of graduate students, including 12 completed PhD theses and several current projects across Russian Studies, Comparative Literature, and European Theatre. She has secured significant research funding, including a major £450,757 AHRC grant for 'Reconfiguring the Canon of Twentieth-Century Russian Poetry, 1991-2008' and multiple smaller grants for conferences and workshops on Russian literature and culture. Her knowledge exchange activities extend beyond academia through media appearances, public lectures, and collaborations with theater companies, including translating Russian plays for the National Theatre of Scotland. As an active member of the academic community, Dr. Smith serves on numerous committees at the University of Edinburgh, acts as External Examiner for several institutions, and participates in professional organizations including BASEES, AATSEEL, and ASEEES. Her work bridges traditional literary scholarship with contemporary cultural analysis, making significant contributions to our understanding of Russian literature's evolution and its ongoing relevance to questions of national identity and cultural memory.
Juliane Fürst is Professor of Modern History in the Department of Historical Studies at Central European University (CEU), Vienna, holding a joint appointment with the Center for Contemporary Historical Research (ZZF) in Potsdam, where she co-heads the department 'Communism and Society'. She has held academic positions in the UK, Germany, and Austria, with prior roles at the University of Bristol, St. John’s and Magdalen Colleges, Oxford, and visiting fellowships at Harvard and CEU. BA (First Class) in Modern History, Christ Church, University of Oxford (1997) MSc in Russian and Post-Soviet Studies, London School of Economics (1998) PhD in Government, LSE (2003), thesis: 'Stalin’s Last Generation - Youth, State and Komsomol 1945–1953' Habilitation, History Faculty, Humboldt University, Berlin (2020) Her research focuses on Soviet and post-Soviet history, particularly youth culture, dissent, non-conformism, emotions, subjectivity, and grassroots movements. She explores how individuals and communities negotiated identity and resistance under late socialism, with special attention to Soviet hippies, perestroika from below, and public memory. Her work bridges cultural, social, and emotional history, analyzing how personal experience shaped political change. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent focus on subcultures, emotional styles, and alternative lifestyles within the Soviet bloc. They span monographs, edited volumes, and journal articles, showing a strong engagement with transnational countercultural movements, generational identity, and the politics of memory. Her work reveals a thematic evolution from post-war youth socialization to the emotional and spatial dimensions of dissent in the Brezhnev and Gorbachev eras. Juliane Fürst leads several major research projects funded by Horizon Europe and the Leibniz Association, including Perestroika from Below , EUROPAST , and Legacies of Communism? . These initiatives involve international collaborations with institutions in Lithuania, Sweden, Luxembourg, and beyond. She has co-produced a documentary film and curated an exhibition on Soviet hippies, demonstrating a strong commitment to public history and knowledge dissemination. She mentors a team of postdoctoral researchers and temporary fellows but no individual PhD or Master’s students are named in the provided texts. Her leadership roles include coordinating interdisciplinary networks and public history initiatives aimed at strengthening democratic engagement with the past in post-dictatorial societies. She is actively involved in research labs and teams such as the 'Communism and Society' department at ZZF, the EUROPAST consortium, and the Perestroika from Below project team, which includes five core members and three temporary fellows. These collaborative structures support innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to understanding late and post-communist transformations.
Prof. Dr. Reyhan Çelik is a full professor at Akdeniz University, Faculty of Letters, Russian Language and Literature Department since 2023, with prior associate professor (2015–present) and assistant professor (2007–2015) positions at Erciyes University. She holds a doctorate in Russian Language and Literature from Ankara University (2007) and has authored/co-authored over 64 publications. Education: PhD (2007), Ankara University MA (2001), Ankara University BA (1995), Ankara University Research Focus: 20th-century Russian literature War narratives Siberian and village themes Gender studies Migration and cultural identity Comparative Turkish-Russian literary analysis Academic Leadership: Head of Russian Language and Literature Department (Akdeniz University, since 2018) Scientific Projects Committee Member (Akdeniz University, since 2019) Key Publications (2014–2021): World War II memory in Soviet works Gender representation in Ulitskaya and Yevtushenko Ecological themes in Astafyev and Aitmatov Analysis of Gumilyov’s orientalist perspectives Conference Participation: Chair/speaker at 20+ international conferences Peer reviewer for journals: RumeliDE, Karadeniz, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitü Dergisi
Anke Blümm is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Erfurt , serving as Scientific Coordinator for the KFG 'Religion und Urbanität' and staff member at the BeBA Research Center (Biographies of Former Bauhaus Members). Her work bridges architectural history, design studies, and cultural analysis during the Weimar Republic and National Socialist era. Specializes in Bauhaus networks and biographical research Co-curator of 2024 Bauhaus and National Socialism exhibition Recipient of the 2024 Justus-Bier Curator Prize Blümm's research examines the paradoxes of modernist architecture under authoritarian regimes, with particular focus on Bauhaus's complex relationships during the 1930s. Recent projects analyze the institutionalization of Bauhaus narratives through exhibitions like the MoMA 1938 show and the 2024 Weimar tricentennial exhibition series. Her 2024 Bauhaus und Nationalsozialismus publications employ statistical methods to map professional trajectories of Bauhaus members , while digital reconstructions of historical exhibitions demonstrate her commitment to critical heritage studies . Current work extends to transnational design networks and architectural knowledge transfer mechanisms. Scientific Awards: 2024 Justus-Bier-Preis für Kuratoren 2024 Nominierung für Art-Kuratorenpreis 2021 Europa Nostra Award for Haus Am Horn curation 2014 Theodor-Fischer-Preis (Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte) Blümm contributes to international research networks like docomomo and ANKK , and serves on editorial boards for architectural history. Her methodological innovations in digital exhibition reconstruction and biographical databases have reshaped Bauhaus historiography.
Yana Meerzon is a Full Professor in the Department of Theatre at the University of Ottawa, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts. Her academic roles include teaching advanced courses such as Performance and Migration , THE 5130 Dramaturgy , and THE 5934 Theatre at the Crossroads of Narratives . She holds additional adjunct roles at institutions like Carleton University’s Cultural Mediations Program and Dalhousie University’s Department of English. Her research focuses on theoretical approaches to performance and migration, including studies on displacement, multilingualism, and identity politics. She has authored four books and co-edited nine collections, with recent works exploring Russian nationalism and migration narratives. Her current SSHRC-funded project examines the intersection of migration and neo-nationalism in European theatre. Meerzon’s academic leadership includes serving as President of the Canadian Association for Theatre Research (2020–2022) and membership in global organizations like IFTR and EASTAP. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto and advanced degrees from the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS). Her scholarly contributions span over 86 publications, including analyses of Wajdi Mouawad’s work, Michael Chekhov’s pedagogy, and digital performance in crises. She actively engages in public discourse through interviews and media links, emphasizing the ethical and cultural dimensions of migrant theatre practices in Canada and beyond.
Mario Caramitti is an Associate Professor in the Department of Modern Literature and Culture at Sapienza University of Rome, specializing in Russian literature and language. He teaches a diverse range of courses including Russian Literature II, Russian Language and Literature I, Russian Studies, and Russian Translation III across multiple degree programs such as Languages, Cultures, Literatures, Translation; Linguistics; English and Anglo-American Studies; and Linguistic and Intercultural Mediation. Professor Caramitti's research interests focus on Russian literary tradition spanning from the 19th to 21st centuries. His scholarly work demonstrates particular expertise in authors such as Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Gogol, Chekhov, Nabokov, and contemporary writers like Maria Stepanova and Mikhail Shishkin. His teaching portfolio includes specialized courses on Turgenev's short prose, Chekhov's dramaturgy, twentieth-century Russian poetry, and Gogol's genius. His extensive publication record reveals a strong focus on literary criticism, with numerous essays published primarily in ALIAS SUNDAY and academic journals. The analysis of his recent publications shows a consistent engagement with Russian literary tradition, examining both canonical works and contemporary developments. His work often explores narrative structure, psychological depth in characterization, and the interplay between historical context and literary creation. Professor Caramitti maintains an active academic schedule with office hours through September 2025 and current Google Classroom pages for the 2024-25 academic year, teaching courses such as 'Twentieth-century Russian poetry,' 'The extraordinary modernity of Gogol's genius,' 'Russian Studies,' and 'Russian Translation III.' His teaching locations include the Ex Vetrerie Sciarra building at via dei Volsci 122 in Rome.
