Ben Eischens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics at UCLA. His work focuses on the intersection of phonology and phonetics, particularly in San Martín Peras Mixtec, an Otomanguean language spoken in Oaxaca, Mexico and diaspora communities. He holds a Ph.D. from UC Santa Cruz (2022) and collaborates extensively with Indigenous communities on language documentation and description. His research explores tone systems, laryngeal features, speech rate effects, and negative nominal structures, emphasizing empirical fieldwork and community partnerships. Recent work includes studies on vowel reduction, polar question formation, and the phonetic grounding of phonological theories. Eischens has presented at major conferences such as the International Congress of Phonetic Sciences (ICPhS), Annual Meeting on Phonology (AMP), and workshops on Languages of the Americas. His publications appear in journals like the International Journal of American Linguistics and Phonological Data & Analysis. He teaches courses in linguistic theory and field methods at UCLA, maintaining active research partnerships with San Martín Peras Mixtec community members. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with applied documentation, prioritizing Indigenous language revitalization efforts.
Brad D. Jokisch is a Professor and Undergraduate Chair in the Department of Geography at Ohio University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He is affiliated with International Studies and Latin American Studies, and his research focuses on population, environment, and development, particularly in Latin America. His work explores transnational migration, land-use change, and livelihoods in the Ecuadoran Andes. Education: Ph.D., Clark University, 1998 B.A., Augustana College, 1989 His research interests lie at the intersection of cultural/political ecology, population dynamics, agriculture, and development. He investigates how migration influences environmental change and how development shapes population movements, with a regional focus on Latin America. His fieldwork in the Ecuadoran Andes examines the impact of remittances and emigration on landscapes and rural communities. Recent publications highlight trends in transnational migration, land-use change, and development policy. His work spans interdisciplinary journals in geography, anthropology, and development studies, reflecting a strong emphasis on human-environment systems and migration. Key themes include remittances, land cover change, indigenous urbanization, and migration policy in South America. Scientific Awards: Fulbright Scholarship (2023–2024) for research on family emigration in southern Ecuador Dr. Jokisch advises undergraduate students as chair and teaches core courses such as Population Geography, Geography of Latin America, and Agricultural Ecosystems. While specific grant details and advisees are not listed, his sustained research output and leadership in the department suggest active mentorship and scholarly engagement. He is currently conducting research in Ecuador under a Fulbright award, indicating ongoing international collaboration and field-based inquiry. He is a key contributor to human-environment geography and migration studies, with a long-standing commitment to theoretical and empirical research in Latin America.
Dr Haitao Shi is a Researcher affiliated with the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh. His research focuses on criminal justice systems, drug policing in China, and the intersection of technology with crime. He employs advanced research methods including quantitative tools (R, Python, SPSS), qualitative software (Nvivo, MAXQDA), and data visualization techniques (Gephi, QGIS). His current projects include studying Chinese students' experiences at the University of Edinburgh and analyzing rhizomatic networks in online drug trade funded by the Polish Ministry of Science. Haitao's work emphasizes cross-cultural comparisons, particularly in drug trade dynamics across Finnish, Polish, and English-speaking contexts. He explores topics like police professionalization in China, guanxi networks, and quota-driven policing strategies. His methodologies span cloud computing (Azure, AWS), database systems (MySQL), and version control (Git), reflecting a technologically adept approach to criminology research. Notable research themes include the role of marketing in darknet drug trade, generational conflicts in police culture, and community-based drug rehabilitation policies. He collaborates with international teams and utilizes platforms like Microsoft Azure for large-scale data analysis.
Jeffrey T. Checkel is a Full-time Professor in the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute (EUI). He joined EUI in 2020 and previously held positions at Simon Fraser University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Oslo. He earned his PhD in Political Science from MIT and a first degree in Applied Physics from Cornell University. His research focuses on international relations theory, qualitative methods, and identity formation. Key areas include constructivism, international institutions, civil war dynamics, and processual methods. He teaches courses on IR theory, qualitative methods, and philosophies of social science. Checkel's recent work explores 'Institutions at Bay? Regional Integration and Identity,' analyzing how regional organizations shape identity through local and national dynamics. He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of QMMR: Qualitative and Multi-Method Research and President of the APSA Qualitative and Multi-Method Research Organized Section. Education: PhD in Political Science (MIT), B.S. in Applied Physics (Cornell University) Research Interests: Identity formation, process tracing, constructivism, international institutions, civil war, qualitative methodologies. He advises numerous PhD students and post-doctoral fellows, leading working groups on IR theory and qualitative fieldwork. His publications span over 99 works, with a focus on bridging theoretical and methodological divides in social science.
Marisol De La Cadena is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Davis, with affiliations in Science and Technology Studies (STS). Her work bridges anthropology, political theory, and environmental thought, focusing on ontological divergence and multispecies relations in Latin America, particularly in Peru and Colombia. Department: Department of Anthropology School: College of Letters and Science University: University of California, Davis Email: mdelac@ucdavis.edu Office: Young Hall 315 Her research centers on the intersection of modern politics and non-modern or ahistorical ontologies, especially through what she calls "ontological openings." Drawing from deep ethnographic engagement with Quechua-speaking interlocutors in the Andes, she explores how earth-beings, humans, and nonhumans co-constitute worlds that exceed Western categories. Her theoretical contributions challenge conventional boundaries between nature and culture, history and timelessness, and politics and cosmology. Her recent fieldwork in Colombia examines human-cow relations on cattle ranches and in veterinary schools, situating these practices within broader ecological crises and post-conflict transitions. Her publications reveal a consistent interest in how ethnographic concepts function as both empirical observations and theoretical tools. The body of her work, including key articles like "Uncommoning Nature" and "Runa: Human but not only," reflects a deep commitment to rethinking anthropological method and theory. Her research trends emphasize ontological politics, multispecies ethnography, and the decolonization of knowledge, contributing significantly to contemporary debates in STS and anthropology. Her scientific honors include: John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow (2008) Lewis H. Morgan Lecture Series Invited Speaker, University of Rochester (2011) Invited Researcher, Center for Advanced Studies, Norwegian Academy of Sciences (2015) Guest Speaker, Mellon-Sawyer Seminar, University of Cape Town (2010) She has been principal investigator on several major grants, including the John E. Sawyer Mellon-Sawyer Seminar on the Comparative Study of Cultures (2012–2016), a Wenner-Gren Conference Support Grant (2009–2010), and multiple research fellowships from the Guggenheim, Wenner-Gren, and American Philosophical Societies. These grants have enabled collaborative, transdisciplinary research on cosmopolitics, indigeneity, and the anthropology of worlds. She is affiliated with research initiatives such as the Sawyer Seminar on the Comparative Study of Cultures and contributes to global academic networks in anthropology and STS. Her work fosters dialogue between indigenous thought, continental philosophy, and ethnographic practice, creating spaces for alternative modes of knowing and being.
Marek Locmelis is an Associate Professor at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Bureau of Economic Geology within the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on magmatic, hydrothermal, and sedimentary ore deposits, with an emphasis on critical mineral supply strategies, including recycling of mine waste and STEM education in economic geology. He holds a PhD from Macquarie University and prior roles at Missouri University of Science and Technology and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Education PhD in Earth and Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University (Australia) Diploma (MSc equivalent) and Pre-Diploma (BSc equivalent) in Geosciences, University of Hannover (Germany) Research Interests His work spans geochemistry, petrology, and planetary evolution, with a focus on critical minerals (e.g., lithium, rare earth elements) and novel exploration techniques. He investigates pathways to enhance domestic critical mineral recovery through reprocessing mine waste and optimizing production streams. His planetary research includes atmospheric toxicity studies and habitability potential of extraterrestrial environments. Awards Fellow of the Society of Economic Geology (SEG) SEG Graduate Student Fellowship Program Chair NSF CAREER Award (2020) NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship (2014) Advising & Grants Locmelis has advised postdocs and students through workshops on critical mineral resilience. His NSF CAREER project explores metal transport via magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. He co-organized conferences on critical minerals and led the Roadmaps Into the Geosciences (RIGS) program to support student career development. Labs & Teams He collaborates with the Bureau of Economic Geology and interdisciplinary teams in critical mineral research, combining fieldwork, geochemical analysis, and policy advocacy.
Professor Nguyen Van Chinh is a distinguished scholar in anthropology at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University (VNU-USSH), specializing in the Department of Anthropology and Religious Studies. With a PhD from the University of Amsterdam and extensive international research experience including a postdoctoral fellowship at the National University of Singapore, he has established himself as a leading expert in Southeast Asian anthropology, migration studies, and ethnic relations. His academic career spanning over four decades includes numerous visiting professorships at prestigious institutions worldwide. Professor Chinh's research interests encompass Anthropology Research Methods , History of Anthropology , Migration and Poverty Studies , Ethnic Identity , and Cross-border Ethnic Groups in Southeast Asia. His scholarly work demonstrates a particular focus on the intersection of economic development, cultural preservation, and social transformation in Vietnamese and Southeast Asian contexts. Through extensive fieldwork and theoretical contributions, he has shaped contemporary understanding of ethnic minorities, migration patterns, and socio-economic changes in the region. His extensive publication record shows a clear evolution toward contemporary issues including China's growing influence in the Mekong region, ethnic Chinese migration, and the challenges of poverty reduction in Vietnam. The research demonstrates increasing engagement with transnational phenomena, border studies, and the impact of China's economic expansion on Southeast Asian societies. His most recent work addresses pressing contemporary issues such as disability rights, academic publishing challenges, and urban migration dynamics. Distinguished PhD dissertation awarded by NVMC (Netherlands Association of Social Sciences and Cultural Sciences), 2000 Certificate of Merit from the President of National University for outstanding achievements, 2007 Asian Leadership Fellow (ALFP) awarded by the Japan Foundation, 2004 Asian Public Intellectual Fellow (API) awarded by the Nippon Foundation, 2010 Multiple research grants from prestigious foundations including Toyota, Rockefeller, and Japan Foundation Professor Chinh has served as an independent consultant for numerous national and international development projects implemented in Vietnam. His advisory work spans multiple sectors including labor, health, agriculture, and ethnic minority affairs, working with organizations such as WHO, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNDP, DFID, IUCN, UNICEF, and UNESCO. His expertise in ethnographic research methods and understanding of Vietnamese society has made him a valuable resource for policy development and implementation across multiple domains.
Jiwon Yun is an Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics at Stony Brook University. She holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from Cornell University (2013) and a B.S.E. in Computer Science & Engineering from Seoul National University (cum laude with honors). Her research focuses on speech prosody, syntax-semantics interfaces, and computational modeling of sentence processing, with special attention to East Asian languages like Korean, Mandarin, and Japanese. Dr. Yun teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in computational linguistics, semantics, pragmatics, and experimental phonetics. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics and experimental methods, examining how prosody interacts with syntactic and semantic structures. Recent publications investigate prosodic disambiguation of syntactic ambiguities, computational models of relative clause processing, and intonation patterns in Korean and Mandarin. She has developed tools for automated speech corpus analysis and maintains a Hangul-Yale Romanization Converter for linguistic research. Her research has been published in journals like Humanities and Social Sciences Communications , Linguistic Inquiry , and Journal of East Asian Linguistics . Teaching responsibilities include courses such as LIN 335 (Computational Linguistics) and LIN 627 (Computational Semantics).
Elif BAŞTÜRK is an Associate Professor at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Archaeology, specializing in Settlement Archaeology, Hittite studies, and Early Bronze Age ceramics. With a PhD from Ege University (2014), she has led excavations at Tanır Yassıhöyük since 2022 and participated in major projects across Anatolia. Education: PhD in Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology, Ege University (2014) MA in Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology, Ege University (2006) BA in Archaeology, Ege University (2003) Research Focus: Her work examines archaeological transitions in Anatolia and the Near East, particularly ceramic traditions, settlement patterns, and Assyrian influence during the Bronze and Iron Ages. She employs statistical and technological methods to analyze material culture. Projects: Notable projects include the Tanır Yassıhöyük excavations (2021–present), Assyrian trade influence studies in Afşin-Elbistan plain, and documentation of Early Bronze Age ceramics in Siirt Başur Höyük. She has also led regional surveys threatened by the Ilısu Dam. Publications: Recent outputs include 2025 studies on Iron Age ceramics and Assyrian mill technology, alongside excavation reports from 2016–2024. Her work bridges field archaeology with material analysis, contributing to understanding cultural dynamics in ancient Anatolia.
Dr Olly Bartlett is a Senior Lecturer in Remote Sensing and Geography at the University of Hertfordshire , affiliated with the Department of Psychology, Sport and Geography within the School of Life and Medical Sciences. His work focuses on planetary-scale remote sensing analysis of the cryosphere, with field campaigns in Greenland, Nepal, Svalbard, and the Peruvian Andes. Education: PhD in Physical Geography (University of Exeter, 2020); MSc in Polar and Alpine Change (University of Sheffield, 2016); BSc in Physical Geography (University of Sheffield, 2015) Dr Bartlett specializes in UAV-based remote sensing and Google Earth Engine , holding a UK GVC for UAV operations. His research tracks environmental changes in polar and alpine regions, including quantifying Antarctic Peninsula greening (1986–2021) and glacier dynamics in the Himalayas and Canadian Arctic. Recent publications highlight his methodological innovations in radar surveying and supraglacial hummock morphology studies. His work bridges glaciology and geospatial analysis , focusing on climate-induced glacial retreat impacts. He supervises PhD student Lottie Pearson on pan-Arctic permafrost thaw projects and collaborates internationally on cryospheric studies.
Lynna Dhanani is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Davis, within the College of Letters and Science. She joined the faculty in Fall 2020 and holds a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Yale University. Her educational background includes: Ph.D. in Religious Studies, Yale University M.A. and M.Phil. in Religious Studies, Yale University M.A. in History of Religion, University of Virginia B.A. in International Relations and Religion, George Washington University Her research focuses on the intersection of religious traditions in medieval India, with particular emphasis on Jainism. She explores interreligious polemics, philosophical debates, devotional themes, and poetic expression in Sanskrit hymns, especially those of the twelfth-century Jain scholar Hemacandra. Her broader interests include Sanskrit and Prakrit literature, Indian alchemical traditions, yoga and tantra, Indian philosophy, and South Asian religious art. She employs interdisciplinary methods that combine textual analysis, philology, and field-based ethnographic and archival research. Lynna Dhanani was awarded the Jambuvijaya Memorial Fellowship by the Jain eLibrary, which supported her 2019–20 fieldwork in India. During this period, she documented the life and scholarly contributions of Muni Jambuvijaya (1923–2009), a pivotal Jain monastic figure. Her work involved cataloging manuscripts, preserving texts, and conducting interviews with members of the monastic and academic communities. This project highlights her commitment to both historical scholarship and the preservation of religious knowledge. She advises students and contributes to academic mentorship within the Religious Studies department, though specific advisees are not listed. Her fellowship represents significant recognition in her field and may be linked to grant-funded research on Jain monastic scholarship and manuscript preservation. Lynna Dhanani is actively involved in archival and field research, particularly in northwest India, where she collaborates with Jain monastic communities and academic institutions to preserve and study rare Sanskrit and Prakrit texts. Her work bridges academic scholarship with lived religious practice and institutional knowledge preservation.
Aaron Kappeler is a Lecturer in Anthropology of Development at the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science, Department of Social Anthropology. He teaches core courses in the MSc International Development program and MA Social Anthropology, including Anthropology and Environment and Social Development. Education: PhD, University of Toronto Graduate studies, University of Heidelberg and University of Leipzig Undergraduate, University of Arizona Research Focus: Kappeler specializes in Latin American political economy with emphasis on agricultural development , petro-populism , and rural livelihoods . His fifteen-year ethnographic fieldwork in Venezuela examines state enterprises, agrarian reform under Chávez, and the interplay of race, nature, and capital in socialist policy implementation. Current work analyzes oil rent redistribution mechanisms. Publication Trends: Recent scholarship (2021-2025) reveals consistent focus on Venezuelan political economy , bridging anthropology and political science . Key themes include petro-populism's impact on rural cooperatives (2024), racialized sovereignty production (2023), and neo-structural socialism in state enterprises (2025). His work critically engages with dependency theory while documenting grassroots responses to resource nationalism. Scientific Awards: None documented in source material. Academic Supervision: Kappeler annually supervises MSc dissertations in International Development and MA dissertations in Social Anthropology. He has served as Director of Admissions for graduate development programs and coordinates departmental open-day events.
Krista Milich is an Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, specializing in primate behavioral ecology and socioendocrinology. She holds a PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago and the University of Texas at Austin. Her work integrates field studies with laboratory analyses to understand primate social systems, reproductive strategies, and conservation challenges. Her research focuses on reproductive physiology, sexual selection, and zoonotic diseases in nonhuman primates. Key projects include long-term studies of red colobus monkeys in Uganda’s Kibale National Park, collaborative community conservation efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict, and investigations into Zika virus in Amazonian primates. She also examines hormonal correlates in spider monkeys and woolly monkeys, linking social behavior to ecological and physiological factors. Her academic trajectory includes postdoctoral fellowships at the Institute for Mind and Biology (University of Chicago) and the Department of Anthropology (UT Austin), where she expanded into genetics and microbiome research. Her lab emphasizes comparative approaches to primate behavioral ecology, with fieldwork in Africa, South America, and Puerto Rico.
Dr. Jennifer Cearns is an Associate Professor in AI at the University of Manchester and a Visiting Professor at KU Leuven . Previously, she held roles as an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow and Lecturer in Digital Anthropology at University College London , an Associate Postdoctoral Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute , and a Leach Fellow in Public Anthropology at the Royal Anthropological Institute . Her work bridges digital anthropology and AI , focusing on culturally-constructed empathy and the reproduction of norms in algorithmic systems. PhD in Anthropology (University College London, 2016-2020) Languages : English, Portuguese, Spanish (Latin American) Her research spans Artificial Intelligence , Algorithms , and Data Practices , with ethnographic fieldwork in Brazil, Cuba, the US, Guyana, Panama, Mexico, Spain, and the UK. Current projects explore the ethics of AI in mental healthcare, transnational digital networks , and contraband economies in Latin America. Recent publications analyze cultural norms in AI , transnational exchange , and digital piracy , with a focus on Latin America. Her 2023 monograph Circulating Culture (University Press of Florida) examines postsocialist networks and contraband economies. Nominated for Association of Latina and Latino Anthropologists First Book Prize Nominated for Society for Latin American & Caribbean Anthropology Book Prize Finalist, BBC New Generation Thinker Award She collaborates with institutions like UCL's Centre for Digital Anthropology and KU Leuven, and has advised the technology industry for over a decade. Her ORCID identifier is 0000-0001-6498-1766.
John Kingston is a Professor of Linguistics and Director of the Phonetics Lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he has been since 1990. He holds a BA and MA from the University of Chicago (1976–1977) and a PhD from UC Berkeley (1985). His research focuses on the interplay between phonetics and phonology, particularly speech perception and its influence on phonological representations. He co-founded the Laboratory Phonology Conference series in 1987 and has conducted fieldwork on Otomanguean languages. His work emphasizes experimental methods to study phonological questions, including studies on vowel perception, tone systems, and cross-linguistic phonetic patterns. Kingston’s academic journey includes roles at the University of Texas, Austin (1984–1986) and Cornell University (1986–1990). His research explores how auditory processing and linguistic knowledge shape speech perception, with notable contributions to understanding tonogenesis, perceptual contrast effects, and vowel category learning in second languages. He collaborates on grants examining Ganong effects and phonological inventories, advocating for theories that bridge perceptual and structural aspects of language. His lab, the Phonetics Lab, supports experimental work on speech perception and production. Kingston is also the Honors Program Coordinator, mentoring students in linguistics and related fields. Despite no explicit awards listed, his extensive publications and conference leadership reflect his scholarly impact.
