Dr. Caner Sayan is a Lecturer in Policy Analysis at Swansea University's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, within the Department of Politics, Philosophy, and International Relations. He previously held roles as a Research Fellow in Water and Resilience at Cranfield University, Postdoctoral Fellow in Water Security at UNU-INWEH, and Research Associate at the University of Dundee. His research focuses on environmental politics, water security, and transboundary water governance, with a regional emphasis on the Middle East, Turkey, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Key themes include environmental justice, political ecology, and the intersection of water infrastructure and regional policy. Recipient of the 2015 Dundee University Students' Association Teaching Award, Dr. Sayan is dedicated to innovative pedagogy and has contributed to modules on global development, environmental justice, and water politics. He actively supervises PhD and MA/MSc theses, emphasizing fieldwork design and participatory methods. His publications span journals such as International Affairs , Water Alternatives , and Energy Research & Social Science , addressing topics like energy transitions, NGO capacity, and peacebuilding through water security frameworks. Engagements include opinion pieces on African water projects and invited lectures on transboundary water governance.
Salmaan A. Keshavjee, MD, PhD, ScM, serves as Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Center for Global Health Delivery. He concurrently holds appointments as Associate Professor of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Faculty Dean of Adams House at Harvard University. His leadership targets critical global health delivery challenges in regions including the Middle East, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa through research, training, and policy engagement. Dr. Keshavjee's interdisciplinary foundation combines medical (MD), anthropological (PhD), and public health (ScM) training. This unique background informs his approach to health systems analysis and policy implementation across diverse cultural contexts. As a leading expert in drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment and the anthropology of health policy, his research examines the intersection of infectious disease control, social determinants of health, and structural barriers to care. Additional interests include mental health integration in TB programs, health economics, and digital health applications for disease screening. His fieldwork spans 16 years in Russia, Lesotho, and Pakistan, with extensive collaboration through Partners In Health. Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent focus on tuberculosis prevention and treatment optimization, with growing attention to mental health comorbidities and artificial intelligence applications. His work addresses diverse populations including prisoners and household contacts across multiple continents, emphasizing regimen feasibility, health system barriers, and economic consequences of inadequate TB control. Key initiatives include the Zero TB Cities project aiming for tuberculosis elimination. Dr. Keshavjee has held influential policy roles including chair of the WHO/Stop TB Partnership’s Green Light Committee for MDR-TB Treatment (2007-2010) and co-authorship of U.S. Institute of Medicine policy papers, though no formal scientific awards are specified in source materials. Through the Center for Global Health Delivery, he mentors fellows in programs such as the Paul Farmer Global Surgery Research Fellowship and Global Mental Health Delivery Fellowship. These initiatives support implementation research in resource-limited settings through structured training and field placements. The Center operates six core programs—Infectious Disease, Mental Health, Noncommunicable Disease, Primary Care, Public Policy, and Surgery—developing evidence-based interventions through partnerships with institutions worldwide. Current priorities include scaling depression screening in TB care, optimizing preventive therapy regimens, and strengthening health systems in the Middle East and North Africa.
Dr. Jeremia Pelgrom is an Assistant Professor in Ancient History at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Arts. His research focuses on Roman Republican colonialism, rural history, and Hellenistic Italy. He directs projects such as the Landscapes of Early Roman Colonization (NWO-funded) and co-leads the Settler Colonial Paradigms network (SECOPS), exploring the long-term structures of Western colonialism. Pelgrom has held roles including Director of Ancient Studies at the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (2012–2018) and co-directed the Mapping the Via Appia project. His work integrates archaeology, history, and comparative studies to analyze colonial strategies and their modern legacies. Education: PhD in Ancient History (Leiden University, 2012) with a thesis on Roman colonial landscapes. Key projects include comparative analyses of classical and Hellenistic colonization, funded by NWO and collaborative initiatives. He also engages in interdisciplinary research on settler colonialism's historical roots and legal frameworks, notably through the Renaissance of Roman Colonization study. Research Interests: Roman imperialism, colonialism in antiquity, rural settlement patterns, and the reception of classical models in modern colonial discourse. Pelgrom's work bridges ancient and modern contexts, examining how ancient colonial paradigms influenced later colonial practices. His fieldwork includes surveys in southern Italy and the Via Appia corridor. Publications Highlight: Recent studies (2023–2024) focus on Daunian population centers, Roman colonial landscapes, and comparative colonial strategies. His work often employs GIS and legacy data analysis to reconstruct ancient settlement dynamics. Pelgrom collaborates with international teams on projects like the Ancient Colonization comparative platform (www.ancientcolonisation.nl). Grants & Leadership: Secured NWO grants for LERC and MaVA projects. Serves as co-director of SECOPS and contributes to the Colonialism as a Structure theme group at Groningen. His research emphasizes methodological innovation in archaeology and interdisciplinary dialogue. Labs/Teams: Active in the Crasis ancient colonialism network and collaborates with the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome. Projects like Santa Prisca involve re-examining legacy excavation data to uncover new insights into Roman urban and religious landscapes.
Sabina Rosenbergová is an Assistant Professor of Cultural Heritage at the University of Groningen, affiliated with the Faculty of Religion, Culture, and Society and the Center for Religion and Heritage. She holds a PhD in Art History from Sapienza University of Rome and Masaryk University in Brno (2023). Her work focuses on the transformation of female religious spaces and artifacts into modern museum contexts, combining art history, heritage studies, and gender analysis. She is a Marie Curie Fellow and has contributed to international projects such as the MSCA Horizon Project “Conques in the Global World.” Her research interests include medieval treasuries of female convents, pilgrimage routes, and the intersection of gender, religion, and cultural memory. She has conducted fieldwork across Italy, Czechia, France, and the USA, including a visiting scholar position at CUNY in New York. Rosenbergová has published extensively on topics like the Milan Passion Diptych, Mont-Saint-Michel, and the experimental “Migrating Art Historians” project, which explores medieval art through bodily engagement with pilgrimage routes. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to cultural preservation and education. Awards include the prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship. She actively participates in academic conferences and public lectures on heritage, art history, and the role of movement in experiencing sacred spaces. Grants: MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship (2024–2028) Labs/Teams: Center for Religion and Heritage, Migrating Art Historians Project
Uros Kovac is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society. He holds a PhD and specializes in social anthropology with a focus on youth, gender, migration, and religion, particularly through the lens of sports in Africa. His current research investigates the intersection of football, migration, and religious hope among African migrants in Europe. Kovac has conducted extensive fieldwork in Cameroon and Kenya, examining themes like masculinity, Pentecostalism, and neoliberalism's impact on sport and society. Education: PhD in Anthropology (not explicitly stated, inferred from title and publications). Research Interests: Anthropology of sport and migration Gender and religion in Africa Neoliberalism and transnational aspirations Ruination and future-making in postcolonial contexts Grants/Fellowships: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (2023-2025). Publications: Author of the monograph *The Precarity of Masculinity* (2022) and over 15 peer-reviewed articles in journals like *Ethnos*, *Africa*, and *Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute*. Editor of a special issue on 'Living with ruins' in *Journal of Eastern African Studies* (2023).
Kimberly Arkin is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at Boston University, affiliated with the Boston University Core Curriculum and the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies. Her research explores national identity, secularity, and medicine in France, with a focus on cultural anthropology. She holds a PhD and MA from the University of Chicago and a BA from Harvard College. Her current book project examines secular medical morality in French hospitals through ethnographic fieldwork in Mediterranean healthcare settings. Earlier work includes Rhinestones, Religion, and the Republic (2014), analyzing Jewish identity in France. She has published in top journals like the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute and Anthropological Quarterly , earning the 2019 Berkshire Conference Article Prize for her 2018 work on Holocaust discourse in France. Teaching courses span ethnicity, biotechnology, anthropological theory, and core curriculum modules on modern world history. Her research bridges cultural studies, medical ethics, and postcolonial dynamics in French society.
Luigina Ciolfi is a Professor of Human Computer Interaction in the School of Applied Psychology at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. She is a Co-Principal Investigator at Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software. Her academic journey includes roles at Sheffield Hallam University, University of Limerick, and visiting positions at Maynooth University and University of Rome Tor Vergata. She holds a Laurea (summa cum laude) from the University of Siena and a PhD from the University of Limerick, both in Human-Computer Interaction. Her research focuses on human experiences with digital technologies in collaborative contexts, particularly in cultural heritage and work practices. She contributes to fields like CSCW, participatory design, and qualitative methodologies. Ciolfi has led over €8M in research grants, authored/co-authored numerous books and journal articles, and served on editorial boards and international committees. She is a Senior Member of the ACM and an ACM Distinguished Speaker (2021-2024). Her current roles include Vice-Head of the School of Applied Psychology and Chair of UCC's Academic Council Research and Innovation Committee. She leads the Digital Cultures, New Media, and Cultural Analytics research cluster under the Future Humanities Institute. Ciolfi’s work emphasizes ethical and inclusive technology design, with projects addressing cultural heritage, nomadic work practices, and digital wellbeing.
Eve Zucker is a Lecturer in Anthropology at Yale University, with affiliations at Columbia University’s Weatherhead Center for East Asian Studies, Cornell University’s Southeast Asia Program, and the Center for Khmer Studies (CKS). Her research focuses on mass violence aftermaths, social memory, and digital memorialization, particularly in Cambodia and Southeast Asia. She explores how societies recover from trauma through indigenous practices, rituals, and emerging technologies. Her key work includes Forest of Struggle: Moralities of Remembrance in Upland Cambodia , examining Khmer Rouge aftermaths, and co-editing volumes like Coexistence in the Aftermath of Mass Violence . She leads projects like the Digital Archive of Memorialization of Mass Atrocities (DAMMA), investigating AI’s role in preserving historical memory. Her research bridges anthropology, genocide studies, and digital humanities. Zucker’s interests span moral order reconstruction, virtual memory mediums, and post-conflict ethics. She serves on the boards of the Southeast Asian Council (SEAC) and CKS, advocating for grassroots memory initiatives.
Marco Tedesco is a Lamont Research Professor at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) within Columbia University's Columbia Climate School and an Adjunct Scientist at NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). He is affiliated with the Data Science Institute, Sant’Anna School of Economics (Italy), and serves as a Climate Resident Scientist at Columbia Business School. His roles include leadership in interdisciplinary climate research, field expeditions, and science communication. Tedesco holds a Laurea degree and PhD from the University of Naples and the Italian National Research Council, followed by postdoctoral work at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He previously served as a faculty member at City College of New York (CCNY), where he directed the Cryosphere Processes Laboratory and held roles at the National Science Foundation. Research Focus : Tedesco specializes in cryosphere dynamics, including seasonal snowpack, ice sheet surface properties, and the socioeconomic impacts of climate change. His fieldwork spans Greenland, Antarctica, Iceland, Canada, and the Italian Alps. He is renowned for his work on remote sensing techniques applied to cryospheric processes and authored Remote Sensing of the Cryosphere (Wiley, 2015) and The Hidden Life of Ice (2018), which explores climate science and justice. His research also addresses microplastics in polar regions and climate justice implications. Awards & Recognition : A Fellow of the Explorers Club and member of the New York City Panel on Climate Change Equity Working Group, Tedesco’s work has been highlighted by the Washington Post and National Geographic Traveler. His grants and projects include studies on Arctic sea ice, Greenland ice sheet dynamics, and the socioeconomic dimensions of climate change. Labs & Initiatives : Founder of the Cryosphere Processes Laboratory at CCNY, Tedesco collaborates on projects such as the SLICE initiative (Spectral Signs of Life in Ice) and leads efforts in understanding ice-albedo feedback mechanisms. His interdisciplinary approach bridges environmental science with economics and policy, emphasizing climate resilience strategies.
Alexander Refsum Jensenius is a Professor of Music Technology and Director of the RITMO Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Rhythm, Time and Motion at the University of Oslo. He also leads the fourMs Lab and co-founded the MishMash Centre for AI and Creativity. His work bridges musicology, psychology, and technology, focusing on embodied music cognition, human motion analysis, and creative applications of AI. Notably, he pioneered research on air guitar motion and human micromotion through projects like the Oslo Standstill Database . Educated at the University of Oslo (BA in Music and Mathematics, MA in Musicology) and Chalmers University of Technology (MSc in Applied IT), Jensenius holds a PhD in Music Technology from UiO. He has held visiting researcher roles at UC Berkeley, McGill University, and KTH. Leadership roles include Department of Musicology Head (2013–2016) and Steering Committee Chair for the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME, 2011–2022). Research interests span music-related body motion, AI in creative contexts, and open research practices. Key contributions include the Music Moves and Motion Capture MOOCs, the Musical Gestures Toolbox software, and monographs like Sound Actions and Sonic Design . His work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, with projects addressing ventilation systems' acoustic properties and cell culture vibrational effects. Awards include the European Open Data Champion recognition. He advocates for open science and maintains extensive digital archives of research materials, emphasizing institutional web pages as critical research infrastructure.
Nisrin Elamin is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto. She holds a cross-appointment in African Studies and focuses on sociocultural anthropology, particularly examining intersections of land rights, racial capitalism, and empire-making in Sudan and the Sahel region. PhD from Stanford University Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University's Society of Fellows Teaching experience at Bryn Mawr College and in Tanzania Her research explores how land dispossession and Gulf Arab investments shape state surveillance, migration, and community resistance. Using multi-sited ethnography and historical analysis, she investigates gendered and racialized dynamics of land enclosure in Sudan's Gezira region. Her recent publications analyze Sudanese revolutions, land politics, and transnational land investment trends. She has conducted 15 months of ethnographic fieldwork in central Sudan, engaging with local courts, farming communities, and Sufi religious leaders. Diversifying Academia Recruiting Excellence (DARE) Fellowship, Stanford University Social Science Research Council International Dissertation Research Fellowship National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant Wenner-Gren Foundation Dissertation Fieldwork Grant
Professor Richard Bussmann is a Professor of Egyptology at the Institute for African Studies and Egyptology, University of Cologne. His office is located at Meister-Ekkehart-Str. 7, first floor, room 1.04 in Cologne, Germany. He has made significant contributions to the field of Egyptology, particularly in the areas of social archaeology of ancient Egypt, urbanism in North-Eastern Africa, and cross-cultural comparison of early complex societies. Professor Bussmann's research focuses on combining Egyptology with social archaeology, anthropology and cultural history. His work revolves around questions of ancient Egyptian society and culture at a local level, using material, visual and written sources to understand long-term transformations in North-Eastern Africa. His chronological focus spans from late prehistory to the New Kingdom (the Bronze Age), though he also examines earlier and later developments. His research includes a book on community shrines of the third millennium, examining how central administration penetrated into local milieus. He is currently writing "The Archaeology of Pharaonic Egypt," which synthesizes discussions of Egyptian society and culture from the Old to the Middle Kingdom. He directs a project on seals and seal impressions from Hierakonpolis to investigate administrative practice in early Egypt and co-directs the archaeological fieldwork project at Zawyet Sultan, exploring life of a local community from prehistory to the present day. Professor Bussmann has published extensively, with recent works including "The archaeology of pharaonic Egypt: society and culture, 2700-1700 BC" (2023) and "Zawyet Sultan: second preliminary report. Excavation season 2022" (2023). His publications demonstrate a strong focus on social structures, urban development, and cultural practices in ancient Egypt, particularly during the Old and Middle Kingdoms. His professional memberships include: Secretary General of the International Association of Egyptologists Full member of the German Archaeological Institute Member of scientific advisory board of the Cairo division of the German Archaeological Institute Speaker of the Association of archaeological institutions in Cologne and Bonn Deputy speaker of the Research Training Group 1878 "Archaeology of premodern economies" Member of the advisory board of the Competence Area IV, University of Cologne Member of the steering committee of the Friends of Egyptology in Cologne "Uschebti e.V." Member of the board of the German Association of Egyptology Professor Bussmann has supervised numerous PhD students, including Anouk Everts, Isabell Steinhardt-Sedlak, Lisa Augner, and others, working on diverse topics ranging from social networks in the Middle Kingdom to economic systems and resource management in ancient Egypt. His teaching focuses on Egyptian archaeology and language, with an emphasis on source critical skills and theoretically informed discussions of ancient Egyptian society and culture.
Rev. Dr. hab. Andrzej Łuczyński is a Professor at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Institute of Pedagogy's Department of the History of Education, Care and Social Pedagogy. His academic work spans historical and contemporary pedagogical challenges, with a focus on marginalized groups and Catholic educational traditions. Research Interests: Prof. Łuczyński's research integrates social pedagogy, inclusive education, family studies, and religious education. Key themes include preventive strategies for at-risk youth, historical analyses of Catholic educators (e.g., Jan Bosko, Edmund Bojanowski), and the impact of societal changes on family structures and child welfare. His work emphasizes ethical formation and community-based interventions. Publications: Recent articles explore digital addiction among youth, inclusive education in resocialization contexts, and historical pedagogical models. His scholarship consistently addresses the intersection of faith-based education and contemporary social challenges, advocating for holistic support systems. Awards & Recognition: Medal of the National Education Commission (2013) Professional Activities: He actively supervises doctoral candidates, participates in national committees (e.g., Doctoral School Recruitment), and contributes to critical editions of historical pedagogical texts. His projects include piloting inclusive education models and analyzing the pedagogical legacy of Fr. Bronisław Markiewicz.
Juhani Vaivio is a Professor in the Department of Accounting at Aalto University School of Business. He has been actively contributing to the field of accounting research for over three decades, with a strong focus on qualitative and interpretive methodologies. His academic journey is deeply rooted in the traditions of the Helsinki School of Economics, now part of Aalto University. Education: Doctoral Degree in Business and Economics, Helsinki School of Economics (2001) Licentiate Degree in Business and Economics, Helsinki School of Economics (1995) Master's Degree in Business and Economics, Helsinki School of Economics (1988) His research centers on the philosophical and methodological foundations of management accounting, particularly emphasizing qualitative approaches such as case studies, discourse analysis, and method triangulation. He explores how accounting practices shape organizational identities and regulate worker behavior through discursive and normative mechanisms. His work often intersects with psychology, sociology, and public policy, especially in the context of identity regulation, legislation, and governance. The trend in his publications reflects a long-standing commitment to advancing interpretive research in accounting. From early methodological debates on qualitative versus quantitative methods to recent explorations of identity regulation through accounting, his scholarship consistently challenges positivist assumptions and advocates for deeper understanding of organizational realities. His 2023 article in the European Accounting Review exemplifies this trajectory by examining how accounting produces 'appropriate' worker identities. Scientific Contributions and Recognition: Over 26 research outputs spanning from 1992 to 2023 Significant influence in promoting qualitative research in accounting Active engagement with epistemological and methodological debates Contributions to understanding accounting's role in public sector governance and organizational change He has supervised at least two theses, indicating an ongoing role in mentoring emerging scholars. While specific grants or awards are not listed, his extensive publication record and citation impact (e.g., over 4,800 Mendeley readers for one review) suggest wide recognition. He has not been affiliated with any named research labs or teams in the provided text, but his collaborative work with scholars like Järvenpää, Rautiainen, and Sirén highlights networked research activity.
Dr. Paul Trauttmansdorff is a Research Fellow at the Chair of Philosophy and History of Science and Technology at the Technical University of Munich, and a Fellow of the Ethical Data Initiative. His research focuses on digital governance, migration, and the ethical implications of data infrastructure. He holds a PhD from the University of Vienna, where his thesis explored future visions of borders and digital migration governance in Europe. He previously worked at the University of Bologna and the European New School of Digital Studies. Education: BA Philosophy, University of Vienna BSc Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business MSc Political Sociology, London School of Economics PhD Science and Technology Studies, University of Vienna (supervised by Ulrike Felt) Research interests include datafication practices, governance of digital infrastructures, biometric technologies, and their social/political impacts. He has contributed to projects such as the ERC StG 'Processing Citizenship' and the ENS Chair of Sociology of Technology. Key awards include the 2023 Early Career Award and 2022 sowi:doc Award. He is a member of networks like STS-MIGTEC and COST Action CA22135. His recent work emphasizes ethical data practices, resilient data systems, and controversies in digital border governance. Publications span books, journal articles, and policy manifestos analyzing EU border digitalization, data interoperability challenges, and migration governance frameworks.
