John S. Henderson is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Cornell University , affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on early complex societies in Mesoamerica, particularly through fieldwork in the Ulúa Valley, Honduras. Research Interests: Exploration of social stratification, political power centralization, and identity categories via material culture and settlement archaeology. Publications: Over 40 years, with recent works on cacao consumption, Maya cosmology, and Mesoamerican trade networks. Academic Contributions: Editor of key volumes on Mesoamerican archaeology and material culture, with a long-term commitment to Honduras field projects.
Dr. Lindsay Vickery is a Senior Lecturer and coordinator of the Composition and Music Technology Program at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), part of Edith Cowan University. He has been active as a composer and performer globally since 1986, working across acoustic and electronic mediums in interactive, improvised, and fully notated settings. Education: Master of Music, University of Western Australia Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology (2013) Research Interests: Vickery specializes in screenscores , interactive music systems, non-linear formal structures, new media integration, poly-tempo music, alternate controllers, and music analysis. His work bridges technological innovation with experimental composition techniques. Article Trends: His recent publications focus on digital notation systems, networked performance environments, and the intersection of visual and sonic representation. Key themes include the evolution of Cage's variations into digital formats, hybrid acoustic-electronic composition, and interactive score technologies. Scientific Awards: Sounds Australian Award (1989) Churchill Fellowship for electronic music research (1995) Australian Major Festivals Initiative Seeding Grant (2001) Supervision & Grants: He supervises PhD and Master's students in topics like deconstructed bassoon technique, meditative sonic praxis, and hybrid cultural composition. He has secured over $400,000 in grants from institutions like the Australia Council for the Arts, Feilman Foundation, and Nortel Networks. Performance & Collaborations: Vickery has performed at festivals including ISEA, SWR Tage für Neue Musik, and Shanghai International Arts Festival. He co-founded ensembles like Alea New Music Ensemble and Decibel, and has collaborated with artists such as Cat Hope and Stuart James on over 50 creative outputs since 2001.
Assistant Professor Fatih TURAY is a full-time faculty member at Karabük University , Faculty of Theology, Department of Basic Islamic Sciences, specializing in Islamic Law. He has been serving as Dr. Öğretim Üyesi (Assistant Professor) since 2019 and previously worked as a research assistant at Atatürk University from 2012 to 2019. Education PhD in Islamic Law, Atatürk University, Institute of Social Sciences (2012–2018) Master's in Islamic Law, Marmara University, Institute of Social Sciences (2008–2011) Bachelor's in Theology, Marmara University, Faculty of Theology (2004–2008) Bachelor's in Economics, Anadolu University, Faculty of Economics (2012–2015) Research Interests His research spans a wide range of topics within Islamic jurisprudence , with a particular focus on: Islamic Law and its applications in modern finance and economics Comparative studies between Hanafi and Shafi'i schools of thought Islamic financial transactions, including e-commerce, dropshipping, and digital rights Ritual purity and worship in Islamic law The intersection of Islamic law and social media ethics Publications Overview His scholarly output includes 10 publications ranging from peer-reviewed journal articles to book authorship and international conference papers. His work is indexed in TR Dizin and has received 41 citations on Google Scholar with an h-index of 3. Thematically, his articles explore Islamic legal theory, commercial law, and the adaptation of classical fiqh to modern economic systems. Awards and Recognition Akdeniz İlahiyat Araştırmaları Ödülü , awarded by Akdeniz University in 2012 Advising and Academic Service He has supervised 2 master’s theses at Karabük University and taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses including Islamic Jurisprudence (Fıkıh), Islamic Economic Thought, and Contemporary Islamic Financial Practices. Languages and Certifications He is proficient in Arabic, holding a YDS score of 87 (2023) and YÖKDİL score of 82 (2017).
Dr hab. Witold Gumiński is a researcher at the Department of Stone Age Archaeology, University of Warsaw. He specializes in Mesolithic and Para-Neolithic cultures of Northeastern Poland, with focus on paleoenvironmental studies, burial practices, and artifact analysis. Active duty hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 2:15–3:00 PM, Room 3.24 Email: w.guminski@uw.edu.pl His research explores: Mesolithic/Para-Neolithic cultural dynamics Human-environment interactions Archaeozoology and subsistence patterns Symbolic artifacts (amber, pottery) Funerary rituals and skeletal remains Publications focus on: Mesolithic burial rites in Masurian Lakes Material culture exchange networks Climate impact on settlement patterns Megalithic monumentology Interdisciplinary approaches (aDNA, isotopic analysis) Key collaborations include studies with: K. Bugajska (burial analysis) T. Tomek (zooarchaeology) R. Howcroft (bioarchaeological isotopes)
Carson Bay is an Associate Professor of Classics & Biblical Studies at the University of Austin (UATX), where he is affiliated with the Center for Arts and Letters. His academic journey includes a B.S. in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute – Spokane, an M.A. in Theology & Religious Studies from John Carroll University, and advanced degrees in Classics and Religions of Western Antiquity from Florida State University. As a Fulbright Graduate Fellow, he conducted research at the University of Münster, Germany. Bay's research centers on Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian antiquity with particular expertise in the writings of Flavius Josephus and their reception across multiple languages including Latin, Syriac, and Hebrew. His scholarly work examines how texts, language, and concepts interact with individuals, society, and culture throughout history. His interests span Reception Studies, Sefer Yosippon, Classics, Second Temple Judaism, and Early Christianity, focusing on textual transmission, cultural adaptation, and identity formation in the ancient Mediterranean world. Bay's publications reveal a consistent focus on the transmission and transformation of classical and biblical narratives across cultural boundaries. His work demonstrates particular interest in how Jewish and Christian authors engaged with and adapted Greco-Roman literary traditions, especially in the context of identity formation and religious polemics. His research on exemplarity, textual transmission, and religious identity has produced significant contributions to our understanding of the complex interactions between Jewish and Christian communities in late antiquity. Research Associate at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton Post-doctoral fellow in the international project 'Co-Produced Religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam' Post-doc at the University of Bern, Switzerland Fulbright Graduate Fellow at the University of Münster, Germany Bay's academic trajectory reflects deep engagement with both classical and religious studies traditions, positioning him as a significant voice in the field of ancient Mediterranean cultural interactions. His work bridges disciplinary boundaries, offering fresh perspectives on the complex relationships between Jewish, Christian, and Greco-Roman intellectual traditions.
Yaacov Yadgar is an Associate Professor at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, University of Oxford. His research focuses on the intersections of religion, political science, nationalism, modernity, secularism, and ethnicity, particularly within Israeli and Jewish contexts. His work critically examines Zionist ideology, the politicization of Judaism, and the complexities of Israeli national identity. Key themes include the tension between secularism and tradition, the role of nostalgia in political analysis, and the implications of religious nationalism for multiculturalism and democracy. Recent publications analyze Zionism as a political theology, the evolution of Israeli identity, and the challenges of maintaining a post-secular Jewish state. His scholarship engages with theoretical frameworks such as nation-statism, soteriology, and theo-political sovereignty. Yaacov Yadgar’s email address is yaacov.yadgar@area.ox.ac.uk , and his office is located at OSGA, 11 Bevington Road, Oxford.
Cathy Cantwell is an Associate Professor and Associate Faculty Member at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies , University of Oxford, and a fellow at Wolfson College. Her research focuses on the rNying ma tantric tradition, critical editing of Tibetan texts, Dunhuang tantric manuscripts, and contemporary Tibetan ritual practices, particularly within the Dudjom gter ma tradition. She has extensively studied the works of Nyang ral Nyi ma’od zer and Gu ru Chos dbang, contributing to the AHRC-funded project on authorship and innovation in Tibetan revelatory traditions. Co-authored significant publications including Dudjom Rinpoche's Vajrakīlaya Works (2020) and A Noble Noose of Methods, the Lotus Garland Synopsis (2012). Teaches Issues in the Study of Tibetan Religion (Lecture series, 2020). President of the U.K. Association for Buddhist Studies (2015-2019), with earlier roles as Acting President and Secretary. Her scholarly work spans the analysis of Dunhuang Phurpa texts (2010), longevity rituals in Bon Phurpa tradition (2015), and methodological challenges in editing Mahāyoga texts from Dunhuang (2009). Publications include co-edited studies on the rNying ma'i rgyud 'bum and contributions to History of Science in South Asia and Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies . Her 2017 article on Rasāyana and bcud len practices explores Tibetan tantric medicine, while her 2019 work on sensory engagement in sgrub chen rituals bridges textual and experiential dimensions of Tibetan Buddhist practice. Key electronic publications include The Medicinal Accomplishment (sman sgrub) Practice in the Dudjom Meteoric Iron Razor Tradition (2015) and The Rig 'dzin Tshe dbang nor bu Edition of the rNying ma'i rgyud 'bum: An Illustrated Inventory (2002). Her research also addresses the transmission of Tibetan texts through manuscripts like the sGang steng-b rNying ma'i rgyud 'bum from Bhutan (2006).
Jennifer McClure Haraway serves as Associate Professor of Religion and Sociology at Samford University's Howard College of Arts and Sciences, holding a joint appointment in the Biblical and Religious Studies and Geography and Sociology department. She concurrently functions as a Faculty Fellow at the university's Congregational Resource Center, where she develops practical ministry resources through partnerships with the Association of Religion Data Archives. Her academic foundation includes a PhD in Sociology (2015) and MA in Sociology (2012) from Pennsylvania State University, complemented by a BA in Sociology and Mathematics (2010) from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. This dual expertise in social science theory and quantitative methods underpins her distinctive research approach. Dr. Haraway's scholarship centers on religious congregations as social networks, examining homophily patterns, resource sharing dynamics, and prosocial behavior mechanisms. She innovatively applies social network analysis to biblical studies—particularly reconstructing Jesus's relational dynamics—and investigates how congregational structures influence community involvement. Her methodological rigor bridges statistical analysis with practical ministry applications, focusing on how faith communities navigate opportunities and challenges through interconnected networks. Analysis of her 2013-2023 publications reveals consistent exploration of congregational interdependence, with recurring themes of network vitality, homophilous clustering, and community impact measurement. Her work demonstrates how relational positioning affects organizational sustainability and how congregational size mediates community engagement—a distinctive contribution merging sociological theory with religious practice. Professionally, she maintains active membership in the American Sociological Association, Association for the Sociology of Religion, Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, and Association of Religion Data Archives. She applies her expertise through congregational consulting on demographic analysis and resource development, particularly supporting churches in understanding community contexts through the Center for Congregational Resources at Samford University. Dr. Haraway attends Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral and pursues rock climbing, cycling, and hiking as personal interests that reflect her engagement with physical and communal challenges.
Wiebren Johannes Boonstra is Professor of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development at Uppsala University’s Department of Earth Sciences and an Affiliated Researcher at the Institute for Research on Goal-Conflicts in Sustainable Transformation. His career spans Wageningen University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Stockholm Resilience Centre, and Rutgers University, reflecting a global engagement with rural and marine social-ecological systems. Education: PhD in Rural Sociology, Wageningen University (2001–2006) MSc in Rural Development Studies, Wageningen University (1995–2000) Research Focus: Professor Boonstra investigates the social-historical dynamics of primary resource use —how farmers and fishers interact with terrestrial and marine environments across Sweden, the Netherlands, Malawi, Australia, and Vietnam. He integrates qualitative and quantitative methods to explore mismatches between resource users’ values and ecological opportunities, theorising concepts such as social-ecological traps, transformative change, and environmental justice. Publications & Trends: Across more than 60 peer-reviewed articles since 2020, his work clusters around (i) energy transitions and social resistance, (ii) ethical dimensions of livestock and fisheries, (iii) urban fishing as a sustainability paradigm, and (iv) governance of marine commons in the Anthropocene. Scientific Awards & Recognition: Although no specific awards are listed, Professor Boonstra serves as Associate Editor-in-Chief of Ambio: A Journal of the Human Environment and as Lead Author for the IPBES Assessment on Transformative Change , signalling high international scholarly standing. Advising & Funding: He supervises MSc and PhD students and teaches at both levels. Details of specific research grants are not provided, yet his multi-institutional appointments imply sustained competitive funding. Labs & Teams: He is embedded in the Natural Resources and Sustainable Development research group at Uppsala University and collaborates with the Institute for Research on Goal-Conflicts in Sustainable Transformation , fostering interdisciplinary teams spanning sociology, ecology, and governance.
Annett Martini is a Scientific Associate at the Institute of Jewish Studies, Free University of Berlin, specializing in medieval Hebrew manuscript culture and Jewish mysticism. She currently leads the BMBF-funded project Materialized Holiness: Torah Scrolls as Codicological, Theological, and Sociological Phenomenon of Jewish Written Culture in the Diaspora (since 2022), following habilitation research on ritual writing practices in medieval Jewish culture (2018). She has held Visiting Professorships at Augsburg University (2020/21) and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (2017). Her academic career includes directing the Erfurt Collection research (2017–2020), which uncovered significant Hebrew manuscript fragments from medieval Jewish communities. Education: MA in Judaic Studies, Religious Studies, and German Studies (2004) from Free University Berlin and Hebrew University Jerusalem Key Research Areas: Ritual writing in STaM (Torah scrolls, Tefillin, Mezuzot), Christian reception of Jewish mysticism, Hebrew codicology, and cultural transfer in Renaissance Europe Her scholarly output includes groundbreaking publications on the Erfurt Bible manuscripts, ritual consecration of sacred texts, and micrography analysis, often combining codicological, theological, and sociological methodologies. Current article projects focus on: Halakhic-mystical synthesis in medieval Hebrew texts Material theology of Torah scrolls Intercultural commentary traditions in Erfurt manuscripts Christian Kabbalah development from Pico's library Medieval Jewish-Christian-Muslim ritual dynamics Scientific Awards: The Tiburtius Prize (2010) recognized her doctoral work on Joseph Gikatilla's Book of Punctuation . She has also contributed to digital humanities projects like the Virtual Library of the Erfurt collection and produced documentary films about STaM scribal practices. Professional Activities: Martini curates exhibitions at the Old Erfurt Synagogue and teaches courses on Jewish medieval literature, biblical exegesis, and Kabbalah reception history. Her Work of Heaven film series documents contemporary Torah scribes in Israel.
Tetsuhito Motoyama is a Professor at the School of Law, with a career spanning Japanese Shakespearean adaptations, Elizabethan drama, and intercultural theatre studies. His research explores how Shakespeare's works reflect and reshape cultural identities in Japan, emphasizing adaptations that transcend 'indigenous' frameworks. PhD in Comparative Culture (International Christian University) MA in Shakespeare Studies (University of Birmingham) His fields of interest include Shakespeare pedagogy for law students, early modern English theatre networks, and digital humanities methodologies. He leads the JSPS-funded project A Brave New World for Japanese Shakespeare Adaptations , focusing on translation's role in expanding Shakespearean scholarship. Co-organizer of 2022 international conference "Found in Translation" Past part-time lecturer at Keio, Waseda, and Meiji Universities Motoyama's publications analyze Japanese adaptations of King Lear , the Folger Shakespeare Library's educational outreach, and the intersection of performance, politics, and cultural memory in Shakespearean contexts.
Daniel Gleason is a Professor of English and current Chair of the English Department at Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee. He serves as Poet in Residence and has held academic roles since at least 2010, when he defended his dissertation on William Faulkner at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Ph.D. in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania M.A. in English Literary Study from University of Tennessee, Chattanooga B.A. in English from Bryan College Dr. Gleason's research focuses on 20th-century American Literature, contemporary poetry, and trauma theory. His creative writing explores faith-infused poetics through publications in journals like Rappahannock Review and Dappled Things , often intersecting with religious themes and personal identity. His scholarly work shows strong engagement with Southern literature (Mary Oliver, Natasha Trethewey, William Faulkner), trauma's impact on narrative structure, and theological dimensions in contemporary poetry. Conference presentations at events like Theology on Tap and the Conference on Christianity and Literature demonstrate his interdisciplinary approach. As department chair and Poet in Residence, Dr. Gleason bridges academic leadership with creative practice, having coached soccer and worked in diverse educational settings including public schools and online programs.
Mark Rowe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at McMaster University. His research focuses on East Asian Religions , Japanese Buddhism , and Socio-Cultural Anthropology , with a particular emphasis on the lived experiences of "non-eminent" Buddhist priests and the adaptation of doctrinal ideals to local contexts. He employs ethnographic methods to study how Buddhist teachings are negotiated and reshaped in daily practice, challenging frameworks that prioritize doctrinal orthodoxy over grounded realities. Education: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Religious Studies from McGill University Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Kyoto University PhD Equivalent (Hakushi Katei) in Eastern Religions from Kyoto University PhD in Religious Studies from Princeton University Research Trends: His publications analyze themes like death rituals, gender dynamics in monastic institutions, and the socio-political dimensions of Buddhism in Japan. Articles span from ethnographic studies of female Buddhist priests (2017) to critiques of temple worldliness (2009), with recurring interest in funerary practices and Shin Buddhism . Teaching: He instructs courses such as Anthropological Approaches to the Study of Asian Religions (RELIGST 709), Japanese Film and Religion (SCAR 3E03), and language courses in Japanese reading. Teaching spans 2000–2025, reflecting sustained engagement with Japanese religious culture and ethnographic theory . Grants: Mentioned in McMaster's $5.8M SSHRC funding announcements, though specific grants for him are not detailed in the dataset.
Prof. Dr. Babett Edelmann-Singer is a University Professor of Ancient History at the Free University of Berlin (Heisenberg Professorship) since 2023. Her research spans material culture, political history, and religious networks in premodern metropolitan contexts, focusing on Roman provincial elites, epigraphic analysis, and gender in imperial cults. Current Appointments: Professor at Free University Berlin, Research Fellow at University of the Free State (South Africa), Adjunct Fellow in DFG Kolleg-Forschungsgruppe 2770 Research Projects: Materialization of Power, Elite Networks in Roman East, Religious Skepticism Intersections Methodologically , she integrates social network analysis (SNA) with epigraphic databases to explore provincial interactions. Her Heisenberg-DFG funded projects examine material culture's role in performative power structures and women's agency in religious networks. Scientific Recognition includes: DFG Heisenberg Fellowship (2018–2025) City of Regensburg Women in Science Award (2014) Multiple publication grants and peer-reviewed accolades Advising occurs via structured office hours with appointment registration at her secretariat. She collaborates with institutions in Munich, Heidelberg, and Osnabrück, and contributes to global outreach through TerraX/ZDF (2021) and Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity (2024).
R. Charles Weller, Ph.D. , is an Associate Professor of History at Washington State University , with a focus on religious-cultural identity and relations in Western-Islamic and world history. His research spans Russian and Islamic Central Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. He previously held visiting roles at Yale University (2010-11) and Georgetown University (2014-19), and was an Affiliate Research Faculty member at George Mason University (2021-22). Education: Ph.D. in cultural theory and history from Kazakh National University in Almaty, completed entirely in Kazakh under Kazakh scholars. Weller’s work critically examines themes such as ‘pre-Islamic survivals’ in Central Asian ethnography, Islamic contributions to Western civilization , and cross-cultural legal exchanges between Islamic and Western traditions. His publications reflect a global perspective, challenging Eurocentric narratives and emphasizing indigenous historiography. Recent publications include Moses, Muhammad and Nature’s God in Early American Religious-Legal History, 1640-1830 (2024) and ‘Pre-Islamic Survivals’ in Muslim Central Asia (2023), which traces the evolution of ‘survivals’ debates across Tsarist, Soviet, and post-Soviet eras. His scholarship often intersects with themes of colonial legacy , religious syncretism , and historical multiculturalism . Scientific Awards: Teaching Awards Award for Promoting Tolerance, Diversity & Inclusiveness Weller actively mentors students in independent studies and the Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts (SURCA) program, though no specific advisees are named in the text. His work engages with institutions such as Al-Farabi Kazakh National University , where he serves as Senior Research Fellow.
