Dr. Gabrielle Kremer is a Senior Research Associate and Guest Researcher at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), focusing on provincial Roman archaeology with emphasis on the Danube provinces and Gallia Belgica. She has taught at the University of Vienna since 2001 and coordinates interdisciplinary projects on Roman stone monuments, including the Corpus Signorum Imperii Romani Carnuntum series. Her work bridges epigraphy, sculpture analysis, and funerary architecture studies. Research focuses include: Religious practices in Roman provinces Stone monument provenance and reuse Cultural identity in Noricum and Pannonia Interdisciplinary analysis of Roman material culture Monumental grave architecture in the Treveri region Current projects involve the PolychroMon initiative (2023–2025) analyzing polychromy in Roman monuments and the Accommodation/Living in a Sacred Context study. She co-edited multiple international colloquium proceedings and led the "Religion and Society" working group (2017–2020) at OeAW's Institute for Cultural History of Antiquity.
Emilio Del Pupo is a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Doctoral Programme in Political, Societal and Regional Changes and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS). His research focuses on EU-Mercosur trade negotiations, civil society engagement, and Latin American identity formation. Master of Social Sciences from Åbo Akademi University (2022) Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Universidade Vila Velha, Brazil (2018) Research Interests: Emilio specializes in political economy of trade agreements, particularly analyzing Brazilian interest groups in EU-Mercosur negotiations. His work examines civil society's role in trade policy, green extractivism, and contested spaces in international cooperation. Article Trends: Recent publications and manuscripts explore sustainability challenges in trade agreements, agricultural policy exceptionalism, and lithium extraction impacts in the Global South. Themes include both Brazilian perspectives and transnational identity dynamics in South America. Teaching & Academic Merits: Completed University Pedagogy training (5 ECTS). Designed and instructed course on 'Free Trade and Development in the Global South' (YMV-K507). Guest lecturer for 'Critical Thinking in Latin America' (ALKU-L3150). Peer reviewer for Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional and board member of Finnish Society for Development Research (2024–2025). Conference Participation: Active presenter at International Studies Association conferences (2024–2025), including paper presentations, panel discussions, and chair roles. Organized Development Days 2024 Conference and involved in UniPID DocNet research network.
Arash Khazeni is Professor of History, Chair of the History Department, and Coordinator of Middle Eastern Studies at Pomona College, where he has been a faculty member since 2010. He holds a Ph.D. in History from Yale University and specializes in the imperial, environmental, and borderland histories of the modern Middle East, South Asia, and the Indian Ocean. Ph.D., Yale University M.A., Yale University B.A., University of Wisconsin, Madison His research explores the margins of empires and the interconnected histories of the Indo-Persian world, blending environmental history with world-historical perspectives. He investigates how societies on the periphery—such as tribal communities and pastoralists—interacted with imperial structures and shaped transregional exchanges. His approach is influenced by E.P. Thompson’s 'history from below' and engages with postcolonial and Marxist frameworks. His publications reveal a consistent focus on global trade, cultural mobility, and human-environment interactions, particularly in arid and frontier zones. Themes such as the turquoise trade, equestrian pastoralism, and Indo-Persian travel writing demonstrate his interdisciplinary reach across economic, cultural, and environmental history. Recipient of the Middle East Studies Association Houshang Pourshariati Book Award Balzan Keddie Fellowship, UCLA Huntington Library, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Short Term Research Fellowship Khazeni advises on interdisciplinary scholarship and has co-edited thematic volumes on trade in the Persianate world. His academic leadership includes directing the Middle Eastern Studies program and teaching courses on Gunpowder Empires, Environmental Histories, and the Indian Ocean World. He has no known active grants listed, but his fellowships reflect sustained research support. He is deeply involved in shaping curricula that connect global regions and historical methodologies. His work is associated with intellectual communities focused on world history and environmental humanities, though no formal lab or research team is mentioned.
Sandy Dall'Erba is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds additional affiliations with the European Union Center, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies, and the Center for Digital Agriculture at NCSA. His research spans regional economic analysis, spatial econometrics, and climate change impacts on agriculture. PhD in Economics, University of Pau (2004) MSc in Economics, University of Pau (2000) Postdoctoral, Spatial Economics at Free University of Amsterdam (2005-2006) Postdoctoral, REAL at UIUC (2004-2005) Dall'Erba specializes in spatial econometric modeling to analyze regional growth, innovation systems, and climate change effects. His work integrates interregional input-output frameworks and structural gravity models to quantify economic spillovers. Recent studies address agricultural vulnerability to climate shocks, plastic waste embedded in trade, and tax revenue disruptions from natural disasters. His publications focus on regional economics, environmental accounts, and climate resilience, with applications in the U.S., Latin America, and China. Key trends include spatial heterogeneity in climate impacts, supply chain vulnerabilities, and policy design for disaster mitigation. RSPP Best Paper Award Regional Studies Association Best Paper Award Tiebout Prize Epainos Prize Dall'Erba has co-authored works with graduate students and secured grants from NSF, NASA, and USDA. He directs the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) and co-founded the Center for Climate, Regional, Environmental and Trade Economics (CREATE) , advancing system-wide approaches to climate and trade challenges.
Dr. Steve Renette is an Assistant Professor in Mesopotamian Archaeology at the University of Cambridge's Department of Archaeology. His research focuses on material culture, art and iconography, and the interplay between Mesopotamian and Zagros societies during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age (c. 6000–2000 BCE). University of Cambridge, Department of Archaeology Research Interests: Specializing in environmental archaeology, geoarchaeology, and landscape studies, Dr. Renette investigates cultural evolution and field methods across Mesopotamia and the Near East. His work emphasizes local community practices in adopting external influences and reconstructs historical geography. Publications: His recent articles analyze Kani Shaie's 2024 Early Bronze Age excavations, seal impression analysis, and regional ceramic chronologies. His studies span from prehistoric land use (2019) to Hellenistic-Parthian occupations (2024), with a focus on stratigraphic continuity and cross-border interactions. Professional Activities: Involved in the Kani Shaie Archaeological Project (2012–2016) and the Mahidasht Survey Project, Dr. Renette contributes to cultural heritage preservation and regional absolute chronology development.
Thomas Schlag is Professor of Practical Theology at the University of Zurich , with research foci in religious education, church theory, and pastoral theology . He directs the university-wide research focus "Digital Religion(s): Communication, Interaction and Transformation in the Digital Society" , exploring the intersection of theology and digital culture. His career includes roles as Chairman of the Center for Church Development (ZKE) and Dean of the Faculty of Theology (2014–2016). Key Research Areas : Digital religion, public theology, interreligious education, confirmation work, church development, and socio-political theology. Academic Leadership : Directed international studies on confirmation work, co-edited interdisciplinary theological compendiums, and contributed to debates on state religious education and digital ethics. Recent Publications (2024–2025) examine digital media in religious education, Swiss church reform, theological responses to polarization, and interfaith educational models. His "Digital Religion(s)" program analyzes church-state-civil society dynamics in digital societies. He teaches courses on existential religious education , digital transformation , and ecclesiological-practical semesters . Collaborations include the European Network for Confirmation Work , International Academy of Practical Theology , and projects with Swiss and international theological institutions. His work bridges digital innovation , democratic education , and pastoral care in virtual environments .
Justin Leidwanger is an Associate Professor of Classics at Stanford University with a courtesy appointment in Oceans at the Doerr School of Sustainability, specializing in Mediterranean maritime archaeology through fieldwork in southeast Sicily and southwest Turkey. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World from the University of Pennsylvania (2011) M.A. in Nautical Archaeology and Anthropology from Texas A&M University B.A. in History & Classical Studies from Loyola University Chicago Leidwanger's research centers on Mediterranean mobilities, maritime communities, and exchange systems from the Roman period through late antiquity, using shipwrecks and port sites to analyze socioeconomic dynamics. His work integrates ceramic analysis, port network studies, and digital heritage methods to explore ancient technologies of distribution and long-term maritime interactions. Recent publications reveal consistent focus on Roman/late antique maritime economies with growing emphasis on digital documentation (3D modeling, GIS) and contemporary relevance through migration studies. Key trends include transport amphorae standardization, underwater survey methodologies, and the intersection of ancient maritime heritage with modern migration patterns in the central Mediterranean. Leidwanger actively advises students in classical archaeology while leading major field projects including the Marzamemi 'church wreck' investigation (2013-2019) and ongoing 'U Mari research in Sicily. His work combines underwater survey, community-based archaeology, and heritage activism addressing both ancient tuna fishing traditions (mattanza) and contemporary migration routes. He directs the Maritime Archaeology and Digital Heritage Lab (MEDLab) at Stanford's Archaeology Center, which supports advanced digital modeling (photogrammetry, laser scanning, network analysis) and ceramic analysis (petrography, pXRF, computational morphometrics) for field research and museum collaborations.
Adam T. Smith is Distinguished Professor of Arts and Sciences in Anthropology at Cornell University, where he holds appointments in the Department of Anthropology, the Archaeology Program, and the Milstein Program in Technology & Humanity. He is a leading scholar in Eurasian archaeology, specializing in the South Caucasus, with a focus on the emergence of complex societies and the materiality of political authority. Smith is a co-founder of Project ArAGATS and leads Caucasus Heritage Watch, a pioneering initiative using satellite technology to monitor cultural heritage at risk. His educational background includes a Ph.D. and M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Arizona, an M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge, and a B.A. in Anthropology & Political Science from Brown University. Smith's research interests span archaeology, material culture, political and legal anthropology, heritage and museums, and the archaeology of sovereignty. His work combines theoretical inquiry with empirical fieldwork, exploring how objects, landscapes, and built environments shape political life from the Bronze Age to the present. He is particularly known for his work on the Urartian state, Bronze Age metaphysics, and the long-term political dynamics of the Armenian Highland. His recent publications reveal a strong trend in using archaeology to address contemporary issues of heritage destruction, collective memory, and cultural erasure, especially in conflict zones like Nagorno-Karabakh. The articles show a deep engagement with remote sensing, geophysical survey, and interdisciplinary methods to reconstruct past societies and protect endangered heritage. Fellow, Milstein Program in Technology and Humanity, Cornell University (2023–2025) Finalist, Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year, Social Sciences and Humanities (2023) Certificate of Communal Partnership, St. James AME Zion Church, Ithaca NY (2023) John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow (2010–2011) Fellow, Cornell University Society for the Humanities (2010–2011) Fellow, Howard Foundation (2006–2007) Fellow, Franke Institute for the Humanities, University of Chicago (2003–2004) National Endowment for the Humanities/American Councils for International Education Collaborative Research Fellow (2003) Fellow, Michigan Society of Fellows, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1997–1999) Smith advises graduate students, leads the Landscapes and Objects Laboratory, and directs major research initiatives including Project ArAGATS and the St. James AME Zion Community Excavations. His work has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, Wenner-Gren Foundation, National Geographic Society, and other leading institutions. He is actively engaged in public archaeology, policy advocacy, and community-based research, bridging academic scholarship with real-world impact.
Helle Vandkilde is a Professor at Aarhus University's Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies since 2009, with a Docent title at Lund University since 1999. Her work spans Bronze Age Europe, globalization studies, and metallurgy. Current roles: International board member at Kiel's 'Roots' program (2019–2025), Executive Board member of Independent Research Fund Denmark (2019–), Scientific Advisory Board of the National Museum of Denmark (2018–) Research focuses on Bronze Age metallurgy, transcultural warriorhood, prehistoric globalization, and violence. She integrates material culture analysis with theoretical frameworks. Scientific awards include: Doctor Philosophiae Honoris Causa (Lund University, 2019) The Prehistoric Society’s Europa Prize (2017) Ridder af Dannebrog (2014) She participates in peer review panels and committee work globally, emphasizing Bronze Age interconnectivity and cultural mobility.
Julia Ammerman Yebra is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Common Law within the Faculty of Law at the University of Seville. She holds a Doctorate from the University of Santiago de Compostela (2020) with a thesis titled "The right to one's voice as a right to personality" , supervised by Dra. María Paz García Rubio and Dr. Marta Otero Crespo. Her research focuses on intersections of civil law, family law, data protection, and AI ethics. Key interests include privacy rights in digital contexts (e.g., voice biometrics, metaverse regulation), legal frameworks for emerging technologies (AI/voice assistants), and gender perspectives in legal systems. She has pioneered projects linking legal education with journalism and digital literacy. Her recent work addresses legislative modernization of civil codes, consent mechanisms in digital contracts, and protections for minors' privacy rights (sharenting). She critiques judicial systems' gender biases, particularly regarding maternal rights and family law. Publications span 2025-2012, covering topics like the right to voice in AI contracts, metaverse privacy, and legal responses to pandemics. Her work bridges theoretical legal analysis with practical applications in education and technology governance.
Dr. Richard David Williams is a Reader in Music and South Asian Studies at SOAS University of London , where he works in the School of Arts and Department of Music . His research bridges musicology, cultural history, and religious studies, focusing on South Asian music's evolution during colonialism and early modernity. BA and MPhil in Theology and Modern South Asian Studies from the University of Oxford PhD in Music from King’s College London Williams' research investigates how music and sound interact with literature, religion, and multilingual environments across South Asia. His first book, The Scattered Court: Hindustani Music in Colonial Bengal (2023), reconstructs interregional musical dialogues between north India and Bengal, centering on the exiled Nawab Wajid ‘Ali Shah's influence. His second book explores Ragamala, an early-modern fusion of musical imagery with poetry, while collaborating with Professor Makoto Kitada on translating the Gulshan-e-‘Ishq epic. His recent publications trace global music historiography, courtesan performance, and sonic dimensions in Shi'ah and Vaishnava traditions. Williams supervises PhD candidates on diasporic music, film song poetics, and Sri Lankan Tamil musical dislocations. He has held a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Scientific Awards: Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Pam J. Crabtree is a Professor of Archaeology at New York University, specializing in zooarchaeology and medieval archaeology. She holds affiliations with the Center for the Study of Human Origins, the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, Medieval Studies, and the Kevorkian Center. Her research focuses on reconstructing past animal husbandry practices, hunting, and diets, with particular emphasis on early medieval Europe, the Near East, and later prehistoric societies. Crabtree is co-director of the Dún Ailinne excavations in Ireland and has participated in projects across Europe and the Near East, including Antwerp, Armenia, and Turkey. Crabtree earned her Ph.D. (1982) and M.A. (1975) from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. (1972) from Barnard College. Her work integrates zooarchaeological methods to investigate topics such as urbanization in medieval towns, the transition to agriculture, and ritual practices. Recent projects include studies of faunal remains in Antwerp, Kinik Höyük, and Kamyana Mohyla I (Ukraine). Crabtree has received numerous awards, including election to the International Council for Archaeozoology’s Committee of Honor (2018) and grants from the Rust Family Foundation and British Academy. Her publications span zooarchaeological analyses, medieval urbanization studies, and interdisciplinary volumes on European archaeology. She actively collaborates with international teams and mentors students through fieldwork and academic programs.
Derek Heng serves as Professor of History and Interim Chair of the Department of History at Northern Arizona University, specializing in pre-colonial and early modern Southeast Asian history with emphasis on maritime trade networks, Chinese historical interactions, and archaeological evidence from the 14th-18th centuries. Research Focus: His work centers on Southeast Asian commercial history , Chinese textual records of Melaka , and shipwreck archaeology as historical sources. He examines how maritime trade routes connected China with Southeast Asia, analyzing macro patterns in Ming and Qing dynasty records while reconstructing regional dynamics through material culture and archival evidence. His interdisciplinary approach bridges historical analysis with archaeological findings to understand pre-colonial South China Sea heritage. Publication Trends: Recent output (2022-2025) reveals concentrated scholarship on Southeast Asian trade within global contexts, particularly through contributions to the Oxford Encyclopedia of Asian Commercial History . Key themes include the integration of archaeological data with textual analysis, the evolution of Melaka as a commercial hub, and the reinterpretation of South China Sea history through pre-colonial lenses. This body of work demonstrates increasing methodological sophistication in synthesizing maritime archaeology with economic history.
Dr. Charlotte Steenbrugge is a Lecturer in Medieval Literature at the School of English, University of Sheffield . She specializes in medieval English drama, interregional comparisons of Dutch and French drama, and the relationship between sermons and theatrical performance. PhD from University of Cambridge (2009) Former Marie Curie Fellow at Bristol and Toronto Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at Sheffield (2015–present) Her research explores historical scepticism in medieval texts and the didactic aims of drama versus sermons. Recent work focuses on theatricality, authority, and audience engagement in medieval performances. She supervises PhD students in medieval literature and teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules on medieval English language and literature. Scientific contributions include publications on moral plays, biblical adaptations, and comparative studies of the Vice/Sinnekens characters. She actively participates in medieval drama performance projects as a director and scholar.
Dr. Ana Echevarria Arsuaga is a leading scholar in Medieval History at Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Madrid. She serves as Head of the Department of Medieval History and Paleography since 2020, following academic progression from Assistant Professor (2003-2008) to Tenured Associate Professor (2008-2020). Her international experience includes fellowships at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (2011) and University of Constance (2015). Current: Full Professor & Department Head at UNED Previous: Academic posts at U. Constance, Ruhr-Universität Education: Degree in Geography and History from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, specializing in Medieval History. PhD in Medieval History from University of Edinburgh on 'The Perception of Muslims in Fifteenth Century Spain' (supervised by Angus MacKay). Postdoctoral research at UNED under José Luis Martín Rodríguez. Research Focus: Specializing in Iberian religious minorities (Mudejars, Moriscos, Mozarabs) and queenship studies. Her work examines legal frameworks for minority communities, interfaith dynamics in medieval Mediterranean, and cross-cultural knowledge transmission. Key projects include EU-funded 'Islamic Legacy' network and Gerda Henkel-funded 'Christian Society under Muslim Rule'. Academic Leadership: Serves on editorial boards of Medieval Encounters , Al-Masaq , and Anales de la Universidad de Alicante . Organized major conferences like the Society for the Medieval Mediterranean (2022) and RELMIN-ERC Advanced Grant Project (2014). Collaborates with leading scholars across Europe and Israel on religious minorities and queenship. Scientific Awards: 2023: Principal Investigator, 'Religious Minorities and Specialized Labour' (Spanish Ministry of Science & Innovation) 2020: Gerda Henkel Stiftung Grant for Canon Collections research 2018: International Recognition for 'Religious Boundaries' publication 2008: Al-Babtain Foundation Award for al-Andalus research Academic Contributions: Supervised 4 completed PhD theses and mentored 9 researchers. Co-organized 7 major international conferences. Peer reviewer for 15+ international journals. Elected member of the Academy of Europe (2023).
