Professor Helen Finch (University of Leeds) is a leading scholar in German Literature , with a focus on Holocaust Studies , Queer Memory , and German-Jewish Cultural Production . Affiliated with the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies and the Centre for Jewish Studies , she co-leads the LCS Queer Area Studies Network and contributes to equality initiatives through the LGBT+ staff network . Research: Holocaust representation in German works, queer identity in postwar literature, transnational memory studies, curriculum design in German studies Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014) Academic Output : Her 15 most recent publications span Holocaust poetics , queer life writing , translation ethics , and Sebaldian intertextuality , with a particular focus on intersections between trauma , identity , and intergenerational testimony . Supervision : Currently guides PhD research on topics including transnational transphobia , queer art practices , and LGBTQ+ cross-cultural representation . Her students explore areas from German exile photography to postcolonial queer narratives .
Rosalind Gill is a prominent Professor at Goldsmiths, University of London, with a distinguished career spanning gender studies, media studies, and cultural studies. Her extensive publication record demonstrates leadership in critical analyses of postfeminism, neoliberalism, and digital culture. Gill's research interests focus on the intersections of gender, media, and neoliberal subjectivity, with particular attention to postfeminist discourse, digital culture, embodiment, and creative labor. Her work critically examines how contemporary media cultures shape gendered subjectivities, with significant contributions to understanding the 'postfeminist sensibility' as a dominant cultural framework. She has pioneered research on the affective dimensions of neoliberalism, particularly how it shapes women's experiences of confidence, self-care, and embodiment in digital environments. Analysis of Gill's recent publications reveals a consistent scholarly trajectory examining the psychological and affective dimensions of contemporary culture. Her work increasingly focuses on digital embodiment, social media practices, and the 'editable self,' exploring how visual culture and digital technologies reshape bodily experiences and self-perception. Gill's research demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of how neoliberal imperatives intertwine with postfeminist discourse to create new forms of gendered subjectivity. Gill has produced significant scholarly collaborations, particularly with researchers like Shani Orgad, Julia Coffey, and Akane Kanai. Her influential book 'Confidence Culture' (2022, co-authored with Orgad) offers a critical analysis of how confidence has become a moral imperative within contemporary neoliberal feminism. Her academic contributions extend to professional activities, including submissions of evidence to UK Parliamentary committees on employment rights, demonstrating her engagement with policy-relevant research. Gill's work consistently bridges theoretical sophistication with attention to contemporary social issues, making significant contributions to feminist scholarship and cultural studies.
Dr. Philippa Carter is University Assistant Professor in the History of Medicine and Health before 1800 at the University of Cambridge's Department of History and Philosophy of Science. She serves as an Affiliated Lecturer in the Faculty of History and is a Fellow and Director of Studies at Sidney Sussex College. Additionally, she manages the MPhil in Health, Medicine and Society program. Her educational background focuses on early modern European history with specialization in medical and intellectual history. Her research spans a wide range of interests including: Early understandings of mental and physical illness Bodies and embodiment in historical contexts Mind/body relations in premodern thought Disability and visible difference Disease categorization and diagnosis across historical periods Boundaries between natural philosophy, magic, and religion Sciences of the psyche Dr. Carter's scholarly work examines premodern Aristotelian understandings of 'nature,' particularly in the processes of 'generation' and 'corruption.' Her research bridges cultural history, medical history, gender studies, and the history of science, with particular attention to how historical societies conceptualized bodily experience and mental states. She has published significant work on childbirth and madness, gender and witchcraft, and is currently completing a monograph on madness, brain disease, and the soul in early modern England. Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the intersection of gender, medicine, and social history in early modern contexts. The articles reveal trends toward examining marginalized historical experiences, particularly women's health and mental states, while connecting historical medical concepts to contemporary understandings. Among her notable scholarly contributions: 'Childbirth, "Madness", and Bodies in History' (History Workshop Journal, 2021) 'Work, Gender and Witchcraft in Early Modern England' (Gender & History, 2023) "Madness Embodied" (forthcoming in The Bloomsbury Cultural History of Madness) Dr. Carter teaches on Early Science and Medicine at the Department of HPS, Part I History Tripos Outline Paper 4 ('Early Modern Britain'), and Part II, Paper 11 ('Early Medicine'). She serves as Associate Editor for the digital humanities project 'Reading Early Medicine' and is actively involved with Cambridge Reproduction research initiatives. Her work contributes significantly to interdisciplinary approaches to historical medical understanding, connecting past and present perspectives on reproductive health, mental illness, and bodily experience.
Dr Syamala Roberts serves as an Affiliated Lecturer in the German Section of the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge and holds a Fellowship with Director of Studies responsibilities at Emmanuel College. Her academic profile spans teaching German and Comparative Literatures from the 18th century to contemporary periods, alongside specialized supervision in undergraduate papers Ge1, Ge5, Ge6, and Ge12. Her educational foundation encompasses German, French, and Comparative Literatures studied across the University of Cambridge, University of Paris, and Humboldt University of Berlin. This multilingual background informs her interdisciplinary scholarship. Roberts' research investigates Modernism through intersecting lenses of Sound Studies, Media Theory, and Art History, with particular emphasis on auditory representation in early 20th-century German texts. Her doctoral work identified emerging 'aural imaginaries' in Rilke, Kafka, and Thomas Mann, while current postdoctoral research examines Indo-German cultural cross-fertilization during the interwar period. This includes analyzing reciprocal intellectual exchanges between German-speaking intellectuals and pre-independence Indian thinkers through literary and artistic production. Recent publications demonstrate consistent thematic focus across German literary studies and cross-cultural analysis, particularly in journals like the Publications of the English Goethe Society and Austrian Studies. Key contributions address Kafka's auditory poetics, comparative studies of Mann's Death in Venice with Rilke's elegies, and critical assessments of German-Indian cultural intersections. No major scientific awards are documented in available sources. As Director of Studies, Roberts provides undergraduate supervision and encourages Year Abroad Project proposals aligned with her research interests. Her postdoctoral work receives institutional support through an Emmanuel College research fellowship.
Dr Marion Kant is a Lecturer in the Department of German at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics. Her work bridges musicology and dance history, focusing on body politics, the history and aesthetics of performance (theatre, opera, dance, ballet), German-Jewish relations, Nazi ideology, and anti-fascist exile. Her research explores the intersection of physical culture, nationalism, and avant-garde arts. She is currently editing a six-volume Cultural History of Dance for Bloomsbury, examining German nationalism and movement concepts from the 19th and 20th centuries. Her publications span German physical cultures, nationalist ideologies, and the role of dance in exile communities. Key Research Themes: Body aesthetics, German-Jewish assimilation, Nazi cultural policies, avant-garde movements, and transnational exile networks. Notable Projects: Analysis of Nazi-era dance policies, documentation of anti-fascist artists in Los Angeles, and historical studies of German physical cultures.
Laura Moretti serves as Professor of Early Modern Japanese Literature and Culture at the University of Cambridge, holding dual roles as University Teaching Officer in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and Official Fellow at Emmanuel College since 2012. Her academic journey began with undergraduate studies at Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, followed by two years of research at the University of Tokyo, culminating in a 2003 PhD from her Italian alma mater. Prior to Cambridge, she taught nine years at Ca’ Foscari and two years at Newcastle University. Professor Moretti's research pioneers interdisciplinary approaches to early modern Japanese culture (17th-19th centuries), uniquely bridging literature, art history, and book history. Her groundbreaking work on graphic narratives and ludic traditions challenges canonical narratives by recovering marginalized textual forms through rigorous analysis of woodblock prints, board games, and archival materials. Current projects explore the intersection of games and literature in Edo-period Japan. Her publication trajectory reveals consistent innovation across visual and textual domains, with recent works like the 2024 co-edited volume on Kusazōshi demonstrating deep engagement with publishing history and visual culture. This scholarship consistently examines how popular literature functioned within Edo-period social and economic contexts. Her teaching excellence has been recognized through prestigious awards: Pilkington Prize for contribution to excellence in teaching CUSU student-led teaching award (2019) for Undergraduate Supervisor Professor Moretti actively mentors postgraduate researchers in Japanese premodern literature, encouraging interdisciplinary projects connecting visual culture and book history. While specific grant funding isn't detailed in the source, her sustained publication record indicates robust institutional support for her archival research at Cambridge.
Maria Reyes Baztán serves as College Assistant Professor in Spanish at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, where she is also Jean Sybil Dannatt Fellow in Modern and Medieval Languages and Director of Studies MML at Girton College. Her academic journey began with undergraduate studies at the Universitat de València, followed by postgraduate work at the University of Warwick where she completed both her MA and PhD. Dr. Reyes Baztán's research critically examines the intersection of nationalism and anticolonialism, with particular focus on the Basque Country and Cuba. Her groundbreaking work challenges Eurocentric approaches to nationalism by highlighting transnational ideas that emerged outside Europe. She is currently completing her first monograph under contract with Liverpool University Press, which explores anticolonial language and rhetoric within Basque nationalism from the 1890s to 1930s. Her additional research on food and nation-building has garnered media attention from major outlets including The Times. Her scholarly contributions span multiple publications including articles in the Journal of Contemporary History (2023) and Journal of Latin American and Iberian Studies (2021), with forthcoming work in the Routledge Companion to Language and Food. Her research on Cuban history has been informed by fieldwork in Eastern Cuba, reflecting her commitment to both theoretical and experiential understanding of the cultures she studies. As an educator, Dr. Reyes Baztán has taught Spanish and Latin American culture across several UK institutions including the University of Nottingham (2021-22) and University of Reading (2022-23), where her exceptional teaching was recognized through student nomination for a teaching award. Her teaching expertise covers multiple course papers including SP1, SP4, and SP5 within the Cambridge curriculum.
Julian Arato is a Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School, where he holds multiple leadership positions: Faculty Director of the SJD Program, Faculty Director of the Center for International and Comparative Law, and Director of the Program on Law and the Global Economy, which he founded. His research spans public international law, international economic law, private law theory, and international arbitration. Education: Columbia University, BA University of Cambridge, MPhil New York University, JD/LLM Columbia University, JSD Research Focus: Professor Arato's work critically examines intersections between private law concepts and international investment frameworks, with emphasis on arbitration mechanisms, corporate structures in global governance, treaty interpretation, and sustainable development. His scholarship often challenges conventional approaches in international economic law through private law theory lenses. Publications: His research demonstrates consistent focus on institutional evolution in international law, particularly through prize-winning analyses of investment arbitration frameworks. Recent works explore pandemic governance, corporate adaptability in international legal systems, and constitutional transformations within international organizations. Awards: 2019 Francis Deák Prize (American Journal of International Law) ICCA Guillermo Aguilar-Alvarez Memorial Prize Professional Leadership: He serves as Special Adviser to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and participates in United Nations Commission on International Trade Law reforms. Professor Arato holds editorial roles at the American Journal of International Law and European Journal of International Law, and has led multiple initiatives within the American Society of International Law.
Mark Lance is a Professor in the Philosophy Department at Georgetown University and co-founded the Program on Justice and Peace , where he also holds a professorial appointment. His academic career includes a three-year post-doctoral fellowship at Syracuse University after earning his Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh and a B.A. from the Ohio State University . Education Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh B.A., Ohio State University Lance's research spans Philosophy of Language , Epistemology , and Metaphysics , with a focus on Normative Pragmatics , Anarchist Theory , and Social Justice Activism . He collaborates with Rebecca Kukla on projects examining intersubjective norms, such as in his work ‘Yo!’ and ‘Lo!’: The Pragmatic Topography of the Space of Reasons (Harvard University Press, 2009), and engages with Wilfrid Sellars ' legacy in works like Placing in a Space of Norms (2008). His recent Google Scholar publications (2024–2020) highlight intersections of Gender Ethics , Mutual Aid , and Pragmatic Normativity . For instance, Telling Gender (2023) bridges linguistic pragmatics and ethical ascription, while Anarchist Responses to a Pandemic (2020) analyzes collective action during crises. The Truth Telling Project further reflects his commitment to anti-racist organizing and education. notable works include: Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli (2013) on second-person normative calls. The Grammar of Meaning (2002), a foundational text on linguistic normativity. Defending Moral Particularism (2006), challenging theoretical ethical frameworks.
Wei-Cheng Lin is Associate Professor of Art History and the College at the University of Chicago , specializing in Chinese art and architecture. He serves as Faculty Director of the Dispersed Chinese Art Digitalization Project , sits on the steering committee of the Center for the Art of East Asia , and acts as Architectural Studies Advisor. His office is located in CWAC 268 with weekly office hours on Wednesdays. Educational background details are not explicitly provided in the text; however, he held an appointment as Assistant Professor of East Asian Art and Architecture at Iowa State University during 2006–2007. Lin’s research interrogates the intersections of visual and material culture in medieval Chinese Buddhist art and architecture and the ritual dimensions of Chinese funerary practices . Current book projects include Performative Architecture of China , which explores how architecture enacts meaning through historical performance, and Necessarily Incomplete: Fragments of Chinese Artifacts , which investigates the active roles of fragmentary artifacts in shaping multivalent cultural significance. Across more than twenty publications, Lin’s scholarship ranges from detailed studies of Mount Wutai and Dunhuang to theoretical inquiries into architectural historiography , materiality , and contemporary Chinese art . His work bridges art history, architectural history, religious studies, and digital humanities. Grants & Digital Initiatives: Faculty Director, Dispersed Chinese Art Digitalization Project (DCADP) — supported by the Cyrus Tang Foundation Manages DCADP publication series, including Beijing Zhihua Temple (2024) and Exhibiting East Asian Art in a Global Context (2025, co-edited with Chelsea Foxwell) Laboratories & Teams: Lin leads collaborative efforts through the Center for the Art of East Asia and the UChicago Center in Beijing , organizing exhibitions, international conferences, and digital humanities workshops that integrate art-historical research with cutting-edge visualization technologies.
Duran Icels serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Western Languages and Literatures at Kirikkale University's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, specializing in French language and literature studies. His academic career spans appointments at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (1997), Hacettepe University (2000-2007; 2014-2017), and current service at Kirikkale University since 2008, including roles as Erasmus-Farabi Coordinator (2009-2013) and Deputy Director of the School of Foreign Languages (2013-2016). Educational background: BA in French Language and Literature, Hacettepe University (1994) MA in French Language and Literature, Hacettepe University (1999) PhD in French Language and Literature, Hacettepe University (2005) Research focuses on French literary traditions, cross-cultural comparative analysis, and Turkish-French poetic dialogues. His scholarship examines structural and thematic intersections between Francophone and Turkish literary canons, with particular emphasis on translation theory and poetic form evolution across cultural boundaries. Academic leadership includes developing international exchange programs through Erasmus-Farabi coordination and administrative oversight as Deputy Director of Foreign Languages. He has supervised master's theses in translation studies while maintaining active bilingual (Turkish-French) scholarly engagement.
Polemis Dionysios serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Maritime Studies at the University of Piraeus, Greece, within the School of Shipping and Industry. His academic profile demonstrates a strong commitment to maritime education and research in the Greek academic context, contributing to one of the Mediterranean's leading institutions for maritime studies. Professor Polemis specializes in International Economics and Maritime International Trade, with research focusing on the intersection of global trade patterns and maritime transportation systems. His scholarly work examines how geopolitical shifts, economic policy uncertainty, and market dynamics impact shipping operations, particularly in the LNG sector. His research interests span shipping economics, maritime transport economics, port management, and the geopolitical dimensions of international maritime trade routes. His publications reveal a consistent focus on analyzing market patterns, regulatory compliance, and sustainability challenges within the maritime sector. His extensive publication record, spanning from 2001 to anticipated 2025 publications, demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the maritime sector from operational, economic, and policy perspectives. Recent work shows increasing attention to emerging technologies in shipping and the evolving geopolitical landscape affecting global trade routes, particularly regarding LNG transportation and strategic maritime chokepoints like the Suez Canal. As an academic in the Department of Maritime Studies at the University of Piraeus, Professor Polemis contributes to the educational mission of an institution with a strong tradition in maritime education, situated in Piraeus—one of the Mediterranean's most important port cities. His work bridges theoretical economic concepts with practical applications in the shipping industry, providing valuable insights for both academic and industry stakeholders.
Steven Rings serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Music and Director of Professional Development at the University of Chicago. His scholarship centers on popular music analysis, vocal studies, and transformational theory frameworks, with significant contributions to understanding Bob Dylan's work and Black experimental music traditions. Education: PhD in Music, Yale University (2006) Rings' research explores the intersection of musical cognition, cultural context, and performance practice. His work bridges theoretical musicology with vernacular traditions, examining vocal expression across genres from Dylan's protest songs to Albert Ayler's free jazz. Current projects investigate tonal hearing models and the relationship between song structures and recorded performances. His publications reveal consistent focus on analytical frameworks for popular music, particularly transformational approaches to vocal delivery and historical performance practices. Rings frequently connects technical music theory with broader cultural narratives, especially regarding racial identity in experimental music. Scientific Awards: 2014 Outstanding Publication Award (SMT Popular Music Interest Group) Society for Music Theory Award for 'Tonality and Transformation' Society for Music Theory Award for 'Oxford Handbook of Critical Concepts in Music Theory' Rings secured Mellon Foundation funding for a collaborative project with Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche, reimagining musical categories of voice and groove. He chairs the University of Chicago Society of Fellows and co-founded City Elementary, a therapeutic school in Hyde Park. His teaching spans undergraduate theory courses, graduate seminars on Black experimental music, and College Core musical interpretation classes. Additional roles include series editor for Oxford Studies in Music Theory and former Professor of Guitar at Portugal's Conservatório Regional de Angra do Heroísmo, where he performed extensively as a classical guitarist prior to his music theory career.
Walter D. Penrose, Jr. is a Professor at San Diego State University specializing in the History of Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greek, Hellenistic, and South Asian contexts. His work also explores the Reception of Classics in modern periods, Disability Studies, and Ancient Religions. Penrose holds a Ph.D. in History from the City University of New York (2006) and a B.S. in Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach (1988). His research interests span interdisciplinary topics including gender diversity in classical thought, queer historiography, and cross-cultural comparisons of ancient societies. Penrose has published widely on topics such as Amazons in classical and modern media, disability discourse in antiquity, and homoeroticism in South Asian history. His 2016 monograph Postcolonial Amazons is a foundational text in comparative studies of gendered heroism in Greek and Sanskrit literature. Penrose’s publications include over a dozen book chapters and journal articles, with recent contributions analyzing gendered power dynamics in Hellenistic royal courts (2021), visual representations of Amazons in Troy adaptations (2022), and the intersection of disability and identity in ancient Greece (2015). His pedagogical work emphasizes inclusive approaches to teaching challenging classical topics like homophobia and gender variance. While no specific grants or awards are noted, Penrose’s work consistently bridges classical studies with modern interdisciplinary frameworks, contributing to fields such as queer studies, disability studies, and world history. His research continues to explore marginalized voices in ancient texts and their contemporary receptions.
Sibel Adali is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s School of Science. She joined RPI in 1996 after earning her PhD from the University of Maryland. Her academic roles include Associate Head and Graduate Program Director of the Computer Science Department (2015-2018) and currently serving as Associate Dean of Science for Research and Graduate Studies at RPI. She teaches foundational Computer Science courses in problem-solving and databases. Education: PhD from University of Maryland. Adali’s research focuses on trust modeling, social networks, information retrieval, and semantic analysis. She has led cross-cutting projects addressing cognitive science intersections with network theory, including roles as ARL-lead CTA Trust Coordinator and SCRNARC Associate Director. Her work explores misinformation mitigation, semantic shifts in language, and expert identification in social media ecosystems. Recent publications highlight her contributions to fake news detection, semantic change modeling, and AI-driven misinformation interventions. Her research trends emphasize interdisciplinary approaches combining machine learning, computational linguistics, and behavioral studies. Scientific Awards: Trustees' Outstanding Teacher Award (2015), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s highest teaching honor. Adali actively collaborates on grants and projects through research centers including MOCA, IDEA, SCNARC, and ARL CTA partnerships. She advises students on advanced computational research and participates in military communications technology initiatives.
