Bliss Cua Lim is a Professor at the Cinema Studies Institute, University of Toronto, specializing in Philippine cinema, film archiving, and queer theory. She is the author of The Archival Afterlives of Philippine Cinema (2024) and Translating Time: Cinema, the Fantastic, and Temporal Critique (2009), which was a John Hope Franklin Book Prize recipient. Education: PhD in Cinema Studies, New York University; BA in English, University of the Philippines, Diliman Her research explores intersections of cinema, folklore, and political histories, with a focus on archival fragility, transnational horror genres, and camp aesthetics in Southeast Asian media. Recent work analyzes the crisis of state-run film archives and the role of folklore in queer transmedia storytelling. Key trends in her publications include: Queering the Filipinx Zombie Movie (2025) and Cosmopolitan Animisms (2022), which examine genre hybridity and postcolonial spectralities. Her 2013 writings on Philippine archival advocacy and 2015 essays on queer aswang narratives highlight institutional and cultural challenges in media preservation. Scientific Awards: Selected John Hope Franklin Book Prize (2009) Lim serves on the Editorial Collective of Camera Obscura and the Advisory Board of Plaridel: A Philippine Journal of Communication . Her teaching includes courses on Queer Asian Cinemas, Sound and Animation, and Film Cultures II.
Elliott Ash is an Associate Professor of Law, Economics, and Data Science at ETH Zurich's Center for Law & Economics. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics and J.D. from Columbia University, a B.A. in Economics, Government, and Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin, and an LL.M. in International Criminal Law from the University of Amsterdam. His research focuses on empirical legal studies using econometrics, NLP, and ML, examining topics like judicial behavior, legislative impact, and AI-driven governance. He has been funded by the ERC, Swiss NSF, and others. Research Interests: Elliott explores automation of legal decisions, text-as-data analysis in law, and the intersection of AI with legal systems. He develops tools like BallotBot and LePaRD to enhance legal transparency and public understanding. His work bridges law, economics, and computer science, with publications in top journals like the American Economic Journal and Review of Economics and Statistics . Teaching: Courses include Building a Robot Judge , Natural Language Processing for Law , and Big Data for Public Policy . He co-organizes the Zurich Workshop in AI+Economics and Monash-Warwick-Zurich Text-as-Data Workshops. Awards: European Research Council Starting Grant, Swiss National Science Foundation Grant, and multiple grants from U.S. and Swiss institutions. His work has been featured in NPR , VoxEU , and Georgetown Law Journal . Labs/Teams: Leads the Swiss AI Initiative's Human-AI Alignment team, collaborates with the CEPR on Political Economy research, and serves as an Economic Journal Associate Editor.
Matteo Bonotti is an Associate Professor of Politics & International Relations at Monash University, previously teaching at Cardiff University, Queen’s University Belfast, and the University of Edinburgh. His research focuses on democratic theory, political liberalism, linguistic justice, free speech, civility, and food justice, addressing ethical pluralism and cultural diversity in modern societies. He has published in journals like the American Political Science Review and authored/co-authored books including Partisanship and Political Liberalism in Diverse Societies (Oxford UP, 2017) and Healthy Eating Policy and Political Philosophy: A Public Reason Approach (Oxford UP, 2022). Bonotti leads projects on disinformation in Southeast Asia, linguistic justice among Italian-Australians, and civic education. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to justice, peace, and sustainable consumption. Education: Previous academic roles at Cardiff, Queen’s Belfast, and Edinburgh universities. Research Themes: Ethical pluralism, democratic legitimacy, public reason, and policy narratives. Recent Projects: ASEAN Disinformation Index, Language & Political Participation in Australia, and Civic Virtue in Polarized Societies. His articles explore topics like civility in environmental politics, far-right network dynamics, and gastrospaces as ethical spaces. Collaborations span international scholars across political theory, sociology, and philosophy. Bonotti actively engages with public discourse through media commentaries on civility, pandemic narratives, and free speech debates.
Alexey Vladimirovich Vdovin is a Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE), working within the Faculty of Humanities and School of Philological Sciences. He began his tenure at HSE in 2012 and has accumulated 15 years of scientific and teaching experience. His academic journey includes a Doctor of Philology degree from HSE (2023), a PhD from the University of Tartu (2011), and his initial degree in 'Russian language and literature' from Vyatka State Humanitarian University (2007). He has held significant roles including Deputy Dean for Science at the Faculty of Humanities (2018-2020) and serves on numerous academic councils and committees. Vdovin's educational background demonstrates both depth and international perspective. After completing his undergraduate studies at Vyatka State Humanitarian University in 2007, he pursued doctoral studies at the University of Tartu, where he earned his PhD in 2011 with a dissertation on 'The concept of 'chapter of literature' in Russian criticism of the 1830-1860s.' His academic development has been enriched by numerous international experiences, including visiting researcher positions at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge (2019), Jordan Center at New York University (2017), and multiple research stays at Humboldt University in Berlin through the Aurora Erasmus Mundus program. Professor Vdovin's research focuses on Russian intellectual history, the history of ideas, the Russian Empire, Russian literature of the 19th century, and nationalism studies. His work particularly examines the formation of the Russian literary canon, representations of peasants in literature, and the relationship between literature and society. He has authored approximately 80 articles and 4 monographs on 19th-century Russian literature, culture, and criticism, with works on major figures like Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Goncharov, Belinsky, Chernyshevsky, Dobrolyubov, and Nekrasov. His recent book 'Monsters at the Threshold: Dracula, Frankenstein, Viy and Other Literary Monsters' (2024) demonstrates his expanding interest in literary archetypes and cultural phenomena. Vdovin has received numerous awards and recognitions for his scholarly work, including the Moscow Government Prize for young scientists (2017), multiple 'Best Teacher' awards (2013-2015, 2017-2024), and recognition as a winner of HSE's competition for best Russian-language scientific works (2022, 2024). He has also received various letters of gratitude from HSE administration, the Faculty of Humanities, and the School of Philology for his contributions to academic life. As an advisor, Vdovin has supervised numerous student research projects, including Smirnova T.V.'s 2014 master's thesis on 'Representation of 'Russianness' and 'Otherness' in Russian essays of the 1840s.' He has also served as a curator for HSE's Personnel Reserve Program at the School of Philological Sciences and has been actively involved in dissertation councils. His research has been supported by significant grants, including a 2024-2025 Russian Science Foundation grant 'The Genre of 'Peasant Life Story' in Russian Literature Before 1861: Poetics, Plots, Socio-Cultural Functions' (No 24-28-00184) and a 2018-2020 RFBR grant on 'State and Literary Institutions: From Peter I's Reforms to the 'Great Reforms.' Professor Vdovin is actively engaged in academic communities beyond HSE, serving as editor-in-chief of the HSE preprint series 'Literary Studies' and participating in the Big Project 'Literature and Society: An Experience of Sociocultural Description.' He is also involved in public scholarship, frequently giving public lectures through platforms like 'Arzamas,' 'Postnauka,' and 'Stradarium,' and appearing on the 'Observer' television program (Culture channel). Since 2015, he has been a mentor at Maya Kucherskaya's Creative Writing School, bridging academic scholarship with creative practice.
Barry Naughton is the So Kwan Lok Chair of Chinese International Affairs at the School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS), University of California, San Diego, where he has been a faculty member since 1988 and was appointed to his named professorship in 1998. As a globally recognized authority on China's economic transformation, his work bridges academic rigor and policy relevance through decades of analysis of market reforms, industrial development, and international economic relations. His academic foundation includes: Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University (1986) M.A. in International Relations from Yale University (1979) B.A. in Chinese Language and Literature from the University of Washington (1975) Naughton's research centers on China's transition from planned to market economy, with emphasis on industrial restructuring, foreign trade dynamics, and regional development disparities. His scholarship uniquely connects historical analysis of reform milestones with contemporary policy challenges, particularly examining how state-market interactions shape technological advancement and global economic integration. This dual focus on institutional evolution and sectoral transformation has established him as a critical interpreter of China's development model for both academic and policy audiences. Analysis of his 2020-2024 publications reveals a decisive shift toward examining China's industrial policy architecture and state capitalism mechanisms. Key thematic clusters include the conceptualization of 'Grand Steerage' in state-economy relations, the restructuring of science-technology systems, and the sectoral implementation of industrial policies. These works collectively document China's evolving governance approach—from market liberalization to targeted state direction—while analyzing implications for global trade and innovation ecosystems. His scholarly recognition includes: Ohira Memorial Prize for 'Growing Out of the Plan: Chinese Economic Reform, 1978-1993' (1996) Administrative leadership has been integral to Naughton's career, serving as Associate Dean of GPS (1992-1995, 2001-2003) and Chair of UCSD's Chinese Studies Program (1998-2000). His policy engagement extends through the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (1998-2003) and U.S. academic committees on Chinese studies. Current research examines regional growth patterns and foreign investment linkages while completing a new edition of his seminal textbook 'The Chinese Economy: Transitions and Growth,' which remains the field's authoritative reference. Though not leading a formal laboratory, Naughton shapes discourse through China Leadership Monitor's quarterly economic assessments and collaborative networks like the edited volume 'State Capitalism, Institutional Adaptation and the Chinese Miracle' (2015), which mobilized leading scholars to analyze China's institutional innovation within global capitalism.
Margaret E. Roberts is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego. She co-directs the China Data Lab at the 21st Century China Center and serves as an affiliate at the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. Her academic appointments reflect her interdisciplinary approach combining political science, statistics, and computational methods. University of California, San Diego, Department of Political Science (Current) Co-director, China Data Lab at the 21st Century China Center Affiliate, UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation Roberts earned her PhD in Government from Harvard University (2014), MS in Statistics from Stanford University (2009), and BA in International Relations and Economics from Stanford University (2009). Her educational background bridges political science, statistics, and computational methods, forming the foundation for her interdisciplinary research approach. Professor Roberts' research focuses on the intersection of political methodology and the politics of information, with specific expertise in automated content analysis and the politics of censorship and propaganda in China. Her work employs innovative methods including social media analysis, online experiments, and large-scale text analysis to understand how censorship and propaganda influence information access and political beliefs. She has made significant contributions to text-as-data methodologies, developing tools like the Structural Topic Model (stm) R package that have become widely used in social science research. Roberts' research portfolio demonstrates consistent focus on authoritarian information control, particularly in China, while expanding into broader applications of text analysis in political science. Her publications span top journals in political science, computer science, and interdisciplinary fields, reflecting the cross-disciplinary nature of her work. Goldsmith Book Award Best Book Award in the Human Rights Section Best Book Award in Information Technology and Politics Section Best Book Award of the last decade in the Political Communication Section of the American Political Science Association Chancellor's Associates Endowed Chair at UCSD Foreign Affairs Best Books of 2018 Professor Roberts has secured significant research funding supporting her work on Chinese censorship, propaganda, and text analysis methodologies. Her research has practical applications for understanding digital authoritarianism, content moderation, and the development of computational tools for social science research. She has mentored numerous students and collaborators, contributing to the next generation of scholars working at the intersection of political science and computational methods. Roberts also leads the China Data Lab, which serves as a hub for research on Chinese politics and society using digital methods.
Dr. Melanie Brunner is a Lecturer in Medieval Studies at the School of History, University of Leeds, and has served as Editorial Director of the International Medieval Bibliography since October 2024. She studied at the University of Augsburg and the University of Edinburgh before completing her part-time PhD at the University of Leeds (2006). Her roles at Leeds include Project Editor of the IMB (2007–present) and teaching in Medieval Studies (2013–present). Education MA in Medieval History, Modern History, and English Language, University of Augsburg PhD in Medieval Studies, University of Leeds (part-time) Melanie's research focuses on late medieval ecclesiastical and religious history, particularly the intersections of theology, canon law, and papal administration. Her work explores the mendicant orders (especially Franciscans), voluntary poverty, religious reform, and papal court dynamics in Avignon (1305–1378). She has contributed to collaborative projects such as Imitation: Mechanismen eines kulturellen Prinzips im Mittelalter (DFG-funded) and Stilus Curiae (DFG), and previously participated in the EU COST Action New Communities of Interpretation . Her recent publications analyze decision-making in the Avignon papal curia, Franciscan polemics, and ecclesiastical authority structures. She supervises PhD students in areas including mendicant orders, bishop administration, and medieval religious discourse, often in co-supervision with colleagues.
María Rivera Maulucci is the Ann Whitney Olin Professor of Education and serves as the Education Program Director/Chair at Barnard College, Columbia University. She is a proud alumna of Barnard (Class of 1988) and has been a faculty member since 2004. Her work centers on urban education, science pedagogy, and teacher development with a strong commitment to equity and social justice. Education: BS, Barnard College, Columbia University MFS, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies M.Phil, Teachers College, Columbia University Ph.D., Teachers College, Columbia University Her research focuses on how teachers learn to teach for social justice, emphasizing the role of language, identity, and emotions in teacher development. She employs qualitative research and evaluation methods to explore transformative pedagogical practices in urban science education. Her scholarship bridges formal and informal learning contexts and investigates the interplay between teacher agency and structural constraints. Her recent publications and presentations highlight a sustained focus on equity, critical science inquiry, teacher identity, and professional development. She has contributed extensively to journals such as Journal of Research in Science Teaching and Cultural Studies of Science Education , and has authored chapters on social justice, identity, and assessment in science education. Scientific Awards: Barnard College Emily Gregory Teaching Award (2018) National Association for Research in Science Teaching Equity and Ethics Scholar (2007) She is the Principal Investigator of the NSF-funded Barnard College Robert Noyce Teacher Education Scholars Program, which supports future science teachers in urban schools. She advises students and collaborates with national organizations, including the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Association for Science Teacher Education, and American Educational Research Association. Her teaching includes courses such as Science in the City , Urban School Practicum , and Performance Assessment of Teaching . She is actively engaged in professional development initiatives and has led workshops on family engineering nights, multicultural pedagogy, and social justice in science education. Her lab and programmatic work centers on the Noyce Scholars Program, which functions as a living laboratory for preparing socially conscious science educators.
Mrinalini Sinha is the Alice Freeman Palmer Professor of History and Professor of English Language and Literature at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on Colonial India, the British Empire, World History, and South Asian Studies with particular attention to Colonialism, Imperialism, Global Studies, and Women's Studies. She is affiliated with the Center for South Asian Studies and the International Institute. Dr. Sinha holds a Master's degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and a PhD from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Her work bridges historiography, gender studies, and postcolonial theory, examining themes such as nationalism, colonial governance, and feminist movements in South Asia. Recent publications explore oral histories in Pakistan, gendered nationalism, and contested colonial reforms like the Ilbert Bill controversy. Her academic contributions include seminal works on colonial masculinity, the intersection of feminism and nationalism, and critiques of imperial social formations. She actively engages with global debates on empire, race, and the legacies of colonialism through her teaching and research.
Dag Henrik Tuastad is a Professor of Middle East Studies at the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages (IKOS) at the University of Oslo. His research focuses on kinship dynamics in Palestinian politics, rebel governance (notably Hamas rule in Gaza 2007–2023), political representation crises, and the intersection of sports and politics in the Middle East. Current projects include senior research at Football and Religion in the Middle East (FORM) , funded by the Norwegian Research Council (2021–2026) Former project leader for Rebel Governance in the Middle East (2017–2021) PhD in Social Anthropology (2008) on kinship in Palestinian politics His recent publications analyze Hamas’s symbolic authority, football’s role in Jordanian-Palestinian identity formation, and the erosion of legal frameworks in the West Bank. He critiques media bias (e.g., in Qatar World Cup coverage) and explores how football culture reflects broader political tensions. Teaching: Courses on Middle East history, cultural anthropology, and conflict resolution Regional Focus: Palestine, Jordan, Gaza, and the Levant
Univ-Prof. Dr. med. Malek Bajbouj serves as Director of the Institute for Affective Neuroscience and Emotion Modulation at Charité – University Medicine Berlin's Campus Benjamin Franklin (CBF), operating within the Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry (CC 15). His position integrates clinical leadership with translational neuroscience research focused on severe mental illnesses. Dr. Bajbouj's research program centers on affective neuroscience and emotion dysregulation mechanisms in psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia spectrum conditions and depression. He pioneers multimodal intervention approaches combining neuromodulation (tDCS), oxytocin augmentation, mindfulness therapies, and digital health tools. His work emphasizes translational biomarker development using neuroimaging, machine learning, and physiological stress parameter analysis to personalize treatment for treatment-resistant populations. Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) novel treatment combinations for negative symptoms in schizophrenia (oxytocin + mindfulness, yoga therapy); (2) real-world implementation of neuromodulation (at-home tDCS protocols, technical efficacy monitoring); and (3) global mental health responses to crises (pandemic impacts on vulnerable groups, culturally adapted refugee interventions). His methodology consistently employs rigorous randomized controlled trials with embedded biomarker studies. As director of his eponymous institute, Dr. Bajbouj leads a multidisciplinary team conducting neuroimaging studies, clinical trials, and international collaborations focused on emotion modulation pathways. The institute coordinates research across CC 15's clinical infrastructure at CBF Building V, with particular emphasis on bridging laboratory neuroscience with clinical psychiatry through the DepressionDC and OXYMIND trial frameworks.
Professor Steven J Reid is a leading scholar in Early Modern Scottish History and Culture at the University of Glasgow , where he has held a professorship since at least 2023. His work bridges intellectual, political, and religious history from c.1450 to c.1650, with a focus on James VI and Mary Queen of Scots . A prolific editor and author, he contributes to major academic series and institutions like the Hunterian Art Gallery. Research Interests Intellectual, political, and religious history of Scotland Jacobean Scotland and Renaissance/Reformation dynamics Latin literature and its cultural role Andrew Melville's educational reforms Key Publications The Early Life of James VI (2023) on royal minority Co-edited volume on The Afterlife of Mary Queen of Scots (2024) Studies in Neo-Latin poetry and educational history Contributions to Oxford Handbook of Calvin and Calvinism (2021) Projects & Grants Co-investigator on RSE-funded Mary Queen of Scots memorialization project AHRC support for Bridging the Continental Divide (2012-2015) Leverhulme Trust international network participant Fulbright Scholars Award at Yale Divinity School (2012) Teaching History 1A: Scotland’s Millennium Special Subject: The Reign of James VI (1578-1603) Module: The Life and Afterlife of Mary, Queen of Scots
Andreas Stoehr is a renowned Austrian conductor and professor at the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna, leading the conducting department and symphony orchestra since 2013. His career spans prestigious engagements including the Paris Opéra Comique, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, and St. Gallen Theatre, focusing on operatic repertoire from Monteverdi to modernism. He is celebrated for reviving neglected works like Meyerbeer’s Emma di Resburgo and Gluck’s Ezio , emphasizing historical performance practices. His research explores stylistic transitions in music history, blending baroque precision with modern innovation. Education: Trained at Vienna's former Conservatory (now University of Music and Performing Arts), studying piano under Alfred Kremela, conducting with Gennadij Rozhdestvenskij, and musicology at the University of Vienna. Key mentors included David Lutz (accompaniment) and Reinhard Schwarz (conducting). Research Interests: Explores interdisciplinary connections between diverse musical eras, such as Bach’s influence on Schoenberg, and advocates for vocal-orchestral balance in historical repertoires. Projects include CD recordings of Amanda Maier-Röntgen and Andrea Tarrodi’s works, nominated for Swedish Grammis. Awards: Grammy nomination (2016) for Amanda Maier-Röntgen’s Violin Concerto recording. Recognized for innovative stagings of operas like Berg’s Wozzeck and Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande . Teaching & Leadership: As professor and symphony orchestra director, Stoehr mentors young conductors. Notable collaborations include the Langenlois Castle Festival (2012–2019) and interdisciplinary projects like Heart and Mouth, and Deed and Life blending Bach with sociological texts. His teaching emphasizes 21st-century conductorship as collaborative architecture, prioritizing emotional engagement over technical authoritarianism. Labs/Ensembles: Leads the MUK Symphony Orchestra, collaborating with ensembles like the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège. His work bridges academic research with performance practice through projects like the Styriarte Festival’s Schubert revival.
David L. Schwartz serves as the William G. and Virginia K. Karnes Research Professor of Law at Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law, where he joined the faculty in 2015 and served as Associate Dean of Research & Intellectual Life from 2019-2022. His interdisciplinary work bridges legal scholarship, data science, and technology policy with emphasis on patent systems and judicial transparency. His educational foundation includes a BS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a JD cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School. Professor Schwartz specializes in empirical analysis of intellectual property systems , particularly patent litigation dynamics and court record accessibility. His research leverages computational methods to transform legal scholarship through projects like SCALES OKN, where he examines how technological interventions can democratize access to justice. This work situates him at the nexus of legal informatics , patent policy , and court system innovation , challenging traditional methodologies in legal academia. His publication trajectory reveals a decisive shift toward technology-driven legal transparency since 2018, with recent work focusing on large-scale court record analysis and open justice infrastructure. The 2024 Northwestern University Law Review article represents the culmination of his NSF-funded SCALES initiative, demonstrating how machine-readable litigation data can reshape legal scholarship and practice. As Co-Principal Investigator of the NSF-funded Systematic Content Analysis of Litigation EventS Open Knowledge Network (SCALES OKN), he leads a multidisciplinary consortium developing tools to convert opaque court records into structured, analyzable datasets. This $1.2M grant supports collaboration between legal scholars, computer scientists, and data engineers to build public infrastructure for judicial transparency. The SCALES OKN project operates as a cross-institutional research collective involving Northwestern faculty, data scientists from multiple universities, and partnerships with legal technology organizations. It maintains active development teams for natural language processing pipelines, litigation event databases, and public-facing analytical interfaces serving legal practitioners and researchers.
Paul T Nimmo is Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Aberdeen, holding the historic King's Chair (1620). He previously served as Meldrum Senior Lecturer in Reformed Theology at Edinburgh and a post-doctoral Research Assistant at Cambridge. Affiliated with the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History Founding Co-Director, Aberdeen Centre for Protestant Theology Senior Editor, International Journal of Systematic Theology English-Language Editor, Karl Barth Translation Seminar (Princeton Theological Seminary) His research spans systematic theology, Reformed tradition, and ecumenical dialogue. Key focuses include Karl Barth's sacramentology, Friedrich Schleiermacher's soteriology, and Scottish church history. His Templeton Award-winning work explores theological ethics and doctrinal coherence. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses on Christian theology, sacramental theology, and Karl Barth. He is an ordained elder in the Church of Scotland and Vice-Convenor of its Theological Forum.
