Swantje Falcke is an Assistant Professor in Economic and Social History at Utrecht University's Department of History and Art History. As part of the College of Humanities, her research focuses on migrant integration, naturalization, and the interplay between environmental change and migration patterns. Areas of Expertise: Migration and Societal Change, Pathways to Sustainability, In-Equality Studies Academic Background: PhD in Economics (2017) at Utrecht University, Post-Doc in Political Science at Maastricht University Her interdisciplinary work examines: Education-labor market mismatches among Dutch migrants Impact of German citizenship law reforms on naturalization Long-term effectiveness of refugee integration policies Environmental change effects on migration dynamics Scientific recognition includes: Duncan Black Award (2014) for political economy research NWO XS grant (2024) for environmental migration studies Her publications demonstrate methodological rigor, combining longitudinal analysis, policy evaluation, and empirical economic testing.
Valentina Mazzucato is Professor of Globalisation and Development at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University, where she teaches and leads research in transnational migration and development. She founded and directed the research programme on Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development (2012–2020), co-founded the MA Globalisation and Development Studies, and led the development of the interdisciplinary BSc Global Studies. She is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and has held leadership roles in major research initiatives including the ERC Consolidator Grant project MO-TRAYL. Her educational background includes a BA in Political Science and French Literature from Williams College, an MSc in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University, and a PhD cum laude from Wageningen Agricultural University on indigenous soil and water conservation in Burkina Faso. Her research focuses on transnational migration between Africa and Europe, particularly the socio-economic and cultural impacts on migrants, their families, and communities. She employs mixed methods and multi-sited research designs, pioneering the simultaneous matched sample methodology. Her recent work explores transnational youth mobility, return visits, remittances, and temporalities of migration. The articles from 2024–2025 reveal a strong thematic consistency in migrant youth, transnational identity, methodological innovation, and policy implications, reflecting her leadership in interdisciplinary migration scholarship. ERC Consolidator Grant (2017–2023) for MO-TRAYL project Elected member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 2019 Prof. Mazzucato has secured multiple international grants from NWO, NORFACE, and the ERC, enabling her to build transnational research teams and mentor PhD candidates and early-career researchers. She supervises Bachelor’s and Master’s theses and externally examines PhDs internationally. She is actively involved in policy engagement, having advised Queen Beatrix and participated in EU and NGO forums on migration and development. She also co-created a play with Ghanaian migrants to translate research into public dialogue. She leads the Transnational Links and Livelihoods Group and collaborates across institutions including Princeton University (Center for Migration and Development), African universities, and policy organizations. Her work bridges academic research, teaching innovation, and societal impact.
Marcel Lubbers is a Professor of Interdisciplinary Social Science: Relations between groups and cultures at Utrecht University's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. He leads the European Research Centre on Migration and Ethnic Relations (ERCOMER) and serves as a board member of the Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS). As associate editor of the European Sociological Review (ESR), he significantly influences academic discourse in migration and political sociology. His work represents Utrecht University in the focus area Migration and Societal Change, connecting research with broader societal implications. Professor Lubbers' research program centers on migration's societal impacts, particularly examining how immigration influences nationalism, Euroscepticism, and voting behavior. His work adopts both macro-level perspectives on societal cohesion and micro-level analyses of immigrant integration processes. Recent publications reveal his focus on political extremism, interethnic relations, and the psychological mechanisms behind public attitudes toward migration. His methodology combines large-scale survey analysis, comparative European studies, and longitudinal approaches to track attitude changes over time. Lubbers' scholarly output shows consistent engagement with contemporary political challenges, including analyses of radical right voting patterns, the workplace as a setting for interethnic contact, and the impact of national nostalgia on political attitudes. His research demonstrates methodological sophistication through meta-analyses, mixed-methods approaches, and innovative survey designs like the Dutch Parliamentary Election Study and Dutch Ethnic Minority Election Study. Through web publications on platforms like Stukroodvlees.nl and contributions to the Migration Advisory Council, Lubbers actively bridges academic research and public policy debates. His work provides evidence-based insights on migration policy, electoral behavior, and societal integration that inform both scholarly and policy discussions in the Netherlands and beyond.
Dr. Anouk Smeekes is an Associate Professor at Utrecht University's Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. She leads research in the Youth Studies chairgroup, focusing on youth responses to societal challenges like climate change, populism, and colonial legacies. Her teaching spans the MERM Research Master (Ethnic Prejudice course), YDSC Master (thesis coordination), and ISS bachelor programs, while also serving on the Faculty's Exam Committee. Her research explores social/political psychology mechanisms through thematic pillars: Emotional responses of youth to societal disruptions National nostalgia's role in shaping political attitudes Intergroup relations in multicultural societies Climate anxiety and civic engagement pathways Recent publications demonstrate strong emphasis on collective nostalgia, identity politics, and youth psychology. Works frequently examine how historical narratives influence contemporary intergroup conflicts and radicalization, with increasing focus on climate-related anxieties (2020-2024). Methodologically, she employs cross-cultural comparisons across 27+ countries. Awards & Recognition: Rae and Dr. Dan Landis Outstanding Dissertation Award (2015) Research Leadership: CONCILIARE Horizon Europe project co-leader (2024-2027): Examining Europe's colonial heritage transitions Principal investigator: Youth climate anxiety/hope dynamics study (Faculty-funded) Supervises 10+ Master's theses annually in Migration/Ethnic Relations programs
Nando Sigona is Professor of International Migration and Forced Displacement and Director of the Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) at the University of Birmingham, UK. He serves within the School of Geosciences Human Geography and Spatial Planning in the Urban Geography department, where he leads significant research on migration policy and forced displacement. His research spans critical areas including undocumented migration, the migration-citizenship nexus, naturalisation and denaturalisation processes, Romani politics and anti-Gypsyism, EU asylum systems, Brexit impacts on European mobility, and child and youth migration. Sigona's work is characterized by its policy relevance and theoretical innovation in understanding contemporary migration governance. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward examining the intersection of migration enforcement, digital platforms, and labor markets, particularly evident in his 2025 research on migrant food delivery riders in Birmingham. His scholarly output spans foundational theoretical works like The Oxford Handbook of Superdiversity (2022) to urgent contemporary analyses of migration enforcement in the gig economy. Sigona has received significant research funding including Horizon Europe support for the I-CLAIM project (Improving the living and labour conditions of irregularised migrant households in Europe), where he serves as co-Investigator and Scientific Director. His work has been published across leading journals including Sociology, Social Anthropology, Antipode, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, and Ethnic and Racial Studies. Founding editor of Migration Studies (Oxford University Press) Lead editor for Global Migration and Social Change book series (Bristol University Press) Director of the Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) His recent blog posts and media commentary reveal active engagement with contemporary policy debates, particularly regarding Labour's immigration enforcement strategies targeting migrant workers in the gig economy. Sigona's research team has documented a 79% increase in immigration raids in Birmingham since Labour came to office, based on Freedom of Information data (FOI2025 07429).
Dr. Floris Peters is an Assistant Professor in Interdisciplinary Social Science at Utrecht University, specializing in Migration, Cultural Diversity, and Ethnic Relations. He holds a PhD from Maastricht University (2015) on citizenship's role in immigrant integration. His research focuses on citizenship policies, migration integration, and large-N administrative data analysis. Previously, he was a postdoctoral researcher in the ERC-funded 'Migrant Life Course and Legal Status Transition' (MiLifeStatus) project (2018–2021) and a Visiting Research Fellow at Malmö Institute for Studies of Migration, Diversity and Welfare (MIM). His work bridges migration studies, public policy, and social capital effects. Research interests include citizenship naturalization dynamics, socio-economic integration of migrants, and policy evaluation. Notable contributions explore the impact of dual citizenship, naturalization costs on immigrant decisions, and social capital's role in organ donation. Awards include the FASOS Valorisation Prize (2018) and APSA honors (2017). His interdisciplinary approach combines quantitative methods with policy analysis, addressing migrant life course trajectories and institutional conditions. He collaborates across institutions, leveraging administrative data to understand integration pathways and policy outcomes.
Helle Hochscheid is a University Lecturer in antiquity and heritage at University College Roosevelt, a Liberal Arts & Sciences college within Utrecht University in Middelburg. She holds an affiliation with the Humanities Research Institute for History and Art History and the Department of Ancient History and Classical Civilization. Her academic roles include coordinating the Archaeology in the Classroom project and serving on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Netherlands Institute in Athens, the Editorial Board of PHAROS: Journal of the Netherlands Institute at Athens , and the Advisory Board of Theran Press. Her research expertise spans Greek archaeology, ancient history, cultural heritage, and women’s history, with a focus on craft production (particularly sculpture and musical instruments like auloi) in ancient Greek societies. She investigates social contexts of craftsmanship, including the roles of non-elite groups and women in Athenian artistic networks. Key themes include gender diversity, migration’s societal impact, and the intersection of craft labor with early knowledge economies. Hochscheid regularly collaborates with undergraduate students, co-editing volumes such as The World on Walcheren (2024). She teaches courses including Academic Internship , Greek Art & Archaeology , and Making Society in Archaeology , emphasizing interdisciplinary education and community-engaged learning. Her work bridges academic research and public heritage through projects like Archaeology in the Classroom , which introduces transferable skills via archaeology to primary school children. Her professional contributions include organizing sessions at the EAA Annual Conference (2024) and presenting on topics like women’s work in ancient Athens. She is a member of the Engendering Ancient Economies Network (EAEN) and the TEXNH research collaboration, exploring economic and social dimensions of ancient Mediterranean crafts.
Dr. Mia You is a translingual poet and Assistant Professor at Utrecht University’s Department of Languages, Literature and Communication within the School of Humanities. She specializes in modern and contemporary literature, focusing on intersections between poetry, feminist theory, and global English. PhD in English from UC Berkeley MA in Regional Studies: East Asia from Harvard University BA in English Literature from Stanford University Her research explores creative humanities, translingualism, and sustainability through projects like the NWO-VENI Grant: Poetry in the Age of Global English . She contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Gender Equality and Sustainable Cities. Mia’s recent publications analyze bilingual practices, meme aesthetics, and literary resistance. She actively organizes conferences such as Against Extinction and collaborates with institutions like UNESCO City of Literature. NWO-VENI Grant (2022): Fellowship awarded competitively C. C. S. Crone Stipend (2018): Prize for non-fiction books As a member of the Creative Critical Approaches to the Health Humanities initiative and co-organizer of translingual writing workshops, Mia bridges art, literature, and societal change.
Fabian Ferrari is an Assistant Professor in Cultural AI at Utrecht University, working in the Department of Media and Culture Studies within the Humanities faculty. He is affiliated with the Centre for Digital Humanities and is a member of the focus area Governing the Digital Society . Previously, he served as a Postdoctoral Researcher (2022-2024) in the same focus area and was a Visiting Scholar (2021-2022) at the Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture and Technology in Montréal. Dr. Ferrari's research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and society. His work examines AI governance, algorithmic power, digital labor, and the infrastructural geographies of AI systems. He investigates how public investments in AI infrastructure can reconcile competitiveness with public value creation, particularly through his upcoming NWO-funded Veni project Conditional Computing: Reimagining the Governance of Public AI Infrastructure , which begins in January 2026. His publication record demonstrates significant scholarly impact, with articles in top journals including Nature Machine Intelligence , Cultural Studies , New Media & Society , Big Data & Society , and Competition & Change . He has also co-edited the open-access book Digital Work in the Planetary Market published by MIT Press. Ferrari's work is frequently cited and has influenced policy discussions, as evidenced by multiple policy citations across his publications. NWO Veni grant for research on public AI infrastructure Dr. Ferrari's research collaborations span multiple institutions and international teams. He has frequently co-authored with scholars including Mark Graham, José van Dijck, and Anne Helmond. His work bridges technical, social, and policy dimensions of AI systems, with particular attention to labor implications and governance frameworks. He is actively engaged in both academic and public discourse on AI's societal implications, contributing to progressive policy visions for generative AI.
Dr. Christoph Baumgartner is Associate Professor of Ethics in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Utrecht University's Faculty of Humanities, where he also serves as Director of the Research Institute for Philosophy and Religious Studies. He has been with Utrecht University since 2004, previously serving as director of both the Research Institute for Theology and Religious Studies (INTEGON) and the Research Institute for Philosophy and Religious Studies (OFR) from 2009-2016, and resuming the OFR directorship in September 2022. His educational background includes studies in theology and chemistry at the University of Tübingen (Germany), where he earned his PhD in 2004 with a specialization in social and political ethics. Prior to joining Utrecht University, he worked as academic coordinator of the International Centre for Ethics in the Sciences and Humanities (IZEW) at the University of Tübingen from 2001-2004. He has held research fellowships at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Studies (NIAS) from 2008-2009 and at the Max-Weber-Kolleg for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies in Erfurt from September 2019 to August 2020. Dr. Baumgartner's primary research interests focus on the politics of religion and religious diversity in the public sphere , freedom of religion , tolerance , citizenship , democratic politics and society , environmental ethics and climate change , and philosophy, religion, and social theory in the Anthropocene . His interdisciplinary approach combines philosophical reasoning with historical perspectives and social scientific approaches to examine how normative principles function in pluralistic societies. He has particular interest in how institutions, norms, values and sensibilities enable or hamper people with different religions to fully participate in social and political interactions. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on religious diversity in liberal democracies, with particular attention to freedom of religion, blasphemy, and the relationship between religion and public culture. His work increasingly addresses environmental ethics in the Anthropocene, examining how religious and philosophical perspectives can inform our understanding of human-nature relationships. His scholarship demonstrates a progression from theoretical examinations of religious diversity toward more applied analyses of specific controversies and practices, such as handshaking customs across religious differences and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on religious freedom. Dr. Baumgartner has been actively involved in academic leadership and program development, co-initiating and coordinating the Research Master Programme in Religious Studies together with Christian Lange and Birgit Meyer. He also coordinated Utrecht University's research focus area "Migration and Societal Change" (2019-2022) alongside Ilse van Liempt, Marcel Lubbers, and Dina Siegel. His research has been supported by various institutions including NIAS and the EU-COFUND Fellowship program. He is involved in teaching several courses including "Controversies about Religion in the Public Domain," "Ethics and Religion," "Climate Crisis in the Anthropocene: Philosophical and Religious Dimensions," and tutorials for Religious Studies. His academic work contributes to Utrecht University's research themes including "Institutions for Open Societies," "Futures of Democracy," "Migration and Societal Change," and "Pathways to Sustainability."
Jun Borras is a Professor of Agrarian Studies at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam, and holds a distinguished Erasmus Professorship for Societal Impact. He leads research on global land politics, climate change, and rural social movements, supported by a €2.5M ERC Advanced Grant (2019). His work bridges academia and activism, engaging with movements like La Via Campesina and institutions such as the UN FAO. Key affiliations include ISS, China Agricultural University (Distinguished Professor), and the Transnational Institute (TNI). Education: PhD in Development Studies (not explicitly stated, but active since early 1980s) Research Interests: Land governance, climate justice, food sovereignty, and BRICS/BRI impacts He co-edits journals and book series, including the Journal of Peasant Studies (15 years as Editor-in-Chief), and coordinates initiatives like the Land Deal Politics Initiative (LDPI). Awards include the Ester Boserup Prize (2020) and COHD Prize (2023). His work emphasizes scholar-activism and critical agrarian studies.
Dr. Yousra Rahmouni Elidrissi serves as an Assistant Professor in Organisation Science at Utrecht University's School of Governance within the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance. Her office is located at Bijlhouwerstraat 6-8 in Utrecht, where she conducts research at the intersection of Social Movements and Organization Studies with a particular focus on embodiment in activist practices. Her research expertise centers on embodiment and social movements , with specialized skills in qualitative research and ethnography . Her work explores the significance of bodies and embodiment in activists' practices, particularly through her PhD research on a French climate movement engaged in non-violent direct action. She investigates collective forms of resistance and dynamics of solidarity within communities, with research areas spanning Institutions for Open Societies, Gender and Diversity and Global Justice, and Migration and Societal Change. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory examining activist organizing, embodiment in social movements, and the politics of resistance. Her scholarly output demonstrates growing engagement with feminist methodologies, critical praxis in education, and coalition building across social movements. Her work increasingly addresses post-pandemic societal transformation and the creation of alternative futures through activist organizing. Dr. Rahmouni Elidrissi actively contributes to academic discourse through conference presentations including at EGOS colloquia, where her work on 'Bodies on the line: Performing embodied politics in the French climate movement' was short-listed for the 'That's Interesting Paper' Award. She has also participated in scholarly activities such as the 36th EGOS Pre-Colloquium Development Workshop on 'Taking Sides: Activism, Knowledge Production and Education in the Climate Crisis'.
Prof. Rebecca Bryant is a Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Utrecht University's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. She holds affiliations with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRI) and the London School of Economics' European Institute. Her expertise spans forced migration, borders, sovereignty, and unrecognized states, with a focus on Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey. Bryant has conducted extensive research on post-conflict reconciliation, ethnic conflict displacement, and the temporal dimensions of sovereignty. Education: She earned her degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Chicago, followed by teaching/research roles at the London School of Economics, George Mason University, and the American University in Cairo. She also served as a Fulbright Fellow at Bogaziçi University and a visiting professor at Middle East Technical University’s Cyprus campus. Research Interests: Bryant’s work examines sovereignty’s everyday practices, particularly in contested regions. Her recent projects include studying Syrian youth integration in Turkey (funded by UK’s ESRC and TÜBITAK) and exploring refugee perspectives on choice (funded by Volkswagen Stiftung and Wellcome Trust). Key themes include infrastructural imperialism, temporalities of conflict, and the anthropology of the future. Publications: Her notable works include *Sovereignty Suspended* (2020), co-authored with Mete Hatay, and *The Anthropology of the Future* (2019). Her articles analyze sovereignty’s paradoxes, de facto states, and aeropolitics, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with political theory and global studies. Awards & Grants: Bryant has received grants from the MacArthur Foundation, US Institute of Peace, and NEH. Her fellowships include the Cornell University Society of Fellows (2002-3) and Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study (2005-6). She is a sought-after speaker on topics like chronotopes and crisis, as seen in her 2019 invited talks on ‘The Anthropology of the Future’ and ‘Ignoring Crisis: Willful Blindness and Climate Change’. Labs/Teams: Co-leads the ‘Well-Being and Integration of Syrian Youth in Turkey’ project with Ahmet Içduygu. Participates in the ‘Between Policy and Protection’ consortium, analyzing refugee agency in decision-making. Her research bridges ethnographic fieldwork with policy-oriented analysis.
Eva Jaspers is Professor of Empirical and Theoretical Sociology at Utrecht University's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, where she also serves as Bachelor Director for Sociology. She is a member of the Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS) and leads the ICS Research Line on Migration and Social Stratification. Her educational background includes a PhD in Sociology (2008) and an MA in Sociology cum laude (2003), both from Radboud University Nijmegen, where she also obtained her University Basic Teaching Qualification in 2007. Professor Jaspers' research focuses at the intersection of networks, diversity and inequality, examining how people's contexts, interactions and relations with (dis)similar others shape their behavior and outcomes across various domains. Her work spans social networks, ethnic relations, gender and sexuality, discrimination, and gender equality, utilizing social network analysis as a key methodology. She has published in top journals including American Sociological Review , European Sociological Review , and Social Networks . Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on intergroup relations, social networks, and inequality, with particular emphasis on interethnic contact, gender dynamics in workplaces and families, and the impact of social norms on polarization. Her work increasingly employs computational methods and longitudinal data to examine complex social dynamics. Fellow of the Gravitation Program SCOOP (research and training center for sustainable cooperation) Professor Jaspers has managed multiple large-scale data collections and secured significant funding from NWO and Volkswagen Stiftung. She leads international projects including INCLUSIVITY (network interventions to counter polarization) and GENPARENT (research on transition to parenthood for same-sex couples). She is also a co-applicant in the prestigious NWO Summit Grant SOCION for research on social cohesion. Her academic leadership includes chairing the Dutch Sociological Association and organizing major conferences like the INSNA Sunbelt Conference. She is affiliated with several research initiatives including the Institutions for Open Societies (IOS) program, focusing on Future of Work, Gender Diversity and Global Justice, and Migration and Societal Change. Her work with the CILS NL data and SOCON panels demonstrates her commitment to longitudinal research on social networks and societal change.
Dr. Pooyan Tamimi Arab is an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University's Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, coordinating the Research Master program in Religious Studies. He is a member of the Young Academy of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on secular studies, material religion, and political philosophy, examining secular-religious dynamics through interdisciplinary approaches. He authored Amplifying Islam in the European Soundscape (2017) and Why Do Religious Forms Matter? (2022), and co-edited The Routledge Handbook of Material Religion (2024). His work with GAMAAN on Iranian religiosity has been widely cited, earning the UK Market Research Society’s President’s Medal in 2022. He leads the Vidi-project Iran's Secular Shift (2025), exploring nonreligion and atheism in Iran. Research interests include secularism, visual culture, and the sociology of religion, with a focus on Iran and Europe. His studies combine survey methods, historical analysis, and anthropological approaches. He has presented globally on topics like Spinoza’s political thought, Iranian secularization, and contested religious imagery in museums. Notable awards include the 2022 President’s Medal for GAMAAN’s research contributions. Grants include the NWO Vidi grant for his Iran project. His work bridges academic disciplines, addressing contemporary issues like religious tolerance, public policy, and societal change.
