Dr. Sebastian Rimestad is a Research Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Religions , University of Leipzig. His work focuses on Orthodox Christianity, religious history of Eastern and Northern Europe, religious conversion, religion and politics in modern societies, and religious minorities in Europe. Current affiliation: University of Leipzig Education: Habilitation (2019), PhD (2011), MA in Religious Studies (2007) and Politics & IR (2004) Research interests include confessional identity formation in 18th-century Poland-Lithuania, religious conversion as political statement, and Russian Orthodox concepts of secularity. His work analyzes how religious identities have been shaped by external authorities and critiques of religious modernity. His scientific awards include the DFG Heisenberg Fellowship and Liselotte Kirchner Scholarship. He has taught courses on religious conversion and published extensively on Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe, Baltic states, and global contexts.
Prof. Dr. Rainer Forst is a Research Professor of Political Theory at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center (since 2009) and a Full Professor of Political Theory and Philosophy at the Institute of Political Science, Goethe University Frankfurt (since 2004). He is the Co-Director of the Research Centre 'Justitia Amplificata' (since 2009) and Co-Speaker of the Cluster of Excellence 'The Formation of Normative Orders' (since 2007). His visiting positions include Thomas Mann Fellowship (2021) , Harris Distinguished Visiting Professor (2009) , and Visiting Professorships at the University of Washington (2015) and Rice University (2015) . Education: Habilitation (2003) and PhD (1993) in Philosophy from Goethe University Frankfurt. Research Interests: Forst’s work centers on political philosophy , critical theory , and the normative foundations of justice and human rights . He explores concepts like toleration , democratic legitimacy , and transnational (in)justice , emphasizing the right to justification as a core ethical principle. His scholarship bridges Kantian constructivism , Marxist critique , and modern democratic theory , addressing crises in democracy and solidarity in contemporary contexts. Publications: His recent work spans toleration , transnational justice , and democratic theory , with a focus on critical theory and normative orders . Books like Normativity and Power (2017) and Justification and Critique (2014) reflect his interdisciplinary approach, integrating philosophy , political theory , and global ethics . Scientific Awards: Recipient of the prestigious Leibniz Prize (2012) , Thomas Mann Fellowship (2021) , and Heisenberg-Scholar (2003–2004) , underscoring his influence in political philosophy . Labs/Teams: Co-leads the Research Centre 'Justitia Amplificata' and the Cluster of Excellence 'The Formation of Normative Orders' , fostering collaborative research on justice, democracy, and global ethics.
Sebastian Thies is Professor and Chair for Ibero-American Literary and Cultural Studies at the University of Tübingen, where he has been employed since October 2012. He serves as Vice Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Global South Studies (ICGSS) and coordinates the BMBF/DAAD thematic network 'Futures under construction in the Global South'. His academic journey began with a PhD in Hispanic Studies from the University of Osnabrück in 2000, followed by positions at the University of Bielefeld where he progressed from Junior Professor for Hispanic Literary and Media Studies to Full Professor for Inter-American Studies. Thies' research focuses on Global South Studies, with particular emphasis on Latin American literature, film, and media. His work explores subjectivity formations, entangled temporalities, and political communication across borders. He has directed significant research initiatives including the doctoral studies program 'Entangled Temporalities in the Global South' and has co-edited major reference works such as The Routledge Handbook for Global South Studies on Subjectivities (2024). His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent engagement with transnational cultural phenomena, particularly examining how Latin American cultural production intersects with global political and social dynamics. Thies frequently collaborates with international scholars, reflecting his commitment to transdisciplinary and transregional approaches to cultural analysis. Project Leader: Research Training Network 'Entangled Temporalities in the Global South' Vice Project Leader: Thematic network 'Literary Cultures of the Global South' Associated Investigator: BMBF-Area Studies Project 'The Americas as a Space of Entanglement' Project Leader: Research Group 'E Pluribus Unum? Ethnic Identies in Processes of Transnational Integration' Thies actively supervises doctoral students through the Interdisciplinary Centre for Global South Studies and has established collaborative networks across Latin America, particularly with institutions in Mexico and Colombia. His current research agenda focuses on 'Futures under construction in the Global South' and continues to explore the intersections of cultural production, political communication, and subjectivity formation in transnational contexts.
Zaur Gasimov is a Lecturer at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and currently serves as DAAD Departmental Coordinator and Co-Head at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Turkish-German University. He holds a habilitation in Modern History and Eastern European History, with a focus on Eastern European History, political science, and sociology. Education : B.A. in International Relations from Baku State University; M.A. from Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt; Doctorate in Eastern European history Research : Concentrates on Russian-Turkish relations, nationalism in Eastern Europe, cultural transfer processes, and historical narratives. His habilitation thesis analyzed Polish-Turkish anti-Soviet alliances. Publications : Authored monographs on Prometheism, Azerbaijani historiography, and Russification policies. Collaborated on comparative studies of cultural transfer and Ottoman-Russian entanglements.
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Freitag is a distinguished scholar in Islamic Studies and social history of the Arab world, holding a Professorship at Freie Universität Berlin and serving as Director of the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) . Her work bridges urban history, transregional Islamic networks, and Arabian Peninsula studies within Indian Ocean and Red Sea contexts. Education : PhD in Islamic Studies (Freiburg, 1991), Habilitation (Bonn, 2002) Research : Focus on Ottoman urban violence, Saudi state formation, Hadhrami diaspora, and historical urbanism in Jeddah Her supervision of PhD projects spans topics from Moroccan Sufi sanctußen to Yemeni Jewish communities. Recent scientific awards include fellowships at Leiden University and Käthe-Hamburger Kolleg. She contributes to public discourse through Tagesspiegel op-eds and international conferences.
Ruggero Vimercati Sanseverino is a Full Professor of Hadith Studies and Prophetic Tradition at the Center for Islamic Theology, University of Tübingen. His research spans Hadith transmission in Sunni and Shiite traditions Prophetic worship and Islamic imitation piety Dynamics of tradition and renewal in Islam Islamic spirituality and religious practices His academic journey includes a PhD from Aix-Marseille University (2012) and a Master’s from IREMAM/CNRS (2007). He has led projects like The Presence of the Prophet (DFG-ANR) and contributed to interdisciplinary dialogues on multireligious societies. The 15 most recent articles reflect his expertise in Hadith methodology Sufi spiritual traditions Prophetic hermeneutics Comparative Islamic studies Key collaborative works address interfaith dynamics and Islamic responses to secularization. He supervises PhD candidates and contributes to editorial boards, including the Theologie, Bildung, Ethik und Recht des Islam series at Nomos Verlag. His work bridges classical Islamic scholarship with contemporary theological challenges.
Prof. Dr. Isabelle Stauffer holds the Professorship for Modern German Literature at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt , where she also serves as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Literature and Deputy Director of the Center for Religion, Church, and Society in Change (ZRKG) . She co-leads the ZRKG Research Field III on "Religiosity in Contemporary Transformation Processes" and examines intersections of literature with gender/queer studies , postcolonial theory , and cultural history of gallantry . Studied at University of Zurich and Humboldt University Berlin Doctorate (2006) and Habilitation (2015) from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Previously held positions at Goethe University Frankfurt, Philipps University Marburg, and Saarland University Her research spans early modern to contemporary German literature , with specializations in intermediality (film, digital media), epistolary culture , and dandyism/fashion history . Current projects include organizing the 2025 IVG congress panel "Figures of Crisis – Crisis of the Figure" and editing the complete works of Aurora von Königsmarck. She has published extensively on topics including: Postcolonial transformations in early modern texts Religious discourse in contemporary literature Intermedia reflexivity in digital age narratives Queer performativity in historical and modern contexts Translation as cultural transfer mechanism Surface aesthetics in cinema and art
Dr. Stefanie Burkhardt is a Research Associate at the Department of Religious Studies and Intercultural Theology , University of Münster, since October 2024. She previously served as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Research Coordinator at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (2016–2024) and completed her doctorate in 2022 with a dissertation on Mircea Eliade's dual work in Religious Studies and Literature. Education: PhD (2022, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg), MA in 'Ethics of Textual Cultures' (2013), BA in Religious and German Studies (2012). Research Interests span the intersection of Religion and Literature , Postcolonial Religious Studies , and the Spectral Turn in Cultural Theory . Her work critically examines Eliade's methodologies, the role of African and diasporic narratives in decolonizing the 'spectral turn', and the socio-cultural implications of border crossings in postcolonial contexts. Recent Publications include a monograph on Eliade's literary and academic duality (Brill 2024) and upcoming edited volumes on authenticity in esoteric practices (Brill 2026) and Eliade's entanglements in religious history (Brill 2025). She has contributed to debates on postcolonialism, spectral theory, and Eliade's exoticism in Indian studies. Grants and Projects include participation in the DFG Advanced Study Group 'Alternative Rationalities and Esoteric Practices in Global Perspective' (2023–2024) and leadership in projects on post-Eurocentric cultural theory.
Mahmoud Abdallah is a Researcher at the Center for Islamic Theology , University of Tübingen, where he has worked since 2020. His career includes roles as Senior Scientist at the University of Innsbruck (2019–2020), Project Leader at ZITh (2016–2019), and Post-Doc researcher (2013–2018). He also held guest lectures at Marmara University (2017) and served as an Arabic Editor (2012–2013). Education : PhD in Comparative Linguistics (2012, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf), Master’s summa cum laude (2002, University of Minia), State Examination (1998, Al-Azhar University). Research Interests focus on Islamic Theology , Pastoral Care , Interreligious Dialogue , and Religious Institutions in Pluralistic Societies . He explores hermeneutics in Islamic counseling, Ḥisba in public order, and Umma dynamics in multicultural contexts. Recent Publications (2014–2022) analyze Qur’anic ambiguity , interfaith education , religious responses to crises (e.g., pandemic pastoral care), and Islamic social ethics . Key themes include Abrahamic unity , contextual theology , and religious hermeneutics . Scientific Awards : Master’s degree with summa cum laude distinction (University of Minia, 2002). Advising & Projects : Co-editor of Grundlagen muslimischer Seelsorge (2020) and Theologie des Zusammenlebens series (2017–2022). Led the 2016 project Scientific Education and Social Responsibility (Baden-Württemberg Ministry). Currently working on books about Prophetic Hermeneutics (2023) and Religious Transformations in Crisis (2022). Committee Memberships : Member of the German Islam Conference (since 2018), Scientific Advisory Boards at Zukunftsforum Islam e.V. (since 2017), and the DAVO (German Working Group on the Middle East, since 2009).
Harald Zapf is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English and American Studies at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), specializing in American literature and cultural studies. Affiliated with the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology, he focuses on postcolonial theory, hybridity, and multiculturalism in the Americas. 2002 Lilli Bechmann Rahn Doctoral Prize 2001 Bavarian American Academy Dissertation Prize His research explores intersections of ethnicity, language, and performance in contemporary American poetry, particularly in multilingual and transnational contexts. He has collaborated extensively with Wolfgang Binder and Klaus Lösch on publications examining cultural encounters and hybrid identities. Zapf’s publications span monographs, edited volumes, and critical articles, with a strong emphasis on authors like Ishmael Reed and theoretical frameworks such as rooted cosmopolitanism and deconstruction. His work bridges literary analysis with sociocultural and philosophical discourses.
Rainer Forst is Professor of Political Theory and Philosophy at Goethe University Frankfurt, where he holds positions in both the Institute of Political Science and the Institute of Philosophy. He serves as Director of the Research Center for Normative Orders, Co-speaker of the cluster initiative "ConTrust – Trust in Conflict," Spokesperson of the Leibniz Prize Research Group "Transnational Justice," and Deputy Spokesperson of the Coordinating Institute Frankfurt at the Research Institute for Social Cohesion. Additionally, he is a Permanent Fellow at the Research College for Human Sciences Bad Homburg, Director of the Justitia Center for Advanced Studies, and Head of the Master's program in Political Theory. Since 2017, he has also been a Research Professor of Political Theory at the Social Science Research Center (WZB) in Berlin. Forst received his education studying philosophy, political science, and American studies in Frankfurt/Main, New York, and at Harvard University. His academic journey includes: Ph.D. under Jürgen Habermas with thesis "Contexts of Justice: Political Philosophy Beyond Liberalism and Communitarianism" (1993) Habilitation in 2003 with "Tolerance in Conflict: History, Content, and Present of a Controversial Concept" Professor Forst's research focuses on foundational questions of political philosophy and critical theory. His work centers on justice theory, democracy, toleration, normative orders, and social cohesion. He has developed a distinctive approach he terms "critical constructivism," which builds on Kantian philosophy while engaging with the Frankfurt School tradition of critical theory. His research examines how justification processes form the basis of legitimate political orders and how concepts like solidarity and tolerance function within democratic societies. Forst's work is notable for its systematic integration of historical analysis with normative theory, creating frameworks for understanding contemporary political challenges through the lens of philosophical tradition. His recent publications reveal a growing focus on democratic regression, trust in conflictual societies, and the philosophical foundations of social cohesion. Forst has increasingly addressed the dual crises of democracy - both the political-normative justification crisis and the global structural crisis. His work connects Kantian philosophy with contemporary democratic theory, exploring concepts like the "noumenal republic" as frameworks for understanding justice and legitimacy in complex societies. A consistent thread throughout his scholarship is the examination of how power relations intersect with normative claims in political justification processes. Professor Forst has received significant recognition for his contributions to political philosophy: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2012), Germany's highest research honor Member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy Permanent Fellow at the Research College for Human Sciences Bad Homburg As an educator and mentor, Forst has directed numerous research initiatives and supervised many doctoral students who have gone on to prominent academic positions. He leads the international MA program in Political Theory funded by the German Academic Exchange Service and has established several significant research centers including the Research Center for Normative Orders, the Leibniz Prize Research Group "Transnational Justice," and the Center for Advanced Studies "Justitia Amplificata." His editorial work includes serving as Associate Editor of Ethics and member of editorial boards for numerous prestigious journals including Political Theory and Constellations. Forst's research infrastructure includes the Research Center for Normative Orders, which he directs, and the cluster initiative "ConTrust – Trust in Conflict," which examines political coexistence under conditions of uncertainty. His Leibniz Prize Research Group "Transnational Justice" investigates justice beyond national borders, while the Justitia Center for Advanced Studies serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research on justice-related topics. These institutions form an integrated network supporting collaborative research across philosophy, political science, and law.
Stefan Rohdewald is a Professor of East and Southeast European History at the University of Leipzig since 2020. His research focuses on the historical entanglements between Eastern Europe and the Middle East, emphasizing transconfessionalism, urban history, and memory discourses. Education: Studied and completed his doctorate at the University of Zurich (2004), habilitation at Passau (2005–2012). Affiliations: Past professor at Giessen (2013–2020), research associate in Passau (2003–2012), and Max Planck scholarship for doctoral research. Research interests span Transottoman studies, examining mobility dynamics between Eastern Europe, the Ottoman Empire, and Persia. He leads the DFG priority program Transottomanica (2017–2023) and contributes to decolonial and transimperial frameworks in Ukrainian history. Recent publications include analyses of geopolitical imaginaries, edited handbooks on the Black Sea region, and studies on Ottoman-Europe knowledge exchange. His work critiques national historiographies and explores multiculturality in Habsburg Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Prof. Dr. Oktay Bilgi is a Professor of Childhood Education at the Alanus University of Arts and Society since December 2024. Previously, he served as a Research Assistant at the University of Cologne’s Department of Educational Sciences (2014–2024). He holds a Dr. phil. from the University of Cologne (2020), focusing on pedagogical beginnings and societal change. His research emphasizes childhood education theory, ethical-ecological care, and multispecies relationships in daycare centers. He is active in the German Society for Educational Science (DGfE) and the International Froebel Society. Education: PhD in Philosophy, University of Cologne (2020) Studies in Educational Sciences at University of Bielefeld (2003–2011), specializing in Social Work, Migration Pedagogy, and Racism Research Research Interests: Bilgi explores childhood education theory in social change contexts, educational anthropology, phenomenology, and new materialism. His work addresses ethical and ecological dimensions of human-animal relationships in daycare, cultural education, and sustainability. He co-edits volumes on care, quality frameworks, and early childhood pedagogy. Grants & Memberships: Hans-Böckler-Stiftung Fellowship (2011–2014) Member of DGfE, DGPhil, and International Froebel Society His lectures address crises in pedagogy, multispecies care, and cultural education in the Anthropocene. He frequently collaborates on projects linking ecological ethics with early childhood spaces, such as the BMBF-funded 'Spatial Qualities' initiative. Labs/Teams: Engaged with interdisciplinary networks like the 'Netzwerk frühkindliche kulturelle Bildung' and contributes to collaborative research on early childhood spaces and sustainability.
Bernd Ladwig is a University Professor of Political Theory and Philosophy at the Free University of Berlin's Otto Suhr Institute for Political Science. He has held this position since February 2011, following a Junior Professorship at the same institution from 2004-2010. His academic career includes previous positions as a Scientific Assistant at Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg (2000-2004) and at Humboldt University Berlin (1998-2000). Ladwig received his doctorate in philosophy from Humboldt University of Berlin in 1999 (summa cum laude) with a thesis on "Justice and Responsibility: A Study of the Concept of Equality in Ethical Liberalism," supervised by Prof. Dr. Herfried Münkler and Prof. Dr. Axel Honneth. He completed his Diplom in Political Science at Freie Universität Berlin in 1994 with highest distinction. His research focuses on human rights, animal rights, justice theory, political philosophy, and applied ethics. He has developed significant expertise in normative theories of global relations, multiculturalism, democracy theories, and the intersection of political theory with animal ethics. His work often explores the anthropological foundations of ethics and the relationship between theoretical frameworks and practical political issues. Ladwig has published extensively on topics ranging from the philosophical foundations of human rights to the political theory of human-animal relationships. Ladwig's recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward integrating animal ethics into mainstream political theory. His work challenges traditional boundaries between human and non-human rights while maintaining rigorous philosophical standards. He has developed a distinctive position that advocates for political justice for animals without necessarily granting them citizenship status in human political communities. Principal Investigator of the Interdisciplinary Graduate College "Human Rights under Pressure - Ethics, Law, and Politics" (2014-2017) Director of the annual course "The Diversity of Human Rights" at the Inter-University Center Dubrovnik Member of the Green Academy Co-editor of the journal Leviathan - Berlin Journal for Social Science Member of the Political Theory and Intellectual History section of the German Political Science Association (DVPW) Ladwig has supervised numerous doctoral students and has been actively involved in academic service as a reviewer for major journals and research foundations. His teaching covers a wide range of topics including political theory, philosophy of human rights, animal ethics, and classical political philosophy from Rousseau to Kant.
Marina Schramm is a researcher and doctoral candidate specializing in foreign language didactics, with a focus on spelling education for German as a second language and implicit learning through classroom interactions. She is affiliated with a university's Department II (English Studies team) and teaches English and German at a Realschule plus, operating in multilingual and multicultural settings from early childhood to tertiary education. Educational Background: MA in European Bilingual Education (Karlsruhe) 1st and 2nd State Examinations for primary/secondary school teaching (Karlsruhe/Pforzheim) European teaching qualification for Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) Research Focus: Her work explores tacit knowledge acquisition in teacher education, the role of lyrical/narrative texts in authentic classroom practices, and the integration of linguistic chunks in second language processing. Recent projects include action research on skills-oriented literary English lessons and didactic frameworks for future tense instruction. Publications: Three peer-reviewed works center on second language didactics, spanning nominal compounds in language teaching, future tense pedagogy, and the interplay between tense/mood in language acquisition.
