Jacek Greszta is a Professor and current Dean of the Faculty of Vocal Performance and Acting at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, serving the 2020-2024 term. He has taught at the institution since 2006 and was awarded the title of Professor of Art in April 2021 after obtaining his postdoctoral degree in musical arts (vocal studies) in 2016. His academic background includes: Studies at the Academy of Music in Warsaw (Faculty of Vocal Studies and Acting, 1986) under A. Dankowska Transfer to the Academy of Music in Poznań (1989) under M. Moździerz, graduating in 1993 Professor Greszta's research centers on operatic vocal performance and Polish musical heritage. As an internationally recognized bass, he has performed 30+ roles across Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Moniuszko repertoire in 15+ countries, with scholarly focus on vocal technique preservation and national opera traditions. His academic work bridges performance practice with pedagogy, emphasizing Moniuszko's contributions to Slavic opera. Key recognitions include: Golden Orpheus award for the DVD recording of Paderewski's Manru (2013) Two honors from the Marshal of Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship for artistic excellence Administratively, he served as Head of the Vocal Studies Department before his deanship, overseeing curriculum development and faculty coordination. His collaborations span major Polish philharmonics and opera houses, including long-term engagements with Silesian Opera (Bytom) and Opera Nova (Bydgoszcz), where he premiered anniversary productions.
Dr. Damien Charrieras is an Associate Professor at the School of Creative Media , City University of Hong Kong, where he serves as Program Leader for the Master of Art in Creative Media and deputy program leader for the PhD in Creative Media. His work bridges cultural studies, new media theory, and the intersection of financial technologies with artistic practices through the ACIM Laboratory for Interventions in Speculative Finance . Doctoral research on digital artists' trajectories in Montreal FRQSC Postdoctoral Fellowship at McGill University Research spans game engine design , datafication of creativity , blockchain in art , and post-anthropocentric creative processes . With over HK$3.14M in grants as Principal Investigator, he explores situated digital creativity in urban contexts, critical worldbuilding pedagogy , and the mediation of technical systems in cultural production. His publications in Cities , Organized Sound , and Human Relations analyze the reconfiguration of artistic practices through software infrastructures and automation paradigms. Scientific awards include: FRQSC Postdoctoral Fellowship
Dr. Mathew Todres is a Senior Lecturer in Management at the School of Business, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Wollongong. His research focuses on Management, Change Management, International Business Management, and Strategic Management, with a particular emphasis on Social Entrepreneurship and Workplace Value Congruence. He has conducted action research in Social Enterprise Development and published in journals such as the Social Enterprise Journal and Journal of Business Ethics . Dr. Todres currently supervises PhD candidates Douglas Opoku Agyeman (Micro Entrepreneurship in West Africa) and Grant Hughes (Sports Management). He has received a University of Wollongong Faculty of Business Start-Up Grant (2018). His peer-reviewed work spans organizational behavior, narrative analysis, and social enterprise innovation. His research interests include autoethnographic analysis, narratological analysis, and the application of social theory to entrepreneurial practices. Dr. Todres has contributed to journals such as Medical Education and serves as a reviewer for Journal of Spirituality, Leadership, and Management , among others. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in organizational dynamics and social impact initiatives.
Gyu Tag Lee is a Professor in the International Studies Department at George Mason University Korea, specializing in Cultural Studies with a focus on K-Pop, media criticism, and the globalization of culture. He holds a PhD in Cultural Studies from George Mason University (2013), an MA in Communication from Seoul National University, and a BA in English Language and Literature from the same institution. Having completed three years of military service in the Republic of Korea Air Force, he has been teaching at George Mason University Korea since 2014. His research interests span Cultural Studies, Media Criticism, Popular Music, K-Pop and Hallyu, Globalization of Culture, and Music Industry studies. Professor Lee is particularly recognized for his expertise on K-Pop's global expansion, cultural appropriation issues within the industry, and the relationship between Korean cultural identity and global pop music markets. His extensive publications reflect a consistent focus on K-Pop's evolution, from its historical roots to contemporary challenges and future directions. His work examines the tension between local Korean identity and global appeal, the role of digital platforms in fan engagement, and the cultural politics surrounding K-Pop's international success. Professor Lee's research demonstrates how K-Pop functions as both a cultural product and economic phenomenon with significant implications for understanding transnational cultural flows. As a respected commentator in the field, he serves on the selection committee for the Korean Music Awards and has been featured in numerous international media outlets including Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, Netflix's documentary Explained, and major Korean broadcasters such as KBS, MBC, and SBS. His insights on cultural appropriation in K-Pop have been particularly influential in shaping discussions about cultural sensitivity and global cultural exchange. Professor Lee teaches courses including Media Criticism, Globalization and Culture, K-Pop, Hallyu, and Korean Society, and Korean Popular Culture in a Global World, bringing his scholarly expertise directly into the classroom to educate the next generation of cultural critics and analysts.
Emma Maclean is a Part-Time Lecturer and Module Coordinator in the Division of Occupational Therapy and Arts Therapies at Queen Margaret University. She holds qualifications including MA (Distinction), PG Dip, and BA (Joint Honours). Her roles include teaching on the MSc Music Therapy program, focusing on supervision for practice education placements and interdisciplinary studies. Education: MA (Distinction) in Music Therapy PG Dip in Music Therapy BA (Joint Honours) Research Interests: Partnership working, collaboration, evaluation, group work, and mental health across children, adults, and older populations. She employs research methods such as case studies and focus groups. Publications & Presentations: Her work includes a peer-reviewed article on partnership evaluation and a chapter in Arts Therapies in Schools . She co-presented a plenary session at the 2016 BAMT conference titled Music Therapy in a Changing Landscape . Affiliations: British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) representative on Allied Health Professionals Federation Scotland (AHPFS) Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Clinical Work: Works as a lead music therapist in the NHS, specializing in pediatric services, adult/older adult mental health (including dementia), and supervision. Engages in freelance violin performance with ceilidh bands, tango groups, and orchestras.
Marc V Fuccillo is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, where he leads a research laboratory focused on understanding the neural circuit mechanisms underlying behavioral control. His work bridges molecular, synaptic, and behavioral approaches to investigate how striatal circuits regulate mouse behavior from simple motor patterns to complex goal-directed actions. Fuccillo holds dual appointments in the Neuroscience and Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Groups at Penn and maintains an active laboratory investigating the synaptic and circuit basis of neuropsychiatric disorders. Education: B.A. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Music Performance (Violin) from Brown University (1998) Ph.D. in Developmental Genetics from New York University School of Medicine (2007) M.D. from New York University School of Medicine (2008) Fuccillo's research centers on the synaptic and circuit mechanisms of behavioral control, with particular emphasis on striatal circuits. His laboratory employs a range of technologies including mouse genetics, in vitro electrophysiology, in vivo imaging, and quantitative behavioral analysis to explore how neural circuits of the striatum regulate behavior and how disruptions in these circuits contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders. His work has particularly focused on autism-associated abnormalities in behavioral control, examining how synaptic adhesion molecules like neuroligins and neurexins shape circuit function and behavior, with significant findings regarding D1 dopamine receptor positive medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens. Analysis of Fuccillo's recent publications reveals a strong focus on striatal circuit function across multiple dimensions. His work spans molecular neuroscience (examining synaptic adhesion molecules), cellular physiology (studying specific neuron types in striatal circuits), systems neuroscience (mapping circuit connectivity), and behavioral neuroscience (quantifying motor learning and decision-making). A unifying theme is how disruptions in specific molecular pathways lead to circuit-level abnormalities that manifest as behavioral phenotypes relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders, with particular attention to autism, OCD, and schizophrenia models. Scientific Recognition: Publications in high-impact journals including Nature Neuroscience, Current Biology, Cell Reports, and Neuron Research supported by multiple NIH grants including NIMH F32, NIMH K01, and HHMI Gilliam Fellowship awards for lab members Fuccillo actively mentors a diverse group of trainees including postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates. His laboratory has produced numerous successful alumni who have gone on to faculty positions, medical residencies, and graduate programs at prestigious institutions. His mentoring approach emphasizes technical skill development across multiple neuroscience disciplines while fostering independent scientific thinking. Current research in his lab is supported by NIH funding focused on understanding the molecular architecture of striatal circuits and their role in behavioral control, with three major research directions exploring molecular logic of striatal circuits, circuit mechanisms of behavioral control, and striatal dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disease models. The Fuccillo Laboratory operates within the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania, with access to state-of-the-art facilities for molecular, electrophysiological, imaging, and behavioral neuroscience research. The lab maintains active collaborations with other neuroscience research groups at Penn and beyond, creating a rich intellectual environment for studying the neural basis of behavior. Current research directions include investigating whether there is a molecular logic to striatal circuit composition, how striatal circuits shape behavioral control, and what mouse models of autism, schizophrenia, and OCD can reveal about striatal circuit dysfunction in disease pathophysiology.
Kiri Miller is a Professor of American Studies and Chair of the American Studies department at Brown University. Her research focuses on participatory culture, digital media, and performance studies, with a particular emphasis on interactive media like video games and their cultural implications. She holds a Ph.D. in Music (Ethnomusicology) from Harvard University and has held prestigious fellowships, including from the Radcliffe Institute and the American Council of Learned Societies. Her major works include Playable Bodies: Dance Games and Intimate Media (Oxford, 2017), which examines the cultural and kinesthetic impact of dance games, and Playing Along: Digital Games, YouTube, and Virtual Performance (Oxford, 2012), exploring game culture and virtual communities. She also authored Traveling Home: Sacred Harp Singing and American Pluralism (Illinois, 2008), studying participatory music traditions. Miller’s research interests span digital media, ethnography, gender studies, and popular music. Her current work investigates 'insomniac listening' through sleepcasts and meditation apps, analyzing their role in wellness culture and sonic comfort. She teaches courses such as Virtual Bodies, Music and Technoculture, and Popular Music Studies. Her awards include the de la Torre Bueno Book Award and the Alan Merriam Prize, recognizing her contributions to dance studies and ethnomusicology. Miller’s interdisciplinary approach bridges media studies, cultural anthropology, and technology, making her a leading voice in digital humanities and performance studies.
Nicholas Wiltsher is an Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy; Aesthetics at Uppsala University since 2019. His research focuses on aesthetics, philosophy of mind, and race/gender studies, exploring topics like imagination's role in art, gender norms in aesthetics, and electronic dance music's philosophical dimensions. He holds a PhD from the University of Miami and has held academic roles at institutions including Antwerp, Auburn, Porto Alegre, and Leeds. Education: PhD in Philosophy from the University of Miami. Previous affiliations include universities in Antwerp, Auburn, Porto Alegre, and Leeds. Research interests include: the interplay between art and imagination, aesthetic norms and gender, expression theory, philosophy of race and gender, and electronic dance music aesthetics. He critiques traditional disciplinary boundaries in aesthetics and advocates for interdisciplinary approaches. His recent publications (2023–2025) emphasize imagination's epistemic role, the aesthetic constitution of gender identities, and critiques of additive imagination theories. Earlier work (2016–2019) addressed electronic dance music's cultural ontology and Collingwood's expression theory. Awards: No scientific awards explicitly listed. Grants and advising: No grants or student advisees explicitly mentioned in sources. Labs/Teams: No specific research groups or labs mentioned, though his work engages interdisciplinary collaborations in aesthetics and cultural philosophy.
Tobias Pettersson is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Pedagogy: Music, Dance and Drama , University of Gothenburg . His roles include Undergraduate Teaching Coordinator and Education Coordinator for both first/second cycle education and teacher training programs. He works at the intersection of musicology , gender studies , and pedagogical traditions . Current position since 2015 Active in teacher education since the 1990s Doctoral degree in musicology (2004) Research Focus: Analyzes the origins and persistence of musical traditions , gender equality in music life , and education for sustainable development . Led projects at the Centre for Environment and Sustainability (2012-2014) and developed web-based educational toolboxes. Key Contributions: Publications on Beethoven's canonization in Swedish education (2004), gender dynamics in performing arts (2006), and critical analyses of musicological epistemology (2005). His work bridges historical musicology , pedagogical theory , and sustainability education . Contact: Email: tobias.pettersson@gu.se Office: Eklandagatan 86, 41259 Göteborg
Eero Hyvönen is a Professor of Computer Science at Aalto University and Director of the Helsinki Centre for Digital Humanities (HELDIG) at the University of Helsinki. He leads the Semantic Computing Research Group (SeCo), specializing in Semantic Web technologies and applications. Hyvönen holds an Adjunct Professor title at the University of Helsinki's Department of Computer Science. His work focuses on developing national-level semantic web infrastructure, with applications in digital humanities, cultural heritage, and AI. He has published over 500 research articles and books, receiving numerous awards including the Decoration of Knight, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (2018). Hyvönen chairs editorial boards of journals like Semantic Web and serves on committees for major conferences. His research spans semantic web technologies, linked open data, and AI applications in cultural heritage domains. Key projects include Sampo portals (e.g., LetterSampo, OperaSampo) for cultural data analysis, ParliamentSampo for parliamentary data, and FindSampo for archaeological finds. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating law, history, and computing through initiatives like FIN-CLARIAH. Hyvönen advises doctoral and master's students, notably Annastiina Ahola and Jouni Tuominen, who have won awards under his supervision. He directs research infrastructures, chairs international boards, and actively contributes to open data policies and standards development.
Takako Fujioka is an Associate Professor of Music at Stanford University, affiliated with the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). Her research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying auditory perception, auditory-motor coupling, and music-supported therapy for neurorehabilitation. She holds a Ph.D. in Physiology from the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Japan, and M.Sc./B.Eng. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Waseda University. Her work combines neurophysiological techniques such as MEG and EEG to study brain plasticity in development, aging, and stroke recovery. Notable contributions include investigating how music influences motor and cognitive recovery in stroke patients, as well as exploring the neural basis of musical perception through rhythmic synchronization and pitch discrimination studies. Supported by awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research during her postdoctoral work at the Rotman Research Institute, her research bridges clinical neuroscience and music cognition. Dr. Fujioka’s expertise spans auditory neuroscience, neurorehabilitation, and technology-assisted music therapy. She has pioneered studies on tactile mapping for cochlear implant users and networked music performance systems, emphasizing cross-modal perception and human-technology interaction. Her findings contribute to both theoretical understanding of auditory processing and practical applications in medical and educational settings. Awards: Canadian Institutes of Health Research Awards (postdoctoral phase) Labs/Teams: CCRMA, Stanford Music Perception Laboratory, Rotman Research Institute collaborations Key Themes: Neuroplasticity, Music-Mediated Rehabilitation, Auditory-Motor Integration, Multisensory Processing Her recent work examines aging-related changes in binaural hearing and the role of beta/gamma oscillations in rhythmic processing. She advocates for translational research that connects neural mechanisms with real-world therapeutic interventions.
Sergio Rigoletto is an Assistant Professor of Film Studies at the University of Groningen, Faculty of Arts. Previously, he held an Associate Professor position in Cinema Studies and Italian at the University of Oregon, USA. His research focuses on the intersection of film aesthetics with social change, queer media cultures, and Italian cinema. Key areas include transnational queer imaginaries in Mediterranean media, stardom in Neorealist cinema, and gendered labor in film industries. Education: PhD from the University of Reading, MA from Birkbeck College, London, and BA/MA from the University of Catania, Italy. His publications include Masculinity and Italian Cinema: Sexual Politics, Social Conflict and Male Crisis in the 1970s (2014) and Le norme traviate (2020). Current projects involve a monograph on Anna Magnani and Queer from the South: Film, Video Art and Media Activism in the Mediterranean . Research interests span queer media activism, Italian film history, and international television. He has contributed to journals like Journal of Cinema and Media Studies and New Review of Film and Television Studies , analyzing topics such as Xavier Dolan’s cinematic techniques and spectrality in Call Me by Your Name . Rigoletto’s work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to film, blending cultural theory with close textual analysis. His recent focus on Mediterranean queer media highlights transnational collaborations and challenges traditional national narratives in cinema.
Professor Beth Williamson is a leading scholar of medieval culture, holding dual roles as Professor of Medieval Culture and Chair in the History of Art at the University of Bristol's Department of History of Art (Historical Studies), and as Academic Director (Research Impact & Translation Partnerships) within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law. She earned her B.A. from Oxford University (Oxon), an M.A., and a Ph.D. from the University of London (Lond.). Her research focuses on visual, material, and aural dimensions of medieval religious practice, exploring how sensory experiences shaped devotional life. Key themes include sacred imagery (e.g., the Virgin Lactans and Madonna of Humility), liturgical spaces, and the intersection of art with music, time, and political power. Recent projects include studies of Westminster Abbey’s royal patronage and collaborations in interdisciplinary historical research. Her publications span over three decades, addressing topics from Italian Renaissance altarpieces to Irish medieval sculpture, with a strong emphasis on material culture and devotional practices. Despite her prolific output, no formal awards are listed, though her academic leadership roles reflect her scholarly impact. As a mentor, her supervisory activities are noted in her profile but lack specific student names. Her work bridges academic and public spheres, particularly through her role in translating research into societal impact initiatives. She is affiliated with the University of Bristol’s Senate House and contributes to institutional leadership.
Matthew Valnes serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Musicology in the Department of Musicology & Ethnomusicology at the University of Maryland School of Music, appointed in Spring 2022. His academic work centers on the intersections of music, identity, and social structures within Black American musical traditions. Education: Ph.D. in Musicology, University of Pennsylvania (2012) Valnes specializes in African American popular musics with concentrated expertise in jazz and funk traditions, particularly examining how post-1965 Black popular music constructs race, gender, and sexuality through what he terms a 'post-civil rights era Black popular music aesthetic.' His research methodology combines critical race theory, gender studies, and performance analysis to interrogate sonic expressions of identity. Valnes actively contributes to public scholarship through commentary on Musiqology.com and the Switched on Pop podcast, bridging academic research with broader cultural discourse. Professional engagement includes presentations at the Society for American Music, Society for Music Theory, Experience Music Project, and Dayton Funk Symposium. His scholarly publications appear in African and Black Diaspora: An International Journal, American Music, and Journal of Popular Music Studies.
Reyhan Durmaz is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with the School of Arts & Sciences and multiple interdisciplinary programs. Her research focuses on Syriac Christianity, medieval religious dynamics, and the intersection of Christianity and Islam in late antiquity. She holds a Ph.D. from Brown University (2019) and has received prestigious fellowships such as the Dumbarton Oaks Junior Fellowship and the Charlotte Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship. Her seminal book Stories between Christianity and Islam (2022) examines the transmission of saints' stories between religious traditions, earning Honorable Mention from the Middle East Medievalists. Current projects include a study of rural Christianity in the medieval Middle East through soldier-monk narratives and an analysis of the 19th-century Arabic newspaper Kawkab America . She co-leads the Digital Photograph Archive project Visualizing Countryside , documenting medieval religious sites. Dr. Durmaz teaches courses on global Christianity, material culture, and late antiquity, and serves as co-chair of the Philadelphia Seminar on Christian Origins. Her work bridges historical analysis, textual scholarship, and digital humanities, addressing themes of religious identity, cultural exchange, and marginalized communities.
