Mathieu Hikaru Desan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Colorado Boulder. He earned his PhD from the University of Michigan in 2016. Research focuses on historical sociology, political sociology, and cultural sociology Current book project: Practical logic of political conversion, analyzing French 'neo-socialists' who became Nazi collaborators Published in journals like Sociological Theory, Comparative Studies in Society and History, and Critical Sociology His work spans critical theory, Marxist analysis, and the sociology of fascism. Recent publications address class abstractionism, Bourdieu-Marx synthesis, and colonial sociology. He serves as Graduate Chair and Graduate Admissions Director.
Balazs Vedres is a **Professor** at the **Central European University (CEU)**, with a joint appointment in the **Department of Network and Data Science**. His research integrates network science, data science, and social theory to explore creativity, innovation, and historical processes in collaborative networks. He holds a **PhD in Sociology from Columbia University** and an **MA in Economics from Corvinus University**. **Research Interests**: Focuses on structural dynamics in creative fields (e.g., jazz, video games, open-source software), gender inequality in collaborative platforms, historical network evolution, and the impact of social bots on human collaboration. He analyzes how network configurations like *structural folds* and *forbidden triads* drive innovation and creativity. **Awards**: Elected **Member of the European Academy of Sociology (2017)**, recognizing his contributions to sociological research. His work bridges computational methods with sociological theory, as seen in his publications in *American Journal of Sociology* and interdisciplinary journals. **Projects**: Leads initiatives like *Gendered Creative Teams: From Marginality to Success* and *Ceunet/Indra Mapping European Network Science*. His research often involves empirical studies of transnational activism, entrepreneurial networks, and digital platforms. **Labs/Teams**: Active in CEU’s **Data and Network Dynamics Studies (DNDS)** group, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in computational social science. His work emphasizes the interplay between global economic integration and local developmental agency.
Professor Aike Peter Rots holds a position at the University of Oslo's Faculty of Humanities, Department of Japanese Studies. His research examines religion, culture, and nature in contemporary Asia, with specialization in Japan and Vietnam. Rots leads the ERC-funded project 'Whales of Power' (2019-2025) investigating cetacean worship and environmental change in maritime East Asia. His scholarship spans multiple domains: sacred space and ritual theory; heritage-making processes; environmental humanities; Shinto transformations; indigenous traditions; and religion-corporate interactions. His work critically analyzes how religious practices adapt to environmental crises and heritage preservation efforts. Publications demonstrate consistent focus on nature-culture relationships, with recent work examining Vietnamese whale worship amid plastic pollution crises, Japanese whale festivals, and East Asian perspectives on utopia and ritual. His research methodology emphasizes cross-cultural comparison and challenges methodological nationalism. Rots received the prestigious European Research Council Starting Grant for his innovative work on human-aquatic mammal relationships. He has authored 'Shinto, Nature and Ideology in Contemporary Japan' and co-edited volumes including 'Sacred Heritage in Japan'. Current projects include monographs on whale rituals in Japan/Vietnam and an introductory Shinto textbook.
Stefan Bächtold is a Lecturer at the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University Malaysia. His research focuses on the intersection of digital technologies, state authority, and conflict in Southeast Asia, particularly Myanmar and Malaysia. He has held visiting positions at the Technical University of Munich (Germany) and Swisspeace Institute (University of Basel, Switzerland). His work critically examines how digital technologies shape political dynamics and state intervention in contexts of conflict and pandemic response. **Education:** PhD in Political Science (University of Basel, 2016) MA in Sociology and Political Science (University of Fribourg, 2011) **Research Interests:** Bächtold explores technologies' role in peacebuilding, international development, and conflict transformation using methods like ethnography and discourse analysis. His current projects analyze digital tech’s impact on state authority during the pandemic and Southeast Asia’s policy networks for regulating technology. **Grants & Projects:** Lead investigator for 'Building policy networks for regulating digital tech in Southeast Asia' (2024) Co-investigator in 'Digital Technologies as a New Agenda for Korea-Southeast Asia Diplomacy' (2025) **Activities:** Organized workshops on digital governance, including the Southeast Asia Research Center for Digital Technology and Society (SEADS) Roundtables and Monash University Malaysia’s 2024 Graduate Research Week. **Collaborations:** Engages with global institutions like the United Nations, European Union, and local NGOs to evaluate complex interventions in conflict zones.
Dr. Hita Unnikrishnan is an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Global Sustainable Development (IGSD), University of Warwick, and holds affiliations with the Urban Institute (University of Sheffield), Azim Premji University (India), Blue Range Labs, and the Ostrom Workshop (Indiana University). She earned her PhD in 2017 from Manipal University, focusing on urban lake commons in Bengaluru. Her research integrates environmental governance, social justice, and resilience, with a focus on urban ecological systems, policy analysis, and community-centric approaches in the Global South. She has led initiatives like the Early Career Network of the International Association for the Study of the Commons (IASC-ECN) and contributes to platforms like the In Common Podcast . Her work addresses contested urban commons, energy transitions, and inclusive policy design, informed by historical GIS, participatory methods, and interdisciplinary frameworks. Key research themes include: Trajectories: Urban water/energy systems' evolution and their socio-ecological impacts. Sustainability Policy: Governance of urban environmental commons using Ostromian, resilience, and political ecology lenses. Community Co-Production: Challenges in defining 'community' and ensuring inclusive practices in resource management. She has collaborated with UN Habitat, the World Bank, and projects like the GCRF-funded CESET (Ethiopia/Malawi/Mozambique). Her advocacy includes advancing equitable urban policies and bridging academic-practice gaps through interdisciplinary networks.
Fabien Postel-Vinay is a Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics, University College London (UCL), and concurrently serves as Research Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). His research focuses on labor market dynamics, unemployment, wage determination, and the interplay between economic policies and labor markets. He holds dual affiliations with UCL and IFS, contributing to both academic research and policy analysis. Postel-Vinay’s work emphasizes understanding labor mobility, wage posting mechanisms, and the impact of business cycles on employment. His recent studies address post-pandemic job opportunities, mental health effects on labor trajectories, and structural labor market analysis. He has extensively published on topics such as public versus private sector wage gaps, temporary employment dynamics, and employer-employee matching processes. His research often combines theoretical models with empirical data, focusing on macroeconomic implications of labor market policies. Key themes include the role of age in policy design during crises, the cyclical job ladder dynamics, and the measurement of employer-to-employer reallocation. Despite his prolific output, no scientific awards or grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Postel-Vinay collaborates with institutions like IFS to inform policy through studies on labor market responses to economic shocks, such as the pandemic’s impact on employment structures. His work bridges theoretical microeconomics with applied policy analysis, addressing both academic and societal challenges in labor economics.
Joshua K. Leon is a Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Political Science Department at Iona University. He specializes in urban history, global cities, and international relations. His research explores urban networks across millennia, from ancient Mesopotamia to modern globalized cities. He currently holds the 2022-23 Robert David Lion Gardiner Fellowship at the New-York Historical Society, supporting his work on New York 1860: City on a Precipice , under contract with Columbia University Press. His recent book, World Cities in History (Cambridge University Press), analyzes 6,000 years of urban networks. Education: Ph.D. in Political Science from Temple University (2010), M.A. in International Affairs from California State University, Sacramento (2004). Research focuses on how urban networks shape political and social structures, global governance of urban issues, and the intersection of development with inequality. His work spans historical case studies and contemporary debates on topics like global health governance, urbanization in the Global South, and the impact of neoliberal policies on cities. His articles address themes such as global housing governance, municipal mercantilism, and the role of global cities in land grabs. He has also written extensively for popular outlets like The Progressive and Dissent , addressing pandemic responses, urban inequality, and urban planning. Awards: 2022-23 Robert David Lion Gardiner Fellowship. Grants: Fellowship support from New-York Historical Society for current book project. Teaching includes courses on global health, urban politics, and New York City studies. He has previously taught at Villanova, Temple, and Drexel Universities.
Dr. Stephen C. Berkwitz is a Professor and Department Head of Religious Studies at Missouri State University , affiliated with the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities. A leading scholar in South Asian religions, he has published extensively on Buddhism , Theravāda traditions , and religion-colonialism intersections since 1999. Education : PhD (1999), MA (1994) in Religious Studies from UC Santa Barbara; BA (1991) in Religion from University of Vermont. His research focuses on Sinhala and Pali literature , Buddhist kingship , and post-colonial religious identity . Recent publications analyze Buddhist relic veneration, colonial-era texts, and interfaith dynamics. He co-edited the Routledge Handbook of Theravāda Buddhism (2022) and translated the Sinhala Thupavamsa . Scientific Awards : Fulbright Senior Scholar Award (2005) Luso-American Foundation Scholarship (2009) Multiple Ruhr-Universität Bochum fellowships (2011, 2017) Wabash Center grants for religious pedagogy (2010, 2015-2017) University Teaching Award (2004) As series editor for Routledge Critical Studies in Buddhism and editorial board member of three journals, Berkwitz actively shapes global Buddhist scholarship. He has conducted fieldwork in Sri Lanka , Germany , and Portugal , with expertise in South Asian manuscript cultures and Buddhist nationalism .
Maria Amalia Barchiesi is an Associate Professor in Spanish Language and Translation (L-LIN/07) at the University of Macerata's Department of Humanistic Studies. She holds a European Doctorate in Information and Communication Theory (2004) and has been a researcher and academic in Hispanic Studies since 1993. Her research focuses on semiotics of Hispanic American literature, cultural imaginaries, translation theory, and political discourse analysis. She has authored monographs like Borges y Cortázar lo fantástico bilingüe (2009) and edited volumes such as Arti in traduzione. Semiotica Linguistica Antropologia (2023). She currently leads research in transmediality in Panhispanic poetry within a PRIN 2022 project. Education: Licentiate in Letters with Linguistics focus from Buenos Aires University (Argentina) European Doctorate in Information and Communication Theory (University of Macerata) Research Interests: Semiotics of narrative and cultural imaginaries in Hispanic America Translation studies (interlinguistic and intersemiotic) Analysis of political, advertising, and museum discourses Landscape aesthetics in literature Postmodern rhetoric in Zapatista discourses Recent Scholarly Contributions: Her 2025 works explore Borges' translation paradoxes and Cortázar's museum imagery. Recent projects analyze transmedial poetic forms and post-dictatorship testimonial theatre. She contributes to editorial boards of Heteroglossia and Lingue e Linguaggi . Awards: National Scientific Qualification as Full Professor (2020) Academic Service: Director of Spanish Language and Civilization courses Member of PhD boards in Information Theory and Humanities Chair of the Language Mediation Program admissions committee
Nicola Livingstone is a Professor in Real Estate at the University of Glasgow (since 2023), affiliated with the Urban Studies department. Previously, she held roles at UCL’s Bartlett School of Planning and Heriot-Watt University, where she completed her 2011 PhD on charity retailing through a Marxist lens. Her research spans real estate investment trends, urban governance, and the social dimensions of built environments. Research focuses on post-COVID office markets, housing densification, and the political economy of food insecurity. Collaborates with the University of Toronto as a Visiting Professor and co-edited Critical Dialogues of Urban Governance, Development and Activism: London and Toronto (2020). Her interdisciplinary work integrates perspectives from real estate, planning, and critical social science. Recent grants include £60k (2022) for post-COVID urban studies and £457k (2019) on housing investment landscapes. Teaching contributions include the MSc Real Estate Programme, covering valuation, appraisal, and development economics.
Dr. Troy Michael Bordun is an Assistant Professor in the English Department within the Faculty of Indigenous Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Northern British Columbia, where he teaches film and television studies. He holds a PhD in Cultural Studies from Trent University, an MA from Brock University, and a BA Honours from the University of Toronto. His academic journey includes prior teaching positions as a contract instructor at Concordia University (Film Studies, Sociology, Art History, Communication Studies), Trent University (Cultural Studies, Sociology), and Bishop's University (English and Film Studies), where he received Trent University's part-time teaching award. Dr. Bordun's research spans film and media studies, celebrity studies, porn studies, and comics studies, with particular expertise in contemporary superhero comics, continental philosophy, and online pornography. His work examines genre theory, spectatorship, and the intersections of cinema with gender, sexuality, and power structures. His scholarship demonstrates a consistent theoretical sophistication, drawing on phenomenological approaches, affect theory, and continental philosophy to analyze cinematic experiences. His publications reveal a thematic trajectory connecting extreme cinema, pornography studies, and superhero narratives. The articles show his ability to bridge theoretical frameworks with close readings of specific films, often focusing on how cinematic form engages with philosophical concepts. His work consistently addresses how film genres function as sites for ethical and political critique, particularly regarding gender representation and power dynamics. Genre Trouble and Extreme Cinema: Film Theory at the Fringes of Contemporary Art Cinema (2017) SSHRC Explore Grant recipient Research Strategic Initiatives Grant (UNBC) Editorial board member for Comics Studies: Theory and Practice and Porn Studies Co-Chair of Comics Studies Special Interest Group (Society for Cinema and Media Studies) Dr. Bordun actively supervises graduate students in English and is available as a media expert on film and television studies. His current research includes developing a manuscript linking contemporary superhero comics and continental philosophy, an edited collection about the Invincible transmedia franchise, and ongoing research on online pornography, labor, platforms, and celebrity.
Myropi Garri is a Senior Lecturer in Strategic Management and International Business at the University of Portsmouth's Faculty of Business & Law, within the School of Strategy, Marketing and Innovation. She serves as the Global DBA Course Director and supervises PhD students. Her research focuses on strategy and international business, with emphasis on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), institutional influences, sustainability, and geopolitical dynamics. She has contributed to over 20 peer-reviewed publications and led projects such as the 'Dynamic Capabilities building in Ukrainian SMEs for post-war restoration' and the Portsmouth City Council-funded 'AI Leadership Skills Bootcamp.' Her work addresses UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in sustainable development and global economic equity. Garri has received the Alan M. Rugman Most Promising Young Scholar Award (2016) and frequently presents at international conferences, including a 2024 invited talk at the University of Macedonia in Greece. Key research themes include configurational theorizing, institutional theory, dynamic capabilities, and resource-based strategies. Her projects often involve cross-disciplinary collaborations, such as analyzing FDI motives in South Korea and exploring SME resilience in post-war Ukraine.
Dhrubodhi Mukherjee , Ph.D., LCSW-S, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of North Texas . His work focuses on the intersection of trauma and substance use disorder , emphasizing integrated care , community health workforce development , and healthcare system fragmentation . Program Director/Principal Investigator: $1.8M HRSA-funded CHW-OSUDS (Community Health Worker Program for Opioids/Substance Use Disorders) Co-Principal Investigator: BTIIC (Bilingual Trauma-Informed Integrated Care Project) Certified in EMDR , TfCBT , and Financial Social Work Dr. Mukherjee’s research explores: Challenges in rural-urban addiction responses Multidisciplinary workforce integration through community needs assessments Role of social capital and technology in aging populations and virtual volunteering His publications span trauma-informed care , climate change mental health impacts , elder abuse , and digital governance , with grants from SAMHSA and HRSA supporting innovative interventions in addiction recovery.
Dr. Joe Larragy is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Applied Social Studies at Maynooth University, part of the Faculty of Social Sciences. He serves as PhD programme co-ordinator and Social Policy subject leader. His academic journey includes a BA Mod in Sociology from Trinity College Dublin, an MA in Social Theory from UCC, and a PhD in Social Policy from UCD. His research focuses on Social Policy and Ageing, Third Sector dynamics, volunteering, and state-civil society interactions. Notable contributions include founding Maynooth Green Campus (2012), driving Ireland's first fossil-free investment policy, and influencing national ageing strategies through policy submissions like A Bounty Not a Burden . He actively participates in initiatives like the Pensions Policy Research Group and ROSENet (Reducing Old-Age Social Exclusion). Professional roles include Board membership of County Kildare Leader Partnership Company (2011-2013), Academic Council representation at Maynooth, and advisory roles with NGOs in ageing sectors. His publications span civil society governance, social partnership history, and ageing policy, with key works published by Manchester University Press and Springer. Advocacy and grants highlight his climate justice work, policy advisory roles, and leadership in age-friendly initiatives like the Meath Age Friendly Alliance. Collaborative efforts include COST Action networks and European policy analysis projects.
Prof. G. Scott Watson is a Professor in the Department of Physics at Syracuse University, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on the interplay between fundamental particle physics and cosmology, particularly early universe cosmology, inflationary models, dark matter/energy, and string theory applications. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Brown University (2005) and B.S. degrees in Mathematics and Physics from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (2000). Key research interests include string phenomenology as a quantum gravity framework, probing inflationary scenarios through cosmic microwave background (CMB) studies, and exploring dark matter origins. He leads major projects like CMB-S4 and contributes to the CMBPol mission concept. Watson has received the American Physical Society Outstanding Referee Award (2021) and serves on high-profile collaborations such as the Inflation Probe Study Analysis Group (IPSAG). Teaching responsibilities include advanced courses like Quantum Field Theory, Relativity and Cosmology, and Quantum Mechanics II. He actively mentors students through independent studies and advises on graduate admissions. Watson has secured significant grants, including a Department of Energy-funded project on theoretical particle physics and cosmology (2013–2025) and NSF support for cosmic acceleration research (2018–2023).
