Dr. Laura McMahon is an Associate Professor in Film and Screen Studies at the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics , University of Cambridge. She is currently on sabbatical leave and will return in Easter Term 2024. Her research explores intersections between film and philosophy , with a focus on French and Francophone cinema , decolonial approaches , feminist theory , and ecocritical perspectives . Dr. McMahon’s work examines how contemporary feminist filmmakers like Onyeka Igwe and Khady Sylla engage with archives to reframe history through speculative reimagining . She also investigates ecological themes in Claire Denis’s films and the ethics of animality in global art cinema. Her monograph Animal Worlds: Film, Philosophy and Time (2019) and edited collections like Animal Life and the Moving Image (2015) highlight her contributions to debates on nonhuman representation and deconstructive aesthetics . Her recent publications analyze documentary practices , postcolonial archives , and critical repurposing in moving image work. She welcomes inquiries from MPhil and PhD students working on related topics. Her teaching and research are affiliated with the Cambridge Film and Screen initiative and the Cambridge Italian Research Network (CIRN).
Dr. Michael R. Griffiths is a Senior Lecturer in English Literatures at the University of Wollongong, where he has been teaching since 2014. He serves as the Internationalisation Director in the School of the Arts, English and Media, managing global collaborations including UOW's campuses in Hong Kong and Dubai. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University's Institute for Comparative Literature and Society from 2012-2014. His educational background includes: PhD in English from Rice University (2012) Griffiths's research focuses on postcolonial literary theory, settler colonial studies, and Indigenous literatures, with a growing emphasis on decolonial thought. His work critically examines representations of Aboriginal people and culture in Australian literature, the politics of authorship in anticolonial thought, and intersections between critical animal studies and ecocriticism. In his scholarship, Griffiths explores how literature engages with questions of identity, difference, and belonging in settler colonial contexts, often challenging conventional approaches to cultural appropriation and representation. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward examining the intersections between poststructuralist literary theory and anticolonial thought. The publication of his 2025 book The Death of the Author and Anticolonial Thought represents a significant contribution to understanding how thinkers like Edward Said and Édouard Glissant responded to Roland Barthes's "death of the author" thesis. His earlier work, particularly his 2018 monograph The Distribution of Settlement: Appropriation and Refusal in Australian Literature and Culture , established him as a scholar examining representations of Aboriginal people by non-Indigenous writers in Australian literature. Griffiths serves as Chair of the South Pacific Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies (SPACLALS) and is on the editorial advisory board of Australian Literary Studies . He has also co-edited special issues of Continuum on freedom of speech debates, which received notable attention and was reprinted as a book titled Unsettled Voices . As a supervisor, Griffiths has mentored numerous PhD and Master's students through projects examining diverse topics including Indigenous Trinidadian theatre, hauntings in Chinese-Australian literature, and cosmopolitanism in Indian English fiction. His grant history shows consistent funding support for research on Australian literature, settler colonial studies, and international academic collaborations, particularly with Wuhan University in China. Griffiths contributes to several research networks focused on postcolonial studies and settler colonialism, including the South Pacific Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies, which he chairs, and maintains active engagement with global scholarly conversations through his academic profiles and social media presence.
Timothy Bewes is the Owen F. Walker Professor of Humanities and Professor of English at Brown University , where he has taught since 2004. His research bridges contemporary fiction , poststructuralist theory , Marxist literary analysis , and postcolonial studies , with a focus on the politics and ethics of literary form . He has held fellowships at the Pembroke Center and Cogut Institute for the Humanities , and co-edits the Film-Thinking series. Education : DPhil and MA from University of Sussex , BA from University of North London . Bewes' scholarship interrogates the ontological status of fiction and the materiality of literary works , as seen in his National Book Critics Circle Award-winning book Free Indirect: The Novel in a Postfictional Age (2022). His recent articles explore intersections between novel theory , Black studies , and Deleuzean philosophy , emphasizing repetition , dialogicality , and anti-representational frameworks . Notable awards include the L. S. Dembo Prize (2015) and Chesler-Mallow Senior Faculty Research Fellowship (2012-13). He teaches courses such as The Terrible Century , Capitalism & its Metamorphoses , and Bakhtin and the Political Present .
Pheng Cheah serves as Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in interdisciplinary research bridging philosophy, literature, and political theory with global implications. His academic credentials include: PhD from Cornell University LLB from University of Sydney His research spans continental philosophy from Kant to Derrida, postcolonial theory, world literature, and globalization studies, with concentrated focus on human rights frameworks, cosmopolitan/national tensions, feminist perspectives, and contemporary Chinese cinema. His methodology integrates literary analysis with political philosophy to examine power dynamics in transnational contexts, particularly across postcolonial Asia where he conducts fieldwork with filmmakers. Publication analysis reveals an evolving trajectory from foundational cosmopolitan/national theory toward biopolitical human rights frameworks and cinematic representations of globalization. His work consistently centers non-Western perspectives—especially Chinese, Southeast Asian, and global South contexts—challenging Eurocentric paradigms through comparative analysis of cultural production and political transformation. No scientific awards are documented in available sources. Professor Cheah mentors graduate students in critical theory and postcolonial studies, guiding research on literature's political dimensions. His scholarly activities are supported by standard academic funding mechanisms enabling extensive archival work and international collaborations, particularly with Asian film communities. He maintains active participation in global studies consortia and postcolonial research networks, frequently collaborating with filmmakers and scholars across the three Chinas through interview-based methodologies.
Prof. Nurten BİRLİK is a faculty member at the Middle East Technical University (METU), affiliated with the Department of Foreign Language Education under the Faculty of Education. She holds a Professor academic rank and maintains an active affiliation as of the last update in April 2022. Her educational background includes a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in English Language and Literature from Hacettepe University (1992, 1995, 2000), followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick (2004-2005). Research interests focus on literary analysis across multiple traditions and theories: British Modernist Poetry , Romantic Poetry , Contemporary Literary Theory , Lacanian Criticism , Ecocriticism , and the study of Modern Turkish Novel and Poetry . These areas reflect her expertise in both comparative literature and critical theory. While no recent articles are listed in the provided materials, her research trends suggest ongoing engagement with interdisciplinary literary studies, poststructuralist theory, and cultural analysis through the lens of environmental criticism and psychoanalytic frameworks. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly mentioned in the profile. She has not listed formal advisees in the provided information, though her role as a professor likely involves teaching and mentoring responsibilities. Affiliated with the Department of Foreign Language Education, her work contributes to language pedagogy and literature curriculum development in higher education contexts.
Sarah Sharma is a Professor of Media Theory at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information and Director of the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology (ICCIT). Her work interrogates intersections of technology, temporality, and labor through a feminist lens. She has held leadership roles in the McLuhan Centre (2017–2022) and is recognized for advancing critical media theory. Research focuses include: • Temporality’s role in cultural politics • Feminist reimaginings of McLuhan’s media theory • Digital platforms’ socio-political impacts • Labour dynamics in gig economies (e.g., TaskRabbit). Her upcoming book Insufferable Tools: Big Tech and the Broken Machine critiques tech industry failures. Key achievements: • 2024 Desmond Morton Research Excellence Award • 2014 NCA Critical Cultural Book of the Year for In the Meantime: Temporality and Cultural Politics . Her edited volume Re-Understanding Media (2022) exemplifies feminist extensions of media theory. Recent engagements include keynote addresses at the Canadian Communication Association (June 2025) and University of Michigan’s Digital Ideas Workshop (June 2025). She critiques ‘accelerationist’ narratives about technology and advocates for rethinking media through marginalized perspectives.
Prof. Dr. Sami Khatib is a Professor for Political and Social Aesthetics at Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design since spring 2025, where he also serves as Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Cooperations. His academic career spans teaching at institutions including the American University of Beirut, American University in Cairo, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, and Free University of Berlin. His research focuses on critical theory from the Global South, aesthetic theory, and continental philosophy. Key publication projects include the 2025 title Real Abstraction: The Birth of Aesthetics from the Spirit of Capitalism , and co-editing the 2025 posthumous collection of Irving Wohlfarth’s essays on Walter Benjamin. His 2013 monograph Teleology without End explores Benjamin’s reconfiguration of messianic thought. Khatib’s work bridges traditional arts with media technology, and he contributes to international academic collaborations through his administrative leadership. Current research trends show focus on capitalist systems, theological materialism, and critical theory methodologies.
Minwoo Jung is an Assistant Professor at Loyola University Chicago, jointly appointed in the Department of Sociology and Women's Studies and Gender Studies (WSGS). His research interrogates the intersections of gender, sexuality, neoliberalism, and globalization through decolonial and queer theoretical frameworks. Research interests include: Queer theory and its epistemological limits Decolonial approaches to globalization and rights Gender and sexuality in East and Southeast Asian contexts Neoliberal political economy and cultural critique Urban inequality in South Korea Transnational LGBTQ+ movements His recent scholarship examines contested cosmopolitanisms in queer activism, flexible masculinities in global Asia, and rights projects as relational sociological phenomena. Current work analyzes sovereignty imaginaries in Taiwan's marriage equality debates and neoliberal violence in global media like Squid Game . Scientific achievements include: Mary Griffin Essay Award Laura Bassi Scholarship Active in teaching and mentorship, Jung contributes to undergraduate and graduate programs in WSGS while maintaining a robust publication record.
Anna Krylova is an Associate Professor at Duke University with joint appointments in the Department of History and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies. Her research bridges historical theory, gender studies, and modern Russian/Soviet history, with a focus on socialist alternatives in industrial modernity. She is currently developing two books: The Grip of History: Essays in Historical Criticism and Social Theory and Imagining Socialism in the Soviet Century . Education Ph.D. in History, Johns Hopkins University (2001) M.A. in History, Johns Hopkins University (1998) M.A. in Political Science, Johns Hopkins University (1995) Research Focus Krylova interrogates the intersections of gender theory, socialist feminism, and Western/Soviet Marxism. Her award-winning book, Soviet Women in Combat (2010), redefines narratives of violence on the Eastern Front. Current projects critique poststructuralist influences on historiography and reimagine Soviet socialism beyond Stalinist paradigms. Publications Overview Her recent articles (2023–2024) analyze agency, poststructuralism, and Marxism's latent role in contemporary historiography. Works consistently engage themes of gender binaries, socialist imaginaries, and Cold War legacies, reflecting a commitment to rethinking historical methodology. Awards and Honors Herbert Baxter Adams Prize (2011) for best first book in European history National Humanities Center Fellowship (2013–2014) Institute for Advanced Study Membership (2013) Mellon Faculty Book Manuscript Fellowship (2008–2009) Advising and Grants Krylova mentors Ph.D. students in Russian history and gender theory. Her research is supported by grants from SSRC, IREX, and the Davis Center at Harvard. She has held residencies at Tübingen University and the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute.
Professor Daniel Katz is a faculty member at the University of Warwick's Faculty of Arts, affiliated with the English and Comparative Literary Studies program. His research focuses on modernism and its aftermath, with a special interest in poetry and poetics. BA (Reed College) PhD (Stanford University) His work spans psychoanalysis, critical theory, transatlantic literary studies, and multilingualism. He has published extensively on Jack Spicer, Samuel Beckett, and Ezra Pound, including the edited volume Be Brave to Things: The Uncollected Poetry and Plays of Jack Spicer (2021). Current projects include a monograph The Big Lie of the Personal: Poetry, Politics, and the Lyric Subject (Oxford UP, forthcoming). Recent publications analyze subjects such as sublimation in psychoanalysis, materialist poetics, and the politics of avant-garde movements. He is a founding editor of the Bloomsbury Studies in Critical Poetics series and co-directed Warwick's Centre for Research in Philosophy, Literature and the Arts. He supervises doctoral research in modernism (especially Beckett and Pound), American poetry, and critical theory, including psychoanalysis and post-Derridean thought. Teaching includes undergraduate modules like US Writing and Culture, Modern American Poetry, and Twentieth-Century Avant-Gardes, as well as MA options in American Poetry and Modernist Psychoanalysis. Office hours: Monday 14.30-15.30, Tuesday 13.00-14.00, and by appointment.
Dr. Hooman Foroughmand Araabi is a Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and Design at the University of the West of England (UWE) , affiliated with the Faculty of Environment and Technology and the Department of Architecture and the Built Environment . His work bridges critical theory and creative urban design, focusing on the alignment of criticality and creativity to enhance public spaces. Research Interests: Urban design theory, inclusivity in the built environment, decolonising urbanism, beauty in urban design, and governance of design. He also explores urbanism in Iran and the Middle East, emphasizing sociopolitical frameworks and localized design knowledge. Publication Trends: His 15 most recent articles (2011–2025) highlight themes like urban design theory, critical methodologies, participatory design, and regional urbanism. Notably, he develops a Deleuzoguattarian approach for urban design and examines the ethics of beauty in public spaces.
Professor Lene Hansen is a leading scholar at the Department of Political Science , University of Copenhagen , with expertise in International Relations Theory and Security Studies . Her work integrates poststructuralism , feminism , and constructivism , focusing on the role of visual culture in shaping security narratives. She directed the Images and International Security project (2014–2017), funded by The Danish Council for Independent Research (7.4 million DKK). Education: Ph.D., M.A., and B.A. in Political Science from the University of Copenhagen (1998, 1994, 1992). Research Interests: Hansen explores the intersection of identity , discourse , and visual politics in international security. Her contributions include methodological frameworks for discourse analysis and critiques of securitization theory through feminist lenses. Article Trends: Her recent work emphasizes visual security practices (e.g., HIV/AIDS, refugee crisis), poststructuralist theory , and cultural analysis , often addressing how images and emotions shape international crises and policy. Scientific Awards: Elite Research Prize (2011) Multiple grants from The Danish Council for Independent Research (2013, 2009) Editorial Roles: She has served on editorial boards of International Theory , European Journal of International Relations , and Security Dialogue , and as Editor-in-Chief of European Journal of International Relations (2008–2013).
Ellen T. Armour is the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Feminist Theology at Vanderbilt Divinity School and the Graduate Department of Religion, where she directs the Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality. She holds affiliated appointments in the Department of Philosophy and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Vanderbilt and served as a Faculty Fellow at the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities (2017–2018). B.A., Stetson University (1980) M.A., Ph.D., Vanderbilt University (1989, 1993) Her research focuses on feminist theology, contemporary continental philosophy, and theories of sexuality, race, gender, disability, and embodiment. Her work engages interdisciplinary approaches to religion, particularly through poststructuralist and queer theoretical frameworks. Key themes in her publications include the intersection of religion and digital visual culture, decolonial ethics in theology, and the application of Judith Butler’s performativity theory to religious discourse. Her notable books include Seeing and Believing (2023), Signs and Wonders (2016), and Bodily Citations (co-editor, 2006). Scientific Awards: Clarence Day Dean’s Award for Outstanding Teaching (1999) Jameson Jones Award for Faculty Service (2005) Armour has held leadership roles such as Chair of the Religious Studies Department at Rhodes College (1991–2006) and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Vanderbilt (2019–present). Her affiliations include St. Augustine’s Chapel (formerly Baptist) and the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities.
Gaston Bacquet is a Lecturer in Education Studies at the University of Glasgow's School of Education, specializing in Culture, Literacies, Inclusion & Pedagogy. A Chilean teacher trainer and educator based in Scotland, he also holds qualifications as a meditation and yoga instructor. With extensive international teaching experience across K-12 and higher education systems in Chile, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, the US, and UK, his work bridges practical pedagogy and theoretical innovation. His educational background includes a DipTESOL from Trinity College London, an MA in TESOL from the Institute of Education (UCL), and a PhD in Education from the University of Glasgow. Bacquet currently teaches in the MSc/MEd Education Studies program and leads the undergraduate Asian Religions course, while supervising dissertation students across the School of Education. Research interests center on nonviolence as transformative educational practice, with emphases on decolonial approaches, contemplative pedagogy, and inclusion of minoritized groups. His work integrates Buddhist philosophy, indigenous wisdom traditions, and international perspectives to challenge Western epistemological dominance. Key methodological commitments include participatory action research and qualitative approaches that prioritize community voices. Recent publications reveal evolving trajectories from language education toward decolonial nonviolence frameworks, with increasing focus on Global South contexts, indigenous knowledge systems, and teacher preparation. His 2024-2025 work shows intensified engagement with Buddhist-Christian dialogue, indigenous contributions to peace education, and practical applications of nonviolence in classroom power structures. As a supervisor, Bacquet mentors Master's students in inclusion, nonviolence, and educational ethics, welcoming PhD proposals aligned with his research interests. His professional activities span editorial roles with Cogent Arts and Humanities and SAGE Open , alongside active participation in international scholarly networks including the Comparative and International Educational Society and the European Network for Buddhist-Christian Studies. Professional affiliations reflect his interdisciplinary reach: British Educational Research Association (2021-present), American Educational Research Association (2022-present), International Society for Contemplative Research (2023-present), and the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (2025-present). His conference presentations consistently address nonviolence pedagogy, decolonial curriculum development, and participatory research ethics across global contexts from Chile to New Zealand.
Dr. Deniz Ortactepe Hart is a Lecturer in TESOL at the University of Glasgow, specializing in social justice language education. She joined the university in 2022 and has extensive experience across Turkey, the US, and the UK in teacher training and educational research. Her roles include founding convenor of the BAAL Language and Education for Social Justice SIG and coordinator of ELINET’s Language and Social Justice strand. Her research focuses on teaching languages for diversity, equity, and social transformation. Notable projects include the Social Justice in ELT initiative in Turkey (2018–2022) and collaborations with California’s Migrant Education Office. She authored Social Justice and the Language Classroom (2023) and is co-editing volumes on environmental and language justice. Her articles emphasize anti-oppressive digital spaces, culturally sustaining pedagogies, and identity重构 in multilingual contexts. Current research explores intersectional identities and environmental justice representation. She teaches courses like Which English? Sociolinguistics and Language Teaching and supervises students in social justice education and environmental justice. Grants include the British Council-funded project on feminist pedagogies (2024–2025) and leadership in Turkish migrant education initiatives (2018–2022). She actively engages in invited talks and professional memberships with TESOL, AAAL, and BAAL.
