Julia Kuhlin is a Research Fellow in digital humanities at Humlab, Umeå University, leading research on Swedish Free Churches' visual communication on Instagram and religious digital creatives. Her work bridges religious studies and digital media analysis. Research focuses on: Digital religion and social media engagement Lived religion in Pentecostal communities Interreligious relations and gender aspects World Christianity with regional focus on India and Sweden Publications demonstrate consistent focus on religious adaptation to digital platforms and ethnographic studies of Christian communities. Recent work emphasizes deconstruction of religious narratives through new media formats like podcasts.
Stefan Gelfgren is Associate Professor of Sociology of Religion and Senior Lecturer in Didactics of Religion at Umeå University's Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies. He holds a PhD in History of Ideas (Umeå University), MPhil in History of Christianity (Birmingham University), and BA in Construction Engineering. His research examines: Social/technical/religious transformations throughout history Digital media's impact on Christian institutions Digital humanities methodologies Surveillance in everyday life Religious geography and mapping Recent publications (2020-2025) focus on digital religion, surveillance ethics, Swedish revivalism, and geospatial humanities. Key trends include institutional adaptation to digitalization and historical continuities in religious media. Awards include the 2022 Erik Allardt Fellowship at Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies. He leads multiple research initiatives: Wallenberg-funded DINO project on digital privacy/social benefit (Co-investigator) Nordic Places of Worship Map (Project Leader) iAccept: Soft Surveillance (Principal Investigator 2017-2021) As former Director of Humlab (2015-2020), he developed digital humanities infrastructure. He chairs the Swedish Association for Sociology of Religion and serves on Umeå University's Faculty Board.
Hannah Strømmen is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Theology and Religious Studies within Lund University , specializing in Biblical Reception History . Her work interrogates the Bible’s impact on politics and culture, particularly its appropriation by the European Far Right . Current projects: Wallenberg-funded 'Scripture and Secularism' (2022-2027), analyzing biblical texts in secular contexts. Editorial roles: Political Theology journal, The Bible and Critical Theory , and SBL monograph series. Her research merges Critical Theory , Religion and Politics , and Contextual Biblical Interpretation , with recent work focusing on the Bible’s material and ideological roles in far-right movements. She co-chairs the Reading, Theory, and Poetics research group at the European Association of Biblical Studies and contributes to UN consultations on Religion and Polarization . Scientific Awards : Wallenberg Academy Fellowship (2022), Fellow of the Center of Theological Inquiry (2018).
Erik Sidenvall is a Professor of Practical Theology at Lund University's Centre for Theology and Religious Studies (Faculty of Humanities and Theology) since autumn 2024. His research bridges historical and contemporary analyses of religious spatiality, materiality, and existential sustainability. Key projects: Room for Ageing (Kamprad Foundation, €500k) and Cemeteries of the Future (PI). Editor-in-Chief of Swedish Theological Quarterly . Active in Cold War research networks (ReCoNet) and existential sustainability initiatives. His recent publications focus on interdisciplinary existential resilience, vision interpretation in early modern Sweden, and theology-church collaboration. Awards include the Kungliga humanistiska vetenskapssamfundet election (2023) and Hallenblad Award (2022). He supervises PhD students across Lund and Glasgow Universities.
Rola El-Husseini is an Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer at Lund University , affiliated with the Department of Political Science and MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World . Her work bridges political sociology, gender studies, and Middle Eastern politics. PhD from Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris (2003) Postdoc at Yale University (2004-2005) Former positions at Texas A&M University , CUNY-Graduate Center , and George Washington University Research Interests: Focuses on Middle Eastern politics , gender dynamics , sectarian conflict , and women's political representation . Current projects include analyzing Arab women's legislative challenges and UN-ESCWA commissioned works . Recent Publications examine topics like Lebanese societal divisions , women in Arab judiciaries , and gender-state conflicts . Her 2012 book Pax Syriana: Elite Politics in Postwar Lebanon remains a seminal work on post-civil war political systems. Scientific Collaborations include projects like SWEMENA and MECW 2.0 , involving 20+ researchers across Sweden, Europe, and the MENA region. She actively participates in public seminars and international conferences . Labs & Networks: Associated with CMES and Mechanical Fingerprint Lab . Leads the Qualitative Methods Lab and contributes to Swedish Middle East Network .
Kavot Zillén is an Associate Professor and University Lecturer in Public Law at Stockholm University's Department of Law. With a focus on Medical Law and Human Rights in Healthcare, their work explores the intersection of freedom of religion and conscience , right to health , and non-discrimination . Previously a lawyer at Swedish healthcare regulatory bodies, they now lead research at the Children's Rights Centre and teach Public Law Social Law Medical Law . Research Interests include Religious Freedom in Secular Healthcare and Education Children's Right to Health and Welfare Legal Frameworks for Migrant and EU Citizens . Their work often addresses ethical dilemmas in medical decision-making and legal responses to pandemics like COVID-19 . Recent Publications focus on coercion in healthcare , rights of migrant children , and religious freedom in public institutions . These span journals like Nordisk socialrättslig tidskrift and edited volumes on Medical Law and Children's Rights . Awards include Yale University Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics – Excellence in Teaching Diploma (2018) . They also received significant research funding from the Swedish Research Council and Stockholm University's cross-disciplinary initiative on Children, Migration, and Integration . Collaborations involve IMPACT (Uppsala University), Lund's Health Law environment, and international networks in Biomedical Law. Media appearances include SVT and Läkartidningen on topics like abortion access and conscientious refusals in healthcare .
Mosa Sayed serves as Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer in International Private and Procedural Law at Uppsala University's Department of Law, specializing in legal challenges arising from Sweden's multicultural transformation. Their work critically examines tensions between religious legal traditions and secular state systems, with particular focus on Islamic law's interaction with Swedish jurisprudence. Education: Juris Doctor in Private International Law (2010) Bachelor of Laws (2003) Research concentrates on three interconnected domains: First, international private law complexities in globalized contexts where religious legal rules confront state courts, especially regarding normative pluralism. Second, rigorous analysis of Islamic family and inheritance law systems, identifying conflicts with secular Swedish values and proposing frameworks for legal accommodation. Third, investigation of religious organizations' formal/informal legal functions, including alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and their societal implications. This tripartite approach reveals systemic tensions in multicultural legal governance while offering pragmatic pathways for coexistence. Publication trends from 2013-2019 demonstrate consistent scholarly engagement with Islamic law's practical manifestations in Swedish legal practice. Key thematic clusters include marital agreements (particularly mahr), inheritance systems across Shia/Sunni traditions, forced marriage interventions, and abortion jurisprudence within Islamic frameworks. Methodologically, the work bridges comparative law, socio-legal studies, and religious studies to expose how normative pluralism challenges state legal monopolies while proposing context-sensitive accommodation models for European legal systems. Awards: No scientific awards documented in source materials Advising and funding activities remain unspecified in available records, though research outputs indicate substantial independent scholarship and collaborative projects with scholars like Margareta Brattström and Göran Larsson. The absence of explicit grant mentions suggests institutional funding or independent research initiatives rather than major external awards. No dedicated laboratories or formal research teams are referenced, though publications indicate cross-institutional collaborations typical of Scandinavian legal academia. Research appears conducted within Uppsala University's Department of Law framework, leveraging Sweden's unique position in European religious-legal accommodation debates.
Anna-Sara Lind is a Professor of Public Law at Uppsala University's Faculty of Law , with additional roles as Scientific Leader at the Center for Multidisciplinary Research on Religion and Society (CRS) and Member of the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) (2020-). Her research focuses on the intersection of EU Law and Welfare State Constitutionalism , emphasizing Human Rights , Digital Governance , and Migration Policy . BA (2003) , Doctor of Jurisprudence in Constitutional Law (2009) Senior Lecturer (2011), Associate Professor (2014) Her 15 most recent publications (2015-2025) explore: AI's impact on Democratic Governance (2022-2025) Human Rights in Migration Policy (2017-2022) Comparative Constitutional Law across EU states (2012-2015) Data Protection frameworks in Biobanking (2013-2014) Religious Freedom versus Freedom of Expression (2016-2021) Scientific Recognition: Martin H:son Holmdahl Scholarship (2016) for human rights promotion Kungliga Vetenskapssocieteten Benzelius Award (2010) for constitutional law dissertation As an advisor, she has guided: Yana Litins'ka (Medical Law, 2018) Tim Holappa (Public Law, 2023) International advisees at Aristotle University and Stockholm University She leads the WASP-HS Management Team (2019-) and co-edits Nordisk Socialrättslig Tidskrift (2016-).
Erika Willander is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Umeå University. Her research focuses on religious change, secularization, and social consequences of mainstream religiosity. She holds a Docent qualification and has been affiliated with the Sociology of Religion research group. Her work examines topics such as Muslim communities in Sweden, digital religious practices, chaplaincy during crises, and post-religious identities. Notable projects include studies on secularization among post-Muslims and post-Christians, the role of social media in religious expression, and pandemic responses in healthcare chaplaincy. Her publications span peer-reviewed journals like Information, Communication and Society , Sociologisk forskning , and Numer , as well as edited volumes and agency reports. She collaborates frequently with Göran Larsson and David Thurfjell on interdisciplinary projects analyzing religious demographics and societal integration. Willander's research often combines quantitative analysis with qualitative insights, addressing contemporary challenges of religious pluralism and secularization theory in Nordic contexts. Her work bridges sociology of religion, digital culture studies, and public policy analysis.
Alexander Maurits (born 1978) is Associate Professor of Church History at Lund University's Centre for Theology and Religious Studies. He currently serves as Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Vice-Dean for postgraduate studies at the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology for the period 2024-2026. Previously (2015-2023), he was Head of Department at the Centre for Theology and Religious Studies. In fall 2022, he was a visiting professor at University of California Berkeley through a STINT fellowship. His research focuses on European church history of the 19th and 20th centuries, with particular interest in Christian gender ideals, secularization processes, and the relationship between religion and modern society. He has developed significant expertise in the areas of religion and sports, having organized two international conferences on this theme (2013, 2015), and in the history of women's ordination in the Church of Sweden, co-authoring the book "Calling and Recognition: Perspectives on the First Ordained Women in the Swedish Church" with Frida Mannerfelt. Maurits' publication portfolio demonstrates a consistent trajectory examining how religious institutions navigate modernity, with recent work addressing contemporary issues like the #MeToo movement's impact on religious institutions and the place of religion in increasingly secular Scandinavian societies. His research shows particular strength in connecting historical analysis with contemporary religious challenges. Scientific Awards: Nils Karleby Prize (50,000 SEK) in 2012 for his doctoral thesis STINT Teaching Sabbatical in 2021 enabling his visit to UC Berkeley Maurits has held numerous administrative roles including serving on the Faculty Board, chairing the Doctoral Education Committee, and participating in national educational assessments. He has initiated interdisciplinary courses such as "Religion and Sports" (first offered spring 2014) and "After MeToo - Struggle for Recognition in History and Present" (first offered 2019). His collaborative work extends internationally, particularly with historians at Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven. As Head of Department, Maurits was responsible for academic staff, department finances, and quality assurance in education and research. His current deanship roles expand these responsibilities to the broader faculty level, reflecting his significant standing within Lund University's academic community.
Fredrik Renard is a Researcher at Stockholm University’s Department of Slavic and Baltic Studies, Finnish, Dutch, and German. He holds a postdoctoral fellowship in German and Comparative Literature with a PhD from Stockholm University and Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen. His work focuses on historical narratology, genre theory, and modernism in European literature, particularly the novel’s evolution from the 18th to 20th centuries. He co-founded the research group Narratio and is affiliated with Forum Modernism, exploring modernism’s diverse expressions. Renard’s research emphasizes the novel’s role in theorizing modernity, as seen in his dissertation Arbeit am Zufall (2021), which won a Lundberg Foundation scholarship. His current project, The Narrative Forms of Experience , funded by the Swedish Research Council, examines modern European novels through Walter Benjamin and Monika Fludernik’s theories. He collaborated with Stefano Ercolino at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice (2022–2023). His publications span peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and a monograph, addressing themes like narrative structure, genre hybridity, and modernist form. Awards include the Lundberg Foundation scholarship. Renard’s interdisciplinary approach bridges literary analysis with broader cultural and philosophical inquiries.
Martin Nordin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Lund University's School of Economics and Management and serves as a Policy Officer at the AgriFood Economics Centre. His academic work focuses on labor market economics with additional expertise in health economics, agricultural economics, and environmental economics. Dr. Nordin's research at AgriFood has evaluated the effects of the Common Agricultural Policy and analyzed labor market issues within agriculture. His current research focuses on income differences between rural and urban areas and changes in incomes for ethnically segregated areas. His work contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty reduction, environmental protection, and prosperity. His research spans multiple disciplines with a strong focus on labor market economics (62%), profit analysis (49%), higher education (48%), returns to education (42%), employment (39%), and mental health economics (39%). This diverse research portfolio demonstrates his ability to bridge economic theory with practical policy applications across multiple sectors. Dr. Nordin has been involved in significant research projects including 'Socioeconomic Segregation – The Impact of Neighborhoods, Schools and Policy Across the Life Course' funded by the Swedish Research Council (2023-2030), 'Constraints on the expansion of organic farming in Sweden' funded by FORMAS (2018-2022), and evaluation of Sweden's rural development program (2007-2013). His collaborative research network extends across Sweden and internationally, with recent external collaborations spanning multiple countries. This network supports his interdisciplinary approach to economic research that connects academic theory with real-world policy applications.
Ulf Bjereld is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg. His research spans international politics, digital democracy, political cleavages, and gender and politics . He led the research program 'Sweden and the Cold War,' a multidisciplinary initiative funded by The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation. Head of Scientific Council for Humanities and Social Sciences, Swedish Research Council (2016–2018) Head of Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg (2006–2012) Chair of Swedish Political Science Association (SWEPSA) (1999–2001) His recent publications focus on Nordic security, NATO membership debates, political solidarity movements, and critiques of identity politics . He has contributed to analyses of Swedish defense policy, media influence on democracy, and the interplay between individualism and nationalism in crisis contexts. Contact: ulf.bjereld@pol.gu.se
Frida Mannerfelt is an Associate Professor in Practical Theology at Lund University's Centre for Theology and Religious Studies , where she works as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Scripture and Secularism research project. Her work examines how biblical interpretations in public discourse shape secular concepts, while maintaining active research in digital theology and church leadership. Academic title: Associate Professor Institution: Centre for Theology and Religious Studies (Lund University) Research focus: Bible, politics, digital culture Email: frida.mannerfelt@ctr.lu.se Her research on Digital Theology explores AI integration in sermon preparation, digital worship environments, and the evolution of preaching practices in online spaces. Current projects analyze algorithmic communication's theological implications and digitalization's impact on religious authority. Key Church Leadership studies include historical ordination of Swedish female clergy and contemporary digital leadership challenges. With 17 research outputs since 2019, her work spans articles, book chapters, and edited volumes on topics like digital homiletics, eucharistic adaptations post-pandemic, and theological responses to secularism. As Co-Principal Investigator for Scripture and Secularism (2022–2027), she collaborates with international scholars on biblical public discourse analysis. Previous research includes ordination history (2018–2020) and digital church presence frameworks. Teaching roles include advanced courses in Church and Mission Studies (KRMB27, KRMR12) and Religious Communication. She contributes to academic discourse through 35 recorded activities, including invited talks on AI theology, panel discussions about biblical politics, and presentations on digital worship practices.
Ferdinando Sardella is an Associate Professor at Stockholm University's Department of Ethnology, History of Religions and Gender Studies. His research focuses on Hinduism, South Asian Studies, and the sociology of religious movements. Academic Background: Ph.D. in Religious Studies from University of Gothenburg (2010) Postdoctoral Fellow at Uppsala University (2011-2014) Research Fellow at Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies Research Themes explore Hinduism's European expansion, colonial Bengali religious dynamics, and diaspora cultural preservation. Fieldwork in India spanning two years informs his work on transnational Hindu communities. Key Publications include the award-winning monograph on Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and the foundational Handbook of Hinduism in Europe (2020). His edited volumes examine Vaishnavism's colonial impact and European institutionalization. Scientific Recognition: Recipient of Donner Institute Prize Current Projects include mapping Hinduism's European presence and analyzing diaspora generational challenges in tradition transmission. Collaborates with Prof. Knut Jacobsen (Bergen) and Dr. Lucian Wong (Oxford).
