Alessandro Bausi is a Full Professor of Ethiopian Studies at Sapienza University of Rome since November 2023, where he focuses on Ethiopic language, literature, and manuscript cultures. Prior to this, he served as a Professor for Ethiopian Studies at the University of Hamburg (2009–2023) and held academic roles at the University of Naples 'L’Orientale' and Addis Ababa University. MA (1988, University of Florence) PhD (1992, Naples Oriental Institute) His research spans Ethiopian textual and manuscript cultures, Aksumite history, textual criticism, hagiography, and Semitic studies. He has led major projects like TraCES and Beta maṣāḥǝft , emphasizing linguistic evolution and manuscript digitization. He is a member of prestigious academies including the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (foreign member since 2023), Academia Europaea, and the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences. His editorial roles include editing Aethiopica and the Encyclopaedia Aethiopica .
André Gagné is a Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Theological Studies at Concordia University, currently on research leave (July-December 2025). His work bridges theology, political science, and sociology with global recognition through 400+ media features in outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Le Monde. Education: Conjoint PhD from Université catholique de Louvain and Université de Montréal M.A. from Université de Montréal B.Th. from Université de Montréal His research centers on Christian Political Thought (examining theology-state dynamics), Global Pentecostal and Charismatic movements (analyzing their sociopolitical impact worldwide), and Reception History of the Bible (tracing interpretive trajectories across cultures). This interdisciplinary approach integrates historical analysis with contemporary case studies, particularly focusing on evangelical movements in the Americas and Europe. His eight books and recent journal articles reveal consistent thematic focus: the weaponization of spiritual warfare rhetoric in politics, apocalyptic narratives in populist movements, and religious violence in Western traditions. The 2024 publications on Trump-era evangelicalism demonstrate methodological innovation through media discourse analysis combined with theological critique. Scientific awards: Newsmaker of the Week (4 times) Newsmaker of the Month (4 times) President's Opinion Leader of the Year (2016) Expert Communicator of the Year (2024) Dr. Gagné supervises MA students in Theological Studies and PhD candidates in Individualized Programs and Humanities. His policy impact is evidenced by service on Public Safety Canada's National Expert Committee on Countering Radicalization to Violence (2023-2025), where he contributed theological perspectives on religious extremism. His media engagement strategy represents a deliberate effort to translate academic research for public discourse. He co-directs the Spirit, State, and Society podcast and maintains affiliations with Concordia's Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance, Université de Sherbrooke's Centre de recherche Société, Droit et Religions, and the multi-university Political Theology Research Group (McGill, Concordia, UdeM, ULaval).
Professor Roel Sterckx is the Joseph Needham Professor of Chinese History, Science, and Civilization at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with Clare College. He specializes in pre-imperial and early imperial Chinese thought, classical Chinese language, and natural history. His research bridges anthropology and the history of science, focusing on topics like ritual, economic thought, and animal studies. He has authored influential books including Food, Sacrifice, and Sagehood in Early China and Animals through Chinese History . Sterckx is a Fellow of the British Academy (since 2013) and holds leadership roles at the Needham Research Institute. He supervises PhD students on subjects ranging from Warring States rhetoric to Han Dynasty apocrypha. Education: BA/PGCE in Sinology and History, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Masters in Classical Chinese and Philosophy, National Taiwan University PhD in Chinese History, University of Cambridge Research Interests: Early Chinese cultural ecology, ritual economy, and the interplay of moral and material values. His work analyzes texts like the Rites of Zhou , Mozi , and Huainanzi , emphasizing agricultural thought and animal symbolism. Awards: British Academy Fellowship (2013) Grants and Labs: Directs the Cambridge-based Needham Research Institute, focusing on East Asian science and technology history. Current projects include studies on Han perceptions of southern regions and the economics of ritual in early China.
Daniel A. Smith, PhD, serves as Dean of Theology and Clark and Mary Wright Professor of New Testament Theology at Huron University College, where he has taught New Testament Language and Literature since 2004. An active member of the Society for New Testament Studies, Society of Biblical Literature, and Canadian Society for Biblical Studies, he frequently collaborates with KU Leuven's Leuven Centre for the Study of the Gospels. His research centers on contextual interpretation of New Testament texts, with specialized focus on Synoptic Gospels, Sayings Gospel Q, Passion/Resurrection Narratives, and Marcion's Gospel. He integrates historical-critical analysis with reception history, emphasizing how biblical interpretation impacts both faith communities and marginalized groups affected by scriptural misuse. Recent publications reveal sustained engagement with source criticism, particularly through 2020-2018 works on the Two-Document Hypothesis, Marcion's Gospel, and spatial analysis of Synoptic mission narratives. His scholarship consistently explores textual transmission, Q source traditions, and theological implications of early Christian writings while bridging academic rigor with ethical considerations in biblical hermeneutics.
Annette Yoshiko Reed is the Krister Stendahl Professor of Divinity and Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Harvard Divinity School (HDS). She joined HDS in 2022 after roles at New York University, the University of Pennsylvania, and McMaster University. Her expertise spans Second Temple Judaism, early Christianity, and Jewish-Christian relations, with a focus on how ancient texts shape identity and difference. Key research areas include apocalypses, demonology, and the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. She has authored or co-authored books such as Fallen Angels and the History of Judaism and Christianity and Demons, Angels, and Writing in Ancient Judaism . Education: BA from McGill University, MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and MA/PhD from Princeton University. Her work integrates Biblical Studies, Patristics, Jewish Studies, and Classics. She serves on the editorial boards of Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism and Studia in Veteris Testamenti Pseudepigrapha , and chairs the Society of Biblical Literature’s “Jewish Christianity/Christian Judaism” section. A Fellow of the American Academy of Jewish Research, her current project explores the cultural power of forgetting in ancient Jewish history. Her research highlights marginalized writings like 1 Enoch and Pseudo-Clementine literature to bridge Jewish and Christian histories. Recent publications include studies on Enochic reception, rabbinic historiography, and demonology in ancient texts. She teaches at both HDS and Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Professor Jinhua Chen (PhD, McMaster University, 1997) is a leading scholar in East Asian Buddhism at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts. Holding a Canada Research Chair (2001-2011) and inducted into the Royal Society of Canada (2020), his work spans trans-regional Buddhist narratives, monastic institutions, relic veneration, and technological innovations in medieval Asian religions. Key Affiliations: UBC Buddhist Forum (Director), Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies (Resident Scholar), and editorial roles in Brill Book Series on East Asian Religions and Studies in Chinese Religions . Research Themes: Combines textual analysis with interdisciplinary methods to explore Buddhist sacred sites, doctrinal transmissions, and church-state dynamics. His projects include From the Ground Up (SSHRC Partnership Grant 2016-2023), examining East Asian religions through multi-media sources, and studies on ruixiang (propitious signs) in medieval Chinese prognostication. Scientific Awards: Royal Society of Canada Fellow, Canada Research Chair, SSHRC Insight Grants, Humboldt Research Fellowship, and Max Planck Institute funding. Publications: Over 30 book chapters and journal articles (2000-2016), including monographs on Fazang, Shingon-Tendai conflicts, and Buddhist sacred geography. Teaching: Courses on Chinese thought, Chan/Zen Buddhism, and Buddhist text interpretation, emphasizing methodological rigor and cross-cultural analysis. Projects: Directed international collaborations on Buddhist manuscripts, palace chapels, and relic cultures, with grants totaling over $4 million CAD.
Professor Catherine Richardson serves as Professor of Early Modern Studies and Director of the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Kent. She joined the university in 2007 from The Shakespeare Institute and has held significant leadership positions including Associate Dean for Research and Innovation (Humanities) (2017-20), Deputy Head of School of English (2014-7), and Director of Research for the School of English (2012-7). Her research centers on the relationship between texts and material circumstances of production and consumption in early modern England, with particular focus on how material culture shaped social and cultural practices. Richardson examines the birth of creative industries in drama and performance cultures, skilled craft practices influenced by international migration patterns, and the evolution of cultural practices from the sixteenth century to present. She currently leads the AHRC-funded project 'The Cultural Lives of the Middling Sort, writing and material culture 1560-1660' in collaboration with The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Weald and Downland Living Museum. Richardson's extensive publication record reveals consistent scholarly engagement with material culture studies, with recent works increasingly incorporating digital humanities approaches. Her scholarship spans monographs, edited collections, and numerous journal articles examining domestic life, object biographies, and the intersection of physical artifacts with cultural narratives in early modern England. Her notable recognitions include: Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (2018) AHRC Peer Review and Strategic Review College Member (2017-22) The Malone Society council member (2002-) and Orders Secretary (2002-22) Pasold Research Fund Governor (Expert Member since 2019, 2021-present) As a dedicated supervisor, Richardson welcomes graduate students working on interdisciplinary projects related to early modern dramatic, social and cultural history. Her current AHRC project represents significant grant activity, developing digital resources that explore inclusion/exclusion dynamics in early modern English writing practices. She also serves as General Editor for the Oxford Complete Works of Christopher Marlowe and Series Editor for Arden Studies in Early Modern Material Culture. Through her directorship of the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries, Richardson fosters research that bridges historical material culture studies with contemporary creative industry practices, creating innovative pathways for engaging with historical materials through modern technological approaches.
Nils Arne Pedersen is an Associate Professor in Church History at Aarhus University's Faculty of Theology/Arts since 2004. His academic career includes roles as a Full-time scholar supported by the Carlsberg Foundation (1990–1995) and Danish Research Council grants. He specializes in Manichaeism, Patristics, and the historical reception of biblical texts. His research focuses on early Christian and Manichaean theological texts, especially Coptic and Syriac manuscripts. Research Interests : Pedersen’s work explores Manichaean literature, Patristic theology, and the interplay between biblical sources and early religious movements. He has edited critical editions of Manichaean texts and studies their transmission across languages like Syriac, Coptic, and Persian. Key Projects : Biblia Manichaica (Old and New Testament studies in Manichaean contexts), textual editions of Manichaean homilies, and analyses of anti-Manichaean polemics. Awards & Leadership : Honorary member of the International Association of Manichaean Studies (2022), former President (2017–2022). He has received significant grants, including €887k for the Biblia Manichaica project (2012–2015) and €233k from the Carlsberg Foundation (1990–1995). Grants & Funding : Danish Council for Independent Research, Danish Research Council for the Humanities, and Carlsberg Foundation grants have supported his work on Manichaean textual traditions and comparative religious studies.
Amy G. Remensnyder is Professor of History and Giancarlo Family Provost's Professor of History at Brown University, where she has taught since 1993. She also holds the Royce Family Professor of Teaching Excellence title, reflecting her commitment to pedagogy. Her research focuses on medieval Europe, particularly the cultural and religious history of the Mediterranean, with emphasis on Muslim-Christian relations, monastic memory, and the global history of captivity. PhD, University of California, Berkeley (1992) A.B. summa cum laude, Harvard University (1983) Additional studies at Cambridge University and École des Hautes Études, Paris Her research interests include medieval Iberia, colonial Mexico, religious symbolism, transcultural history, and the role of memory in identity formation. She explores how religious figures like the Virgin Mary functioned as symbols of conquest, conversion, and interfaith entanglement. Her work bridges medieval and early modern periods, challenging disciplinary boundaries and incorporating insights from art history, anthropology, and literary studies. Her recent articles reveal a sustained engagement with themes of religious coexistence, sacred space, and cross-cultural devotion in the Mediterranean world. She examines how Muslim and Christian sailors shared shrines, how Moriscos developed their own Marian scriptures, and how Mary symbolized both war and diplomacy. Her scholarship combines deep archival research with theoretical sophistication, contributing to fields such as oceanic history, borderland studies, and the history of emotion. Van Courtland Elliott Prize (Medieval Academy of America) Fellow, Medieval Academy of America Berlin Prize, American Academy in Berlin Guggenheim Fellowship ACLS/SSRC/NEH Fellowship William G. McLoughlin Award for Teaching Excellence Remensnyder has directed major research initiatives and served on editorial boards, including Al-Masāq: Journal of the Medieval Mediterranean . She founded and directs the Brown History Education Prison Project, reflecting her commitment to engaged scholarship. She has received funding from the Swearer Center and has developed innovative courses on captivity and medieval lyric. Her leadership includes directing Brown’s Program in Medieval Studies (2010–2012) and serving on the Medieval Academy of America’s council. She is currently working on three book projects: Island of Trust in a Sea of Danger: Lampedusa , a maritime microhistory; Neighbors: Life in a Medieval Borderland , an archival study of Muslim-Christian relations in Iberia; and A Global History of Captivity , a synthetic overview of captivity across time and space.
Joan Taylor is a Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities at King's College London. Her interdisciplinary research bridges literature, language, history, and archaeology to examine early Christian texts and Second Temple Judaism within their socio-historical contexts. Her primary research focuses include: New Testament studies with emphasis on historical figures (Jesus, John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene); Dead Sea Scrolls and Qumran archaeology; Alexandrian Judaism including Philo of Alexandria; women's roles in early Christianity; and the archaeology of Christian holy sites across Palestine. Taylor employs a contextualizing methodology that integrates literary analysis with archaeological evidence. Her recent publications reveal consistent engagement with gender studies in religious contexts, historical Jesus research, and archaeological analysis of sacred spaces. Key themes across her 109 research outputs include the interplay between textual traditions and material evidence, particularly regarding women's leadership roles and the spatial organization of ancient religious communities. Iren Levi-Sala Prize (1995) Taylor has secured significant research funding including a Wellcome Research Grant for her pharmacological analysis of Essene practices, a British Academy grant for her Philo commentary, and Leverhulme Trust support for projects on Coptic Apocrypha and 'Babatha’s Sisters'. Her current active project examines social and economic relationships behind early Christian texts using papyrological resources. She has supervised 11 postgraduate students and contributed to public understanding through media engagements including the 'Jesus' Female Disciples' documentary and advising on Fern Britton's Holy Land Journey.
Jorunn Økland is a Professor at the University of Oslo, holding dual roles in the Faculty of Theology and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Research. Her research spans ancient Mediterranean material culture, feminist critique of religion, and gender studies. She directs the Norwegian Institute at Athens and has led the Centre for Gender Research (2010–2013). Education: Dr.Theol. from University of Oslo, with classical studies expertise. Key positions include Professor of New Testament at University of Sheffield (2005–2007), and leadership roles in international organizations like the European Association of Biblical Studies (2009–2012). Research focuses on sacred texts, gender theory, and the intersection of religion and cultural memory. Recent work explores populism in Norwegian equality contexts, ancient Greek religion, and spatial theories in gender studies. Active in editorial roles for journals like Journal of the Bible and its Reception and serves on councils such as the Society of Biblical Literature. Awards and honors include leadership in gender research initiatives and academic administration.
James Davila is a Professor of Early Jewish Studies at the School of Divinity, University of St Andrews, UK. His work focuses on ancient Jewish and Christian religious texts, with particular expertise in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, and late antique theological developments. Research Focus: Interdisciplinary studies of Second Temple literature Specialization: Merkavah mysticism, scriptural exegesis, and ritual studies His research bridges the Jewish and Christian scriptural traditions, examining how ancient texts like 4 Ezra and Hekhalot literature influenced early religious thought. Current projects include analysis of ritual practices in gnostic and mystical traditions. Selected publications highlight his contributions to understanding non-canonical scriptures (2013-2014), including critical editions and studies of ritual frameworks in ancient Jewish mysticism. Professional Networks: Society of Biblical Literature, British New Testament Association Academic Leadership: Principal Investigator for British Academy and Leverhulme Trust projects Contact: jrd4@st-andrews.ac.uk
Tim Hannigan is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Continuing, Professional Online and Distance Learning at the Faculty of Continuing, Professional, and Online Learning. His research focuses on travel writing, postcolonial literature, and cultural analysis, with a particular emphasis on urban studies and literary critiques of colonial and contemporary narratives. His work engages with themes such as orientalist tensions, reader response theory, and the intersection of travel literature with globalist perspectives. Hannigan has published in journals like Journal of Commonwealth Literature and Sic , as well as contributed chapters to edited volumes on literary urban studies and travel writing in global contexts. Key research interests include analyzing travel narratives from Victorian to modern contexts, exploring postcolonial critiques through mythological and historical lenses, and investigating ethical and cultural dimensions of contemporary travel writing.
Laura Quick is an Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at the University of Oxford and a Tutorial Fellow of Theology and Religion at Worcester College. Her academic work bridges biblical studies with comparative ancient Near Eastern literary culture, focusing on the intersection of language, gender, and ritual in the Hebrew Bible. Research Focus: Beauty and aesthetics in the Hebrew Bible and ancient Near East; body symbolism in biblical and Dead Sea Scroll texts; philological gender analysis; ritual and liturgical studies Academic Roles: Editorial Board, Hebrew Studies; Steering Committee, Philology in Hebrew Studies (SBL); External Member, Sheffield Institute for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies Recent publications examine topics ranging from cosmetic practices in Esther and Ruth to the mythological background of Isaiah 14. Her scholarship frequently engages with Deuteronomy, Dead Sea Scrolls, and Septuagint studies, employing comparative methods to analyze textual strategies and cultural exchange. She teaches Hebrew poetry, ritual, and liturgy, contributing to both undergraduate and postgraduate theological education at Oxford.
Grant MacAskill is the Kirby Laing Chair of New Testament Exegesis at the University of Aberdeen. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of St Andrews (2005). His research focuses on New Testament studies, early Judaism, Enochic traditions, and the intersection of theology with autism and disability studies. He has authored influential books such as Union with Christ in the New Testament and Autism and the Church , and co-edits the Studia in Veteris Testamenti Pseudepigrapha series with Brill. Awards include the British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship (2021) for his project on 2 Enoch and a John Templeton Foundation grant (2014) for work on intellectual humility in the New Testament. Research interests span participatory theology, biblical ethics, and the application of New Testament thought to contemporary issues like neurodiversity. He co-directs the Centre for Autism and Theology, promoting inclusive theological engagement. His recent publications address topics such as Enochic literature in late antiquity, biblical interpretation in autism studies, and early Christian apocalyptic thought. Grants and fellowships include major support for projects like The Entangled Enoch and interdisciplinary work on disability and religion. MacAskill’s academic service includes editorial roles at journals like New Testament Studies and Journal of Disability & Religion . He has advised on projects ranging from grave goods practices to ethical biotechnology, applying biblical insights to modern dilemmas. His work bridges historical exegesis, systematic theology, and practical theology, emphasizing theological engagement with marginalized communities and ethical challenges.
