Our people

Mahmoud is a Research Associate at the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research and a Board Member of the Housing Studies Association.

He is an interdisciplinary researcher, combining more than a decade of architectural practice with an expanding research portfolio. His education spans Syria (Architecture), Jordan (B.Arch.Eng), Qatar (MSc in Urban Planning and Design), France (MSSc in International Planning), and the UK (PhD in Architecture). Throughout his professional practice, primarily in the MENA region, he became a sustainable building projects manager and a certified specialist in sustainable building design. He has led interdisciplinary teams on landmark developments, contributing to high-rise buildings, public projects, and large-scale urban schemes. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), an Affiliate Member of the RTPI and RIBA, a LEED Green Associate, a Certified Green Professional (GORD), an International Associate of the AIA, and a Chartered Architect (MMUP, Qatar).

Vincent Anandraj is Head of Global Ecosystems and Partnerships at CuspAI, a frontier AI company on a mission to solve the breakthrough materials needed to power human progress.

A graduate of Queen Mary, University of London, where he read English Literature before completing an MA in Twentieth Century Literature, Vincent spent nearly two decades as a school leader across London, Singapore, and Cambridge. He serves as Governor and Chair of the Education Committee at St Mary's School, Cambridge, and is a co-founder of Minerva International Education, a consultancy supporting investors, schools, and universities in establishing international partnerships.

That deep commitment to education as a public good shapes everything Vincent does. Involved with St Edmund's since 2018, he was central to establishing the SJI Philanthropic Fund and St Edmund's Scholarship Programme in 2021, a partnership reflecting his belief in education as a force for access and opportunity.

At Quantinuum, he led ecosystem development and scaled partnerships across government, industry, and academia, moderated the SC24 panel on bridging HPC and quantum computing, and co-authored research on more inclusive approaches to quantum education through pictorial mathematics.

Now at CuspAI, Vincent leads the translation of breakthrough science into real world industrial impact.

Dr Jose Arnal is a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge. His research interests lie at the intersection of fluid mechanics and data science, with a focus on developing methods that optimally combine engineering models with sparse and noisy data.

In his current role, Dr Arnal works on the development of computational techniques for improved imaging of cardiovascular flows by leveraging both theory and data. These approaches enable the construction of patient-specific cardiovascular digital twins while substantially reducing data acquisition time compared with traditional imaging technologies.

Dr Arnal completed his PhD in Aerospace Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto. During his doctoral research, he developed a computational model of the solar wind—the continuous outflow of solar plasma—that integrates mathematical descriptions of space plasmas with observational data from spacecraft beyond Earth’s orbit.

Dr Ani Avetisyan is a Post Doctoral Research Associate at St Edmund's College.

Her research focuses on Semitic Languages, Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Arabic, Hebrew, Judaeo-Arabic, Judaeo-Arabic Manuscripts, Islamic Medicine, Jewish Medicine, Judaeo-Arabic Philosophy, Literature, Knowledge Transmission, Medieval and Early Modern Jewish History.

Dr Ani Avetisyan is a Rothschild Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Cambridge, FAMES and a Research Affiliate at the Woolf Institute. Her PhD research focused on Judaeo-Arabic manuscripts from 'Matenadaran', with a forthcoming monograph to be published by Brill. Ani holds degrees in Arabic Studies from Yerevan State University and Jewish Civilizations from Paideia – The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Stockholm, and Heidelberg University. She played a pivotal role in establishing the Centre for Hebrew Language and Culture at Brusov State University and taught Hebrew during her PhD studies. Ani serves as the co-chair of the division on Culture and Academia at the newly established Armenian Jewish Friendship Council. She is also a Board Member of the Yesai and Maria Mazmanian Foundation, overseeing outreach, development, and partnerships. Additionally, Ani is engaged in a project with Dr Aviad Moreno at MALI Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, exploring Armenian-Jewish repatriation dynamics in Egypt.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Ani is training to become a qualified Pilates instructor, blending her passion for fitness with her scholarly work. She also enjoys exploring new destinations, travelling almost every month, which fuels her enthusiasm for cultural and academic exchanges. Ani is dedicated to passing on her knowledge and experience to future scholars and generations, firmly believing that such exchanges are the cornerstone of transformative progress and meaningful development.

Academic Profile

Rob Baker is the Chief Coach of Cambridge University Boat Club’s men’s team.

A Cambridge native, he began coaching at CUBC in 2001 before leading Ireland’s U23 squad and later guiding Cambridge’s women to Boat Race victories. Since 2018, he has steered the men’s team to multiple wins, including a historic clean sweep in 2025. Known for his athlete-first philosophy, technical expertise, and emphasis on crew unity, Baker has helped modernize and unify Cambridge rowing. His deep rowing roots and commitment to excellence make him one of the sport’s most respected university coaches in the UK and beyond.

I am the Church Engagement Director at the Faraday Institute, where my remit is to equip and encourage UK churches to include engagement with science as part of their regular ministry and mission.

Ruth studied Genetics at Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities, and (more recently) Theology, Ministry and Mission at Ridley Hall, Cambr. After graduating she was Development Officer for Christians in Science, at the same time as doing Postdoctoral Research at Edinburgh University. Ruth joined the Faraday Institute when it was founded in 2006, to develop resources for churches. She was appointed as the Faraday Church Engagement Director in 2018, remains a member of Christians in Science, and is an elected Fellow of their US counterpart, the American Scientific Affiliation. Her current theology studies are with Highland Theological College.

Academic Profile

Publications

• R Bancewicz, The Works of the Lord: 52 biblical reflections on science, technology and creation, 2025, BRF
• R Bancewicz, ‘Engaging the Church and Wider Christian Community in Science-Faith Dialogue’ in Global Perspectives on Science and Christianity, M Brownnutt & KR Fox (eds.), 2024, Langham Publishing
• R Bancewicz, Wonders of the Living World: Curiosity, awe and the meaning of life, 2021, Lion Hudson
• R Bancewicz, God in the Lab: How science enhances faith, 2015, Monarch
• R Bancewicz, Test of FAITH: Spiritual Journeys with Scientists, 2009, Paternoster

My research focuses on reconciliation, applied ethics, political theology, and interreligious dialogue, with emphasis on antisemitism, Islamophobia, extremism, and peacebuilding in the Middle East and Europe, promoting empathy, justice, and coexistence.

Dr Barakat researches reconciliation, applied ethics, political theology, and interreligious dialogue, with a focus on antisemitism, Islamophobia, gender, and peacebuilding in the Middle East and Europe. She directs the European Wasatia Graduate School.

Academic Profile

Publications

• Zeina Barakat & Thies Münchow, “Introduction to the Volume” in Echoes of Bonhoeffer. The Political Dimensions of Reconciliation and Interfaith Encounter. Essays in honour of Ralf K. Wüstenberg, Freiburg Germany:WBG Academic Verlag Herder 2025.
• Zeina Barakat, Envisioning Reconciliation: Signs of Hope for the Middle East Conflict (Reconciliation and Conflict Resolution Vol. 1), Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft (2022). Review: Colin H. Williams, in Religion & Theology 30:3 (2023), pp. 136-138.
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• Zeina Barakat. From Heart of Stone to Heart of Flesh: Evolutionary Journey from Extremism to Moderation (ta ethica Vol 17, edd N. Knoepfler, E. Mack), Munich: Utz 2017 (Doctoral Thesis).
• Zeina Barakat, Thies Münchow, Ralf K. Wüstenberg (eds), Islam & Democracy (Law, Gender and the West (Reconciliation and Conflict Resolution Seies, Vol. 2), Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft 2022.

Kate Barker is a business economist.  She is presently as a non-executive director of Taylor Wimpey plc and Man Group plc.  Among other roles she is also chairman of trustees for the British Coal Staff Superannuation Fund.

Kate was a member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) from 2001 until May 2010.  During this period, she led two major policy reviews for Government, on housing supply and on land use planning.

Claire is Director of Studies for Manufacturing Engineering

Tina Barsby is recognised for scientific achievements in crop science and is Honorary Professor of Agricultural Botany at the University. Following 18 years with the plant breeder Limagrain, in 2008 she became the first female CEO of NIAB, the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, from which she retired in 2021. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, and a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.

Tina was awarded the OBE in the 2018 New Year’s Honours List for services to agricultural science and biotechnology.  Tina chairs the Agricultural Advisory Board of Future Biogas, and the Board of Farm Data Principles. She is employed part-time as Agricultural and Scientific Advisor to the G’s group of companies.

She has extensive experience as a Trustee and is currently a member of the John Innes Foundation and the Lawes Trust, as well as a member of the College Council.

Dr Emily Bassett is currently a Research Associate at the MRC Biostatistics Unit, working on how researchers might better communicate and understand causal language.

Emily completed her PhD in Philosophy at the University of Warwick in 2024 whilst working at the Unit. Her thesis focused on how we might understand shame as a moral emotion, attempting to reconcile our intuitions around shame’s moral importance with its reputation as a heteronomous, shallow, and narcissistic emotion. Prior to her PhD, Emily completed an MPhil in Philosophy which argued in defence of different kinds of epistemic responsibility for testimony.

Camilla is currently a Consultant in the Animal Production and Health Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Prior to that she was a Senior Lecturer in Virology and Course Director for the MSc in One Health at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London.

Camilla has a degree in veterinary medicine, MA in Zoology and PhD in the molecular virology of influenza virus from the University of Cambridge (St. Catharine’s College), awarded in 2010. She was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Imperial College London and the Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, where she worked on virus immunomodulation and virus-vectored recombinant vaccines.

Her research has focused on virus cross-species transmission, and she is interested in infectious diseases at the human-wildlife-livestock interface and the One Health approach.

Camilla is also an Associate Tutor here at St Edmund’s.

• Director of Studies: Human, Social, and Political Sciences

Parul Bhandari is a sociologist specialising in the study of social inequalities in the Global South. Her specific research focus is on gender and class identities and media and technology in South Asia. Parul Bhandari is Director of Studies (DoS) for Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS), Bye-Fellow, and Associate Tutor at St Edmund’s College, College Teaching Associate (CTA) and Bye-Fellow at Downing College. She contributes to teaching and supervising at the Department of Sociology and the Centre of South Asian Studies, University of Cambridge. She has published four academic books: Dissent with Love: Ambiguity, Affect and Transformation in South Asia (Routledge, 2024), Matchmaking in Middle Class India: Beyond Arranged and Love Marriage (Springer, 2020), Money, Culture, Class: Elite Women as Modern Subjects, (Routledge, London 2019), and Exploring Indian Modernities: Ideas and Practices (co-edited) (Springer, 2018). In addition, Bhandari’s research has been published in academic journals including Contemporary South Asia, Gender, Place & Culture, and South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal (SAMAJ). Her works are accessible to non-specialists by way of her regular writings in popular outlets such as The Hindustan Times, The Conversation, Scroll.in. Her research been quoted in the BBC, CNN, and panel discussions and podcasts on NPR, Al Jazeera, The Conversation and NDTV.

Prior to joining University of Cambridge, she was Associate Professor of Sociology at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), India, and has held Guest Faculty positions at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, and the Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics (DSE), University of Delhi. She has been a Visiting Scholar at the Institute of Asian and African Studies, Humboldt University, Berlin, and the Centre of South Asian Studies (CSAS), University of Cambridge, and was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH), Delhi (South Asia research unit for the CNRS). She was a student at St. Edmund’s College whilst pursuing MPhil and doctoral degrees.

For more information about Dr Bhandari's publications and research, please visit her webpage here

Director of Studies for Linguistics

Neville is the Director of the King’s Centre for Strategic Communications (KCSC), the leading global centre of academic expertise in Strategic Communications. He is Reader in Strategic Communications and Convenor of the Masters programme in Strategic Communications in the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. And he is Senior Fellow at SCERU, University of Tokyo. Bolt is Editor-in-Chief of Defence Strategic Communications, the peer reviewed academic journal of NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence.

He has convened the Masters course Evolution of Insurgency and Counterinsurgency and the International Relations course Transnational Movements, Networks and Revolutionary Strategy. He supervises PhD students researching topics including empathy in international negotiations; trust in the revolutionary theatre; counter-conduct & democratic dissent; materiality of communication in urban space; Cold War metaphor of containment; strategic communications policies in Afghanistan; phenomenology of the information environment; constructing political memory; jazz diplomacy in the Cold War; memory construction in Latvian independence; influence networks in South Caucasus; Brazil’s Amazonia dilemma. He was the Teaching Excellence Award Winner 2017.

Much of his career was spent as a television journalist and producer-director at the BBC, ITV, and CBC (Canada). Working in news and current affairs, he specialised as a producer of war zone documentaries, covering conflicts in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Indian subcontinent. Later he created strategic communications campaigns for Britain’s Labour Party; Amnesty International; the African National Congress (ANC)/Anti-Apartheid Movement. He served too as communications advisor to UEFA Champions League football.

His book The Violent Image: Insurgent Propaganda and the New Revolutionaries (Columbia UP) was published in 2012, 2^nd revised edition, 2020 (Oxford UP), winning the CHOICE ‘outstanding academic status award’. Unmapping the 21^st Century: Between Networks and the State (Bristol UP) was published in 2022. He is writing Strategic Communications: Information, Disinformation & The Human Condition, and producing a volume of field-defining Perspectives from Defence Strategic Communications journal to appear late 2022.

Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge