HCIAS · People A-Z

Dr. Héctor Álvarez Mella studied Philosophy (MA) and Sociology of Science (MA) at the Universidad de Oviedo and Translation Studies (MA) at Heidelberg University. In 2020, he completed his Ph.D. at Heidelberg University with an interdisciplinary thesis on the function of language mediation in the internationalization of culture and trade. He has been a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Chicago. He is a member of the international research project Spanish in Europe and the Heidelberg Language and Cognition Lab (HULC Lab) and a visiting lecturer at the Universidad de Oviedo and the Universidad de Málaga. His research interests focus on the cultural and social scientific analysis of multilingualism, education, internationalization, and interculturality.

Katrin Berty is an academically trained translator and received her PhD in Translation Studies from Heidelberg University's Faculty of Modern Languages. From 2005 until 2019, she was employed as an academic faculty member with the Institute for Translation and Interpreting. Her research and education interests include interlanguage communication and language and cultural mediation. Since 2011, she has worked to develop a regional focus on Ibero-America at Heidelberg University, having previously held the position of executive project manager for the earlier Ibero-America Center (IAZ).

Robert Folger holds a professorship in Romance Literature with the Department of Romance Studies. His research focuses primarily on the medieval and early modern literature and culture of Spain and Latin America, as well as the literature and cultures of Latin America from the 19th century until the present day. As a HCIAS joint professor, he builds a bridge to Ibero-American Literature and Cultural Studies, especially in the Focus 2.

Sybille Große holds the professorship in Romance Linguistics with the Department of Romance Studies at Heidelberg University and is a joint professor at the HCIAS. She is an expert in the field of language history focusing on the discourse traditions and the standardization and evolution of romance languages. Her specialization in the Portuguese language's contact with other languages especially benefits Focus 3 of the HCIAS.

Nikolas Jaspert holds the professorship in medieval history with the Heidelberg University Department of History. His research primarily focuses on the Mediterranean, transcultural relationships, and medieval language and literature of the Iberian Peninsula. As a HCIAS joint professor, he lends Focus 2 an invaluable historical and cultural perspective on Ibero-America.

Martha Rudka studied translation at Heidelberg University with a focus on German, Spanish, and English. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in the fields of information structure and experimental pragmatics at the Faculty of Modern Languages. She is a member of DPKog, a research group focusing on discourse particles and cognition, as well as the Heidelberg Language and Cognition Lab (HULC Lab).