Jane Ferguson

Associate Professor Jane Ferguson is affiliated with the University of Australian National University (ANU), School of Culture, History & Language, Department of Anthropology and Southeast Asian History. She holds a PhD from Cornell University (2008) with research focused on Mainland Southeast Asia, Burmese/Thai/Shan borderlands, ethnic politics, and popular culture. Her work explores topics such as insurgency, digital media, and passenger aviation history.

Her research affiliations include visiting professorships at Ohio University (2022), Kyoto University (2020), and Chiang Mai University (2015–present). She leads the 'Heritage of the Air' project, examining aviation's impact on Australia. Her publications span Burmese cinema history, coffee commerce in Northern Thailand, and Buddhist practices in Shan regions.

Key research themes include cultural logistics in Southeast Asia, transnational ethnicity, and the intersection of media with political change. Her work often bridges anthropology, history, and cultural studies, with a focus on marginalized communities and contested border zones.

Notable projects include analyzing Burmese socialist-era pop culture and exploring aviation's role in national identity. Her interdisciplinary approach combines ethnographic fieldwork with historical analysis.