About
Jo Cook is Professor of Anthropology in the Department of Anthropology at University College London (UCL). Her research spans Thailand and the UK, focusing on meditation practices and their cultural, ethical, and governance implications. She has held visiting and research roles at institutions including Cambridge University, Goldsmiths College, Mahidol University, and Stanford University.
- PhD in Anthropology from Cambridge University (2006)
- MPhil in Social Anthropological Research Methods (2002-2002)
- B.A. (1st Class Hons) in Social Anthropology from Queen’s University Belfast (2001)
Jo’s research in Thailand examines Buddhist monastic practices, particularly Burmese Vipassana meditation, exploring gender hierarchies, community organization, and ethical dimensions of monastic life. In the UK, she investigates mindfulness integration into mental healthcare and governance structures. Her current work centers on joy as a heuristic for cross-cultural social science analysis.
Her publications address themes like ethics, mental health policy, and Buddhist modernity. She authored Making a Mindful Nation (2023) and co-edited volumes on intellectual exchange, democracy, and Southeast Asian power dynamics.
- British Academy Senior Research Fellowship (2016-17)
Jo supervises PhD students on topics ranging from Thai masculinities to Emirati addiction, medical anthropology, and Buddhist practices in London. She convenes UCL’s MSc in Medical Anthropology and core undergraduate modules on religion and ethics.
