Joseph S. Alter

Joseph S. Alter is Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh. His research explores environmental health, traditional medicine, and yoga in Indian society, examining intersections of healthcare, ecology, and culture.

Research emphases:

• Nature Cure practices in contemporary India
• Yoga's development within institutionalized healthcare
• Biosemiotics and human-animal relations
• Public health applications of traditional medicine

Alter's work analyzes how health regimens create embodied ecologies and how social class relates to environmental health politics. As Academic Director of Pitt in the Himalayas, he leads experiential courses on religion/ecology, biodiversity, and traditional medicine. Alter serves as editor of The Journal of Asian Studies (2021-2025) and has authored books examining yoga's modernization and Gandhi's influence on health practices.