Laura Burke

Laura Burke is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Social Anthropology (ISA), Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW). Her work bridges medical anthropology, global health, and environmental studies, with a focus on Southeast Asia and the Pacific, particularly Timor-Leste and the Philippines.

• PhD in Social Anthropology (2023), University of Kent, UK
• Visiting Scholar, National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL)

Her research explores intersections of health, environment, and conflict through participatory methods. Current project Germs and Ghosts: Transmissions of Health and Environment in Timor-Leste (2024-2025) uses collaborative audio ethnography funded by the FWF Disruptive Innovation Seed Program.

Key research areas include reproductive justice, spiritual ecologies, science and technology studies (STS), and critical demography. She has taught anthropology and global health at King’s College London, Queen Mary University London, University of Kent, and University of Plymouth.

Scientific Awards

• FWF Disruptive Innovation Seed Funding

Laura collaborates with community radio journalists and NGOs, emphasizing health inequalities and indigenous knowledge systems. Her teaching and editorial work (for Social Analysis journal) highlight her commitment to socially engaged scholarship.