Lily Balloffet

Dr. Lily Balloffet is an Associate Professor in the Department of Latin American & Latino Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of history, ecology, and cultural studies. Her work bridges beyond-human geographies, venom research, and digital humanities. Key projects include the Venom Lab, Antídoto (a multimedia collaboration with artists and scientists), and Historia Colectiva, which explores urban mobility in Buenos Aires. She teaches courses such as Ecologías Hemisféricas (a Spanish-language scientific inquiry course) and Hip Hop History, blending archival research with creative methodologies.

Her research emphasizes archival practices, temporal dimensions of fieldwork, and collaborative interdisciplinary projects. Notable awards include the UCSC Online Education Award (2019) for developing a bilingual online course. Dr. Balloffet mentors undergraduate researchers through the Venom Lab and collaborates with institutions like the California Academy of Sciences. She also co-curated exhibits at UCSC libraries and participated in symposia on natural history and community building.