Nicholas Trautz

Nicholas Trautz is a Lecturer at the University of Virginia with a PhD in Religious Studies. He holds a BA from Williams College, an MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and a PhD from the University of Virginia. His research focuses on Tibetan Buddhist rituals, institutional history, folk religion, and methodological approaches to studying religion. He teaches courses such as 'Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism' and leads a Contemplative Lab.

His work bridges ethnographic fieldwork and textual analysis, particularly regarding the Bka' brgyad bde gshegs 'dus pa ritual's legacy. He has published in The Arrow and presented at Harvard's Graduate Conference on 'The Living Landscape of Tibet,' emphasizing agency and personification in Tibetan religious praxis.

Trautz's academic contributions highlight intersections between Tibetan religious practices and broader East Asian traditions. His teaching and research emphasize hands-on contemplative methodologies.