Timo Heimerdinger

Prof. Timo Heimerdinger holds the Chair for Cultural Anthropology and European Ethnology at the University of Freiburg since 2020. He previously served as Professor at the University of Innsbruck (2009–2020) and Junior Professor at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (2004–2009). His research focuses on practices of renunciation, material culture, and regional cultural analysis. Current projects include studies on Alpine traditional costume practices and multi-religious cultural walks. He has held a German Academic Scholarship Foundation doctoral fellowship and authored numerous works on cultural theory and ethnology.

Education: PhD in European Ethnology (University of Kiel, 2004), MA in Folklore and German Literature (Universities of Freiburg and Pisa, 1999). Professional activities include managing editor roles and advisory work in cultural heritage projects. Supervised over 20 qualification theses as documented here.

Key research areas combine material culture studies with denominational aesthetics, exploring how everyday objects and rituals reflect regional identities. Recent publications address cultural practices of absence, maritime mortality symbolism, and interdisciplinary methodological challenges in ethnology. Active in academic leadership roles, he co-directs research initiatives on Tyrolean cultural heritage and transnational cultural dynamics.

Laboratory/Team: Leads the Cultural Anthropology research group at Freiburg, collaborating with institutions like the University of Innsbruck's research documentation center. His work bridges historical ethnography with contemporary cultural analysis through projects like 'Traditional Costume as Knowledge Practice' (2014–2019).