Yuson Jung

Yuson Jung is an Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Wayne State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, serving as Director of Graduate Studies. His research focuses on economic anthropology, food systems, globalization, and postsocialism, with regional expertise in Bulgaria and Detroit. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and has received prestigious awards including the Wenner Gren Foundation Grant and the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Social Anthropology, Harvard University
• M.A. in Cultural Anthropology, Seoul National University
• B.A. in Anthropology, Seoul National University

Research Interests:

• Explores consumer politics in postsocialist societies and urban governance in Detroit.
• Investigates Black women tech founders' liminal communities and identity transformation in Detroit's tech ecosystem.
• Examines ethical food provisioning and moral economies in global contexts.

Awards:

• Wenner Gren Foundation Post-Ph.D. Research Grant (2013)
• National Endowment for the Humanities Next Generation Fellow (2016-17)
• Board of Governors Award, Wayne State University (2020)

Advising and Grants: Actively recruits graduate students in food studies and cultural economics. Leads collaborative projects like Just Food in Detroit and studies Bulgarian wine industry globalization. His work bridges applied anthropology with policy, such as road safety initiatives with automotive industry partnerships.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on Detroit tech ecosystems and food governance. Active in Wayne State's anthropology practicum programs linking research to community impact.