Find Academic Supervisors

Katharine P. Burnett is Professor of Art History at the University of California, Davis, where she also serves as Chair of the Art History Program, Graduate Chair, and Co-Chair of the Department of Art and Art History (2022–2025). She is the founder and Faculty Director of the Global Tea Institute for the Study of Tea Culture and Science and a Faculty Associate in the East Asian Studies Program. Her academic home is within the Department of Art and Art History in the College of Letters and Science at UC Davis. Education: Ph.D., University of Michigan M.A., University of Michigan B.A., Wellesley College Her research centers on Chinese historical art theory and criticism, particularly of the seventeenth century, as explored in her book Dimensions of Originality . She also investigates art collecting and display, exemplified in her acclaimed work Shaping Chinese Art History: Pang Yuanji and His Painting Collection . A major focus of her scholarship is the international spread of visual and material culture related to the global tea trade. She teaches courses on Chinese art from the Neolithic to the present, including specialized seminars on tea culture, ceramics, and travel painting. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges art history, cultural studies, and material culture. The trajectory of her recent publications reveals a deepening engagement with the cultural, historical, and scientific dimensions of tea. While her earlier work focused on Chinese painting theory and connoisseurship, her more recent articles and editorial projects emphasize tea’s role in shaping global material culture, trade, and interdisciplinary scholarship. This evolution reflects her leadership in establishing tea studies as a legitimate academic field. Scientific Awards and Honors: Chancellor’s Award for International Engagement, UC Davis (2021) O-Cha Pioneer Award, World Green Tea Association, Japan (2021) Best Tea Health Advocate, World Tea Expo (2018) Nominee, Best Tea Educator – Individual, World Tea Expo (2019) Nominee, ICAS Book Prize for Dimensions of Originality (2013) George Wittenborn Memorial Book Award (as contributing author, 2017) Burnett is an active mentor and academic leader. She founded and led the Global Tea Initiative (2015–2023), now the Global Tea Institute, and established the Global Tea Studies book series with Brill. She has supervised numerous exhibitions at UC Davis, often featuring tea-related art and material culture. Her work includes significant public outreach and media engagement, demonstrating her commitment to disseminating knowledge beyond academia. She has secured recognition for her innovative integration of research, teaching, and community building around the theme of tea. Labs and Research Initiatives: Founder and Director, Global Tea Institute for the Study of Tea Culture and Science (2023–present) Founder and Director, Global Tea Initiative for the Study of Tea Culture and Science (2015–2023) Founder and Director, Global Tea Institute Collection of Art and Material Culture, UC Davis (2014–present) Faculty Leader, All Things Tea Research Cluster (2012–2015)

• Chinese Art History
• Seventeenth-Century Chinese Art Theory and Criticism
• Art Collecting and Display
• +8 more

Jay Holt Valentine is an Associate Professor of Philosophy in the Department of History and Philosophy at Troy University's College of Arts and Sciences, where he has taught since 2015. His institutional affiliation includes courses such as Ethics and the Modern World, World Religions, Political Philosophy, and Introduction to Philosophy. His educational background includes: B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Delaware (2002) M.A. in Religious Studies from Naropa University (2004), focusing on Indo-Tibetan Buddhism theology and meditation practices Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in the History of Religions Program Dr. Valentine specializes in Eastern philosophical and religious traditions with particular depth in Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Daoism. His research examines the historical evolution of religious institutions, especially how charismatic leadership transitions into structured incarnation lineages, and investigates the interplay of family dynamics and gender roles within these frameworks. His work bridges philosophical inquiry with religious studies through textual analysis of biographies and autobiographies. His scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on the Northern Treasure Tradition in Tibetan Buddhism, analyzing institutional development through historical and sociological lenses. Publications like his 2015 Journal of Global Buddhism article reveal how religious traditions negotiate authority, lineage continuity, and social adaptation over time. While no scientific awards are documented in available records, Dr. Valentine's academic contributions center on his dissertation The Lords of the Northern Treasures: The Development of the Institution of Rule by Successive Incarnations and related publications. The source material provides no details regarding student advising, research grants, laboratory facilities, or collaborative research teams.

• World Philosophy
• World Religions
• Buddhism
• +5 more

Halvor Eifring is a Professor of Chinese Studies at the Department of Cultural Studies and Oriental Languages, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oslo. With expertise spanning Chinese language, literature, philosophy, and meditation studies, he has established himself as a leading scholar in interdisciplinary Chinese studies and comparative meditation traditions. Dr. Eifring received his Master's degree in linguistics in 1987 and his Ph.D. in 1993, both from the University of Oslo, where he has been a professor of Chinese since 1995. His academic journey includes research visits to prestigious institutions including Princeton University (1992), National Taiwan University (1995), Peking University (2000), Harvard University (2001), Center for Chinese Studies in Taiwan (2007, 2009), and Meiji University in Japan (2018). Eifring's research interests span multiple interconnected domains. His primary focus includes Chinese language (both modern and pre-modern), Chinese literature (especially pre-modern fiction), and Chinese philosophy (particularly early Confucianism and Daoism). He has made significant contributions to the study of meditative traditions, examining how language, culture, and thought intersect in Chinese contexts. His current work explores 'mind wandering' across various contemplative traditions, while his longstanding research investigates psychological structures in the 18th-century Chinese novel 'Dream of Red Mansions.' Analysis of Eifring's recent publications reveals a clear interdisciplinary trajectory, bridging Chinese studies with cognitive science, neuroscience, and comparative religious studies. His work increasingly focuses on the intersection of meditation practices, consciousness studies, and cultural contexts, with particular attention to how traditional Chinese philosophical concepts inform contemporary understandings of mind and cognition. The publications demonstrate a methodological approach that combines philological rigor with cross-cultural comparative analysis. Eifring has held significant academic leadership positions, serving as director of the Department of East European and Oriental Studies (1997-1999) and research leader at the Department of Cultural Studies and Oriental Languages (2005-2006). He teaches Chinese language, literature, and culture at both bachelor's and master's levels, occasionally extending to East Asian and general linguistics. Beyond academia, he serves as an editor for the cultural magazine 'Dyade' and is a meditation teacher at 'Acem,' reflecting his commitment to bridging scholarly research with practical application. His current research projects include 'Two Thousand Years of Mind Wandering' and he is affiliated with the research group 'Literature, Cognition and Emotions' at the University of Oslo, demonstrating his ongoing engagement with interdisciplinary approaches to understanding human cognition through cultural and historical lenses.

• Chinese language
• Chinese literature
• Chinese philosophy
• +7 more

Hao Hong is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and CLAS-Honors Preceptor at the University of Maine, jointly appointed by the Philosophy Department and the Honors College. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from Indiana University (2018), with minors in History and Philosophy of Science, and prior degrees from Peking University. His primary research focuses on metaphysics, particularly metaphysical anti-realism, truthmaking, and comparative metaphysics across philosophical traditions. He actively engages with analytic philosophy, modern European philosophy, and classical Chinese philosophy like the Daodejing and Laozi. Teaching responsibilities include core philosophy courses (e.g., Metaphysics, Classical Chinese Philosophy) and Honors College preceptorials. His experimental approach to philosophy challenges traditional boundaries, blending Daoist and punk influences in his methodologies. Recent research explores Xuanxue (魏晋玄学) ontology, the metaphysics of Dao, and pedagogical innovations in honors education. Notable publications include works on truthmaking theories, comparative philosophy of language, and metaphysical explanation. Teaching and research interests emphasize interdisciplinary dialogue between Eastern and Western traditions, as seen in his courses on Chinese philosophy and metaphysics. He has presented widely on topics ranging from Daoist nonaction to honors curriculum design, advocating for pedagogy that fosters student-driven scholarship and human flourishing.

• Metaphysics
• Chinese Philosophy
• Comparative Philosophy
• +4 more

Matthew Duperon is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Susquehanna University, specializing in comparative ethics and early Chinese philosophy. His work bridges classical Daoist and Confucian ethics with contemporary issues in sustainability, pedagogy, and secularism. PhD, Brown University (2013) MA, Brown University (2011) MA, Cornell University (2006) BA, College of William and Mary (2003) His research focuses on Warring States and early Han dynasty intellectual history, contemporary Confucian religiosity, and environmental ethics. Publications include analyses of the Huainanzi , Xunzi, and Daoist breath cultivation. He advocates for moral formation in ethics pedagogy through Confucian-inspired frameworks. Recent publications highlight trends in East-West comparative ethics, sustainability as ethical practice, and the intersection of agrarian traditions with classical Chinese thought. His work often engages with contemporary thinkers like Wendell Berry and interdisciplinary methodologies. Scientific Awards and Grants Research mini-grant, Susquehanna University (2012) Dissertation Completion Fellowship, Brown University (2010–2011) Mandarin Enrichment Scholarship, National Taiwan University (2008) Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship, Cornell University (2004) Duperon has supervised senior capstone projects on topics like Goddess Tara and Confucianism in martial arts. He co-organizes the university's Meditation and Contemplative Practice Group and contributes to curriculum development in Religious Studies.

• Comparative Religious Ethics
• Early Chinese Philosophy
• Warring States and Early Han Dynasty Intellectual History
• +4 more

Anthony Casadonte is an Instructor in the Philosophy Department at the University of Colorado Denver, teaching at the International College Beijing campus since Spring 2023. He oversees the philosophy minor program there. His expertise spans Daoism, Phenomenology (with a focus on Heidegger), German Idealism, and Comparative Philosophy. Education: Currently pursuing a Philosophy PhD at the University of Kentucky (in progress). Holds an MA in Philosophy from Duquesne University and a BA in Gender Studies from the University of Southern California. Teaching: Courses include Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics, Chinese Philosophy (Daoism, Daodejing, Zhuangzi), Western Philosophy (Hegel, Existentialism, Late Heidegger), and Ideology & Culture. Research: Focuses on comparative philosophical frameworks bridging East-West traditions, particularly intersections between Daoist thought and modern Western existential/phenomenological traditions. Maintains a resource site for Laozi/Daodejing studies: Laozi Resource . Advising & Grants: No specific grants or advising roles listed beyond departmental responsibilities. Active in curriculum development for the Beijing campus philosophy minor program.

• Daoism
• Phenomenology
• German Idealism
• +3 more

Zhaohua Yang is the Sheng Yen Assistant Professor of Chinese Buddhism at the Department of Religion , Columbia University. He holds office hours on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM and can be contacted at +1 212 851 4147 or zy2200@columbia.edu . Education: M.A. and Ph.D. from Stanford University His research focuses on tantric/esoteric Buddhism in middle-period China, indigenous scriptures , interactions between Buddhism and Daoism , and religions along the Silk Road . He combines expertise in pre-modern Dunhuang and Japanese manuscripts with extensive fieldwork in China, Taiwan, Japan, and the U.S. His recent work includes the article Snake, Spell, Spirit, and Soteriology (2023), analyzing the cultural and doctrinal evolution of the Indian deity Jiedi in medieval China. He is completing a book manuscript on Ucchuṣma worship in Tang China and developing a second project on Buddhist ritual transformations in Late Imperial China. His prior career as a journalist informs his interdisciplinary approach to religious studies and historical analysis.

• Buddhism
• East Asian Religions
• Religious Studies
• +3 more

Dr. Alan Levinovitz is a Professor of Religion at James Madison University's Department of Philosophy & Religion. Holding a B.A. from Stanford University and M.A./Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Divinity School, his research bridges religion, literature, science, and classical Chinese thought. His work critiques cultural assumptions about nature, explores ethical education through comparative frameworks, and analyzes paratextual influences on primary texts. Recent projects include Natural (2020), examining modern naturism, and The Gentleman and the Jester , a book on ethical pedagogy. He also investigates play's role in ethics and genre's impact on moral discourse. His research spans food ethics ( The Gluten Lie , 2015), vaccine skepticism, and interdisciplinary teaching methods. Articles address topics like Daoist philosophy, ritual practices in early China, and trigger warnings' impact on religious students. Levinovitz frequently engages public discourse on pseudoscience and health myths through media commentary and op-eds. Notable collaborations include work on science fiction as a pedagogical tool and comparative philosophy of nonsense. He advises on grants related to ethics education and has contributed to JMU’s Logic and Reasoning Institute. His advocacy for academic freedom and critical thinking underscores his commitment to bridging scholarly and public spheres.

• Religion
• Literature
• Science
• +5 more

Bret W. Davis serves as Professor and Higgins Chair in Philosophy at Loyola University Maryland, where he teaches courses on Asian, Western, and cross-cultural philosophy. He is also a Senior Fellow in the Freiburg Research Collaboration Programme (FRESCO) from July 2023 to December 2025. BA in Philosophy from Trinity University (1989) MA in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University (1996) PhD in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University (2001) Extensive study and teaching experience in Japan (over thirteen years) and Germany Professor Davis specializes in East Asian philosophy with a particular focus on Zen Buddhism, modern Japanese philosophy with emphasis on the Kyoto School, and Continental philosophy with special attention to Heidegger, phenomenology, and hermeneutics. His cross-cultural approach examines philosophical connections between Eastern and Western traditions, exploring issues in comparative philosophy of religion and hermeneutical challenges in cross-cultural understanding. His scholarship bridges academic philosophy with practical wisdom, connecting theoretical insights with embodied practice. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on Japanese philosophy, particularly the Kyoto School thinkers and Zen Buddhist thought, while maintaining strong connections to Western philosophical traditions through comparative analysis. A significant portion of his work engages with Ueda Shizuteru's philosophy, examining Zen concepts of language, dialogue, and non-dualism. His scholarship increasingly addresses decolonizing philosophy and challenging Eurocentric assumptions in philosophical discourse. Nachbahr Award for Outstanding Accomplishment in the Humanities (2015) Distinguished Scholar of the Year (2021) Professor Davis serves on PhD dissertation committees and has taught at the graduate level in multiple countries including Japan, Germany, and Italy. He has lectured in three languages across more than a dozen countries at prestigious institutions worldwide. His editorial work includes serving as Series Co-Editor for World Philosophies with Indiana University Press and Transcontinental Philosophy with SUNY Press, as well as Subject Co-editor for Japanese Philosophy in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. He directs The Heart of Zen Meditation Group on campus, which is sponsored by Campus Ministry and the Philosophy Department, making Zen meditation practice accessible to the university community regardless of religious affiliation. As a Rinzai Zen master authorized by Tanaka Hōjū Rōshi and later receiving inka shōmei from Kobayashi Gentoku Rōshi, he brings authentic Zen practice to academic settings. He serves on the Executive Committee of The International Society for Contemplative Research, connecting contemplative studies with higher education.

• East Asian Philosophy
• Zen Buddhism
• Japanese Philosophy
• +9 more

Professor Constantino Moretti is Associate Professor in Chinese Medieval Buddhism and Dunhuang Studies at École française d'Extrême-Orient. His research examines Buddhist manuscripts, apocryphal texts, and intercultural religious exchanges along Silk Road networks. Specializes in Dunhuang manuscript analysis, mural paintings, and Sino-Tibetan religious art, organizing annual conferences with Dunhuang Academy. Authored critical editions including research on the Wei shu 'Treatise on Buddhism and Daoism'. Recipient of the Petra-Kappert Fellowship at CSMC for research on Chinese manuscript traditions. Teaches courses on Chinese philology and Buddhist history at École Pratique des Hautes Études.

• Dunhuang Studies
• Chinese Buddhism
• Medieval Manuscripts
• +2 more

Jay Goulding is an Associate Professor in the Department of Equity Studies at York University's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. He holds a PhD and MA in Sociology from York University and a BA in Sociology from McMaster University. His research focuses on Chinese and Japanese philosophy, hermeneutic phenomenology, and cross-cultural analyses of ancient civilizations. Notable specializations include Wang Bi’s reconstruction of Laozi's Daodejing, Cheng Chung-ying’s ontocosmology, and Heidegger's engagement with East Asian philosophies. Education: PhD Sociology, York University MA Sociology, York University BA Sociology, McMaster University Teaching: Goulding teaches undergraduate courses on human rights (e.g., HREQ 3575, 3963, 3120, 4651) and graduate courses on existential phenomenology (SPTH 6194) and East-West dialogues in social thought (HUMA/SPTH 6231/6184). Research Interests: Explores intersections between East Asian philosophical traditions and Western thought, particularly through the lens of Daoism, Heidegger, and sociological frameworks. His work emphasizes cross-cultural philosophical dialogue and the reconstruction of classical texts like the Daodejing. Professional Activities: Accepts new graduate students and welcomes media inquiries. No specific grants or labs are highlighted in the text, though his research involves collaborative cross-cultural analyses.

• Chinese Philosophy
• Japanese Philosophy
• Hermeneutic Phenomenology
• +6 more

Professor Esther-Maria Guggenmos is a leading scholar at Lund University 's Centre for Theology and Religious Studies , specializing in Contemporary East Asian Religions with focus on Chinese Buddhism . Her research explores Religious Aesthetics , Decision-Making in Religious Contexts , and the Evolution of Emotions in Buddhist Rituals .

• Contemporary East Asian Religions
• Chinese Buddhism
• Aesthetics of Religion
• +4 more

Kevin McGuirk is an Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo, specializing in American literature and culture with a focus on postwar poetry and fiction. His scholarly work bridges postmodern poetics, cultural studies, and literary Daoism, informed by his extensive research on A.R. Ammons. He has taught courses ranging from American Renaissance literature to graduate seminars on Thing Theory and Sound Studies. PhD, Western Ontario MA, Windsor BA, Cornell McGuirk's research explores intersections of poetry, philosophy, and cultural movements, including NASA's 1967 planetary photograph's influence on poetics. His current projects analyze sound and ethos in the novel. He supervises theses in postwar American literature and teaches graduate courses on non-literary poetics and modernist brevity. His recent publications examine A.R. Ammons' career, Edith Wharton's narrative voice, and Adrienne Rich's lyric radicalism. Articles span topics from Daoist influences in poetry to sound studies in fiction, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with literary theory and cultural analysis. Fulbright Award (2002-2003) SSHRC Post-Doctoral Fellowship (1994-1996) McGuirk's editorial work includes An Image for Longing , a critical edition of A.R. Ammons' early writings. He integrates narrative theory into his teaching and research, focusing on sound's ethical dimensions in American fiction.

• American Poetry
• Postmodern Poetics
• Cultural Studies
• +3 more

Jessey Choo is an Associate Professor of Chinese History and Religion at Rutgers University–New Brunswick. Her research focuses on cultural and religious practices in China’s medieval period (200–1000 CE), including childbearing, death, memory, and women’s agency. She is affiliated with the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures. Ph.D., Princeton University (2009) M.A., Princeton University (2003) M.A., University of Toronto (1998) B.A., University of Rochester (1997) Her research encompasses Cultural Memory , Entombed Epigraphy , Everyday Life , and Women and Gender . She explores how medieval Chinese societies used burial practices and muzhiming (entombed epitaphs) to construct identity and memory, while tracing the role of childbearing in women’s religious salvation. Her work bridges historical, religious, and gender studies. Recent publications span themes such as funerary biographies , epigraphic analysis , and medieval cultural practices . The 2022 book Inscribing Death and ongoing projects like "From Damnation to Transcendence" and "Immortalized in Stone" reflect her interdisciplinary approach. Research Grant, Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation (2018–2019) Morphomata International Center Fellowship (2019) As a co-editor of Early Medieval China: A Sourcebook (2014) and Tales from Tang Dynasty China (2017), she has advanced pedagogical and research resources. Her courses include Major Traditions in Chinese Thought and Women in Pre-Modern China . No students are listed in the provided texts.

• Cultural Memory
• Entombed Epigraphy
• Everyday Life
• +5 more

Tilo Eilebrecht is a Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Tübingen , specializing in interdisciplinary research bridging Daoism , Phenomenology , and the intersection of ontology and life conduct . His work emphasizes Heideggerian philosophy and comparative analyses with figures like Plotinus and Hegel. Research Interests: Daoism, Heidegger’s ontology, phenomenological aesthetics, and the ethics of technology. Publications include comparative studies of the Daodejing and Plotinus, Heideggerian interpretations of art reception, and analyses of creativity in technological contexts. Contact: Email tilo.eilebrecht@uni-tuebingen.de for appointments. Education: PhD (2007, University of Basel) on Heidegger; MA (2001, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg) in Philosophy and Protestant Theology.

• Daoism
• Phenomenology
• Ontology
• +5 more