Anna Vainio

Dr Anna Vainio is a Teaching Professor in East Asian Studies at the University of Sheffield's School of Languages, Arts and Societies. She holds a PhD (2020) from the University of Sheffield, MA (2014) and BA (2008) from the University of Turku, Finland. Her research focuses on contemporary Japan, with specializations in disaster recovery, gender studies, and state-citizen relationships. She conducted 13 months of fieldwork in Japan's Tohoku region post-2011 earthquake, analyzing community recovery dynamics and participatory governance.

Her academic journey includes a 3-year role as a Community Organiser in Sheffield (2012-2015), influencing her PhD methodologies. Research interests span affect theory, cultural memory, and rural gender constructions. She has published widely on disaster sociology, post-disaster governance, and material culture studies in journals such as Anthropology News and the Japan Anthropology Workshop Newsletter.

• Teaching focuses on critical thinking, research ethics, and inclusive pedagogy
• Current courses: EAS1000 Exploring East Asia
• Future projects: Post-doctoral research on trauma materialization in cultural memory