Carsten Janet

Janet Carsten is an Emeritus Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Edinburgh, where she held the rank of Professor from 2002 to 2022. She previously served as Senior Lecturer (1996–2002) and Lecturer (1993–1996) at Edinburgh, and held roles at the University of Manchester (1989–1993) and the University of Cambridge (1987–1989). Her research focuses on kinship, marriage, domesticity, and biomedicine in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. She has led major grants, including a €2.29M ERC Advanced Grant for 'A Global Anthropology of Transforming Marriage.'

Education: PhD in Social Anthropology (London School of Economics, 1988), B.Sc. (Econ) (London School of Economics, 1978).

Research interests include the intersection of kinship systems, gender, and biomedical practices. She has supervised ~30 PhD students and currently guides 3. Leadership roles include Director of Research at the School of Social and Political Science (2011–2012, 2002–2004) and Head of Social Anthropology (2006–2007, 2002–2004).

Awards include plenary speaking roles at institutions like Stanford University and the University of Toronto. Professional service includes roles with the British Academy, Royal Anthropological Institute, and Royal Society of Edinburgh.