Claudia Merli

Claudia Merli is an Associate Professor at the Department of Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology at Uppsala University. Her research focuses on Medical Anthropology, Disaster Anthropology, and Southeast Asian Studies, with a particular emphasis on Thailand and Japan. She explores issues such as gendered bodily practices, disaster responses, and the intersection of culture and health. Merli has conducted extensive fieldwork in Southern Thailand since 2002 and has studied volcanic ash health risks in Japan through the HIVE consortium. She has held academic roles at Durham University and is currently affiliated with multiple research initiatives, including the Centre for Medical Humanities and the FACE-UP Consortium on childhood exposure to particulates.

Her work spans interdisciplinary projects, such as analyzing the 1963 Vajont Dam disaster and the sociocultural impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Merli also investigates contemporary issues like the symbolism of the yōkai Amabie during the COVID-19 pandemic. She serves on editorial boards and expert committees, including the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study and the Royal Anthropological Institute.

• Key Roles: Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor, Member of the Centre for Medical Humanities Board, Ethics Expert for Horizon Europe
• Research Themes: Medical ethics, disaster vulnerability, gender studies, ethnopsychiatry
• Awards: Senior Global Horizons Fellowship (2022–2023), Luttemans stipendium (2019), Fellowships from the Higher Education Academy and Royal Anthropological Institute

Merli’s publications address topics ranging from genital cutting practices to volcanic health risks and pandemic symbolism. She actively engages in public debates on global health and cultural resilience.