Jan Patrick Heiss

Dr. Jan Patrick Heiss is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Social Anthropology and Empirical Cultural Studies at the University of Zurich. His research bridges philosophical anthropology and empirical fieldwork, focusing on the individual as a central subject in anthropological inquiry. He investigates how social institutions and individual agency interact in everyday village life, particularly in regions like Niger and Togo.

• Institution: University of Zurich
• Department: Social Anthropology and Empirical Cultural Studies
• Role: Senior Lecturer and Researcher

Heiss’s work emphasizes precise ethnographic descriptions to uncover universal, culture-specific, and individual human features. His current project explores decision-making processes in Kalanga village (Togo), examining friendships, marriages, and conversations as manifestations of individuality within structured social systems.

His publications include a monograph on Hausa peasants in Niger and collaborative works on methodological frameworks for studying individuals. While his recent articles analyze agricultural practices and decision-making systems (2015-2019), his research trajectory indicates long-term engagement with empirical anthropology and existential questions.