معرفی
Prof. Dr. Jessie Pons is a Professor of South Asian Religious History at Ruhr University Bochum (Germany), affiliated with the Centre for Religious Studies (CERES). She holds a Ph.D. in Art History from the University of Paris-Sorbonne (2011) and has held postdoctoral and visiting research positions at institutions including the Käte Hamburger Kolleg. Her expertise spans Gandharan Studies, Early Buddhism, religion and materiality, and digital humanities. Pons leads projects like DiGA (Digital Gandharan Artefacts) and the Pelagios Working Group, advancing digital preservation of Buddhist cultural heritage. She teaches courses on South Asian religions and has supervised multiple Ph.D. students. Her research focuses on Gandhara’s artistic networks, Mahayana Buddhism’s emergence, and religious material heritage preservation.
Education:
- Ph.D., Art History, University of Paris-Sorbonne (2011)
- M.A., Museum Studies, École du Louvre (2005)
- B.A., Art History & Archaeology, SOAS, London (2002)
Research Interests:
- Early Buddhist Art and Networks in Gandhara
- Material Culture and Religious Experience
- Digitization of Cultural Heritage
- Inter-religious Dynamics in South Asia
Recent Projects:
- DiGA: Digital Documentation of Gandharan Artefacts
- Pelagios Working Group: Linked Data Methodologies
- Co-edited De l'Oxus au Gange (2024)
Grants & Roles:
- Principal Investigator, SFB 1475 „Metaphern der Religion“
- Directorial Member, CERES
- Coordinator, „Religion & Medien“ initiative
