Leah Lowthorp

Dr. Leah Lowthorp is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Folklore Studies at the University of Oregon, serving as Co-Director of Graduate Studies (Co-DGS) for the Folklore and Public Culture program. She holds a dual Ph.D. in Anthropology and Folklore from the University of Pennsylvania, with prior roles as a College Fellow at Harvard University and a Mellon/ACLS Public Fellow at the Center for Genetics and Society. Her research focuses on cultural heritage, performance, and the intersection of biotechnology with identity narratives, particularly in South Asia and digital spaces.

Education: B.A. Anthropology and English (UC Berkeley); M.A. Folklore (University of Pennsylvania); M.A. International Studies (Institut Européen des Hautes Études Internationales, France).

Research Interests:

• Critical Heritage Studies
• South Asian Performance Cultures (Kutiyattam Sanskrit theater)
• Digital Narratives of Biotechnology
• Public Policy and Genetic Technologies

Awards & Fellowships:

• Mellon/ACLS Public Fellowship
• American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship
• American Institute of Indian Studies Grant

Grants & Funding:

• Mellon Foundation
• Wenner-Gren Foundation

Her current book project, Deep Cosmopolitanism: Kutiyattam, Dynamic Tradition, and Globalizing Heritage in Kerala, India, explores the UNESCO-recognized Kutiyattam theater tradition's global heritage dynamics. She actively engages in public discourse on genetic testing ethics and cultural identity through media interviews and advocacy.