Lewis Doney

Prof. Lewis Doney is a Professor of Tibetology at the University of Bonn (Department for Mongolian and Tibetan Studies, Institute of Oriental and Asian Studies). His research explores pre-modern Tibetan social structures, the Tibetan Empire (600–850 CE), and Buddhist textual traditions. He has held academic roles globally, including at NTNU (Norway) and the British Museum. Notable projects include digitization initiatives and leadership in the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS).

Education:

• PhD (2011), Study of Religions, SOAS, University of London
• M.A. (2004), Study of Religions, SOAS
• B.A. (2002), Religious Studies, Lancaster University

Research Interests:

Focus areas include:

• Tibetan imperial narratives and Buddhist scriptoria in Dunhuang
• Cultural legacies of the Tibetan Empire
• Dependency structures in religious and political contexts

Awards & Grants:

• Gerda Henkel Stiftung funding (2022)
• NTNU grants for international research (2019)
• William Collins Book Prize (2001)

Advising & Service:

He leads the 'Digitization of Mongolian and Tibetan Collections' project and serves on academic boards (e.g., Faculty of Arts, University of Bonn). His transdisciplinary contributions include membership in TRA 5 (Cultural Studies).

Labs/Teams:

BCDSS Investigator, Transnational Network for Theravāda Studies Board Member, and Curator of 'ལོ་རྒྱུས· Digital Resources.'