معرفی
Dr. Marion Wettstein is a Research Fellow at the Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies (HCTS), Heidelberg University, focusing on queer heritage-making in Nepal and transcultural dynamics. She holds a PhD in anthropology and has held academic positions at the University of Bern and the University of Zürich. Her work bridges anthropology, religious studies, and cultural heritage, with regional specialization in the Himalayas and Northeast India.
Education & Career:
- PhD in Anthropology (University of Zürich)
- Postdoctoral Research (University of Vienna, 2011–2015)
- Lecturer in Social Anthropology and Religion (Universities of Bern/Zürich, 2015–2016)
- Postdoc Assistant, Institute for the Science of Religion & Central Asian Studies, University of Bern (2017–2022)
Research Focus: Queer communities in Nepal, cultural heritage, ritual studies, and material culture of Himalayan societies. Her projects include analyzing ethnic identity through dance, textiles, and religious practices. She emphasizes transcultural comparisons between Nepal and Northeast India, particularly among the Rai and Naga communities.
Publications: Over 30 peer-reviewed articles and books, including Naga Textiles (2014) and contributions to volumes on Tibetan studies and Eastern Himalayan cultures. Recent work explores digital media's impact on indigenous performance and material religious practices.
Grants & Projects:
- Flagship Initiative ‘Transforming Cultural Heritage’ (Heidelberg University, 2023–present)
- Austrian Science Foundation-funded project on Rai rituals (2011–2015)
- Swiss National Science Foundation project on Naga oral traditions (2002–2008)
Labs & Collaborations: Collaborates with the Ethnographic Museum in Zürich and the Karl Jaspers Centre. Her work integrates ethnographic fieldwork with comparative methodologies, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to cultural studies.
