معرفی
Naomi Worth is a Lecturer in the Religious Studies Department at the University of Virginia (UVA), with a focus on Tibetan Buddhism, Yoga, and the anthropology of religion. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Religious Studies, specializing in the Tibetan Yoga of Blazing the Inner Heat among contemporary monastics in South India. Her research integrates ethnographic fieldwork, textual analysis, and interdisciplinary approaches to explore mind-body connections, religious experience, and contemplative practices.
Education:
- Ph.D. Candidate in Religious Studies, University of Virginia (in progress)
- M.A., Religious Studies (Buddhism and Hinduism), University of Virginia
- B.Sc., Psychology (minors in Business and Spanish), Tulane University
Research Interests: Tibetan Yoga practices, monastic communities in South India, mind-body dualism in Dzokchen philosophy, and the intersection of contemplative practices with modern psychology and art. Her work often bridges anthropology, religious studies, and neuroscience to analyze religious experiences and bodily practices.
Key Awards & Fellowships:
- American Institute for Indian Studies Junior Research Fellow (2019)
- Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship (2018)
- FLAS Fellowships for Tibetan language study (2014, 2013)
Teaching & Pedagogy: Naomi has taught courses on Hindu Tantra, Yoga theory and practice, and Buddhist meditation at UVA. She completed the Tomorrow's Professor Today training program and led workshops on inclusive pedagogy. Her teaching emphasizes experiential learning and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Service & Engagement: As a researcher at UVA's Contemplative Sciences Center, she created a knowledge map on Yoga. She has organized conferences, including the Yogascapes Conference (2018), and held leadership roles in Buddhist Studies groups. Her service includes coordinating the Virginia Center for the Study of Religion and contributing to anthropological working groups.
Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Contemplative Sciences Center and the Religious Studies Department's research initiatives.
