Vaibhav Saria

Vaibhav Saria is an Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Chair in the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at Simon Fraser University (SFU). They hold a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Johns Hopkins University (2014), an M.A. in Anthropology (2011), and dual B.Sc./B.A. degrees in Psychology and English Literature from the University of Arizona (2007). Their research focuses on medical anthropology, global health, kinship, psychoanalysis, and South Asian studies, particularly exploring themes of queerness, trans identities, and health inequities. Saria’s seminal work Hijras, Lovers, Brothers: Surviving Sex and Poverty in Rural India (2021) examines hijra (third-gender) communities in rural Odisha, challenging normative frameworks around queerness and kinship.

Key research interests include tuberculosis diagnosis systems in India, the intersection of global health interventions and local practices, and the sociolegal positioning of trans populations within nationalism. Their work has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Ruth Benedict Book Prize and the Bernard S. Cohn Prize. Saria currently teaches courses like 'Intro to Porn Studies' and actively contributes to projects like the Qutub Research Collective. Their interdisciplinary approach bridges medical anthropology, queer theory, and public health, interrogating how marginalized communities navigate health systems and cultural norms.

• Education: Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins), M.A. (Johns Hopkins), B.Sc./B.A. (Arizona)
• Research Themes: Hijra identity politics, global TB diagnostics, queer kinship, South Asian sexualities
• Awards: 2021 Ruth Benedict Book Prize, 2023 Bernard S. Cohn Prize

Recent publications explore topics like the implementation of global health initiatives in Patna, provider biases in HIV/PrEP care, and the role of kinship in healthcare decision-making. Saria’s work emphasizes ethical engagement with marginalized communities and the sociopolitical dimensions of health disparities.