Curriculum Vitae
I am a scholar of religion specializing in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, and Himalayan Religions. My research deals with Buddhist philosophies of materiality, including the human body, the senses, and the surrounding environment, and the convergence of these themes in Buddhist practices of meditation. I am presently completing my dissertation: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Space: Elemental Theory and Practice in the Great Perfection Heart Essence Tradition of Tibet.
Education
Ph.D. Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia, 2024
M.Div. Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University, 2016
B.A. Department of Religious Studies, Naropa University, 2013
Publications
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
The Chapter on The Theory of The Elements (‘byung ba’i gnas) in Klong chen pa’s Treasury of the Supreme Vehicle (Theg mchog mdzod)“ in Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines.
Book Chapters
Elemental Ways of Knowing, Sensing, and Being in the Unimpeded Sound Tantra (Sgra thal ‘gyur) inContemplative Practice in Tibetan Contexts, Brill Tibetan Studies Library.
Special Issues Edited
Christie, Kotva, Mayse, & Zuckerman, Journal of Contemplative Studies 3 Special Issue on Contemplative Ecology, forthcoming
Calobrisi & Zuckerman, Journal of Dharma Studies 3, no. 2 (2020). Special Issue on Buddhism and the History of Science, p.215-348, 2020
In Submission
Cloud Divinations: A Translation from the Unimpeded Sound Tantra, Journal of Contemplative Studies 3 Special Issue on Contemplative Ecology.
Whitepapers
Bultman & Zuckerman, “Revisiting Religion and Place in Light of Environmental, Legal, and Indigenous Studies,” Religion, Race & Democracy Lab, National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), forthcoming.
Teaching Experience
University of Virginia, Instructor of Record
Buddhist Environmental Thought and Practice (Spring 2023)
University of Virginia, Teaching Assistant
Introduction to Eastern Religious Traditions (Spring 2021)
Buddhist Meditation and the Modern Secular World (January 2021)
Religion, Ethics, and Global Environments (Spring 2019)
Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism (Fall 2017/2018 Spring 2018)
Harvard University, Teaching Assistant
Buddhism Through Its Scriptures (Summer 2016)
Grants and Fellowships (Selected)
2023
Climate Futures Design Research Grant, School of Architecture Center for Design, University of Virginia (Co-PI with Dr. Cassandra Fraser and Matthew Seibert)
2022
Environmental Resilience Institute Spark Grant, University of Virginia (Co-PI with Dr. Cassandra Fraser)
Page-Barbour Workshops Award, University of Virginia (Co-PI with Dr. Cassandra Fraser)
Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia (Co-PI with Dr. Cassandra Fraser)
2021
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Teaching Relief Fellowship, University of Virginia
2019
Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship
2018
Buckner W. Clay Award in the Humanities, Institute of the Humanities and Global Cultures, University of Virginia
Conference Activity
Panels Organized
2023
“The Elements in Practice: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Space in Yoga and Tantra,” American Academy of Religion (Tantric Studies Unit), San Antonio, TX, November 18-21.
“Between Human and Non-human Natures: Transcorporeality in Tibetan Buddhism,” American Academy of Religion (Tibetan and Himalayan Religions Unit), San Antonio, TX, November 18-21.
Papers Presented
2023
Inside, Outside: Elemental Bodies and Environments in the Seventeen Tantras (Rgyu bcu bdun), American Academy of Religion (Tibetan and Himalayan Religions Unit), San Antonio, TX, November 20.
“Elements of Experience: Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind in the Seventeen Tantras (Rgyud bcu bdun), American Academy of Religion (Tantric Studies Unit), San Antonio, TX, November 18.
2022
“Elemental Theory in Longchenpa’s Treasury of the Supreme Vehicle (Theg mchog mdzod),” International Seminar of Young Tibetologists, Charlottesville, VA, July 31-August 6.
“‘When There’s Fire in the Time of Fire’: Elemental-Sensory Contemplative Practices in 12th Century Great Perfection Seminal Heart Literature,” International Association of Tibetan Studies, Prague, Czech Republic, July 3-8.
2021
“‘No One Does this Anymore’: Shifting perspectives on Matter, Materiality, and the Elements in Tibet’s Great Perfection Tradition,” Institute of Buddhist Studies Symposium, Berkeley, CA, October 22.
2020
“The Sound of Earth, Water, Fire and Wind: Elemental Theory and Practice in 11th-12th Century Great Perfection Literature,” (w/ Adam Liddle), American Academy of Religion, Online November 29-December 10.
“Five Element Theory and the Environmental Imagination in 12th Century Nyingma Tantra,” International Conference on Vajrayana Buddhism, Thimphu, Bhutan (Canceled Covid-19).
Environmental Humanities Research
2023 - present
“Religion, Ecology, and Environmental Ethics: A Case Study for the Applied Humanities,” Stanford Changing Human Experience Initiative, Stanford University
2022 - present
Rdzogs chen Encyclopedia. Generative Contemplation Initiative, Contemplative Sciences Center, University of Virginia. Digital encyclopedia of contemplative practices in Rdzogs chen tradition.
2022
Pedagogy of Awe Seminar. Religion, Race and Democracy Lab, University of Virginia. Dark skies conservation.
2017-2019
Sanctuaries Religion, Race and Democracy Lab, University of Virginia. Bhutan: Royal University of Bhutan; Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park. Listening Lab Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center,University of Virginia.
2015
“Legends of the Eighty-Four Mahāsiddhas” Google Arts and Culture exhibit for The Buddhist Digital Resource Center. https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/tibetan-buddhist-resource-center
Digital Humanities
2022 - present
Rdzogs chen Encyclopedia. Generative Contemplation Initiative, Contemplative Sciences Center, University of Virginia. Digital encyclopedia of contemplative practices in Rdzogs chen tradition.
2015
“Legends of the Eighty-Four Mahāsiddhas” Google Arts and Culture exhibit for The Buddhist Digital Resource Center. https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/tibetan-buddhist-resource-center
Languages
Modern Tibetan: Advanced reading, writing, and speaking
Classical Tibetan: Advanced reading and writing
Sanskrit: Advanced reading and writing
French: Intermediate reading and writing