About Me

My name is Beiyin Deng (邓蓓茵 in Chinese, ဗေဒါ in Burmese), Ph.D. Candidate in Religious Studies at Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, U.S. My research interests include Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar, contemporary Buddhist material culture, transnational Buddhism between China and Southeast Asia, and religion and diplomacy in Southeast Asian and Chinese traditions.

 

 

Education

Ph.D. | Arizona State University | 2016-Present

Religious Studies

M.A. | New York University | 2011-2013

Religious Studies

B.A. | Fudan University | 2007-2011​

Philosophy

 

Language Skills

Cantonese | Native Proficiency

Mandarin Chinese | Native Proficiency

English | Professional Work Proficiency

Burmese | Professional Work Proficiency

 

Professional Appointments

Visiting Instructor | Grinnell College | 08.2023-05.2024

  • Buddhism, Money, and Capitalist Economy | 2024 Spring
  • Buddhism and Politics in Modern Asia | 2024 Spring
  • Studying Religion: East Asia | 2024 Spring
  • Studying Religion: East Asia (01) | 2023 Fall
  • Studying Religion: East Asia (02) | 2023 Fall

Instructor | Arizona State University | 05.2019-Present 

  • Buddhism | 2023 Summer
  • Buddhism | 2022 Summer
  • Religion, Culture, and Public Life | 2021 Summer
  • Religion and Popular Culture | 2019 Summer​

Teaching Assistant | Arizona State University | 08.2016-05.2022

  • Buddhism;
  • Taoism;
  • Religion and the Modern World;
  • Ritual, Symbol, and Myth;
  • American Religious Traditions;
  • Religion and Globalization;
  • Religion, Culture, and Public Life; 
  • Religion in the Modern World.

 

Dissertation Committee 

Dr. Juliane Schober | Religious Studies | Chair

Dr. James Rush | History 

Dr. Huaiyu Chen | Religious Studies

 

Comprehensive Exam Fields

Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar | Dr. Juliane Schober | Religious Studies

Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, Inter-Asian Transborder Trades | Dr. James Rush | History 

Mahayana Buddhism in China, State-Religion Relations in Modern China | Dr. Huaiyu Chen | Religious Studies

 

Selected Fellowships and Awards

China Times Young Scholar Award | China Times Cultural Foundation, 2023

AAS Burma Studies Group Travel Award | Association for Asian Studies (AAS), 2023

ASU Graduate College Completion Fellowship | Arizona State University, 2022

ASU Graduate and Professional Student Association Independent Research Grant | Arizona State University, 2021

AAS China and Inner Asia Council (AAS-CIAC) Small Grants | Association for Asian Studies (AAS), 2021

SSRC InterAsia Academy Fellow | Social Science Research Council (SSRC), 2021

AAS-SSRC Dissertation Workshop Fellow | Association for Asian Studies (AAS), 2020

ASU Graduate and Professional Student Association Terminal Research Grant | Arizona State University, 2020