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