Curriculum Vitae Sophie Florence

Education: (Transcripts available upon request)

• 2018–2021, MA Transcultural Studies (Universitität Heidelberg) - MA Thesis: “Characteristics of Character: A Sketch Theory of Buddhist Narrative.”
• 2019–2020, Exchange Scholar: Religious Studies (Yale University) - Supervisor: Professor Phyllis Granoff
• 2018, Readings in Buddhist Texts (University of Otago) - Thesis: “Once when the Buddha was a Junky: A Gurudakṣiṇā for Professor Steven Collins.”
• 2017, Honours: Religious Studies (Victoria University of Wellington) - Thesis: “Ascetics & Aesthetics: Gaṇikās in Buddhist Narrative Literature.”
• 2016, Sanskrit ( Kathmandu University Centre for Buddhist Studies at Rangjung Yeshe Institute)
• 2012–2015, Bachelor of Arts: Religious Studies (Victoria University of Wellington)

Scholarships and Awards:

• 2019–2020, International Study and Training Partnerships (IASP), Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)
• 2018–2020, Study Scholarship for Graduates of All Disciplines, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)
• 2017, Victoria Graduate Award, Victoria University of Wellington
• 2014–2015, Summer Research Scholarship, Victoria University of Wellington
• 2013, 2015, Dean’s List, Victoria University of Wellington
• 2014, Alumni Appeal, Victoria University of Wellington

Relevant Work Experience:

• 2020–Present, Journal of Transcultural Studies - Coordinator, Managing Editor The Journal of Transcultural Studies
• 2019–Present, Buddhistische Steininschriften in China, Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften - Copy-Editor
• 2021, Chair of Buddhist Studies, Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies - Proof-reader, Stefano Zacchetti, The Da zhidu lun and the History of the Larger Prajñāpāramitā (Hamburg: Hamburg University Press, 2021).
• 2020, Chair of Intellectual History, Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies - Copy-editor
• March–June 2018, Victoria University of Wellington RELI335: Arguing about Religion - Tutor (Teaching Assistant) 
• October–December 2017, Victoria University of Wellington RELI108: The World’s Religions - Tutor
• March 2018, Victoria University of Wellington - Host and Co-ordinator, Interfaith Panel: Religion & Gender. Continuing Education
• February–March 2018, Victoria University of Wellington - Co-creator and Instructor, “Gender and Religion,” Continuing Education
• October 2017, Victoria University of Wellington RELI113: What is Religion? - Guest lecture: “Future of Religion.”
• June–October 2017, Victoria University of Wellington RELI336 Islam. - Tutor (Teaching Assistant)
• June–October 2017, Victoria University of Wellington RELI113: What is Religion? - Tutor
• March–June 2017, Victoria University of Wellington RELI337: Indian Religions. - Tutor
• August 2015–July 2016, Yasuda Gakuen 安田学園 Tokyo, Japan. Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme - Assistant Language Teacher
• October 2014–February 2015, Victoria University of Wellington - Summer Research Scholarship, under the individual supervision of Dr. Michael Radich, project title: “Auditing the Chinese Buddhist Canon.”
• Prof. Lin Chen-kuo, Chengchih University, Taipei, Taiwan Research Assistant on Index
• Chen-kuo Lin and Michael Radich, eds., A Distant Mirror: Articulating Indic Ideas in Sixth and Seventh Century Chinese Buddhism (Hamburg: Hamburg University Press, 2014).

Publications:

• “Transcultural Field Notes,” The Journal of Transcultural Studies 10, no. 1, 2019: 156–159.

Conference Presentations:

• December 2018, Representing Sex: A Transcultural Conversation, Germany - Presenter “Ascetics & Aesthetics: Gaṇikās in Indo-Sanskritic Buddhist Narrative Literature
• January 2017, Nan Tien Monastic Retreat, Australia - Guest Lecturer “Is Buddhism Feminist?”
• July 2016, Life and Ch’an, Taiwan - Panellist - Panel: “Why did Bodhidharma go to the West?

Research Languages:

• Sanskrit – advanced reading ability
• Pāli – advanced reading ability
• Japanese – basic written and verbal communication
• German – basic written and verbal communication
• Chinese – beginner
• English – mother tongue