Academic Working Experience (Research and Teaching):
2025–present Researcher in the Knowledge Network ‘Longing for the Sacred,’ Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences, Ede (the Netherlands). In this project I am investigating how Dutch Protestants employ rituals for meaning-making-purposes in times of climate change.
2023–present Postdoctoral researcher in the project ‘Religion and Climate Change,’ Tilburg School of Catholic Theology, Tilburg University (the Netherlands). This project is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). I am focusing on the use of rituals in times of climate change, ecological mourning, and forms of (post-secular) sacrality in the climate change discourse. I also supervise students in the writing of their Master’s thesis and co-teach the MA-course ‘Christianity and the Care for Creation.’
2023–present Guest lecturer ‘Hinduism and Buddhism,’ Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences, Ede (the Netherlands). I teach Hinduism and Buddhism and Interreligious Dialogue in the Theology-Programme and Hinduism and Buddhism in the Religious Teacher Training-Programme.
2023–present Guest lecturer ‘Hinduism and Buddhism,’ The Evangelical Theological Institute, Louvain (Belgium). I teach Hinduism and Buddhism and Interreligious Dialogue.
2023–present Guest lecturer ‘Hinduism and Buddhism,’ Utrecht Theological University, Utrecht (the Netherlands). I teach Hinduism and Buddhism and Interreligious Dialogue.
2023 February Guest lecturer in the Course ‘Religious Anthropology,’ Radboud University, Nijmegen (the Netherlands).
2021–2023 Lecturer World Religions and Intercultural Communication, Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences, Ede (the Netherlands). In addition to teaching, I supervised students in writing their thesis and developed courses on religious diversity in the Netherlands.
2015–2021 PhD candidate, Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University, (the Netherlands). This project was funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). PhD thesis defended on December 15, 2021. Thesis title: The Many Faces of Ravana: Ravanisation among Sinhalese Buddhists in Post-War Sri Lanka.
2014–2015 Curriculum coordinator, NOSTER (the Netherlands School for Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion). As curriculum coordinator I organised, coordinated, and evaluated seminars, conferences, grand courses, and masterclasses for master’s students and PhD candidates.
2012–2013 Freelance assistant, NOSTER (the Netherlands School for Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion). My main task was to write reports for the review committee about all the participating universities in this national research school.
2012–2013 Research-assistant, Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University (the Netherlands). Project title: The Imagery of Bollywood-films (funded by the KNAW, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences).
2012 Assistant to Prof. Dr. A.J.A.C.M. Korte (Chair of Religion and Gender), Utrecht University (the Netherlands).
2009–2010 Teaching assistant, Utrecht University (the Netherlands). Courses: ‘Hinduism and Buddhism,’ ‘Introduction to Religious Studies,’ and ‘Images of God in World Traditions.’
Education:
2012–2013 M.A., ‘Religion and Ritual’ (cum laude), Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University (the Netherlands).
Thesis title: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue: een analyse van cultureel-religieuze aspecten in de Bollywood-film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham en de Indiase religieuze animatiefilm Krishna aur Kans en de rol van deze films in het cultureel-religieuze socialisatieproces van hindoestaanse kinderen in Nederland [Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue: An Analysis of Cultural-Religious Aspects in the Bollywood Film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and the Indian, Religious Animation Film Krishna aur Kans and the Role of These Films in the Cultural-Religious Socialization of Hindustani Children in the Netherlands].
2011–2012 Courses Hindi (20 EC), Leiden University (the Netherlands).
2009–2011 M.A., ‘Religion in the Modern World,’ Utrecht University (the Netherlands), (GPA 4.0).
Thesis title: Van religieuze mythe tot rolmodel: Sita, Ahalya en Mandodari als rolmodellen in het Ram-charit-manas en als rolmodellen voor hindoe-vrouwen in Nederland [From Religious Myth to Role Model: Sita, Ahalya, and Mandodari as Role Models in the Ram-charit-manas and as Role Models for Hindu Women in the Netherlands].
2006–2009 B.A., ‘Theology/Religious Studies,’ Utrecht University (the Netherlands).
Grants and Awards:
2025 TSHD (Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences) Seed Money in collaboration with Dr. Suzanne van der Beek. Title of the project: ‘What If It Doesn’t End Well’ – Creating Alternative Imaginations of the Future for Children Through Ecological Mourning Rituals.’ In this project I am using insights from ecological mourning rituals to develop course material on the climate crisis as existential crisis for religious education.
2022 Stipendium (€ 10.000,-) Thijmgenootschap, Association for Science and Philosophy.
2021 Stichting Sormani Fonds (€ 1000,-).
2015–2020 PhD Grant in Humanities (five years’ salary, funded by NWO, the Dutch Research Council). Title of the proposed PhD project: The Invention of a Shared Past? Hindu-Buddhist Encounters within the Formation and Use of Ramayana-sites in Post-War Sri Lanka.
2016 J. Gonda Fund Foundation (€ 4000,-): additional funding PhD project.
2013 Bisschop Ernst Thesis Award (€ 500,-) for best Master’s Thesis in Theology/Religious Studies.
2012 RDO Balije of Utrecht: travel grant (€ 500,-) for Hindi-course in Mussoori (India).
Professional Affiliations and Memberships:
2023–present Member of the network group ‘creation and sustainability’ of the Dutch Council of Churches.
2020–2021 Junior member Stichting Nederland-Sri Lanka (Netherlands-Sri Lanka Foundation).
2012–present Member of the Hindu-Christian contact group of the Dutch Council of Churches.
2017–2019 Member of the NOSTER Junior Council.