TAMARA DITRICH, PhD, Senior Research Associate

Institute for Philosophical Studies

Tel.: +386 5 663 77 00

E-naslov: tamara.ditrich@zrs‐kp.si

Research areas:

  • Gender relations in ancient Indian religions 
  • Buddhist meditation in theory and practice
  • Pali and Sanskrit textual studies 
  • Sanskrit and traditional Indian Linguistics

Biography:

Education:

  • PhD (Studies in Religion), University of Queensland, 2005. Dissertation title: “Dvandva Compounds in the Rgveda: A Stylistic and Typological Analysis of Coordinative Nominal Constructions in Rgveda 1.1–1.50”.
  • Postgraduate study of Sanskrit Linguistics (Pāṇini’s grammar and its commentaries) and the Vedic tradition, University of Poona, India, 1982–1985.
  • BA Honours, Class I (Comparative Indo-European Linguistics and Anthropology), University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), 1982.

Tamara Ditrich has been lecturing on a variety of academic subjects related to Asian religions and languages (Buddhism, Contemplation in Eastern Religions, Hinduism, Sanskrit) in universities through Europe (University of Ljubljana, University of Primorska) and Australia (Australian National University, University of Queensland, University of Sydney, Nan Tien Institute). Currently she is associated/employed as Head of Buddhist Studies Program at Nan Tien Institute, Wollongong (Australia); as Research Associate at the Department of Indian Sub-Continental Studies, University of Sydney; as Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Philosophical Studies Science and Research Centre Koper, and University of Ljubljana.

Her main research areas include philosophies and languages of ancient India, focusing particularly on Buddhist Studies, Vedic Philology and Sanskrit Linguistics. She has authored a monograph, edited several books, and published in many international research journals (Bibliographic indicators of scientific performance and SICRIS). She has been recipient of several international research grants (e.g., EU Marie Curie, ARC Australia, CARI Japan, ARRS Slovenia) and is an active member in many international scientific associations and editorial boards of research journals.

Services and Professional Consultations:

  • Memberships in professional associations: International Association of Sanskrit Studies (IASS), Australian Association for the Study of Religions, Executive Committee of the Australian Association of Buddhist Studies, International Association of Buddhist Studies (IABS), Australia Myanmar Institute.
  • Peer reviewer for research journals: Sustainability Science Journal, Indologica Taurinensia; Studia mythologica Slavica, Asian Studies; Journal of the South Asian Studies Association of Australia, Acta Linguistica Asiatica, International Journal of Wellbeing.
  • Member of the Editorial Board of Acta Linguistica Asiatica, Asian and African Studies.
  • Director of the Centre for Buddhist Studies at University of Queensland (2006 -2008).
  • Member of examination committee for several PhD Theses at University of Ljubljana, University of Strasbourg, University of Sydney, University of  Queensland, Australian National University.
  • Member of the Organising Committee and Panel Chair for numerous international conferences in Europe, Asia, and Australia.

For her work Tamara Ditrich received several awards:

  • Australian Postgraduate Award for a Doctor of Philosophy degree course, University of Queensland, 2001–2005.
  • Nominated twice for the Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Queensland (2000 in 2001).
  • Indian Government Postgraduate Award for postgraduate study of Sanskrit at the University of Pune, India, 1982–1985.
  • Award for Research and Postgraduate Study Abroad by Zavod za mednarodno znanstveno in tehnicno sodelovanje, Slovenia, 1982–1985.

Research activity:

Tamara Ditrich was and still is active in national and international research projects and programmes:

  • Slovene Women Missionaries in India: A Forgotten Chapter in Intercultural Relations, (J6-8258 ) 2017-2020;
  • Cosmic Justice: the poetics of the feminine, (J6―8265) 2017 – 2020;
  • Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, (P6-0243) 2015–2019;
  • The Preservation and Study of the Kuthodaw Pagoda Marble Stelae Recension of the Pali Buddhist Canon, Mandalay, Myanmar, (Chuo Academic Research Institute Japan, University of Sydney), 2014–2016;
  • Between Politics and Ethics: Towards A New World Culture of Hospitality and Non-violence, (J6-5565) 2013 – 2016;
  • Dual deities in the Rgveda, EU Marie Curie International Grant, SP3-People IRG (PIRG02-GA-2007-224432), 2008–2012.
  • Recently discovered rare manuscripts of mediaeval Pali subcommentaries: a missing link in Buddhist textual transmission, Australian Research Council Discovery Grant (DP0559056), 2007–2008.
  • Contemporary Buddhist Meditation Practices in Sri Lanka, Bodhicitta Chan International Association Research Grant, 2006–2008.
  • Dvandva Compounds in the Rgveda, University of Queensland Early Career Researcher Scheme Grant, 2007–2008.
  • Stylistic Analysis of Coordinative Nominal Expressions in the Rgveda, University of Queensland New Staff Start-up Grant, 2005–2006.