Associate Professor of Anthropology

SOAN Department: Sociology/Anthropology
Gender Studies Program:  Gender Studies

Professional Biography

My current research and teaching interests focus on the anthropology of science, technology, and medicine, feminist studies, and the anthropology of food and drink.  I have had the pleasure of collaborating with students and colleagues on a number of funded research projects in recent years.

• Research on wine, terroir, and discourses about science, magic, and the taste of place.  Recent work includes
  • Research on biodynamic viticulture and the ‘natural’ wine movement in Oregon, France, and Sicily, with student-faculty funding from Mellon (Situating the Global Environment,) and the Dinah Dodds Endowment
  • A project focused on the Umpqua AVA in southern Oregon, funded by Mellon and Watzek Library.

• Research on the science and nature/culture of foie gras production, with research in the U.S., France and Québec, supported by the Pacific Northwest Canadian Studies Consortium and a Mellon student-faculty grant from Lewis & Clark’s Environmental Studies Program.
• An interdisciplinary research project investigating biological, cultural, legal, and community perspectives on epigenetics, with funding from the NIH ELSI program.
  • Student-faculty research grant from NIH-Interdisciplinary Center on Epigenetics, Science & Society: “The Emerging Epigenetic Mystique: Mapping Portrayals of Epigenetics in Social Media”
• A multi-sited collaborative project, “Mapping Genetic Knowledge: An Anthropological Approach” funded by the NIH ELSI program, National Human Genome Research Institute.

Academic Credentials

Ph.D. The Johns Hopkins University; M.A. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; B.A. Reed College

Courses Offered | Spring 2013

SOAN 498 Animal Studies
SOAN 400  Senior Thesis

Recent News

• Prof. Deborah Heath explores culture & epigenetics in NIH-backed project

• Gender in the City Internship course leads to jobs for graduating seniors