Dr. Naomi Appleton

Biography

Naomi Appleton is a Professor of Buddhist Studies and Indian Religions at the University of Edinburgh, where she has been working since 2012 after arriving as a Chancellor's Fellow. She held a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cardiff University and has made substantial contributions to the study of early Indian religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Her research primarily focuses on the role of narrative construction and the negotiation of ideas within these religious traditions. Appleton's work has specifically explored the genre of jātaka stories, which recount the past lives of the Buddha, and she has published translations and analyses that examine their impact and narrative techniques across various cultural contexts. Her current research, supported by the Philip Leverhulme Prize, involves expanding a database of jātaka stories in Indian literature and art. She is also involved in teaching numerous courses on Buddhism and is committed to exploring the educational potential of storytelling in the study of religion. Appleton is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is a founding co-director of the Edinburgh Buddhist Studies.

Research Interests