Sonam Thakchoe

I hold a PhD in Indo-Tibetan Buddhist philosophy from the University of Tasmania (2003), Masters's Degree (Acharya) in Advanced History, Philosophy and Hermeneutics in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism with a double major from the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS, 1998) and a Bachelors Degree (Shastri, 1996). I am one of the very few Australasian scholars in the field—and, indeed, the only Asian-born philosopher with significant experience in an in-depth study of Indo-Tibetan philosophy in close collaboration with Western colleagues. I am making significant contributions to research in this field at the University of Tasmania, and my work has received international recognition. I am the key person in the Philosophy Program at the University of Tasmania responsible for research activities on the topics of Asian philosophy, particularly Buddhist philosophy. I am one of a small coterie of researchers in the field of Buddhist philosophical studies in Australia, and my research activities have significantly contributed to the internationalisation of the research culture of the School of Humanities at UTAS. Previously dominated by the Western Continental and Analytic philosophical traditions, the style of thinking and research focus in the School has now transformed into a significantly more expansive cross-cultural, interdisciplinary philosophical exchange by way of integrating the philosophical methods of Asian, comparative and intercultural thought.