Pragya Jain, Mohanlal Sukhadia University
Fellowship project: Role of Meditation in the Becoming of the Jina (A comparative analysis with Charles Hartshorne's account of Ultimate Reality and the qualities of Jinahood)
Pragya Jain is a doctoral student at Mohanlal Sukhadia University in Udaipur, India, and also research associate at the International School for Jain Studies (ISJS) in Pune, where she also serves as the assistant editor of the online research journal, ISJS-Transactions. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD at Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, focusing on Jain meditation with special reference to Śubhacandrācārya’s Jñānārṇava.” Jain holds two master’s degrees: one in Jain studies from Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, Ladnun, and another in English Literature from the University of Pune. Additionally, she has earned an MPhil with a thesis on “Aestheticism in Oscar Wilde’s short stories.” With a rich and diverse background in teaching, journalism, and research, Pragya has spent eight years as an English Teacher and Assistant Professor of Communication Skills in Mumbai. She later transitioned to the media industry, working as a sub-editor and senior digital content producer for three years at leading media houses.
Daniel Siakel, University of California, Irvine
Fellowship project: Buddhism and Process Philosophy: Affinities without Identity (An examination of Process thought and the Shäntong school)
Dr. Siakel's research in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and ethics aims to occasion engagement across traditionally disparate fields, especially between phenomenology, process philosophy, and Buddhist philosophy. Facets of this research have been published in Hume Studies and Process Studies and presented at various conferences, including the Eastern, Central, and Pacific Division Meetings of the American Philosophical Association. Dr. Siakel presently serves as a Continuing Lecturer at UCI and earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from UCI in 2016. He also served as the Director of Pedagogy for the Andrew W. Mellon Humanities Fellows Program and has won several awards for teaching excellence, including the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award (from the American Association of Colleges and Universities) the Most Promising Future Faculty Award (from UCI's Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation), and the Faculty Award for Supporting TA Professional Development (from UCI's Senate Council on Teaching and Learning).
Fellows win a $1500 support award and optional conference support. Fellows receive mentorship with Dr. Brianne Donaldson to culminate their research into a journal article submission, possible conference presentations, and other public output over the course of the year.