Peter Graif, PhD

Professor of Anthropology

Co-Director of the Writing and Research Diploma
Consultant in the Pathways to Publishing program

My research tries to better understand the interaction of perceptual processes and tacit cultural expectations, particularly in the context of disability and monetary systems. Lately, however, most of my work is more experimental, related to the problem of ethnography and global systems of expertise.

Academic Background

University of Chicago (Sept 2003 – June 2014)

PhD in Anthropology

Dissertation: “Talk/Intelligible: Language and Objecthood in Deaf Kathmandu”
Committee: Dr. Judith Farquhar (chair), Dr. Michael Silverstein, Dr. John Kelly, Dr. Juliette Blevins
Awarded the Lichstern Prize for the best dissertation of the year

City University of New York (Sept 2009 – May 2013)

MA in Linguistics

Thesis: “Citing signs: Towards a citational model of sign language phonology”
Advisor: Dr. Juliette Blevins

Amherst College (Sept 1998 – May 2002)

BA in Anthropology

Thesis: “Dead and Reborn: Christianity among leprosy patients in Tauthali, Nepal”
Advisor: Dr. Deborah Gewertz
Graduated Summa Cum Laude with High Departmental Distinction

Pitzer College in Nepal (Aug 2000 – June 2001)

Ten month study abroad program, focusing on Nepali language and area studies

One month independent research project: “The construction of community in the
Tauthali Leprosy Colony”
Three month independent research project: “Caste and ethnic nationalism in Limbuan”

Tribhuvan University (Jan 2001 – May 2001)

Not-for-credit student in the intensive graduate program in Hindu and Buddhist philosophy

Publications

Being and Hearing: Making Intelligible Worlds in Deaf Kathmandu (2018, The Malinowski Monograph Series, Hau Books and the Unviersity of Chicago Press) - Available as an Open Access PDF