Joel Brereton

Interests

Biography

Joel Brereton is Associate Professor of Asian Studies and Religious Studies and Chair of the Department of Asian Studies.  He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Yale University.  Prior to coming to UT-Austin, he taught in the Department of Religion at Barnard College and the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Missouri, where he was Chair.

His research focuses on the religion and literature of early India, particularly the Vedas and Vedic interpretation.  He has published The Rgvedic Adityas as well as a number of articles and chapters on Indian religion.  His current project, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a new translation with Stephanie Jamison (UCLA) of the oldest Sanskrit text, the Rig Veda.  Publication is forthcoming.