Claudia Venhorst
Curriculum Vitae
Academic qualifications
2009 – 2013 Doctorate in religious studies (13/06/2013).
Centre for Thanatology, Faculty Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies.
Radboud University Nijmegen.
Supervisors: Prof. dr. Eric Venbrux, Prof. dr. Peter Nissen.
2008 – 2009 Master Religion and Culture (cum laude).
Faculty Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies.
Radboud University Nijmegen.
2007 – 2008 Master Religious Studies (cum laude).
Faculty Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies.
Radboud University Nijmegen.
2003 – 2007 Bachelor Religious Studies.
Faculty Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies.
Radboud University Nijmegen.
Research & Teaching
2013 – now Lecturer/Post-doctoral researcher
department of comparative religion, Faculty Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies.
Radboud University Nijmegen.
Since July 1, 2013. Teaching at BA and MA courses and seminars.
2009 – now Associated researcher
Centre for Thanatology.
Radboud University Nijmegen.
2010 – 2015 Guest lecturer.
Various courses on bachelor and master level: research methods and interview training, ritual studies, anthropology of religion, bio-ethics, practices of spirituality, Lived Islam.
Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies.
Radboud University Nijmegen.
International Conferences
Shooting Death: Using insightful photography in the study of death ritual. Panel: Imageries and rituals of modern death. Helsinki: Annual international conference European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR). 29/06/2016.
Negotiating Muslim death practices in the Netherlands. Panel: Death, Lived Religion and the Crisis of Meaning. Erfurt: World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religion (IAHR). 28/08/2015.
Muslim perspectives on dying well and challenges for end-of-life care in the Netherlands. Madrid: Annual international conference International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion in Europe (IMISCOE). 28/08/2014.
Motivation and Authority in Ritual Roles Transmission of Expert Knowledge in Muslims Death Practices in the Netherlands. Groningen: Religion and Pluralities of Knowledge. Annual international conference European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR). 14/05/2014.
Approaching lived religion through death ritual. Leiden: International conference Dutch Association for the Study of Religion (NGG). Panel organiser. 25/10/2013.
Negotiating Islamic Death Rites in a Small Town Context in the Netherlands. Liverpool: Religion, Migration, Mutation. Annual international conference European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR). 5/9/2013.
Islamic Death Rituals: Ritual Transfer, Imagination and Ritual Creativity. Nijmegen: International conference Death, Dying & Disposal (DDD). 12/9/2011.
Invited talks & lectures selection
Materialising continuing bonds between bereaved and deceased: Negotiating Muslim funerary rites on Dutch cemeteries. Conference Deceased and Bereaved! Organised by the European Research Network on Death Rituals and Zürich Universität, CH. 21/05/2016.
Observations in the study of death ritual. Tutorial in the MA-course ‘World Religions: concepts and research in death ritual’ at KU Leuven, Belgium. 26/10/2015.
Cultural issues in death and dying in the advanced course ‘Suffering, Death and Palliative Care’ part of the Erasmus Mundus Master of Bioethics. Radboud University Medical Center. 13/02/2015 and 14/02/2016.
The ritual cleansing of the deceased: how Muslims ritualise death in a migration context. Part of the ESRC Research. Seminar Series programme ꞌEncountering Corpses Todayꞌ. Hosted by the Centre for Death and Life studies, Durham University, UK. 18/12/2014.
Valorisation projects: knowledge utilisation selection
2017 Consultant Permanent Education for professionals in funeral care, for Vitaedes
2016 Masterclass and workshops on diversity Dutch funerals for Yarden Funeral Care, Utrecht.
2015 Photo exhibition: Verbonden [Connected].
2015 TEDx talk: You Only Die Once. At TEDx Venlo. 20/11/2016. visit: www.tedxvenlo.com/news/claudia-venhorst-you-only-die-once/
2015 Website Death studies & lived religion: field notes. Visit: www.claudiavenhorst.nl. Ongoing.
2015 Presentation: Trends, Dilemmas and Chances: Personalised and diverse funerals & DeathQuote Workshop, Yarden Symposium ‘Multicultural funerals in the Netherlands’.
2015 Master classes on Diverse Muslim death practices for funeral care providers at Yarden funeral care, Amsterdam. 14/03/2015 and 28/03/2015.
2015 Funerary Academy expert meeting Ethics + etiquette in dealing with human remains. Organiser.
2014 Project Sta eens stil bij de dood: Death awareness through collecting and presenting death quotes. Visit: www.staeensstilbijdedood.nl. Ongoing.
2014 Project DoodZaak: Magazine for professionals in funerary care. Visit: www.ddzk.nl. Ongoing
2014 Master class on Religion and Death rituals for funeral care providers at DELA, Den Bosch.
Awarded grants
2013 SWT grant: Stimulating Talented Scholars, Radboud University Nijmegen (€15.000).
2014 Valorisation Grant, Radboud University Nijmegen (€5.000).
Other relevant work experience
2008 – 2013 Independent trainer and consultant in the field of diversity & communication; training, coaching and consulting in the complex area of (intercultural) communication for professionals in civil service, health and social care. Div.communicatie (owner), Venlo.
2000 – 2006 Event coordinator at the international marketing communications department, project management of presentations, exhibitions and large events – from creative concept to final execution – at Océ Headquarters, Venlo.
1995 – 2000 Travel agency Senegal/West Africa; organising customized thematic tours for Dutch professionals (in health care, education and culture) and tourists; training of Senegalese staff, at Tuki Senegal, Dakar, Senegal.
Other training
2016 Short course Documentary Photography at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.
2014 – 2016 Photography mentoring program at University of applied Photography/Fotovakschool, Venlo.