March 2026
Master of Arts in Social and Cultural Analysis
International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan
Thesis: "Imagining Immersive Futures Through the Meta Quest 3: An Exploratory Study with University Students in Tokyo"
About
Hello! I'm Elizabeth.
I'm a Chilean anthropologist based in Tokyo, endlessly curious about the human side of new technology, not what it can do, but what people are actually willing to let it become.
My Master's thesis explored this by handing university students a VR headset and asking what future they'd actually want to live in, which helped me understand how people quietly decide what technology gets to replace and what it doesn't. I'm now turning that into a doctoral proposal on AI avatars.
Outside of research, I like building the things I study: I tinker with building my own AI avatar, I'm slowly writing a visual novel because worldbuilding is simply fun, and I spend a lot of time teaching and helping run a conference for women researchers, because academic spaces feel better when more people feel like they belong.
Education
December 2020
Licentiate (BA equivalent) in Anthropology
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Thesis: "Living in Cultural Borderlands: Expressions of Nikkei Identity among Young Japanese Descendants in Chile"
Sept 2018 – Aug 2019
Academic Exchange Program
Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan
Additional Training & Certificates
July 2025
Design Thinking for Social Impact Workshop
International Christian University
March 2024
One-Year Japanese Language Program
Toyo Language School (東洋言語学院)
July 2022
Certificate Program in Anthropology and Film Practice
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Continuing Education
August 2020
Research-creation in Ethnographic Work Course
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Continuing Education
July 2020
Digital Anthropology Workshop
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Continuing Education
Grants & Funding
July 2025
SDG Projects Grant
Japan ICU Foundation
Grant for Young Female Researcher Conference 2026
April 2025
2025 Othmer Research Fellowship
Japan ICU Foundation
Independent research project. Exploring Gen Z Perspectives on the Metaverse in Japan
Awards & Honors
August 08, 2026
Build Your Own AI Avatar Hackathon - Second Place
Perxona
May 2025
ICU Scholarship for International Students, AY2025
International Christian University
October 2023
AY2024 ICU Torch Relay Graduate School Scholarship for New Students
International Christian University
July 2018
Student Exchange Support Program Scholarship
Japan Student Services Organization
Academic Service
March 07, 2026
Organizing Committee Chair
Young Female Researcher Conference 2026, International Christian University
March 07, 2026
Session Moderator, Invited Talks Session: Research Pathways & Interdisciplinary Work
Young Female Researcher Conference 2026, International Christian University