Lara Mertens

Applied anthropologist working across health technology, digital systems, and social innovation.

More about Lara

Lara holds a PhD in Technology Anthropology from the University of Haifa, an MSc in Social Anthropology from the London School of Economics, and a BA in International Studies from Louisiana State University. Alongside her academic training, she has built professional experience across government, industry, and nonprofit contexts, contributing to applied projects in the U.S., Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Her work focuses on how people shape—and are shaped by—technology, particularly in sensitive health and care contexts, and often involves collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to bring human insight into strategy, product, and systems-level decisions.

Reflection on the Mentorship Program

Being part of the AAN program gave Lara valuable insight into the practical realities of life as an applied anthropologist. She is grateful for the exchange with her mentor, Anna Lawton, whose perspective and generosity have made her a lasting professional connection beyond the program. Looking ahead, she is broadly interested in research and strategy roles within organizations where anthropological insight can shape how problems are framed, decisions are made, and technologies are developed. Currently based in Portugal, she is open to working across both U.S. and European contexts. Beyond her professional work, she is drawn to nature, pottery, and visual design, interests that inform her sensitivity to materiality, process, and care. What anchors her work—and what she seeks in future collaborations—is a shared commitment to context, connection, and care.