Ms. Defta Monica | Sociology of Religion | Best Research Article Award

Monica Defta is a final-year PhD student at Transylvania University of Brașov, Romania, specializing in the sociology of religion. With a foundational academic background in sociology, her scholarly work bridges traditional spiritual representations and contemporary issues like sustainability and digital communication. She is committed to deepening the understanding of religiosity in Romanian society and has contributed to international academic literature in this domain.

Publication Profile 

Orcid

Educational Background 🎓

• Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology (2004)
  – Earned prior to the implementation of the Bologna educational system in Romania.

• Ph.D. in Sociology (Ongoing – Final Year)
  – Institution: Transylvania University of Brașov
  – Thesis Topic: “The specific aspects of Romanians’ religiosity”

Professional Experience 💼

• Field of Work: Education and Human Resources

• Research Experience:

  • Developed a deep empirical and theoretical understanding of the sociology of religion, particularly through the lens of child spirituality and Romanian religiosity.

  • Focused on interpreting spiritual values and their influence on social behavior and identity, while also addressing the methodological challenges associated with researching religious phenomena.

Research Interests 🔬

• Primary Focus:

  • Sociology of Religion

• Additional Interests:

  • Sustainability in Local Development

  • Digital Communication of Intangible Cultural Heritage

  • Spiritual Representations in Children

  • Methodological Approaches to Religiosity

Conclusion🌟

Monica Defta demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary research portfolio rooted in the sociology of religion, enriched by her engagement with contemporary social challenges such as sustainable development and digital heritage preservation. Her academic work combines traditional sociological analysis with modern-day contextual relevance, offering new methodological insights into understanding religiosity in Romanian society. While her professional experience in human resources complements her sociological perspectives, expanding international collaborations and engaging in more empirical, large-scale studies could further strengthen her research profile. Overall, she is a commendable candidate for research recognition in the domain of social sciences and sustainability-focused cultural studies.

Publications 📚

• 📄 Title: Journeys to Significant Places in Orthodoxy as a Source of Sustainable Local Development in Romania
  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Co-authors: Sorea Daniela, Popescu Ionuț Mihai
  📓 Journal: Sustainability
  📅 Year: 2023
  🌐 DOI: 10.3390/su15075693
  📊 Impact Factor: 3.9

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• 📄 Title: The Potential for Sustainable Local Development through Digital Communication and Digitization of Intangible Cultural Heritage Resources in Făgăraș Land, Romania
  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Co-authors: Codrina Csesznek, Gabriela Ritulea, Monica Defta, Florina-Mădălina Harabagiu, Daniela Sorea
  📓 Journal: Sustainability
  📅 Year: 2024
  🌐 DOI: 10.3390/su16041532

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• 📄 Title: Methodological Particularities in Current Research on Religiosity
  📓 Journal: Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brașov – Series VII: Social Sciences and Law
  📅 Year: 2024
  🔢 Volume: 17(66), Issue 1
  🌐 DOI: 10.31926/but.ssl.2024.17.66.1.11

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