1. ASPIRANTUM – Armenian School of Languages and Cultures is pleased to announce its 2027 Persian Language Summer School in Yerevan, Armenia. The program runs from June 20 to August 27, 2027, and participants may choose a 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, or 10-week program, depending on their schedule and study

Continue Reading →

We invite expressions of interest for contributions to an edited volume entitled Reflections on Shiʿi Studies to be published with a university press. The aim of the volume is to invite scholars to reflect on the state and fate of Shiʿi studies — inclusive of the Twelver, Ismaʿili, and Zaydi traditions — from various disciplinary vantage points and from any geographical and temporal focus.

While there have been significant steps forward in the study of Shiʿism in recent decades, the continued framing of Shiʿism primarily through the lens of its minority status imposes conceptual and methodological limitations. These, in turn, have shaped the dominant frameworks by which Shiʿism (and consequently, other Muslim traditions) are analysed and have informed particular readings of Shiʿi thought, practice, and history. This volume invites critical engagement with these dynamics and seeks proposals for more integrated and expansive approaches to the study of Shiʿism.

It should be noted that a number of scholars are already committed to contributing to this volume with contributions on a number of different themes. We are particularly interested in hearing from potential contributors who work on the study of philosophy and theology in the Shiʿi milieu, the study of Shiʿi political movements in the contemporary period, Shiʿi material and manuscript culture, and Shiʿi literary culture. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and we would be very interested in hearing of ideas for contributions beyond these themes. Contributors are invited to reflect on developments within their respective areas of specialisation and to consider the intellectual, institutional, and methodological shifts that have shaped the evolution of the field.

Contributors may wish to propose new directions for the future of Shiʿi studies whether by interrogating inherited frameworks, proposing new ones, or advocating for the inclusion of underutilised sources and perspectives. In recognition of the fact that scholarly trajectories are shaped not only by intellectual but also by personal and institutional influences, contributors are also welcome — if they so wish — to reflect on the personal dimensions of their engagement with the field.

If you would be interested in contributing to the volume, please send an email with a brief explanation of your idea (no more than 400 words) to both Adam Ramadhan (a.a.a.h.ramadhan@hum.leidenuniv.nl) and Fatima Zaraket (fmzaraket@princeton.edu) by 30 November 2026.

___

1. University of Oxford – Associate Professorship in Iranian History https://networks.h-net.org/jobs/70721/university-oxford-associate-professorship-iranian-history           2. Legacies of Racialization and Sociopolitical Tensions: Sociolinguistic Consequences for Iranian Immigrant Families in Community-based Persian Language Programs Lecture by Yalda M. Kaveh (Arizona State University) This lecture is part of the UCLA Sociology

Continue Reading →

The Department of Islamic Legal Studies at Al-Mahdi Institute, Birmingham, invites abstracts for an international workshop, “Rethinking Ḥujjiyya: Authority, Authenticity, Attribution, and the Construction of Normativity in Islamic Thought”, to be held on 8–9 July 2027.

The workshop will explore ḥujjiyya (normative authority or probative force) as a framework for understanding epistemic and normative authority across Sunni, Shiʿi, Ibāḍī and other Islamic traditions, from the formative period to the present. Abstracts of 300 words, with a CV (maximum two pages) and a short biography, should be sent to Professor Seyed Mohammad Ghari S Fatemi (fatemim@almahdi.edu) by 17:00 UK time on 30 January 2027. The proceedings will be published by Brill in an edited volume, subject to peer review. Accommodation and hospitality are provided for presenters.

Full call: https://almahdi.edu/ils-cfp/

1.Gerlach Press: Now Five New Reference Collections on History of Medicine & Science, Adab, Arabic Poetry, Islamic Heresiography, and Ottoman History HISTORY OF SCIENCE & MEDICINE IN ISLAM: Collection of 150 volumes from the library Professor Hans-Hinrich Biesterfeldt (University of Bochum) >> Details: https://gerlachbooks.com/COL_189 ISLAMIC TEXTUAL TRADITIONS & HUMANITIES – Literature

Continue Reading →

Articles on “Alevism: History, Religion, and Transformation” for a Special Issue of the Open Access Journal “Religions”
We welcome historical, ethnographic, comparative, and theoretical perspectives from religious studies, anthropology, history, sociology, ethnomusicology, and political science to situate Alevism within broader debates on religion and modernity.
Deadline for abstracts: 15 January 2027. Information: https://tinyurl.com/3yyj8k3n

Click here for further information:
https://www.iis.ac.uk/events/ghulat-and-the-early-shii-memory/

The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) is seeking a Research Associate to join Ismaili Heritage (IH) within the Department of Academic Research. The role will contribute to IH’s work to document, protect, conserve and celebrate the built and associated tangible heritage of global Shiʿa Ismaili Muslim communities.

The postholder will undertake academic research and documentation relating to Ismaili and wider Shiʿi and Islamic heritage, with a particular focus on site research and documentation and knowledge creation and dissemination. Responsibilities will include identifying and researching heritage sites, maintaining and developing information within the IH database, reviewing existing site documentation, contributing to IH’s Sites and Stories and Sites and Studies series, and supporting the development of an annotated bibliography on Ismaili heritage.

The Research Associate will work collaboratively with other researchers and colleagues across the Institute, while taking responsibility for planning and organising their own research. There may also be opportunities to contribute to teaching and wider academic activities within IIS.

This is an exciting opportunity for a researcher in the early to middle stages of their academic career to contribute to a distinctive programme of research and documentation focused on Ismaili material and built heritage.

What we’re looking for
A PhD in Islamic Studies, History, Art or Architectural History, or another related discipline relevant to the research and documentation of Islamic material and built heritage
Demonstrable knowledge of Islamic history, material culture, art, architecture and/or heritage.
Strong academic research skills, including the ability to critically evaluate primary and secondary sources.
Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to communicate research effectively to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Excellent editorial and proofreading skills, with strong attention to accuracy, consistency and detail.
The ability to organise, synthesise and accurately document complex research data.
Confidence in using digital collaboration and project management tools, with the ability to learn new platforms quickly.
Knowledge of Shiʿi and/or Ismaili history and heritage, relevant language skills, scholarly publications, or experience with digital humanities and heritage databases would be advantageous.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the research, documentation and wider understanding of Ismaili heritage while working within an internationally focused academic institution.

You must have the right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not offered for this role.

To apply, please visit our careers page and submit your CV and covering letter before the closing date 13 November 2026. Please see the full job description for further details on applicant criteria: https://tiism.jobs.people-first.com/jobs/details/recruitment%2Fjobdetails%2F3968e167-2a3c-41be-8e7f-1a15e6da4590

Salary: Grade 6 (£44,110 – to be pro-rated)
Location: London, King’s Cross (Aga Khan Centre) – Hybrid
Department: Ismaili Heritage – Department of Academic Research
Contract: Permanent, 0.6 FTE

1.IHTLS Lecture God, the Universe, and Us: On Classical Islamic Theology in the Modern Day Monday, 9th of November at 5 pm (London, UK time), for the next session of the Islamic History and Thought Lecture Series organised by the Institute of Ismaili Studies. Dr Rumee Ahmad’s talk is titled 

Continue Reading →

1.The British Institute of Persian Studies: the Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology is inviting you to three events for the project ‘Groundbreakers: Women in Archaeology’. The exhibition ‘Groundbreakers: Women in Archaeology’ was developed in collaboration with the British International Research Institutes (BIRI), of which BIPS (the British Institute

Continue Reading →