Archive for April 19th, 2016

The Middle East: Beyond the sectarian divide

1.PhD Studentship in Anthropology and Textiles

The Department of Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews is offering an AHRC funded doctoral studentship for the Burkett and Beyond (https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/anthropology/news/?newsid=264) project. The project offers a doctoral student the unique opportunity to work with Dr Stephanie Bunn at the University of St Andrews and Dr Fiona Kerlogue at the Horniman Museum on an exceptional collection of felt textiles gathered by curator and traveller Mary Burkett in the 1960s and 1970s from the Middle East and Afghanistan and housed at the Museum.

The aim is to contextualise this collection in light of events in the subsequent 40 to 50 years. Focusing on Iranian felt textile practices, it is anticipated that a doctoral student will bring Burkett’s research up-to-date, ascertaining links between the Horniman collection and felt’s place in the cultural heritage, memories and life-worlds of people in the Iranian region today, including exploring the impact of events such as revolution and war on domestic production of these textiles. The student will be encouraged to adopt innovative methods in conjunction with their study of the collection.

The research will be both field-based and archival and involve a 12 month fieldwork period in Iran. The studentship covers fees and a stipend over 3 years. The successful candidate must hold a good degree in Social Anthropology, Iranian Studies, Textile History, or similar fields. We are particularly interested in candidates with background in one or more of the following: Textile History, Ethno-history, Social Anthropology or Iranian Studies. It is anticipated that the student may have some knowledge of Persian.

The application process is in two stages: In the first instance, you will have to apply to the University of St Andrews (http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/pg/) as soon as possible. You should be offered a place to be able to proceed to the next stage. You should then send a letter of application, outlining your qualifications for the research, with an example of your work and a short proposal for conducting the research in Iran (before end of May 2016). The start date for the studentship is October 2016. You will have the necessary English language qualifications.

Informal enquiries can be sent to Dr Stephanie Bunn (sjb20@st-andrews.ac.uk).

2. The Eighth Biennial Convention of the Association for the Study of Persianate Societies (ASPS)

ASPS/Shiraz 2017

March 9-13, 2017
Shiraz, Iran

CALL FOR PAPERS

The Association for the Study of Persianate Societies (ASPS) calls for the participation of its members in its Eighth Biennial Convention, to take place in Shiraz, Iran, March 9-13, 2017. The deadline for submission of abstracts is June 20, 2016. Please note that you must have valid ASPS membership for 2016 in order to submit your abstract and for 2017 in order to participate in the conference. In order to become a new member or renew your ASPS membership, please proceed to our membership page at (http://persianatesocieties.org/index.php/membership). We will likely have a limited number of fellowships available for participants from Central Asia, Afghanistan, and the Caucasus. Scholarships for U.S. graduate students are subject to availability.

All humanities and social science disciplines related to Persianate Societies are welcome. In addition to individual paper submissions, we strongly encourage pre-organized panels. Submissions for pre-organized panels must include a panel abstract of no more than 300 words plus individual abstracts of no more than 300 words for each panelist. Panels must be limited to a minimum of three panelists and a maximum of four. Submissions for pre-organized panels and individual papers should be made here [http://persianatesocieties.org/index.php/asps-2017-abstract-submission].

3. Applications for Best Ph.D. Dissertation Award, 2016

Deadline for Submissions is August 15, 2016.

The Foundation for Iranian Studies invites applications for its annual award of $1000 for the best Ph.D. dissertation in a field of Iranian Studies. Students completing their dissertations between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016 are eligible to apply for the 2016 award.

Dissertations must be nominated by the author’s advisor and be accompanied by the Dissertation Committee’s letter of acceptance. Both documents may be emailed provided they contain appropriate official insignias and signatures.

Applicants for the 2016 award should submit a digital copy of the dissertation, either mailed on disc to

Secretary

Foundation for Iranian Studies

Bethesda, MD 20814

USA

Or emailed to

fis@fis-iran.org or

gafkhami@fis-iran.org

For further information about the award, selection criteria, and previous winners consult the Foundation for Iranian Studies Website at www.fis-iran.org, Programs, Dissertation Awards. Inquiries should be emailed to fis@fis-iran.org.

4. PhD position on the Urban History of the Middle East.

The research institute for Historical, Literary and Cultural Studies (HLCS), Faculty of Arts, Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands, offers a PhD position in the context of a project about governance and experience of urban public space in the Middle East between the 7th and the 15th century. For details, go to

 http://www.ru.nl/werken/details/details_vacature_0/?recid=577519

5. Conference: “Islamophobia: Has a Tipping Point been Reached?”, University of California, Berkeley, 22-23 April 2016

The conference’s theme is both a question for researchers and a statement reflecting the pervasiveness of bigoted discourses that problematize the category, Muslim and Islam in civil society.  Speakers will examine Islamophobia from multi-disciplinary and transnational perspectives, so as to bring a more holistic understanding of the phenomena and the forces acting to sharpen the ongoing otherization of Muslims as a class.

Information: http://crg.berkeley.edu/content/irdpconf2016
 

6. Workshop: “Muslim Responses to Gender: Representations, Discourses, and Realities”, Durham University, UK, 7 May 2016

The workshop is intended to bring together scholars from different disciplines who share an interest in the role of gender in Islam and for Muslims. It is hoped that the multi-disciplinary context will enable researchers to gain greater understanding of their field and facilitate future cross-pollination in this area.

Deadline for abstracts: 22 April 2016. Information: http://www.dur.ac.uk/conference.booking/details/?id=598
 

7. Conference: “Environmental Approaches in Pre-Modern Middle Eastern Studies”, Annemarie Schimmel Kolleg, University of Bonn, 5-7 December 2016

This conference is meant to be a forum for exchange of ideas about environmental history, and methods and theories, by scholars engaged in the study of the pre-modern Islamic world. Papers from the fields of history, historical geography, archaeology and art history, natural sciences, and historical anthropology are most welcome, as well as studies of a more theoretical (but historically grounded) nature.

Deadline for application: 15 June 2016. Information: http://www.mamluk.uni-bonn.de/mamluk-events
 

8. Symposium: “Ottoman Fiqh: Scholars, Works, and Problems”, İstanbul Araştırma ve Eğitim Vakfı (İSAR), Istanbul, 24-25 December 2016

Starting with the establishment of the Ottoman state until the Majallah, the discussed fiqhi problems during this time frame, the penned works in this area, and the emerging establishments and Ottoman fiqh scholars of the time will be among the main issues to be addressed at the symposium.

Deadline for abstracts: 1 June 2016. Information: http://www.sempozyum.isar.org.tr/tr
 

9. Three Tenure-track Posts in Economic and Early Modern History of the MENA Region, University of Sussex, UK
1) Lecturer in Economic History
2) Lecturer in Early Modern History
3) Research Fellow in History

Deadline for applications: 26 April 2016. Information: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/enhanced/linking/university-of-sussex/

10. Master in History and Oriental Studies – Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna

The new Master in History and Oriental Studies at Bologna University is a 2-year (120 ECTS credits) multidisciplinary degree programme. In the International Curriculum in Global Cultures, lectures are entirely held in English. International students who apply for the curriculum in Global Cultures can benefit from tuition fee waiver.

Deadline for tuition fee waiver: 29 April 2016. Information: http://corsi.unibo.it/2cycle/GlobalCultures/Pages/how-to-apply.aspx
 

11. Grants for Faculty/Researchers and PhD Students, International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)

1) Faculty/researchers (post-PhD) grants – http://www.iiit.org/short-term-grants.html
2) Grants for PhD students – http://www.iiit.org/doctoral-grants.html
 

12. Postdoctoral Fellowship 2016/17 for Research on the MENA Region in Humanities and Social Sciences, Orient-Institut Beirut

The fellowship will be granted for up to 12 months, beginning with September 15 2016 (or later this year). The stipend amounts to € 1900 per month. We may further support up to two travels abroad for active participation at conferences and the like.

Deadline for applications: 31 May 2016. Information: http://www.orient-institut.org/index.php?id=42

13. Gulf Studies at the College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University is
pleased to announce that their international MA and PhD programs are
open for admission for the year 2016/17.
The M.A. and PhD in Gulf Studies at Qatar University (also offered as a
dual degree with Durham University, UK) offers a unique
interdisciplinary opportunity to study the Gulf while living in the
region itself, learning the language and immersing in the local culture.
The in-depth and interdisciplinary curriculum, taught in English,
provides a holistic examination of the region that includes topics such as:
•    Anthropology and History
•    Politics and society
•    Economics and development
•    International relations
•    Security and Foreign Policy
•    Energy and Environment
•    Literature and Culture
In addition, the program consists of evening classes to allow students
to continue their professional careers. Financial assistance and
academic assistantships are available on a competitive basis.
For more information about the program and the application process
please visit our website at: http://www.qu.edu.qa/artssciences/gulfstudies/

Deadline for admission to the program is May 10th , 2016.

14. The Roshangar: Roshan Undergraduate Persian Studies Journal is proud to announce the publication of its first issue! This issue features pieces of scholarship from a wide range of disciplines and from an international group of students. The journal is available for free download here: http://www.roshangarumd.com/#!the-journal/jyxq3

Roshangar is a biannual academic publication featuring undergraduate research on topics related to Persianate world. The student-run journal serves to inspire original research as well as to promote a broader interest in Persian Studies within the academic community.

We are currently accepting submissions for the second issue now. Information on article submissions can be found here: http://www.roshangarumd.com/#!journal-submission/kbpfn

15. Transcultural Relations, Global Biographies – Islamic Art? New exhibition trail at the Museum of Islamic Art Berlin

A new exhibition trail in the Museum of Islamic Art Berlin traces the paths by which a wide range of objects migrated cross continents and the ways in which motifs, shapes, and production techniques reveal a network of relationships between differing cultures – cultures which are not necessarily associated with “Islamic art” today. Thus the trail questions modern assumptions about cultural boundaries, and with them, the notion of “Islamic art” as a separate category.

The exhibition trail was developed by the “Objects in Transfer” project in a collaboration between the Collaborative Research Center “Episteme in Motion” (at the Freie Universität Berlin) and the Museum of Islamic Art.

Opening: 28th of April 2016 6.30 pm. For a required RSVP, please send a message with your name to isl@smb.spk-berlin.de by April 26th.

More information about the project: http://www.objects-in-transfer.sfb-episteme.de/#/about Museum für Islamische Kunst – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Pergamonmuseum, Museumsinsel Berlin Bodestraße, 10178 Berlin

16. University of Kansas – Arabic Language, Full-time Lecturer
http://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=52847