Shii News – Academic Items
1.The Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University:Tenured appointment in modern South Asian studies.
Those who work in the late pre-colonial or early colonial period (the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries) are also encouraged to apply. The committee will begin reviewing applications on November 9th.
https://academic.careers.columbia.edu/#!/193617
2. Bodleian Visiting Fellowship in the Persian Arts of the Book, – call for applications
The Bodleian Libraries are now accepting applications for the Bahari Visiting Fellowship in the Persian Arts of the Book to be taken up during academic year 2027-28. Bodleian Visiting Fellowships support periods of research in the Special Collections of the Bodleian Libraries, Oxford.
Details of the Bodleian Visiting Fellowships terms and application process can be found on our Visiting Fellowships webpage: Bodleian Visiting Fellowships | Bodleian Libraries (ox.ac.uk), the deadline for applications is 27 November 2026.
For further information, please email: fellowships@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.
3. The Laura Bassi Scholarship was established in 2018 with the aim of providing editorial assistance to postgraduates and junior academics whose research focuses on neglected topics of study, broadly construed. The scholarships are open to every discipline and the next round of funding will be awarded in Winter 2026:
Winter 2026
Application deadline: 15 November 2026
Results: 4 December 2026
All currently enrolled master’s and doctoral candidates are eligible to apply, as are academics in the first five years of full-time employment. Applicants are required to submit a completed application form along with their CV through the application portal by the relevant deadline. Further details, including previous winners, and the application portal can be found at: https://editing.press/bassi
Note that the Winter 2026 round also includes a Bassi Foundation Press award of $5,000 for book-length projects, set against the Press’ open-access charge, for which authors and editors may also (or exclusively) apply. The details are noted on the above website.
3. Fons Vitae is for the first time making available all it’s titles by Sidi ‘Ahmad Ibn ‘Ajiba in one discounted collection!
The Fons Vitae Ibn ‘Ajiba Complete Collection includes 5 titles:
1) The Book of Ascension to the Essential Truths of Sufism: A lexicon of Sufic terminology compiled by Ahmad ibn ‘Ajiba
2) The Chapters of Mary and Ta Ha from the Immense Ocean – Quranic Commentary of Ibn Ajiba
3) The Immense Ocean: Selections from Ibn Ajiba’s commentary on the Qur’an
4) Two Sufi Commentaries (on the Shadhili tradition) by Ahmad Ibn Ajiba
5) The Autobiography of a Moroccan Soufi: Ahmad Ibn Ajiba
GO HERE for discounted collection..
4. Hybrid: Sufis in Premodern Persianate Societies and Politics: 2026 Levi Della Vida Award and Conference Honoring Richard M. Eaton
Keynote speaker: Richard M. Eaton (University of Arizona)
Faculty organizers: Nile Green (UCLA History) and Choon Hwee Koh (UCLA History)
Organized by the UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies. Co-sponsored by the UCLA Ibn Khaldun Chair in World History, UCLA Islamic Studies, UCLA Iranian Studies, and UCLA Program on Central Asia.
Thursday, November 5, 2026
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM PST
Royce Hall 314 and Online
5. Hybrid: ANN LAMBTON LECTURE 2026 | The Modernity of Return Fereydoun Tavallali (1917–1985) and the Contested Boundaries of Persian Modernist Poetry
Narguess Farzad
19 November 2026, 5:30PM
Paula Browne House Lecture Theatre, Murray Edwards College, Huntingdon Rd ,Cambridge, CB3 0SH
6. BRISMES 2027
Submissions for the 2027 BRISMES conference, co-hosted by the School of Geography, Politics, and Sociology at Newcastle University from 22 to 24 June 2027, are now open. We warmly invite you to review the call for papers and submit your abstracts for individual presentations, panels, roundtables or creative interventions by 14 December 2026.
As always, we encourage submissions that sit outside the conference theme and are more broadly related to Middle East Studies. Relevant disciplines include – but are not limited to – politics, culture and society, language, literature, anthropology, sociology, economics, history, geography, media and communication studies, in or related to the MENA region.
See:
https://www.brismes.ac.uk/conference/about-the-conference
and
https://www.brismes.ac.uk/conference/about-the-conference/instructions-for-submission
7. Islamic archaeology fellowship, Frankfurt 2027
Islamic archaeology has been established in 2023 as part of the Institute of Archaeological Studies at Goethe-University Frankfurt with the support of the Volkswagen Foundation. It aims at strengthening archaeological research in the Islamicate world (in Africa, Asia and Europe) from the seventh to the eighteenth century CE including a study program. Its current focuses are on early Islam, trade and economy, monasteries, households, and epigraphy, with active fieldwork in Iraqi Kurdistan and Portugal. Moreover, it participates in the LOEWE Center “Dynamics of Religion: Ambivalent Neighborhoods between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in Historical and Contemporary Constellations”, researching the identification of religions and/or different religion-related identity groups in the archaeological record.
We are inviting junior and senior scholars to apply for a two to three month fellowship at our institute between 1.2.27 and 15.12.27. On their arrival, fellows will receive one lump sum of 4,000 Euros (for the whole period), a working space, and access to the university library and digital resources. Applicants will enjoy a vibrant academic environment and networks in Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main Region to follow their ongoing research and to develop new projects.
Applicants must have already obtained their PhD and are expected to link their ongoing research to the current strands of research in Islamic archaeology in Frankfurt. During their stay, the fellow is expected to give one public talk. Travel, accommodation, visas and/or securing additional funds are under the responsibility of the fellow.
Deadline for applications: 30.11.26
The application should include:
- A motivation letter (indicating e.g. the project and the preferred dates of arrival)
- CV
- List of publications
Answers will be sent by 15.12.26.
Contact Information
Hagit Nol
Contact Email
8. BIPS (British Institute of Persian Studies):
We are pleased to invite you to the launch of ‘Nomadic Weavings: From Sheep to Carpets in Rural Iran‘, an online exhibition exploring the traditional hand-woven goods of rural Iran and the changing lives of the nomadic communities that created them.
Wednesday 21 October | 4.30pm – 5.30pm
Elvet Hill House, Room 009
The launch will include an introduction by Professor Susan Wright and an opportunity to view a selection of Iranian bags and carpets from her research area, now donated to the Oriental Museum.
The exhibition can be viewed online here
9. The American Research Institute in Turkey announces fellowships for research in Türkiye, 2027-2028 Awards are offered for research in ancient, medieval, or modern times, in any field of the humanities, social sciences, and archaeology. Tenures range from one to nine months. Applications are due November 15, 2026.
Contact Information
Nancy Leinwand, Executive Director
American Research Institute in Turkey
3260 South Street, Philadelphia PA 19104
Contact Email
URL
https://aritweb.org/fellowships/arit-research-fellowships/
10. 2026 CFSACK Research Awards | October 25 deadline
We are pleased to announce that applications are open for the 2026 Research Awards offered by the Canadian Friends of Sufi Arts, Culture, and Knowledge (CFSACK), with the support of the American Friends of Sufi Arts, Culture, and Knowledge (AFSACK).
The awards support research and scholarly or creative projects that advance the study and understanding of Sufi arts, culture, and knowledge. Proposals are welcome across a broad range of disciplines, including religious studies, history, art history, architecture, literature, anthropology, ethnomusicology, philosophy, cultural studies, curatorial practice, and related interdisciplinary fields.
Award Amounts
- Undergraduate and master’s students: Up to CAD 2,000
- Doctoral students/candidates and postdoctoral fellows: Up to CAD 5,000
Eligibility
Applicants must be undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral students, or postdoctoral fellows, enrolled at or formally affiliated with an eligible institution in Canada or the United States, including universities, colleges, research institutes, museums, and archives.
Citizenship is not a requirement. Applicants must have a supervisor or principal investigator, be in good academic standing, and propose a project directly related to Sufi arts, culture, or knowledge with clearly defined objectives and expected outcomes.
What Can the Awards Support?
- Fieldwork, site visits, and archival or collections-based research
- Community-engaged and participatory research
- Scholarly or creative production and curatorial projects
- Participation in or organization of academic conferences, symposia, and workshops
- Development of digital or multimedia research resources
- Publication and dissemination of research findings
- Research tools, instruments, or equipment required for the project
Award funding cannot be used for tuition, personal stipends, general living expenses, or institutional overhead. All proposed expenses must be justified in the project budget.
Application Deadline: October 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time (PDT)
Applicants must submit their application and ensure that a signed reference letter is sent directly by their referee to research.awards@cfsack.org by the deadline.
Full eligibility details, program guidelines, and the application portal:
https://www.cfsack.org/research-awards
11. Grabar Travel Grant
Deadline: December 15, 2026
This competition is open to graduate students (doctoral candidates) who have been invited or accepted as participants in a scholarly conference or other professional meeting for the purpose of presenting papers, chairing sessions, or moderating discussions.
The maximum amount of the award is $2,500 USD.
Applicants must be HIAA members in good standing at the time of application. Grabar Travel Grants must be used within 12 months of the award date.
Applications must include the following five components and be submitted in a single PDF to the Grabar Travel Committee Chair (grabar.hiaa@gmail.com) by December 15:
- Application cover sheet, available here
- A cover letter explaining the applicant’s purpose in participating in the conference, the expected benefits of participation, and an itemized travel budget
- Curriculum vitae
- Letter of acceptance from the conference/session organizer(s)
- Abstract of the paper to be presented
In addition, a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s primary supervisor should be sent directly to the Grabar Travel Committee Chair (grabar.hiaa@gmail.com) by the deadline.
Applicants from outside the United States are responsible for meeting the requirements for and obtaining any visas necessary for visits to or residence and research in the United States. Upon request, HIAA will supply documentation of the grant and/or fellowship award, the dates of the award, and financial support.
For further details and to apply, please visit: https://www.historiansofislamicart.org/opportunities/hiaa-prizes/grabar-grants-and-fellowships
12. Grabar Post-doctoral Fellowship
Deadline: December 15, 2026
The Grabar Post-doctoral Fellowship is intended to support post-doctoral scholars at an early stage of their careers in advancing their research. Fellowship funds may be used in one of two ways:
To spend up to two months in residence as a visiting professor or fellow/research scholar at a university, museum, research institute, or similar institution outside their usual country of residence or employment.
To support additional research to aid in preparing the dissertation for publication.
Applicants should have completed their Ph.D. within the last five years or have submitted their dissertations by the start of the fellowship.
The Grabar Post-doctoral Fellowship will provide up to $3000 US per month, for a maximum of two months. An additional $1500 may be requested for travel or supplies.
All materials should be submitted by email to the chair of the Grabar post-doctoral fellowship committee chair (grabar.hiaa@gmail.com) by December 15, 2026. Files exceeding 25 Mb should be sent via WeTransfer.
For further details and to apply, please visit: https://www.historiansofislamicart.org/opportunities/hiaa-prizes/grabar-grants-and-fellowships
13. The Margaret B. Ševčenko Prize in Islamic Art and Culture
Deadline: December 15, 2026
Every year, the Historians of Islamic Art Association (HIAA) sponsors a competition and awards the Margaret B. Ševčenko Prize for the best unpublished essay written by a junior scholar (pre-dissertation graduate student to three years after the Ph.D. degree) on any aspect of Islamic visual culture. This competition is open to HIAA members only. The Ševčenko Prize recipient receives an award of $500 and a citation, generally presented at HIAA’s annual business meeting. The Prize is named in memory of Margaret Bentley Ševčenko, the first and long-serving Managing Editor of Muqarnas, a journal devoted to the visual culture of the Islamic world sponsored by the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard and MIT. The winning essay will be considered for publication by the MuqarnasEditorial Board.
Submissions must include the paper in both Word and PDF format, and a separate sheet with the author’s contact information (address, telephone number, and email address). Papers should not exceed 10,000 words in length (including footnotes) and can be accompanied by up to 15 low-res illustrations.
Please note that submissions cannot be in press or under review with any publisher.
A letter of recommendation for the paper should be sent separately by the author’s adviser or referee.
All materials should be submitted by email to the Ševčenko committee chair (sevcenko.hiaa@gmail.com) by December 15, 2026. Files exceeding 25 Mb should be sent via WeTransfer.
For further details, please visit: https://www.historiansofislamicart.org/opportunities/hiaa-prizes/the-margaret-evenko-prize-in-islamic-art-and-culture/
14. Deadline extension for Occhialì – Rivista di studi sul Mediterraneo islamico [Announcement]
DEADLINE EXTENSION FOR THEMATIC ISSUES
The Editorial committee of Occhialì – Rivista di Studi sul Mediterraneo Islamico has extended the deadline for thematic issues’ proposals to NOVEMBER 30th 2026.
Proposals may address, among others, historical, religious, political, social, legal, linguistic, philosophical, anthropological, pedagogical and cultural themes, and may span chronologically from the rise of Islam to the present day, provided that they are relevant to the thematic and (inter-)disciplinary scope of the journal and offer an original contribution to scholarly debate.
Proposals must be submitted using the form at the link below and must not exceed 1000 words, excluding bibliography. They should include a provisional title, the general theme of the issue, its scholarly relevance, its coherence with the journal’s profile, its possible internal structure, a non-exhaustive list of possible research questions that contributors to the issue are expected to address, the profile of the guest editor(s), and the proposed mode of collecting contributions.
Two formats are possible: a closed special issue, with contributions or authors already identified and with the possibility of launching a dedicated call for papers to further enlarge the range of contributions if deemed appropriate; or a special issue with a dedicated call for papers, to be launched after the proposal has been approved by the editorial board.
Proposals can be submitted in English, French, Italian or Spanish by Novemeber 30th to our email address, that you may find at the link below.
Occhialì. Rivista sul Mediterraneo islamico is a biannual peer-reviewed open access journal. It publishes academic articles, scholarly essays, original translations, and book reviews. Its main aim is to foster specialized research regarding Islam in the Mediterranean area, in order to make quality information and research available to a broader public of academics, readers and Internet users.
Occhialì is supported by Sapienza University of Rome and published by Sapienza Università Editrice.
Thank you for your attention. We’re waiting to read your ideas!
Occhialì Editorial Commitee
Submission form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10i2FMDflayqM_CnpW52ejWoCQ3ZkciBX/edit
Journal webpage: https://rosa.uniroma1.it/rosa05/occhiali/
Contact Email
URL
https://rosa.uniroma1.it/rosa05/occhiali/
Posted in: Academic items
- October 17, 2026
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