Program in Islamic Law at Harvard Law School Visiting Fellowship

Formerly under the rubric of the Islamic Legal Studies Program, we now announce a revamped Program in Islamic Law at Harvard Law School and the opening of applications for Visiting Fellowships.

The Program in Islamic Law at Harvard Law School invites applications for the 2019-2020 academic year. The purpose of the fellowship is to provide opportunities for outstanding scholars to undertake research, writing and scholarly engagement on Islamic law and policy in ways consistent with the mission of the Program in general – in promoting research and providing resources to advance the academic study of Islamic law. In that vein, the Visiting Fellow will contribute their own research and expertise to the Program’s SHARIAsource Portal, in cooperation with students and scholars of Islamic law and policy in the United States and around the world. SHARIAsource is supported by Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society.

The Program in Islamic Law welcomes applicants with a JD, SJD, PhD or other comparable terminal degree from any field of study who are interested in spending a term or academic year in residence at Harvard Law School working on outstanding scholarly projects relating to SHARIAsource. We seek applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds, academic traditions, and scholarly interests. Women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply. (Note: Applicants must reasonably expect to have been awarded their degree by the beginning of the appointment.) Visiting fellows may apply for a stipend of up to $40,000 for the academic year.

Fellows will be expected to participate in Program activities and contribute to the intellectual life of the Program in general, including presentation of an original paper at the Program’s Fellows Workshop Series. In consultation with the Project Director and Project staff, and consistent with their own research background and expertise in Islamic legal studies, the Visiting Fellow will help develop and distribute Islamic law scholarly and Visiting analysis, produce policy papers and other publications that translate scholarly commentary to relevant Visiting questions, and conduct policy and media outreach among relevant outlets. An applicant’s own research topic should be related to contemporary or historical issues of Islamic law, as to make an impact on media, academic, and policy circles. The topic should fit into one of three streams: Islamic Law and Legal History, Islamic Law and Society, and Islamic Law Themes in Digital Humanities.

Applications are due Feb 1, 2019. Further details. Please direct questions to shariasource@law.harvard.edu. Apply.