Tokat Distinguished Research Fellowship in Islamic Thought

The Tokat Institute invites applications for the Tokat Distinguished Research Fellowship in Islamic Thought. This three-month fellowship is intended to support a senior scholar pursuing an original research project that will make a significant contribution to the study of Islamic thought.

During the fellowship, recipients will devote themselves to a focused research program while participating in the intellectual life of the Tokat Institute. The Tokat Institute seeks proposals that are grounded in primary sources and capable of opening new directions in the study of Islam's intellectual heritage.

About the Fellowship

The Distinguished Research Fellowship provides three months of dedicated support for an original research project. Fellows will pursue their research while participating in the intellectual life of the Tokat Institute through occasional online lectures, workshops, and consultations with other researchers affiliated with the Institute. All activities are conducted remotely. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with the researcher's academic rank.

The fellowship is designed to provide scholars with concentrated time for research. Fellows are expected to contribute measurably and meaningfully to their field and to produce at least one peer-reviewed article. Projects may address any aspect of Islamic thought, including, but not limited to:

• philosophy and theology
• Sufism and spirituality
• ethics and moral psychology
• Quranic studies and hermeneutics
• law and legal theory
• science and intellectual history
• political thought
• aesthetics and literature
• comparative philosophy and religion
• contemporary Islamic thought

Interdisciplinary and historically expansive projects are especially encouraged.

Scholarly Engagement

During the fellowship, recipients will participate in the Tokat Institute's scholarly community through occasional virtual events and discussions. Fellows will also submit one article based on their fellowship research to Islamic Intellectual Traditions (Brill), where it will undergo the journal's standard peer-review process.

Eligibility

Applicants should:

• hold a PhD in Islamic studies or a closely related discipline;
• possess an established record of scholarly achievement appropriate to the rank of associate or full professor, or its international equivalent;
• demonstrate an active research agenda and the ability to carry out an original research project during the fellowship period;
• have an outstanding record of publication and research;
• possess the necessary language competencies for the proposed project.

How to Apply

The deadline for applications is October 1, 2026. Applicants should submit:

• a cover letter describing the proposed project and its significance;
• a curriculum vitae;
• a project proposal (approximately 1,000–1,500 words) outlining the research questions, methodology, anticipated outcomes, and contribution to the field;
• one representative publication.

About the Institute

The Tokat Institute is an independent research institution dedicated to advancing the study of Islam's rich intellectual, philosophical, theological, scientific, literary, and artistic traditions. Through research initiatives, publications, lectures, and educational programs, the Institute seeks to cultivate a globally informed and academically rigorous understanding of the Islamic intellectual heritage.