Junior Fellowship in the History of Philosophy in the Islamic World

The Tokat Institute invites applications for a Junior Fellowship dedicated to one of the Institute's flagship research initiatives: A New History of Philosophy in the Islamic World.

This fellowship seeks to contribute to an expanded vision of the field, one that reflects the remarkable intellectual, linguistic, geographical, and disciplinary diversity of the Islamic intellectual tradition. The project will culminate in a multi-volume history of philosophy in the Islamic world, accompanied by a public-facing podcast series designed to make this intellectual heritage accessible to wider audiences.

About the Project

The fellowship contributes to a collaborative effort to rethink the meaning and scope of Islamic philosophy. This project understands philosophy as a broad tradition of rational, metaphysical, legal, literary, theological, and aesthetic inquiry that unfolded across the many cultures of the Islamic world. Among its guiding aims are:

• Developing a fresh and expansive definition of Islamic philosophy.
• Reassessing the place of Greek philosophy as an integral component of the philosophical tradition inherited and transformed within the Islamic world.
• Recovering neglected philosophical voices from across Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and South Asian intellectual traditions.
• Extending the narrative beyond the classical period to include the rich philosophical developments of the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal worlds.
• Producing scholarly research alongside public scholarship through a podcast on the history of thought in the Islamic world.

Responsibilities

The Junior Fellow will work closely with the project's editors and research team. Responsibilities may include:

• Conducting original research on assigned topics.
• Preparing literature reviews and annotated bibliographies.
• Assisting with editorial work for the multi-volume history.
• Contributing background research for podcast episodes.
• Participating in regular research meetings and workshops.
• Fellows who are developing an independent book manuscript during the tenure of the fellowship will be expected, subject to peer review and editorial approval, to submit their work for consideration in the Tokat Institute's Brill Studies in Islamic Thought series.

Eligibility

Applicants should normally:

• Be scholars who have completed a PhD within the past five years.
• Demonstrate strong training in Islamic studies, philosophy, and intellectual history.
• Possess reading knowledge of relevant languages such as Greek, Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, or Ottoman Turkish (additional languages are welcome).
• Show evidence of excellent research and writing skills.

Application Materials

Applicants should submit:

• Cover letter describing their interest in the project.
• Curriculum vitae.
• One writing sample.
• Contact information for two academic referees.

About the Tokat 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.