The Byzness, 9th November 2025
Oxford University Byzantine Society
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THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY BYZANTINE SOCIETY
The Byzness, 9th November 2025
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1. NEWS AND EVENTS
2. CALLS FOR PAPERS
3. JOBS AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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1. NEWS AND EVENTS
It’s hard to believe we are over halfway through Michaelmas Term, and that the holidays are ahead!
The OUBS has received some truly excellent abstracts for our 28th International Graduate Conference, Decline and Flourish, to be held in Oxford & online on February 28th and March 1st 2026. In case you may have missed it, you’ll find the conference poster and CfP attached to this email!
You can also view the full CfP on the OUBS website by following the link here.
As a reminder, the deadline for abstract submission is Saturday, November 29th.
Please note that if your attendance at the conference is contingent upon receiving bursary funding, you must specify this when you submit your abstract to us. As with all previous conferences, we have a limited amount of funding available to student speakers who require it for their attendance at the conference.
On a serious note, the University of Ottawa’s Greek and Latin language programmes, as well as the wider study of Classics, Late Antiquity and Byzantium at the University, are currently under threat of an imminent shutdown.
We have been asked to share this petition:
https://www.change.org/p/save-greek-and-latin-at-the-university-of-ottawa
The Humanities are under threat from almost every angle. The Oxford University Byzantine Society is in full solidarity with academics and students at Ottawa threatened by this abrupt action.
All my very best,
Madeleine
For those wishing to submit an event, call for papers, job or scholarship opportunity to the Byzness please send details to the committee at byzantin...@gmail.com indicating the relevant list for The Byzness our external to Oxford and year-round newsletter or The Byzantine Lists our Oxford-centered events and circulated only in term-time. Please keep the listing brief and include all relevant information in the body of the notice. Outside of exceptional circumstances, we only share events once.
2. CALL FOR PAPERS
CFP: Christians, Jews and Muslims: Trajectories and Interactions in the Mediterranean (9–12 June: Madrid)
Organized by the Instituto de Lenguas y Culturas del Mediterráneo y Oriente Próximo (ILC–CSIC), in collaboration with the Common Action Forum (CAF).
Venue: BNE and CCHS, Madrid, Spain.
9–12 June 2026
The conference aims to provide a comprehensive framework for examining the complex interactions among Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the Mediterranean world. Bringing together specialists from diverse disciplines, it seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and present new perspectives on the political, cultural, and religious history of the region, with particular attention to the study of textual sources and their transmission in multiconfessional and multilingual contexts. In bridging academic research with public engagement and citizen science, the conference underscores the public role of scholarship. By translating historical and philosophical insights into reflections on contemporary challenges, it highlights how the trajectories that have shaped the Mediterranean’s development continue to illuminate current transformations—such as the dissolution of geographical and historical boundaries and the impact of immediacy and misinformation in the modern age. As an exercise in scientific and academic diplomacy, the conference seeks to open a dialogue connecting past interactions with the challenges of today’s technological era. We invite proposals for 20-minute papers, each followed by a 10-minute discussion.
The deadline for submissions is 31 December 2025.
Further information, including the Call for Papers and the registration form, is available at the following link: https://www.cchs.csic.es/es/event/cristianos-judios-musulmanes_mediterraneo
3. JOBS AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Call for Applications: 2026-2027 ANAMED Fellowships
Koç University invites applications from scholars specializing in the archaeology, art history, history, cultural heritage and related disciplines of Anatolia from the Neolithic to the Ottoman period. Research grants will be awarded to approximately 10 PhD students, 10 postdoctoral and senior researchers to spend one academic year at Koç University's Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations.
Successful candidates are expected to reside in Istanbul during the nine-month academic year between 15 September and 15 June. Post-Doc and Senior scholars may also be offered a fellowship for a single semester (September 15 - January 31 (Fall) or February 1 - June 15 (Spring).
Questions concerning the fellowship and application process should be directed to anamedap...@ku.edu.tr
For details and applications click here.
The Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz, Max-Planck-Institut (KHI) and Koç University's Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations (ANAMED) are pleased to announce a joint fellowship to support post-doctoral or senior scholars conducting research on archaeology, architecture, art history, heritage, or history.
The successful candidate will spend the fall semester at one institution and the spring semester at the other.
For details and applications click here.
The Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Istanbul Research Institute (İAE) and Koç University's Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations (ANAMED) are pleased to announce the joint fellowship to support one post-doctoral scholar conducting research on the archaeology, architecture, art history, heritage, or history of Istanbul.
The fellowship will support advanced research on the archaeology, architecture, art history, heritage, or history of Istanbul from prehistory through the 20th century that benefits from residence in Istanbul and the facilities of both the İAE and ANAMED.
For details and applications click here.
The BIAA and ANAMED joint fellowship will support research in heritage studies concerned with the understanding, promotion, and/or preservation of the historical and archaeological material culture of Turkey and the Black Sea region, with particular reference to specific sites, monuments, or regions. Successful applicants should have an MA or PhD qualification in museology, heritage management, conservation, or a related specialization, or have appropriate and comparable professional experience in these fields. For details and applications, visit our website.
For details and applications click here.
IFEA The Institut Français d'Etudes Anatoliennes (IFEA), and Koç University's Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations (ANAMED) are pleased to announce the joint fellowship to support advanced research on the archaeology, architecture, art history, heritage, or history of Anatolia from prehistory through Late Ottoman times.
The fellowship is available for PhD candidates and Post-Doctoral scholars last registered at or affiliated with French universities and research institutes. Candidates for a PhD fellowship must have completed PhD qualifying examinations or the equivalent and candidates for Post-Doctoral fellowships must have a PhD degree granted within five years of the fellowship start date. All candidates must be conversant in English.
For details and applications click here.
Phd Fellowship: History, Theory, and Cultural Contexts of Mediterranean A (Cyprus University of Technology) - Doctoral Vacancy Announcement
Research Topic Title: History, Theory, and Cultural Contexts of Mediterranean Art
No. of Openings: 1
Description: The proposed doctoral research will examine artistic and cultural coexistence, exchange, and identity in the Mediterranean, with particular attention to the historical and theoretical dimensions of intercultural interaction within the region. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue research that aligns closely with the thematic priorities of the Mediterranean Φormations Research Lab and to contribute actively to the development of its research agenda. In addition, the position offers opportunities to participate in the Lab’s ongoing research projects and/or to undertake teaching assistant duties, with corresponding financial support provided for each activity. The successful candidate will be expected to:
- conduct original research within the broader framework of the Lab’s research priorities;
- participate actively in the activities of Mediterranean Φormations, working in close collaboration with members of the research group;
- contribute to the preparation and submission of competitive research proposals for external funding;
- present research findings at international conferences and scholarly events;
- author and publish peer-reviewed articles in reputable academic journals;
- teach or assist in the teaching of undergraduate and/or postgraduate courses, as required.
Required Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s degree (BA) and/or Master’s degree (MA or MPhil) in Art History or a closely related field (such as History and Archaeology, Cultural Studies, or Visual Culture). Candidates holding a first degree with distinction in one of the above fields (or a closely related area) may be considered without a Master’s degree; however, possession of a relevant postgraduate qualification will be regarded as an asset.
- Excellent command of English, both written and spoken, sufficient to support academic writing and participation in international scholarly contexts.
- Knowledge of Italian or another Eastern Mediterranean language (e.g., Turkish or Arabic) will be considered an advantage.
- Strong oral communication and academic writing skills.
Funding:
The position is offered with a tuition-fee waiver scholarship.
Research Advisor:
Name/Surname: Dr Georgios E. Markou
Position: Assistant Professor
Email: georgio...@cut.ac.cy
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Reading the City: Epigraphy and Space in Istanbul in Ancient, Byzantine, and Ottoman Times (21-27 September: Istanbul)
Co-organized by the Orient-Institut Istanbul, the Center for the Study of Manuscript Cultures Hamburg and the Institute for Medieval Research of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
This interdisciplinary Summer Academy (21-27 September, 2026) in Istanbul invites advanced MA students, doctoral candidates, and early post- doctoral researchers to explore the role of epigraphy in shaping Istanbul’s urban, sacred, and imperial spaces across antiquity, the Byzantine era, and the Ottoman period.
Inscriptions constitute not only documents but also monuments or artefacts situated in specific spatial settings, where they actively mark and articulate thresholds. This conviction forms the basis for all further inquiries of the academy.
Building on this perspective, the program will examine how epigraphic texts delineate transitions between sacred and profane, interior and exterior, imperial and civic. Inscriptions on palatial gates and entrances to religious buildings, on convent walls, and along the Bosporus shoreline in Üsküdar (a major point of passage between Anatolia and Istanbul) will serve as case studies.
Instructors
Dr. Christiane Czygan, Orient-Institut Istanbul; Prof. Dr. Kaja Harter-Uibopuu, CSMC Hamburg; Dr. Krystina Kubina, University of Vienna; Prof. Dr. Christoph K. Neumann, Orient-Institut Istanbul; PD Dr. Andreas Rhoby, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna; Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hamdi Sayar, Istanbul University; Assist. Prof. Dr. Gülşah Taşkın, Boğaziçi University
General Information
Working knowledge of at least one epigraphic language (Ancient Greek, Latin, Arabic, Ottoman Turkish, etc.) is recommended.
Costs for accommodation in Istanbul will be supported. Lunch as well as two group dinners will be covered.
Please upload your application using the link here.
Upload your motivation letter, CV, and short letter of reference each as a separate PDF file.
Application deadline: January 3, 2026, notifications will be sent by January 31, 2026.
Dissertation Award (Tokat Institute)
The Tokat Institute for Advanced Islamic Studies is pleased to announce its inaugural PhD Dissertation Award competition. Students who have completed English-language dissertations in any field of Islamic studies in or after 2024 are eligible to apply.
Authors must submit their theses, along with letters of nomination from their dissertation advisors, via email to the Institute’s Director of Research Professor Cyrus Zargar (cza...@tokatinstitute.org) by no later than January 1, 2026.
Theses will be evaluated by a committee of senior scholars in Islamic studies and the winning entry will be awarded a cash prize of $1000.
Learn more here: https://tokatinstitute.org/grants/dissertation-award
Research Fellowships in Islamic Law and Civilization (Yale Law School)
The Abdallah S. Kamel Center at the Yale Law School for the Study of Islamic Law and Civilization will be accepting applications for its 2026-2027 research fellowships from November 1 until November 30, 2025. The fellowships are meant to a]ord promising scholars time to make significant progress on their writing and research agenda in subjects related, however loosely, to Islamic law and civilization while contributing to the intellectual life of the Law School and Yale University more broadly.
The Abdallah S. Kamel Center seeks scholars from diverse backgrounds and academic disciplines who have completed or are near completion of an advanced degree (e.g., Ph.D., J.S.D., D.Phil.) and whose work engages with the intellectual and social history of Islam, Islamic legal and political theory, or law in contemporary Muslim societies. Scholars working or studying abroad are welcome to apply, although the o]er is contingent upon the ability of non-US citizen applicants to obtain the necessary immigration visa. The one-year residence research fellowships carry a stipend in the range of USD $52,000 to $67,000 commensurate with education and experience. Some support is available for fellows relocating to New Haven from abroad and some funding is available for research support (generally trips for archival work or conferences). Such requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
While fellows will devote the majority of their time to their own research, they are expected to participate in all the activities of the Abdallah S. Kamel Center, occasionally assist with the administration of these activities, and to the extent possible avail themselves of the Law School’s various workshops and course o]erings. Fellows will also be encouraged to build relationships among colleagues in other departments of the University. For these reasons, while some exceptions might be made for certain conferences or fieldwork, the fellows are expected to be present at the law school when classes are in session
To apply, please submit the following materials by email to kamel....@yale.edu by November 30, 2025:
- A statement of interest (of no more than 1000 words) describing the applicant’s relevant experience, interest in the Kamel Center, and research proposal for the duration of the fellowship;
- a current resume or CV;
- relevant law school or graduate school transcripts; and two letters of recommendation to be sent by the recommenders directly to kamel....@yale.edu.
- Please also note that non-native speakers of English must provide proof of proficiency (e.g., a recent TOEFL score of over 100 or an advanced degree from an English-speaking university).
For any questions about the application process, please contact bradle...@yale.edu.
Decisions will be made by January 31, 2026.
Fellowships, Scholarships, and Awards (American Center of Research Jordan)
We are now accepting applications for all 2026–2027 Fellowships. The deadline to apply is February 15, 2026. Applications should be submitted online at orcfellowships.smapply.org/.
Inquiries regarding all opportunities should be directed to fello...@acorjordan.org
The Amman Prize, Postgraduate: The Amman Prize supports four months of research and residence in Jordan. Prize winners are provided with a monthly stipend, room/board and a private workspace at ACOR. One award of $25,000 is expected in 2026, including $5,000 for travel and research expenses (including language training, if applicable). This award will support someone who has completed their formal course of study (holding an advanced degree[s] is not required). The recipient may be at any stage of their career. Research may be in any field of scientific, social scientific, or humanistic research whose principal concern is Jordan. Selection criteria are the merits, impact, and likelihood of completing a major work (e.g., book) during the term of the award. The successful applicant may be of any nationality; preference may be given to Jordanians, Americans, Canadians, Syrians, and Australians. A prior record of completing significant scholarly or creative work(s) is expected. Individuals who have been awarded a fellowship from ACOR in the past two years are not eligible. Undergraduate students are not eligible. Priority may be given to individuals who can complete the term of the award in calendar 2026.
The Amman Prize, ABD doctoral students: The Amman Prize supports four months of research and residence in Jordan. Prize winners are provided with a monthly stipend, room/board and a private workspace at ACOR. Two awards of $25,000 are expected in 2026, including $5,000 for travel and research expenses (including language training, if applicable). These awards will support Prizes to graduate students pursuing their dissertation research. Research may be in any field of scientific, social scientific, or humanistic research whose principal concern is Jordan, ancient, modern, or contemporary. Selection criteria are the merits, impact, and feasibility of the proposed research. The successful applicants must be a United States citizen enrolled in an institution of higher education located in the United States and will have completed all requirements for the PhD except for the dissertation by the start of the fellowship period. Individuals who have been awarded a fellowship from ACOR in the past two years are not eligible. Priority may be given to individuals who can complete the term of the award in calendar 2026.
Bert and Sally de Vries Fellowship: One award of $2,500 to support a student for participation on an archaeological project or research in Jordan. Senior project staff members whose expenses are being borne largely by the project are ineligible. Open to enrolled undergraduate or graduate students of any nationality except Jordanian citizens.
Burton MacDonald and Rosemarie Sampson Fellowship: One award either for a four-week residency at the American Center of Research for research in the fields of ancient Near Eastern languages and history, archaeology, biblical studies, or comparative religion, or for a travel grant to assist with participation in an archaeological field project in Jordan. The residency fellowship option includes room and board at the American Center of Research in Amman and a stipend of $1,500. The travel-grant option provides a single stipend of $2,500 to help with any project-related expenses. Both options are open to enrolled undergraduate or graduate students of Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant status.
James A. Sauer Fellowship: One award of $1,500 for educational assistance to support a graduate student participating in an ACOR-approved archaeological fieldwork or research project in Jordan. For the 2026–2027 cycle, the Sauer Fellowship is open to enrolled graduate students of any nationality except Jordanian.
Jennifer C. Groot Memorial Fellowship: Two awards of $3,000 each to support beginners in archaeological fieldwork who have been accepted as team members on archaeological projects in Jordan. The fellowship is intended to help defray the costs of participation in excavations. Open to undergraduate or graduate students of U.S. or Canadian citizenship, with a preference for individuals who graduated in the past 12 months (i.e., January to December 2025) and/or have been accepted to a graduate program for fall 2026.
Jennifer C. Groot II Memorial Fellowship: This fellowship provides financial support to help improve the preparation and qualifications of Jordanians, or residents of Jordan, for future graduate-level study in Europe or the Americas. The fellowship must conclude with the submission of a qualified application for graduate study outside of Jordan or an application to a funding program that supports the same (e.g., a Fulbright scholarship). The scholarship will provide support for taking English-language courses and/or preparations for and taking required standardized tests (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, GRE), as well as support from ACOR staff. Preference is given to those studying archaeology, history, or fields related to the cultural heritage of Jordan.
Pierre and Patricia Bikai Fellowship: Two awards for one month each, or one two-month award, for residency at the American Center of Research in Amman. The fellowship is open to enrolled graduate students of any nationality, except Jordanian citizens, participating in an archaeological project or conducting archaeological work in Jordan. The fellowship includes room and board at the American Center of Research and a monthly stipend of $800.
S. Thomas Parker Memorial Fund: One award of $1,750 for an undergraduate student, graduate student, or postdoctoral researcher of any nationality. Proposals are accepted for support for fellowships, field projects, and events in Jordan. Preference is given to archaeological fieldwork or publication efforts, but proposals in all areas of academic inquiry are welcome and encouraged. The most compelling proposal will receive the award.
Donald O. Henry Fellowship: One award of $500 for a field project, publication, or related event in support of archaeological research in or about Jordan. The fellowship has a preference for the support of archaeological efforts related to prehistory and/or work in southern Jordan, but proposals involving all periods and locations are eligible, welcome, and encouraged. The most compelling proposal will receive the award. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers of all nationalities are eligible to apply.
Frederick-Wenger Memorial Endowment: Two awards of $2,000 to assist a Jordanian student with the cost of their education. Eligibility is not limited to a specific field of study, but preference will be given to study related to Jordan’s cultural heritage. Candidates must be Jordanian citizens and currently enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students in a Jordanian university.
Harrell Family Fellowship: One award of $2,500 to support a graduate student for participation on an archaeological project or for research in Jordan. Senior project staff members whose expenses are being borne largely by the project are ineligible. Open to enrolled graduate students of any nationality except Jordanian citizens.
Kenneth W. Russell Fellowship: One award of $2,500 for educational assistance for a Jordanian graduate student enrolled in an archaeology or cultural heritage degree program in any country. For the 2026–2027 cycle, the Russell Fellowship is open only to enrolled graduate students of Jordanian nationality.
Lawrence T. Geraty Travel Scholarship: One award of $1,250 for an undergraduate or graduate student from an accredited institution to conduct in Jordan excavation and/or research approved by ASOR’s Committee on Archaeological Research and Policy (CAP). The award is intended to assist in travel costs and/or accommodation at the American Center of Research, based on need. Funding may be combined with other fellowships and must be spent within a calendar year.
Conference Travel Award for Jordanians: This award is intended to assist Jordanians resident in Jordan participating in and delivering a scholarly paper at an international conference held in the United States or Canada. One award of $3,500 will be made for an in-person paper presentation and one award for a paper presentation in a virtual conference (i.e., conference registration, membership when required) will be available annually. Awards are eligible in any field of study related to ACOR’s mission. Poster presentations are not eligible.
Applications are requested based on expected opportunities. All awards are contingent on availability of funding and the results of application review. We retain the discretion to award more/less in number and/or adjust the amount(s) advertised.
https://acorjordan.org/fellowships-2/
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Madeleine Duperouzel
DPhil in History
President, Oxford University Byzantine Society
http://oxfordbyzantinesociety.wordpress.com