Junior Fellowship in Muslim Environmentalism

The Tokat Institute invites applications for a Junior Fellowship in Muslim Environmentalism. The fellowship is designed for emerging scholars interested in documenting and advancing the rich environmental, cosmological, and ethical dimensions of the Islamic intellectual tradition, with a specific focus on environmental studies.

As environmental challenges increasingly shape the future of humanity, there is a pressing need to revive the intellectual resources of the Islamic tradition that speak to the relationship between God, humanity, and the natural world. While important work has been done in recent decades, the field of Muslim environmentalism remains understudied and fragmented, with many foundational texts, scholars, and initiatives dispersed across disciplines and languages. This fellowship forms part of Tokat Institute's broader commitment to advancing research and public scholarship in Muslim environmental thought.

About the Project

The Junior Fellow will contribute to a number of interconnected initiatives that seek to make the Islamic environmental tradition more visible, accessible, and intellectually influential. These initiatives include:

• The Muslim Environmentalism Database — the development of the most comprehensive online bibliography and research database devoted to Islamic environmental thought, including classical sources, modern scholarship, organizations, educational resources, conferences, and environmental initiatives across the Muslim world. The fellow will build and regularly update the database through original bibliographical research.
• Tokat and the Public: Muslim Environmentalism — a public-facing platform featuring short essays, blogs, reading guides, interviews, and educational resources that communicate Islamic perspectives on ecology, climate change, biodiversity, sustainability, and environmental ethics to a broad audience. The fellow will write and edit content for publication on the platform.
• The Muslim Environmentalism Essay Series — commissioning and editing concise essays from members of the Tokat Institute's Advisory Board and other leading scholars on major themes in Islamic thought. The fellow will commission, edit, and prepare essays for publication.
• Selections from Contemporary Scholarship — preparing curated thematic selections from the writings of leading scholars whose work contributes to Islamic cosmology, metaphysics, ethics, politics, and society, and environmental philosophy. The fellow will produce weekly content based on contemporary scholarship, in cooperation with Tokat's media team.
• The Muslim Environmentalism Podcast — assisting in the production of a podcast featuring conversations with scholars, scientists, environmental practitioners, and religious leaders working at the intersection of Islam and environmental thought. The fellow will research and produce podcast episodes.

Responsibilities

Junior Fellows will work closely with the Institute's research, editorial, and media teams. Responsibilities include:

• Conducting bibliographical and archival research.
• Building and maintaining the Muslim Environmentalism Database.
• Writing educational content for the Tokat website.
• Editing commissioned essays and scholarly contributions.
• Assisting with podcast research, production, and editorial planning.
• Identifying important but understudied texts, scholars, institutions, and environmental initiatives throughout the Muslim world.
• Contributing to the Institute's broader research initiatives in Islamic environmental philosophy and ethics.

Eligibility

Applicants should:

• Be scholars who have completed a PhD within the past five years.
• Demonstrate expertise or strong research interests in Islamic studies, environmental humanities, theology, religious studies, ethics, or related fields.
• Possess excellent research, writing, and editorial skills.
• Have an interest in public scholarship and digital humanities.
• Ideally have reading knowledge of Arabic or other relevant languages.

Application Materials

Applicants should submit:

• Cover letter describing their interest in the fellowship.
• 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.