Job Description
Harvard University - 2026-2027 Postdoctoral Fellow / Visiting Scholar (unpaid), Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture, Harvard University H-Net Job Guide • 03/16/2026 Job Institution Harvard University Institution Type College / University Department Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture, Department of History of Art + Architecture Location Massachusetts, United States Position Post-Doctoral Fellow , Visiting Scholar 2026-2027 Postdoctoral Fellow / Visiting Scholar (unpaid), Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture, Harvard University This listing is for Unpaid Fellowships. For Paid Fellowships (not yet announced), click here The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture (AKPIA) invites applications for unpaid Postdoctoral Fellow / Visiting Scholar appointments to conduct advanced historical research in Islamic art, architecture, material culture, and archaeology at Harvard University. We welcome applications from recent PhD graduates (as Postdoctoral Fellow) and mid-career scholars/senior scholars (as Visiting Scholar). Scholars who have secured their own funding for 2026-27 are welcome to apply. This is a full-time, immersion research appointment. Appointees are invited to deliver a lecture to the AKPIA community and submit to the annual journal of the Aga Khan Program, Muqarnas (published by Brill). Appointees will also be invited to meet periodically with the Director of the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture to discuss their research and potential submission topics for publication. Appointees will have an affiliation with Harvard University's Department of History of Art and Architecture (HAA), and are given access to all Harvard University libraries, museums, and facilities in furtherance of a well-defined, specific research project. Appointees may participate in departmental symposia and they are also welcome to audit Harvard seminars and lecture courses, if they so choose (with instructor permission). Due to the importance of in-person mentoring and having the opportunity to interact with colleagues and researchers within our program, it is expected that appointees will pursue their research on campus and should plan to be on campus for a minimum of 3 weekdays each week. Appointees are encouraged to attend lectures hosted by AKPIA and HAA (the Department of History of Art and Architecture), and meet with faculty, students and other visiting scholars.
Please note:
AKPIA does not support professional design, conservation, or urban development projects; applicants who plan to spend a significant amount of time conducting travel research are not encouraged to apply; appointees are responsible for arranging their own health insurance, which is required of all Massachusetts residents; appointees are responsible for finding their own housing. Basic Qualifications:
PhD in Islamic Art History, Architectural History, Archaeology or related field Published in Islamic Art History, Architectural History, Archaeology or related field Demonstrated experience in Islamic Art History through teaching, museum curation, or other demonstrable close study and engagement Excellent research skills Excellent command of the English language (both the AKPIA lecture and the submission to Muqarnas will be in English) Confirmed funding in the form of a fellowship, grant or paid sabbatical leave Additional Qualifications:
Experience in a research library, archive, special collection, museum, or comparable environment. Ability to work independently Ability to participate in the academic life of the AKPIA program at Harvard University; available to attend lectures and other events Using the application portal , a pplicants should submit their Cover letter, Curriculum vitae, a Statement of Research, two writing samples, and two references' names/contact information. The Research Statement should indicate desired start and finish dates for the appointment in the 2026-2027 academic year, and should detail source of funding. The duration of AKPIA Fellowships are usually a minimum of 3 months (occurring between September and May) and a maximum of 12 months. Applicants are encouraged to review Harvard University's calendar (see our 10 year academic calendar, looking at 2026-2027 dates: https://registrar.fas.harvard.edu/calendars#tenyear ). Applicants may consider an early September start date, or a late January start date, for shorter appointments. Review of applications will begin on March 31, 2026 and will continue until position(s) are filled. Applicants should notify their reference letter writers right away, as completion of application will trigger a letter request email. For more information, please visit the AKPIA website https://agakhan.fas.harvard.edu/academics-fellowships or contact Cecily Pollard, Program Administrator, at agakhan@fas.harvard.edu Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes. Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy . Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination. Apply here:
https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/16004 To view past research topics, see our previous Fellows and Associates listings For Paid Fellowships (not yet announced), click here Contact Information Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture History of Art and Architecture Department Harvard University 485 Broadway, room 415 Cambridge, MA 02138 Email agakhan@fas.harvard.edu Job URL https:
//academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/16004 Website https://agakhan.fas.harvard.edu/harvard-akpia Posting Date March 16, 2026 Closing Date April 30, 2026 Disclaimer H-Net, in accordance with its policies and procedures , reserves the right to reject, edit, and/or delete any posting that is found to violate its policies and/or procedures, and/or is found to violate federal or state law. Additionally, the pages and documents posted on this site often include links to information created by other public and private organizations. The inclusion of any material is not intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services. These materials may contain the views and recommendations of the individual subscriber/user, as well as links or references to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. The opinions expressed in any of these materials do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of H-Net .
