Dima Smaira joins FIME as a resident scholar

We are very excited to introduce Dr Dima Smaira, who has begun her three-month residency as FIMEs Resident Scholar for the spring of 2022. The residency provides for Lebanon-based academics an opportunity to focus on their own research as part of FIMEs small collegial work community in Beirut. In addition, the resident scholar will organise a small activity aimed at the local and international academic community related to their own research.

The Resident Scholar -programme has generated a lot of interest, and we were pleased to receive several very strong applications from a wide range of academic fields. We would like to thank all applicants for taking the time to present their research projects to us.

Congratulations Dima and welcome to FIME!

Dima Smaira is a lecturer on a part-time basis at the Political Studies and Public Administration Department at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and an independent researcher. She was a post-Doctoral Research Associate at Durham University’s Geography Department and a Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London. Dima is interested in the spatial and everyday turns in International Relations and Peace & Conflict Studies. She uses both traditional qualitative and participatory ethnographic methods, including digital storytelling and mapping. Her research is looking into youth and citizenship in deeply divided societies and on everyday peace and security in Lebanon, particularly across Beirut’s Southern Suburbs (known as Dahiyeh). Dima is also a member of Khaddit Beirut (Beirut Shake-up), an initiative for reform and recovery launched following the Beirut 2020 port explosion (https://khadditbeirut.com/).

Call for Applications – FIME Launches New Resident Scholar Programme for Lebanon-based Academics

Photo: Taavi Sundell

The Finnish Institute in the Middle East in Beirut, Lebanon, is excited to announce the launching of its Resident Scholar -programme. The application period for two three-month positions as a resident scholar for the 2021 autumn semester is now open. The deadline for the applications is 30.04.2021.

FINNISH INSTITUTE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The Finnish Institute in the Middle East (FIME) is an academic institute located in Badaro, Beirut. FIME is one of the four Finnish academic institutes located outside of Finland. As well as conducting academic research, FIMEs activities include supporting and facilitating Middle East studies in Finnish universities, organising education in co-operation with universities in Finland and the Middle East, and advancing academic and cultural co-operation between Finland and the countries of the Middle East. For us, Middle East studies cover a wide range of topics from archeology to contemporary politics in a geographic region which includes the Arabic-speaking countries of the North Africa as well as Turkey and the Persian Gulf.

RESIDENT SCHOLAR

During your three months as a full-time resident scholar, you can pursue your own academic research without any administrative duties as a full member of our small collegial work community in Badaro, Beirut. The term runs from September until the end of November. You will have your own workspace as well as access to other resources FIME provides for its staff. These include our small library, technical equipment and seminar room. In case the corona pandemic continues to pose restrictions, you might conduct your work remotely.

As well as conducting your own research, you will also execute an activity aimed at the academic and/or general audience. This can take the form of organizing a small academic or cultural event in Lebanon or online or, for example, popularizing your own research in writing or in podcast-form through FIMEs platforms.

WHO CAN APPLY

You are a Lebanon-based scholar fluent in English, hold a PhD in a relevant field of study, and have a solid track record of conducting academic research on the Middle East. While the position is not limited to junior scholars, we are especially interested in applications from scholars who have received their PhD within the last five years (30.04.2016 or later).

COMPENSATION

As a resident scholar, you will receive a monthly salary of 3 000 USD.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your application containing the following documents in English to director@fime.fi:

— Academic curriculum vitae (max 4 pages)

— Official graduate transcripts

— Description of the research project and its outputs to be worked on as a resident scholar (max 5 pages), including the relevance of this position for its successful execution

— Proposal for a small activity aimed at local academic and/or general audience (max 1 page)

— Two reference letters

Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed online 17.-19.5.

See the Resident Scholar 2021 – FAQ page for answers to most frequently asked questions.

For further inquiries concerning the position and the application process, please contact: institute@fime.fi

Published 31.3.2021.