Job Description

Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in Islamic Art and Architecture – American University in Cairo, Egypt

The American University in Cairo (AUC) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position in Islamic Art and Architecture at the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Full Professor, commencing in Fall 2027.

The position is based in the Sheikh Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations in Cairo, Egypt.

AUC seeks a historian of art and architecture and/or material culture whose primary research focus is the Islamic world. Applicants should hold a PhD specialising in the history of Islamic Art and Architecture, have relevant university-level teaching experience, and demonstrate an active research record and agenda.

The department particularly welcomes scholars whose research extends beyond Egypt to other regions of the Arab-Muslim world, and whose work engages with primary textual sources and interdisciplinary approaches.

Position: Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in Islamic Art and Architecture
Institution: American University in Cairo
Department: Sheikh Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Appointment: Full-time, tenure-track
Expected Start: Fall 2027
Priority Application Date: 10 December 2026
Closing Status: Open until filled
Reference: ARIC_TT (F2027)
Position ID: 206207

About the American University in Cairo

Founded in 1919, the American University in Cairo is an English-medium university offering liberal arts education and academic programmes across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and other disciplines.

AUC is chartered and accredited in the United States and Egypt. Its educational approach emphasises academic scholarship, critical inquiry, and broad intellectual development.

The university’s undergraduate Core Curriculum includes courses in the humanities and the natural and social sciences, while its libraries support teaching and research across academic disciplines.

Located in Cairo, AUC provides an academic setting for research and teaching related to Egypt, the Arab world, and wider international contexts.

About the Department

The Sheikh Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations seeks to appoint a scholar whose research and teaching will contribute to the study of Islamic art, architecture, and material culture.

The department particularly values interdisciplinary scholarship, engagement with primary textual sources, and the ability to respond to emerging curricular needs.

The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching, postgraduate supervision, research, and academic service.

Position Overview

This open-rank appointment is intended for a scholar with a primary specialisation in the history of Islamic Art and Architecture.

Candidates may approach the field through art history, architectural history, material culture, or closely connected historical and interdisciplinary perspectives, provided their doctoral specialisation meets the stated requirement.

The department especially encourages applications from scholars whose research encompasses areas of the Arab-Muslim world beyond Egypt, including:

• The Levant
• North Africa and/or Iberia
• Turkey
• Iran
• Central Asia
• Southeast Asia

These regional interests are particularly encouraged rather than stated as mandatory geographical specialisations.

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an active research programme, deliver undergraduate and graduate teaching, supervise postgraduate research, and participate in academic and community service.

Main Responsibilities

1. Undergraduate and Graduate Teaching

The appointed faculty member will teach courses covering Islamic art and architecture at undergraduate and graduate levels.

The teaching load is explicitly specified as:

Three courses per semester, equivalent to nine credit hours.

The successful candidate should demonstrate a commitment to effective university teaching and be receptive to adapting course content and instruction to changing curricular requirements.

2. Research and Scholarly Publications

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Pursue a robust and sustained research agenda in Islamic art, architectural history, and/or material culture.
• Maintain an active scholarly research record.
• Contribute original research to the study of the Islamic world.
• Engage with relevant historical evidence and scholarly debates.
• Support the department’s interdisciplinary academic environment.

AUC particularly values research that demonstrates facility with primary textual sources and makes connections across relevant disciplines.

3. Postgraduate Research Supervision

The appointed faculty member will supervise:

• MA theses.
• Other postgraduate theses within the scope of the department’s academic programmes.

Candidates should be prepared to support postgraduate research development and provide academic guidance in relevant areas of Islamic art and architectural history.

4. Curriculum Development and Academic Engagement

The successful candidate will:

• Contribute to teaching across the field of Islamic art and architecture.
• Respond constructively to emerging curricular needs.
• Participate in the department’s interdisciplinary academic activities.
• Support the development of undergraduate and graduate education.

5. Academic and Community Service

The position also involves meaningful participation in service at:

• Department level.
• School level.
• University level.
• Community level.

The appointed faculty member is expected to contribute actively to the wider academic life of AUC.

Required Qualifications and Experience

1. Doctoral Qualification

Applicants must hold a PhD specialising in the history of Islamic Art and Architecture from a reputable university.

The PhD must already have been awarded at the time of application.

Candidates who have not yet completed their doctorate do not meet this stated requirement.

2. University-Level Teaching Experience

Applicants must have relevant teaching experience at university level.

The department seeks candidates who demonstrate a commitment to teaching undergraduate and graduate students.

The advertisement does not specify a minimum number of years of teaching experience.

3. Active Research Record and Agenda

Candidates must demonstrate:

• An active scholarly research record.
• An ongoing research agenda relevant to Islamic Art and Architecture.
• The capacity to pursue a robust programme of academic research.

The advertisement does not specify a minimum number of publications, journal ranking requirements, or citation thresholds.

4. Relevant Scholarly Specialisation

The department seeks historians of art and architecture and/or material culture whose primary focus is the Islamic world.

Research extending beyond Egypt to other regions of the Arab-Muslim world is especially encouraged.

5. Interdisciplinary Research and Primary Sources

AUC particularly welcomes candidates whose research:

• Demonstrates facility with primary textual sources.
• Reflects the department’s interdisciplinary orientation.
• Contributes to the study of Islamic art, architecture, and material culture across relevant historical and geographical contexts.

6. Teaching Adaptability and Academic Service

Applicants should be receptive to evolving curricular requirements and prepared to contribute to departmental, school, university, and community service.

Academic Rank and Appointment

This vacancy is advertised as an open-rank, tenure-track appointment.

Applications are invited at three academic ranks:

• Assistant Professor
• Associate Professor
• Full Professor

The university has not provided separate qualification thresholds for each rank in the published advertisement.

The position is full-time and is expected to begin in Fall 2027.

Although the recruitment listing identifies the salary type as annual, it does not publish a salary amount or benefits package.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit the following documents through AUC’s online recruitment system:

1. Updated curriculum vitae (CV).
2. Letter of interest addressing the required qualifications.
3. Completed AUC Personnel Information Form (PIF).
4. Statement of teaching philosophy.
5. Copies of recent student evaluations.
6. Example of a recent publication relevant to the position.
7. Letters of reference from at least three referees familiar with the applicant’s professional background.

Applicants should ensure that the submitted documents demonstrate their research specialisation, university teaching experience, and suitability for the advertised academic appointment.

Application Timeline

Priority date for full consideration: 10 December 2026

AUC encourages candidates to submit their applications by this date to ensure full consideration.

The selection committee will begin reviewing applications after 10 December 2026.

However, applications will continue to be accepted until a qualified applicant pool has been achieved or the position has been filled.

The vacancy is therefore advertised as open until filled, rather than having a fixed final closing date.

How to Apply

Applicants must apply through the American University in Cairo’s official online recruitment system and submit all required documents.

Original Vacancy: Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in Islamic Art and Architecture – AUC

AUC Faculty Vacancies: https://www.aucegypt.edu/about/jobs/faculty-vacancies

Position ID: 206207
Reference Number: ARIC_TT (F2027)

For enquiries about the position, candidates may contact:

Dr Amina Elbendary
Department Chair
Email: abendary@aucegypt.edu

The enquiry email is not identified as an alternative application submission route. Applications must be submitted through the online recruitment system.

Job Summary

Field	Details
Employer	American University in Cairo (AUC)
Country	Egypt
City	Cairo
Department	Sheikh Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations
Position	Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in Islamic Art and Architecture
Academic Ranks	Assistant Professor / Associate Professor / Full Professor
Employment Type	Full-time
Appointment Type	Tenure-track
Primary Discipline	Islamic Art and Architecture
Related Specialisations	Art History, Architectural History, Material Culture
Geographical Research Focus	Islamic world; wider Arab-Muslim regions particularly encouraged
Minimum Qualification	PhD specialising in the history of Islamic Art and Architecture
PhD Completion	Degree must be held at time of application
Teaching Experience	Relevant university-level teaching experience required
Teaching Levels	Undergraduate and graduate
Teaching Load	Three courses / nine credit hours per semester
Research Expectations	Active research record and robust research agenda
Additional Research Strengths	Primary textual sources and interdisciplinary scholarship
Supervision	MA and postgraduate theses
Academic Service	Departmental, school, university, and community service
Language of Institution	English-medium
Expected Start Date	Fall 2027
Salary	Amount not specified; salary type listed as annual
Date Posted	28 October 2026
Priority Application Date	10 December 2026
Final Closing Date	Open until filled
Application Method	AUC online recruitment system
Reference Number	ARIC_TT (F2027)
Position ID	206207
Contact	Dr Amina Elbendary – abendary@aucegypt.edu
Original Vacancy	https://aucegypt.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=206207