This is a call for project coordinators and interns in various positions at the Arab Studies Institute. The Arab Studies Institute is the umbrella organization for the Arab Studies Journal, Jadaliyya, Quilting Point, Forum on Arab and Muslim Affairs (FAMA), and Tadween Publishing.
Below are the specific positions available for project coordinators and interns at the Institute. In the event that an applicant does not meet the criteria for one of the specific positions listed, they may apply for a general internship. All ASI team members volunteer their time to one extent or another. “Internships” fit into this formula during the initial internship period with the possibility of a stipend henceforth.
Applicants need not be based in the Washington, D.C. or Beirut, Lebanon area. All internship positions are virtual unless explicitly stated otherwise. Letters of recommendation are optional unless otherwise stated in the respective call for positions below.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning on July 15th.
ARAB STUDIES INSTITUTE
Communications Manager
ASI is seeking a Communications Manager to organize and lead communication efforts across the Institute’s five branches. Applicants should be familiar with promotional software such as MailChimp, as well as most relevant social media platforms.Creativity and leadership skills are highly valued. This position has the possibility of a stipend depending upon qualifications.
Position responsibilities will include:
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Creating weekly campaigns to promote various ASI projects
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Coordinate with ASI Social Media Manager to develop and schedule social media campaigns
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Communicating important Institute news and updates to team members
Social Media Manager
ASI is seeking a Social Media Manager to streamline social media across the Institute’s five branches. Applicants should be familiar with all social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), various social media assisting platforms (LinkTree, Buffer) as well as design software (Canva and Photoshop). Candidates should value creativity, and initiative. This position has the possibility of a stipend depending upon qualifications.
Position responsibilities will include:
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Designing graphics for all new projects and publications
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Promoting said projects and publications via graphics and other innovative means on ASI official social media accounts
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Collaborating with the ASI Broadcast Team to promote live-streaming content
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Collaborating with the ASI Broadcast Team to update our database of broadcast guests current with appropriate social media handles and information
Video/Audio Editors
ASI is seeking interns who have experience editing audio and video to help produce shows, interviews, and events produced by ASI. Applicants must have a working proficiency in Final Cut Pro.
Internship responsibilities will include:
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Edit audio and video files for special events and ongoing series affiliated with any of ASI’s five branches.
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Assist the ASI Broadcast Team in keeping up a schedule of audio-visual production.
ARAB STUDIES JOURNAL
Subscriptions Manager
Arab Studies Journal (ASJ) is hiring a Subscriptions Manager to begin immediately. We are seeking a candidate who has experience with the publishing process and working with a team remotely. Applicants must have working proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets.
The position’s responsibilities will include:
1. Coordinating the distribution of two volumes of ASJ per year, ensuring all orders are fulfilled, and processing sales throughout the year.
2. Processing new subscriptions and managing existing ones.
3. Working with the Co-Editors to expand the individual and institutional subscription base.
This is a long-term position paid on a stipendiary basis. After the initial onboarding period, the average workload will not exceed 3 hours/week. Because of this, the ideal candidate might be someone already working in editing or publishing, or a doctoral student or scholar able to commit to the position for the long term.
This is a remote position, applicants need not be based physically in Washington DC or the United States, but must have authorization to be employed in the US.
JADALIYYA
Jadaliyya is an independent e-zine that provides a unique source of insight and critical analysis that combines local knowledge, scholarship, and advocacy with an eye to audiences in the United States, the Middle East and beyond.
Media Roundup Coordinators
Media roundup editors will be responsible for managing, scheduling, and augmenting the material for either a weekly or monthly roundup for a particular page, in coordination with the page editors. Positions are available for Jadaliyya’s Maghreb Page, Palestine Page, Environment Page, Arabian Peninsula, and Turkey Page. Jadaliyya is seeking applicants who can speak English, Arabic, French, or Turkish.
Internship responsibilities will include:
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Curate and annotate the media roundup based on our standard operating procedures.
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Perform basic copyediting on all roundup articles.
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Maintaining a routine monthly schedule for roundup posts.
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Coordinate with the page editor for strategies and content.
MESPI (Middle East Studies Pedagogy Initiative)
The Middle East Studies Pedagogy Initiative (MESPI) is a project of FAMA, ASI's research arm. MESPI is a curated interactive platform for Middle East Studies resources specifically tailored to the needs of teachers, researchers, and students.
Peer-Reviewed Articles Review Assistant
The Peer-Reviewed Article Reviews team curates a collection of journals and their articles concerned with the Middle East and Arab world. This series is published seasonally. Each issue consists of one-to-three parts, depending on the number of articles included.
Internship responsibilities will include:
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Mining and cataloging peer-reviewed articles on or about the Middle East
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Analyzing samples of data and identifying trends in knowledge production around a specific country or topic
Geographies of the Future - Research Assistant
ASI is co-sponsor of “Geographies of the Future: Traveling the Arab-majority world through virtual reality” which brings together 8 artists/artist collectives from the MENA/SWANA region to render impossible worlds and alternative futures through experimentation with virtual media and film. The exhibition will be installed simultaneously at several US universities and an institution in the MENA/SWANA region, in Fall 2024.
The project is looking for a Research Assistant/intern to provide support with exhibition fundraising, promotion and coordination. The ideal Research Assistant/intern would have an interest in contemporary art/photography/digital media and the environment. Skills in graphic design, (experience with SketchUp/Adobe Suite is a plus) and/or web design experience would be a plus. The RA will gain skills in grant writing/proof reading for applications to major US funders including NEH, exhibition design and implementation, and supporting with project and stakeholder management. This is an exciting opportunity for any student/graduate who would like to help realise an ambitious project, alongside a collaborative team of academics, activists and curators.
KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION PROJECT
Knowledge Production Project is a dynamic, open-access archive, search tool, and data visualization platform. This project, almost a decade in the making, endeavors to gather, organize, and make available for analysis all knowledge produced on the Middle East since 1979, in nine databases.
Books Database Researchers
The Knowledge Production Project is seeking a research assistant to work on the Books Database. Experience with data entry is preferred, but not required for this position.
Responsibilities for the Books Database research assistant will include:
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Researching and cataloging book reviews related to the Middle East.
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Evaluating the content and method of production of said book reviews.
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Work closely with the database coordinator to decide upon new paths of research.
Films Database Researchers
The Knowledge Production Project is seeking a research assistant to work on the Films Database. Experience with data entry is preferred, but not required for this position.
Responsibilities for the Films Database research assistant will include:
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Researching and cataloging films related to the Middle East
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Evaluating the content and method of production of said films
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Work closely with the database coordinator to decide upon new paths of research.
Dissertation Database Researchers
The Knowledge Production Project is seeking a research assistant to work on the Dissertation Database. Experience with data entry is preferred, but not required for this position.
Responsibilities for the Dissertation Database research assistant will include:
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Researching and cataloging dissertations related to the Middle East
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Evaluating the content and method of production of said dissertations.
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Work closely with the database coordinator to decide upon new paths of research.
STATUS/الوضع
Status/الوضع is an audio-visual magazine which features interviews/conversations, on-the-scene reports, reviews, informed commentary and lectures held around the world on the Middle East and North Africa.
Producer
Status is seeking producers for its various broadcasts and programs. Applicants must have strong organizational and leadership skills.
Internship responsibilities will include:
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Curating a schedule of content releases.
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Assisting the Status team in booking new talents to be interviewed on various programs.
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Assist in the editing of existing audio-visual content.
Audio-Visual Editor
Status is seeking interns who have experience editing audio and video to help curate the content featured in the bi-annual issues. Applicants must have a working proficiency in Final Cut Pro.
Internship responsibilities will include:
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Edit audio and video files to be featured in bi-annual issue releases.
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Assist the Status team in ensuring the timely posting of new podcasts.
Benefit to the Student Intern
Of foremost concern to ASI is the benefits the student will receive while completing this program, and we expect that each student intern will have the opportunity to achieve the following benefits in addition to working toward academic credit:
Career-related experience
Practical knowledge of the field
Opportunity to explore career avenues
Valuable experience for CVs/resumes
Increased practice-based self-confidence
Training that enhances conventional classroom learning methods
Letters of recommendation from supervisor(s) and co-workers
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.