Past symposium · May 2–3, 2026

Graduate Student Symposium

The third annual gathering brought emerging scholars together for two days of research, interdisciplinary conversation, and meaningful academic exchange.

The third symposium has concluded. The fourth symposium has not yet been announced.

A meeting place for emerging scholarship

Hosted at the Diyanet Center of America in Lanham, Maryland, the 2026 symposium welcomed graduate researchers, scholars, session chairs, and guests from institutions across the United States, Türkiye, Europe, and beyond. Participants joined in person and online for thematic panels spanning Islamic studies and the wider social sciences.

60+Graduate researchers

15Thematic panels

2Days of exchange

HybridIn person and online

The 2026 program

Research across disciplines

The program created room for focused presentations, structured scholarly feedback, roundtable exchange, and cross-institutional connections.

Religious Studies & Theology Political Science & Law Sociology & Anthropology History & Cultural Studies Psychology & Education Communication & Media AI and Islamic Studies Migration & Muslim Communities

Recognizing excellence

2026 symposium awards

Two graduate researchers were recognized at the closing ceremony for outstanding scholarship and presentation.

Best Presentation Award

Emir Karakaya

Ph.D. Candidate, University of Wisconsin–Madison

“Civil Code Debates in the Late 19th Century: Through the Examples of Japan and the Ottoman Empire.”

Best Paper Award

Muhammed Burak Bakır

Ph.D. Student, Princeton University

“Anatomy of Being a Believer: Ibrāhīm al-Kūrānī on the Superiority of Imitation (Taqlīd) over Ratiocination.”

Photo essay

Inside the third symposium

Presentations, panel discussions, conversations, and shared moments from the two-day gathering.

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View the complete gallery

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Academic community

Organized through collaboration

The symposium was organized by DCA and DIRI in academic collaboration with the Center for Islamic Studies (İSAM), the Center for Islam in the Contemporary World at Shenandoah University, and Istanbul University Institute of Islamic Studies.

Support was provided by the Zakat Foundation of America Institute and Turkish Airlines.

Original coverage

Explore the 2026 record

The original call for papers is retained as an archival record. The event recap documents the completed symposium and award recipients.

Archived Original call for papers Event recap Read the DCA news story

Looking ahead

Fourth Graduate Student Symposium

No new call for papers is open at this time. Dates and participation details will be published here when the fourth symposium is announced.

Announcement coming later