The Palestine Research Cluster (PRC) promotes the academic study of Palestine by supporting multidisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary research, teaching, and intellectual collaboration among scholars within York University. The PRC provides an institutional home for faculty, graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and students at York interested in expanding research relationships and collaborations between Palestine and Palestinian institutions. Its immediate priority is to build connections with students and researchers at universities in Palestine (Gaza and the West Bank) to support and strengthen Palestinian academic institutions and their individual and research teams; develop the study of Palestine and Palestinians throughout Canada and the world; and develop research on Palestine with both academic and non-academic institutions in Canada and elsewhere.
Are you a York member interested in or engaged in research that centers Palestine?
Are you interested in participating or presenting at the 2026 PRC Symposium?
Co-Chairs
Aaida Mamuji, Associate Professor, Disaster & Emergency Management, School of Administrative Studies, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Profile: https://profiles.laps.yorku.ca/profiles/amamuji/
John Simoulidis, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream
Coordinator, Business & Society (BUSO) Program; also affiliated with Interdisciplinary Social Science
Profile: https://profiles.laps.yorku.ca/profiles/sims/
York University Faculty Members
Sarah Rotz, Associate Professor, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change
Profile: https://euc.yorku.ca/faculty/sarah-rotz/
Ratiba Hadj-Moussa, Senior Scholar, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Profile: https://profiles.laps.yorku.ca/profiles/rhm/
Safiyah Rochelle, Assistant Professor, Criminology, Department of Social Science, faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Profile: https://profiles.laps.yorku.ca/profiles/srochell/
John Greyson, Associate Professor, Production, Cinema and Media Studies, School of the Arts, Media, Performance, and Design
Profile: https://ampd.yorku.ca/people/john-greyson/
Community Member, Scholar or Student from Palestine
Ahmed Abushaban, Visiting Professor, Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change and the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies (York University); Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Al-Azhar University (Gaza)
Profile: https://euc.yorku.ca/faculty/ahmed-abu-shaban/
Graduate Student
Imran Sarwar, PhD Student, Geography
Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imransarwar3
Ex-officio (CFR) Representative
Christo El Morr, Director, Centre for Feminist Research
Profile: https://health.yorku.ca/health-profiles/index.php?dept=&mid=981753
| Name | Affiliation | Faculty |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Zalik | Professor | Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change |
| Asmita Bhutani Vij | Assistant Professor | Work & Labour Studies |
| Beatrice Nkundwa | Student | Environmental Arts and Justice |
| Carlota McAllister | Associate Professor | Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change |
| Cynthia Wright | Associate Professor | Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies |
| Giuliana Racco | PhD Candidate | Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change |
| Heidi Matthews | Professor | Osgoode Hall Law School |
| Jay Ramasubramanyam | Faculty | Department of Social Science |
| Jess Nachman | PhD Candidate | School of Kinesiology & Health Science |
| Jannat Yaqobi | Grad Student | Sociology |
| Justin J. Podur | Professor & Associate Dean | Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change |
| Kasim Tirmizey | Assistant Professor | Equity Studies |
| Katherine Nastovski | Assistant Professor | Work and Labour Studies, Department of Social Science |
| Kerry Scott | Assistant Professor | School of Global Health |
| Leila Pourtavaf | Assistant Professor | History |
| Lauren Moore | PhD Student | Socio-Legal Studies |
| Merouan Mekouar | Professor | Development Studies, Department of Social Science |
| Nadia Hasan | Assistant Professor | School of Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies |
| Peige Desjarlais | PhD Candidate | Social Anthropology |
| Philip Kelly | Professor | Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change |
| P.E. Perkins (Ellie / P.E. Perkins) | Retired professor | Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change |
| Salman Hussain | Postdoctoral Fellow | Kinesiology & CFR |
| Sheetal Magan | Student | Cinema & Media Studies |
| Taghreed Al Soumairy | Visiting Scholar | CFR |
| Viktoriya Vinik | PhD Candidate | Political Science |
| Özgün (Ozgun) Topak | Associate Professor | Social Science |
Please see below for a list of publications:
Upcoming Events
Palestine in Focus: Interdisciplinary Research Symposium at York University:
If you are interested in registering for the above symposium please visit the detailed Symposium page HERE.
Details:
- Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
- Submission deadline: MARCH 1, 2026
- Notification of participation: MARCH 17, 2026
- Draft Papers due April 1
The Palestine Research Cluster at York University is pleased to invite graduate students and faculty members from across disciplines to participate in Palestine in Focus: Interdisciplinary Research at York University, to be held Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at York University (Toronto, Ontario).
This symposium is conceived as a collaborative, conversation-driven research space. Its purpose is to bring together scholars working on Palestine, or on issues directly related to Palestine, in order to share work, exchange ideas, and collectively deepen ongoing research through sustained dialogue and feedback. Participants do not need to have a completed paper; works-in-progress are strongly encouraged, including research statements and/or proposals.
Supporting Higher Education in Gaza: Challenges, Priorities, and International Collaboration
Date & Time: 9am-10:30am, Friday February 20, 2026--register here (Zoom)
Hosted by: Palestine Research Cluster, York University
Omar Shweiki – Director, Friends of Palestinian Universities a UK-based charity that has works to support higher education in Palestine.
Dr Basma Hajir - University of Bristol. Basma will discuss the Gaza Education Research Virtual Fellowship (GERVF) project.
Ahmed Abu Shaban – True Visiting Professor, York University, executive member of Emergency Committee of Universities in Gaza.
Moderated by: Aaida A. Mamuji – co-chair, Palestine Research Cluster
Past Events
Genocidal Surveillant Assemblage in Palestine: A Socio-Legal Analysis
York SLST (Socio-Legal Studies) Graduate Program Seminar Series
Date: November 25, 2025
Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm ET
Location: Virtual
Link: https://yorku.zoom.us/j/99119170535?pwd=azRHa3JFdzlIaVBhMCtsbUtFakdvUT09
Film Screening: Letter to My Tribe
Date: November 13, 2025
Time: 7:00pm ET
Location: Nat Taylor Cinema, Room 102 North Ross Building, York University - Keele Campus
Unauthorized Amplification Devices
An exhibition/megaphone choir protest concert for Gaza.
Date: November 9, 2025
Time: 2:00pm ET
Location: Vari Hall /Gales Gallery / Transmedia Lab
Palestine Research Cluster Launch
Date: Friday, October 31, 2025
Time: 9:30am – 10:30am ET
Location: Online (Zoom link provided upon registration)
Register: https://yorku.zoom.us/meeting/register/dlmTUI_mR7mxLdHQB4VlpA#/registration
If your research and/or academic work centers Palestine, we would love to have you join us for this launch event and add to our growing community! Feel free to invite those at York that might be interested in joining.
Below is the list of Research Projects in the Palestine Research Cluster at York University: