The School of Divinity is pleased to welcome five new academic staff members starting this year. The School of Divinity are delighted to be appointing five new members of staff to the academic team. The appointments comprise of replacing former staff but, also creating new positions to reflect the changing demand for courses in the Theology and Religious Studies landscape. Notably we have two new Lecturer’s that will focus on the teaching of Ethics. Our new appointments bring a wealth of experience from various institutions and will all be a valuable asset to the School. Professor Gordon Lynch – Professor of Religion, Society and Ethics Professor Gordon Lynch joins us from the University of Kent, where he was Michael Ramsey Professor of Modern Theology. Having held posts at Birkbeck College, University of London, the University of Birmingham and University of Chester, Professor Lynch brings years of experience and expertise with him. Professor Gordon Lynch will start in Septmeber 2024. I'm delighted to be joining the School of Divinity and to have the opportunity to build stronger links between the School and the Edinburgh Futures Institute. Religion, non-religion and sacred values play such vital roles in the contemporary world - whether in major geo-political issues, the challenges faced by our public institutions or the ways in which people try to shape meaningful lives. I'm excited to be joining such an outstanding community of staff and students who are committed to deepening knowledge in this field and to producing work that can make a real difference to wider society. Thinking about what our discipline of Theology and Religious Studies means in the twenty-first century is an exciting challenge - and Edinburgh is a great place to be doing that work. Professor Gordon Lynch Dr J Thomas Hewitt – Lecturer in New Testament and Christian Origins Dr J Thomas Hewitt takes up the role as Lecturer in New Testament and Christian Origins at the School. Joining from the University of Aberdeen, Dr Hewitt held the role of Lecturer in Early Judaism and Christian Origins after having held the Kirby Laing Research Fellow in New Testament. His PhD is in New Testament and Christian Origins from the University of Edinburgh (2018). Dr J Thomas Hewitt will start in September 2024. It's a privilege to be joining the University of Edinburgh's School of Divinity. The school has a world-class reputation for excellence in research and teaching, and it will be an honour to support this tradition. Exciting work in Biblical Studies is being done by both staff and students, and indeed my own years as a doctoral candidate at New College were intellectually bracing and a personal delight – an experience I hope to facilitate for others. The welcome of colleagues has been very warm, and I look forward to the opportunities this new chapter will bring. Dr J Thomas Hewitt Dr J Thomas Hewitt – University of Aberdeen Dr Selina Stone – Lecturer in Theology, Philosophy and Ethics Dr Selina Stone joins us as Lecturer in Theology, Philosophy and Ethics from the University of Durham where she held the role of Postdoctoral Research Associate in Theological Education. Her PhD is from the University of Birmingham (2021) and she worked previously as a Lecturer in the Theological Education sector. Dr Stone serves on the National Executive Committee of the Society for the Study of Theology, and is host of the Sunday School for Misfits Podcast. Dr Selina Stone will start in August 2024. I am thrilled to be joining the wonderful team at the University of Edinburgh's School of Divinity. I am looking forward to contributing to this rich and globally recognised community of scholars and students. My work focuses on womanist (black feminist) theology and ethics, particularly in relation to Pentecostalism, as well as the matters of power within churches, and wider questions of justice, belonging and wellbeing. I am excited to have the opportunity to establish this work at Edinburgh and to inspire a new generation of theologians and ethicists, especially from underserved groups. Dr Selina Stone Dr Selina Stone – University of Durham Dr Lois Wilson-McFarland – Lecturer in Religion and Literature Dr Lois Wilson-McFarland continues at the School of Divinity, moving from Teaching Fellow in Religion and Literature to Lecturer in Religion and Literature. Her research focuses on biblical myth in speculative fiction, particularly where these texts grapple with questions posed by technology, posthumanism, feminist and womanist re-vision and theory, queer theory, postcolonial theory, ecocriticism, and affect theory. Dr Wilson-McFarland also serves as a committee member for the Scottish Network for Religion and Literature and the New College Festival of Books and Belief. Dr Lois Wilson-McFarland will start in August 2024. I am delighted to be joining the New College community as Lecturer in Religion and Literature. In both my teaching and research, I aim to bring attention to the ways that literature – particularly speculative fiction – can confront its readers with vital questions about what it is to be human in a rapidly changing world. I look forward to continuing work on our yearly Festival of Books and Belief and developing strong connections with colleagues across diverse disciplines. I also hope to be able to work closely with students and staff to strengthen the school’s focus on equality, diversity and inclusion. Dr Lois Wilson-McFarland Dr Lois Wilson-McFarland – The University of Edinburgh Dr Shoaib Ahmed Malik – Lecturer in Science and Religion Dr. Shoaib Ahmed Malik, a dual doctorate holder, is joining us from Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates, where he has been an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science since 2016. He earned his first PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from the University of Nottingham in 2014, followed by an MSc in Philosophy of Science and Religion from the University of Edinburgh in 2019. He completed his second PhD in Theology at St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, in 2023. Dr. Malik has made significant contributions at the intersection of Science and Religion. His monograph, Islam and Evolution: Al-Ghazālī and the Modern Evolutionary Paradigm, was acclaimed as the foremost academic contribution to the field, receiving recognition from the International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR) in 2022. He holds the position of Trustee at the ISSR and serves on the editorial board of Theology and Science. Additionally, he is the Chief Editor for Palgrave’s newly launched Islam and Science book series and encyclopedia, further enriching scholarly discourse at this interdisciplinary crossroads. His publications span several topics, including evolution, artificial intelligence, extraterrestrials, divine action models, and miracles, all juxtaposed or examined through Islamic lenses, as well as comparative interfaith and intrafaith perspectives. Dr. Malik will join us in August 2024. I am thrilled to be joining the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, a world-renowned hub for its research and teaching in Science and Religion. As someone with a STEM and Muslim background, I have long been curious about the relationship between the two. This curiosity has driven my journey to explore and develop the nascent field and infrastructure of Islam and Science. Having once been a student of the MSc in Philosophy, Science, and Religion at the School of Divinity, it feels exciting and surreal to now join as Lecturer. I am eager to work with and learn from my colleagues and students, and I look forward to contributing to this vibrant academic community. Dr Shoaib Malik Dr Shoaib Malik – Zayed University This article was published on 2024-07-04
