Position Type
Contract / Short-Term (Course Development Phase) Overview
We are seeking 2-3 Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to support the design and development of a cohort-based educational program focused on Islamic ethical frameworks, moral red lines, and systemic risks associated with advanced AI and AGI. SMEs will work closely with the Lead Instructor(s) to ensure the course is intellectually rigorous, technically accurate, and jurisprudentially sound. This role is advisory and developmental in nature. SMEs will not serve as primary instructors but will help shape the conceptual foundations, learning objectives, and analytical depth of the course.
Core Responsibilities
Course Design & Intellectual Contribution
- Advise on the overall conceptual architecture of the course
- Help define key terms, distinctions, and problem framings related to AI agency, autonomy, control, and risk
- Contribute to the development of modules, case studies, and analytical frameworks
Domain-Specific Expertise
Depending on background, SMEs may contribute in one or more of the following areas: - Islamic jurisprudence & ethics: uṣūl al-fiqh, maqāṣid al-sharīʿah, moral agency, responsibility, intention (niyyah), authority, and harm (ḍarar)
- AI & AGI risk: loss of human control, goal misalignment, concentration of power, surveillance, militarization, and social manipulation
- Ethics & governance: moral red lines, institutional responsibility, human dignity, and societal impacts of autonomous systems
Scholarly Review & Validation
- Review draft lesson outlines, readings, and instructional materials
- Flag oversimplifications, conceptual errors, or misleading analogies
- Ensure accurate and responsible translation of technical AI concepts into ethical and jurisprudential discourse
Problem Framing for Religious Leadership
- Assist in crafting well-posed ethical questions suitable for scholarly deliberation and fatwa councils
- Help identify where Islamic jurisprudence can offer clear guidance versus areas requiring caution or principled restraint
- Support articulation of boundaries rather than speculative endorsements of advanced AI systems
Collaboration & Advisory Support
- Participate in structured working sessions with Lead Instructor(s) and program staff
- Provide written or verbal feedback at key development milestones
- Advise on scholarly integrity, balance, and scope
Required Qualifications
- Recognized expertise in one or more relevant domains (Islamic studies, ethics, AI safety, philosophy of technology, or related fields)
- Demonstrated analytical rigor and ability to engage interdisciplinary audiences
- Experience contributing to academic, policy, or educational projects
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior work at the intersection of religion and emerging technology
- Familiarity with current AI safety discourse and AGI risk literature
- Publications, policy papers, or teaching experience relevant to ethics or AI governance
- Experience advising religious institutions or educational programs
Personal Attributes
- Intellectual honesty and epistemic humility
- Comfort with uncertainty and unresolved ethical tensions
- Respect for scholarly diversity and methodological discipline
- Commitment to protecting human dignity and meaningful human control
Time Commitment & Compensation
- Estimated commitment: 60-80 hours over the course development and delivery period, over 12 months
- Competitive consulting honorarium, commensurate with expertise and contribution
To Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume, a cover letter highlighting their qualifications and experience relevant to this position, and any relevant portfolio or work samples to [email protected]. Please include "Subject Matter Expert - Islamic Ethics & AI" in the subject line.
Job Posting: Lead Instructor Islamic Ethics and AI Course
