Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies at Manchester offers exceptionally wide-ranging opportunities for research and advanced training in the history, politics, gender studies, literatures, religious traditions and cultures of the Middle East. Training and research supervision in all major cultures and periods of the region are delivered by experts whose publications contribute to their subject on an international level. Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies regularly organises seminars, workshops and conferences, and offers some specialist training opportunities. Another major research centre, the Centre for Jewish Studies ( CJS ), brings together a wide range of specialists from across the University, and a large and active body of graduate students working on various aspects of Jewish culture and history, including modern Israeli society. The Manchester Iranian History Academic Network ( MIHAN ) organises seminars, workshops, and international conferences providing an intellectual and organisational framework for a sizeable and active group of graduate students working on Iranian history. Research specialisms in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies and related subject areas include literature, gender, culture and history of the Arab countries (Salhi, Mostafa, Buckley), Islamic societies and practices, including Shiism (Buckley,Woerner-Powell), the modern and contemporary history of Iran, with a special focus on its politics and relations to other parts of the Middle East, to Europe, and to the US (Randjbar-Daemi). Other areas of doctoral supervision can be offered or are available through inter-disciplinary collaboration.