Professor Dr. Nicholas Boylston

Biography

Nicholas Boylston is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations at Harvard University, focusing on classical Persian literature and Persianate Islam. His research explores themes of diversity and unity in the writings of Sufis, philosophers, and litterateurs within the Persianate world. Currently, he is in the final stages of completing a book that highlights the flourishing perspectivist and pluralistic modes of thought in classical Persian literature. Additionally, Boylston studies the interactions between Twelver Shiʿism and Sufism, particularly in relation to Persianate literary Quran commentaries. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, a Master’s degree from the University of Tehran, and a PhD from Georgetown University (2017). Boylston has previously served as a College Fellow and Lecturer at Harvard from 2018 to 2021, and also held the position of Assistant Professor at Seattle University from 2021 to 2023. His notable publications include works in prestigious journals such as the Journal of Qur'anic Studies and the Journal of Islamic Studies.

Research Interests

Experience