Her research focuses mainly on modern Arabic Literature (19th/20th century) in Egypt and the Levant. Her book, The Novel and the Rural Imaginary in Egypt, 1880-1985, explores the relationship between the rise of the novel genre, the politics of nationalist representation and the peasant question over the course of the 20th century in Egypt. Dr. Selim, who is also a practicing literary translator, is currently at work on a book about translation, modernity and popular fiction in early 20th century Egypt.