The Middle East Initiative is now accepting applications for one-year Emirates Leadership Initiative Fellowships for research related to governance and public policy in the Arab world and broader Middle East. These fellowships, all of which carry a stipend, are intended to support the next generation of policy-oriented scholars on the challenges and opportunities facing and emanating from the region.
 
Eligibility
Eligible candidates include untenured faculty members, recent recipients of a Ph.D. (or equivalent), and advanced doctoral candidates. We welcome applications from political scientists, historians, economists, sociologists, and other social scientists.
 
Priority will be given to applicants who combine rigorous social scientific methods, real-world, policy relevance, and the ability to communicate clear and compelling perspectives to non-specialist audiences. We are particularly interested in work that focuses on governance and economic reform in the Middle East, and on the regional response to global challenges such as climate change, food and water security, and the coming energy transition.
 
Expectations
Fellows are required to be physically present at Harvard for the duration of the fellowship. Predoctoral research fellows are expected to complete their doctoral dissertations while in residence. Postdoctoral or faculty fellows may use this fellowship to complete a book or develop other research projects, and they will be expected to contribute to the public life of the Middle East Initiative by organizing study groups and offering public lectures.
 
Application Requirements
  • CV/ Resume: This should include all degrees earned and dates earned, as well as expected dates of completion for any degrees still in progress.
  • Research statement (3-5 pages): This should be a description of the project you intend to pursue when in residence with us. This can either be a paper or book project, or more advanced candidates may propose an 8 to 10-session study group around a particular policy or research topic. (Study groups at Harvard are not-for-credit courses hosted by our more senior visiting fellows, and often bring guest speakers to campus.)
  • Unofficial transcript (pre-doctoral fellow applicants only). Please note that the applicant must have advanced to candidacy prior to the application. Applicants who have more than one year remaining in their doctoral programs are unlikely to be selected.
  • Contact information for 3 recommenders: Please note that you are responsible for ensuring that your recommenders submit their recommendations on time.
  • Writing sample (fewer than 50 pages):
           o   Must include an abstract of 300 words or less
           o   Will preferably be single-authored
           o   Can be either published or unpublished
           o   Examples include: journal article, book chapter, dissertation chapter, or white paper you have produced in your field
 
Application Timeline
We will begin reviewing applications on October 30, 2022 until the positions are filled. The application portal will close on December 1, 2022, and recommendation letters will not be accepted after December 15, 2022. In order to ensure that your application receives full consideration, you are encouraged to submit your application as early as possible.