Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship

The Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship at the Middle East Initiative provides junior and mid-career policy-oriented scholars with a ten-month stipend and access to Harvard’s libraries and other resources to pursue an independent research project on a critical public policy area relevant to the UAE, the Gulf region, and the broader Arab world. Areas of particular interest include optimizing governance, increasing economic dynamism, strengthening human capital, and improving public policy design and delivery.

This fellowship supports the Emirates Leadership Initiative’s broader objectives of building capacity in the UAE and the surrounding region, and advancing scholarship on—and identifying evidence-based solutions to—the most pressing public policy challenges facing the UAE, the Gulf, and beyond.

Prior to applying, please read through the detailed information below regarding eligibility, priority research areas, expectations, and application requirements.

This fellowship is part of the Emirates Leadership Initiative at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, made possible through the generous support of the Department of Government Enablement — Abu Dhabi Government.

Eligibility

The Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship is designed to attract the most promising junior and mid-career policy-oriented scholars and faculty, with a particular focus on scholars who are from and intend to return to the UAE, the Gulf, and the Arab world. While all nationalities are eligible to apply, we are particularly interested in local scholars, policy analysts, public servants, and social scientists whose proposed research demonstrates a strong potential for constructive, real-world impact.

Priority will be given to applicants whose research proposals center one or more of the following MEI research priorities, which reflect the most salient public policy challenges facing the Gulf and broader Arab world:

• Optimizing Governance:
  • Enhancing the effectiveness of local governments.
  • Developing models for governing new technologies and managing their social and economic impacts.
  • Improving service delivery and efficiency through, among other measures, digital transformation projects.
• Increasing Economic Dynamism:
  • Diversifying hydrocarbon-based economies.
  • Fostering private sector development.
  • Managing tradeoffs between economic openness and policy autonomy.
• Strengthening Human Capital:
  • Reforming K-12 and higher education systems to maximize innovation and knowledge-production and pursue other socially valuable goals.
  • Developing upskilling, reskilling, and leadership programs.
  • Managing the balance between attracting global talent and developing local capacities.
• Improving Public Policy Design and Delivery:
  • Promoting the rigorous use of evidence in the design, execution, and evaluation of public policies. 

Expectations

Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellows are required to be physically present at Harvard University for the duration of the fellowship. All fellows are expected to advance the research project outlined in their application and to produce a deliverable, such as a book manuscript, journal article, working paper, or policy brief on the topic. Additional projects, including collaborations with other Harvard fellows and faculty, are encouraged. Fellows may be asked to contribute to the public life of the Middle East Initiative, such as by organizing or speaking in a public event. 

Stipend Information

The Middle East Initiative offers ten-month stipends of $55,000 to predoctoral fellows and mid-career practitioners who do not hold a PhD, $65,000 to postdoctoral fellows (those who have received their doctoral degrees less than five years prior to the appointment start date), and $75,000 to fellows who received their doctoral degrees more than five years prior to their fellowship start date. Fellows who have not received a doctoral degree within five years of beginning their fellowship will not be eligible for Harvard University health benefits. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply for other sources of funding. All applicants should clearly indicate on their application form whether they are seeking full or partial funding and indicate other potential funding sources. Non-stipendiary appointments are also offered, but the application process remains the same.

Length

The fellowship runs for the full academic year (September 1st – June 30th). Proposals for semester-length fellowships may also be considered with appropriate professional justification. Please note that fellows are generally required to take a full leave of absence or sabbatical from their primary employer for the duration of the fellowship appointment.

Application Timeline and Deadlines

• Applications Open: October 1, 2025
• Applications Close: December 1, 2025
• Letters of Recommendation Due: December 15, 2025
• Decisions Announced: No Later than February 27, 2026

Application Requirements 

• CV/ Resume: This should include all degrees earned (with dates), as well as expected dates of completion for any degrees currently in progress.
• Research proposal (3-5 pages): Describe the project you intend to pursue when in residence at the Harvard Kennedy School. Your proposal should:
  • Identify the key questions, challenges, or gaps—whether in the academic literature, policy debates, or practical implementation—that your project aims to address, respond to, or build upon.
  • Include a timeline outlining the stages you anticipate for completing and publishing the proposed research.
  • Indicate 2-3 Harvard faculty members with whom you would like to collaborate, if selected, and explain how their work is relevant to your research.
  • Specify whether you are seeking full or partial funding and list any other potential funding sources you are pursuing or may pursue.
• Unofficial transcript (for applicants who have not earned a PhD)
• Contact information for 3 recommenders: Please note that you are responsible for ensuring that your recommenders submit their recommendations on time. MEI ordinarily will not contact delinquent recommenders.  
• Writing sample (fewer than 50 pages; English language only):
  • Must include an abstract of 300 words or less
  • Will preferably be single-authored
  • Can be either published or unpublished
  • Must be composed without the use of generative AI.
  • Examples include: policy brief, journal article, book chapter, dissertation chapter, or white paper you have produced in your field