Joint Visiting Fellowship – Middle East Council on Global Affairs and The Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University

Position description

About the Middle East Council on Global Affairs

The Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) is an independent, non-profit policy research institution based in Doha, Qatar. ME Council conducts policy-relevant research, convenes meetings, and dialogues and engages policy actors on geopolitical and socioeconomic issues facing the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The ME Council serves as a bridge between the MENA region and the rest of the world, providing a regional perspective on global policy issues and establishing partnerships with other leading research institutions and development organizations across the MENA region and the world.

About the Gulf Studies Center

The Gulf Studies Center at the College of Arts and Sciences at Qatar University is the world’s first to focus exclusively on the Gulf within the region itself. This unique Center, which aims to advance teaching and scholarship in the Gulf Studies field, was initially developed in 2011, by offering MA in Gulf Studies. Due to the increasing regional and global interest in this strategic area, the Gulf Studies Research Center was established in the fall of 2013.

The Center is committed to advancing cutting-edge research and scholarship on the Gulf region. The Gulf Studies Center encompasses three core research areas, including: Politics and Security, Energy and Economics, and Social Issues. Each of the areas is coordinated under the leadership of a research coordinator and directs a number of interdisciplinary research clusters. As the Gulf States emerge as major international players, there is a growing need for in-depth research and scholarship on the Gulf. The field of Gulf Studies is one that is wide-ranging – from issues of politics and regional security, labor migration, and education, to resource management and sustainable development.

The Center also hosts a number of conferences and research events in collaboration with other regional and international partners. These partnerships bring new perspectives and assist in creating a growing body and network of scholars with expertise on the Gulf region.

 About the Joint Fellowship

Over the course of a 9-month period, the joint fellow will teach up to two courses at Qatar University (QU) and conduct original research of their own. The 9-month period covers two academic semesters at Qatar University.

Joint fellows are expected to publish their research, interact with other scholars, present their research at events, engage with policymakers and the media, and contribute to the activities of ME Council and QU.

Candidates with a focus on Gulf, in particular Gulf economics, security, and Gulf-North Africa Relations are encouraged to apply.

Teaching

Joint fellows teach 1-2 courses, for MA and/or PhD students, over two semesters (30 weeks) at the Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University on a topic of his/her own choosing to be agreed on with the Center Director. This may be one of the courses currently offered at the Gulf Studies Center (History, Political Science, Economics, International Relations, Education, Law), or a related subject as defined by the joint fellow. Courses are typically seminar-based, enabling the joint fellow to develop and refine her/his ideas and research in an academic setting.

Research

Joint fellows pursue their own research agenda and contribute to ME Council’s research output by producing a least one research output on a topic of their choice to be agreed on. ME Council publishes a variety of policy-oriented papers, briefs, and notes ranging in length between 1,500 – 5,500 words. The primary language of publication is English. Final reports will be published in both English and Arabic. Proposed research output should be focused on the Gulf and broadly related to ME Council’s three main program areas: (1) Foreign Policy and Security, (2) Governance and Development, and (3) Conflict and Transitions.

Alongside their individual research paper, Joint fellows are expected to be active members of the ME Council community, engaging with their colleagues, and participating in ME Council public events, monthly meetings, policy roundtables, and contributing to the ME Council’s (Afkar) publications with op-eds covering relevant, current policy issues. Joint fellows will have the opportunity to engage with policymakers, academics, government officials, business leaders, and journalists.

Joint fellows are provided with funding to conduct field research. In some cases, joint fellows may retain their relationship with ME Council in a nonresident capacity for up to one year after completing their joint fellowship.

Qualifications

Applicant Requirements

Applicants should have a Ph.D. in a field relevant to the area of research. They must have a demonstrated ability to conduct professional, in-depth research, a proven record of publishing, experience teaching at graduate level and fluency in English. Working knowledge of Arabic and an understanding of the GCC are a plus. 

Joint Fellowship Requirement

Joint fellows must be available for a full-time affiliation with QU and ME Council and be based in Qatar.

Application instructions

Applicants should submit the following documents:

• A CV including professional and educational experience, three references, full contact information, and a list of publications.
• A 200-300-word proposal of a course that you would be interested in teaching at Qatar University.
• A writing sample (no more than 6,000 words) in English. Writing samples should, if possible, be in a format similar to the policy papers published by the Middle East ME Council and must not be co-authored.
• An original research proposal of between 800 and 1,000 words long. The proposal should include the key questions to be addressed, relevance to policymakers, methods of research, and estimated timeline.
• A cover letter, which, along with any additional information you wish to convey.

Only applicants meeting minimum qualifications for the position will be considered. 

Submission deadline: April 15, 2024