Israel Program Research Fellowship

Description

The Israel Program Research Fellowship brings leading practitioners and scholars of Israel to Harvard Kennedy School for short-term, high-impact residencies. The fellowship provides a stipend and access to Harvard’s libraries and other resources to pursue an independent research project on a critical public policy area relevant to Israel and the broader Middle East. As a core component of the Middle East Initiative’s Israel Program, the fellowship is designed to advance rigorous, policy-relevant research on Israel as an integral part of the Middle East and to strengthen the Harvard Kennedy School’s role as a global hub for serious, forward-looking analysis of the region.

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

Part of the Middle East Initiative Israel Program, this fellowship is made possible through the generous support of the Lauren and Philip Siegel Family Foundation Fund.

Eligibility

The Israel Program Research Fellowship is designed to attract outstanding mid-career and senior scholars and practitioners with a demonstrated record of contribution to research and public discourse on Israel and related regional issues. 

While all nationalities are eligible to apply, the fellowship is primarily intended for scholars and practitioners who are from or based in Israel, and whose work engages substantively with Israel in a regional and global context. 

The fellowship seeks individuals whose work aligns with the MEI’s commitment to rigorous, policy-driven, and regionally grounded research and demonstrates:

• A sustained contribution to scholarly and public conversations on Israel and the Middle East
• The ability to bridge academic research and policy-relevant analysis
• A clear potential to contribute to the intellectual and policy community at Harvard Kennedy School

We welcome proposals on any policy-relevant question about Israel and its place in the Middle East. Areas of particular interest include:

• Israeli–Palestinian relations and the prospects for peace
• Israel's evolving relations with Arab states, including normalization and the Abraham Accords
• Zionism, anti-Zionism, and debates over Israel's political and national identity
• Antisemitism in the Middle East
• The future of Israeli democracy, its political institutions, and Jewish–Arab relations within Israel
• Israel–U.S. relations in a changing global order
• Climate, water, and environmental policy in Israel and the region
• The development, political economy, and international impact of Israel's technology sector

Expectations

Israel Program Fellows are required to be physically present at Harvard University for the duration of their residency. All Fellows are expected to advance the research project outlined in their application. Fellows may be asked to contribute to the public life of the Middle East Initiative, such as organizing a study group, convening a policy roundtable, or speaking at a public event. 

Stipend Information

The Israel Program Research Fellowship includes a stipend of $10,000. Non-stipendiary appointments are also offered, but the application process remains the same.

Length & Timeframe

This short-term fellowship runs for six weeks during either the fall or spring term. Please note that fellows are generally required to take a full leave of absence from their primary employer for the duration of the fellowship appointment.

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 that your project aims to address, respond to, or build upon.
  • Explain the relevance of the project to the Israel Fellowship’s thematic areas.
  • 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.