Kuwait Program Research Fellowship

The Kuwait Program 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 Kuwait and the Gulf region. Areas of particular interest include health, education, energy, environment, water and food security, and digital transformation and artificial intelligence.

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

Eligibility

The Kuwait Program Research Fellowship is designed to attract the most promising junior and mid-career policy-oriented scholars and faculty from Kuwait. Applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Be a Kuwaiti national
• Be a current resident of Kuwait
• Be formally affiliated with a Kuwait-based academic or research institution

We are particularly interested in emerging scholars and social scientists whose proposed research is both policy-relevant and aimed at appearing in peer-reviewed, internationally-ranked, Open Access journals. Priority will be given to applicants whose research proposals center one or more of the following priority policy areas as they relate to the State of Kuwait and the Gulf region:

• Health Policy
• Education Policy
• Energy
• Environment
• Water and Food Security
• Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence

Expectations

Kuwait Program 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 for publication in peer-reviewed, internationally-ranked journals, with a preference for Open Access journals. 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. 

Faculty Mentorship

To support each Kuwait Program Research Fellow’s research agenda and professional development, fellows will be matched with a designated Harvard faculty member whose expertise aligns with their proposed project. The designated faculty mentor will serve as an advisor, hold regular progress meetings, and may, in some cases, collaborate with the fellow. 

To facilitate the matching process, all applicants are required to identify 2-3 Harvard faculty members they would be interested in working with as part of their application (see “Application Requirements” below).

Stipend Information

The Middle East Initiative offers ten-month stipends of $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 & Timeframe

The fellowship runs for the full academic year (September 1st – June 30th). 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.

If an applicant’s ability to accept the fellowship is contingent upon approval of a sabbatical or leave from their home institution, this should be clearly noted in the application. Applicants should also specify the dates of the requested leave.

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.
  • If unable to commit to the 2026-2027 academic year, indicate which academic years you would be available based your home institution’s sabbatical policies.
• 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 composted 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