Student Opportunities

MEI Senior Fellow H.E. Dr. Omar Razzaz, former Prime Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, will lead this three-part study group in November 2024 focused on current global governance institutions, their efficacy in addressing global threats (climate change, conflict, and pandemics), and imagining alternatives. The study group is available to all HUID holders.

MEI Senior Fellow H.E. Dr. Barham Salih, former President of Iraq, will lead a study group focused on Iraq's domestic politics, economy, and geopolitical position for Fall 2024. The study group is available to all HUID holders.

MEI Senior Fellow Dr. Ziad Daoud, Chief Emerging Markets Economist at Bloomberg, will lead a study group from September to November focused on economic and development issues of the Middle East. The study group is available to all HUID holders.

MEI offers funding to HKS students to support PAE and SYPA research or internships during the winter and summer cycles located in or for work regarding the Middle East and North Africa.

We are currently accepting applications from HKS students for the Summer 2024 cycle. We are currently offering two application review periods:

Friday, March 22, 2024, 12:00 P.M. NOON
Friday, April 19, 2024, 12:00 P.M. NOON

Please review the SIF Common Application home page on KNet for more information. 

Past MEI-Funded Student Internships:

Chihiro Tanigawa received summer internship funding to join the World Bank's Middle East and North Africa (MENA) team of the Poverty and Equity Global Practice in Washington, D.C.

"The internship taught me valuable lessons in how organizations navigate the challenges of evaluating situations in developing worlds with limited information. This experience has also motivated me to further explore how research and policy recommendations can be effectively translated into actionable measures that truly make a positive impact on vulnerable populations. The grant allowed me to immerse myself in my internship experience, where I had the opportunity to learn the potential of data-driven solutions in shaping a sustainable and equitable future for the MENA countries."

David Dam received Summer Internship Funding to work with the Growth Lab at Harvard's Center for International Development and the United Arab Emirates' Ministry of the Economy.

"The Middle East Initiative’s award allowed me to cover costs during my internship in Dubai with the Growth Lab at Harvard’s Center for International Development and the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Economy. I never imagined myself working in Dubai—let alone the Middle East—for a summer, and I gained both an admiration for and new perspectives on the region. I view this past summer—made possible by the Middle East Initiative’s generous grant—as the capstone to an amazing first year at HKS where I was able to develop new skills and strengthen existing ones. With this experience, I come into the upcoming academic year with a clearer idea of the types of work I would like to do and a more confident vision of who I am."

Maria Cantele received summer internship funding to travel to Yemen to work with the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Yemen (OSESGY).

"The internship at the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen OSESGY was a unique and unexpected experience that exceeded my expectations. [It] gave me the opportunity to deep dive into a completely different and complex context. As an economist, it was fascinating to learn more about the warfare like policies in place in such a context and more surprisingly to realize that in practice life continues despite the challenges and people are incredibly resilient. On a similar note, participating in internal and external meetings gave me an initial understanding of the ecosystem in place when being part of a UN political mission. Engaging with the incredibly welcoming colleagues in the office and meeting people from the region outside of work broadened my understanding of regional dynamics and the prevalent developmental challenges."