This call for applications is intended for researchers wishing to spend all or part of their institutional leave/sabbatical at the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South at Northwestern University in Qatar (#IAS_NUQ) pursuing a research project of relevance to the histories, cultures, societies, and media of the Global South.
In addition to pursuing their own research projects, #IAS_NUQ Global Fellows are fully engaged in the intellectual life of the Institute. Fellows participate in research groups, receive feedback on their work-in-progress, and take part in #IAS_NUQ events. They are expected to present publicly on their research/creative scholarship and are encouraged to produce one multilingual working paper or creative output with #IAS_NUQ Press during their affiliation with the Institute.
The vibrant #IAS_NUQ research community includes dedicated staff, as well as postdoctoral and undergraduate fellows, and NU-Q faculty. Current research themes are 1) Genealogies and Epistemologies of the Global South; 2) Arab Media, Culture, and Politics; 3) Southern Digitalities; and 4) Critical Security Studies. To learn more about #IAS_NUQ, visit: https://bit.ly/IAS_NUQ.
#IAS_NUQ Global Fellows work in a state-of-the-art workplace on the third floor of the beautiful NU-Q campus in Education City, Doha. Opportunities for local networking and collaboration abound with the proximity of leading research institutions such as Georgetown University Qatar, focusing on politics and diplomacy, Virginia Commonwealth Qatar, focused on the arts, and Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s programs in Middle Eastern Studies, Translation Studies, and Digital Humanities.
The duration of an #IAS_NUQ Global Fellowship is a minimum of one month and a maximum of one academic term.
This is a residential fellowship; #IAS_NUQ Global Fellows are therefore expected to work on campus at least four days a week during the period of their fellowship.
At the time of application, candidates should have least two years of post-PhD degree academic experience.
Candidates should have an affiliation with a university or research institute and be relieved from their teaching and administrative obligations during the period of the fellowship.
The working language at #IAS_NUQ is English; candidates therefore should have a strong command of English.
#IAS_NUQ can only support appointments during the NU-Q Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters (August 24 – December 4, 2025 and January 6 – April 23, 2026).
Working conditions: At NU-Q, Global Fellows are provided a shared office space and access to meeting rooms, university-based research libraries, and IT services.
Living conditions: Global Fellows are provided a rent-free, furnished apartment. They may reside in Doha with their spouses and children under 18, but NU-Q staff cannot assist with schooling.
Relocation support: All successful applicants will benefit from the support of #IAS_NUQ administrative staff and NU-Q human resource staff on issues related to relocation.
Funding: Global Fellows should ideally be on sabbatical leave with a full salary. #IAS_NUQ can provide a stipend adequate to cover the gap between the cost of living in Doha and the researcher’s place of residence.
Travel: Global Fellows are provided one roundtrip ticket to Doha and local health insurance. #IAS_NUQ does not provide travel expenses for family members.
Interested applicants should submit the following:
Cover Page – Include your name and contact information; academic title and institutional affiliation; nationality; desired length of stay and starting date; and description of funds requested.
Research Proposal (not to exceed 1,000 words) – Include research questions, topic significance, theoretical framework, methodological design, clear description of primary sources and necessary language skills, and work plan with a description of where you are in the research process and projected date of project completion.
Project Bibliography (not to exceed one single-spaced page, minimum font size 11) – Include primary and secondary sources.
Statement of Institutional Fit (not to exceed 250 words) – Explain how your project aligns with #IAS_NUQ’s mission, fits with one or more of our research themes, and contributes to interdisciplinary knowledge. Please refer to our mission and themes listed on our website.
CV (not to exceed two single-spaced pages, minimum font size 11) – List degrees, peer-reviewed publications, academic non-peer-reviewed publications, creative and public scholarship, invited talks, conference papers, other relevant qualifications, and specific research and language skills.
Letters of Support – Two are required.
Publications – Up to two articles or books in support of the application.
Please submit all application materials as a single PDF document to ias@qatar.northwestern.edu by December 1, 2024. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
We expect to contact finalists by mid-December and make final decisions by early January 2025.
For stays exceeding 60 days, fellowship offers are contingent upon satisfactory results from background checks to be conducted by Northwestern University and your meeting host country requirements, as well as obtaining an appropriate work visa and residency permit. While we do everything we can to support this effort, these requirements are established by the government of the State of Qatar, and failure to meet them terminates your appointment at NU-Q.
Global Fellows are required to learn about and respect and abide by the applicable customs, regulations, and laws of the State of Qatar. Failure to abide by such laws, regulations, and customs may be considered a material breach of your fellowship and subject you to termination from your NU-Q appointment at the University's sole discretion. To the extent possible, NU-Q will assist with interactions you may have with the Qatar government and its agencies related to your NU-Q activities, but it cannot provide immunity from noncompliance with Qatari law.
If you have additional questions, please email us at ias@qatar.northwestern.edu. Kindly do not contact #IAS_NUQ staff individually.
