Humanities Research Fellowship for the Study of the Arab World (Postdoctoral Fellowship)

The NYU Abu Humanities Research Fellowship for the Study of the Arab World (HRF) invites early-career scholars who wish to contribute to the vibrant research culture of NYUAD’s Saadiyat campus to apply for a residential postdoctoral fellowship, starting September 2026.

We welcome applications from recent PhD graduates (PhD in hand between September 2021 and September 2026) working in all areas of the Humanities related to the study of the Arab world, its rich literature and history, its cultural and artistic heritage, and its manifold connections with other cultures and regions. We particularly welcome interdisciplinary research applications for projects thematically connected to existing research projects and initiatives at NYUAD's divisions of Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences (see https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/research.html).

The program awards up to two postdoctoral fellowships (ten months). Each postdoctoral fellow receives a stipend and free housing, as well as health insurance, work space on campus, full access to NYUAD’s library facilities (with close connections to NYU’s main library in New York), a research allowance, an opportunity to host a small workshop, and support for travel to and from Abu Dhabi. Fellows are required to present their current research via a research talk or workshop, to attend their colleagues’ presentations, and to participate regularly in HRF seminars and related scholarly events.

We expect successful candidates to commence their appointment on September 1, 2026, pending final approval, and budget availability, and to remain in residence at NYUAD until the end of the academic year.

The fellowship program is hosted by the NYU Abu Dhabi Division of Arts and Humanities. For more information, please visit: www.nyuad.nyu.edu/hrf.arabworld.

About NYU Abu Dhabi

NYU Abu Dhabi is a pioneer of higher education in a global world, dedicated to excellence in teaching and research, while advancing cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. Part of the NYU global network, NYU Abu Dhabi offers an outstanding liberal arts and science education to students from the United Arab Emirates, United States, and around the world, focusing on intercultural understanding and leadership. It supports innovative research that pushes the frontiers of knowledge forward and responds in powerful and interdisciplinary ways to vital global and local questions. NYU Abu Dhabi advances NYU as a model university for the 21st century and contributes in multiple ways to the development of a sustainable, knowledge-based economy in Abu Dhabi.

As an international center of excellence in teaching and research, our goal is to attract outstanding faculty who are leaders in their fields, encouraging them to create programs that draw outstanding students, and providing an intellectually rich environment.

Working for NYUAD

A world-class institution deserves world-class benefits. At NYUAD, we recognize that Abu Dhabi is more than where you work, it’s your home and in order for you to research, teach, and thrive, we’re offering a comprehensive benefits package to our top talent. Start with relocation assistance to ensure a smooth transition to / from Abu Dhabi, followed by competitive salaries, housing on campus, as well as educational assistance for your dependents (depending on contract length). Health and wellness services round out our offerings, plus more.

Eligible applicants will have received documents attesting to the completion of their PhDs by September 1, 2026. Successful candidates will be asked to submit these documents prior to the start of the fellowship.

Early-to-mid-career scholars with a strong record of scholarly accomplishment as well as early-career scholars with exceptional scholarly promise who wish to turn their doctoral dissertations into book manuscripts publishable with major academic presses are encouraged to apply.

Fellowships will be offered to scholars who demonstrate an interest in playing an active role in the intellectual community of NYUAD, in particular by exchanging ideas with other fellows, faculty, and students. The fellowships are open to scholars of all backgrounds and nationalities.

Fellows of the program will find it enriching to work alongside scholars who conduct research in related and adjacent fields, such as in the Social Sciences. Scholarship supported by this program aims at fostering close connections with the research of NYU Abu Dhabi’s faculty and its curriculum with concentrations in, among others, Anthropology, Art and Art History, History, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Theater, Film & New Media Studies, as well as the Arab Crossroads Studies and Museum & Heritage Studies programs.

Applications will not be considered complete without all required documentation including the Additional Information form.

1) Curriculum vitae (up to 4 pages, single-spaced)
2) Project proposal (up to 1,250 words)
3) Abstract of dissertation (up to 250 words)
4) Two letters of reference, with at least one addressing the candidate's progress on their dissertation. Kindly send a request for a confidential letter of recommendation to each of your referees in the Required Documents section.

Applications will be accepted until January 5, 2026 [11:59 pm EST].

For more information, please visit the Application FAQs. For questions, please contact nyuad.humanities.fellowships@nyu.edu.

For technical issues with the application, please email help@interfolio.com or call 1 877 997 8807.

UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply.