Junior Fellows Program

Main Links
- About AUB
  About AUB
  
  Founded in 1866, the American University of Beirut is a teaching-centered research university based on the American liberal arts model of higher education. AUB has over 8,000 students and 800 faculty members. The University encourages freedom of thought and expression and seeks to graduate men and women committed to creative and critical thinking, lifelong learning, personal integrity, civic responsibility, and leadership.
- Academics
  Academics
  
  AUB is accredited in the US by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and includes six faculties: Arts and Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Architecture, Agricultural and Food Sciences, Health Sciences, and Business. AUB offers more than 130 programs leading to bachelor's, master's, MD, and PhD degrees. The main language of instruction is English.
- Admissions
  Admissions
  
  Learn more about how you can join the American University of Beirut. AUB seeks applicants with a proven record of academic excellence, intellectual vitality, and civic responsibility. In accordance with its founding mission and its equal opportunity policy, the University admits students regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, or nationality.
- Research
  Research
  
  The vibrant and dynamic research environment at AUB enhances the educational experience for all and serves the wider communities—local and global—by advancing knowledge in a wide range of disciplines.
- Outreach
  Outreach
  
  Recognizing and honoring our responsibility for others has been an integral part of AUB’s mission since the earliest days. Today, AUB is at the forefront of addressing the most pressing concerns of this country, this region, and its people.
- Boldly Campaign
  BOLDLY Campaign
  
  To ensure the University can continue to inspire current and future generations of smart and able students who can rise to this challenge, we are embarking on a transformative capital campaign, BOLDLY AUB: The Campaign to Lead, Innovate, and Serve.
AUB Community
- A - Z
- Find People
- Libraries
- Alumni
Public
- Telehealth
- AUBMC
- Give
Useful Tools
- E-learning
- AUBSIS
- Webmail
- Title IX Online Training

Overview

The Junior Fellowship Program is a joint collaboration between the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) and the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) program at the Department of Political Studies and Public Administration at the American University of Beirut (AUB).

Funding Source

The Junior Fellows Program is funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Objectives

During the 9-month fellowship, selected junior fellows will work on their own projects under the mentorship and guidance of one of the institute’s current fellows with the purpose of exploring and developing research and policy outputs that align with the Institute’s overall strategy and clusters.

Project Outputs / Publications

Upon completing their fellowships, fellows will be required to submit a policy-relevant paper and produce at least one derivative product, such as an op-ed, video interview, or infographic, they can also choose to organize a roundtable or dialogue session.

Contact person

Cynthia Sfeir
Program Coordinator
cs84@aub.edu.lb

Spring 2026 Fellows

Meet the five junior fellows selected to be part of this first cohort (Spring 2026)

Alissar El Shami

Alissar El Shami's project examines indigenous agricultural practices in South Lebanon, and proposes policy instruments for sustainable agriculture in the post-war phase.

Watch this short video for the latest on Alissar's project in her words

Chloe Nasr

Chloe Nasr's project explores how Lebanese Arabic hip-hop artists explore Beirut’s contested urban realities and aims to inform urban policy and city planning that acknowledge everyday realities and foster more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable urban futures.

Watch this short video for the latest on Chloe's project in her words

Jamal Daou

Jamal Daou's project fills a current data and evidence gap on microgrids in Lebanon and contributes to ongoing policy discussions and public debate exploring the feasibility and applicability of decentralized renewable energy solutions for Lebanon.

Noureddin Kastalani

Adopting a de facto power formation framework, Noureddin Kastalani's research traces how the three core instruments of rule – coercion, revenue extraction, and appointment – are reorganized and routinized during the pre-constitutional phase in Syria following the collapse of the sovereign center in late 2024. It examines how this process generates an uneven and partial form of sovereign closure prior to constitutional codification.

Alan Gabriel

Alan Gabriel's project traces the shocks through the 2020 port explosion, the 2021 fuel shortages, and the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon and explores in what ways they exposed Lebanon’s governance, and what are the lessons that can be carried forward to shape future institutional mechanisms in an evolving domestic and regional climate.

Brown Bag Series

Join our fellows as they present and discuss their ongoing research in an interactive and collaborative setting. These sessions offer a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, gain insightful feedback, and engage in meaningful dialogue.

Dates will be announced soon – stay tuned!

Contact Us

For various questions, please try contacting us via social media first!
read more

Privacy Statement

We take data privacy seriously and adhere to all applicable data privacy laws and regulations.
read more

Copyright and Disclaimer

Written permission is needed to copy or disseminate all or part of the materials on the AUB website.
read more

Title IX, Non-Discrimination, and Anti-Discriminatory Harassment

AUB is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment to all members of its community.
read more

American University of Beirut

Overv​​iew​​

Funding ​​Source

Objec​tives

Project Outp​uts / Publications