Call for Applications: IGC Jordan PhD Local Fellowship
Section
The IGC Jordan PhD Fellowship offers PhD students and recent PhD graduates a three-month research opportunity in Amman, providing first-hand exposure to Jordan’s policy and data landscape.
Fellows will develop policy-relevant research questions aligned with Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV) and one of the International Growth Centre (IGC)’s key themes and receive mentorship from IGC-affiliated academics. In partnership with the University of Jordan, two positions will be reserved for University of Jordan students, and one position will be open to all applicants.
The Jordan PhD Local Fellowship aims to strengthen the pipeline of local researchers contributing to policy-relevant economic research in Jordan. Fellows will work closely with the IGC Jordan team and government partners to generate rigorous evidence that informs national economic policymaking and supports the priorities of Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV).
Beyond hands-on engagement with real-world policy challenges, fellows will benefit from structured mentorship by professors and advanced researchers from leading global universities, including, but not limited to, the University of Oxford and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This mentorship will provide support on research design, empirical methods, and translating academic work into actionable policy insights, while offering access to a wider international research and policy network.
The fellowship is designed as a strategic investment in Jordan’s research infrastructure, and, in collaboration with the University of Jordan, aims to build a stronger local research community, build links between academia and government, and support the development of rising researchers and economists.
Funding Information
- Fellows will receive financial assistance equivalent to £5,000 GBP to support research activities and living expenses during the fellowship period. Fellows will also receive mentorship from IGC-affiliated academics.
- Three months. The expected fellowship period is between September and December 2025 but start dates may be adjusted based on the availability of selected candidates. All fellowships must be completed no later than March 2026.
Costs Covered
- The fellowship includes financial support for travel and living expenses.
Fellowship details
- The fellowship is a part-time role designed for three recent or current PhD economics, and other social sciences, students currently enrolled or recently graduated from Jordanian universities. Fellows will collaborate with IGC Jordan staff, policymakers, and international researchers on applied research projects and policy engagements.
- Fellow responsibilities may include:
- Supporting data cleaning, management, and analysis using administrative and survey datasets.
- Conducting literature reviews and contributing to research outputs, policy briefs, and presentations.
- Assisting in the design and implementation of impact evaluations and empirical research.
- Engaging directly with government counterparts to support evidence-based policymaking.
- Participating in meetings and workshops with policymakers, development partners, and researchers.
- Engaging in regular peer learning sessions with the LSE and Oxford-based PhD mentors.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
- Applicants must:
- Applicants must be either enrolled in a Jordanian PhD programme or have defended their PhD in 3 years preceding the fellowship; Jordanian nationals in PhD programmes in MENA universities may also be considered. Priority will be given to economics PhD students, though all social science PhDs are welcome to apply.
- Two positions will be reserved for University of Jordan students, and one position will be open to all applicants
- Have excellent analytical skills and communication skills in both Arabic and English.
- Have strong quantitative skills, including proficiency with a statistical software such SPSS or R.
- Applicants should be able to describe at least one research project with a strong policy application that they will work on during their time at IGC Jordan. This can include broad research questions they aim to develop during the fellowship, with relevant policymakers and mentorship from IGC-affiliated academics.
- Produce final output addressing key policy challenge in Jordan.