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POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPSMEI is offering one or two post-doctoral Fellowships, for two years, ideally from 1 August 2015 to 31 July 2017. The fellowships are for recent Ph.D. recipients in the social sciences or humanities working on anthropological, cultural, economic, historical, political, religious, or sociological topics in the greater Middle East region. While the topics for research are open-ended, special attention will be paid to projects germane to MEI’s priorities.The Post-Doctoral Fellow will be expected to prepare his/her dissertation for publication, deliver one or more lectures/seminars about his/her research, and participate in MEI’s educational outreach program.The fellowships come with a competitive remuneration and benefits package.   Some support may be available for research and fieldwork as well as conference attendance (on application and subject to approval). The candidate must have fulfilled all requirements of the Ph.D. within the last two years. Applicants who have not completed their doctorates by 31 December may also apply, provided that their graduation is confirmed by a letter from their university before they assume the appointment at MEI. A reading knowledge of at least one Middle Eastern language is required.APPLICATION INFORMATIONThe deadline for applications for Post-Doctoral, Visiting Research and Sabbatical Fellowships is December 31, 2014.Candidates attending the Middle East Studies Association (MESA) Annual Meeting in Washington DC (22-25 November 2014) may arrange an appointment with Peter Sluglett, the Director of MEI: meips@nus.edu.sg.Applications should be submitted to Ms Norizan Selamat, Associate Director of MEI, via email at norizan@nus.edu.sg.Applications should include the following:Covering letter;Brief (500-1000 words) statement of research interests;Curriculum vitae.Three letters of recommendation (ONLY APPLICABLE FOR THE POST-DOCTORAL AND VISITING RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS). The letters should be sent by email (c/o of Ms Norizan Selamat) from the recommender directly to MEI.For further information and enquiries, please contact Ms Norizan Selamat via email at norizan@nus.edu.sg.About Singapore and the Middle EastAt the end of the thirteenth century, families of Arab traders began to settle in Southeast Asia. Family ties between relatives in Hadhramaut, for example, and Singapore engendered close cultural and economic links between the Middle East (especially the southern Arabian Peninsula) and Southeast Asia. The cultural enclave of the Arab Quarter in Singapore is a vibrant manifestation of this relationship. The Malay Muslim community, with its strong affinities to the Arab and Muslim worlds, comprises approximately 14 percent of Singapore’s population. Increasing numbers of Singapore companies in the fields of oil and gas, finance, investment, and infrastructure are active in Middle Eastern markets. Singapore also has established a presence in many other fields such as environmental technologies, logistics, retail, and tourism. In 2008, the GCC-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (GSFTA) signified a new era of cooperation. These developments will undoubtedly deepen and diversify.