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MEI will offer one Visiting Research Fellowship in 2014-2015.  This is an appointment for 13 months in the first instance with the possibility of renewal for a second year.  It is open to academics in the social sciences and humanities working on the Middle East in possession of the Ph.D. for at least five years, and one published book.  Mid-career scholars with a promising publications record are encouraged to apply.Fellows will be expected to be pursuing a major research project, probably leading to a second book; ideally, they should have completed much of their field research before arriving in Singapore.  It is also expected that they will deliver one or more lectures/seminars and participate actively in the Institute’s internal work-in-progress and discussions as well as participating in educational outreach activities to the Singapore community including the government, the universities and secondary schools, the business community, and the local and international news media.The Research Fellowship comes 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). 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.