Proposed Research Scope
Over the past decade, the global economic landscape has seen significant changes which had major implications for emerging and developing economies. Trade tensions between the United States and its major partners, successive rounds of technology restrictions, and the growing use of financial sanctions as a foreign policy tool have all disrupted how developing countries participate in global markets.
The purpose of the postdoctoral fellowship is to encourage original research on how U.S. economic and financial policies shape outcomes in the Global South, with a particular focus on their consequences for the Southwest Asia and North Africa region. Possible areas of focus include:
- The impact of U.S. trade restrictions or technology exclusion policies on value chains in emerging and developing markets
- The effects of financial sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the reliance on the dollar system on cross-border capital movements, FDI, and growth potential in developing economies
- The implications of global financial dependence on U.S. institutions for economic sovereignty and domestic policy space
- Policy responses that would allow developing economies to adapt to geoeconomic fragmentation caused by U.S. policies and leverage new opportunities arising from it.
Projects may approach these questions using macroeconomic or microeconomic methods or bridge the two levels of analysis in an integrated framework.
Eligibility and Requirements
Eligible candidates should hold a PhD (or be close to completing their PhD at the time of application) in Economics or a closely related field. The fellowship is aimed at researchers with a background in macroeconomics, international trade, finance, or development economics. Applicants should not have held, nor currently hold, a professorial position at another institution.
The selected fellow is expected to pursue independent research while also collaborating and engaging with faculty members in the Department of Economics at the American University of Beirut. Depending on the research topic, one of the faculty members at the department will serve as a primary supervisor. The selected fellow will also teach two undergraduate courses during the academic year, as well as contribute to the department as well as the center’s research life through participating in seminars and other intellectual events. The appointment will begin on August 15, 2026, for an initial period of one year, and may be renewed following review in accordance with university policies.
Institutional Fit
The fellow will be affiliated with the Department of Economics and the Centre for American Studies and Research (CASAR) at the American University of Beirut. They will have access to a network of scholars working on related themes and whose research connects macroeconomics, development, political economy, and American Studies.
For CASAR, the fellowship will broaden its reach into economic questions that complement its work on historical, cultural, and political studies of U.S. engagement abroad. For the Department of Economics, the fellowship will bring in a new researcher whose work speaks to the regional and global dimensions of economic development and integration.
Application Instructions:
Interested applicants should submit:
• A cover letter outlining their research interests and how they align with the position.
• A curriculum vitae (CV).
• A research proposal (maximum 2 pages) detailing the candidate’s project
• A sample syllabus for a proposed course
• Contact information for three academic references.
Please submit all materials to Interfolio at this link: https://apply.interfolio.com/178844
Review of applications will begin on February 1, 2026.
Within the framework of Lebanese Law, the American University of Beirut is an equal opportunity employer.