Building on the success of its inaugural edition, Qatar National Library (QNL) unveiled the second round of its research fellowship program, inviting scholars based in Qatar to explore the nation’s rich history through the Library’s exceptional heritage collections.
The six-month residential fellowship, beginning in September 2025, provides selected fellows with a monthly stipend, full access to QNL’s resources and dedicated support to conduct original research.
Open to Qatari citizens and expatriate residents living in Doha, the program welcomes proposals across a wide range of topics—from social and economic developments to architectural traditions and natural resource management—from the 18th century through to the 1980s. Applications are open until 17 June 2025, and the selected fellows will be announced by 15 July.
“The QNL Fellowship is more than a research opportunity — it’s an invitation to rediscover Qatar’s past and offer new perspectives on our collective memory,” said Abeer Al Kuwari, Director of National Collection and Special Initiatives at Qatar National Library. “We’re proud to support researchers in uncovering stories that shape our national identity and ensuring these narratives endure for future generations.”
Fellows are expected to dedicate 20 – 25 hours per week to their research, submit a final paper and participate in presentations and discussions throughout the fellowship period.
The inaugural fellowship, launched in October 2024, underscored the program’s potential to foster meaningful scholarship and original research. The first round awarded three fellows whose diverse academic and specialized backgrounds brought fresh perspectives to the study of Qatar’s history, culture and environment. Their projects drew extensively on QNL’s collections and digital resources, with each fellow crediting the Library’s support and mentorship as instrumental to their work and discoveries.
"Qatar National Library provided me with access to a wide range of resources related to Qatari architecture, with the architectural photo archive from the Heritage Library being one of the most prominent and valuable,” said Ghalia Al-Muhanadi, a fellow of the Qatar National Library Fellowship Program. “My research focused on the sensory and spatial experience of traditional Qatari architecture, including intangible elements such as light, shadow and texture, which influence how people interact with space.”
“I hope this research contributes to a deeper understanding of traditional architecture from a new perspective and serves as an inspiration for expressing our identity in a contemporary way."
The fellowship program reflects QNL’s ongoing mission to promote historical scholarship and preserve the nation's cultural legacy.
For more information and to apply for the program, click here.
