Scholars Incubator Program (2 Ed. 2026)

Youssef Hatem Mohamed Morsy

Youssef Hatem is a public policy researcher based in Egypt. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Cairo University, with a minor in Economics. His work examines economic policymaking through a political lens, with a focus on politicization and depoliticization in the Middle East.

He has worked with the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies and Lusail Economic Magazine, and currently serves as a researcher at Muwatin Media Network, producing research-based studies and reported stories grounded in rigorous analysis.

Youssef is a recipient of the Arab Council for the Social Sciences’ New Generation of Social Scientists in the Arab Region Fellowship (two years). He is currently a participant in the Policy Agenda Program at the Siyasat Institute and has completed the Public Policy and Active Citizenship Training Program with the Arab Reform Initiative, where his program paper ranked among the top nine submissions and was published. He has also participated in a six-month Anthropology Lab focused on core anthropology and participatory methods, linking research with artistic and curatorial practice through collaborative workshops and writing. His work has been published across multiple research and journalism platforms.

Tamara Majid Altibi

Tamara Al-Tibi is a Palestinian researcher and peacebuilding specialist, and a postgraduate student in International Law and Diplomacy, with an academic focus on public international law, human rights, and peacebuilding in conflict-affected contexts. She is a researcher at the MENA Coalition for Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS), where her work bridges international legal frameworks with youth-centered and rights-based policy approaches.

Her research interests include international humanitarian and human rights law, Women, Peace and Security (WPS), Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), and the role of legal and diplomatic mechanisms in advancing inclusive and sustainable peace.

Tamara is a participant in the EU Visitors Programme and completed specialized studies in Public International Law at The Hague Academy of International Law. She is the recipient of the Geneva International Human Rights Award, becoming the first Palestinian and Arab woman to receive this distinction. She has also contributed to the review and enhancement of over 120 draft laws in Palestine, promoting non-discrimination and the integration of women’s and youth rights in line with international standards.

Sarra Messaoudi

Sarra Messaoudi is a peacebuilding and impact networks professional currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Sarra’s research interests center on networked approaches to peacebuilding, exploring how to effectively organize, lead, and coordinate networks for peace. She is particularly interested in imagining peace alternatives in the MENA region that center locally-grounded perspectives and experiences.
Prior to her studies at Kroc, Sarra worked extensively on the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, serving as Regional Lead for the MENA Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security and as the MENA regional representative to the International Steering Group at the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY).

Marah Herzallah

Marah Herzallah is a researcher of Palestinian history and culture whose work engages with representation, archives, and visual narratives. Her research focuses on counter-archives and decolonial approaches to knowledge production on Palestine. She holds an MSc in Media, Communication, and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA in English Literature and International Relations from Birzeit University. Her work addresses Palestinian historical agency, early twentieth-century archival representations, and the plunder of Palestinian libraries during the Nakba.

Aya Alkhatib

Aya Alkhatib from Jerusalem. My background is Business Administration and English Literature, and I hold a master’s degree in American Studies. I’m passionate about learning and writing about social justice and politics of education. I represented the Palestinian youth internationally and now  I’m a member of the MENA Youth CAN Network and the Researchist organization. Through these roles, I aspire to create a meaningful social impact.

 

Anas Hussein

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Al-Azhar University–Gaza, where I graduated in 2022. My academic interests lie at the intersection of human resource management and emerging technologies, with a particular focus on ethical and inclusive HR practices.

My research explores the role of artificial intelligence in recruitment, with a focus on questions of fairness, accountability, and transparency in algorithmic hiring processes. My current work, “Who Gets Hired by the Algorithm? A Narrative Review of AI Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency in Hiring,” examines how AI-driven systems influence hiring decisions and their implications for equity and organizational decision-making.

More broadly, I am interested in research that addresses HR practices within organizations and explores how human resource management can contribute to competitive advantage by strengthening workplace policies, improving employee experience, and fostering inclusive, ethical organizational cultures.
I am a recipient of the MEPI Tomorrow’s Leaders Graduate Scholarship, a highly competitive regional program awarded to exceptional students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and a strong commitment to community engagement.

Fatima Eisa

I hold a BA in Economics and Political Science from the University of Khartoum.  I have demonstrated experience in promoting human rights, assisting civil society, and developing entrepreneurial ecosystems. My work focuses primarily on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a special emphasis on Sudan.