MENA

Featured News

News

Israel targets Iran's nuclear sites in major attack

June 13, 2025

News

What Israel's escalation in Iran means for the region

June 13, 2025

News

The scholar-warrior: How Erik Lin-Greenberg bridges academia and Air Force intelligence

June 06, 2025

News

Our programs across MENA

In this time of evolving challenges in the MENA region, it is more crucial than ever for MIT’s researchers, faculty, and students to understand and engage with the region. Through innovative programming, fellowships, and seed funding, CIS fosters collaboration and research on pressing issues such as climate, water security, conflict, immigration, and health.

MIT faculty bring decades of experience in leveraging science, technology and the humanities to promote concrete work on key regional issues and offer invaluable insights into the complexities of the MENA region. To support this vital work, CIS has awarded close to a hundred Global Seed Fund grants to faculty and facilitated over 1,000 transformative global experiences for MIT students.

MIT-Arab World

MIT-Israel

Our Experts

Staff

David Dolev

Lead, MENA

Senior Associate Director, MISTI

Managing Director, MIT-Israel Program, MIT-MEET Program, MIT-Arab World Program

Staff

Maye Elqasem

Program Coordinator, MIT-Arab World Program

Faculty and Researchers

Richard Nielsen

Faculty Director, MIT-Arab World Program

Associate Professor of Political Science

Faculty and Researchers

Eran Ben-Joseph

Faculty Director, MIT-Israel Program

Professor, Department of Urban Studies and Planning

Faculty and Researchers

Philip Khoury

Vice Provost

Ford International Professor of History

Faculty and Researchers

Christine Ortiz

Faculty Advisor, MIT-Israel Program

Morris Cohen Professor in Materials Science and Engineering

Faculty and Researchers

Daniel Jackson

Associated Faculty

Professor, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

Faculty and Researchers

Roger Petersen

Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science, Emeritus

Faculty and Researchers

Jim Walsh

Senior Research Associate, Security Studies Program

Faculty and Researchers

Peter Krause

Affiliate, SSP

Associate Professor of Political Science, Boston College

Launch a new research collaboration

The next round of the MIT Global Seed Funds opens in September 2025.

Learn more

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Opportunities

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MISTI Global Experiences

MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) is MIT’s principal international education program. MISTI matches MIT students with tailored internship, research, and teaching opportunities abroad.

Explore MISTI programs

Global Seed Funds

The MIT Global Seed Funds grant program enables new collaborations between faculty and research scientists at MIT and their counterparts in the MENA region and around the world.

Browse seed funds

Student Spotlights

CIS makes it possible for MIT students to experience the world while advancing knowledge, tackling tough challenges, and preparing for lives of impact, service, and leadership in an interconnected global society.