The Emerging Scholars Program is a two-year, full-time fellowship for rising public intellectuals pursuing innovative, ideas-driven projects that advance classical liberal principles.
Applications for the next cohort will open in Spring 2026.
The Emerging Scholars Program is designed to cultivate a new generation of classical‑liberal public intellectuals. Through a full‑time, two-year fellowship based at our office in Arlington, Virginia, the program provides each scholar with immersion in Mercatus’s intellectual community, a network of mentors, tailored training in communications and policy analysis, and weekly collaborative activities. Scholars will each complete a research project, regularly publish influential scholarship, master public‑facing communication skills, and strengthen the public justification of classical‑liberal ideas.
Patterson Beaman is an economist whose work brings together economic history, macroeconomic finance, and innovative policy design. He is completing a master’s degree at George Mason University, has worked as a research assistant for Professor Thomas Stratmann, and brings experience in public communications and economic visualization.
Elsie Jang is an AI policy researcher exploring how emerging technologies are reshaping society and how classical-liberal ideas can guide the transition. She combines a Great Books education with programming skills, has studied at St. John’s College and the University of Cambridge, and has held fellowships at Convergence Analysis and Pivotal Research.
John Maier is an Oxford-trained philosopher working on a book developing an original case for the strong and simple political norms favored by classical liberals. He’s also a journalist who has written editorials for The Times and political and cultural commentary for U.K. outlets including the New Statesman, The Spectator, and The Critic.
Henry Oliver is a writer and literary critic working on a new book about how classic literature cultivates the liberal values of human flourishing. He is the author of Second Act (2024) and writes the literary Substack The Common Reader, which has been quoted in The Atlantic and featured in outlets such as The New York Times, GQ, and The Free Press.
Revana Sharfuddin is a labor economist at the Mercatus Center, where her research examines the evolving nature of work and the ways labor markets can adapt to foster growth and mobility for workers with diverse backgrounds and needs. Her writing has been published in The Hill, Reason, and the Dhaka Tribune, and she writes for the Substack Labor Market Matters.
Oliver Traldi (visiting fellow) is a philosopher at the University of Toledo's Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership. He earned his PhD from the University of Notre Dame, has held posts at Princeton University and the University of Tulsa Honors College, authored Political Beliefs: A Philosophical Introduction (2024), and has been published in The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.
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We define "scholar" broadly. Participants may come from academia, policy, journalism, business, or other fields. What matters is commitment to substantive intellectual work and classical liberal ideas.
"Emerging" can apply to individuals at various career stages—whether finishing a degree, shifting focus mid-career, returning to public life, or delaying retirement to pursue meaningful intellectual work.
Beyond conducting core research, scholars will engage fully in our interdisciplinary academic community. Scholars are expected to take initiative by organizing reading groups, hosting events, and building networks.
Fellowships are full-time, salaried positions with benefits. Each scholar also receives individualized mentorship and training tailored to their specific goals and areas of expertise. We provide support for producing content across various media platforms and connecting with relevant audiences.