Announcing the 2024 UCL International Policy Fellows

UCL is proud to announce the 2024 cohort of UCL International Policy Fellows. The Fellowship aims to support connections between UCL researchers and global policymakers to help tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges. 2024 fellows will develop skills, knowledge and networks relevant to international policy engagement in the climate change and environmental governance space.

UCL participants will join a cross-disciplinary cohort made up of peers from nine other European universities, including the University of Zurich and 4EU+ Alliance members. Through a series of virtual sessions and a three-day study trip to Geneva, researchers will learn more about the international policy eco-system in Geneva, explore links between their research and global policy priorities, and develop individual strategies for policy engagement, learning from peers, policymakers and boundary-spanning organisations.

Co-organised by UCL Global Engagement, UCL European Institute and UCL Public Policy in collaboration with GSPI, the International Policy Fellowship is as an initiative to build capacity among UCL researchers to inform policy at international level. Learn more about the International Policy Programme here.

Dr Glory Atilola, Senior Research Fellow in Environmental Epidemiology at the UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, said: “The Policy Fellowship provides a significant opportunity to gain invaluable skills and insight into global policy engagement with multilateral organisations at the UN and to strengthen my research efforts with the right policy partnerships to mitigate air pollution, transport noise, and climate change impact on health.”

Meet the 2024 Fellows

Dr Glory Atilola is a Senior Research Fellow in Environmental Epidemiology at UCL Institute of Child Health. He has been involved in multiple projects investigating the link between environmental exposures and health and birth outcomes, including respiratory infections, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases and cardiometabolic biomarkers. His research interest lies at the interface of environmental health, epidemiology and public policy. 

Dr Irina Petrova is a Lecturer in the Politics of Eurasia at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies.  Her research focuses on international relations in Central Eurasia and the role of the EU and Russia in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia from the perspective of 'the local' and resilience as self-governance. She has taught a range of courses on the History and Politics of the European Union, Europe and Eurasia, International Relations and research methods.  

Dr Stijn Van Ewijk is a Lecturer in Environmental Engineering at the Department of Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering.  He is an expert on waste management and the circular economy. Stijn aims to drive sustainability by advancing the integration of material flow analysis and life cycle thinking in policymaking. He has worked internationally with policymakers to develop evidence and policies for reducing environmental impacts. 

Dr Stuti Rawat is a Lecturer in Governance, Business and Sustainability at the Bartlett School Environment, Energy & Resources. Her research is interdisciplinary and applied, shaped by her training in economics and public policy. She employs quantitative and mixed-methodologies to answer questions of interest that lie at the intersection of sustainability and governance, primarily in the domain of water, climate change, food, and agriculture.  

Programme Highlights for 2024

This year’s fellowship includes: 

• Engagement opportunities: Participants will be exposed to alternative engagement approaches and build competencies to collaborate with expanded policy communities, including UN policy leaders and intermediary organisations. 

• Virtual and In-Person sessions: The programme will combine virtual workshops with in-person sessions, enhancing opportunities for international collaboration. 

• Mentorship and Networking: Fellows will benefit from access to UCL’s support resources and global policy networks, fostering partnerships that translate academic research into practical policy impact. 

This fellowship is part of UCL’s continued commitment to bridging the gap between academia and policymaking, ensuring that cutting-edge research directly informs policy decisions on a global scale. 

More information on the 2024 UCL International Policy Fellowship here. 

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Contact:

For questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Abel Dorantes and Lucy Shackleton.