Alaa Shatila is a researcher in development and sociology with over four years of experience specialising in gender equality, displacement, and social justice. She has strong expertise in qualitative research design, data collection, thematic analysis, and policy-focused writing, with a particular emphasis on gender and human rights.

Currently completing a PhD focused on gender and women's empowerment in settings of prolonged conflicts and refugeehood. She applies intersectional feminist and decolonial frameworks to centre marginalised voices. Her professional experience includes leading field research and analysis and coordinating participatory studies and policy-relevant research.

She is skilled in managing sensitive data, producing reports and policy briefs, and working with people from different backgrounds, considering cultural sensitivity. Fluent in Arabic and English, she is deeply committed to advancing the rights and wellbeing of displaced and vulnerable populations through ethical, inclusive, and evidence-based research processes. Her work's scope is focused on the Middle East in particular.