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Zuckerman STEM Scholar

01The program

02Eligibility

03Funding

04Guidelines

05Application

Israeli Postdoc
Scholars

NOW CLOSED

Call for Nominations
2025/26 Cohort

The Zuckerman Israeli Postdoctoral Scholars Program provides additional support for up to two years to Israeli PhD graduates who have been accepted to a postdoctoral program with a stipend at an American university. Candidates are encouraged to apply to a university that offers more specialized training than they would find in Israel.

Upon completion of the program, scholars are expected to return to the Israeli campuses from which they earned their doctorates and gain a faculty position at Israeli Universities.

Scholars are expected to speak to faculty and PhD students about the program, share insights about their research, and talk about collaborating with scientists in the United States.

Candidates for Zuckerman STEM Leadership Programs are assessed based on their academic and research achievements, as well as on personal merit and leadership qualities, without regard to race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or age.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, five Israeli postdoctoral scholarships will be awarded to eight participating universities: Ariel University, Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, University of Haifa, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Tel Aviv University, and Weizmann Institute of Science.

Two of the five scholarships will be awarded to women.

All five candidates will be selected at these universities based on academic merit only.

Applications deadline
Zuckerman STEM Scholar

Candidates must hold a PhD from one of the eight participating universities: Ariel University, Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, University of Haifa, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Tel Aviv University, and Weizmann Institute of Science.

If still studying for a PhD, they must submit their doctoral thesis before October 1, 2025.

Candidates who commenced their postdoctoral position before October 2024 are not eligible to apply.

Candidates must be accepted to a postdoctoral program at an American university or research institute that includes a stipend to work and study. They must obtain consent from a potential hosting supervisor at that university or research institute.

Zuckerman STEM Scholar
  • Zuckerman Israeli postdoctoral scholarships are awarded for up to two years.
  • Zuckerman Israeli postdoctoral scholars receive a stipend of $20,000 per academic year, plus a $5,000 travel allowance to return to Israel once per academic year during their postdoctoral appointment.
  • The starting date of the Scholarship in 2025-2026 academic year is October 2025 and no later than March 2026 for up to maximum 24 months from the date of start.
Zuckerman STEM Scholar

Applications for candidature must including the following:

Supporting Documents:

  • Curriculum vitae, including a paragraph on demonstrated leadership qualities.
  • List of at least three publications, noting the impact factor of the journals in which the papers were published.
  • Written confirmation that the candidate is entitled to a PhD degree and the date it was awarded, or administrative confirmation that the candidate’s doctoral thesis was sent to referees.
  • Research proposal (maximum 3 pages).
  • Letter of acceptance to a postdoctoral program at an American university that includes a stipend for work and study.
  • Letter of consent from a potential hosting supervisor from the American university.
  • Three letters of recommendation, including a letter from the candidate’s PhD supervisor. If possible, one letter should come from a university other than the institution which granted the candidate’s PhD.
  • Personal statement detailing the candidate’s future career plans.
  • A simplified 200-word description of intended research

Annual Notification of Renewal

Zuckerman Israeli Postdoctoral Scholarships are for up to two years. By June 1st of the first year in the program, scholars must notify their hosting Israeli universities whether they wish to continue in the program for a second year.

Attendance at Program events and activities

These events include, but are not limited to:

  • Returning to the home campuses from which they earned their doctorates and visiting other universities to speak to faculty and PhD students about the program, share insights about their research, and talk aboutcollaborating with scientists in the United States. Scholars should share insights about their research and about the experience of collaborating with scientists in the United States.
  • Attending academic and social programs hosted by the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program in the US.

Publications and Recognition

  • Zuckerman Israeli postdoctoral scholars must identify themselves as scholars of the Zuckerman Israeli Postdoctoral Scholars Program in all academic and scientific papers, articles, publications, presentations (including web pages) of any material based on or advanced under the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program, in the following terms: “This work was supported in part by the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program.”
  • Where appropriate, for purposes of branding, clarity and differentiation, the scholar shall name himself or herself as a “Zuckerman Israeli Postdoctoral Scholar.”
  • On social media platforms, scholars should acknowledge their affiliation with the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program when sharing or discussing research funded or advanced by the program. A suggested post phrasing could be: “Proud to share my latest research, supported in part by the #ZuckermanSTEMLeadershipProgram.”
Zuckerman STEM Scholar

Quota and deadlines

  • Five Israeli postdoctoral scholarships will be awarded for the 2025-2026 academic year. Two of the five will be reserved for women. Applications for Ariel University, Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, University of Haifa, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Tel Aviv University, and Weizmann Institute of Science will be accepted through February 16, 2025. Application is closed.
  • Note institutional deadline may be earlier. Please consult with the relevant coordinator.
  • Applications to the Zuckerman Israeli Postdoctoral Scholarship Program should be sent via email in one pdf file to one or more of the following participating Israeli universities:
University
Representative
Ariel University

Moran Yehezkel International Research Coordinator

Apply
Bar-Ilan University

Iris Goldwirth
Executive English Coordinator, Office of the Academic Secretariat and Office of the Rector

Apply
Ben Gurion University

Carmit Lesly-Gropper
Scholarship and Postdoc Coordinator

Apply
University of Haifa

Mor Arazi
Postdoctoral Scholarships Coordinator

Apply
Hebrew University

Limor Sichuk
Senior Coordinator for New Academic Staff

Apply
Technion

Dor Sender
Academic Staff Office and Vice President for Academic Affairs Coordinator

Apply
Tel Aviv University

Shlomit Appel Academic Secretariat Foundations and Scholarships Department

Apply
Weizmann Institute

Sara Cohen
Awards, Scholarships and Special Programs Coordinator

Apply
Rana_Shahout
Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program

129 West 29th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10001, USA
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