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Postdoc Program

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Call for Nominations
2025/26 Cohort

The Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholars Program attracts high-achieving postdoctoral scholars from premier universities in the United States and Canada to do research at one of eight Israeli universities. Once they complete their research, many Zuckerman postdocs are expected to accept faculty positions at top North American universities, weaving a network of academic collaboration and goodwill that will greatly benefit US-Israeli scientific cooperation.

The program enriches scholars with high-quality workshops and world-class speakers. Zuckerman Scholars enjoy programming and activities organized especially for them by the program and their host universities in Israel, including touring, educational experiences, and social programs. These activities are designed to strengthen the scholars’ knowledge of and connection to Israel, as well as to foster new relationships cultivating an esprit de corps and encouraging the exchange of ideas.

Candidates for the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program 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. Recipients may not accept other scholarships concurrently with the Zuckerman STEM scholarship.

Participating Israeli universities are 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. Candidates may apply to more than one of the above universities.

(2024-2025 Call for Nomination)

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12 postdoctoral scholarships will be given out for the 2025-2026 academic year in two tracks. Candidates may apply to more than one of the eight participating Israeli universities. Israeli citizens are not eligible for this program.

A two-year postdoctoral scholarship where scholars conduct research exclusively at one of eight participating Israeli universities.

  • Postdoctoral candidates must be citizens of the United States or Canada or have a documented status that allows them to remain permanently in the US.
  • Candidates must hold a PhD degree from a leading American or Canadian university, or if still studying for a PhD, must submit their PhD thesis before October 1, 2025. They should be planning to return to the United States or Canada to compete for an academic position.
  • Postdoctoral candidates must obtain consent from a potential hosting supervisor at the Israeli university/universities to which they are applying.

The starting date of the Scholarship in 2025-2026 academic year is October 2025. Candidates may start their scholarship as early as June 2025, and no later than March 2026 for up to maximum 24 months from the date of start.

A two-year joint postdoctoral scholarship where scholars spend part of their time at one of eight participating Israeli universities, and the other part at a US or Canadian university.

  • Joint postdoctoral candidates must be citizens of the United States or Canada or have a documented status that allows them to remain permanently in the US.
  • Candidates must hold a PhD degree from a leading American or Canadian university, or if still studying for a PhD, must submit their PhD thesis before October 1, 2025
  • Joint postdoctoral candidates must obtain consent from potential hosting supervisors at both the Israeli university and the American or Canadian university to which they are applying.

The starting date of the Scholarship in 2025-2026 academic year is October 2025. Candidates may start their scholarship as early as June 2025, and no later than March 2026 for up to maximum 24 months from the date of start.

Israeli University Postdoc Track

$63,000 scholarship / academic year (up to two years)
  • $60,000 is provided by the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program, of which:
    • $51,600 divided into monthly payments of $4,300 for living expenses.
    • $8,400 towards relocation reimbursement for the first year. Postdoctoral scholars are required to account for relocation funds used as per the requirements of each host Israeli Relocation will be reimbursed against receipts for the following expenses:
      • Round trip economy-class airfare (US /Canada– Israel) for the Zuckerman scholar (and spouse)
      • Hotel accommodations in Israel – up to 14 nights (maximum $250 per night)
      • Shipping of personal equipment towards relocation to Israel
      • The remainder may be used to purchase research equipment.

Any remaining relocation funds not used in the first year can be applied towards research in the second year.

    • $8,400 towards research and travel to professional conferences for the second year.
  • An additional $3,000 in research funds is directed to scholars through their supervisors at their Israeli universities.

Research and travel funds are subject to Israeli academic institution regulations.

Joint Israeli-North American Postdoc Track

$63,000 scholarship / academic year (up to two years) on the condition that the scholar be present and conducting research at the Israeli university for at least six months per year.
  • $60,000 is provided by the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program, of which:
    • $51,600 divided into monthly payments of $4,300 for living expenses.
    • $8,400 towards relocation reimbursement.
      • Round trip economy-class airfare (US – Israel) for the Zuckerman scholar (and spouse)
      • Hotel accommodations in Israel – up to 14 nights (maximum $250 per night)
      • Shipping of personal equipment towards relocation to Israel
      • The remainder may be used to purchase research equipment.

Reimbursement will be provided upon completion of at least one year of their two-year scholarship in Israel. Any remaining relocation funds not used in the first year can be applied towards research in the second year.

    • $8,400 towards research and travel to professional conferences for the second year.
  • An additional $3,000 in research funds will be allocated annually to scholars by their Israeli university supervisor.

Research and travel funds are subject to Israeli academic institution regulations.

US or Canadian university may provide other supplemental funding for living expenses.

Joint postdoctoral candidates must be citizens of the United States or Canada or have a documented status that allows them to study and work in the US.

Candidates must hold a PhD degree from a leading American or Canadian university, or if still studying for a PhD, must submit their PhD thesis before October 1, 2024.

Joint postdoctoral candidates must obtain consent from potential hosting supervisors at both the Israeli university and the American or Canadian university to which they are applying.

The Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholarship is paid by the host academic Israeli institution in Israeli Shekels (ILS).

Applications for candidature must including the following:

To apply for the Postdoc Program, candidates will be required to secure written consent from a potential supervisor at one or more of the Universities and to submit such consent with its application:

  • Curriculum vitae, including a paragraph on demonstrated leadership qualities.
  • List of at least three publications, noting in which journals the papers were published.
  • Research proposal (maximum 3 pages).
  • Recommendation letter from the hosting supervisor at the Israeli university/universities to which the candidate is applying.
  • Three letters of recommendation, including a letter from the candidate’s PhD supervisor. If possible, one letter should be from a university other than the one where the candidate’s PhD was granted.
  • Personal statement detailing the candidate’s future career plans, including a statement regarding the candidate’s plans to return to the United States or Canada to compete for an academic position.
  • A simplified 200-word description of intended research.
  • Copy of passport or a documented status that allows the scholar to remain permanently in the US.

Annual Notification of Renewal for both tracks

  • By June 1, 2025 of the first year in the program, scholars must notify their hosting universities whether or not they are continuing in the program for a second year.
  • To renew for a second year, scholars must obtain a letter of request from their supervisors. They should send this, along with their own request for renewal and a summary of their postdoc research, to the Coordinators at their Israeli university.

Attendance at Program events and activities

Zuckerman Scholars are required to participate in sponsored events and activities during the academic year. These events include but are not limited to:

  • A day-long academic event at each participating university campus.
  • Visits to various departments, research programs, and research facilities, including opportunities to meet students and faculty at other universities.
  • Social activities and sightseeing trips. Scholars will be exposed to Israeli culture, meet with various sectors and ethnic groups, and visit science parks and high-tech incubators in Israel.
  • A Zuckerman Institute Symposium featuring postdoctoral scholars presenting their research from participating universities in the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program. This program is open to the public and is covered in the media.

Publications and Recognition

  • Zuckerman postdoctoral scholars must identify themselves as members of the Zuckerman 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 should include the title “Zuckerman 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 deadline

12 postdoctoral scholarships will be awarded for the 2025-26 academic year.

Deadline

Applications will be accepted through February 15, 2025. Applications will be reviewed and ranked by the Selection Committee over the course of the month of March 2025. Finalists will be announced in March 2025.

Applications to the Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholarship Program must be sent by the hosting supervisor(s) via email in a single pdf file to one or more of the following participating Israeli universities:

University
Representative
Ariel University

Moran Yehezkel International Research Coordinator

Bar-Ilan University

Zvi Swisa Student Academic Advisor

Ben Gurion University

Carmit Lesly-Gropper
Scholarship and Postdoc Coordinator

University of Haifa

Mor Arazi
Postdoctoral Scholarships Coordinator

Hebrew University

Keren Sagi International Programs

Technion

Ayellet Katalan Visiting Scientists Coordinator Office for Academic Staff

Tel Aviv University

Shlomit Appel Academic Secretariat Foundations and Scholarships Department

Weizmann Institute

Sara Cohen
Awards, Scholarships and Special Programs Coordinator