Skip to main content

CALL for Nominations: The Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program for Postdoctoral Fellowship 2020–21

September 30, 2019

The Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program supports future generations of leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math. The program provides scholarships for postdoctoral students from premier universities in the United States to do research at one of seven Israeli universities. In addition, the program provides support to Israeli PhD graduates who have been accepted to a postdoctoral program with a stipend at an American university.

Duration and Funding
  • Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholarships are for up to two years.
  • Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholars receive a scholarship of $52,000 per academic year for up to two years. Of this amount, $50,000 is provided by the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program ($5,600 for research and travel to professional conferences plus $44,400 for living expenses [$3,700 per month]). An additional $2,000 in research funds will be provided to all Zuckerman Scholars by their supervisors at their hosting universities.
  • If circumstances allow, Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholarships may be renewed on a competitive basis for an additional one or two years.
  • 5 postdoctoral scholarships to each participating university will be awarded for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Eligibility
  • 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 Ph.D. degree from a premier university, or if still studying for a Ph.D., must submit their Ph.D. thesis before October 1, 2020.
  • Candidates who begin their postdoctoral training at the host institution after October 1, 2019, or who will arrive to begin their training no later than October 1, 2020, may still apply for the upcoming deadline.
Required 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.
  • Short letter of intent declaring the candidate’s plans to return to the United States or Canada and compete for a university position there.
  • Research proposal (maximum 3 pages).
  • Letter of consent from a potential supervisor at the Israeli university the candidate is applying to.
  • Three letters of recommendation, including a letter from the candidate’s Ph.D. supervisor. If possible, one letter should be from a university other than the one where the candidate’s Ph.D. was granted.
  • Personal statement detailing the candidate’s future career plans.
  • Title page of the candidate’s passport

Deadline: Thursday, February 6, 2020

How to apply: 

PhD students and Postdoctoral fellows at WIS:

  • Access Zuckerman's online CALLs system
  • Use your username and password to access the system
  • Select a CALL (in this case: The Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program)
  • Upload the required documents in PDF format only.
  • Input the name(s) of your referee(s) whom you wish to submit a letter on your
  • Upon completing the session and clicking the SUBMIT CHANGES button the system will send you an email with unique links to each of the referees you have listed. You may send each one of them the link and they will be able to access the system and submit their letter.

External candidates who have already submitted their online application to the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at the Institute:

  • Please send an e-mail requesting a username and password to calls.fgs@weizmann.ac.il
  • Access Zuckerman's online CALLs system (it's a different link than the one above)
  • Use the username and password you received by email to access the system
  • Select a CALL (in this case: The Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program)
  • Upload the required documents in PDF Format only.
  • Input the name(s) of your referee(s) whom you wish to submit a letter on your behalf
  • Upon completing the session and clicking the SUBMIT CHANGES button the system will send you an email with unique links to each of the referees you have listed. You may send each one of them the link and they will be able to access the system and submit their letter.
Notes:
  • You may access the system as many times as you wish, view the existing files and upload additional ones until the deadline mentioned below. Thereafter the particular CALL will be blocked.
  • You will be notified when one of your referees has submitted a recommendation letter on your behalf
  • Each time you click the SUBMIT CHANGES button the system will send you a reminder with a list of the missing documents and letters.
  • Another reminder will be sent to you three days before the deadline.
  • Please notify the FGS in case you encounter a problem during submission
  • Incomplete files will NOT be reviewed
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
  • a Zuckerman Institute scientific seminar with media coverage that will be open to the public, where selected postdoctoral scholars from the participating universities in the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program will present their research
  • In addition, scholars will be invited to social activities and sightseeing trips. They will be exposed to Israeli culture, meet with various sectors and ethnic groups, and visit science parks and high-tech incubators in Israel.
Publications

Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholars must identify themselves as members of the Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholars Program in all academic and scientific papers, articles, publications, presentations, etc.

Categories: Fellowships