Minerva Foundation

RGP / Research Grants and Projects Office
WEBSITE: Access the Minerva website.

SCIENTIFIC AREAS: In order to promote German-Israeli scientific cooperation, German and Israeli scientists are given the opportunity of working for an extended period of time in research establishments of the other country. Applications can be made from all fields of research. The following funding mechanisms are available:

• Fellowships: This program enables Israeli and German scientists to spend extended periods engaged in research in institutions in the host country (German or Israeli), from 6 to 36 months (for graduates) or from 6 to 24 months (for post docs).
Gentner Symposia: Are held annually in either Germany or Israel in all areas of research. The symposia aim to initiate new collaborative efforts in fields that are not yet in the focus of German-Israeli cooperations.The Gentner Symposia shall bring together Israeli scientists with colleagues from Germany and from other countries. They shall enable the scientific discourse, exchange of ideas, and new interactions in a given field of research. Not yet established but promising young scientists (PhD students, post docs) shall have the opportunity to get in contact with senior scientists during these symposia. Roughly 50% of the participants should belong to the group of not yet established scientists. The current call is for symposia to be held in 2014.
• Short-Term Research Grants: The primary goal of Minerva Short-Term Research Grants is to give young German and Israeli scientists the opportunity to visit research partners or to establish contacts with scientists in the respective guest country. The grants also allow the scientists to participate in seminars and workshops, particularly as guest speakers. This program is for stays of a minimum of 1 week and up to 8 weeks.
Minerva Schools: May be held in all areas of research with a focus on young Israeli and German scientists (i.e. especially post doctoral- and doctoral students). Minerva Schools aim at enabling first contacts, scientific discourse, exchange of ideas and also interaction with select senior scientists. In this sense the funding provided is seed money to establish new collaborative efforts. The venue may be in either Germany or Israel.
The current call for proposal is for Schools to be held in 2014.

RATES:

• Fellowships: Fellowship rates are available on the Minerva website .
Gentner Symposia: Are funded with up to €30,000. This budget is allocated for expenses for travel, boarding and lodging of Israeli and German participants. Senior scientists (lecturers) may also receive financial support, however no honoraria.
• Short-Term Research Grants: Short-Term Research Grant rates are available on the Minerva website.
Minerva Schools: Are funded with up to €25,500. All junior scientists (especially post doctoral- and doctoral students) are eligible for travel, accommodation and other financial support. Senior scientists (lecturers) may also receive financial support, however no honoraria.

SUBMISSION DATE(S):

• Fellowships: 15 June 2013.
Gentner Symposia: 13 July 2012.
• Short-Term Research Grants: 2 May 2013.
Minerva Schools: 1 February 2013.

MODE OF APPLICATION:

• Fellowships: Please send proposals in English only by e-mail (as separate PDF files) according to the guidelines, with a copy to the RGP.
Gentner Symposia: Please note that your proposal for a Gentner Symposium should not involve similar/identical topics or the same group of people as previous ones.
• Short-Term Research Grants: Applications should be submitted by email to Mr. Michael Nagel. In addition, Israeli applicants are requested to send a copy of their application to the Israeli Ministry of Science with a CC to RGP office.
Minerva Schools: Please send proposals in English only (by e-mail and normal post) according to the guidelines, with a copy to the RGP.

Applications require the following endorsements:

• From the Feinberg Graduate School: Confirmation that if and when the fellowship is approved, the candidate will be eligible to be a post-doc at the Weizmann Institute for the entire duration of the proposed fellowship.
• From the candidate's supervisor (a Weizmann Institute researcher of rank Senior Scientist or higher): Confirmation that the supervisor agrees to host the post-doc for the entire period of the fellowship.

Please note that according to Weizmann Institute procedures, fellowships are paid as stipends at a fixed rate. Consequently, if the amount provided by the funding source is lower than this rate, the difference will have to be supplemented (with an a priori written commitment to this effect to the RGP) by the host researcher at the Institute.

If the fellowship on offer is higher than the Weizmann Institute standard rate, the Institute will be able to receive a stipend only up to its standard rate. Alternatively, if allowable by the funding agency, the fellowship can be paid by the agency directly to the bank account of the recipient. In such a case, the host researcher should apply for post-doctoral status for the fellow at the Institute, either with or without the additional standard Weizmann Institute post-doctoral stipend (as allowable by the external funding source, and according to the resources available to the prospective Weizmann Institute host). For further information and/or clarifications, please contact the Feinberg Graduate School or the RGP.

Please note that foreigners are required to obtain the relevant visa (i.e. for a fixed-amount stipend: category A2; or for an employment contract: category B1 = work permit) prior to taking up an appointment at the Weizmann Institute:

• Non-Israeli fellows receiving a post-doctoral fixed-amount stipend at the Weizmann Institute standard rate are required to obtain a category A2 [student] visa, with the assistance of the Feinberg Graduate School.
• In the case of an external funding source which is willing to provide support only in the form of a salary with social benefits (as opposed to a stipend), the fellow must be engaged by the Institute as a Visiting Scientist on an individual contract. In order to obtain approval for Visiting Scientist status, the prospective host must contact the Visiting Scientists Section at the Housing Directorate and follow their guidelines in this regard. The Visiting Scientsts Section will also assist in the procedures required for obtaining a B1 work permit visa. Please note that the procedures will be different, depending on the location of origin of the prospective Visiting Scientist:
  1. Foreigners intending to come to the Weizmann Institute from abroad, without having previously completed studies in Israel: the Visiting Scientists Section at the Housing Directorate must be contacted to initiate the B1 work permit visa application procedure, long enough in advance for the prospective Visiting Scientist to receive the visa at an Israeli embassy/consulate (outside of Israel), prior to his/her arrival in Israel.
  2. Foreigners who are currently in Israel and hold a category A2 [student] visa: According to the laws of the State of Israel as regards foreign citizens (who do not possess Israeli citizenship), engagement by the Institute of such researchers will only be possible if they a priori leave Israel and then return to an appointment as a Visiting Scientist (conditional upon approval of the Ministry of the Interior, which must agree to issue a category B1 work permit visa for this purpose).
  It should be noted that the work permit approval process - a prerequisite to the approval of the status of Visiting Scientist - usually takes several months. Consequently, a Weizmann Institute researcher intending to host a Visiting Scientist who is not an Israeli citizen should begin the relevant procedures several months in advance of the desired start date. For further details regarding the issue of obtaining a work permit for a Visiting Scientist, contact the Visiting Scientists Section at the Housing Directorate.