Frequently Asked Questions by Staff Scientists

Staff Scientists, both in research groups and in service units, who contribute scientifically to a research project should be included in the list of authors on any publication resulting from said research. This is both the policy of the Weizmann Institute and of most academic journals. If a Staff Scientist feels that his contribution has not been properly acknowledged is advised to contact their sectorial representative from the staff scientists council on how to best proceed with the matter.

Yes, there is an internal grant only for Staff Scientists in service units. This grant is aimed at providing staff scientists an oppotunity to carry out small, independent research projects that will improve research tools available in their unit. Applications are due in mid-April each year and are judged by a committee headed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. For details, see: Weizmann - Staff Scientists Internal Grant Program.

Staff Scientists may teach courses and labs in the Feinberg Graduate School. If you would like to teach, consult with the Chair of the Board of Studies of your faculty, who decides which courses are offered and who teaches them. Staff scientists receive additional salary for teaching; for details contact the FGS.

No. Sabbatical leave is not part of the staff scientist's terms of employment.

That being said, starting in 2022, the Research Grants & Projects Office started a new initiative whereby staff scientists can apply for a long-term (up to 3 months) travel grant to “to explore collaborations and acquire expertise in cutting edge technologies” (per the grant description). Application deadlines are Feb. 1, 2022, and Aug. 1, 2022 (two submissions). For details, see the RGP call here.

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Researchers who are listed as PI or co-PIs on a research grant is entitled to a supplement to their salary. Note that Staff Scientists, per Weizmann regulations, may only be listed as co-PIs on the grant, and that not all grants permit more than one PI.

• Research Supplement A (תוספת מחקר א) is an addition to one’s salary paid from a research grant that allows for such, up to 50% of the scientist’s salary.
• Research Supplement B (תוספת מחקר ב) is an addition paid by the Weizmann Institute to a PI or co-PI on a grant that does not allow for a Research Supplement A. The supplement may not exceed 25% of the scientist’s salary and the amount, which is based on the value of the grant, is divided amongst all the PIs and co-PIs listed on the grant; two or more such grants allows the scientist to an addition 5% supplement.
• The total supplement allowed (A+B) shall not exceed 55% of the salary.
• It should be noted that with regards to ISF grants, assistant staff scientists can only be listed as team members while the three higher ranks can only be co-PIs (i.e., not budgeted as a team member).

The supplements, as of October 1, 2017, are:

For full details, see the Scientists Union site (login required). The Research Grants Office (RGP) is available to answer any questions regarding grants.

The list of grants that that allow staff scientists to be  a co-PI (thanks to the RGP Office) is available here.

A Staff Scientist can only be employed by the Weizmann Institute on a temporary (i.e., non-tenured) basis for a period not exceeding seven years. During this time, he/she must be promoted to the Associate Staff Scientist rank in order to be considered for tenure.

• Staff Scientists in service units shall be granted tenure based on their work and achievements and also on the Weizmann Institute's need for the service unit in the long term.
• For Staff Scientists in research groups, in addition to the above, other factors considered include the retirement date of the group PI and the prospects of transfering the staff scientist to another group when the PI retires.

More details are available in Appendix 1 Section 5 in the Introductory Information subsection of the Staff Sceintist Track section on the Academic Affairs site (login required).

The Institute guarantees short term loans with very low interest from Bank Leumi to Institute employees. Contact Human Resources or the Rehovot branch of Bank Leumi for details.

Institute workers are entitled to funding of tuition of an academic degree for family members (spouse and children) at universities and colleges in Israel, provided that the degree is recognized by the Council for Higher Education.

The amount of funding is up to the value of the tuition fees. The amount of these fees is considered as income and is subject to income tax.

See Human Resources for details.