Categories & Admission Requirements

The Weizmann Institute has two categories of postdoctoral fellows:

Postdoctoral Fellows

The postdoctoral fellowship enables high-level academic training in any of the research fields at the Weizmann Institute of Science. To apply for research training in this category you should have a Ph.D. or M.D degree from an accredited institution of higher education, awarded not more than FOUR years before the desired date of commencement of postdoctoral training at the Weizmann Institute. Please note that if you hold both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees, the earlier degree date is the definitive one for eligibility for postdoctoral status. In addition, you will have secured the agreement of a head of a research group at the Weizmann Institute to accept you as a postdoctoral fellow in his or her group. Applications for regular postdoctoral fellowships are subject to approval by the Board of Studies of the relevant faculty and by the Chair of the Postdoctoral Training Program. Please note that the training period is limited to FIVE years at the most, and must end within EIGHT years of the date of your PhD or MD degree. Training in any postdoctoral fellowship category will be terminated if this eight-year limit is reached.

Senior Postdoctoral Fellows

The senior postdoctoral fellowship is an excellence-based career development program to prepare outstanding fellows for independent research leader positions. Senior postdoctoral fellows undergo training in research, and, in addition, will receive mentoring and assistance with career development. To apply for training in this category you should have a Ph.D. or M.D degree from an accredited institution of higher education, awarded not more than FIVE years before the desired date of commencement of postdoctoral training at the Weizmann Institute. Please note that if you hold both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees, the earlier degree date is the definitive one for eligibility for postdoctoral status. In addition, you will have secured the agreement of a head of a research group at the Weizmann Institute to accept you as a postdoctoral fellow in his or her group, and in addition you must have completed between at least two years of postdoctoral training at an accredited institution of higher education different from the one where you obtained your Ph.D. or M.D. degree. Regular postdoctoral fellows at the Weizmann Institute may apply to transfer to senior postdoctoral fellowship status after 2-3 years of regular postdoctoral training. There are two deadlines each year for applications for senior postdoctoral fellowships. The applications must include both a research plan and a career development plan, and are subject to approval by a special review committee headed by the Chair of the Postdoctoral Training Program. Please note that total training period is limited to FIVE years at the most and must end within EIGHT years of the date of your PhD or MD degree. Training in any postdoctoral fellowship category will be terminated if this EIGHT-year limit is reached.