About

For the upcoming academic year (2025-2026), IES will award prizes in the amount of $20,000 each to selected outstanding PhD graduates who will begin postdoctoral training abroad in research topics related to sustainability and environmental science.

A special Selection Committee will review the nominations and select the awardees. The call is open to the nomination of candidates who recently attained or will soon attain their PhD from the Weizmann School of Science (WSoS).

Goal: To encourage the international training of the next cadre of leaders in sustainability and environmental science research.

The call for applications for the Next Gen Postdoc Award will be published in June 2026. An email will be sent to all PhD students.

Threshold Requirements

  • FGS PhD student or PhD graduate (whose degree was approved after June 2024).
  • Proven excellence in studies and research in science preferably in sustainability and environmental science.
  • Starting postdoctoral training abroad in research topics related to sustainability and environmental science after Jan 1, 2025, or scheduled to start before April 1, 2026.
    Note: Special circumstances should be communicated to daphna.yahav@weizmann.ac.il for approval.
  • The Selection Committee will pay attention to exceptional circumstances surrounding the transition to postdoctoral training abroad, such as economic, personal or family circumstances.

Required Documents

  1. CV
  2. List of publications
  3. Short summary of the candidate's planned postdoctoral research direction (up to 300 words), mentioning 1-3 examples of potential labs (or chosen lab if already determined).
  4. Short summary of the candidate's PhD research achievements (up to 300 words).
  5. A concise description of exceptional circumstances of the applicant related to the postdoctoral training, if such exist.
  6. Two signed letters of recommendation (preferably one of them from the PhD thesis advisor).
  7. List of prior applications for post-doctoral support (fellowships, awards/prizes) and their result (awarded sum or declined) and any pending applications.

The prize will be awarded only after the postdoctoral training period has begun in a lab working on sustainability and environmental science (does not have to be one of the potential labs originally suggested).

How to apply

Note: Application can be completed by the candidate or the PI

  1. Click the link for the CALLS SYSTEM and use your username and password to access the system.
  2. Upload the relevant documents.
  3. List the names of the scientists that will be uploading letters of recommendations on your behalf.
  4. Click “Submit Application” in order to receive the links to your email, to be sent to your recommenders.

Note:

  • You may access the system as many times as you wish, view the existing files, and upload new or updated versions of them.
  • Please notify WSoS in case you encounter a problem in the process of submitting your application.
  • The committee will NOT review incomplete application files.
  • For any questions regarding the call, please contact Sara Cohen: sara.cohen@weizmann.ac.il