Postdoctoral Eligibility

In order to qualify for appointment as a postdoctoral scholar at Hebrew University, you must:

• Provide proof of a doctoral degree from a recognized institution of higher education, received within the last 5 years. (A period of one year for each child born to the candidate during the relevant period will not be counted).
• If not yet in possession of a doctoral degree, provide proof of submission of a doctoral dissertation for evaluation. This will secure eligibility for a post-doctoral fellowship for a period of up to six months prior to approval of the doctoral dissertation. (Extension may be possible in special cases, following consideration by the Dean). 
• Secure a postdoctoral research supervisor from within the university. The supervisor must be a faculty member in the regular academic track, either in active employment or a pensioner.

Additional detailed regulations regarding postdoctoral research can be found here.

Securing a Postdoctoral Research Opportunity

The majority of our postdoctoral candidates are already in communication with a specific researcher when approaching Hebrew University, but if you find yourself interested in our institution and not yet connected with a faculty member in your field, the following are some guidelines for conducting your search: 

1. To begin with, you can search for existing postdoctoral research opportunities via our Research Opportunities Database.
2. If you don’t find a relevant opportunity via our database, your next step is to explore our comprehensive list of faculties and schools.
3. From there, you can narrow your search to a specific department or institute, and identify a faculty member whose field of expertise best aligns with your research and training goals.
4. When you’ve identified such a researcher, you are encouraged to reach out and inquire directly regarding your eligibility, postdoc openings, potential funding, and preferred timeline. 
5. Once a successful match has been made and you’ve been extended an unofficial offer, your supervisor will take care of registering you as a postdoctoral researcher through the Department of Student Administration. Your official appointment as an international postdoc will enable you to conduct research for a designated time period, and will not carry teaching duties.

Postdoctoral Fellowships at HUJI

Choosing a supervisor is one of the most important steps you’ll take toward ensuring a successful research experience. Your supervisor will play a vital role in your research, drawing from personal experience and expertise to provide you with ongoing mentorship, feedback, and support. You’ll want to be sure that your expectations are aligned from the start, so taking the time to determine and seek out the best fit is essential.

While many of our postdocs receive funding through the research budgets of their supervisors, most will seek out additional funding to support their research. Hebrew University collaborates with a range of external funding bodies that offer postdoctoral fellowships. You can learn more about these funding opportunities through Hebrew University’s Scholarship Portal, or through the Academic Secretary’s listing of postdoctoral fellowships.

Supervisors at Hebrew University are in high demand, and the process of securing one can be competitive in certain fields. As you begin your search, you’ll discover that some researchers will be at maximum capacity for supervision, others may find your proposed research topic less relevant for their field of expertise, and some may simply be too busy to respond in a timely manner. Since the process of seeking out a supervisor is not always an easy one, we’ve put together some helpful tips:

• Start early: Finding a match can be a time-consuming, lengthy process. Therefore, we recommend starting your search as early as possible.
• Be concise: Supervisors receive a high volume of email inquiries. Be clear in your initial approach and offer a succinct summary of your research interests. This will help you stand out.
• Be informed: Before reaching out to potential supervisors, familiarize yourself with their work and confirm that your research interests are mutual. Doing so will increase the likelihood of receiving a response.
• Be persistent: As we’ve mentioned, this a competitive process. Be prepared for rejection and, in some cases, a lack of response altogether. Don’t be discouraged, as patience and perseverance are key throughout this process.

6 Steps to Finding a Supervisor at Hebrew University

Determine your research topic: While you don’t need to have a final draft of your research proposal at the onset of this process, having a good sense of your research topic will help narrow down the search for a supervisor to those with relevant research interests and expertise.

Identify experts in your field: Hebrew University is comprised of 7 faculties and 14 schools. Exploring our comprehensive list is a good place to start. From there, you can narrow your search to a specific department or institute, and identify faculty members whose fields of expertise best align with your research goals.

Contact a potential supervisor: Once you’ve found a potential supervisor, reach out via email to convey your research pursuits, address how your interests align, and inquire as to whether they’d be interested in supervising you. This should be a formal email with a clear subject line. Introduce yourself, demonstrate genuine familiarity with their research and publications, and establish your interest in conducting research under their supervision. We recommend that you attach your CV to this correspondence.

Develop a tailored research proposal: Writing a research proposal can be time-consuming, and often requires a familiarity with the supervisor’s research portfolio before you begin. It’s best to draft your proposal after communication with a supervisor has been established and the potential for a match has been identified. Your proposal should be concise (up to 500 words), informative and persuasive.

Meet with a potential supervisor: Email correspondence may lead to a request for a Zoom or Skype meeting, should the supervisor be interested in learning more about you and discussing potential avenues for research. This is not only an opportunity for the supervisor to determine how compatible you are, but is also a chance for you to evaluate the supervisor, discuss the research, ask questions, and demonstrate your interest in working together.

Confirm the match and apply for PhD studies: Congratulations! Once you’ve secured a match, your next step is to formally apply and register for research/studies at Hebrew University. Different registration procedures apply to the varying research frameworks at the university, including PhD studies, postdoctoral research (registration completed by supervisor), visiting research fellows, and more.   

Tips for Applying for a Postdoctoral Fellowship

The application process for postdoctoral funding requires the development of a solid research proposal. Moreover, applying takes commitment and time, so be sure to allow yourself several months to develop a persuasive, engaging and feasible proposal. When considering fellowship options, note the eligibility guidelines, application deadlines, funding limits, award start/end dates, and the terms and conditions of the award. In addition, here are some tips:

• Familiarize yourself with the mission and priorities of the sponsoring fund, and confirm that your proposed research meets their stated goals. 
• The funding landscape is often competitive, and rejections and resubmissions are part of the process. Remember that, even in such cases, the experience will strengthen your grant-writing skills and your future proposals. 
• Confirm from the start whether a specific funding opportunity fits your timeline. Carefully review what steps are required as part of the process, keeping in mind that approvals, signatures and letters of support from within the university are often required as part of your application, and these things may take time. 
• Be certain to apply for such opportunities only after confirming a match with a research supervisor.

Support and Services

There are a number of offices within the university dedicated to offering ongoing support for our researchers and their families, in matters pertaining to visas, housing, health insurance, social activities, family services, professional development, and more. We recommend that you start here for useful information to help you navigate your research experience at Hebrew University.