About Us
Founded in 1944, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute in Israel, and advances its mission of science for the future of humanity.
The Weizmann Institute is fully dedicated to supporting and advancing women in science. This means providing guidance and resources to help women reach their full potential at the Institute and in their scientific careers.
Through its `Gender Equality Plan, the Institute has committed itself to ensuring a gender balance within its community and providing equal opportunity for all women and men, across all sectors and positions, in both the scientific and administrative sectors on campus -- which ultimately strengthens Israeli science overall.
And while the Institute is making great strides toward gender equality, there's still a lot of work that needs to be done to close the gap.
Here are some of the wide-ranging programs, awards, and resources the Weizmann Institute currently offers women scientists:
Mentoring & Career Development
MENTORING SCIENTISTS TO STUDENTS
To support the career development of women in science, the Weizmann Institute established a mentorship program for women graduate students and postdocs to be matched with women scientists at the Institute. Mentees receive individual support related to career development.
WISeMOM – MENTORING FOR STUDENT MOTHERS
This project pairs mentors who are more experienced with balancing motherhood and student life with those who could use some support.
NETWORK FOR ISRAELI WOMEN POSTDOCS ABROAD
The Institute offers a network for Israeli women postdocs currently abroad giving them the opportunity to connect with colleagues, gain career support, and maintain ties with the Israeli scientific community.
Awards & Scholarships
WOMEN'S POSTDOCTORAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD IN SCIENCE
The Women’s Postdoctoral Career Development Award in Science supports Israeli women scientists during their postdoctoral training at leading institutions and laboratories abroad at a crucial stage in their career development. The award offers financial and professional development support to help women scientists return to Israel and pursue a career in academia.
ISRAEL NATIONAL POSTDOC AWARD FOR ADVANCING WOMEN IN SCIENCE
This award was established in 2007 to support Israeli women scientists during the first two years of their postdoctoral work at institutions abroad. It was the first of its kind in Israel, and served as the inspiration for other organizations to launch prizes to support Israeli women pursuing a career in science. The award was phased out in 2021 as the new Women’s Postdoctoral Career Development Award in Science was created. (See above.)
COMBINED WEIZMANN/ABROAD POSTDOC PROGRAM
This postdoctoral fellowship program is a unique program offered by the Institute’s Feinberg Graduate School for combined research with a leading laboratory abroad. The program is designed to provide international research experience to excelling women PhD graduates who are unable to relocate abroad for a postdoc position.
BRIDGE POSITION PROGRAM
The one-year Bridge Position Program is offered to qualified Israeli women scientists who need to return to Israel prematurely, prior to completing their postdoctoral training abroad. The aim of the program is to enable recipients to complete unfinished scientific work and prepare for a successful application to an academic position in Israel.
TRAVEL FUND
The Weizmann Institute of Science offers a travel fund to support women PhD students and postdocs at any institute of higher learning in Israel.
Graduate School
The Institute’s Feinberg Graduate School is known worldwide for its intellectual rigorousness; academic excellence; interdisciplinary, collaborative philosophy; and its international character. Since 1958, the school has been educating the best scientific minds in Israel. In fact, Feinberg produces one-quarter of all science and math PhDs in the country. Women comprise close to 44 percent of the student and post-doc population, and the Institute is increasing that number through actively seeking and recruiting talented young women scientists. All students at the Feinberg Graduate School are exempted from paying tuition fees.
Parent Resources
NURSING ROOMS
The Weizmann Institute of Science recently upgraded and added new private, comfortable nursing rooms throughout the campus for Institute employees and visitors.
CHILDCARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS
The Siem Childcare Center, the Anixter Family Foundation Early Childhood Village, and the Silva Anixter Family Aftercare Program offer a warm and welcoming educational framework for children of the Weizmann community. Cared for by highly trained professional staff, children enjoy a rich and diverse environment, with a strong focus on their cognitive, social, physical, and emotional developmental needs. These centers allow mothers to focus on their science research knowing that their kids are safe, well cared for, and just a short walk away.
WOMEN ADVANCING SCIENCE AT THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
WOMEN IN SCIENCE - MEET ELENA MEIRZADEH
©2025 American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
