Women in Science

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 Weizmann 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 global 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: 

  • Women Advancing Science at the Weizmann Institute of Science

  • Mentoring & Career Development

    Female scientist working in lab

    NETWORK FOR ISRAELI WOMEN POSTDOCS ABROAD
    The Weizmann 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.

  • Two female scientists working in lab

    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.

  • Mother holding child

    WISeMAMA – 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.

  • Women in Science - Meet Elena Meirzadeh

  • Did you know?

    The Weizmann Institute of Science is home to dozens of award-winning female investigators who between them have won a Nobel Prize, a Turing Award, an Israel Prize, two Wolf Prizes, five EMET Prizes, and eight Krill Prizes, to name a few.

  • Awards & Scholarships

    Women scientist working in labratory

    WOMEN'S POSTDOCTORAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD IN SCIENCE
    The new 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.

  • Mother holding child

    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 Awardin 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.  

  • Women in Science: Meet Dr. Inbar Savoray

  • Women scientist working with lab equipment

    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. 
     

  • Women scientist looking in microscope

    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, covering travel related to finding a posdoc position abroad. 

  • Graduate School

    Graduate smiling with family member at graduation

    The Institute’s Feinberg Graduate School is known worldwide for its intellectual rigor; 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.  

  • Women in Science: Meet Dr. Alexandra Tayar

  • Parent Resources

    Mother loving baby

    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. 

Still curious?

Take a deeper dive into how Weizmann is advancing women in science and gender equality.

 

Learn More