The Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship supports Israeli scholars interested in pursuing multi-year postdoctoral placements at top universities in the United States. This prestigious three-year grant is awarded to select applicants. The Institute must approve all schools before fellows seek invitations.
Public Schools
This grant can be used in support of a fellowship at public schools ranked in the top 100 as listed in Top Public Schools by US News and World Report where the Institute does not have an existing placement. Grants at these schools cover an amount up to the average salary for a postdoc in the appropriate department, with additional funding potentially available to defray the cost of enrolling in a university health insurance program.
Private Schools
Lower grant amounts are also available for students with invitations from private schools listed in top 100 of U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of Best National Universities where the Institute does not have an existing placement. Grants to private schools may not cover the full salary and are unlikely to cover the costs of enrolling in a university health insurance plan, therefore the host schools and/or other sources of funding may be needed.
Average salaries and the cost of living vary widely across America. Postdoc salaries vary between about $45,000 and $70,000 a year with the average at about $60,000.
- Eligibility
- Program Requirements
- How to Apply
The Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship is open to Israeli scholars with strong English skills who are willing to commit to three-year placements at universities in the United States.
Applicants must have a fully conferred doctoral degree prior to July 31 of the year in which they begin their placement and have expertise in modern Israel as demonstrated by a dissertation or at least two peer-reviewed publications about modern Israel.
This program is for people seeking full-time, multi-year positions at American universities. This is a selective program; the Israel Institute does not guarantee grants to those who apply.
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellows teach at least four courses a year, at least three of which focus on modern Israel.
Courses may be taught in any discipline but, to be considered an Israel-focused course, at least sixty percent of the topics and readings must be about modern Israel. Courses must be worth at least three credits, offered at the undergraduate level, taught in person, and last an entire semester or quarter (at least 10 weeks). Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowships do not support graduate, online, summer, or intensive courses.
Each year, Fellows also speak about modern Israel at four events. These events may be public or academic but must occur outside the classroom.
Fellows are not employees of the Israel Institute and must coordinate hiring with a university. Postdocs should plan to cover their own expenses including, but not limited to, living expenses, taxes, health insurance, travel expenses, bench fees, etc. Israel Institute grants do not pay for university administrative costs, fees, overhead, or indirect costs.
Online Application
While working on an application, you may leave and come back. The application asks questions about you, your education, and your teaching experience. The application also requires:
- A high-resolution headshot (300 ppi);
- A short bio;
- An academic curriculum vitae (CV);
- Your dissertation abstract in English;
- A list of courses you have taught or could teach about Israel; and
- Two course outlines. You will be asked to select two courses from a list that we will provide and, for each course, provide a course description and ten specific topics you would cover if you were to teach the course.
