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Kalaniyot Postdoctoral Fellowships at Harvard Medical School
The Harvard Medical School branch of the Harvard Kalaniyot Chapter (“HMS Kalaniyot”) is accepting postdoctoral fellowship applications from candidates who wish to perform research in Harvard Medical School laboratories. Selected fellows will be welcomed into a vibrant community and will be awarded a fellowship of 2-3 years with the possibility of extension.
HMS Kalaniyot supports scientists from Israel to conduct postdoctoral training in basic biomedical research at HMS. The program is open to applicants interested in research in all areas of fundamental biomedical research in laboratories on the Harvard Medical School (HMS) “Quadrangle” and in applicable HMS-affiliated hospitals. Kalaniyot fellowships are generously supported by the Dorot Foundation and the Blavatnik Family Foundation.
Eligibility:
HMS Kalaniyot welcomes fellowship applications from individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Resident of Israel.
- Plan to conduct research at an HMS “Quadrangle” (Departments of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Biomedical Informatics, Cell Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Neurobiology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, or Systems Biology) or affiliated hospital (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Joslin Diabetes Center, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute) laboratory. Please see Appendix B for the list of HMS-affiliated institutions and the HMS Kalaniyot Board of Academic Advisors, in case this is helpful for guidance in locating a mentor.
- Apply together with a mentor who is an assistant professor, associate professor, or professor who holds a primary or secondary appointment at HMS.
- Preference will be given to applicants within a year of completing their PhD at an Israeli university, or graduated with a PhD less than one year ago from an Israeli university as of the application deadline.
- Applicants can be current or prospective postdoctoral fellows at HMS. In the case of current fellows at HMS, preference will be given to applicants within one year of graduation from a PhD program at an Israeli institution.
- Fellows are expected but not required to return to Israel to continue their scientific careers.
Each HMS faculty mentor can support one application and each applicant can submit only one application. If desired, the applicant has the option to submit one application with multiple co-mentors. If multiple co-mentors are listed, one mentor must be listed as the lead mentor to accept and manage fellowship funds.
The anticipated start date of the fellowship is January 5, 2026. Alternative start dates may be acceptable upon request and should be justified in the application.
Award Amount
The Fellows who are accepted into the program will be awarded up to $130,435 total costs per year for the duration of the fellowship. Fellowships will normally be two or three years in duration but may in individual cases be extended by one year with program approval. For the purposes of the research plan, the applicant should assume a three-year fellowship. The fellowship amount can be applied to allowable costs, as outlined below.
Allowable and Unallowable Costs
Allowable costs include: fellow compensation, fellow fringe benefits, fellow and family relocation travel, childcare for fellow’s children, fellow’s professional development such as publication costs or conference attendance, up to 15% indirect costs are allowed only for hospital-based fellowships
Unallowable costs include: Mentor PI effort, lab supplies, research costs, clinical research, equipment, any other cost not explicitly referenced as allowable
IRB and IACUC Requirements
The Fellow, department, and research institution are responsible for meeting all compliance requirements associated with the award, including any IRB or animal research approvals.
Review Process and Criteria
Completed applications submitted by the specified deadline will be reviewed for merit and feasibility. Proposals will be assessed on a competitive basis in a fair and impartial manner based on the criteria set forth below. Funding decisions will be made by a selection committee of faculty experts based on the following criteria:
- Academic strength of candidate
- Strength of mentor – commitment to the candidate and ability to execute the proposed project will be considered. Applications with early career mentors are encouraged.
- Strength of project – focusing on criteria of scope, creativity, and impact.
Application Instructions
Applications will be submitted through the Harvard Medical School Office for Research Initiatives and Global Programs.
Proposal Submission Deadline: September 1, 2025
Submission: Proposals must be received by September 1, 2025 at 11:59pm ET as a single PDF file. Applications
should be submitted via the Harvard Medical School online system at https://forms.hms.harvard.edu/f/kalaniyot
The single PDF should include the following sections in order:
Applicant Name, Mentor Name and Mentor Institution/Department
- Statement confirming that applicant is a resident of Israel
- Applicant’s curriculum vitae and publication list
- Mentor’s NIH biosketch
- Statement describing applicant’s PhD work (1 page)
- Brief abstract summarizing the proposed aims and research program (1 page)
- Detailed proposed three-year research program at HMS (3 pages)
- Three-year budget
- If the mentor is based on the HMS Quadrangle, the postdoctoral compensation amount can be found on https://postdoc.hms.harvard.edu/guidelines. Benefits are currently calculated at 22.2% of compensation.
- If the mentor is based at a hospital, the hospital’s postdoctoral compensation and benefits rates will apply.
- Estimates of anticipated allowable costs can also be included.
- The maximum total budget is $130,435 per year.
- If applicant has not yet graduated, include a short statement from the applicant’s PhD advisor certifying the expected graduation timeline (month and year).
- A signed mentor letter confirming that they have read the research statement and, contingent on acceptance, they:
- Are willing to serve as your HMS mentor
- Will be responsible for providing you with adequate lab space and funds for the research program
- Will be responsible for integrating you with their research group
- Will be responsible for submitting your visiting appointment and visa request through the appropriate departmental channels at HMS or affiliated hospital
- One page statement: How will this fellowship contribute to your academic and personal growth?
- Three reference letters, including one from the PhD thesis supervisor
- Brief letter of support from the department administrator if the mentor is on the HMS Quadrangle or a
- Statement of Intent signed by an authorized official if the mentor is based at a Harvard-affiliated hospital
A selection committee composed of HMS faculty will review the applications and make the final selection. Finalists may be asked for a Zoom interview with the selection committee. Notifications of the review process outcome will be sent to the applicants by email from kalaniyot@hms.harvard.edu.
Questions?
Please view our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page in Appendix A to learn more about the program. Additional questions regarding the program, the application process, identifying a mentor, or other topics not addressed in the FAQs should be directed to the Kalaniyot Chapter team at kalaniyot@hms.harvard.edu.
Downloadable PDF of the RFP
Appendix A: Frequently Asked Questions
The HMS branch is a faculty-led initiative that is funded by generous philanthropic donations and administered through HMS.
Yes. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you are welcome and encouraged to apply. HMS Kalaniyot does not consider religion or ethnicity in its selection process.
Applicants are asked to submit a brief statement confirming that the applicant is a resident of Israel. No further documentation is necessary.
Unfortunately, no. While we understand that some amount of travel might be required during your fellowship period, we require that all fellows’ appointments be stationed at HMS, where they can interact with the campus community.
No, including a list of references will not be counted against the page limit of the research proposal.
Yes. Please include your figures within the 3-page limit.
No, you may use any format desired.
No. Once submitted, the applications are sent to the selection committee and cannot be updated.
Your proposed mentor will be able to provide this information.
Fellows will be eligible for health insurance through their host institutions. All administrative arrangements will be done with the host institution, as that institution is the fellow’s employer.
When awarded the fellowship, your HMS host is expected to help and guide you through the visa application process. The institutional international offices are highly experienced. However, we cannot guarantee that a suitable work visa will be secured.
Obtaining a legal status that allows employment at HMS or affiliated hospital is required. If for any reason you are unable to secure a visa and/or proper legal status for employment purposes, your fellowship offer will be deferred for up to two years from the January 5, 2026 start date.
No. Only HMS Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors are eligible to serve as a faculty mentor or host.
A single faculty member can support only one candidate during the application process. If multiple candidates reach out to the faculty member, this faculty member will have to choose one candidate to sponsor.
Applicants must be from Israel. Preference will be given to applicants who are enrolled or have recently received their PhD from an Israeli university. HMS Kalaniyot does not consider the applicant’s religion or ethnicity in its selection process.
Yes, as long as the other fellowship is not simultaneous, or is a supplementary award.
We understand that the process by which a PhD thesis is reviewed and approved can differ between institutions. We therefore accept either the formal PhD thesis approval date, or the date on which the thesis was submitted and the University certifies the student met all of their requirements under the PhD program, whichever works for the candidate’s benefit.
Yes. Graduation within a year of the application deadline is a preference, not a requirement.