Academic Bridge Fellowship

US-Israel Academic Bridge Fellowship

The Academic Bridge Fellowship will bring young people from Israel to the United States for a fully-funded summer program involving research and academic and cultural exchange. The inaugural program will take place from June 18 to July 23, 2024, at the University of Pennsylvania, a leading academic institution with programs in wide-ranging fields, including science, engineering, medicine, law, business, and the humanities, among other disciplines. The bridge fellowship is a scholarly summer internship, offering early exposure to the academic system in American universities and enhancing mutual understanding between fellows from Israel and members of our university community.

Fellows will work alongside students, faculty, and research staff in a wide range of academic research areas, including biology, medicine, psychology, business, law, and engineering, among other topics. Our program will provide fellows with an immersive experience studying and contributing to scholarly research. Fellows will be responsible for contributing to their group's research or scholarly activities. In doing so, they will gain exposure to the American academic system, thus offering them valuable training and experiences and building friendships. Cultural exchange is particularly important for promoting dialogue and mutual understanding, and such interactions greatly enrich learning communities.

Opportunity and Eligibility

The bridge fellowship concerns cultural exchange between fellows from Israel and members of our university communities. We invite applications from anyone who lives in Israel and/or attends an Israeli university and who is eligible to travel to the US. We expect candidates to meet English language proficiency requirements. Selection criteria include a strong commitment to spending 4-5 weeks engaged in full-time academic training/research and personal qualities that bode well for success in our program. We welcome applications from those affected by the massacre of Oct 7, those who have completed military or national service, and anyone affected by the ongoing war.

Key Dates and Application Process

The program will cover all costs, including a multi-day orientation in Israel, flights to and from the US, housing and meals. Fellows will also participate in community activities, including group trips and (optional) Shabbat meals. Bridge fellows will be mentored by UPenn Faculty (listed below) and participate in regular “Lunch & Learn” meetings where they will be exposed to the cutting-edge research environment at UPenn. A typical week during the program will include a trip on Sunday, Monday-Friday work with faculty mentors and research groups, Lunch & Learn seminars, and community outings.

May 1st – Application deadline (no costs for applicants)

June 18-20 – Orientation in Israel with UPenn faculty and Alumni

June 21 - Travel to the US (plus or minus one day, pending flight availability)

June 22 - July 22 - Academic program described above

July 23 - Return to Israel (plus or minus one day, pending flight availability)

Applicants must submit materials using the attached form. The application requires you to answer a list of questions and upload a video, so please be prepared to allocate 1-2 hours to complete the application.

Program Organizers

Michael Jacob Kahana, Ph.D., Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Term Professor of Psychology, School of Arts & Sciences

Maayan Levy, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine

Peter Decherney, Ph.D., Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Term Professor of Cinema, School of Arts & Sciences

Ron Berman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing, [1]

Ronny Drapkin, M.D. / Ph.D. Ronny Drapkin, Franklin Payne Associate Professor of Pathology, Perelman School of Medicine