About the
Azrieli Fellows
Program
The Azrieli Fellows Program invests in a network of outstanding researchers on their path to becoming the next generation of academic leaders. By generously funding young researchers at Israel’s leading academic institutions, the Azrieli Fellows Program promotes cutting-edge scientific and scholarly innovation for the betterment of society.
Azrieli Fellows are enriched by interdisciplinary and cross-cultural exchange, mentorship, leadership training, and community engagement through program-sponsored activities. The fellowship assists academics in reaching their potential for groundbreaking research and strengthening academic links between the Israeli research community and its international counterpart.
Through the collective efforts of Azrieli Fellows, we help preserve the outstanding accomplishments of the past, understand the world we live in, and provide tools to imagine the future.
Excellence
Azrieli Fellows are an elite group of top-tier academics focused on original, internationally recognized research that will have a positive impact on society.
Innovation
The key to innovation is in encouraging “out-of-the-box” thinking – creativity which opens the doors to discoveries, whether in architecture, science, humanities, social sciences or education. We believe in this “high-risk, high reward” model and so does each Azrieli Fellow.
Impact
Candidates applying to the Azrieli Fellowship are assessed on their past academic performance, and equally on their commitment to the betterment of not only their academic community but society at-large.
Leadership
By enabling multidisciplinary study and the cross-pollination of ideas, the Azrieli Fellows aim to break down academic silos and drive cutting-edge solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues.
“It’s not enough to be up to date; you have to be up to tomorrow.”
– David Ben-Gurion
I think the world’s greatest resource is its human capital.
The Azrieli Fellows Program identifies, catalyzes and ignites this capital by forming an elite group of academics which, through research and shared experiences in Israel, raises the country’s profile and maintains strong academic links between Israel and the rest of the world.
Academia is global by nature. By enabling multidisciplinary study and the cross-pollination of ideas, the Azrieli Foundation aims to break down academic silos, encourage creative thinking and drive out-of-the-box solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Azrieli Fellows are considered not only on their past academic performance, but on their potential to generate innovative contributions in their respective fields. They are driven by a desire to search for what has yet to be discovered and by a determination to seek progress and have an impact on society.
We are proud to be a part of their journeys.
Naomi Azrieli, OC, DPhil
Chair and CEO
The Azrieli Foundation
Aviad A. Stollman, Global Director
Aviad is the Global Director of the Azrieli Fellows Program. He holds a B.A. in the Humanities from the Open University of Israel, an MA (summa cum laude), and a PhD in Talmudic Philology, both from Bar-Ilan University. Aviad carried out postdoctoral research at the Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Texas in Austin. Before joining the Azrieli Foundation, Aviad served as the Head of Collections at the National Library of Israel, where he oversaw the strategic development of the library’s cultural assets. Aviad is married to Elisheva and is a proud father of five.
Rochelle Avitan, Program Director
Rochelle has managed the Azrieli Fellows Program since its establishment in 2007. She is responsible for conceptualizing and operating the program, working with university managements and leading academic figures, as well as Fellows and program staff. Rochelle comes from a background in philanthropy, business and international relations. She coordinated worldwide brand accounts for local and international advertising agencies and played central roles in a number of philanthropic organizations supporting the State of Israel. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Jewish History and Land of Israel Studies, and certification in teaching and tour guiding. Rochelle is married to Meir, is a mother of two and a proud grandmother of four.
Michal Hatuel-Radoshitzky, Fellowship Manager
Michal joined the management team of the Azrieli Fellows Program in 2021, after six years at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) where she was a Research Fellow. Simultaneously, Michal taught at the University of Haifa, Tel Aviv University and Sapir Academic College. Prior to that Michal held various positions in the NGO sector, specializing in foreign relations and resource development. Michal has a PhD in Political Science (Tel Aviv University), an M.A. in Political Science, majoring in Political Communications (Tel Aviv University) and a B.A. in Psychology and Communications (Tel Aviv University). She has also completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Haifa.
Tal Mordoch, Admissions Manager
Tal is responsible for the screening and admission of new candidates and acts as the liaison between universities and the Azrieli Foundation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in State-of-Israel Studies from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and a master’s degree in Security Studies from Tel Aviv University. Tal has a background in developing international programs at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University. Recently, Tal has been certified as a social organizations director by the Herzliya Municipality. Tal is married with two daughters. In his spare time, he is the professional coach and manager of the Tel Aviv Pioneers American Football Team.
Ceighley Cribb, International Postdoc Campaign Manager
Ceighley is the International Postdoc Campaign Manager of the Azrieli Fellows Program. She is responsible for the strategy and implementation of the program’s international outreach to universities, faculty members, and prospective top-tier postdocs. Prior to joining the Azrieli Foundation, Ceighley worked for Israel’s leading international public relations and communications firm, securing coverage for clients in news outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. She has also held various research, editorial, and communications roles in academia and research institutions. Ceighley received her MPhil in Modern Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Oxford and an M.A. in Women’s and Gender History from Sarah Lawrence College.
Dafna Sofrin-Frumer, Analyst and Project Manager
Dafna is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data in order to develop measures to improve processes and optimize results. She holds a B.A. in psychology (summa cum laude) from Bar-Ilan University and an M.A. in developmental and experimental psychology from Haifa University. Before joining the Azrieli Fellows Program staff, Dafna served as the clinical research coordinator for the Child Psychiatry Division of Sheba Medical Center. She also has a background in guiding and developing educational programs for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Jewish Agency for Israel. Dafna is married to Michael and is a mother of two.
Rotem Dar, Well-Being Officer
Rotem Dar is the first Well-Being Officer of the Azrieli Fellows Program. In this capacity, Rotem is primarily responsible for facilitating the Postdoctoral Fellows’ absorption process in Israel. This includes assisting Fellows in navigating bureaucracies and challenges associated with moving to, and living in, Israel. Rotem is the central point of contact for Fellows from all three tracks regarding hardships that do not necessarily relate to the academic realm but may impede research progress. Rotem has extensive field experience working with multiple communities across Israel, and she has developed intervention programs in various educational arenas using diverse methodologies. Rotem holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Social Work (summa cum laude), both from Tel Hai College.
Keren Zaharoni, Projects Coordinator
Keren Zaharoni is responsible for overseeing and monitoring Fellows’ community engagement and soft-skills workshops. She supports developing and implementing the program’s many activities, including Fellow Forums, networking events and social gatherings. Keren has a BA (summa cum laude) in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies from Tel Aviv University. Before joining the Azrieli Fellows Program, she was a content writer and data analyst in a consulting & research firm and an administrative assistant in a Hi-Tech company. Keren enjoys playing volleyball, going to the beach, watching movies and hanging out with her family and friends.
