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
When we established the Azrieli Fellows Program 14 years ago, we had goals that spoke to the mission of the Azrieli Foundation: empowering individuals, investing in higher education, building community, encouraging leadership, supporting Israel and creating a sense of family.
We recently completed our new Fellows selection process and were so impressed by the calibre of applicants that we granted more fellowships than originally planned, welcoming 43 new Fellows to our fold. We are continuing our expansion to bring top quality international postdocs to Israel, with a current focus on Europe.
Who are these remarkable people and how do we choose them? Beyond their intelligence and drive, they are resilient, creative and open to sharing their discoveries. They are chosen through a demanding selection process which proves their academic excellence and desire to give back to our community.
They are also chosen because we believe in their dreams and are eager to see what they will accomplish.
I am exceedingly proud of this program, which has, on all levels, surpassed our expectations.
Dr. Naomi Azrieli
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.
Erin Kohn, Administrative Coordinator
Erin joined the Azrieli Fellows Program as the Administrative Coordinator. She is originally from Kansas and moved to Israel after finishing high school. She took time to focus on Jewish Studies and volunteer for National Service. She completed her B.Ed at David Yellin Academic College in Jerusalem for Informal Education and English teaching. Her real passion in Education is in the field of Sexual Health. She hopes one day to do research in the Public Health field. She also enjoys watching movies, going to the beach, boxing, American football, and yoga.
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.
