Postdoctoral Fellowships for Academic Jewish Studies

Deadline: 13-Jan-2027

The Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe Postdoctoral Fellowships for Academic Jewish Studies provide grants to European academic institutions to support the employment of postdoctoral researchers in Jewish Studies. The programme is designed to strengthen Jewish Studies departments, support high-quality research, and encourage fellows to engage with academic and public audiences. Grants of up to £40,000 per year for two years are available. Funding is intended to contribute to the fellow’s total employment costs, including salary, social security, benefits, and taxes, subject to local salary scales and cost-of-living conditions. The fellowship programme is offered by the Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe and focuses on strengthening Jewish Studies within European higher education institutions. The programme supports the employment of postdoctoral researchers whose research and academic contribution can provide significant value to their host department.

The fellowship emphasizes:

Research excellence in Jewish Studies. Strengthening Jewish Studies departments across Europe. Collaboration between the postdoctoral fellow and the host department. Development of innovative and ground-breaking research. Engagement with Jewish communities and the wider public. Networking and collaboration among fellows and participating institutions. The programme is intended for European academic institutions seeking to employ postdoctoral researchers in Jewish Studies. Institutions applying for funding should demonstrate: The academic value of appointing the proposed postdoctoral fellow. How the fellow’s research will contribute to the host department. How the appointment will strengthen Jewish Studies at the institution. How the fellow will contribute to academic and public engagement activities. That the institution can cover the full cost of employment using the grant and any necessary institutional resources. Eligible research can cover any area within Jewish Studies, provided the proposed project demonstrates strong academic value and relevance to the host institution. The fellowship programme helps European institutions develop their capacity in Jewish Studies by supporting the employment of researchers at the postdoctoral level. The programme can benefit both institutions and researchers by: Supporting advanced research in Jewish Studies. Bringing specialist postdoctoral expertise into university departments. Encouraging collaboration between researchers and academic departments. Creating opportunities for public engagement. Supporting connections between scholars and Jewish communities. Building professional networks among fellows across Europe. The fellowship provides grants of up to £40,000 per annum for a period of two years. The exact award may vary depending on factors such as: Local salary scales. Local cost of living. Employment-related costs. Social security contributions. Employee benefits. Applicable taxes. The host institution is expected to ensure that the total cost of employment is covered. The Foundation does not generally provide additional funding after the original award for expenses such as research or travel.If such costs are required, they should be considered and included in the initial application budget where permitted. Applications may focus on any area within Jewish Studies. Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that can include the study of Jewish history, culture, religion, literature, languages, philosophy, society, art, politics, archaeology, and other areas connected to Jewish life and civilization. Applicants should clearly explain how the proposed research fits within Jewish Studies and why the fellow’s expertise is valuable to the host department. The programme is structured around a partnership between the postdoctoral fellow and the host academic department. The institution proposes support for the employment of a postdoctoral researcher whose work can make a meaningful contribution to the department. The application should establish a clear connection between: The fellow’s research expertise. The proposed research project. The academic priorities of the host department. The development of Jewish Studies at the institution. The potential contribution to public engagement. The programme also encourages fellows to participate in activities that extend beyond their individual research. Fellows are encouraged to communicate their research to audiences outside the university. This includes opportunities to present research to: The local Jewish community. The wider public. Academic audiences. Other researchers working in related areas. Public engagement helps connect specialist research in Jewish Studies with broader communities and audiences. Fellowship recipients are expected to participate in a series of online seminars and workshops organized through the Fellowship Programme.

These activities are intended to:

Encourage scholarly exchange. Develop professional networks. Promote collaboration between fellows. Share research findings and ideas. Strengthen connections within the wider Jewish Studies community. Participation in these activities forms an important part of the broader fellowship experience. Institutions preparing an application should develop a clear proposal explaining the academic and institutional value of the fellowship. A typical application process should include the following considerations: Identify the proposed postdoctoral researcher and establish their relevance to the institution’s Jewish Studies activities. Define the research project and clearly explain its contribution to Jewish Studies. Explain the benefit to the host department, including how the fellow’s expertise will strengthen existing teaching, research, or academic activities. Prepare the employment budget, taking into account salary, social security, benefits, taxes, and other relevant employment costs. Account for local conditions, because the