Lowy International School Hosts Research Orientation Day

On January 25, the newest cohort of international PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows kicked off their academic journey with an insightful orientation session hosted at Lowy International's offices. The information-packed day featured talks covering university rules and regulations, the rights researchers enjoy, and the opportunities available to them.

TAU Vice President International, Milette Shamir, extended a warm welcome to the participants, providing an overview of TAU's global initiatives. Shamir's presentation underscored the university's commitment to fostering a global perspective among scholars, highlighting the diverse opportunities for collaboration and networking on an international scale.

During the orientation, participants had the chance to meet members of Lowy's Service and Student Life teams. These teams are dedicated to creating a welcoming environment on campus for the international community, ensuring a smooth and enriching experience at TAU. The session also provided valuable insights into the wealth of resources available at the Lowy International School and Tel Aviv University as a whole.

Agata Poznanska, a post-doc fellow at TAU

Agata Poznanska, a post-doc fellow from the Safra Center for Ethics about Law and Democracy in Poland, chose TAU to study challenges to democracy, which aligns with her PhD research. Poznanska highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of her research group, comprising lawyers, philosophers, and political scientists.

"I thought it would be really nice to meet other people who work on similar topics. It's really broadening my academic perspective."—Agata Poznanska, a post-doc fellow

Alok Verma, an aspiring PhD candidate from India, expressed his enthusiasm for TAU, citing his interest in history and the unique relationship between India and Israel as reasons to come to Tel Aviv. He shared insights into the engaging research environment, mentioning a PhD colloquium that facilitates idea exchange, including contributions from scholars at prestigious institutions like Princeton, Harvard, and Oxford.

Jowita Panczyk, a PhD student

Jowita Panczyk, from Poland, first came to TAU for a Yiddish summer school several years ago. This is where she met scholars from the Jona Goldrich Institute for Yiddish, which she is now part of. Her research focuses on Yiddish literature and The Golden Chain journal, in particular. 

"Apart from my thesis, I would like to improve my Hebrew while I am here."—Jowita Panczyk, a PhD student

Andreas Reissner, a PhD student

Andreas Reissner, a fourth-year Electrical Engineering PhD student at TAU, is working on a renewable energy project that is part of a bigger collaborative initiative between the European Union and Israel. Reissner appreciates the interdisciplinary context of his work, involving not only engineering but various other fields, 

"In the lab, I really had an opportunity to contribute, and I learned a lot."—Andreas Reissner, a PhD student

The five-year PhD program at TAU allows students ample time to delve into their chosen fields, while postdoctoral fellows benefit from a two-year fellowship period for advanced research. TAU's unique platform supports emerging researchers in conducting impactful studies and contributing to their respective fields.

Explore open research positions at Tel Aviv University and submit your application to be part of this dynamic academic community.