December 22, 2025 – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) has emerged as the leading institution among recipients of the President of Israel’s Scholarships for Scientific Excellence and Innovation, with six outstanding doctoral candidates selected in 2025for the prestigious national award. 

Established in 2013, the President’s Scholarships are awarded annually to exceptional Israeli doctoral students whose research demonstrates originality, academic excellence, and strong potential for advancing knowledge. Each year, the President of Israel selects a central academic theme, and an expert academic committee evaluates candidates based on scientific excellence, originality of research, academic achievements, and recommendations. In recent years, the scholarships have placed particular emphasis on strengthening research in the social sciences and humanities. 

This year, 12 doctoral students from across Israel were awarded the scholarships. Among them, six recipients are doctoral candidates at HU, marking the highest number of awardees from a single institution: 

• Elyashiv Zangen, Hazar Yassen, and Guy Kariv – Faculty of Medicine 
• Ouriel Bliah– Institute of Chemistry 
• Hadar Arnon – Department of Psychology 
• Ortal Yerushalmi – Faculty of Dental Medicine 

Prof. Oron Shagrir, Rector of Hebrew University, said: “Our doctoral students represent the next generation of scientific leadership in Israel. I warmly congratulate the six Hebrew University recipients: Elyashiv Zangen, Hazar Yassen, Guy Kariv, Ouriel Bliah, Hadar Arnon, and Ortal Yerushalmi, on this well-deserved recognition. Their success is a testament to their talent and dedication, and to the research environment at the Hebrew University that encourages excellence, creativity, and interdisciplinary inquiry.” 

The scholarships were awarded in recognition of innovative and original research projects addressing key scientific challenges, including advances in medical science and technology. The strong representation of Hebrew University researchers underscores the institution’s central role in advancing scientific excellence, innovation, and academic leadership in Israel.