Dr. Eli Ofer, Chief Scientist at the TMT Ministry: "I believe that the program gives Israeli biotechnology companies an exceptional opportunity to develop the professional skills of researchers and to create a channel of communication and cooperation between Israel and the USA in the field of stem cell research"
The Israel Science and Technology Commission - USA is recruiting Israeli researchers for an internship program in the USA as part of the Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, said Dr. Eli Ofer, the chief scientist at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Employment and co-chairman of the Commission.
Dr. Eli Ofer states that the recruitment of researchers for the internship program began in October 2005 by the foundation - USISTF - which is the financing and administrative arm of the Israel-US Science and Technology Commission. The Israel-USA Science and Technology Commission was established in 1994 as a bi-national government initiative in order to strengthen the scientific and technological cooperation between Israel and the USA. The commission operates in Israel under the auspices of the chief scientist at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Employment, Dr. Eli Ofer, who serves as co-chairman of the commission. The corresponding office in the US reports to the Deputy Minister of Commerce for Technology Affairs.
The proposed program will take in researchers from biotechnology companies in Israel specializing in neuroscience and stem cell research, as interns at the WM Keck Brain Research Center in New Jersey. The researchers will be integrated and focus on learning research methods in the field of spinal cord injury. The purpose of the program is to encourage the creation of an infrastructure of cooperation between Israeli biotechnology companies and American research institutions and industrial organizations, for the benefit of both countries.
"I believe that the program gives Israeli biotechnology companies an exceptional opportunity to develop the professional skills of researchers and to create a channel of communication and cooperation between Israel and the US in the field of stem cell research," said Ofer.
Edit Moshe, director of operations at the Commission and responsible for recruiting candidates for the program, said that "the ideal candidate for the program would be an MD doctor or a researcher with a Ph.D. degree. or an equivalent degree, from a start-up company or a corporate company, with at least two to three years of postdoctoral experience or similar experience in biomedical research. Experience in the field of stem cells is also required. Preference will be given to applicants with knowledge or interest in neuroscience research, neurosurgery, spinal cord injury or stem cell transplantation. All applicants must have full command of the English language. "Also, Edith noted, "we would like to emphasize that this is not an academic research program, but an ideal opportunity for researchers from start-up companies to strengthen their professional skills and create a communication channel between Israel and the industry and research community in the field of stem cells in the USA."
The WM Keck Brain Research Center is a research institute that focuses on spinal and brain injury treatments. The center is at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The internship program is hosted by the director of the research institute, Dr. Martin Grumet and Dr. Patricia Morton
