Seven new BGU researchers have been awarded grants from the competitive Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant (IRG) program of the European 7th Framework Program (FP7), resulting in 100% success in the most recent submission cycle and attesting to the high quality of new recruits to the University's academic staff. The University plans to maximize this funding avenue by insisting that every eligible scientist returning to Israel from abroad apply to the IRG program.

The researchers are:

Yoav Bar-Anan – Department of Psychology

Eyal Gur – Department of Life Sciences

Meidad Kissinger – Department of Geography and Environmental Development

Michael Lublinsky – Department of Physics

Taleb Mokari – Department of Chemistry

Moshe Schechter – Department of Physics

Esti Yeger-Lotem – Department of Clinical Biochemistry

The aim of the IRG program is to encourage the return to Europe and the other countries participating in FP7 of "the best and the brightest" young scientists who have been outside the FP countries for at least three years. In keeping with the spirit of the program, the awards to the young BGU scientists will aid their career paths in the University.

To aid the young researchers in dealing with all aspects of the IRG program, the R&D Authority placed at their disposal the expertise of its staff: Ms. Jenny Racah (Special Advisor to the Vice-President and Dean for R&D) contributed her very specialized knowledge of European funding programs and reviewed all aspects of the proposals; Ms. Inez Mureinik and Mr. Patrick Martin (Scientific Publications Section) provided scientific and language editing services; Ms. Dori Schneider (European desk of the Research Liaison Section) managed all the formal submission procedures; and Ms. Ofra Abutbul (Budget Management Section) helped in constructing the budgets for all the proposals.

The R&D Authority congratulates these young scientists and wishes them every success with their research.