Reversing Israel’s Brain Drain
April 23, 2013
Alternative Energy, Medical Research
The Jewish Chronicle — “Most Israeli doctoral students are encouraged to do post-doctoral studies at top universities outside of Israel. But after they’ve finished, finding work back home isn’t so easy,” says BGU alumnus Dr. Dan Gincel at a recent Americans for Ben-Gurion University reception in Pittsburgh.
By day, Dr. Gincel serves as the director of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund at the Maryland Technology Development Corporation.
He received his B.S. and Ph.D. from BGU, and serves on the advisory board of the University’s new Center for Regenerative Medicine, Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Research.
Dr. Gincel is also vice president of BioAbroad, a nonprofit organization with the mission of reducing Israel’s “brain drain.”
The organization helps Israeli scientists, researchers, and physicians who are living abroad to return to Israel.
One of the things the Israeli government’s Council of Higher Education is doing to help bring expatriate scientists back to Israel is investing in Israeli Centers for Research Excellence (I-CORE). In fact, BGU is participating in the I-CORE focusing on the development of renewable energies.
BioAbroad works in cooperation with the Israeli government to develop strategies for not only bringing back Israel’s exported scientists, but to help them be part of growing the Israeli economy. The organization offers career fairs, social gatherings, webinars and fellowships designed to help academics transition from academia into industry and entrepreneurship in Israel.