Nirit & Michael Shaoul Fund

The Nirit and Michael Shaoul Fund for Visiting Scholars and Fellows was founded in 2015 by New York philanthropists, Dr. Nirit Weiss and Dr. Michael David Shaoul.

The Fund is a multi-year commitment to encourage global faculty exchanges and joint scientific and cultural collaborations, across a variety of academic fields. Recipients are designated Nirit and Michael Shaoul Fellows.

The Fund provides support for inviting eminent experts from the US, Canada and Europe, and encompasses all the academic disciplines at Tel-Aviv University. The Nirit & Michael Shaoul Fellows are selected from a list of candidates, which is submitted by TAU faculty members. These candidates should be renowned scholars who have reached leadership positions and outstanding achievements in their academic disciplines.

Furthermore, the Nirit and Michael Shaoul Fund also sponsors the Shaoul Fund IAS International Workshops, which stimulate, encourage and inspire cutting-edge Israeli scientific research by bringing top international scientists to the country. These workshops expose the global scientific community to achievements and expertise at Tel Aviv University and strengthen the University's ties with leading scientists and scholars from around the world, thereby enriching ongoing research projects at TAU.

Dr. Nirit Weiss, MD, is a neurosurgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. She received her medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine in 1998. Her practice specializes in treating complex disorders of the brain and spine, treating severe chronic pain syndromes, and performing craniofacial reconstructions in adults and children. She has authored dozens of peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters detailing cutting-edge treatments of pain, degenerative disease and tumors.

Dr. Michael Shaoul, PhD, is Chairman, Portfolio Manager, and CEO of Marketfield Asset Management LLC. He is one of the founding partners of Marketfield, which was created in 2007. In his role at Marketfield he helps formulate the top down insights that inform the firm’s investment decisions and authors a daily commentary that communicates these ideas with clients. Dr. Shaoul is a frequent contributor to the financial media which values his views on economic cycles and investment markets. He was awarded a PhD in Accounting and Finance from Manchester University (UK) in 1993. He serves as Treasurer of American Friends of Tel Aviv University and is a member of the University’s Board of Governors.

In the past four years, we have been honored to host about 50 guests as Nirit and Michael Shaoul Fellows, as well as 3 IAS International Workshops. Our guests are world-renowned scholars, each a leading figure in their field of expertise. They are involved in numerous activities during their visit to TAU, including giving lectures, which attract students and faculty from the University as well as from other academic institutes across the country; meeting with faculty members and graduate students; and engaging in other scientific activities on campus.

The support of the Nirit and Michael Shaoul Fund for Visiting Scholars and Fellows enables us each year to bring eminent scholars to TAU, and facilitates our faculty members in strengthening their international connections and collaborations with top-tier intellectuals worldwide.