Society of Fellows
The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality | Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Overview
The Society of Fellows is the Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality’s student program, relaunched in the 2024–2025 academic year. Building on the Center’s long history of hosting graduate students since 2006, the program brings together an interdisciplinary cohort of scholars to study decision-making processes and rational explanations of social phenomena.
The Sunday Program
Fellows spend Sundays at the Center on the Edmond Safra campus for a full day of activities. The schedule includes:
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A required interdisciplinary course in the morning
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A brown-bag lunch with Center members and guests
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The Center’s weekly seminar series after lunch
Academic Components
Course: Modeling and Measuring Social Phenomena
Fellows take an annual course designed for the cohort. Guest lecturers, mostly Center members, review modeling and measurement approaches in their fields and present research vignettes. The course includes substantial discussion and an interdisciplinary capstone research project.
Annual Retreat
Fellows attend the Center’s annual retreat and give a lecture either that year or, if their research is not yet at an advanced stage, in the following year.
Fellow Benefits
Accepted students receive:
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Membership in a select interdisciplinary cohort
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A supplementary bonus fellowship for one year, in addition to other fellowships
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Access to shared office space at the Center, with an invitation to work there throughout the year (not only on Sundays)
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Opportunities for interaction with Center members and guests
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Invitations to Center events
About the Center
The Center for the Study of Rationality is multidisciplinary. Its members come from the departments of Biology, Business Administration, Computer Science, Economics, Education, Law, Mathematics, Neurobiology, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Statistics and Data Science.