Center District, Israel
I am a senior higher-education leader with 30 years of experience building international research ecosystems, strengthening institutional strategy, and leading complex academic operations across the U.S., Europe, and Israel. My work sits at the intersection of research, policy, innovation, partnerships, and academic governance — the levers now most critical to institutional success. I help universities, research institutes, foundations, and government-facing organizations navigate rapid change: AI adoption, funding pressures, global competition, and the need for mission-driven, operationally disciplined leadership. Core Strengths: Funding Diversification & Research Strategy: Deep expertise in Horizon Europe, foundations, bi-national programs, industry partnerships, government funding, and endowment strategy. I design stable, multi-source funding portfolios. AI & Research Modernization: Guiding research offices and academic units in responsible AI integration — optimizing grant development, research workflows, compliance, and institutional integrity. Global Engagement & Partnerships: Proven success in cross-border collaboration, science diplomacy, and international academic initiatives. Academic Governance & Institutional Development: Experience as Academic Secretary and director-level leader in accreditation, promotion & tenure, academic committees, restructuring, and organizational leadership. Mission + Management Leadership: Pragmatic, values-driven approach that aligns institutional purpose with strategic execution. Through InnoBridge Academic Advisory, I support institutions with strategy, internationalization, AI readiness, proposal development, impact measurement, and leadership capacity-building. I am exploring senior roles — permanent or fractional — where I can strengthen research strategy, innovation, partnerships, and institutional development. Open to conversations with leaders shaping the future of higher education.
Advises the Trustee and Vice Chancellor on institutional strategy, research development, and internationalization. Focus areas include research positioning, international partnerships, governance-level decision-making, and institutional readiness for global academic collaboration. • Serve as senior external advisor to the University’s Trustee and Vice Chancellor on institutional strategy, research development, and internationalization. • Advises on multi-year academic and research strategy, including positioning of health sciences, professional education, and applied research. • Provides strategic guidance on building international partnerships, faculty collaboration frameworks, and research credibility with European and global partners. • Supports governance-level decision-making on organizational structures, research support mechanisms, and international engagement models. • Contributes to institutional diagnostics, strategic planning processes, and leadership deliberations during a period of organizational growth and transition.
InnoBridge Academic Advisory Connecting Ideas, Transforming Institutions Co-founded a strategic advisory firm dedicated to bridging academia, industry, government, and the public sector to advance innovation, research excellence, and international collaboration. InnoBridge partners with universities, research institutions, foundations, and companies to secure European Commission and bilateral funding, build cross-sector alliances, and design sustainable innovation ecosystems that drive long-term impact. Lead strategic development, client relations, and institutional partnerships across Europe and Israel. Advise universities, foundations, and government bodies on research governance, technology transfer, and institutional sustainability. Shape innovation policy and higher education strategy to align with global research and funding priorities. Design and deliver executive training programs on leadership, proposal development, and international collaboration. Build high-impact partnerships with leading institutions to translate knowledge into innovation. Study antisemitism in academic environments and develop actionable frameworks to counter it within higher education and research communities. Program evaluation and proposal review.
I am an official evaluator for both the Ethics Committee of Horizon 2020 and a scientific proposal evaluator in the social science tracks of Horizon 2020.
I initiated and managed a multi-partner multi-country three-year project on enhancing teaching excellence at Israeli institutions of higher education. #teachex
I initiated and managed a multi-partner multi-country three-year project on social entrepreneurship at universities in Israel and India
Directing a binational foundation for the support of collaborative research in SSH and STEM fields of inquury.
www.studyabroad.idc.ac.il Working together with the President and Provost, Dr Zimmerman established and directed (for eight years) the Academic Affairs, International Engagement and Research Support Offices at the Interdisciplinary Centre (IDC), Herzliya. Recruited in 2006, Dr. Zimmerman now provides leadership and service to faculty, staff, and students, assisting in implementing policy and decisions of the IDC academic and governing committees relating to research and global engagement. His wide portfolio includes responsibility for all competitive research and program grants and the protection of the institutional intellectual property; developing global partnerships and managing all institutional internationalization agreements, including student exchange, summer and study abroad programs; managing the development of double degree MA-level programs; and the development of joint doctoral programs.
First and largest private college in Israel.