Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 30, 2026

Alon Chen

Alon Chen is an Israeli neuroscientist and the 11th President of the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Last revised
Jul 30, 2026
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Alon Chen
אלון חן
Born1970 (age 55–56)
Israel
EducationBen-Gurion University of the Negev (BSc, MBA)
Weizmann Institute of Science (PhD)
Occupationneuroscientist
EmployerWeizmann Institute of Science
TitlePresident
PredecessorDaniel Zajfman

Alon Chen (Hebrew: אלון חן; born 1970) is an Israeli neuroscientist and the 11th President of the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Biography

Chen was born in Israel.12 He is a neuroscientist.2

He attended Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BSc in life sciences, magna cum laude, 1995, and MBA, 2001), and the Weizmann Institute of Science (PhD, magna cum laude, 2001).23 On a Rothschild scholarship and a Fulbright scholarship, Chen conducted postdoctoral research at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, California, from 2001 to 2005.245

In 2005 Chen returned to the Weizmann Institute of Science as a senior scientist in the Neurobiology Department and received an Alon Fellowship from the Israel Council for Higher Education.26 In 2012, he became an associate professor, and in 2017 a full professor.2

In 2013, Chen was appointed a director in the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, and head of the joint Weizmann-Max Planck Laboratory for experimental neuropsychiatry and behavioral neurogenetics.728 He heads the Neurobiology Department at the Weizmann Institute of Science, and is an adjunct professor at LMU Munich's Faculty of Medicine.2

Chen is the 11th President of the Weizmann Institute of Science.910 He took office in December 2019, succeeding Daniel Zajfman.91011

His research includes an investigation of the biological brain processes that regulate and are activated by mental stress and anxiety.21 This includes an investigation by Chen of brain mechanisms that are connected to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and metabolic syndromes.21121314

Chen is a member of the Executive Advisory Board of the World.Minds Foundation, engaging with leaders on topics at the intersection of science, health, and society.15

References

References

  1. "Israeli leading institute of science appoints new president". Xinhua. December 2, 2019. Archived from the original on December 2, 2019.
  2. Julian, Hana Levi (November 6, 2018). "Professor Alon Chen Appointed President of Weizmann Institute of Science". The Jewish Press.
  3. Chen, Alon (2019). Stress Resilience: Molecular and Behavioral Aspects. Academic Press. ISBN 9780128139844 – via Google Books.
  4. "Fulbright Alumnus Professor Alon Chen Elected Next President of the Weizmann Institute of Science". Fulbright Israel News. November 5, 2018.
  5. "Meet our Alumni with the Greatest Impact". Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business & Management.
  6. "New President for Weizmann Institute". Atlanta Jewish Times, Vol. XCIII No. 47, page 14. November 30, 2018.
  7. Judy Siegel-Itzkovich (March 6, 2014). "Israeli-German lab launched to study neurological illnesses". The Jerusalem Post.
  8. "Q&A with Prof. Alon Chen". Weizmann. November 22, 2019.
  9. "Prof. Alon Chen; President, Weizmann Institute of Science", berkeley.edu.
  10. "Israeli leading institute of science appoints new president". Famagusta Gazette. December 2, 2019.
  11. "11th President of Weizmann Institute and Four New Vice Presidents Take Office". Mirage News. December 1, 2019.
  12. "Weizmann: tiny molecule could help diagnose and treat mental disorders". Israel Science Info. June 19, 2014.
  13. "Biology of the Blues: Prof. Alon Chen Studies Stress (video)". American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science. February 16, 2017.
  14. "Scientists discover: A Gene that Ties Stress to Obesity and Diabetes". Innovations Report.
  15. "Team – WORLD.MINDS". Retrieved 2025-05-15.