Faculty

Gil Shoham

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Prof.
Gil
Shoham
Institute of Chemistry,The Laboratory for Structural Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science

Brief Summary of research

The relationship between the 3D structure of proteins and their biological function and biochemical activity.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

  • Protein oligomers that form nano-structures of 5-20 nanometers
  • Enzymes that form nano-fibers of proteins and/or sugar polymers
     

 

Daniel Strasser

daniel s
Prof.
Daniel
Strasser
Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of science

Brief Summary of research: 

We use intense femtosecond laser pulses to excite and probe ultrafast molecular dynamics. By combining ultrafast laser techniques with advanced fast beam imaging techniques we develop time resolved photo-fragment imaging that allows detection of molecular dissociation events on the relevant ultrafast time scales.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Size Resolved Atomic and Molecular Cluster Ions.
 

Itamar Willner

itamar w
Prof.
Itamar
Willner
Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Functional Nanostructures for Nanobiotechnology and Materials Science.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

  • DNA nanotechnology
  • Nanoenzymes
  • Plasmonic nanoparticles
  • Semiconductor quantum dots
  • Stimuli-responsive materials
  • Nanocarriers for drug release
  • Artificial cells

Roie Yerushalmi

roie y
Prof.
Roie
Yerushalmi
Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Our research is focused on materials chemistry, nanomaterials and surface chemistry. We are located at the institute of chemistry at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The Yerushalmi group research is primarily focused on development and utilization of surface chemistry to modify the chemical and physical properties of materials at the nanoscale.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Materials, Surface Chemistry, Catalysis, Devices.

Shlomo Yitzchaik

shlomo y
Prof.
Shlomo
Yitzchaik
Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

We have set an multifaceted platform for the study of molecular layers-solid substrate interactions, covering Organic Chemistry, Surface Science, Molecular and Biomolecular Electronics and Photonics.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Nanolayers.

 

Hadar Steinberg

Prof. Hadar Steinberg
Prof.
Hadar
Steinberg
Director of the Center, The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Electronic transport and tunneling in van-der-Waals devices. 

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Two-dimensional materials, graphene, superconductivity.

Yonathan Anahory

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Dr.
Yonathan
Anahory
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Our group focuses on nanoscale thermal and magnetic imaging using scanning SQUID-on-tip microscopy. We are interested in molecular magnetism and superconductivity.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Scanning SQUID microscopy at the nanoscale.


 

 

Yinon Ashkenazy

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Prof.
Yinon
Ashkenazy
The Racah Institute of Physics' Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Physical mechanism controlling material behavior, specifically in driven system. I work on phase transitions, response to external load (stress and irradiaiton) and other strong drive conditions. My work includes theoretical and computaitonal modeling of response to external load as well as kinetics and thermodynamics modeling.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Nano-plasticity, mechanisms controlling response of metallic nano-structures to external drive.
 

 

 

Michael Assaf

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Prof.
Michael
Assaf
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

  • Stochastic gene regulation under environmental noise
  • Population dynamics on static and time-varying complex networks

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Gene regulatory networks, Mathematical models of microbial evolution.

 

 

 

Rivka Bekenstein

Dr. Rivka Bekenstein
Dr.
Rivka
Bekenstein
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Quantum devices in the nanoscale for quantum information processing:

We are developing nanophotonic quantum materials that can process quantum information by scattering of light from quantum emitters:

  • Nanophotonics for efficient quantum optics
  • Quantum Information processing with photons
  • Gravity Analogues with nonlinear optics and nanophotonics

 

 

 

 

Hagai Eisenberg

hagai e
Prof.
Hagai
Eisenberg
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty of Sciene

Brief Summary of research: 

Quantum optics with multi-photon states and the precision of optical measurements.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

  • Quantum limited resolution of measurements
  • A single photon on-demand source using a surface wave plasmonic collimator

 

Yuri Feldman

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Prof.
Yuri
Feldman
Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

The research interests of my laboratory are centred on the area of soft condensed matter physics for investigation of the structure, dynamics, and macroscopic behaviour of complex systems. (CS). CS is a very broad and general class of materials, which include associated liquids, polymers, biomolecules, colloids, porous materials and liquid crystals.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Water in Nano confinement.
 

Israel Felner

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Prof.
Israel
Felner
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Superconductivity and magnetism of amorphous carbon; Fe-As superconductors.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Search for superconductivity in the YFe2Si2 doped systems

Nadav Katz

nadav k
Prof.
Nadav
Katz
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

The purpose of the Quantum Coherence Lab (QCL) at HUJI is to explore the phenomena of macroscopic quantum coherence and decoherence. We study superconducting Josephson circuits, in which macroscopic physical quantities such as magnetic flux behave quantum mechanically. We also study implementations of macroscopic quantum coherence in slow and stored light in atomic ensembles, manipulating and storing non-trivial patterns of light and subsequently retrieving them.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Superconducting qubits.
 

Shlomi Kotler

Shlomi Kotler
Dr.
Shlomi
Kotler
he Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty of science

Brief Summary of research: 

Experimental physicist in Quantum Information Processing specializing in trapped ions, superconducting qubits, hybrid-quantum devices and mechanical objects in the quantum regime.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Experimental research of quantum information processing platforms:

  • Non-classical states of macroscopic mechanical objects (Quantum Mechanical Circuits)
  • Superconducting Quantum Information Processing with microwave
  • Quantum-limited measurement
  • Hybrid quantum systems with charged particles: electrons and superconductors, mechanical systems with trapped ions
  • Quantum sensing using quantum information processing techniques
  • Quantum information theory: tomography, benchmarking and entanglement witnesses, macroscopicity of quantum mechanics

Oded Millo

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Prof.
Oded
Millo
The RakahInstitute of Physics, Faculty of science

Brief Summary of research: 

My group focuses on local probe measurements of the electronic properties of nanoparticles and systems that exhibit inhomogeneous electrical properties on the nano-scale level.  In particular, we employ cryogenic Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy (STM and STS) and Conductance Atomic Force Microscopy (C-AFM), along with other AFM techniques.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

  • Superconducting Spintronics: triplet and p-wave superconductivity with ferromagnets, graphene and chiral-molecules
  • Electrical properties of individual colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals
  • Solar-cell thin-films: Perovskites and CIGSe

Zvi Ovadyahu

Prof.
Zvi
Ovadyahu
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 
Our laboratory is engaged in the study of basic physical phenomena brought about by the presence of static disorder in electronic systems. These phenomena are usually associated with quantum-mechanical effects that are observable in small systems measured at low temperatures.  Current research subjects include: Quantum phenomena in systems driven out of equilibrium, electronic-glasses, mesoscopics, superconductivity and Josephson effects, resonant tunneling, metal/insulator and superconductor/insulator transitions.
Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:
Structure analysis of thin films for characterization and disorder dependence. This is accomplished by a variety of tools at the nanocenter using TEM (for morphology and crystallography), STEM (for chemical composition byEDAX), XRD and XRR for lattice spacing and uniformity of surfaces, Raman spectroscopy for studying the boson peak dependence on composition of amorphous structures.

Nathalie Questembert-Balaban

nathali b
Prof.
Nathalie
Questembert-Balaban
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty of science

Brief Summary of research: 

The goal of Biological Physics is to reach an understanding of biological processes that is based on a mathematical description that is quantitative and predictive. In Einstein’s words, we would like to describe biological systems with equations that are “as simple as possible, but not simpler”.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Microfluidics, single cell fluorescence microscopy.
 

 

 

Ronen Rapaport

ronen r
Prof.
Ronen
Rapaport
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Our general research interest is of physics on the nanoscale. We are actively exploring the physics of semiconductor nanostructure, and in particular are studying collective quantum phenomena in low dimensional nano-structures as well as light matter interaction in nano-photonic and nano-plasmonic hybrid devices. Our interests range from the fundamental understanding of new physical systems and effects, to new concepts of photonic devices for possible future real-life applications.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Light-matter interactions in nanostructures, electronic excitations in nanostructures, quantum dots, single photon sources, Excitons, Exciton-polaritons, Quantum fluids of excitatations in semiconductor nanostructures.

Alex Retzker

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Prof.
Alex
Retzker
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

  • Quantum technologies, Quantum sensing, Quantum optics
  • Quantum infromation, Quantum Simulations, Trapped Ions
  • NV ceneters in diamond, Nanomechanics and optomechanics
  • Bose Einstein condensates

Guy Ron

guy r
Prof.
Guy
Ron
Associate Professor, The Racah Institute of Physics

Brief Summary of research:  

Study of two of the fundamental forces of nature, the ElectroWeak force, and the Strong Nuclear Force by conducting experiments on systems which are affected by these forces.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: 

Positron annihilation spectroscopy.

 

Amir Saar

Amir S
Prof.
Amir
Saar
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Research is aimed at developing semiconductor-based nanostructures, investigating their fundamental properties and developing a variety of electronic, optoelectronic and photonic devices that are based on these nanostructures. 

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Semiconductor nanostructures.

Eran Sharon

eran s
Prof.
Eran
Sharon
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Experimental study of pattern formation in complex systems, equilibrium configurations of thin sheets with nontrivial intrinsic geometry.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Self assembly.

 

Eilon Sherman

Eilon Sherman
Prof.
Eilon
Sherman
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

We develop and apply combinations of single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), including photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) and direct stochastic optical reconstruction (dSTORM) in multiple colors. 

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Super-resolution microscopy, single molecule spectroscopy, biophysics at the nanoscale.
 

 

Itay Shomroni

Dr. Itay Shomroni
Dr.
Itay
Shomroni
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science
Consultant of the Physics track

Brief Summary of research: 

We aim to explore quantum science in the novel regime of macroscopic objects, using laser light to measure and control the motion of nanostructures. We expand on the microscopic  realm of atoms and molecules to investigate the foundations of quantum mechanics and to develop new technologies. 

Ady Vaknin

adi vaknin 2
Dr.
Ady
Vaknin
The Racah Institute of Physics, Faculty Of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Recent and on-going development of fluorescence microscopy techniques made it possible to detect directly and quantitatively the action of various components within living cells.  Interactions between molecules, physical deformation of molecules, production rate, and other molecular functions can be measured in real time, reviling new aspects of live-cells functioning.  

 

Zvi Yaari

Dr. Zvi Yaari
Dr.
Zvi
Yaari
School of Pharmacy - Institute of Drug Research, The Faculty of Medicine

Developing optical nanosensors based on single-walled carbon nanotubes and drug-delivery platforms based on lipid nanoparticles to detect, monitor, and treat inflammatory-based diseases.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:
Nanosensors; carbon nanotubes; near-infrared spectroscopy; in vivo imaging nanoprobes; nanomaterials; nanoparticles; liposomes

Eylon Yavin

eilon y
Prof.
Eylon
Yavin
School of Pharmacy, The Faculty of Medicine

Brief Summary of research: 

Our laboratory focuses on the design and synthesis of PNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic molecules.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Drug delivery.

Roie Yerushalmi

roie y
Prof.
Roie
Yerushalmi
Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Our research is focused on materials chemistry, nanomaterials and surface chemistry. We are located at the institute of chemistry at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The Yerushalmi group research is primarily focused on development and utilization of surface chemistry to modify the chemical and physical properties of materials at the nanoscale.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Materials, Surface Chemistry, Catalysis, Devices.

Shlomo Yitzchaik

shlomo y
Prof.
Shlomo
Yitzchaik
Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science

Brief Summary of research: 

We have set an multifaceted platform for the study of molecular layers-solid substrate interactions, covering Organic Chemistry, Surface Science, Molecular and Biomolecular Electronics and Photonics.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Nanolayers.

 

Alon Zaslaver

Alon z
Prof.
Alon
Zaslaver
The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science

Brief Summary of research: 

As a Systems Biology lab we combine experiments and theory to understand the design principles of biological networks.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Microfabrication of microfluidic devices.
 

Ido Braslavsky

Ido br
Prof.
Ido
Braslavsky
Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science, and Nutrition, The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Brief Summary of research: 

Research interests include ice-binding proteins investigation with fluorescence microscopy and microfluidic devices, cryobiology, freeze casting for porous materials, and food structure.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Ice binding proteins and their interaction with ice crystals, 3D printing of food materials, Cryopreservation. 
 

 

Benny Chefetz

benny c
Prof.
Benny
Chefetz
The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Brief Summary of research: 

Physico-chemical processes of organic pollutants occurring in water, reclaimed wastewater, soils and sediments. An overarching goal is to elucidate physical, chemical and biological processes that influence the fate of organic molecules in the environment with special emphasize on the agricultural environment.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Environmental Chemistry.

Rivka Elbaum

rivka el
Prof.
Rivka
Elbaum
The RH Smith Institute for Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Faculty of Agriculture,

Brief Summary of research: 

We study the nano and micro structure, and the chemical composition of plant tissues. We work mainly in two directions:

  • Hygroscopic movement in seed dispersal
  • The roles of silicon oxide in plant physiology.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

  • BIOMINERALIZATION: Production of  bio-silica by plants
  • HYGROSCOPIC MOVEMENT: Cellulose-based structure creating movement under changes of the ambient humidity

 

Maya Engel

Maya Engel
Dr.
Maya
Engel
Department of Soil and Water Sciences, The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Brief Summary of research: 

The BioGeoChem lab studies the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, contaminants and organic matter in soil and water systems.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

We aim to decipher the mechanisms controlling the composition, structure, mobility and bioavailability of elements in natural systems, while paying special attention to nutrient and contaminant dynamics, redox status, and organic matter composition. For this purpose we use a combination of micro- and nano-scale analyses at the Nano Centre including XPS, Raman, SEM/TEM and more.

Gali (Galit) Fichman

Dr. Gali Fichman
Dr.
Gali (Galit)
Fichman
The Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Brief Summary of research:
Research in the Fichman lab is at the intersection of chemical biology, bionanotechnology, and materials science, focusing on functional bioinspired materials for food and healthcare applications. We exploit self-assembling systems to develop advanced biomaterials and characterize them at the nano-, micro-, and macro-scale.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:
Self-assembly | Peptides | Food-gels | Bacteria-material interactions | Antibacterial materials | Drug delivery

Ido Goldstein

dr. Ido Goldstein
Dr.
Ido
Goldstein
Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science, and Nutrition, The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Brief Summary of research: 

Our lab investigates the response of the body to fasting. The liver is responsible for supplying the body with fuel (glucose and ketone bodies). During fasting, a set of responses are triggered within the liver in order to maintain the supply of energy to the body. This chain of reactions is made possible by thousands of genes being turned “on” and “off”.  If these reactions are not regulated, we are unable to survive fasting for more than a few hours. Conversely, if the liver produces too much fuel, this can lead to the development of diseases such as diabetes, at the root of which lies the excess unregulated production of glucose. Using genomic, metabolic and molecular biology approaches, we study the gene regulatory networks that mediate the liver’s response to fasting. We aim to better understand these networks and how their dysregulation can contribute to obesity and diabetes.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

  • In studying transcriptional and chromatin regulation, we focus on the interaction of transcription factors with DNA. The affinity and dynamics of TF-DNA interaction lays at the heart of gene expression regulation. These interactions occur at the nano scale and our lab has optimized methods to characterize, quantify and manipulate TF-DNA interaction in the natural setting of chromatin-wrapped DNA in living cells. 

Zvi Hayuka

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Dr.
Zvi
Hayuka
Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Brief Summary of research: 

In my lab we will develop chemical tools to inhibit microbial or fungal growth in food. The interdisciplinary research program will combine food science, peptide chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology toward the design of novel antimicrobial agents for applications in food science.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Design and synthesis of copper nano-crystal for crop protection.
 

Hila Keidan Toporik

hila keidan
Dr.
Hila
Keidan Toporik
Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Brief Summary of research: 

The Toporik lab is focused on understating the assembly process of the photosynthetic machinery and its structural manifestation through cryo-EM.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

  • Structural elucidation of photosynthetic complexes and assembly factors at tenths of nanometer resolution.
  • Incorporation of nano-scale protein- complexes in biotechnological applications.

 

 

Yael Mishael

yael m
Prof.
Yael
Mishael
Soil and Water Sciences, The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Lubell Build., room 3, Rehovot campus

Brief Summary of research: 

My scientific interests within the fields of soil chemistry and mineralogy center on colloid and interface phenomena. My approach has been to conduct basic science studies which serve as a basis for environmental application-oriented research.My expertise is modifying clay surfaces to design optimized sorbents which in turn efficiently bind pollutants. The modification is achieved by adsorbing organic molecules as monomers, micelles or polymers on the clay surface. I focus on characterizing these clay composites and studying the interactions within the composite (clay surface and modifiers) and the interactions of pollutants with these composites.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Colloid assembly, polymer-clay composites.
 

 

Masha Niv

masha n
Prof.
Masha
Niv
The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Brief Summary of research: 

We are intrigued by the sense of taste, and are aiming to understand how bitterness and sweetness are elicited and modified by molecules.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Peptides, biosensors  for taste(via collaboration).

 

Sivan Pearl Mizrahi

sivan p
Dr.
Sivan
Pearl Mizrahi
Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science, and Nutrition, The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Brief Summary of research: 

Microbial species are everywhere, and they are not alone - they reside in communities, interacting with other species, hosts and the environment. These communities are important to our health, the health of animals and plants, to the food we eat and to the environment. 

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Our goal is to better understand the principles underlying microbial species assembly, function and evolution, especially under stress and perturbations. To do so, we integrate classical microbiology, high-throughput sequencing, microfluidics, microscopy and computational methods. 

Guy Polturak

Gut P
Dr.
Guy
Polturak
The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Brief Summary of research: 

Our lab studies plant specialized metabolism, with a focus on elucidation of biosynthetic pathways of plant metabolites involved in defense against biotic stresses.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

We are also interested in metabolic engineering of plants and microorganisms for production of molecules-of-interest.

Oded Shoseyov

oded shoseyov
Prof.
Oded
Shoseyov
Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Brief Summary of research: 

Combining plant molecular biology, protein engineering and nano-biotechnology to develop super-performing materials for affordable and sustainable applications.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

  • SP1 as a nanopore for ""nanopore sequencing""
  • Cellulose Nano Crystal films and coating materials
  • Functional Coatings Comprised of Cellulose Nano Crystals
  • Strong scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerated medicine
  • 3D printed hybrid skin implants

Uria Alcolombri

Urua
Dr.
Uria
Alcolombri
The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences,

Brief Summary of research: 

Our group focuses on marine microbiology and biogeochemistry. Our mission is centered around unraveling the microscopic mechanisms microbes use to orchestrate the flux of elements within the vast oceanic expanse. We are captivated by the enigmatic ways in which microbes, the tiniest of life forms, architect and influence their microenvironments through growth and interactions while shaping our oceanic ecosystems. Employing microfluidics, microscopy, biochemistry, and computer simulations, we reveal the secrets of their adaptations and interactions and determine their impact on the environment.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Microfabrication, microfluidics, advanced microscopy and biosensors

Tsevi Beatus

tzevi b
Dr.
Tsevi
Beatus
The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science and the Benin School for Computer Science and Engineering

Brief Summary of research: 

Flying insects can perform a wide range or aerial maneuvers better than any man-made flying device. Some insects can land upside down, change direction in a split of a second and engage prey or mates in mid-air. To achieve such impressive capabilities, insects have evolved unique flight mechanisms, including a control system that exhibits the fastest reflexes in the animal kingdom. Our goal is to understand these flight control mechanisms experimentally and eventually implement them in robotic systems. This challenge involves cutting-edge topics in control theory, fluid dynamics, physiology, neuroscience and robotics.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: 

3d printing.
 

 

Shimshon Belkin

shimoshon b
Prof.
Shimshon
Belkin
The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science

Brief Summary of research:

Microbial ecology of extreme environments, with a focus on the microbial populations of salt-excreting plants; Microbial water quality; Genetically engineered microbial sensors for environmental monitoring, with an emphasis on toxicity and genotoxicity assessment and on the detection of specific classes of compounds, including trace pharmaceuticals and explosives.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Whole-cell biosensors.

 

Eran Blacher

Eran Blacher
Dr.
Eran
Blacher
Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences

Brief Summary of research: 

We study the gut-brain axis in aging and neurological disorders. Our major research question is  how processes that occur in the gut, affect brain functions and the aging process in health and disease. To answer this question, we look at the whole-organism level to identify novel targets to treat brain pathologies. Our ultimate goal is to achieve in-depth understanding of the intestinal processes affecting brain dysfunction (mediated by immune cells, microbiomes, and metabolites) that will support the development of better treatments, prolonged lifespan and healthier aging. We carry out longitudinal pre-clinical studies in young and aged mice to elucidate systemic, long-term processes that predispose the aging organism to develop neurological damage.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

At the Nano-scale – we study age-related cell-cell interactions and tissue architectural changes in brain and intestinal cells by multiplexed imaging. Using our Phenocycler Fusion system, we are able to simultaneously image 70+ markers at protein level in gut and brain sections, to discover cellular localizations, interactions and dynamics at the tissue context.

Amnon Buxboim

AMNON b
Dr.
Amnon
Buxboim
The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Our group is studying how mechanobiological inputs direct cell-fate decision-making by integrating state-of-the-art single-cell genomics, microrheology, and deep learning AI. We focus on the mechanobiology of preimplantation embryo development, stem cell differentiation, inflammation, and nucleus mechanotransduction.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Mechanobiology of oocytes and embryos.

Nir Kalisman

nir k
Dr.
Nir
Kalisman
Department of Biological Chemistry, The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences

Brief Summary of research: 

Structural biology of large protein complexes. Mass-spectrometry. Computational structural modeling based on multiple information sources. Protein structure prediction.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Structural characterization of macro-molecular nano-machines.
 

Eitan Lerner

eitan l
Dr.
Eitan
Lerner
The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science

Brief Summary of research: 

This laboratory is dedicated to the direct measurement of these characteristics of protein systems one molecule at a time, protein-after-protein. Using these techniques we study the molecular mechanisms leading to bacterial resistance to antibiotic molecules, through structural changes in the bacterial transcription complex. Additionally, we study the mechanisms allowing  the transduction of chemical signals through proteins mechanically, and how they assist in transcriptional regulation in bacteria and in signal transduction in the eukaryotic cell.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Fabrication of micro & nano fluidic chips.
 

 

Oren Ram

oren r
Dr.
Oren
Ram
The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Our lab focuses on establishing and utilizing cutting edge single cell technologies to probe chromatin and transcriptional output at the single cell level. Our lab integrates optimization of microfluidic devices, molecular and cellular biology and computational biology, to reveal how regulation at the epigenetic level is established, maintained and altered during development. Our mission is to characterize chromatin mechanisms to better understand cellular processes in helath and disease. 

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Microfluidics, single cell technology development.

 

Dana Reichmann

dana
Prof.
Dana
Reichmann
Dept. of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science

Brief Summary of research: 

One of the major focuses in the lab is understanding how cells maintain their “healthy” and complex protein structures during increased oxidation, which is one of the main hallmarks of aging and age-related diseases (e.g., Alzheimer, Parkinson and others). Our overarching goal is to develop a novel technology that will enable us to unravel the mystery of the cellular “redox code” and the way it defines cells and their aging process. To achieve this goal, we utilize and develop an extensive toolbox of technologies which able to quantify changes on cellular and molecular levels. For example, we have developed fluorescence-based sensors, expressed inside cells at different organelles to monitor and quantify precise changes in intracellular oxidation. This allows us to study redox-dependent heterogeneity on a single cell level as well as isolate a subset of cells with pre-defined cellular oxidation for investigation of its proteome and redox-dependent regulation. On a protein level, we have established a toolbox of cutting-edge mass spectrometry technology to map conformational changes in proteins upon interactions and/or oxidation, specifically focusing on structurally challenging proteins, such as large and dynamic protein complexes. These technologies include an automatized, high-resolution platform for conducting Hydrogen/Deuterium exchange coupled with mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), as well as in-vivo and in-vitro crosslinking (XL-MS). Currently, we are the only lab in Israel that the HDX-MS system

 

Ruth Sperling

ruth s
Prof.
Ruth
Sperling
The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science

Brief Summary of research:

Structure and function of the nuclear pre-mRNA processing machine. Pre-mRNA splicing. Pre-mRNA processing. Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. Assembly and structural studies of biological systems. Autoantibodies against nuclear RNPs-probes for inflammatory myopathies and RNA processing. Physical biochemistry. Electron microscopy.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Cryo-EM of the endogenous spliceosome.
 

Micha E. Spira

micha spira 2
Prof.
Micha
E.
Spira
The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science

Brief Summary of research: 

Development of neuron-electronic hybrid systems.Neural plasticity, a multidisciplinary approach to study the mechanisms underlying short- and long-term neuronal and synaptic remodeling.The cellular, molecular and biophysical mechanisms underlying growth cone formation, navigation of neurites, target recognition, synapse formation and neuronal network construction in development, regeneration and simple forms of learning and memory processes.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: 

  • Development and fabrication of  3D microelectrodes arrays  for simultaneous multi-site wireless intracellular recordings  of neurons from freely behaving rats.
  • Development of multisite intracellular recordings and stimulation of cultured neurons, myocytes and striated muscle fibers.

 

Alon Zaslaver

Alon z
Prof.
Alon
Zaslaver
The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science

Brief Summary of research: 

As a Systems Biology lab we combine experiments and theory to understand the design principles of biological networks.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Microfabrication of microfluidic devices.
 

Computer Science & Engineering

Tsevi Beatus

tzevi b
Dr.
Tsevi
Beatus
The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science and the Benin School for Computer Science and Engineering

Brief Summary of research: 

Flying insects can perform a wide range or aerial maneuvers better than any man-made flying device. Some insects can land upside down, change direction in a split of a second and engage prey or mates in mid-air. To achieve such impressive capabilities, insects have evolved unique flight mechanisms, including a control system that exhibits the fastest reflexes in the animal kingdom. Our goal is to understand these flight control mechanisms experimentally and eventually implement them in robotic systems. This challenge involves cutting-edge topics in control theory, fluid dynamics, physiology, neuroscience and robotics.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: 

3d printing.
 

 

Yaakov Nahmias

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Prof.
Yaakov
Nahmias
Grass Center for Bioengineering

Brief Summary of research: 

Our work is focused on the application of tissue engineering and microfluidics to study how cells process information under dynamic physiological conditions to make metabolic decisions. Our work elucidated the metabolic regulation of viral infection, early human development, tissue morphogenesis and regeneration. Applications range from faster drug development and personalized medicine, to animal-free toxicity studies, and the development of cultured meat.  

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Microfluidics, Micropatterning, Human on Chip.

 

Simon Emmanuel

simon e
Prof.
Simon
Emmanuel
logo Institute of Earth Sciences The Fredy & Nadine Herrmann

Brief Summary of research: 

Our group studies nano-scale geological processes central to hydrology and the oil and gas industry. We use a diverse array of methods, combining cutting edge lab technology, state-of-the-art modeling, and field work.

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Water-rock interaction, Environmental geochemistry.
 

 

Oded Navon

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Prof.
Oded
Navon
Institute of Earth Sciences The Fredy & Nadine Herrmann

Brief Summary of research: 

 I am fascinated by volcanoes, diamonds and pink granites*.  Perhaps this is why I am interested in the role of water and other volatiles in magmatic processes.  Volatiles are involved in most igneous processes.  They are central in formation of melts, play a major role in transporting trace elements and radio-isotopes between mantle reservoirs or between mantle and crust, and are the driving force of explosive volcanic eruptions. 

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Nano-inclusions in minerals.


 

 

Yeala Shaked

Yeala Shaked
Prof.
Yeala
Shaked
Institute of Earth Sciences The Fredy & Nadine Herrmann

Brief Summary of research: 

I am marine biogeochemist and I am studying the bioavailability of iron to marine phytoplankton & the interactions between phytoplankton in the ocean and their chemical environment. In the last years we have been investigating an important colony forming marine cyanobacterium, which we discovered employ many unique pathways to capture particles and aerosols and utilize them as a nutrient source. Our studies focus on microbe-mineral interactions, trying to untangle the molecules and pathways involved in particle attachment and translocation along the colony filaments, communication and dissolution of minerals. 
With regards to the nano-center, we frequently analyze minerals and cell-mineral interactions with SEM, SEM-EDS, XRD, XRF as well as Nano-SIMS, MALDI and Synchrotron (aboard).

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

Desert dust is an important source of the nutrients iron (Fe), phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N) to remote ocean regions, supporting phytoplankton growth and carbon cycling. Desertification induced by global climate change is expected to increase dust fluxes to the ocean. Elucidating the ability of phytoplankton to utilize nutrients from dust, an integrative line of research we have been advancing over the last 12 years, will assist in predicting the function of the ocean as a life-supporting system in the global change era.
Studying natural Trichodesmium colonies from the Gulf of Aqaba, we discovered unique adaptive mechanisms for capturing and storing dust particles within the colony core, enabling efficient utilization of Fe (and P) from dust. We documented a variety of biochemical pathways and physical mechanisms that assist Trichodesmium to obtain Fe from mineral sources. We showed that dust packaging in the colony core is beneficial for uptake, since cell-particle proximity minimize Fe loss by diffusion, and that natural colonies enhance dissolution rates of dust-Fe and Fe-minerals. Lately we found that Trichodesmium and its associated bacteria act together to increase availability of dust-bound iron, where bacteria secrete Fe-binding molecules that promote dust dissolution and Trichodesmium provides dust and optimal physical settings for dissolution and uptake. In addition, we revealed that Trichodesmium can sense Fe and selectively choose Fe-rich dust particles, thus optimizing Fe supply.
Over the last years we expanded our research to the nutrient P and added new disciplines and techniques such as molecular biology (identify microbial interactions and biochemical response to dust), organic chemistry (siderophore characterization), high resolution imaging (Synchrotron, MALDI, NanoSIMS) and micro-electrodes (identify chemical gradients). Trichodesmium is predicted to flourish in the warmer, acidified and “dusty” future ocean. The mechanistic understanding gained by our research on its ability to utilize dust as a nutrient source will enhance our ability to predict the ocean’s operation modes in face of global change, and hence its impact on the atmosphere and climate.
 

 

Yaakov Weiss

YAAKOV WEISS
Dr.
Yaakov
Weiss
The Fredy & Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences The Hebrew University

Brief Summary of research

The overarching aim of my research is to better understand the global material cycles in our planet, especially how the recycling of volatiles such as carbon and hydrogen from the surface to the deep Earth are related to the fluxes of oceanic and continental crust through time.  

Specific research topics related to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology:

I combine petrographic, geochemical and spectroscopic work utilizing various analytical capabilities (including TEM, EPMA, LA-ICP-MS, TIMS, gas mass spectrometry and Raman and infra-red spectroscopy), to study the trapped minerals and fluids in diamonds and the compositions of basaltic magmas that cover the spectrum of mantle compositional “flavors”, as monitors of deep Earth processes.