Researchers from the Hebrew University, the Technion and Tel Aviv won ERC grants for young scientists (more on each research)

These grants, valued at approximately 1.5 million euros per researcher, are intended for young scientists with the potential for scientific breakthroughs in their field

Researchers from the Hebrew University, the Technion and Tel Aviv University were selected to receive the prestigious grant from the European Research Commission (ERC Starting Grants). These grants, valued at approximately 1.5 million euros per researcher, are intended for young scientists with the potential for scientific breakthroughs in their field.

The grant winners from the Hebrew University

• Dr. Karma ben Yohanan (Department of Comparative Religions) - Researched the rejection of Christian anti-Semitism in Europe after World War II.
• Dr. Moran Frankel Pinter (Institute of Chemistry) - research on the origins of chemical life on the ancient Earth.
• Dr. Ilan Komargodsky (engineering and computer science) - development of secure communication protocols.
• Dr. Noam Lifshitz (Institute of Mathematics) - Analysis of Boolean functions using tools from set theory.
• Dr. Gideon Mammon (Faculty of Medicine) - research on the structure of the bacterial envelope and their resistance to antibiotics.

Technion grant winners

• Dr. Yonatan Belinkov (Computer Science) - Understanding the behavior of artificial intelligence systems and reducing biases in models.
• Dr. Ari Glasner (Medicine) - research on the immune system and the interaction with cancer cells.
• Dr. Hami Rotenberg (biomedical engineering) - development of interfaces for precise stimulation of cells and tissues.
• Dr. Yaniv Romano (Electrical and Computer Engineering) - Development of protection systems for computational learning applications.

Grant winners from Tel Aviv University

• Prof. Yasmin Maroz (Plant Sciences) - Understanding distributed computing processes in plants in response to environmental changes.
• Dr. Nadav Cohen (Computer Science) - development of a mathematical theory for artificial neural networks in control.
• Dr. Tomer Shanhar (Physics and Astronomy) - Research of heavy stars in the early universe using advanced telescopes.
• Dr. Lior Medina (Mechanical Engineering) - Development of micro-metastructures to increase the autonomy of sensing systems.
• Dr. Aldama Shesh-Chen (biomedical research) - researched the role of the ribosome in the development of cancer metastases.
• Dr. Roy Barkan (Environmental Studies and Earth Sciences) - research on the oceanic mixing layer and its effect on climate forecasts.
• Dr. Arseny Finkelstein (Neurosciences) - Researching the creation of new memories and understanding the physical basis of learning processes.
• Dr. Shani Danieli (Physics and Astronomy) - Researching pale galaxies and understanding dark matter formation processes.
• Dr. Ila Lampel (biomedical research) - development of micro-plants to control organic catalysis.
• Dr. Roi Levy (Economics) - research on news bias and its effect on media consumption in the age of social networks.
• Dr. Dominik Maximilian Jurashek (Physics and Astronomy) - research of chiral phononics to create effective magnetic fields in quantum materials.

Dr. Karma Ben Yohanan - The Hebrew University 

Research topic: "Christo-Semitism: Christian anti-Semitism in Europe, 1945-2020". Field: Comparative Religions 

Dr. Karma Ben Yohanan is engaged in researching the phenomenon of "Christo-Semitism" - a concept that describes the rejection of anti-Semitism within the Christian Church after World War II. Her research focuses on theological, institutional and liturgical changes in the Christian Church, in light of its fight against anti-Semitism during a critical period in history. Dr. Ben Yohanan uses text and information analysis technologies, including natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning-based models to map and understand the changes that have taken place in religious views across Europe. The research includes the construction of historical databases, which make it possible to identify patterns of change over the years, as well as to examine the social and religious effects of these historical processes, such as secularization, decolonization, and the transition of the Christian Church to new centers in the Global South. The research also includes comparative analyzes of the positions of the various churches towards Judaism and anti-Semitism, which contributes to the understanding of the political and social effects of the church in the modern world.

Dr. Roi Levy - Tel Aviv University 

Research topic: news bias in the age of social networks. Field: Economics 

Dr. Roi Levy studies the impact of social networks on the way people consume news in the digital age. His research focuses on biases in news content and how people are exposed to articles that match their opinions. Through the use of large language models (LLM) and the analysis of huge databases, the research examines the effects of algorithms in social networks on the creation of "echo chambers", where people are only exposed to content that matches their political views. The use of advanced machine learning technologies makes it possible to analyze each news story and measure its degree of bias, which makes it possible to better understand how the algorithms choose the content that consumers will see. The study also examines whether consumers' choice to avoid content contrary to their opinions is a result of personal preference, or whether the algorithms themselves increase exposure to biased opinions. The results of the research may influence the way new systems work in the future and help reduce political polarization and deception in media content.

exact sciences

Dr. Tomer Shanhar - Tel Aviv University.

Research topic: heavy stars in the early universe. Field: Physics and Astronomy
Dr. Shenhar's research deals with the analysis of heavy stars in the early universe, with an emphasis on pairs of stars that eventually collapse into black holes or neutron stars. The research combines advanced observational technologies such as the James Webb Space Telescope and automated data analysis systems to produce accurate information about the properties of these stars. The use of data analysis technologies improves the ability to understand the processes occurring in the distant universe and compare them to those known in the Milky Way galaxy.

Dr. Shani Danieli - Tel Aviv University

Research topic: Study of pale galaxies and dark matter. Field: observational astrophysics
Dr. Danieli focuses on low-mass galaxies that are essential for the study of dark matter. This research makes use of advanced telescopes and innovative computer tools to detect faint galaxies, which are not normally visible in normal observations. Advanced image processing technologies make it possible to analyze the pale galaxies precisely and to study the role of dark matter in their creation and development.

Dr. Lior Medina - Tel Aviv University

Research topic: micro-metastructures
domain: Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Medina's research deals with the development of micro-metastructures - tiny structures that enable parallel and distributed computation while minimizing mechanical and optical components. The research combines advanced methods for mechanical visualization and precise structural design, and aims to lead to the development of smart sensors and the realization of smaller systems based on self-calculation independent of traditional processors. The micro-meta structures are expected to be used in the field of mechanical sensing and in many industrial applications.

Dr. Dominic Maximilian Jurashek - Tel Aviv University

Research topic: Chiral phononics. domain: Physics of quantum materials
The research deals with the study of chiral phonons - circular vibrational movements of atoms in solid materials. Dr. Jurashek uses advanced atomic imaging technologies and physical tools to convert vibrational movements into electricity. The insights from the research may lead to the development of extremely fast switches that allow control of magnetic properties in topological materials, which can be used in future electronics.

Computer Science

Dr. Nadav Cohen - Tel Aviv University.

Research topic: Mathematical theory for artificial neural networks, domain: computer science.
The research focuses on developing a mathematical basis for artificial neural networks, especially in reinforcement learning and control. Dr. Cohen uses computational mathematics tools to understand the internal mechanisms of these networks, which can lead to improved safety and reliability of artificial intelligence-based systems, especially in critical fields such as aviation and medicine.

Dr. Ilan Komargodsky - The Hebrew University

Research topic: Secure communication protocols. domain: Cryptography and computer science
Dr. Komargodsky's research focuses on the development of distributed protocols for information security in communication networks. The use of game theory technologies and artificial intelligence tools make it possible to produce secure methods for multiplayer calculations. The research may lead to significant improvements in information security in business and government uses.

Life science

Dr. Moran Frankel Pinter - The Hebrew University

Research topic: The chemical origins of life. domain: Biochemistry and life sciences
The research deals with the chemical processes that led to the formation of life on the surface of the ancient Earth. Dr. Frankel Pinter investigates how simple sugars created functional polymers capable of assembling themselves and becoming catalysts. The chemical tools used in the research provide new insights into early evolutionary processes and the formation of life in complex chemical systems.

Dr. Aldama Shesh-Chen - Tel Aviv University

Research topic: The role of the ribosome in cancer metastasis. domain: Molecular biology
This study examines the role of the ribosome - the cellular structure responsible for protein production - in the process of cancer metastasis. Dr. Shesh-Chen uses advanced genomics technologies to analyze the role of the ribosome in stages of cancer development and to map ribosome patterns in metastases, with the aim of developing target-oriented therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Ari Glasner – The Technion

Research topic: Interactions between the immune system and the tumor microenvironment. domain: Immunology and Cancer
Dr. Glasner's research deals with mapping the interactions between immune system cells and cancer cells in the microenvironment of the tumor. Dr. Glasner uses molecular imaging and information science technologies to analyze the roles of the various cells in the cancer environment and to identify new targets for targeted immunotherapy.

Dr. Gideon Mammon - The Hebrew University

Research topic: The structure of the bacterial envelope and resistance to antibiotics. domain: Cell biology

Dr. Gideon Mammon's research focuses on the structure of the bacterial envelope, which consists of layers that protect the cell from antibiotics. The purpose of the research is to understand how the bacterium coordinates the construction of the various shell components and how these layers work together to give the bacterium resistance to antibiotic treatments. Dr. Mammon uses advanced microscopy tools and genomic technologies to analyze the interrelationships between the various components of the bacterial envelope. Understanding these mechanisms may lead to the development of new antibiotic drugs that target damage to the bacterial envelope, thus reducing bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Dr. Hami Rotenberg – The Technion

Research topic: Precise stimulation of cells and tissues
domain: Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Hami Rotenberg's research focuses on developing methods for precise stimulation of cells and tissues through the use of light sources external to the body. The innovative technology developed by Dr. Rotenberg makes it possible to restore damaged nerve tissues and perform cardiac pacing in a non-invasive manner, using advanced electro-mechanical and optical interfaces. The research aims to combine micro-optical and mechanical components to enable controlled stimulation with a high level of precision of different cells. This technology may revolutionize the field of biomedical engineering, with possible applications in restorative medicine and neurology.

Dr. Arseny Finkelstein - Tel Aviv University

Research topic: Memory-making processes in the brain. domain: Brain science
Dr. Finkelstein's research deals with understanding the processes that allow the brain to create new memories. He focuses on changes in the patterns of connections between neurons following learning and experience, and uses advanced optical methods to read neural activity in real time. In addition, the research examines the possibility of creating artificial memories through direct "writing" of information into the brain. The results of the research will help reveal the neural mechanisms that allow the brain to store information and better understand the learning and memory processes.

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