Prof. Yeremia is a researcher in the field of psychology and formerly the dean of students at the Hebrew University
Minister of Science, Technology and Space Ya'akov Perry announced today (Wed), the appointment of Prof. Nurit Yeremia as the chief scientist of the ministry. Prof. Yeremiah is Minister Perry's second senior female appointment to the ministry, after a few months ago he appointed a new CEO - Bina Bar-On. Prof. Yermia will replace Prof. Ehud Gazit after a two-year term in which he made a great contribution to the advancement of science and the ministry.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Space Yaakov Perry said: "We are happy to recruit to our ranks an esteemed researcher who combines basic and applied research, education and science in her work and brings with her extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of the academic world. Prof. Yeremia will continue to promote and leverage the firm's ongoing investment in research and development and will be part of setting the scientific agenda in Israel."
The minister thanked Prof. Gazit for his fruitful tenure: "I thank Prof. Gazit who, during his tenure, contributed to the promotion of research and development in Israel, to the development of international science relations and research infrastructures, and to making science accessible to the community. As a chief scientist he pushed with all his might to deal with the national deficit in support of applied research, he introduced animals to the chief scientists forum, and thanks to him a chief scientists report was submitted after many years of not being submitted, apart from being a brilliant scientist, he is a distinguished professional with an understanding of the connection between the academic, public and governmental worlds ".
Prof. Yeremia, born in 1960, completed her undergraduate studies in psychology and philosophy at the University of Haifa. Immediately after her bachelor's degree, she continued on a direct path to a doctorate with a specialization in developmental and clinical psychology at the University of California (UCLA) where she stayed for six years, during which she completed a master's degree, a doctorate and a post-doctorate. Her progress in the world of academia is considered meteoric: after her return to Israel at the age of 30, she was appointed to the position of lecturer at the Hebrew University in the Department of Psychology and the School of Education. Within ten years she received the rank of professor, and five years later the rank of full professor.
Prof. Jeremiah has more than 100 scientific publications in reputed journals. Her main research deals with emotional, social, cognitive and genetic aspects in the field of autism and risk factors of the disease. Her research also deals with normal and abnormal development of children, family factors and early childhood diagnosis. Her research touches both the fields of life sciences and social sciences. Over the years she has trained many students in the field of clinical psychology and her laboratory currently employs 15 students and doctoral students. Her training methods are based on current science, application of theories and findings in the field, intervention, prevention and treatment.
Prof. Jeremiah was the editor of one of the world's leading journals in the field - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Prof. Yeremiah was chosen as the editor of the journal at a time when the academic boycott of Israel was heating up, and this is the first time that an Israeli scientist served in a leading journal in this field in the world. Her research on the detection of autism among siblings of children with autism was the first in the world, and based on it, people work to this day in the field of early childhood diagnosis.
Alongside her academic activities, Prof. Yeremia also held academic management positions: between 2011 and 2012 she served as Dean of Students at the Hebrew University, and between 2000 and 2003 as director of the Lifer Center for Gender and Women's Studies at the Hebrew University. During her tenure as dean of students, she initiated the "Opi" project for student involvement for children without family in Jerusalem. Prof. Yeremia is a member of many academic and public committees over the years in government ministries and the university. Another interesting detail - she served as an academic consultant for Sesame Street and educational television.
