Maximilian E. Kirschhock

Dr. Maximilian Kirschhock is a postdoctoral researcher in the field of neuroscience, researching the brain mechanisms that allow different animals to behave intelligently. He focuses on Egyptian fruit bats that navigate a large, complex flight maze and the underlying brain processes for their expert navigation. By comparing the neuronal basis for cognitive behaviour across species, he aims to elucidate the foundations of intelligence of both animals and humans.

Maximilian aims to elucidate the foundations of intelligence of both animals and humans.

Maximilian earned his BSc in biology from the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg and his PhD in neuroscience from the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. Growing up close to Rosenheim in Germany, Maximilian and his wife now reside in Rehovot. Maximilian is passionate about communicating his research and training future generations of scientists. In his spare time, Maximilian enjoys exploring nature while hiking and birdwatching.

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Marina Khachaturyan

Dr. Marina Khachaturyan is an evolutionary biologist and a postdoctoral researcher exploring the reversible yet accumulating resistance of cancer cells to anticancer therapies, with a focus on the role of mitochondria—organelles with their own genetic material that act as the powerhouses of cells—in this phenomenon. She employs advanced bioinformatics techniques to analyze sequencing data and model evolutionary processes. By deciphering the mechanisms behind reversible drug resistance, her work aims to improve predictions of patient responses to therapy and contribute to the development of more effective cancer treatment protocols.

Marina aims to improve predictions of patient responses to anticancer therapy and contribute to the development of more effective cancer treatment protocols.

Marina earned her BSc and MSc in bioengineering and bioinformatics from Lomonosov Moscow State University and a PhD in biology from the Christian Albrecht University of Kiel. Originally from Moscow, Russia, Marina currently resides in Tel Aviv. She has previously volunteered to help Ukrainian refugees make it safely into Europe with Rubikus.helpUA. After moving to Israel, she discovered surfing and now spends most of her free time in the sea.

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Kalyan Jyoti Kalita

Dr. Kalyan Jyoti Kalita is a physical organic chemist and postdoctoral researcher specializing in organic optoelectronics and crystal engineering. Optoelectronics is the science of photonic devices—devices that use or produce light, such as solar panels, LEDs, organic field- effect transistors, and sensors. His work focuses on designing and synthesizing innovative materials for these devices that are flexible or adaptable to stress without breaking. By exploring and leveraging the unique properties of these materials, his work aims to improve the efficiency and performance of electronic and photonic devices.

Kalyan aims to improve the efficiency and performance of electronic and photonic devices.

Kalyan earned his MS and PhD in chemical sciences from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata. Originally from Assam, India, Kalyan is passionate about using his research to solve real-world challenges in sustainable materials and green chemistry. In his spare time, he enjoys playing chess, table tennis, lawn tennis, and exploring new technologies.

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Katja Irob

Dr. Katja Irob is a computational biologist and dryland ecologist researching how climate change alters the composition and functioning of Mediterranean woodlands and how it affects the benefits that this ecosystem provides. Combining modelling and fieldwork, she studies the resilience of Mediterranean woodlands under climate extremes, focusing on how to manage these systems to enhance their ability to withstand future climatic challenges sustainably.

Katja studies the resilience of Mediterranean woodlands under climate extremes, focusing on how to enhance their ability to withstand future climatic challenges sustainably.

Katja earned her BSc, MSc, and PhD at the Freie Universität Berlin, including research stays in La Réunion and Australia. Her PhD research, conducted in Namibia, investigated how the diversity of wild herbivores and plant functional types can strengthen savannah resilience against climate shifts and uncertainties. Raised in Berlin, Germany, she now resides in Tel Aviv, where she volunteers at an animal shelter and enjoys running, reading, ceramics, and marine sports.

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Justine Boutry

Dr. Justine Boutry is an evolutionary ecologist and postdoctoral researcher studying how climate change influences parasite–host dynamics. She focuses on the effects of heat waves on a bacterial parasite’s ability to cause damage to its host, the freshwater crustacean Daphnia, as well as the subsequent impacts on freshwater ecosystems. By understanding these relationships, she aims to predict how climate change will reshape epidemics and ecosystems.

Justine aims to predict how climate change will reshape epidemics and ecosystems.

Justine holds an MSc in eco-evolution and genomics from Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 and a PhD in evolutionary parasitology from the University of Montpellier. Originally from a country town in the Bresse region of France, she now lives in Ramat Gan with her ferret. She is passionate about scientific communication, sharing her research in breweries, on the radio, and in performances as a queer drag artist. She enjoys cooking, hiking, paragliding, and, most of all, spending time with loved ones.

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Kay Malte Bischof

Dr. Kay Malte Bischof is a postdoctoral researcher in the field of philosophy. His research concerns our idea of God and addresses the question: Should I be a Spinozist or a theist? Whereas Spinozists claim that God and the world are one, theists claim that God and the world are distinct. Our answer determines whether we see ourselves vanishing into the eternal substance (Spinozism) or asserting our independent existence as mortal beings (theism).

Kay asks us to reflect on whether we align more with Spinozism— seeing ourselves as part of an eternal, unified substance—or theism, where we assert our individuality within a world distinct from God.

Kay Malte earned his PhD in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to Notre Dame, he earned an MSt in theology from the University of Oxford and an MLitt in philosophy from the University of St Andrews. Before that, he studied English literature, rhetoric, and Protestant theology at King’s College London, Yale University, and the University of Tübingen. Originally from Cologne, Germany, Kay Malte now lives in Jerusalem. He’s a passionate teacher and volunteers in prisons for both kids and adults.

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Raluca Balan

Dr. Raluca Balan is a postdoctoral researcher in psychology, focused on evaluating whether a psychological intervention targeting moral disengagement is more effective than promoting empathy in reducing bullying among adolescents. Her research also employs innovative digital tools, such as chatbots, to deliver these interventions. Her work aims to develop a novel approach to addressing bullying and to identify the most effective elements of anti-bullying interventions.

Raluca’s work aims to develop a novel approach to addressing bullying and to identify the most effective elements of anti-bullying interventions.

Raluca received a BA in psychology, an MD in clinical psychology, and a PhD in psychology, all from Babeş- Bolyai University. She is from Suceava, Romania, and she currently resides in Jerusalem. Raluca has been involved with volunteering at the Romania Magic Association, providing support for chronically ill children. In her free time, she enjoys travelling and reading books about philosophy, politics, and counterterrorism.

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Nevo Spiegel

Nevo Spiegel is a PhD candidate in the philosophy of language, working on methods for improving concepts by changing their meaning. This is a novel field known as “conceptual engineering,” which uses insights and tools from various areas in philosophy to assess and improve essentially contested concepts, which are concepts with no consensus on their proper use or meaning. He aims to develop a theory for refining these concepts in public discourse by treating them as collections of shared social practices and improving them through a process of careful analysis and reinterpretation.

Nevo aims to develop a theory for refining essentially contested concepts in public discourse.

Nevo holds an LLB in law and a BA in philosophy from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as well as an MA in philosophy of science from Tel Aviv University. He currently resides in his native city, Haifa. With experience teaching law at various high schools, Nevo is committed to making quality education available for all.

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Asaf Petruschka

Asaf Petruschka is a PhD candidate in the field of theoretical computer science, researching efficient network algorithms and structures—especially those that cope with failure events in a network. Failures commonly occur in many vast networks that prevail in modern technology, such as communication systems, energy grids, road networks in navigation apps, or social media platforms. Asaf’s work uses mathematical tools to effectively model and cope with such phenomena.

Asaf’s work uses mathematical tools to effectively model and cope with failure events in a network.

Asaf received a BSc in computer science and mathematics from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and an MSc in computer science and applied mathematics from the Weizmann Institute of Science. He grew up in Haifa and now lives in Tel Aviv with his partner, Yarden. Asaf served as an officer in the Intelligence Corps of the IDF.

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Tom Parnass

Tom Parnass is a PhD candidate specializing in Jewish thought, focusing on early modern Jewish intellectual history, particularly Kabbalah, the Jewish esoteric literature. He studies the development of Lurianic Kabbalah, a central form of modern Jewish mysticism that originated with Rabbi Isaac Luria. Tom explores how Luria’s teachings, developed in the sixteenth-century town of Safed, were reshaped by his students in Damascus and Jerusalem. Originally centred on the master’s insights into his disciples’ souls, these teachings were transformed into a spiritual ethos that profoundly impacted contemporary Jewish culture. Tom’s work emphasizes the adaptation of religious- esoteric knowledge to meet the varying needs of specific groups and contexts.

Tom’s work emphasizes the adaptation of religious-esoteric knowledge to meet the varying needs of specific groups and contexts.

Tom holds a BA and MA in history from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He lives in Tekoah with his wife. Tom has done volunteer work in shelters for children who have suffered abuse. In his free time, he enjoys playing traditional Turkish music on his saz and spending time with family and friends.

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