Anja Reusch

Dr. Anja Reusch is a postdoctoral researcher in the field of information retrieval (IR), the science behind search technology. Her work aims to improve a neural network–based approach to search known as generative IR. She focuses on developing interpretability methods—techniques that model the decision-making process of neural networks to understand how these systems work internally and what they learn during training. The goal of her research is to make search systems faster and more efficient.

Anja investigates the inner workings of a neural network- based approach to search, making search systems faster and more efficient.

Anja earned her combined BSc and MSc and her PhD in computer science from the Technical University of Dresden. She is originally from a small town between Berlin and Leipzig, Germany, and lives now in Haifa with her partner. She served on the executive board as the treasurer of a local student association at TU Dresden and organized several events for computer science students. Having spent a semester each in Japan, China, Singapore, and Israel, Anja enjoys exploring different cultures and learning new languages.

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Eugenia Pyurbeeva

Dr. Eugenia Pyurbeeva is a theoretical physicist and postdoctoral researcher working at the intersection of quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and electronics. Her research focuses on harnessing quantum effects for future everyday technology and exploring how cutting-edge electronic technologies can help answer fundamental questions about how our daily experiences arise from the laws of quantum mechanics.

Eugenia’s research focuses on harnessing quantum effects for future everyday technology and exploring how cutting-edge electronic technologies can help answer fundamental questions about how our daily experiences arise from the laws of quantum mechanics.

Eugenia completed her undergraduate studies at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and received her PhD from the Queen Mary University of London. Born in Moscow, Russia, she spent many years living in London before relocating to Jerusalem for her current position. She is passionate about extracurricular education in physics and has volunteered in after- school clubs and authored multiple problems for math Olympiads. In her free time, she enjoys solving puzzles of all sorts, hiking, writing fiction, listening to classical music, and playing the violin.

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Zuzana Osifová

Dr. Zuzana Osifová is a postdoctoral researcher who aims to uncover the undescribed behaviour of proteins at physiological concentrations—in other words, how proteins fold and interact within the human body. She employs the strong magnetic field of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a non-destructive analytical method that enables us to study chemical structures, including large proteins. Understanding proteins’ structure and folding can help design and target new drugs against diseases related to misfolded proteins, such as Parkinson’s disease.

Zuzana’s research can help design and target new drugs against diseases related to misfolded proteins, such as Parkinson’s disease.

Zuzana completed her MSc and PhD in organic chemistry at Charles University. Originally from Prague, Czechia, she currently resides in Rehovot. She co- authors the educational NMR-Challenge.com project, which educates newcomers in magnetic resonance. Her article on anorexia nervosa won the Science Communication Prize of the Biochemical Society, and she dedicated half of the cash prize to a charity that helps people with eating disorders. Zuzana loves science communication, reading, and writing.

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Mingzi Niu

Dr. Mingzi Niu is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in microeconomic theory, with a focus on the decision-making frictions that lead to inefficient choices. Mingzi’s work encompasses two major sources of these frictions: cognitive biases that distort the decision-making processes, and economic environment, such as information asymmetry or other people’s strategic moves. Her research aims to provide a unified framework to understand individual or collective choices and explore solutions to mitigate these frictions.

Mingzi’s research aims to provide a unified framework to understand individual or collective choices and explore solutions to mitigate these frictions.

Mingzi has a PhD in economics from Rice University, an MA in economics from Duke University, and dual BAs in economics and mathematics from Peking University. Originally from China, she now resides in Jerusalem. Mingzi has volunteered at elementary schools in rural areas around Beijing, teaching English, and she has tutored athletes in microeconomics at Duke University. In her free time, she enjoys camping, cooking, gardening, travelling, and spending time with family and friends.

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Radu Mustață

Dr. Radu Mustață is a historian and postdoctoral researcher, exploring the religious and intellectual history of the Malabar Christians from South India. His research reconstructs how ritual manuscripts from early modern Malabar written in Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic, document the transfer of knowledge from Europe and the Middle East to South India. He aims to discover more information about the human agents involved in the translation of ritual texts from Latin into Syriac by emphasizing the collaboration between European missionaries and their Indian disciples in this enterprise.

Radu aims to discover more information about the human agents involved in the translation of ritual texts from Latin into Syriac.

Radu earned his BA in classics from the University of Bucharest, and his MA and PhD in medieval studies from the Central European University. He is from Brașov, Romania, and currently resides in Jerusalem. Raised in a traditional Christian neighbourhood, he was closely engaged with his community. In his free time, he enjoys reading, hiking, and exploring archaeological sites.

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Maximilian de Molière

Dr. Maximilian de Molière is a historian and postdoctoral researcher specializing in the intellectual and cultural history of early modern libraries, with a focus on Lurianic Ilanot—intricate diagrams depicting the divine realm in Jewish mysticism. He employs advanced digital humanities tools to trace the movement of these artifacts through time, across libraries, and among communities. Maximilian is developing interactive resources that reveal the key figures responsible for preserving these Lurianic Ilanot into our time, shedding new light on their influence on both Jewish and Christian thought.

Maximilian is developing interactive resources that reveal the key figures responsible for preserving Lurianic Ilanot into our time, shedding new light on their influence on both Jewish and Christian thought.

Maximilian earned his MA in Norse studies and his PhD in Jewish history from the University of Munich (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität). Originally from Munich, Germany, he now resides in Jerusalem. In addition to his academic pursuits, he volunteers in local politics and enjoys kayaking, bouldering, reading fiction, and spending time with friends and family.

Photography by: Ildiko Stercken

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Yu-Feng Meng

Dr. Yu-Feng Meng is a chemist and postdoctoral researcher studying biological minerals made by living organisms to support life. His research ranges from investigating rat teeth, which are made of a mineral called hydroxyapatite, to studying tiny marine algal shells made of calcite, another type of mineral. Yu-Feng is leading major breakthroughs in understanding how these biological minerals grow and how their structure relates to their function. These findings have paved the way for the fabrication of new materials applicable in various fields, including bone regeneration and aerospace engineering.

Yu-Feng’s findings are paving the way for the fabrication of new materials applicable in various fields, including bone regeneration and aerospace engineering.

Yu-Feng earned his BE in polymer science from Beijing University of Chemical Technology and his PhD from the University of Science and Technology of China. He is from Hefei, China, and currently resides in Rehovot. During his undergraduate studies, he volunteered to promote science education in primary schools. He enjoys playing badminton and swimming to stay active.

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Eva Francesca Martellotta

Dr. Eva F. Martellotta is an archaeologist and postdoctoral researcher, exploring the butchery practices of early human groups in the southern Caucasus. Her work seeks to combine the study of animal remains and stone artifacts to better understand how these groups obtained food and made tools. She aims to shed light on a very important period in human evolution, the moment when Homo sapiens arrived in southwest Europe, by looking at marks left on bones and what they reveal about human interactions with the environment.

Eva aims to shed light on a very important period in human evolution by looking at marks left on bones and what they reveal about human interactions with the environment.

Eva received a BA in archaeological sciences from Sapienza University of Rome, followed by an MA in quaternary, prehistory, and archaeology from the University of Ferrara. She earned her PhD from Griffith University in Australia. She is from Puglia, Italy, and resides in Jerusalem. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, snorkelling, and watching sci-fi movies.

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Lukas Liehr

Dr. Lukas Liehr is a postdoctoral researcher in mathematics, studying fundamental mathematical problems in materials sciences and quantum mechanics. He applies advanced mathematical techniques to rigorously explain various observed phenomena, such as how the arrangement of atoms in a material can be determined by analyzing the way light scatters off it. His research builds a robust theoretical framework for key scientific and engineering problems, paving the way for algorithmic solutions while optimizing computing time.

Lukas’s research builds a robust theoretical framework for key scientific and engineering problems, paving the way for algorithmic solutions while optimizing computing time.

Lukas received his PhD in mathematics from the University of Vienna. He studied at the Technical University of Munich and Seoul National University, receiving an MSc in

pure mathematics. Originally from Germany, Lukas now resides in Giv’at Shmuel. He has volunteered in several language exchange programs, teaching both German and Korean. In his free time, Lukas practises mixed martial arts and enjoys cooking.

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Alessandro Lenoci

Dr. Alessandro Lenoci is a theoretical physicist and postdoctoral researcher focused on unravelling the mysteries of dark matter, a crucial but unknown component of the universe that shapes galaxy formation through its gravitational influence. Using astrophysical and cosmological observations, he works to define dark matter’s properties and to craft strategies for its detection, driven by a mission to deepen our understanding of the cosmos.

Alessandro works to define dark matter’s properties and to craft strategies for its detection, driven by a mission to deepen our understanding of the cosmos.

Alessandro earned both his BSc and MSc in physics from the University of Padua, and completed his PhD at DESY and the University of Hamburg. Originally from a small town in Lombardy, Italy, Alessandro now resides in Jerusalem. He has mentored high school and university students and in his free time enjoys learning languages, playing guitar, and connecting with friends.

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