Yifat Hillel

Yifat Hillel is a PhD candidate in the field of education, focusing on the political imagination in Jewish–Arab relationships, particularly within the Hagar Association’s initiatives. This association promotes shared life between Jews and Arabs in Beersheba through bilingual education and community life. Her research uses member experiences and educational materials of these collectives to understand their perceived political reality. The study explores the possibilities, limitations, and potential futures in their political imagination and implications for Israeli democracy.

Yifat explores the possibilities, limitations, and potential futures in Jewish–Arab relationships and the implications for Israeli democracy.

Yifat holds a BA in behavioural sciences and an MA in sociology from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. She was born and raised in Beersheba and now resides in Omer. She has been actively involved in social and educational activism over the past quarter century and continues to be engaged in these efforts. Her well-being is supported by her three children, her partner, yoga, and hope for a better future.

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Michal Hanouka

Michal Hanouka is a PhD candidate in education, examining factors that improve resilience in adolescents in out-of-home care. Michal’s work focuses especially on the potential within the school framework to strengthen personal and educational resilience among these youth. Her research aims to expand theoretical knowledge and help develop educational intervention programs.

Michal’s research aims to expand theoretical knowledge and help develop educational intervention programs.

Michal is from Yavne and received a BA in behavioural sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and an MA in educational counselling at Tel Aviv University. She has been working in training educational teams who teach and care for youths in out-of-home facilities. She is also involved in educational programs among southern Israeli communities, dealing with ongoing trauma following the events of October 7, 2023. In her free time, Michal enjoys reading, creative writing, and spending quality time with her family.

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Sarit Feldman

Sarit Feldman is a computational biologist and PhD candidate, exploring the mechanisms of healthy aging and longevity. Drawing on evolutionary biology, particularly the development of long- living animals, her research aims to understand the differences in protein modifications between short- and long-living mammals. Sarit employs tools from data science, statistics, AI, and molecular biology to identify longevity-associated protein modifications and find new targets for interventions to enhance the quality of life for the elderly.

Sarit identifies longevity-associated protein modifications and finds new targets for interventions to enhance the quality of life for the elderly.

Sarit earned her BSc in computer science and neuroscience and an MSc in bioinformatics from Bar-Ilan University. Born in 1998 as a first-generation Israeli, she lives with her partner in Givatayim. Passionate about STEM education and empowering women in science, Sarit leads Nucleate Israel, a student-led global nonprofit organization aiming to empower the next generation of biotech leaders. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, reading fiction, and travelling.

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Aviva Eliyahu

Aviva Eliyahu is a pediatric medical geneticist, developmental biologist, and PhD candidate researching the genetics of sex determination in mammals. This process, in which an embryo develops as either male or female, is controlled by many genes. When these genes do not function correctly, it can cause a condition known as differences of sexual development (DSD). Aviva is studying how these genes are regulated and influence one another to identify the genetic causes of DSD in patients.

Aviva is studying how genes are regulated and influence one another in order to identify the causes of DSD in patients.

Aviva received her BSc in medical sciences and her MD from Tel Aviv University. Originally from Baltimore, she moved to Israel at the age of four and now resides in Rinatya with her husband and three children. She has been involved in volunteering with Holocaust survivors. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, engaging in sports, and writing.

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Elad Dvir

Elad Dvir is a PhD candidate in the field of genomics, the study of genes and their functions. He studies changes in nervous system development in the context of disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and Huntington’s disease. Studying ASD- associated genes, he uses advanced methods to investigate how genetic mutations affect the development of pluripotent cells (embryonic cells that generate all types of cells in our body) toward the nervous system. He aims to identify different types of ASD mutations that may respond to different therapeutic approaches.

Elad aims to identify different types of ASD mutations that may respond to different therapeutic approaches.

Elad earned his BSc in psychobiology and the Amirim-Natural Sciences Honors Program, as well as his MSc in genetics with bioinformatics specialization from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He was born and currently resides in Jerusalem with his wife. Before his military service, he participated in the Meitzar pre-military program and volunteered at the Ramat Tveria Medical Centre for adults with neurodevelopmental disorders. In his free time, he enjoys music, chess, and spending time with family and friends.

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Tomer Cohen

Tomer Cohen is a computational biologist and PhD candidate. His research aims to improve our understanding of how antibodies, which are proteins used by the immune system to neutralize pathogens, interact with their targets. To achieve this, he uses tools like deep neural networks, a type of machine learning, to develop accurate computational models. Tomer aims to enhance the accuracy of predicting antibody interactions, which is crucial for designing new and effective therapeutics.

Tomer aims to enhance the accuracy of predicting antibody interactions, which is crucial for designing new and effective therapeutics.

Tomer earned his BSc and MSc in computer science and computational biology from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Originally from the small moshav of Alon HaGalil, he now lives in Tel Aviv. Tomer served as a combat soldier and commander in the Meitar unit of the IDF. He enjoys hiking, especially multi-day treks abroad, and has explored Nepal, New Zealand, and Kyrgyzstan, among other places. In his free time, Tomer also likes running and cooking for family and friends.

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Iddo Better Pocker

Iddo Better Pocker is a PhD candidate in Israeli history, studying the audiovisual history of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. His research focuses on propaganda films produced or subsidized by Israeli authorities and Palestinian organizations from 1967 to 1987 to advance national agendas. By blending historical inquiry with visual analysis, Iddo’s work explores how films shaped the conflict’s dynamics, not just depicting but actively influencing its course. His research aims to uncover the historical role of audiovisual media in determining the conflict’s trajectory and its impact on national perception.

Iddo aims to uncover the historical role of audiovisual media in determining the Israeli-Palestinian conflict’s trajectory and its impact on national perception.

Born and raised in Tel Aviv, Iddo holds a BA in Jewish history and film studies from Tel Aviv University. He served in the IDF’s intelligence unit 8200 and has been serving as a consultant for Israel’s Ministry of Defense. Iddo is also a student editor for the Journal of Israeli History. He enjoys reading, watching movies, and filming documentaries in his free time.

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Asaf Ben-Haim

Asaf Ben-Haim is an archaeologist and PhD candidate, studying urbanization in Jerusalem during the Hellenistic and Early Roman periods. He is working on a geographical database of archaeological excavations in the Upper City, the aristocratic residential neighbourhood. His research tracks the neighbourhood’s development from the Hasmonean era—c.140 BCE to 37 BCE—to its destruction by the Romans in 70 CE, aiming to reveal how the spread of Hellenistic and Roman cultures affected Jewish society as portrayed in the city’s architecture and layout.

Asaf aims to reveal how the spread of Hellenistic and Roman cultures affected Jewish society, shown by Jerusalem’s architecture and layout.

Asaf earned his BSc in biology and archaeology and his MA in archaeology from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He grew up in Ra’anana and now lives in Tal Shahar with his partner, David, and their dog, Augustus, and cat, Matthias. Asaf has volunteered with Hoshen, an LGBTQI awareness NGO, and enjoys hiking, long walks around Israel, and singing Israeli folk songs.

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Shai Ben Ami

Shai Ben Ami is a PhD candidate in the field of nonlinear optics. Shai’s research focuses on how light and sound waves interact within silicon microchips, which are essential components in the integrated photonics industry. For these waves to interact, they must overlap as they travel through the chip. However, standard silicon chips typically prevent this from happening. While others have explored non-standard materials or exotic designs to address this challenge, Shai uses surface acoustic waves—vibrations that travel along the chip’s surface—to overcome this limitation, enabling light and sound to work together in standard chips and unlocking new possibilities in photonics technology.

Shai seeks to unlock new possibilities in photonics technology by enabling light and sound to work together in standard silicon chips.

Shai completed his BSc in electrical engineering and physics and an MSc in physics at Bar-Ilan University. He lives in Givatayim with his wife, their daughter, and their dog. He served in a tank crew in the IDF and spent six months on reserve duty during the Iron Swords War. In his free time, Shai enjoys playing basketball, travelling with his family, and listening to lectures about advanced topics in physics.

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Dana Azani Sadka

Dana Azani Sadka is a PhD candidate in the field of psychology whose research examines whether social groups can enhance the sense of attachment security, which is the confidence in having supportive others available when needed. Dana’s work explores the idea that groups can help individuals with an insecure attachment style. For group members with an anxious attachment style, the group can make them feel accepted, capable, and less worried. For members with an avoidant attachment style, groups can respect their independence while reassuring them that interdependence can be a positive experience. Her research aims to develop effective group-level interventions to foster security, well-being, and functioning.

Dana’s research aims to develop effective group-level interventions to foster security, well-being, and functioning.

Dana received a BA in psychology and an MA in clinical psychology from Reichman University. She is from Rosh HaAyin and currently resides in Herzliya. Dana is a clinical psychology intern at Geha Mental Health Center. She was an instructor at the Tavor Pre-Military Academy, participated in the Rabin Leadership Program, and volunteered at Heroes for Life in India.

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