Natanel Jarach

Natanel Jarach is a PhD student in the Institute of Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem under the joint supervision of Prof. Shlomo Magdassi (Hebrew University) and Prof. Hanna Dodiuk (Shenkar College).

His research focuses on developing sustainable polymers for 3D printing, a rapidly advancing field in which most raw materials are non-recyclable.

Natanel’s research aims to address this issue by developing two types of fully recyclable photolithography 3D (re)printable polymers. The first set utilizes light-induced reversible reactions, which have never been used in this field. The second set incorporates pH-responsive reversible groups. By adding a component known as “photo base generator,” he plans to use these groups, for the first time, as reversible photolithography-based raw materials. Through his research, Natanel hopes to push the boundaries of technology and sustainable chemistry to benefit industries using radiation crosslinking as they strive to minimize their environmental impact.

Natanel was born in Tzur Yigal and currently lives in Jerusalem with his husband. His academic journey began at Shenkar College, where he completed his BSc and MSc in polymeric materials engineering (summa cum laude). During his studies, he was drawn to sustainability and now pursues the subject with a vision for sustainable and climate-conscious chemistry for a better world. Despite being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, Natanel volunteered for full military service, serving for seven years and completing officers’ course. He continues to contribute to his unit on a monthly or bi-monthly basis as a reservist and a consultant. Natanel also spends time helping other religious LGBTQ+ people with their struggles while promoting visibility and open dialogue on the subject. In his free time, he enjoys drawing, reading, running, baking, and watching television.

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Guy Kornowski

Guy Kornowski is a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science & Applied Mathematics at the Weizmann Institute of Science under the supervision of Prof. Ohad Shamir.

Ori’s research interests are machine learning and optimization theory, specifically, the complexity of learning algorithms.

Such algorithms make predictions based on observed data and are used throughout science and technology. Guy’s research is fundamental in its nature and aims to provide grounded algorithms that are efficient in terms of both computational resources and the amount of data required for meaningful generalization. Understanding fundamental barriers in this realm and finding ways to overcome them often involves deep mathematical insight.

Guy lives in Tel Aviv with his partner, Tom. He obtained his BSc in mathematics at Tel Aviv University and his MSc at the Weizmann Institute of Science. In the past few years, he has volunteered as a mentor at Magshimim, a national program that provides computer science education to underprivileged youth. Prior to his current academic path, Guy was a professional jazz guitarist and completed his musical studies at the Israel Conservatory of Music. He has performed in renowned music venues in Israel and abroad and won several awards, including the America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarship and first prize in the Rostov International Jazz Competition.

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Ezra Ben Abu

Ezra Ben Abu is a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology under the supervision of Prof. Amir Gat. His research focuses on leveraging viscous flow and multistable structures that can change their shape in multiple ways in applications such as energy harvesting and storage, refrigeration cycles, heat pumps, search and rescue operations, and minimally invasive surgical procedures. Ezra has invented a novel structure that can twist and change its shape in multiple ways. He has also succeeded in miniaturizing this structure to reach the smallest micro-scale dimensions.

His research contributions have the potential to make a substantial impact and have already shown promise in revolutionizing fields such as green energy, soft robotics, and medical devices.

Ezra was born and raised in Holon and currently lives in Haifa with his fiancé. He has a BSc in mechanical engineering from Afeka – The Academic College of Engineering in Tel Aviv and is currently following a direct PhD track. For almost a decade, Ezra has trained in Muay Thai, a martial art that assists him in balancing various aspects of life. In the past year, he has volunteered at Latet, the largest NGO combating poverty and food insecurity in Israel. In his free time, Ezra enjoys being with his fiancé, family, and friends, reading, watching movies, and listening to podcasts.

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Boaz Garfinkel

Boaz Garfinkel is a PhD candidate in The Azrieli Center for Israel Studies (MALI), Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev under the guidance of Prof. Avi Bareli (Ben- Gurion University) and Prof. Danny Gutwein (University of Haifa).

Boaz’s research focuses on understanding the class formation resulting from the government’s housing distribution policy in the early years after the establishment of the State of Israel.

By examining numerous original archival documents, his research investigates the government’s intentions, considerations, and eligibility criteria for the distribution of housing. He hopes that this research will help shed light on the origins and development of social and political inequality in Israel today.

Boaz grew up in Jerusalem and has been living in Haifa for the last eight years. He completed both his BA and MA in the University of Haifa’s Department of Jewish History. His MA focused on Israel’s labour history, with a particular emphasis on strike action during the early years of statehood. He now teaches in the same department a course on the transition from feudalism to capitalism. His passion for labour and social history extends beyond academia, and he actively contributes to the intellectual discourse on social and political issues as one of the founders and a member of the editorial board of Pigumim, the Israeli magazine for socialist thought and philosophy. In his free time, Boaz enjoys reading novels, engaging in thought- provoking discussions with friends, and working out.

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Avi Gluck

Avi Gluck is a PhD student in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the Weizmann Institute of Science under the supervision of Prof. Noam Stern-Ginossar.

His research focuses on the mechanisms employed by SARS-CoV-2 to shut off host protein synthesis and subvert the host cell toward successful viral production.

Avi uses a combination of molecular and high-throughput techniques to probe the mechanism and host factors involved in host mRNA decay induced by the coronavirus. Understanding the specifics of this viral strategy will provide insight into potential treatments, against not only COVID-19 but also potential future novel coronaviruses.

Avi was born in Chicago and immigrated to Israel at the age of 19. He currently lives in Kiryat Gat with his wife and three children. After serving in the IDF as a lone soldier, he obtained a BSc in biochemistry and food science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MSc at the Weizmann Institute of Science, where he studied host shutoff in coronaviruses. During his undergraduate studies, Avi volunteered at the Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin helping fellow lone soldiers. In his free time, Avi enjoys hiking, running, listening to audiobooks, and spending time with his family.

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Ariel Tennenhouse

Ariel Tennenhouse is a PhD student in the Lab of Protein Design at the Department of Biomolecular Sciences of the Weizmann Institute of Science under the supervision of Prof. Sarel-Jacob Fleishman.

Ariel studies how antibody sequence and structure determine function and is developing a combination of computational and experimental methods to address this fundamental question.

He employs cutting-edge atomistic protein design and machine-learning methods to design a library of billions of human antibodies and uses high- throughput experimental screening to evaluate their function and stability. Ariel’s work, which is groundbreaking in terms of the massive scale of its computational protein design, aims to shed light on the biophysical underpinnings of processes that are critical for the efficacy of antibodies and to eventually create an ideal library of antibodies for drug discovery. He also hopes to provide tools to accelerate development and lower the cost of life-saving antibody therapeutics.

Ariel was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He obtained his BSc in chemical biology at the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to his studies, Ariel was deeply involved with the campus Hillel and an organization called Camp Kesem which organizes a free, week-long summer camp for children whose parents have cancer, for which students fundraise throughout the year. He joined the Weizmann Institute in 2019 to study for his MSc in chemistry and now lives in Tel Aviv. In his free time, Ariel enjoys playing Frisbee, reading, seeing friends, and watching TV.

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Anna Pshenichny-Mamo

Anna Pshenichny-Mamo is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Education in Science and Technology at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology under the supervision of Prof. Dina Tsybulsky.

Anna’s research centres on the integration of the nature of science in natural history museums, which remains a relatively unexplored area despite its potential impact on visitors’ understanding of the different aspects of science.

Her research employs various methodologies, such as analyzing exhibitions, gathering data from museum scientists, curators, and educational teams, and examining guided tours in natural history museums worldwide. Her goal is to formulate conceptual approaches that enhance the educational value of natural history museums for integrating the nature of science. Based on her research findings, Anna aims to provide policy recommendations for exhibitions and guided tours, highlighting opportunities to make implicit references to the nature of science more explicit, thereby enriching visitors’ perspectives and knowledge.

Anna was born in Kherson, Ukraine, and immigrated to Israel at the age of seven with her parents. They moved to Kiryat Ata, where she currently lives with her husband and their two children. Anna obtained a BSc in biology and a MSc in education in science and technology at the Technion. Before starting her doctoral studies, Anna worked as a biology and science teacher, finding immense joy in educating and guiding her students. Beyond her professional pursuits, she is active in the Technion Student Union and in the parents’ committee at her children’s school. In her free time, Anna enjoys spending time with her family and engaging in outdoor adventures.

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Anat Ovadia-Rosner

Anat Ovadia-Rosner is a PhD student in the Zvi Meitar Center for Advanced Legal Studies of the Buchmann Faculty of Law at Tel Aviv University under the supervision of Prof. Yishai Blank.

Anat’s dissertation explores the historical development of legal rules and institutions governing minority and majority relations in Israeli public law.

Using original archival research and several case studies, she is examining the origins of the concepts of “minorities” and “majorities” and their transformation since the early years of Israeli statehood: for example, which groups Israeli decision-makers envisioned as “minorities” and “majorities” while formulating legal rules in different times, what rationales and justifications underpinned these mechanisms, and how the legal mechanisms constructed various perceptions concerning equality, hierarchy, and social relations? By analyzing this process, her research explores whether it is time to reconsider the way we think about minority and majority relations and whether a new approach will yield revised and improved legal arrangements.

Anat grew up in Nesher and currently lives in Givatayim. She obtained a BA in the Honors Program in Humanities and Arts (magna cum laude), an LLB in law (magna cum laude) and an MA in history (summa cum laude) from Tel Aviv University. She decided to pursue her law studies after working at the Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, an NGO defending the rights of migrants, asylum seekers, and trafficking victims. Prior to embarking on her PhD, Anat completed her legal internship at the Israeli Supreme Court where she clerked for Justice Daphne Barak-Erez. In her free time, she enjoys reading, swimming, and practicing yoga.

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Ami Asyag

Ami Asyag is a PhD student in the Institute of Archaeology’s Department of Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He studies Assyriology under the supervision of Prof. Uri Gabbay, and his research focuses on the Sumerian Emesal prayers from the ancient Mesopotamian city of Uruk.

Ami examines continuity and change in the liturgy of Uruk in ancient Mesopotamia in the second and first millennium BCE.

Uruk played a central role in Mesopotamian liturgy due to the prayers to its city goddess, Inana, which spread throughout the region to many other cities. These prayers were written in the cuneiform script on clay tablets, preserving a tradition spanning roughly 2,000 years of transmission. Ami aims to explore how the local and common features of the prayers interact and affect each other. His research looks to shed light on all prayers from Uruk while also reaching more general conclusions on the evolution of local religious practices over time.

Ami grew up in a large family of eight siblings in a small village in northern Israel. He currently lives with his wife and daughter in Jerusalem. He obtained his BA in general history (summa cum laude) at the Open University of Israel and his MA in Assyriology (magna cum laude) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He wrote his thesis on Sumerian Emesal prayers from the ancient city of Ĝirsu (modern-day Telloh, Iraq). Ami is a member of the ERC-funded research project Ancient Mesopotamian Priestly Scholasticism in the First Millennium BCE under the guidance of Prof. Uri Gabbay. In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with his family.

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Alon Inbar

Alon Inbar is a PhD student in the Department of Condensed Matter Physics at the Weizmann Institute of Science under the supervision of Prof. Shahal Ilani. His research focuses on the electrical properties of twisted two dimensional materials.

Alon developed a new type of microscope, the Quantum Twisting Microscope, enabling the observation of exotic quantum behaviour of electrons in a unique way.

By employing this technique, Alon hopes to discover new types of material phases and advance our understanding of the nature of interactions in these physical systems. He believes that breakthroughs in this field will contribute substantially to the technologies of the future – from computer chips to smart sensors.

Alon grew up in Yehud and currently lives with his wife in Tel Aviv. He received a double BSc from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology: one in material science and engineering, and one in physics. Over the years, Alon has spent many hours volunteering as a counsellor in both the Israeli Scouts and Jewish summer camps in North America. This spirit of pursuing active leadership roles and contributing to mentorship and training programs was also embodied in Alon’s military service in a special intelligence unit. In his spare time, Alon enjoys rock climbing, playing tennis, and surfing.

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