Faculty members of the Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, grouped by faculty and department.
Faculty of Natural Sciences
Evolutionary & Environmental Biology
Avi Bar-Massada
I am a spatial and landscape ecologist studying how species interactions and species–environment relationships shape ecological communities, and how human activities — settlement at the wildland–urban interface, grazing and fire — affect these processes. My research relies on computer models, statistical analysis of large spatial databases, GIS and remote sensing.
Eyal Privman
We study social evolution in ants by comparing genomes of different species and looking for the genes responsible for the evolution of sociality. Furthermore, genomic sequencing of many individuals from the same species allows studies of the recent evolution of social traits in specific systems such as the "social chromosome" of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta.
Nir Sapir
I study different aspects of animal flight, including animal movement ecology, behavior, physiology and biomechanics in birds, bats and insects both in the field and in the lab using a diversity of approaches. One of our main methodologies is the use of RADAR echoes for quantifying aerial animal movement and behavior, and we currently use several RADAR systems to study bird migration and aerial predator-prey interactions. Practical implications of our research involve the quantification of bird-aircraft collision risk, detection of agricultural pest insects and the conservation of aerial faunas.
Imad Shams
We study the blind mole-rat Spalax, a subterranean rodent that tolerates extreme hypoxia and hypercapnia, is remarkably long-lived and is resistant to spontaneous and induced cancer. We investigate the physiological, cellular, metabolic and genetic strategies — and their evolutionary fine-tuning — that underlie longevity, stress resistance and cancer resistance, using transcriptomics and comparative genomics alongside experimental work.
Sagi Snir
The Snir lab develops mathematical and algorithmic approaches to problems in evolution and genomics — phylogenetic reconstruction, supertree methods, horizontal gene transfer, and models of genome evolution such as the universal and epigenetic pacemakers. The work draws on combinatorial optimization, statistics, probability and information theory, and is carried out in close collaboration with biologists across disciplines.
Eran Tauber
My research focuses on the genetics of the circadian clock and seasonal timing, with particular interest in natural genetic variation, population genetics and molecular evolution of clock genes. One of our major aims is to identify genetic variations in circadian clock genes that serve to adapt the clock in different ecological environments. This area of research exploits our expertise in quantitative and population genetics, and we use the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster as our main model organism.
Human Biology
Gil Atzmon
My interest has shifted to a new and challenging field involving the role of epigenetics in diseases, aging and longevity. The foremost focus of my research career has been the understanding of the association of the whole genome to disease, performance, health, and longevity.
Uri Hershberg
My Research interests have for some time been focused on how we (and other biological systems) understand things in the world. Specifically how context changes functional outcomes and how repertoires working in tandem lead to specific behaviors. As you can see in other places online the lab is mostly focused on questions of immunity and the diversification of the B cell repertoire. However, we have our hands in other pots including transcription factor analysis, biological visualization and bio inspired reactive robots.
Mickey Kosloff
The Kosloff lab addresses a fundamental challenge in the field of signal transduction – deciphering how protein structure encodes interaction specificity at the protein family level, thereby “wiring together” signal transduction networks. To achieve our goals, we use complementary computational and experimental approaches. Our research entails the following: 1) Understanding the biophysical and biochemical basis for specificity across large protein families. 2) Using such insights to redesign proteins as tools to modulate and rewire signaling networks. 3) Characterizing specific drug targets at the family level, leading to new therapeutic avenues.
Martin Mikl
We aim to understand the regulation of gene expression in its full complexity using molecular, systems and cell biological tools and employing experimental and computational approaches. We are utilizing our ability to synthesize large collections of DNA sequences to get to a comprehensive understanding of the rules dictating gene expression across regulatory layers. Testing rationally designed sequences in a systematic and high-throughput manner boosts our ability to identify complex regulatory relationships. Based on these datasets, we are developing models predicting the effect of genetic variation across gene regulatory layers.
Marine Biology
Smadar Ben Tabou de Leon
Our research is focused in deciphering how developmental programs are encoded in the genome, how these programs are executed in a changing environment and how alterations of these programs give rise to evolutionary innovations. Our main focus is the regulation of biomineralization in the sea urchin embryo. We discovered a striking resemblance of this process to vascularization in vertebrates. We are now investigating how the gene regulatory network activates the cytoskeleton remodeling proteins to drive skeleton formation and how this process is affected by environmental factors as hypoxia and mechanical forces.
Daniel Sher
Marine organisms of all shapes and sizes use chemistry to survive: they communicate among themselves, catch their prey and defend themselves from predators, competitors and pathogens. At the Sher lab we study these interactions, the chemical “languages” used and their effect on microbial ecosystems, on jellyfish blooms and on coral reefs.
Marine Technologies
Oren Gal
The Swarm and AI Lab (SAIL) works on autonomy and swarm intelligence across scales — from micro/nano-robotic swarms in flow to underwater and off-road autonomous systems — using multi-agent reinforcement learning, sensor fusion and neuromorphic computing. Applications include ocean environmental monitoring and conservation and nanorobotic approaches to cancer treatment.
Physics
Doron Chelouche
My research lies at the intersection of theoretical and observational astrophysics. I am interested in questions pertaining to the environs of supermassive black holes with implications for their growth and evolution. I also explore the physics of dilute plasma within galaxies and in between galaxies in relation to galaxy assembly over cosmic times, and the baryonic content of the intergalactic space. Another facet of my research involves particle astrophysics with emphasis on light bosons as dark matter candidates.
Gonen Golani
Viruses pose a continuous threat to humanity. Therefore, studying the physical mechanisms controlling their entry, replication, and release is critical for developing treatments against existing and newly emerging viruses. As part of their life cycle, all viruses interact and remodel cellular structures, namely, the lipid membranes and membrane-less organelles formed by liquid-liquid phase separation. I use theoretical physics approaches and computer simulations to explain the underlying physics of these remodeling events at the various stages of the virus life cycle to understand the infection process as well as the fundamental forces shaping the cellular environment in normal conditions.
Matan Mussel
We study nonlinear properties of the cell constituents. Examples include the lipid melting transition, volume transition in polyelectrolyte gels, and hydrodynamics of the cytoplasm, and their connection to biological functions such as cellular signaling and transport. Focus is given to the governing physicochemical equations that allow a quantitative description of certain biological aspects.
Sagol Department of Neurobiology
Edi Barkai
My lab has been studying the biophysical and molecular bases of complex learning in the mammalian brain. We also study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance of superb learning skills.
David (Dudi) Deutsch
Communication is an essential part of our daily lives. Our ability to communicate shapes our interactions with our environment and with members of our social groups. Despite this, we know little about how multi-sensory natural signals integrate in the brain to inform moment-by-moment social decisions. How are sensory signals integrated over time during a social encounter? How is social communication influenced by environmental context, internal motivation, and previous experience? Our research is focused on identifying neural mechanisms for the processing and production of socially meaningful communication at the level of circuits, cells, and molecules. We use computational tools for quantifying social communication between pairs and larger groups for flies. Based on this quantification, we are able to show the effect of specific manipulations on social communication across multiple timescales.
Raphael (Rafi) Lamprecht
The Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology of Memory studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms of memory formation, storage and retrieval. Using optogenetic control of photoactivatable signaling proteins in selected cell populations and subcellular compartments, together with calcium imaging and behavioral approaches, we ask how signaling molecules such as receptor tyrosine kinases and small GTPases shape the neuronal activity and morphogenesis underlying long-term memory.
Eran Stark
In our lab we study the way neuronal networks give rise to cognitive functions. We aim to understand the local circuit mechanisms which underlie various cognitive functions, focusing on the level of neuronal spiking. In order to do so, we continuously develop new technologies which allow us to bi-directionally interface with the brain of free-behaving animals at the spatiotemporal resolution of a single neuron and of a single spike.
Shani Stern
My lab uses advanced stem cell technologies to study the neurophysiology of patient-derived neurons and organoids for bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, and autism spectrum disorder. We use electrophysiology, molecular biology, and computational modeling to study disease-related mechanisms.
Shlomo Wagner
We study the social behavior of rodents. We have developed novel experimental setups and methodologies aimed to allow automated analysis of social behavior in rats and mice. In addition to studying the behavior, we are using chronically implanted electrode microarrays and optic fibers for in vivo electrophysiological and calcium recordings while animals perform various social behavior tasks. Using those methods in mutated animal models we explored neuronal mechanisms involved in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Faculty of Social Sciences
Cognitive Sciences
Uri Hertz
The Social Decisions Lab studies how people learn from and influence one another and make decisions together: how psychological biases shape information sharing, how we choose whom to learn from, and what happens when communication fails. We combine online and lab-based games, computational (game-theoretic and machine-learning) models and neuroimaging, and increasingly study interactions between human and AI agents.
Computer Science
Rachel Kolodny
Studying the protein universe computationally. Comparing and modelling protein structures; efficiently searching for proteins in large databases. Developing efficient algorithms for dealing with three-dimensional biological datasets. Tracing evolutionary patterns in protein space due to sequence/structure similarity.
Roi Poranne
Prof. Poranne leads CraftLabXR, a group at the intersection of robotics, computer graphics, geometry processing, mixed/augmented reality, digital fabrication and machine learning. The lab builds algorithms and tools that make complex geometric, robotic and computational processes more natural and expressive, and collaborates with researchers in chemistry, biology, education and the arts.
Information Systems
Osnat Mokryn
We develop and employ models to extract knowledge from data. We study big data gathered from user-generated content (online reviews and other social media) and the evolution of temporal complex networks, utilizing machine learning, statistical, quantitative, and visualization tools.
Judith Somekh
I am intrigued by the challenges of using data science and data analysis techniques for understanding the development of diseases and their driving mechanisms. My goal is to develop novel data science methods and combined data-driven with model-driven methods to better understand health and disease.
Psychology
Oded Klavir
The Klavir Lab studies the neural circuits of learning and memory — in particular fear and aversive memory and the actions it drives. We combine in-vivo recording and manipulation of defined circuits (e.g., amygdala, prefrontal and dopaminergic pathways) with behavioral analysis, to understand how information flow within and between circuits changes with learning and how it can be controlled.
Sigal Zilcha-Mano
The Psychotherapy Research Lab investigates the intrapersonal and interpersonal mechanisms that make mental-health treatments effective. Building on a trait-like/state-like theory of therapeutic change, we integrate psychotherapy process research with neuroimaging, acoustic and movement-synchrony analysis to identify individual-specific mechanisms of change and to personalize treatment.
Statistics
Bella Vakulenko-Lagun
I have a relatively broad range of research interests, most of which are about the design and analysis of observational studies. My current research focuses on development of methods which correct for biased sampling and missingness in time-to-event data with competing risks and multi-stage structure.
Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences
School of Creative Arts Therapies
Johanna Czamanski-Cohen
My current career focus is examining the mechanisms of art based and verbal interventions for psychological and physical symptom reduction in cancer patients. This focus is part of an over-arching goal of increasing the understanding of the mechanisms through which art therapy has a salutogenic affect. My overall aim is to apply a translational approach to psychological (depression) and physical (pain and fatigue) symptom reduction in individuals coping with chronic illness, in general, and cancer patients, more specifically. My future work will aim at conducting clinical trials that enable the real-world examination of art-based interventions and their effect on psychological and physiological determinates of health, along with laboratory studies aimed at a focused examination of the physiological effects of art-making and engaging in creative endeavors.
School of Public Health
Pavel Goldstein
The Integrative Pain Laboratory (iPainLab) aims to understand the mechanisms of chronic pain and to develop new ways of measuring, preventing and treating it. We combine neurophysiological, physiological and biochemical measures with machine learning on voice, language and video markers, wearable-synced digital platforms for tracking pain and mental health, and studies of interpersonal synchrony and the analgesic effects of social touch.
Yuval Nov
I am a biostatistician, working on statistics and decision making problems in medicine, biotechnology, and ecology.
School of Social Work
Miri Cohen
Prof. Cohen studies coping with stress and trauma — adjustment to life-threatening illness, terror and war, and older adults' coping with early trauma — with attention to multicultural aspects and to physiological stress markers such as immune function, inflammation and heart-rate variability. A related line of work examines hospital social workers in emergencies, including preparedness for mass-casualty events, compassion fatigue and burnout.
School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures
Archaeological Sciences
Nimrod Marom
My research focuses on the historical dimensions of biodiversity, morphology, biogeography, and community ecology, utilizing faunal remains from archaeological and paleontological sites. Biometry, geometric morphometrics, radiocarbon dating, and distribution modeling are my primary methodological tools; and I work in close collaboration with ancient DNA and stable isotope analysis experts. The practical implications of my work involve generating benchmarks for nature conservation and restoration initiatives.
Research Authority (Tauber Bioinformatics Research Center)
Tauber Bioinformatics Research Center
Julia Panov
The Tauber Bioinformatics Research Center develops algorithms, scalable HPC pipelines and the T-BioInfo platform for analysis of high-throughput genomic, transcriptomic (bulk and single-cell) and epigenomic data, and collaborates with experimental groups across the university and abroad.