Omri Finkel

Dr. Omri Finkel is an Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator at the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His research focuses on terrestrial microbial ecology and plant-microbe interactions, with a particular emphasis on understanding microbiome assembly dynamics and their effects on plant health. He leads the Finkel Lab, which explores topics such as desert plant microbiomes and the ecological context shaping microbiome functionality.

Dr. Finkel has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant 2022 for his project on molecular evolution of plant-microbiome interactions in drylands. His work combines experimental microcosms, synthetic communities, and genomic approaches to dissect microbiome-induced plant phenotypes and desert microbiome adaptations. The lab collaborates on projects involving drought-resistant crops, microbial community design, and functional genomics.

Students and researchers in his lab include PhD candidates Tzila Vikiniansky and Zheniya Mogilevski, along with several MSc students. The lab is actively involved in analyzing root microbiome responses to environmental stressors, including drought tolerance and pathogen resistance.