Dr. Orna Keren-Carmel serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at the European Forum within the Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, specializing in modern Scandinavian history with particular expertise in Nordic societal structures and historical memory. Her academic foundation includes: MA in European Studies from Aarhus University (Denmark) PhD from Tel Aviv University with dissertation: "The Rescue of Danish Jewry in Israeli Historiography and Culture of Memory (1943-2013)" Research focuses on: Evolution of Scandinavian welfare systems throughout the 20th century World War II experiences in Nordic nations, especially Denmark's unique historical trajectory Theoretical and practical dimensions of the 'Nordic Model' of social democracy Bilateral historical relations between Israel and Scandinavian countries across decades She maintains active academic engagement through the European Forum's research infrastructure, contributing to MA programs in European Studies and Contemporary Germany while maintaining regular student consultation hours (Mondays 17:00-18:00).
Prof. Liran Carmel is a Professor of Genetics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences (Faculty of Science). His lab focuses on ancient DNA analysis to study human evolution, paleo-epigenetics, and molecular evolution. Recent work includes reconstructing Denisovan anatomy through epigenetic maps and analyzing Bronze Age population dynamics in the Southern Levant. Research Interests: Decoding genetic and epigenetic changes driving human evolution Reconstructing ancient DNA methylation patterns Studying RNA biology mechanisms like splicing and nonsense-mediated decay Developing computational tools for paleogenomics (e.g., RoAM, Gene ORGANizer) Key Achievements: Identified Denisovan morphological traits through epigenomic analysis Discovered Neolithic-era metabolic adaptations via ancient methylation studies Received the 2021 Massry Prize and 2020 Science Breakthrough award Lab Activities: Current members: 4 PhD students, 1 MSc student, lab managers, and programmers Alumni include 19 researchers now in academia and industry roles worldwide Hosts annual retreats and collaborates internationally on projects like the Punic genome study
Dr. Hilla Karas is a researcher at the Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Bar-Ilan University. She holds a PhD in French Language and Literature from Tel Aviv University, where she completed her BA and MA with honors in French and Linguistics. Research Interests: Intralingual Translation, Translation Theory, Diachronic Translation, Multimodality, Translation in Times of Crisis, Migration, and Religion. Grants: Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grants (2017–2020, 2020, 2024–2027). Editorial Roles: Secretary of ILASH (Israeli Association for Applied Linguistics), member of the editorial boards of Perspectives and Heksherei Lashon . Collaborations: Co-led the interdisciplinary research group Cultural Perceptions of Emotions in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period (2019–2021). Publications span medieval to contemporary texts, emphasizing crisis contexts, migration, and cultural translation. Recent work includes studies on immigrant-interpreters in Israel and multimodal translations. Scientific Awards include ISF grants and fellowships from Tel Aviv University and the Belgian government. She has also contributed to book translations (e.g., works by Julia Kristeva, Michel Foucault) and served as head of her department (2020–2023).
Dr. Oren Kolodny is a Professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior at the Hebrew University's Silberman Institute for Life Sciences. His research focuses on modeling ecological and evolutionary dynamics, with emphasis on microbiome-host interactions, human prehistory, and conservation biology. He leads a lab exploring topics like species dynamics in fragmented landscapes, cultural evolution, and disease ecology. Key research themes include the role of microbiomes in host adaptation, the ecological mechanisms behind Neanderthal replacement by modern humans, and the application of computational models to microbiome diversity and disease transmission. His work integrates theoretical frameworks with empirical data, addressing both basic science and conservation challenges. Dr. Kolodny's recent publications emphasize interdisciplinary approaches, combining epidemiological modeling (SIR+ models) with evolutionary perspectives on cultural innovation and invasive species dynamics. He collaborates widely, bridging fields such as anthropology, microbiology, and computational biology. His lab actively engages in citizen science initiatives, e.g., amphibian conservation programs in Mediterranean urban areas. Despite no listed awards here, his impactful contributions are evident through prolific publication and cross-disciplinary research activity.
Dr. Gili Greenbaum is an Assistant Professor at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior. His research focuses on computational population genomics, addressing eco-evolutionary processes through genomic data analysis and mathematical modeling. Key areas include conservation genomics, gene drive technology, and human evolution under disease pressures. He leads a lab with interdisciplinary collaborations, advising students across biology, mathematics, and computer science disciplines. Research emphasizes genomic approaches for endangered species conservation, particularly fragmentation impacts on population genetics. Projects also explore gene drive deployment risks and ecological modeling of ancient human interactions with Neanderthals. His lab develops tools like DORA for ancient DNA visualization and modelRxiv for model sharing. Current projects include predicting conservation risks using machine learning, studying immune-related genomic signatures in human populations, and modeling social evolution dynamics. The lab collaborates with institutions globally and offers training opportunities for graduate students and postdocs in computational biology and theoretical ecology.
Tristan Klingelhöfer serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and the European Forum at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, conducting research at the intersection of party politics, political communication, and political psychology with emphasis on Western European democracies. His academic foundation includes a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University (2021) and prior studies in Political Science and German Language and Literature at the University of Mannheim, followed by a Teaching and Research Fellowship at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin's Chair of German Politics. Research expertise spans: Party Politics: Analysis of electoral strategies and party system evolution in post-industrial Europe Political Communication: Media framing and campaign messaging dynamics Political Psychology: Voter cognition and affective polarization mechanisms Western European Politics: Comparative governance in EU member states Scholarly output appears in premier journals including Journal of Politics , West European Politics , and Party Politics , reflecting rigorous methodological approaches to contemporary European political phenomena. Based in Room 6223 of the Faculty of Humanities Building, he contributes to MA programs in European Studies and Contemporary Germany through the European Forum's interdisciplinary framework.
Dr. Maya Sion-Tzidkiyahu is an adjunct faculty member at the European Forum of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, with additional teaching roles at Tel Aviv University’s European Union Studies Program and the Hebrew University’s School of Public Policy. Her research focuses on the European Union’s historical evolution, institutional frameworks, decision-making processes, and policy fields—particularly foreign policy and differentiated integration—alongside EU-Israel relations. Academic Roles : Adjunct Lecturer (Hebrew University), Tel Aviv University (EU Studies), School of Public Policy (Hebrew University) Leadership Roles : Director of the Israel–Europe Relations Program at Mitvim , Co-President of the Israeli Association for the Study of European Integration (IASEI, 2016–2021) Her publications include analyses of EU-Israel diplomatic challenges, such as the EU’s response to the Gaza war, the impact of U.S. elections on regional policy, and the role of the EU in post-conflict reconstruction. She holds a Ph.D. in European Studies and Political Science from the Hebrew University and was a 2003 junior fellow at the Institute for Human Science (IWM) in Vienna. Scientific Awards : Jean Monnet Module Competitive Grant
Michael Elad is a Professor of Computer Science at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, where he has held a permanent faculty position since 2003. He also holds a courtesy appointment in the Technion's Electrical & Computer Engineering Department. Elad received his B.Sc. (1986), M.Sc. (1988) and D.Sc. (1997) in Electrical Engineering from the Technion, followed by a research associate position at Stanford University (2001-2003). His educational background includes: B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the Technion (1986) M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the Technion (1988), focusing on video compression algorithms under Prof. David Malah D.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the Technion (1997), focusing on super-resolution algorithms for image sequences under Prof. Arie Feuer Michael Elad's research spans signal and image processing and machine learning, with specialization in inverse problems, sparse representations, deep learning, and generative models. He is particularly renowned for his work on sparse representations, having created the influential K-SVD algorithm together with Michal Aharon and Bruckstein. His 2010 book "Sparse and Redundant Representations: From Theory to Applications in Signal and Image Processing" is a leading publication in this field. Elad has also made significant contributions to diffusion models and generative AI, applying these concepts to solve complex problems in signal and image processing. His extensive publication record shows a clear evolution from foundational work on sparse representations to more recent applications in deep learning and generative models. While his early work focused on theoretical aspects of sparse coding and dictionary learning, his more recent publications demonstrate an integration of these concepts with modern deep learning techniques, particularly in the areas of image restoration, super-resolution, and generative modeling. Elad's scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous awards: Rothschild Prize in Engineering (2024) Member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (2024) Weizmann Award for contributions in Sparse Modeling (2021) IEEE SPS Sustained Impact Paper Award (2018) IEEE SPS Best Paper Award (2018) IEEE SPS Technical Achievement Award (2018) Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM Fellow) (2018) IEEE Fellow (2012) ERC advanced grant (2013) Throughout his career, Elad has been actively involved in academic service and mentorship. He has served as an Associate Editor for several prestigious journals including IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, and Applied Computational Harmonic Analysis. From 2016 to 2021, he was the Editor-in-Chief for SIAM Imaging Sciences. He has advised numerous students, including Michal Aharon and Yaniv Romano. Elad also headed the Rothschild-Technion Program for Excellence from 2015 to 2018, an undergraduate program for exceptional students. Elad maintains an active research laboratory at the Technion focused on advancing the theory and applications of sparse representations, deep learning, and generative models in signal and image processing. His team continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in image restoration, super-resolution, and other inverse problems in imaging.
Associate Professor Tamir Hazan is a faculty member at Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, where he joined in 2015. His research focuses on theoretical and practical aspects of machine learning, with applications spanning computer vision, natural language processing, and computational biology. His work bridges mathematical foundations with real-world problem solving in complex systems. Professor Hazan received his Ph.D. from the Hebrew University in 2009. His academic trajectory has established him as a leading researcher in machine learning theory and its applications, with a particular emphasis on developing mathematically rigorous approaches to modern AI challenges. Professor Hazan's research centers on mathematically founded solutions to problems demonstrating non-traditional statistical behavior. His work encompasses perturbation models for efficient learning of high-dimensional statistics, deep learning of infinite networks, and primal-dual optimization for high-dimensional inference problems. His research program spans three major interconnected areas: attention models that improve prediction interpretability, perturbation frameworks that integrate optimization and sampling through extreme value statistics, and convex duality approaches to message-passing in graphical models. His work demonstrates both theoretical depth and practical relevance across multiple domains. Analysis of Professor Hazan's recent publications reveals an evolving research trajectory with increasing emphasis on interpretable machine learning, causal modeling, and applications in medical imaging and behavioral science. His work consistently bridges theoretical foundations with practical implementations, with recent publications showing strong connections between perturbation theory, attention mechanisms, and optimization frameworks. The interdisciplinary nature of his research is evident in applications ranging from pedestrian navigation using smartphone sensors to video-text matching systems and medical image analysis. Professor Hazan has mentored numerous students throughout his career, including: Alex Schwing, now Assistant Professor at UIUC Alon Cohen, now Associate Professor at Tel Aviv University Idan Schwartz, currently Postdoc at Tel Aviv University Current Ph.D. students: Guy Lorberbom, Itai Gat, and Hedda Cohen Multiple M.Sc. students including Adi Manos, Ram Yazdi, and others Professor Hazan's research group maintains an active program with several key focus areas: Attention models for interpretable and improved prediction processes in visual question answering and multimodal applications Perturbation models that enable efficient statistical reasoning in complex systems with exponential configuration spaces Markov random fields, convex duality, and message-passing algorithms for structured prediction and distributed computing
Prof. Eran Meshorer is a Professor in the Department of Genetics at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, affiliated with the Institute of Life Sciences and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC). His research focuses on epigenetics, stem cell biology, and neurodegenerative diseases. He uses pluripotent stem cells and paleo-epigenetic approaches to study mechanisms underlying cellular differentiation and disease. Key projects include modeling Huntington’s disease and investigating chromatin plasticity in embryonic stem cells. Research Interests: Epigenetic regulation in stem cells and neurons Neurodegenerative disease modeling via iPSCs Paleo-epigenetics: reconstructing ancient DNA methylation Live imaging of nuclear dynamics in differentiation Chromatin structure and histone variants in pluripotency Scientific Awards: Hestrin Prize (2012) ERC Starting Grant (2011) Vigevani Research Prize (2015) Irene and Michael Mochrik Award (2022, 2023) Advising & Grants: Prof. Meshorer advises PhD students (e.g., Patrick Lim, Juliane Viegas) and has secured grants including the EpiSyStem ITN Marie Curie Network (2018–2022). His lab collaborates internationally on projects like chromatin dynamics in early embryogenesis and epigenetic disease modeling. Labs/Teams: Meshorer Lab focuses on epigenomic databases (e.g., BindDB) and integrates advanced imaging and genomic tools to study chromatin function in health and disease.
Dr. Limor Yungman is a Research Fellow at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Martin Buber Society of Fellows, with additional postdoctoral affiliations at EHESS (School of Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences) and IMAF (Institute of African Worlds). Her research reconstructs medieval Islamic culinary practices through manuscript analysis, focusing on sociocultural contexts of food preparation. Education: Ph.D. in History and Civilisations, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), 2020 M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies, University of Haifa, 2010 Research Focus: She investigates the evolution of Arabic cookbooks (10th-16th centuries), culinary diplomacy, and the intersection of dietetics with cultural practices. Her current project examines the transmission of culinary knowledge across the medieval Islamic world, employing digital humanities approaches to manuscript corpora. Publications: Her articles analyze trends in medieval recipe literature, including linguistic evolution of texts, sociopolitical roles of chefs, and culinary adaptations to religious norms, primarily using Arabic manuscript sources from Mamluk and earlier periods. Awards & Fellowships: French Embassy Ph.D. Fellowship (2012-2013) Bursary Program, WWU Münster (2009-2010) MA Excellence Scholarship, University of Haifa (2007-2008) Dean's Honors for Advanced Studies (2010)
Prof. Hadas Saaroni is a Full Professor in the Department of Geography and the Human Environment at Tel Aviv University's School of the Environment and Earth Sciences. She has held this position since 2019, after progressing through academic ranks from Lecturer (1999-2004), to Senior Lecturer (2005-2011), and Associate Professor (2011-2019). She also served as Head of the Department during 2015/16-2016/17. Her educational background includes: B.A (cum laude) in Geography, Tel Aviv University, 1978 Weather Forecaster studies, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Meteorological Service, 1979 M.A. in Climatology, Tel Aviv University, 1985 Ph.D. in Climatology, Tel Aviv University, 1994 Prof. Saaroni specializes in synoptic climatology, regional climatology, climate change, urban climatology and applied climatology, with a geographic focus on the Mediterranean Basin and the Levant region. Her research combines theoretical and applied aspects across various spatio-temporal scales, from large to synoptic to local and micro-climatic. She employs methodological approaches including synoptic-climatological analysis and statistical downscaling techniques. Her research portfolio demonstrates strong thematic consistency across multiple dimensions of climatology, with particular emphasis on atmospheric patterns in the Eastern Mediterranean. The work spans both fundamental understanding of climatic processes and practical applications for addressing regional climate challenges, especially related to climate change impacts. Prof. Saaroni has led numerous significant research initiatives including developing methodologies for cyclone identification, studying dry spell evolution scenarios, advancing Red Sea Trough classification systems, investigating upper-level trough anomalies, creating summer season synoptic classifications, examining pollution-climate stress relationships, and analyzing long-term trends in rainfall and temperature patterns across Israel.
