Month: October 2024

In a ceremony in the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Technion community gathered to commemorate the terror attack and the war that ensued.

The memorial prayer for the victims was read by Professor Emeritus Joseph Itzkovitz-Eldor from the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine. Prof. Itzkovitz-Eldor lost his grandson, Staff Sergeant Adi Eldor, a soldier in the Maglan Unit who fell in Khan Yunis in February.

During the event, Tamir Steinman, a news reporter from Channel 12’s southern bureau, gave a lecture titled “The Boy with His Finger in the Dike.” Steinman is a recipient of the Outstanding Journalist Award and the Hero of the South Medal.

Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan commemorated the students and alumni who fell and were murdered during the events of October 7 and the subsequent war, including Captain (res.) Amit Chayut from the Henry and Marilyn Taub Faculty of Computer Science, and Captain (res.) Alon Safrai from the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, who recently fell in battles in southern Lebanon. He said, “The memorial day for the October 7 massacre and the Iron Swords War encompasses a full chronological year — a year of bloodshed and profound grief, a year of mourning, of death, the memory of those no longer with us, the memory of personal and national trauma that this generation has never experienced before.

“But this tumultuous year will also carry the memory of a new spirit, a powerful spirit that filled hearts and was evident in the field, a spirit of a remarkable young generation. Israeli society rallied its full energy and abilities for defense and assistance on all fronts — on the battlefield, in extraordinary aid initiatives to affected communities, and with inspiring ingenuity in places where the state was absent. The mobilization of the Technion community across all its branches was, and still is, a tremendous source of pride for all of us. We are proud of our thousands of reservists — students, administrative and academic staff, and many others who took upon themselves a civilian ‘call to arms’ and helped those among us whose lives were disrupted, those evacuated from their homes, farmers, soldiers, and other communities. Once again, we proved what we always knew: the mission of the Technion community, its resilience, and its commitment to its members and society as a whole.”

News reporter Tamir Steinman shared his experiences from October 7. On that day, Steinman went on air as soon as the attack began, bringing the voices from the border communities and expressing the feeling of abandonment that the residents of Be’eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Sderot, Ofakim, and other communities felt that day. He described how he acted as a bridge between the residents, the security forces, and the media, reading the pleas of terrified residents live on air. At the beginning of his lecture, he said, “I am proud to be here today, especially here at the Technion, which symbolizes excellence and striving to reach the highest possible level. It is a place of excellence, where one can not only aspire to reach space but where values and being human are taught. I look at the beautiful faces of the students and alumni — the faces of this beautiful and unique nation — and it gives me hope and optimism. We must all unite and do everything we can to make things better.”

The Technion student band performed the song “Believe” by Idan Raichel at the ceremony.

On Monday, September 30, 2024, Iftach Mashal presented his final project at the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning at the Technion. Architect Gabi Schwartz and architect Dr. Dikla Yizhar supervised the project. The project will soon be displayed in the United States at the GA, the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America. The exhibition will open in Washington, D.C. on November 10.

Before the war, Mashal thought his final project at the faculty would be focused on his hometown of Ashkelon. However, the intense period he spent at Kibbutz Nir Oz – where he stayed for an extended time as a reservist – changed his initial decision. His special reserve unit settled in the kibbutzim near Gaza at the beginning of the war, and his connection with Nir Oz became a part of him. During his free time there, he worked on his final project at the Technion.

In the opening text of the project, titled “Nir Oz and I,” Mashal wrote, “For three consecutive months, I lived in the ruined kibbutz. Many homes were completely burned out, bullet marks on the reinforced safe-room windows, entire families were erased, and lives were cut short in an instant. Every day revealed more layers of the kibbutz’s story and the place’s complexities, its residents, and its history. I met survivors of the massacre who came to collect their belongings, spoke with the founders of Nir Oz, and encountered people who had lost their entire world. As a person, a soldier, and an architect, I kept asking myself how it would be possible to bring home a wounded and bleeding community that had experienced such a profound trauma.”

The final project focuses on the rehabilitation of Nir Oz in a way that does not turn the kibbutz into a memorial but restores it as a living place. “When thinking of rehabilitation, one must understand what Kibbutz Nir Oz is and what kind of life existed there before the ‘Black Saturday,’” he said. “Afterward, it is necessary to study the spatial trauma the place experienced, and the members’ feelings. The final step is to formulate principles for intervention and create a restored space.”

Mashal, 30, grew up in Ashkelon. His parents, Udi and Noga, are doctors, as are his two older sisters. He studied at an art school in Ashkelon and completed a five-unit matriculation in plastic arts. “There, I discovered that I wanted to be an architect, and by the age of 13, I had already started building model houses, so the path to the world of architecture was natural.”

After the army, he considered studying at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design or the Technion, and following an open day at the Technion, he chose the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning. “In addition to the Technion’s reputation, I liked the campus atmosphere and the green spaces near the faculty. Inside the faculty, I saw ‘Moti’s Workshop,’ a carpentry shop that reminded me of my school.” Mashal began his studies in 2018, and today, alongside his studies, he works at an architectural firm. “I am in the right place professionally, a place that allows me to develop and continue nurturing my passion for the profession.”

The paintings Mashal created in Nir Oz during the war were recently exhibited in the exhibition “From Reality to Memory” at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, and the proceeds from their sales were donated to the “For Tomorrow” association, which helps released soldiers cope with their experiences. The exhibition came to the Technion during its annual Board of Governors meeting, then continued to the Israeli Knesset.

Doctoral student Shir Lissak from the Faculty of Data and Decision Sciences has been awarded the Scholarship for Excellence in Science and Innovation for Outstanding PhD Students.

This prestigious fellowship is awarded annually to 12 select researchers, who join an elite group leading science and innovation in Israel. This year, the scholarship, amounting to 150,000 NIS for each recipient, was dedicated to the theme of “Mental Health and Resilience – Theory and Practice.”

Lissak is an outstanding doctoral student conducting her research under the supervision of Prof. Roi Reichart. Her research is at the intersection of natural language processing (NLP) and mental health, focusing on developing methodologies for risk prediction, identifying risk factors, and providing emotional support in the field of mental health.

At the beginning of her research career, Lissak concentrated on uncovering risk factors associated with suicidal tendencies and developing methodologies for identifying these factors. The research revealed significant insights into risk factors and even led to the discovery of a new risk factor. The study was later expanded to identify success metrics for psychotherapeutic treatments in individuals diagnosed with depression and to develop approaches for providing emotional support to at-risk populations.

Lissak’s research success also stems from fruitful collaborations with leading professionals in the field, including Prof. Anat Brunstein Klomek, dean of the School of Psychology at Reichman University; Prof. Eyal Fruchter, faculty member at the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine at the Technion and director of the Ma’ale HaCarmel Mental Health Center; Prof. Sigal Zilcha-Mano, head of the Psychotherapy Research Lab at the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Haifa; and Dr. Yaakov Ophir, clinical psychologist and research fellow at the Hebrew University and the Technion.

In 2024, the Technion commemorates 100 years of research, teaching, and building a legacy defined by innovation, leadership, and excellence, both locally and internationally.

This week, the Technion commemorates the 20^th anniversary of one of its most significant milestones – the historic announcement by the Nobel Prize Committee to award the prestigious Nobel Prize to Distinguished Professor Avram Hershko and Distinguished Professor Aaron Ciechanover. The prize was awarded for their groundbreaking discovery of one of the most vital processes in cellular biology—protein degradation.

The human cell contains thousands of proteins that carry out essential functions. These proteins are continuously breaking down and renewing, enabling the cell to maintain proper function. Disruptions in this continuous cycle can impair cellular function and lead to various diseases.

The pioneering research of Distinguished Professor Hershko and Distinguished Professor Ciechanover and their Nobel co-recipient, Professor Irwin Rose, began in the 1970s. At the time, global research primarily focused on the formation of proteins, but the three researchers adopted an original approach, shifting the focus to the mechanisms of protein degradation. Their revolutionary insights not only reshaped our understanding of cellular processes but also proved to have far-reaching practical applications.

Thanks to their research, it was discovered how the cell identifies, and marks proteins destined for degradation using a molecule called ubiquitin. These tagged proteins, whether defective or no longer needed, are then transported to proteasomes – specialized complexes responsible for breaking them down. This process is vital for maintaining cellular health and stability.

These discoveries led to a deeper understanding of diseases caused by disruptions in protein degradation, including cancer, cystic fibrosis, inflammation, and neurological diseases. This knowledge continues to drive the development of innovative treatments and medications for these diseases and serves as a foundation for further extensive research.

For this invaluable contribution, Distinguished Professor Avram Hershko, Distinguished Professor Aaron Ciechanover, and Professor Irwin Rose received the highest international honor in the scientific world – the Nobel Prize.

Dr. Hemi Rotenberg was named by the European Research Commission as one of the winners of its ERC Starting Grants, which assist promising young scientists in advancing their research, forming research teams, and pursuing bold and original ideas. Winning candidates for the awards, which were announced in September, must demonstrate the potential for scientific breakthroughs, strong ambition, and the feasibility of their research proposals.

Dr. Rotenberg completed all of his degrees at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and conducted his postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago. Today, he heads the Laboratory for Bio-Electrical and Bio-Mechanical Interfaces at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering.

Dr. Rotenberg is developing methods for precise stimulation of cells and tissues. In 2022, he published a new technology to restore damaged nerve tissues and heart pacing using an external light source to the body. The grant will be used to develop an electro-mechanical interface for brain tissue engineering. This interface will combine optoelectronic and magnetic components and will enable researchers to apply precise electrical and mechanical modulations to different parts of the cell. According to Dr. Rotenberg, this is a complex project, and he hopes to recruit new students and postdoctoral researchers to work on it with him.

“The research we will conduct with the help of the grant will examine how electrical and mechanical stimulation of nerve cells and neural tissues affects their regeneration,” he explained. “The idea is to apply mechanical or electrical stimulation to the cell, which may improve tissue regeneration. In the mechanical context, we will develop a technology that will allow us to stretch and/or compress different parts of the nerve cell such as the axon or the cell body. In the electrical context, we will develop a new optoelectronic nano-material, which is a material that generates an electrical potential when illuminated. In both cases, we are talking about non-invasive intervention, carried out using light and magnetic fields originating outside the body, which has significant advantages.”

The peripheral nervous system differs from the spinal cord and brain in that its cells regenerate after injury, and the new technology is expected to accelerate that regeneration. Furthermore, the new technology may even trigger regeneration in brain and spinal cord cells, which do not naturally regenerate. Nerve cell regeneration is an important ability that can improve recovery from spinal cord injuries and neurological damage to the brain.

ERC Starting Grants are highly competitive. This year, only 14.2% of the 3,474 applications submitted were accepted. The selection process includes submitting written proposals and interviews. Dr. Rotenberg undertook this process while serving many months on reserve duty during the Iron Swords War.

As an infantryman in the Alexandroni Brigade, he was called up for reserve duty on the morning of October 7, and since then his unit has moved between different fronts. “During this period, I worked on the application, and it wasn’t easy, especially since some of my students also had spouses who had been called up for reserve duty. At the end of February, I was released after five months of reserve duty, and I started to prepare for the grant interview, but then another call-up order arrived. Fortunately, my unit was considerate and allowed me to join them after the interview.”

In addition to being a researcher, lecturer, and reservist, perhaps most importantly, Dr. Rotenberg is a father of four. One of his sons celebrated his bar mitzvah last November. “Balancing homelife, the military, and the Technion is not simple; there is no doubt that the main burden fell on my wife, who managed life with the kids and her career, during a very challenging period.”

Recently, 900 students received their master’s degrees from various Technion faculties, more than 43% of them women. A ceremony honoring 38 master’s graduates who completed their studies with the highest honors was held in the presence of Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan, Dean of the Graduate School Prof. Uri Peskin, Technion management, faculty deans, students, and their families.

“This evening is one of light and hope during a difficult and complex time,” said Prof. Sivan during the ceremony. “In the past year, we have been in a prolonged and painful war for our continued existence in this land. About 3,500 students and members of the administrative and academic staff were called up for reserve duty. Most of them have returned to their studies, but additional orders await them. Alongside all Israeli citizens, we mourn the fallen and the murdered and hope for the return of the hostages and the recovery of the wounded—many of whom are part of the Technion family.”

Prof. Sivan further addressed the graduates, saying: “At the Technion, you received the best professional tools to continue to excel and stand out in whatever you do, but we also expect you to excel and lead on a moral level. We see you as leaders with ethical and social awareness, who understand that your careers are not just meant to enrich your lives but also to make a positive impact on humanity and Israeli society.”

Dean of the Graduate School Prof. Uri Peskin said, “At this time, we are all worried and anxious about the near and distant future. Despite this, and without ignoring the extreme and unique circumstances under the shadow of war, this evening provides us with an opportunity to focus on what we have and what is good. We have much to be proud of and much to be thankful for. 58% of the graduates completed a degree with a research thesis, and it’s noteworthy that among those graduating with a thesis, women are the majority—55%. All graduates were ranked based on their academic and research achievements, with the top 15% being defined as outstanding, and you, those who graduated with the highest honors, ranked in the top 4%. I want to thank each and every one of you, firstly, for choosing the Technion as the foundation for building your professional careers, and secondly, for doing it so well. I hope that your experience at the Technion has become an integral part of you and that you will serve as ambassadors of the Technion wherever you go.”

Among those who received a master’s degree was the family of the late Master Sergeant Dovi Kogan. An MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering was awarded to Dovi’s widow, Shaked, his son, and his mother, Chaya, in a ceremony held at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Master Sergeant Dovi Kogan, who was deployed to the south on October 7 and fought with his team in Be’eri and Re’im, fell on November 9, 2023, in a battle in the Gaza Strip. He was a master’s student, nearing the end of his studies in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. After his death, his supervisor, Prof. Shmuel Osovski, and the faculty dean, Prof. Alon Wolf, initiated the completion of his final thesis.

Prof. Wolf noted, “I want to emphasize that the degree was awarded to Dovi not as a gesture, but because he truly earned it. Dovi left behind extensive notes, and in fact, his thesis was almost entirely written. We only had to finalize some ‘connections’ and do some editing. The edited thesis underwent a full review by three independent examiners, who unanimously gave it a high grade. One of them even remarked to me that there are discoveries in the thesis worthy of publication in a leading journal in the field. The thesis then received the approval of the Graduate School’s Degree Committee and the Technion Senate. At the ceremony, I presented the degree to Dovi’s widow, Shaked, his son, and his mother, Chaya, with great respect and appreciation for Dovi’s service in defending the state and his significant dedication to his studies, which were tragically cut short by his untimely death.”

According to Prof. Osovski, who supervised Dovi’s research, “Dovi was a brilliant engineer and an exceptional person. His character and spirit left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. In our many discussions, both professional and personal, Dovi demonstrated a rare combination of patience, deep thinking, and creativity. He had an extraordinary talent for resonating ideas in a way that ensured mutual understanding and often helped me refine my thoughts and notice details I had overlooked. This talent was a testament both to his intellectual abilities and his sincere care for others and desire to understand their perspectives, whether in professional or personal conversations. As an engineer, Dovi was remarkably talented and creative. He approached every problem with a positive attitude, viewing complexities not as obstacles but as fascinating challenges. His ability to tackle complex issues while finding ways to simplify them was truly impressive. His work on this project exemplified these qualities and made a significant contribution to the research. Beyond his professional contributions, Dovi inspired me to grow as a person. His unwavering determination, self-reflection, and deep commitment to unity were a source of inspiration. Dovi always emphasized the importance of seeing others, finding common ground, and demonstrating mutual respect instead of focusing on differences. Dovi showed me how to face challenges with grace and strive for continuous personal growth. The patience and kindness he displayed in every interaction serve as an example I aspire to follow. I hope for myself and for all of us to be worthy of his sacrifice and to honor his memory by striving to be better people, as Dovi was.”