Scientific Activities 2001

Scientific Activities2001

Rehovot, Israel

zThe WeizmannInstitute of Science

Edited, Designed and Typeset byAviva Ovadia

Cover Design byShoshana Zioni, Graphics Department

We wish to thank all the secretarial staff who worked on this project,without whose help this publication would not be possible.

Printed in IsraelBy Ben-Zvi Hafakot Ltd., Jerusalem

ISSN 0083-7849

Contents

The Board of Governors viiThe Scientific and Academic Advisory Committee xvOfficers of the Weizmann Institute xviiThe Weizmann Institute of Science xix

Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science

Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science - Overview 3Computer Science and Applied Mathematics 5Mathematics 13The Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute of Mathematics 19

and Computer Science The Carl F. Gauss Minerva Center for Scientific Computation 21The Minerva Center for Formal Verification of Reactive Systems 23

Faculty of Physics

Faculty of Physics - Overview 29Condensed Matter Physics 31Particle Physics 37Physics of Complex Systems 45Physics Services 53The Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for High Energy Physics 55The Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Center for Submicron Research 59The Albert Einstein Minerva Center for Theoretical Physics 63The Maurice and Gabriella Goldschleger Center for Nanophysics 65The Minerva Center for Nonlinear Physics of Complex Systems 67

Faculty of Chemistry

Faculty of Chemistry - Overview 73Chemical Physics 77Environmental Sciences and Energy Research 83Materials and Interfaces 87Organic Chemistry 93Structural Biology 99Solar Research Facilities Unit 105

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Chemical Services 109The Center for Energy Research 117The Fritz Haber Center for Physical Chemistry 119The Ilse Katz Institute for Material Sciences and Magnetic 121

Resonance Research The Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Archaeological Science 123The Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Molecular Design 125The Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Center for Biomolecular 127

Structure and Assembly The Joseph and Ceil Mazer Center for Structural Biology 129The Gerhard M. J. Schmidt Minerva Center for Supramolecular 131

Architecture The Sussman Family Center for the Study of Environmental Sciences 133

Faculty of Biochemistry

Faculty of Biochemistry - Overview 137Biological Chemistry 141Molecular Genetics 149Plant Sciences 157Biological Services 163The Avron-Wilstätter Minerva Center for Research in Photosynthesis 165The Y. Leon Benoziyo Institute for Molecular Medicine 167The Dr. Josef Cohn Minerva Center for Biomembrane Research 169The Crown Human Genome Center 171The Mel Dobrin Center for Nutrition 173The Leo and Julia Forchheimer Center for Molecular Genetics 175The Kekst Family Center for Medical Genetics 177The Charles W. and Tillie K. Lubin Center for Plant Biotechnology 179The M.D. Moross Institute for Cancer Research 181The David and Fela Shapell Family Center for Genetics Disorders Researhc 183The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Center for Plant Molecular 185

Genetics Research

Faculty of Biology

Faculty of Biology - Overview 189Biological Regulation 191Immunology 197Molecular Cell Biology 205Neurobiology 217Veterinary Resources 223Helen and Norman Asher Center for Human Brain Imaging 225Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for Neurosciences 227The Carl and Micaela Einhorn-Dominic Institute for Brain Research 229The Murray H. and Meyer Grodetsky Center for Research of Higher 231

Brain Functions

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The Robert Koch-Minerva Center for Research in Autoimmune Diseases 233The Belle S. and Irving E. Meller Center for the Biology of Aging 235The Willner Family Center for Vascular Biology 237Women's Health Research Center 239Yad Abraham Research Center for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy 241

Feinberg Graduate School

Feinberg Graduate School 247Science Teaching 293Young@Science 301The Aharon Katzir-Katchalski Center 305

Institute-Wide Centers

The Clore Center for Biological Physics 311The Dolfi and Lola Ebner Center for Biomedical Research 313

Division of Information Systems 315Division of Logistics and Research Services 323Academic Secretariat 327Conference Section 357The Amos de-Shalit Foundation 361Yeda Research and Development Company Ltd. 363Scientific Activities on the Internet 365Current Research Projects on the Internet 367

The Board of Governors

Gershon Kekst*, New York, Chairperson of the Board H. Thomas Beck*, Toronto, Deputy Chairperson of the Board Lawrence S. Blumberg*, New York, Deputy Chairperson of the Board Vivien Duffield*, Geneva, Deputy Chairperson of the Board Prof. Michael Sela*, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Deputy Chairperson of the Board S. Donald Sussman*, Greenwich, Deputy Chairperson of the Board Joshua Maor*, Ramat-Gan, Chairperson of the Executive Council

Ayala Zacks Abramov, Jerusalem Gary M. Abramson, N. Bethesda Alfred Akirov, Tel Aviv (until November 2001) Sem Almaleh, Geneva Prof. Ruth Arnon*, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot Prof. Zvi Artstein, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot (from November 2001) Helen Asher***, Chicago Robert H. Asher*, Chicago, ex-officio member (also elected member) David Assia, Or-Yehuda Yehuda Assia*, Tel Aviv Prof. John M. Ball, University of Oxford Prof. David Baltimore, Caltech, Pasadena Prof. Allen J. Bard, University of Texas, Austin Amnon S. Barness, New York (until November 2001) Robert G. Begam, Phoenix Robert Belfer, New York Abraham Ben-Naftali*, Tel Aviv Prof. Haim Ben-Shahar, Tel Aviv Dr. Emile Benassayag, Paris Marshall Bennett, Chicago Prof. Sir Michael V. Berry, University of Bristol Maks L. Birnbach*, New York Paul Borman, Southfield (until November 2001) Frances Brody, Los Angeles Andrea M. Bronfman, New York

*Member of the Executive Council ***Member of the Executive Council until November 2001

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L. Yehuda Bronicki*, Yavne Stanley Chais*, Beverly Hills Prof. Ilan Chet** (member from November 2001 - President, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot

from December 1, 2001) Joseph Ciechanover, Tel Aviv Doron Cohen*, Ramat-Gan Norman D. Cohen*, New York Sir Ronald Cohen, London Prof. Mildred Cohn, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Samy Cohn*, Rio de Janeiro Lester Crown*, Chicago Prof. Paul J. Crutzen, Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie, Mainz Dr. Hubert Curien, Paris Prof. Constantine M. Dafermos, Brown University, Providence Leslie L. Dan, Scarborough The Hon. Mrs. Janet de Botton, London Raoul de Picciotto, Monte-Carlo Meir de Shalit, Herzliya Pituach David L. Dennis, Toronto (until November 2001) Helen Diller, Woodside (from November 2001) Prof. Charles A. Dinarello, University of Colorado, Denver Dr. Zvi Dinstein, Tel Aviv Ido Dissentshik*, Tel Aviv Sonnie Dockser, Bethesda Prof. Israel Dostrovsky*, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot Robert J. Drake*, Wassenaar Prof. Sidney D. Drell, SLAC, Menlo Park Prof. Mildred S. Dresselhaus, M.I.T., Cambridge (from November 2001) Prof. Aryeh Dvoretzky*, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot Ralph S. Dweck, Washington, DC Maurice M. Dwek*, Geneva Prof. Michael Eisenbach*, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, ex-officio member Stuart E. Eizenstat, Washington, DC (from November 2001) Robert Equey, Chene-Bougeries Michael Federmann*, Tel Aviv Prof. Mitchell J. Feigenbaum, The Rockefeller University, New York Prof. Alan Roy Fersht*, FRS, Cambridge University Chemical Laboratory Alan A. Fischer*, Larchmont Prof. Edmond H. Fischer, University of Washington, Seattle Prof. Michael E. Fisher, University of Maryland, College Park

*Member of the Executive Council **Member of the Executive Council from November 2001

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Michael R. Forman, Los Angeles William Frankel***, Philadelphia Louise Gartner, Dallas Moshe Gavish*, Tel Aviv Dr. Martin L. Gecht, Chicago Mauricio Gerson, Mexico, D.F. (from November 2001) Martin S. Gerstel*, Jerusalem Henny Gestetner, OBE, London David Ginsburg*, Washington, DC Francoise Glasberg, Paris Prof. Patricia S. Goldman-Rakic, Yale University, New Haven Bram Goldsmith, Beverly Hills Abraham M. Goldwasser**, Savyon Richard F. Goodman, New York Dr. Allan S. Gordon, Toronto (until November 2001) Prof. Michael B. Green, University of Cambridge (from November 2001) Prof. Yoram Groner*, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot Prof. François Gros*, Academy of Sciences, Paris Joseph Gurwin, Kings Point Wilhelm Haas, Bonn Joseph D. Hackmey*, Tel Aviv Gideon J. Hamburger*, Ramat-Gan Prof. Haim Harari* (President, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot until November 30, 2001) Shimshon Harel, Herzliya Pituach Irving B. Harris, Chicago Lilian Hertzberg, New York Prof. Michael J. Higatsberger, University of Vienna Joseph D. Hollander, Herzliya Pituach (from November 2001) Ephraim Ilin*, Tel Aviv Jules James, Toronto (until November 2001) Armando Jinich, Mexico, D.F. Dr. Yair Kadishay*, Ramat Hasharon Roberto Kaminitz, Sao Paulo Prof. Richard M. Karp, University of California, Berkeley Prof. Ephraim Katchalski-Katzir*, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot Isaac Kaul*, Ramat-Gan James F. Kay, Toronto Morris Kerzner, Toronto Helen L. Kimmel*, New York

*Member of the Executive Council **Member of the Executive Council from November 2001 ***Member of the Executive Council until November 2001

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Martin S. Kimmel*, New YorkDerrick Kleeman*, Geneva Peter J. Kleeman*, London Andrea Klepetar-Fallek, New York Prof. Sir Aaron Klug, FRS, Medical Research Council, Cambridge Marvelle Koffler, Willowdale (from November 2001) Murray B. Koffler*, Willowdale Prof. Walter Kohn, University of California, Santa Barbara Prof. Daniel E. Koshland, University of California, Berkeley Reuben Kunin, Toronto Martha Laub*, Wilrijk-Antwerpen Prof. Leon M. Lederman, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg Prof. Arnold J. Levine, The Rockefeller University, New York Morton Levine, Delray Beach Barbara Levinson*, Palm Beach Cecil Lewis*, Geneva Prof. Albert J. Libchaber, The Rockefeller University, New York (from November 2001) Robert B. Machinist, New York André Marcus, Monte-Carlo (until November 2001) Dan Mayer*, Zug Rina Mayer, Tel Aviv Gurion Meltzer*, Tel Aviv Dr. Leora Meridor*, Tel Aviv Oded Messer, Tel Aviv (deceased May 14, 2001) Roselyn Meyer, Aventura (from November 2001) Francis C. Minkoff, Cologny (until November 2001) Prof. David Mirelman, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot Manfred D. Moross**, London Andrew R. Morse*, Harrison Prof. George D. Mostow, Yale University, New Haven Joseph G. Nissim*, Geneva Yuli Ofer, Herzliya Pituach (until November 2001) Dr. Joseph L. Owades, Sonoma (from November 2001) Martin Paisner*, London Charles I. Petschek, New York Prof. Philip A. Pincus, University of California, Santa Barbara Prof. Alexander Pines, University of California, Berkeley Jeannette Pomeraniec, London Moshe Porath*, Tel Aviv


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Dan Propper, Petah Tikva Leon Y. Recanati, Tel Aviv (until November 2001) Prof. Alexander Rich, M.I.T., Cambridge John H. Ritblat, London Barrie D. Rose*, Toronto Prof. Jesse Roth, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, New Hyde Park Lord Rothschild, GBE, London Prof. Samuel A. Safran**, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, ex-officio member (from November

2001) Prof. Bert Sakmann, Max-Planck-Institut für Medizinische Forschung, Heidelberg Rowland Schaefer*, Pembroke Pines Leon Schidlow*, Mexico, D.F. Sara L. Schupf, New York Prof. Shmuel Shaltiel, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot David Shapell, Beverly Hills Prof. Carla J. Shatz, Harvard Medical School, Boston (from November 2001) Barry Sherman, Weston Prof. Ben-Zion Shilo*, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, ex-officio member Itschak Shrem, Tel Aviv (until November 2001) The Honorable Sir David Sieff*, London, Vice-Chairperson of the Executive Council Lord Sieff of Brimpton, London (deceased February 23, 2001) Dr. Maxine F. Singer*, Carnegie Institution of Washington Dr. Jay Alan Smith, Toronto Prof. Heinz A. Staab, Max-Planck-Institut für Medizinische Forschung, Heidelberg Brian J. Steck, Toronto Luis A. Stillmann, Mexico, D.F. Lord Stone of Blackheath, London Dov Tadmor, Tel Aviv (until November 2001) Doron Tamir, Tel Aviv Marvin Tanner, Saint-Laurent Evelyn Tenenbaum, Bal Harbour Theodore H. Teplow*, Cambridge Barry S. Townsley*, London Prof. Marc Van Montagu, University of Gent Saul Waring, New York Prof. Hans A. Weidenmüller*, Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Heidelberg Irving L. Wein, Chicago Prof. Robert A. Weinberg, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge Prof. Charles Weissmann, University College London Dr. Albert Willner*, Delray Beach


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Prof. Bernard Winicki, Neuilly/Seine (until November 2001) Dr. Herbert Winter*, Zurich Peter M. Wolff, London The Rt. Hon. Lord Wolfson of Marylebone, FBA, London Robert E. Woolley, Dallas Dr. Veit Wyler*, Zurich Prof. Yosef Yarden, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot (from November 2001) Prof. Dr. Hans F. Zacher, Max-Planck-Institut, München Dr. Alejandro Zaffaroni, Zaffaroni Foundation, Mountain View Dr. Felix Zandman, Malvern Eugene M. Zemsky, Chicago Uzi Zucker*, New York Roy J. Zuckerberg, New York Sharon Zuckerman, Willowdale

The Founding Chairperson

The late Dewey D. Stone (served from 1949 to 1971)

Governors Emeriti

Prof. Duilio Arigoni, ETH-Zentrum, Zurich Prof. Fritz H. Bach, Harvard Medical School, Boston Amnon S. Barness, New York (from November 2001) Prof. Baruj Benacerraf, Harvard Medical School, Boston Stuart A. Bernstein, Washington Marc Besen, Toorak Albert Bildner, New York Prof. Elkan R. Blout, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Gerald Blumberg, New York Paul Borman, Southfield (from November 2001) Harriet B. Brady, Chicago Joseph Brender, Point Piper Edgar M. Bronfman, New York Hugh T. Cameron, Oakville Stanley S. Cohen, OBE, London Sir Zelman Cowen, East Melbourne Prof. Jean Dausset, Human Polymorphism Study Center, Paris David L. Dennis, Toronto (from November 2001) Prof. Samuel Devons, Columbia University, Irvington

*Member of the Executive Council

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Sir Harry A. S. Djanogly, CBE, London Melvyn A. Dobrin, Westmount Abba Eban, Herzliya Pituach Prof. Gerald M. Edelman, The Neurosciences Institute, San Diego Prof. Manfred Eigen, Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Gottingen-

Nikolausberg Prof. Gerald Estrin, University of California, Los Angeles Marshall S. Ezralow, Calabasas Yekutiel X. Federmann, Tel Aviv (deceased January 18, 2002) Prof. George Feher, University of California, San Diego Sir David Frost, OBE, London Herbert M. Gelfand, Los Angeles Mozes B. Gitter, Herzliya Dr. Amnon Goldenberg, Tel Aviv Prof. Maurice Goldhaber, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, Long Island Dr. Carlos Goldman, Caracas Dr. Jacob E. Goldman, GB Energy Systems, Inc., Norwalk Richard N. Goldman, San Francisco Joel Greisman, Don Mills Shlomo Grofman, Tel Aviv Dr. George S. Hammond, Aloha Dr. Niels Hansen, Bonn Yehezkiel Harmelech, Rehovot Dr. Hans-Hilger Haunschild, Bonn Hy Isenbaum, Toronto Jules James, Toronto (from November 2001) Philip M. Kaiser, Washington Prof. Martin D. Kamen, Montecito Teddy Kollek, Jerusalem Dr. Adia Konikoff, Geneva Prof. Arthur Kornberg, Stanford University Prof. Sir Hans Kornberg, Boston University Dov Lautman, Tel Aviv Prof. Joshua Lederberg, The Rockefeller University, New York William Levine, Chicago Andre Marcus, Monte-Carlo (from November 2001) Prof. Paul A. Marks, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York John J. Mason, Washington, DC Hermann Mayer, Gstaad (deceased March 28, 2001) Prof. N. Avrion Mitchison, UCL Medical School, London Henri M. Monod, Paris Jackie Rosenfeld, London Dr. George Rosenkranz, Mexico, D.F.

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Prof. John Ross, Stanford University Samuel Rothberg, Peoria Dr. Aser Rothstein, Toronto Barry Rymer, Chicago, Illinois Prof. Jozef St. Schell, Max-Planck-Institut für Züchtungsforschung, Koln Prof. Harold Scheraga, Cornell University, New York Walter E. Schoenfeld, Seattle Prof. Melvin Schwartz, Ketchum Jerome A. Siegel, New York William H. Singer, Tucson Stephen L. Stulman, New York Prof. John M. Thomas, University of Cambridge Lord Weidenfeld of Chelsea, London Adam Weis, Toorak Jay W. Weiss, North Miami Alan B. Weissman, Greenwich Prof. Bernard Winicki, Neuilly/Seine (from November 2001) Zvi Zur, Zahala

The Scientific and Academic Advisory Committee

Co-Chairpersons

Prof. Alan Roy Fersht, FRS, Cambridge University Prof. Hans A. Weidenmüller, Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Heidelberg

Prof. John M. Ball, University of Oxford Prof. David Baltimore, Caltech, Pasadena Prof. Allen J. Bard, University of Texas, Austin Prof. Sir Michael V. Berry, University of Bristol Prof. Ilan Chet, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot (ex-officio member from December 1, 2001) Prof. Mildred Cohn, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Prof. Paul J. Crutzen, Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie, Mainz Prof. Constantine M. Dafermos, Brown University, Providence Prof. Charles A. Dinarello, University of Colorado, Denver Prof. Sidney D. Drell, SLAC, Menlo Park Prof. Mildred S. Dresselhaus, M.I.T., Cambridge (from November 2001) Prof. Mitchell J. Feigenbaum, The Rockefeller University, New York Prof. Edmond H. Fischer, University of Washington, Seattle Prof. Michael E. Fisher, University of Maryland, College Park Prof. Patricia S. Goldman-Rakic, Yale University, New Haven Prof. Michael B. Green, University of Cambridge (from November 2001) Prof. Francois Gros, Academy of Sciences, Paris Prof. Haim Harari, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot (ex-officio member - until December 1, 2001) Prof. Richard M. Karp, University of California, Berkeley Gershon Kekst, New York (ex-officio member) Prof. Sir Aaron Klug, FRS, Medical Research Council, Cambridge Prof. Walter Kohn, University of California, Santa Barbara Prof. Daniel E. Koshland, University of California, Berkeley Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg Prof. Arnold J. Levine, The Rockefeller University, New York Prof. Albert J. Libchaber, The Rockefeller University, New York (from November 2001) Prof. George D. Mostow, Yale University, New Haven Prof. Philip A. Pincus, University of California, Santa Barbara Prof. Alexander Pines, University of California, Berkeley Prof. Alexander Rich, M. I. T., Cambridge Prof. Jesse Roth, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, New Hyde Park

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Prof. Bert Sakmann, Max-Planck-Institut für Medizinische Forschung, Heidelberg Prof. Carla J. Shatz, Harvard Medical School, Boston (from November 2001) Dr. Maxine F. Singer, Carnegie Institution of Washington Prof. Heinz A. Staab, Max-Planck-Institut für Medizinische Forschung, Heidelberg Prof. Marc Van Montagu, University of Gent Prof. Robert A. Weinberg, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge Prof. Charles Weissmann, University College London

Officers of the Weizmann Institute

President Advisory Committee to the President
Professor Haim Harari (until November
2001)Professor Ilan Chet (from December 2001)

Deputy PresidentProfessor Yoram Groner (until November

2001)

Vice PresidentProfessor Samuel Safran (from December

2001)

Vice President for Academic AffairsProfessor Yosef Yarden (until November

2001)

Vice President for International Affairs and Public Relations

Dr. Hanan Alon

Vice President for Technology TransferProfessor Zvi Artstein

Vice President for Finance and Administration

Yaacov Naan

Senior Advisor to the PresidentHanan Bar-On (until November 2001)

Chairperson, Council of Professors Professor Ben-Zion Shilo

Chairperson, Scientific CouncilProfessor Michael Eisenbach

Vice Chairperson, Scientific CouncilProfessor Michael Kirson

Professor Lia AddadiDr. Hanan AlonProfessor Zvi ArtsteinProfessor Yigal BursteinProfessor Ben-Zion ShiloProfessor Yoram Groner (until November

2001)Professor David HarelProfessor Michael EisenbachProfessor David MirelmanProfessor David MukamelYaakov NaanProfessor Moshe OrenProfessor Samuel SafranProfessor Yosef Yarden

The Feinberg Graduate School(chartered by the New York State Board of

Regents)

PresidentRobert Asher

ChairmanProfessor Melvin Schwartz

Founding ChairmanAbraham Feinberg (deceased)

SecretaryDavid Ginsburg

TreasurerAndrew Morse

Dean of the Feinberg Graduate SchoolProfessor Samuel Safran (until November

2001)Professor Yosef Yarden (from December

2001)
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Deans of the Faculties Head, Division of Information SystemsProfessor Yigal Burstein

Mathematics and Computer ScienceProfessor David Harel

PhysicsProfessor David Mukamel

ChemistryProfessor Lia Addadi

BiochemistryProfessor David Mirelman

BiologyProfessor Moshe Oren

The Feinberg Graduate SchoolProfessor Samuel Safran (until November

2001)Professor Yosef Yarden (from December

2001)

Administrative Officers

Vice President for Finance and Administration

Yaacov Naan

Academic SecretaryDr. Boaz Avron

Head, Construction and Physical Plant Maintenance Division

Avraham Dines

Head, Human Resources DivisionYaacov Geva

Head, Finance DivisionMichael Netzer (until June 2001)

Acting Head, Finance DivisionOsnat Wishnitzer (from July 2001)

Head, Division of Logistics and Research Services

Daniel Tamari

Secretary of the AssociationIlana Eisen

Head, Office of Research Grants and ProjectsDr. Boaz Avron

Head, Publications and Media Relations Department

Yivsam Azgad

Head, Supply DepartmentEli Kedar (deceased July 2001)

Acting Head, Supply DepartmentIlana Liberman (from August 2001)

Assistant to the Vice-President and Legal Officer

Gad Kober

Director of Visitors CenterNavit Kopelis

Chief LibrarianIlana Pollack

Head, Visiting Scientists DepartmentEdna Agmon

Head, Donor Relations DepartmentGila Shmueli

Internal AuditorDoron Yonai

Head, Organization and MethodsEphraim Shor

The Weizmann Institute of Science

The Weizmann Institute of Science, a center of scientific research and graduate study, islocated on a 1.2 square kilometer campus of lawns and sub-tropical gardens in the town ofRehovot on Israel's coastal plain, 22 kilometers south of Tel Aviv and 42 kilometers west ofJerusalem. The Weizmann Institute staff of 2,659 is made up of scientists, scientific technicalsupport staff, postdoctoral fellows, Ph.D. students, M.Sc. students, and administrative staff. In2001, the Institute also played host to 595 visiting scientists and their families from 32countries and hosted numerous international scientific conferences and symposia, as well as awide range of other cultural and educational activities.

The story of the Institute begins in the ominous year of 1933 when - under the looming shadowof Nazism-Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Chemist and world Zionist leader, decided to found a centerof scientific research in what was then a small agricultural community in the British mandateof Palestine. The Jewish population of Palestine numbered less than 400,000; the countrylacked virtually all natural resources; industry was essentially non-existent; trade andcommerce were extremely limited. Furthermore, the Mandatory Government was inimical tothe effort to develop the Jewish national home, and the Arabs of Palestine were also clearlyand increasingly hostile to this effort. Nonetheless, an urgent question had to be answered:could the Jews of Palestine, struggling for self-definition and self-sufficiency, possibly absorbthousands-if not tens of thousands-of refugees from Nazism, assure them a livelihood, and stillcontinue the forward surge?

Because he was a scientist who had himself made significant contributions to organicchemistry and industrial fermentation, Dr. Weizmann was quick to appreciate that only theadvancement and wise utilization of science and technology could meet the needs of the time.A scientific tradition would have to be established; scientific methodology would have to belinked to the Zionist endeavor; a generation of researchers, their scientific standards set byinternational criteria, would have to be created. But vision is one thing and implementationanother. Fortunately, Dr. Weizmann found partners to back the vision. His friends, Israel andRebecca Sieff, decided to establish a research institute in Palestine that would bear the name oftheir son Daniel. In the spring of 1934, the Daniel Sieff Research Institute came into existence.

Today the Institute is older and more venerable, but in 1934 it epitomized modernity. It housedtwo main branches of research, organic chemistry and biochemistry, and Dr. Weizmann's ownlaboratory. The blueprint called for other departments, among them optics and physics. In themeantime, the staff-in addition to Dr. Weizmann himself-included 10 full-time scientists (ofwhom six were from Germany and Austria) working on projects that gave pride of place toproblems connected to the country's economy: citrus, dairy, silk, and tobacco, as well as thesynthesis of chemical products of medical value.

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In 1939, World War II broke out; it was both natural and inevitable that the scientists of theSieff Institute would become deeply involved in the war effort, especially in the production ofpharmaceuticals for the Allied Forces in the Middle East. Dr. Weizmann's vision, however,went far beyond wartime exigencies. One day a Jewish State would be established; its fullacceptance-not to say its ability to survive-would depend, in the final analysis, upon the degreeof competence in the most demanding areas of modern life. So, throughout the war, theintellectual and scientific code being formed in Rehovot remained a central concern, designedto serve larger needs as they arose-which was sooner than anyone expected.

In 1944, the world still at war, Dr. Weizmann celebrated his 70th birthday. Meyer W. Weisgal-his close associate who was to become the Institute's third President and later its Chancellor-brought together, in New York, some of those who sought to pay tribute to Dr. Weizmann.Unsure of the most suitable present, they decided to ask Dr. Weizmann's advice. "I neednothing for myself," he said. "But if you wish, do something for the expansion of the DanielSieff Institute." The suggestion soon acquired new dimensions and developed into the multi-disciplinary complex called the Weizmann Institute. The planning began at once; eminentscientists throughout the world joined a committee charged with formulating a scientific policyfor the Institute-to-be, and in 1946 the cornerstone was laid in Rehovot.

War intervened again-this time, Israel's War of Independence. It was not until 1949 that theWeizmann Institute was completed; by then it reflected the transformation that had taken placein Palestine with the birth of the State of Israel. The Weizmann Institute of Science, formallydedicated on November 2, 1949, consisted of buildings housing 60 laboratories. Ninescientific fields were under investigation: organic and inorganic chemistry, biochemistry,bacteriology, optics, electronics, polymer research, isotope research, applied mathematics(including geophysics), and biophysics. The Wolfson Institute of Experimental Biology wasalready under construction, preparing for a tenth area of research, and the first of severalresidential quarters was being landscaped.

The increase in staff was enormous; some of the scientists had come from abroad, drawn to theInstitute by its growing reputation and by their desire to settle in the new State, and others wereyoung Israelis whom Dr. Weizmann had selected as his scientific heirs. It was decided thatdepartments would rise around outstanding scientists, and this has remained the guidingprinciple. Under the vigorous twin leadership of founding Board Chairman Dewey D. Stoneand Meyer W. Weisgal, the new Institute developed rapidly.

Although from the earliest days the scientists at the Institute had undertaken a substantial shareof the graduate training of the future generation of Israeli scientists, the formal academicauspices for their study resided in the two university-level teaching institutions of those years,the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology) in Haifa.In 1958, the Institute, having decided that the time had come to assert its formal responsibilityfor its own graduate training program, established the Feinberg Graduate School. At the sametime, a joint Hebrew University-Weizmann Institute committee was set up to approve thetheses of Ph.D. students in both institutions. This arrangement remained in effect until 1971,when it was discontinued by mutual agreement. The first Ph.D. degree in the name of theWeizmann Institute of Science was conferred in 1964.

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In 1959, the Yeda Research and Development Co. was founded. Yeda functions as acommercial arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Yeda initiates and promotes the transferto the global marketplace of research findings and innovative technologies developed by theinstitute scientists. Yeda was the first company of its kind in Israel. The Weizmann Instituteplayed a considerable role in the establishment of the Kiryat Weizmann Industrial Park,founded in 1970. Kiryat Weizmann (developed and managed by Africa-Israel InvestmentsLtd.) covers 40 acres and serves as the location for nearly 60 companies whose enterprisesmanufacture fine chemicals, aircraft instruments, environmental control apparatus, computer-associated components, medical instruments, synthetic membranes, immunochemicals, sera,and biological products such as monoclonal antibodies, interferon, growth hormones,bioengineered substances, and so forth. The Weizmann Institute is now involved in thedevelopment of another science-based industrial park adjacent to Kiryat Weizmann.

It is entirely typical of the Institute's continuing preoccupation with the future that itestablished, in 1968, the Department of Science Teaching, which has addressed itself seriouslyand professionally to educational reform in Israel. An energetic and imaginativeYoung@Science (formerly Youth Activities section) was developed for the encouragement ofscience-oriented youngsters. This section reaches out to more than 21,000 pupils annually witha variety of programs, ranging from weekly science clubs and summer science camps oncampus to new educational concepts that service extra-curricular school science programsnationwide. In 1999 the Clore Garden of Science, the first totally outdoor science museum wasopened to the public with over 50 interactive exhibits on a beautifully landscaped site. Itimmediately gained popularity with the Israeli public and received international recognition.

At present, nearly five decades after Dr. Weizmann's death, the Institute comprises 17departments, grouped into five Faculties: Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics,Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biology, and one department attached to the Feinberg GraduateSchool. In recent years, in response to the evolving demands of modern research,interdisciplinary science centers have been created to promote collaboration throughout theInstitute on major contemporary problems. Thirty nine have been established to date, and moreare planned.


Dean: David Harel The William Sussman Professor of Mathematics

Aryeh Dvoretzky, Ph.D.(The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Institute Professor

2 Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science


Dean: David Harel The William Sussman Professor of Mathematics

The Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science consists of two departments: theDepartment of Mathematics, and the Department of Computer Science and AppliedMathematics. In actuality, we carry out research in three categories: pure mathematics, appliedmathematics, and computer science.

There are no clear-cut lines separating these areas, and many projects span more than one ofthem. The research itself ranges from abstract and very theoretical considerations withinmathematics and computer science, through using and applying mathematics and computerscience in other sciences, to their application in concrete industrial developments. It is not easyto divide the faculty members into well identified research groups, as there is a large overlap inresearch interests and expertise, an overlap that in turn contributes to the strength of theFaculty. Thus, the best way to see what is done in the Faculty is to read the research summariesprovided in our Faculty brochure for each of the departments and for each individual scientist.

The Faculty also hosts the Carl F. Gauss Minerva Center for Scientific Computation, the Johnvon Neumann Minerva Center for Verification of Reactive Systems, and the MorossLaboratory for Vision Research and Robotics.

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4 Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science

Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

Shimon Ullman, Head The Ruth and Samy Cohn Professor of Computer Sciences

Research in computer science encompasses theoretical studies on the foundations of computerscience, experimental aspects of computer science, computer vision and robotics, and thestudy of information processing by biological systems, theoretical biology and bio-informatics. On the theoretical side, topics include computational complexity, cryptography,algorithms, distributed computing, methods for system verification, specification anddevelopment, logics of programs, combinatorics and number theory, combinatorial games,information retrieval, and numerical analysis. Experimental research includes the developmentof concurrent languages, visual languages, and programming environments. The study ofvision, robotics, and motor control includes both theoretical and experimental components. Wehave expanded our activity at the interface of biology and computation by adding a program inbio-informatics, and studying computational aspects of olfaction and computations bybiological machinery.

Research in applied mathematics includes two main themes. The first is the basic study ofapplied mathematics and the development of new mathematical tools of general applicabilityin science and engineering. The second theme is the use of mathematical techniques toelucidate phenomena of interest in the natural sciences, such as biology, medicine, andphysics.

Complexity theory: Classifying computational problems by the amount of computation, thenumber of processing steps and the memory required for their solution. One recent focus is onthe complexity of approximation, that is, investigating whether efficient approximationalgorithms exist for problems that are inherently complex. Some approximations were foundto exhibit a threshold phenomenon: for a particular ratio of approximation there is a transitionfrom inefficient to efficient approximation. Other work establishes lower bounds on thecomplexity of models of computation, including boolean circuits, communication complexity,and length of proofs.

Cryptography deals with methods for protecting the privacy, integrity, and functionality ofcomputer and communication systems. The research activities on the area range fromproviding firm foundations to the construction of such methods to providing actualconstructions for specific needs. Correspondingly, research in Cryptography ranges from veryabstract (or theoretical) to very applied (or concrete). The full range of these activities isrepresented in the Department of Computer Science at the Weizmann Institute of Science.

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6 Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

Recent directions include the design and analysis of practical cryptosystems, the developmentof session-key generation based on passwords, the study of new types of zero-knowledgeproofs and of the complexity of secure function evaluation.

Randomness: Finding methods that allow a deterministic process to simulate randomness, andusing randomness for solving computational problems, including computer communicationapplications, and protecting privacy in information exchange over computer networks.

Program verification: Research on the automatic verification of computer systems, includingdigital circuit design, reactive and real-time systems, and reactive systems. Current researchincludes the synthesis of reactive modules, automatic verification of multi-process systems,and specification methods that combine transition systems with temporal logic.

System specification: Research on languages for the modeling and simulation of complexreactive systems. Work focuses on visual formalisms, based on topological and geometricconstructs. It includes the semantics and implementation of Statecharts, an object-orientedversion of Statecharts, and a new language for inter-object message specification, called LSC's(live sequence charts). Related work is on the layout of diagrams, such as undirected graphsand blob/window hierarchies.

Distributed computing and communication networks: Work in this area includes the design ofefficient communication patterns and efficient transmission of information between sites in anetwork. Dynamical systems: Studies of the chaotic behavior in dynamical systems, withapplications to physical problems, including fluid flow and mixing, atmospheric science,plasma physics and others. Recent work also include the study of parabolic resonance, and theexplanation of weather balloon drift in the atmosphere by parabolic resonance.

Vision: Object recognition: developing methods for recognizing objects, such as faces or cars,from their images.

Aids for the visually impaired: Using computer vision methods to help the visually impaired. Visually guided navigation: using vision to guide mobile robots and robotic arms to reach adesired position.

Video Analysis and Application: using video analysis to handle and manipulate informationfrom multiple video cameras imaging the same scene (either simultaneously or at differenttimes). Video enhancement, video indexing and browsing (e.g., over the internet), compression(for storage and transmission), video-based surveillance and monitoring, and multi-mediaapplications.

Robotics: Movement control in biological and robotic systems: studying the processes ofmotion planning and control in biological systems and the strategies employed by the brain inthe planning, execution and control of multi-joint movements and different motor tasks, suchas reaching, pointing, grasping and drawing.

Computer Science and Applied Mathematics 7

Motor learning and adaptation: Investigating the rules that govern skill acquisition andlearning in humans, and developing learning algorithms and architectures for robotic systems.

Parkinson's disease research: In collaboration with neurologists we investigate andcharacterize the motor impairments manifested in Parkinson's disease.

Scientific computing: Developing new efficient methods for solving equations that appear inmany natural problems. Solving the mathematical equations that describe natural phenomenain physics, chemistry, and other branches of science, is often a formidable computation task.We are involved in developing more efficient computational methods with possibleapplications in diverse areas, such as fluid dynamics, medical imaging, image processing,astrophysics, and others. One major direction is the development of hierarchical methods thatapproximate the problem is space and time simultaneously on several resolution levels.Another direction is the analytic estimation of the errors caused in the computation by discretecomputer calculations, and developing methods for controlling such errors.

Nonlinear Hamiltonian dynamics, and its applications to physical problems such as fluid flowand mixing, atmospheric science and plasma physics.

Biology and computation: bio-informatics, computational aspects of olfaction, computation bybiological machinery.

http://www.wisdom.weizmann.ac.il

Research Staff, Visitors and Students

Professors

Achi Brandt, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Elaine and Bram Goldsmith Professor of Applied Mathematics

Tamar Flash, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United StatesOded Goldreich, Ph.D., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

The Meyer W. Weisgal Professor Shafrira Goldwasser, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, United StatesDavid Harel, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States

The William Sussman Professor of Mathematics David Peleg, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Norman D. Cohen Professor of Computer Sciences Amir Pnueli, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Estrin Family Professor of Computer Science Adi Shamir, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Paul and Marlene Borman Professor of Applied Mathematics Shimon Ullman, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States

The Ruth and Samy Cohn Professor of Computer Sciences


Professors Emeriti

Ari Ben-Menahem, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United StatesAviezri S. Fraenkel, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, United StatesIsaac M. Horowitz, Ph.D., Polytechnic Institute of BrooklynAlexander Lerner, Ph.D., Academy of Sciences of USSR, Moscow, Russian FederationPhilip Rabinowitz, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United StatesLee A. Segel, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States

Associate Professors

Ronen Basri, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelUriel Feige, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Incumbent of the Joseph and Celia Reskin Career Development Chair (until March 2001)

Daniel Michelson, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelMoni Naor, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, United StatesRan Raz, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

Incumbent of the Elaine Blond Career Development Chair Vered Rom-Kedar, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United StatesEhud Shapiro, Ph.D., Yale University, New Haven, United States

Senior Research Fellow

William Silverman, B.A., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States

Senior Scientist

Michal Irani, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelYigal Allon Fellow

Junior Staff Scientist

Meirav Galun, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Special Contract

Igor Gejadze, Ph.D., Moscow Aviation Institute, Russia (left February 2001)Valery Ilyin, Ph.D., Kiev State University

Engineers

Yorram Kalef, M.Sc., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Rehovot, Israel


Leah Mory Rauch, M.Sc., Weizmann Institute of TechnologyDorit Ron, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Technology, Rehovot, IsraelOded Smikt, M.Sc., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

Consultants

Yonit Kesten, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, IsraelOrna Lichtenstein, Center for Technological Education, Holon, IsraelBaruch Radin, Geo-Interactive, Tel-Aviv, Israel (left December 2001)Bilha Sandak, IndependentIrad Yavneh, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (left August 2001)

Visiting Scientists

Asa Barber, Imperial College, London, UKNathan Dinar, Israel Inst. of Bio. Rese., Nes Ziona, IsraelRavi Duggirala, School of Technology and Computer Science, IndiaSmadar Karni, University of Michigan, U.S.A.Oren Livne, IDF, Israel

Postdoctoral Fellows

Alex Biryukov, Ph.D., Technion, IsraelIgor Gejadze, Ph.D., Moscow Aviation Institute, RussiaMonika Lang, Ph.D., University of Essen, GermanyGuy Sella, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, IsraelRonen Shaltiel, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelEitan Sharon, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelAmir Shpilka, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelEric Vigoda, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, USA

Research Students

Alexander AkkermanYaniv AlonIdan AmitAlexander ApartsinTamarah AronsBoaz BarakEvgeniy BartTamar BarzuzaJaakov BenensonArmin Biess

Barak BlumenfeldEran BorensteinChen BrestelEvgeny ByvatovLiran CarmelYaron CaspiEden ChlamtacMax ChvalevskyRoman DovgardAdy Ecker


Sol Efroni Shimon Kogan
Ariel ElbazMichael ElkinYuval EmekBoris EpshteinAlexey EtinLev FaivishevskyAmiel FermanYuval FilmusDana FismanMaksim FrenkelJason FriedmanDavid GabayMika GabelRima GandlinSharon Gilaie-DotanAmos GilboaYaara GoldschmidtIrina GordinDafna GordonYelena GorelickOlga GrinchteinIftach HaitnerDani HalevyGil Har-NoyDan HarnikTzvika HartmanIyad Eil Hasan SuwanYehuda HassinTal HassnerLibi HerttzbergYa'akov HochByung-Woo HongAlexander IlieshAron IngerNa'aman KamLeonid KarlinskyNatan KatzEran KeydarDmitriy KharchenkoAnat KirshenbergAlexander Klimov
Yehuda Koren (Kornweitz)Amos KormanRobert KrauthgamerDalia KriegerHillel KuglerDan KushnirOded LachishMichael LangbergDavid LehmannIdo LeichterNissan Lev-TovBoris LevantDan Michael LeviRaya LeviathanIta LifshitzYehuda LindellGregory LinshizAnna Litvak-HinenzonYoad LustigMoshe MachlineItsik MantinRami MarellyMichal MashiachDror MirzayofAnton MitiaguineShai MorRan NadlerHani NeuvirthYaacov (Kobbi) Nissim KoblinerLior NoyEran OfekLeia PassoniNir PitermanFelix PolyakovOfer RahatYoav RodehAlon RosenMichael RozantsevSitvanit RuahNeer SaadIlia Safro


Erez Sali Yael Tauman
Noa SegalYaakov SettyOded ShahamElad ShaharEitan SharonEli ShechtmanRein ShimshonEli ShlizermanOfer ShtrichmanDenis SimakovRonen SosnikReuben Sumner
Eran TromerMichel Vidal-NaquetDan VilenchikErez WaisbardRaanan WaldGera WeissEhud WiederSharon WishkoIdo ZelmanLihi Zelnik-ManorAlon ZilbermanDror Zur

Administrator

Raanan Michael

Mathematics

Amitai Regev, Head The Herman P. Taubman Professor of Mathematics

The principal research interests of the Department lie in the two general areas of mathematicalanalysis and its applications, and of algebra, mainly representation theory, algebraic geometry,and number theory. Topics covered in analysis include the structure of finite and infinitedimensional spaces, operator and matrix theory, function theory on the plane, graphs andRiemann surfaces, spectral theory, several aspects of probability, and some applications ofstatistics, linear and nonlinear ordinary and partial differential equations, harmonic analysis,dynamical systems, control theory in its various manifestations, optimization, game theory andmathematical economics, approximation and complexity of functions, numerical analysis,singularity theory, and robotics. The algebraic direction includes some aspects of algebraicgeometry, representation theory, quantum groups, combinatorics, number theory, automorphicforms, ring theory, and enveloping algebras. Although the approach taken is primarily that ofpure mathematics, some of the research leans toward possible applications.

Listed below is a sample of some of the specific topics that the department's members havepursued lately or are involved in now.

Algebraic geometry: Study was continued on integration on p-adic analytic spaces. Localcontractibility of smooth analytic spaces in a stronger sense than was previously known turnedout to play in integration an important role, and it was proven using a relationship between p-adic analytic and piecewise linear spaces.

Automorphic forms: First, work was continued on the boundedness in vertical strips of L-functions that appear in constant terms of Eisenstein series; one question studied was whetherthe boundedness is really a product of complex function theory. Second, topics were exploredabout how Riemann's zeta function, and its generalizations, depends on Riemann's orginalideas.

Banach spaces: The geometry of finite and infinite dimensional normed spaces and mapsbetween them is investigated, particularly the classification of Banach spaces under Lipschitzand uniform homeomorphisms, and under Lipschitz and uniform quotient maps.

Differential and integral operators: An explicit functional calculus for various degenerateoperators related to the Heisenberg group was studied. In particular, the wave kernels for

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14 Mathematics

operators such as the Grushin operator, the Heisenberg Laplacian, and the harmonic oscillatorwere calculated, and the relation with the associated sub-Riemannian geometry was clarified.

Game theory and mathematical economics: Costs of time and negotiations were incorporatedinto a dynamic system leading to the Nash bargaining solution for cooperative games.

Spectral theory on graphs: Several results on Spectral theory of differential operators on treeswere obtained. In particular, for the Schrodinger operator on homogeneous trees the behaviourof eigenvalues appearing in the gaps of the spectrum of the free Laplacian was studied indetail. For the so-called regular trees the necessary and sufficient condition of positivedefinetness of the Laplacian was established.

Dynamical systems: The singular limit of slow and fast interacting components was modeledas coupled vector and measure-valued dynamics. Applications of this model were worked out.

Hilbert 16th problem: Considerable progress was achieved towards solving the so calledtangential form of Hilbert sixteenth problem, concerning an upper bound for the number ofisolated complex zeros of complete Abelian integrals. Following the pattern establishedearlier, a significant step was made towards the solution of the problem for arbitrary bivariateHamiltonians. A redundant system of the Picard-Fuchs equations for Abelian integrals wasderived and investigated.

Deep relations between Hilbert's problem (as well as another closely connected one -Poincare's Centre-Focus problem) and several fields in Classical and modern Analysis andAlgebra have been found. Among them Generalized Moments, Several Complex variables,Composition Algebra and D-modules. These promising relations are now investigated.

Operator theory and Matrix Function theory: The theory of the joint system realization ofrational matrix function is developed. Applications to the Fuchsian differential systems arecarried out. A simple connection between Riccati equations and finite dimensionalreproducing kernel Krein spaces was established and then exploited to resolve a number ofinterpolation and factorization problems. The investigation of inverse problems for canonicalintegral and differential system continued. In particular, a parameterization of the set of allsolutions to an inverse input scattering problem was given under reasonably generalconditions. Explicit formulas were derived for the case that the input scattering matrix was ofWiener class and subsequently when it was restricted further to be rational.

Optimization and control: Several aspects of stability, control and optimizations are underinvestigation. The control of coupled slow and fast motions is examined. The model is ofsingular perturbations with measure-valued variables forming the relaxation of the fastvariables. Variational limits of the measure-valued type were examined for problems of bestapproximation. Stabilization by hybrid control is developed, where discrete digitalinterventions combine with continuous analog feedback.

Probability and geometry: Several subjects relating probability and geometry of sets in finitedimensional space or in discrete structures are investigated. These include problems pertaining

Mathematics 15

to Statistical Physics; in particular, percolation, random walks on diverse geometricalstructures, and the study of convex sets in high dimensional Euclidean space.

Representation theory and related topics: This concerns the representation theory of algebraicgroups, enveloping algebras and quantum groups -- specifically, at present, the determinationof semi-invariants for parabolic subalgebras, the analysis and quantization of hypersurfaceorbital varieties and the decomposition of Demazure crystals and their module theory.

For both associative and Lie algebras with polynomial identities, the study of theircodimension growth is continued, via the applications of the representation theory of theSymmetric groups.

The Vershik-Kerov representation theory of the infinite symmetric group, together withProbability and with the Theory of Symmetric Functions, are applied to the study ofcombinatorial identities.


Professors

Zvi Artstein, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe Hettie H. Heinman Professor of Mathematics

Vladimir Berkovich, Ph.D., University of Moscow, Moscow, Russian FederationThe Matthew B. Rosenhaus Professor of Biophyscis

Aryeh Dvoretzky, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelInstitute Professor

Harry Dym, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United StatesThe Renee and Jay Weiss Professor

Stephen Gelbart, Ph.D., Princeton University, Princeton, United StatesThe Nicki and J. Ira Harris Professor

Anthony Joseph, Ph.D., University of OxfordThe Donald Frey Professor

Yakar Kannai, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe Erica and Ludwig Jesselson Professor of Theoretical Mathematics

Victor Katsnelson, Ph.D., Kharkov University, KharkovThe Ruth and Sylvia Shogam Professor

Amitai Regev, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe Herman P. Taubman Professor of Mathematics

Gideon Schechtman, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe William Petschek Professor of Mathematics

Oded Schramm, Ph.D., Princeton University, Princeton, United StatesThe Sam and Ayala Zacks Professor

Yosef Yomdin, Ph.D., Novosibirsk State University, Russian FederationThe Moshe Porath Professor of Mathematics

16 Mathematics

Professor Emeritus

Michail Solomyak, Ph.D., University of Leningrad


Itai Benjamini, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelIncumbent of the Louis and Ida Rich Career Development Chair (until December 2001)

Sergey Yakovenko, Ph.D., Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation

Senior Scientist

Maria Gorelik, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelYigal Allon Fellow


Nina Roytvarf, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Consultants

Boris Frydin, Schema Ltd., Rehovot, Israel (left December 2001)Vladimir Hinich, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel Anna Melnikov, Center fo Technological Education, Holon, IsraelAndre Reznikov, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelVictor Zalgaller (left November 2001)

Visiting Scientists

Damir Arov, S. Ukrainian University , Odessa, UkraineWilliam B. Johnson, Texas A&M University, U.S.A.Dmitry Kalyuzhniy, State Acad. of Civil Enginee., Odessa, UkraineClaire Moura, University Paul Sabatier , Toulouse 3, FranceMark Nagurka, University of Marquette, Milwaukee, WI, U.S.A.Feodor Pakovich, Independent University , Moscow, RussiaLeonid Positselski, University of Stockholm, Sweden


Mikhail Entov, Ph.D., Stanford University, USASubhajit Ghosechowdhury, Ph.D., Purdue University, USAMaria Gorelik, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelCyril Jean-Pierre Grunspan, Ph.D., Ecole Polytechnique, France

Mathematics 17

Anne Henke, Ph.D., University of Oxford, United KingdomDavid Holcman, Ph.D., Pierre & Marie Curie University, FranceDmitry Kalyuzhniy-Verbovetz, Ph.D., Karazin National State University, UkrainePaul Mezo, Ph.D., University of Toronto, CanadaClaire Moura, Ph.D., Universite Paul Sabatier, FranceShahar Nevo, Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, IsraelFedor Pakovich, Ph.D., Joseph Fourier University - Grenoble I, FranceRoman Vershynin, Ph.D., University of Missouri, USA

Research Students

Omer Angel Dvir Kleper
Yevgenia ApartsinYuri BazlovDan BernsteinMikhail BlinovYonah CherniavskyIlan DeganiJacob GreensteinAlexei GrigorievNadya GurevichGenady Joffe
Olga MalevaElena PerelmanConstantin Cristian PopaAnna RapoportYanir RubinsteinTamar Seeman-EmersonDan VolokGera WeissArtem Zvavitch

Administrator

Raanan Michael

18 Mathematics

The Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science

David Harel, Director The William Sussman Professor of Mathematics

Introduction

The endowment of the Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute of Mathematics and ComputerScience was established in May 1996. It has been designated to provide long-term, securefinancial support for the entire spectrum of research activities of the Faculty. As theendowment accrues over the next few years, it will enable our scientists to expand existingprojects or pursue new initiatives in areas which seem to hold great potential for futuredevelopment.

General Aims

One significant aim of the Belfer Center is to support visits to the Institute campus of the besttalents in mathematics and computer science, including short-term visiting lecturers, as well aslonger-term researchers, both from Israel and abroad. One notable part of this effort is supportfor the prestigious Pekeris Lecture, which is organized by the Faculty in memory of itsfounder, Prof. Chaim Pekeris. The lecture is given annually by a leading mathematician orcomputer scientist, at the Faculty's invitation.

Another aim of the Center is to support workshops and conferences organized by Facultyscientists and taking place on or off campus.

Parts of the funds of the Center are used to purchase computing equipment, such as personalcomputers, servers and communication equipment, thus updating and improving our ability tocommunicate with the world at large and to carry out our computerized research with state-of-the-art means.

The Center plans to initiate activities that do not normally fall under the day-to-day activitiesof the Faculty, such as visits of groups of scientists to work on joint projects not necessarilyrepresented by current efforts of the Faculty, and advanced courses to be given by outsiderswhose fields are not necessarily represented within the Faculty. We hope thereby to increaseour visibility and to attract more outstanding students, thus contributing the overall quality andimpact of our work.

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20 The Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science

Main Activities of the Belfer Institute 2001

In the 2001 fiscal year, the Belfer Institute sponsored many programs and projects. Here welist the main ones only:

1. The 2001 Pekeris Lecture, delivered by Prof. Richard Karp of The University ofCalifornia, Berkeley, 17 April 2001, "Computational Challenges from MolecularBiology and Genomics".

2. Conference, 24-31 December 2000, organized by Prof. Antony Joseph, "Issai SchurMemorian Workshop".

3. Conference, 18-23 March 2001, organized by Prof. Steve Gelbart, (joint conference withTel Aviv University).

4. Workshop, (1-day) 7 June, 2001, organized by Prof. Vered Rom-Kedar, "The IMUApplied Mathematics Sectional Meeting".

5. Support for 2-day faculty seminar trip to Galilee area, June 5-6, 2001. 6. Support for a long list of guests, including: S. Panjwani, Dr. Nathan Dinar, Prof. Javier

Rosenblueth, Prof. L. Sterling, Dr. Ronnitt Rubinfeld, Dr. Ron Canetti, Prof. FredBrauer.

7. Advisory and consultation support for Dr. Nina Roytvarf, Dr. Andrei Reznikov, Dr.Shahar Nevo, Dr. Maria Gorelik and support for a system administrator.

8. Support for rennovation and furnishing of PhD student offices.9. Support for new equipment and continuing upgrading of communication equipment and

ongoing supplies.10. Continued support for the Faculty Library, mainly for enriching our book collection.11. Support for Faculty Membership in the Israel Mathematical Union.

Future Plans

1. The 2002 Pekeris Lecture. 2. Conference, March 2002, organized by Prof. Vladimir Berkovich and Prof. Steve

Gelbart, "P-adic analysis and arithmetic algebraic geometry". 3. Conference, July 2002, organized by Prof. Vladimir Berkovich and Dr. Anna Melnikov,

"Representation Theory".

During 2002 we are hoping to add a number of prominant applied mathematicians to ourfaculty. These people will no doubt add a significant amount of activity, including students,postdocs and visitors. Parts of these activities, including some set-up expenses for the newscientists, will be covered by the Belfer Institute money. We also hope to decide upon aparticular topic, and organize a semester around that topic, including visits -- long and shortterm -- seminars, courses, etc.

The Carl F. Gauss Minerva Center for Scientific Computation

Achi Brandt, Director The Elaine & Bram Goldsmith Professor of Applied Mathematics

The Gauss Center was officially inaugurated in the fall of 1993, thanks to a generousendowment from the Ministry for Science and Technology (BMFT) of the Federal Republic ofGermany, through the joint committee for German-Israeli cooperation (Minerva). Its objectiveis to act as a catalyst for the development of new fundamental computational approaches inphysics, chemistry, applied mathematics and engineering, introducing, in particular, advancedmulti-scale (multi-resolution) and parallel-processing methods. The Gauss Center interactswith many fields of application, contributing to the transfer of algorithmic ideas back and forthamong widely varying types of problems. It offers workshops, short courses, temporarysupervision and graduate studies for full-time students, guest students, and visiting scientists.

Current Work

1. New top-efficiency multigrid methods for steady-state fluid dynamics at all Mach and Reynolds numbers, and other non-elliptic stationary PDE systems.

2. Multilevel approaches to time-dependent partial-differential equations, emphasizing applications to oceanic and atmospheric flows.

3. Grid adaptation techniques for bounded and unbounded domains, exploiting multigrid structures and resulting in a one-shot solver-adaptor.

4. Direct multigrid solvers for inverse problems, including system identification (e.g., impedance tomography) and data assimilation (in atmospheric simulations).

5. Optimal control: Feedback control via very fast updating of open-loop solutions, based on their multiscale representations.

6. General and highly accurate algebraic coarsening schemes (e.g., for algebraic multigrid).

7. Top-efficiency multilevel algorithms for highly indefinite (e.g., standing wave) problems, with ray (geometrical-optics) equations at the limit of very coarse grids.

8. Multigrid solvers for the Dirac equations arising in quantum field theory.

9. Compact multiresolution representation of the inverse matrix of a discretized differential operator; fast updating of the inverse matrix and of the value of the determinant upon changing an arbitrary term in the matrix itself; with application to the QCD fermionic interaction.

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22 The Carl F. Gauss Minerva Center for Scientific Computation

10. Collective multiscale representation and fast calculation of many eigenfunctions of a differential operator, e.g., the Schroedinger operator in electronic-structure calculations. Fast expansion in terms of the eigenfunctions of a general differential operator.

11. Multiscale Monte-Carlo algorithms for eliminating both the critical slowing down and the volume factor in increasingly advanced models of statistical physics.

12. Multigrid Monte-Carlo approaches for solving the high-dimensional (several-particle) Schroedinger equation by real-time path integrals.

13. Introducing multiscale computations to many-particle (macromolecule or many-small-molecule) calculations, including fast evaluation of forces, fast convergence to local and global ground states, fast Monte Carlo simulations and large time steps, with application to molecular mechanics; a new approach to molecular dynamics, based on stochastic implicit time steps.

14. Multigrid methods for integral transforms and integro-differential equations, on adaptable grids, with applications to tribology.

15. Multiscale methods for the fast evaluation and inversion of the Radon transform and other line-integral transforms; applications to medical tomography (CT, MRI, PET and SPECT) and airplane and satellite radar reconstruction.

16. Multiscale algorithms for early vision tasks such as surface reconstruction, edge and fiber detection, segmentation, and meaningful picture coarsening.

17. Multilevel global optimization methods, applied to VLSI-CAD and to various graph optimization problems.

18. Rigorous quantitative theory for predicting the performance of multigrid solvers.

The Minerva Center for Formal Verification of Reactive Systems

Amir Pnueli, Director Estrin Family Chair in Computer Science

The Minerva Center for Formal Verification of Reactive Systems was established in December1998, thanks to a generous endowment from the ministry for Science and Technology (BMFT)of the Federal Republic of Germany, through Minerva, the joint committee for German-Israelicooperation.

The mission of the center for verification is to advance and promote the state of the art offormal verification of reactive systems until it is transformed from an academic discipline witha few success stories into a working practice that will take its right place within industrialprocesses as a standard stage in the development life-cycle of reactive systems.

Our plans for accomplishing this long-range and ambitious goal are based on a three-prongedapproach, consisting of • An extensive basic and applied research program for the development of new paradigms

and tools for formal verification, emphasizing compositionality, abstraction, and othertechniques for model reduction.

We will mainly focus on deductive verification techniques and ways for merging them withalgorithmic approaches such as symbolic model checking.

• Education: the development of a verification engineering methodology and curriculum atdifferent levels of academic training.

• Consultation, education/training, dissemination, and interaction with Israeli, German, andinternational industry.

The currently active research projects are: 1. Deductive verification of hardware designs. As part of a plan for checking the feasibility of

deductive verification of hardware, we focus on architectural features with high degree ofparameterization and regularity, concentrating on the out-of-order execution (OOOE) com-ponents of modern micro-processors. We verified first a basic design for OOOE and arecurrently extending it with additional features, such as in-order retirement, speculation andbranch prediction, and memory access.

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24 The Minerva Center for Formal Verification of Reactive Systems

2. Algorithmic verification of hardware designs. Complementing the deductive approach, wealso investigate algorithmic approach for verification of similar designs. We focus on theuse of uninterpreted functions for representing the design and apply techniques such assystematic annotation, and instantiation by small but adequate concrete data domains.

3. Model checking, abstraction, and composition in a linear framework. Traditionally, modelchecking and the associate techniques of abstraction and composition were developed in abranching-time framework. We have launched a program for reformulating these tech-niques in a linear framework.

4. Translation validation. Wishing to ensure the absolute correctness of a code generator in asafety-critical context, we developed a method, implemented by the code validation toolCV which, following every run of the code generator, verifies that the object program pro-duced by the generator is a correct implementation of the source. Currently, we study theextension of this method to deal with highly optimizing compilers, in particular compilerswhich are targeted to particular processor architectures, including EPIC architectures.

5. Uniform verification of parameterized systems. Many systems that require verification canbe viewed as parameterized in the sense that they consist of identical modules intercon-nected in different ways, where the parameter is the number of processes or the intercon-nection configuration. We investigate methods for algorithmic verification of such systemsthat will establish their correctness for all values of the parameters. As part of this effort,we have constructed the automated systems TLV[P], which verifies networks in which theprocesses are arranged in a row or along a ring, and TLV[T] verifying networks with a treeinterconnection scheme.

Education for Verification

Besides the graduate courses in verification which are standardly given at the WeizmannFeinberg school, we actively participated in the preparation and running of undergraduatecourses for verification.

In the center of Technological Education in Holon, which is a college training computerscience students which will take their place in industry, one of our affiliates has constructed acourse in verification with minimal pre-requirements of logic and automata theory, and hands-on experience in verification. This involved significant modifications and enhancements to ourprincipal user-programmable verification tool TLV.

Another undergraduate course which will be presented at the department of communication atBen Gurion University is in preparation.

The Minerva Center for Formal Verification of Reactive Systems 25

Training and Consulting for Industry

The Minerva Center for Formal Verification of Reactive Systems maintains continuous con-tacts with several Israeli companies and plans to extend these to companies outside Israel.

We made a special effort to invite attendants from industry to the series of courses on verifica-tion given at the Weizmann Institute.

We continuously interact with the local branch of Intel about our hardware verification (andabstraction) work.

Other consulting contacts are maintained with the companies Verisity, and Perfecto Technolo-gies, which became interested in applying techniques of formal verification in the develop-ment of their software.

26 The Minerva Center for Formal Verification of Reactive Systems

Faculty of Physics

Dean: David Mukamel The Harold J. and Marion F. Green Professor

Haim Harari, Ph.D.(The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Institute Professor The Annenberg Professor of High Energy Physics

28 Faculty of Physics

Faculty of Physics

Dean: David Mukamel The Harold J and Marion F Green Professor of Physics

The Faculty of Physics consists of three departments: Department of Physics of ComplexSystems, Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Department of Particle Physics. Theresearch in the faculty is conducted by 45 faculty members, about 80 graduate students andabout 40 post doctoral fellows and visitors.

The research in the faculty covers a wide range of experimental and theoretical areas. Theexperimental effort combines studies of solid state and semiconductor physics,superconductors, plasma, radiation detection physics, nuclear and molecular physics,hydrodynamics and optics. In addition, the faculty is involved in large scale high energyexperiments done at accelerators in Brookhaven, Geneva and in Hamburg. This activity iscarried out by some 20 experimental groups operating within the faculty, most of whichestablished and developed during the last decade. The faculty is now engaged in plans toextend its activity in optics and laser physics, and to enter into new areas such as experimentalastrophysics.

Theoretical studies at the faculty cover areas like high energy physics, string theory,mesoscopic systems, interacting electron systems, equilibrium and non-equilibrium statisticalphysics and astrophysics. During the last year three young theoreticians have joined thefaculty: two in the Department of Particle Physics in the area of string theory, and one in theDepartment of Condensed Matter Physics, in the area of interacting electron systems.

In addition, a new interdisciplinary direction of research, biologically oriented physics, hasbeen developed within the faculty. Several research groups are engaged in theoretical andexperimental studies in this exciting direction in cooperation with groups from other faculties.

The faculty hosts The Albert Einstein Minerva Center for Theoretical Physics, The Joseph H.and Belle R. Braun Center for Submicron Research, The Minerva Center for NonlinearPhysics of Complex Systems and The Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for High EnergyPhysics.

29

30 Faculty of Physics

Condensed Matter Physics

Shimon Levit, Head The Harry Kweller and Kathleen Kweller Professor of Condensed Matter Physics

Research in condensed matter physics, astrophysics, and on aspects of field theory and matrixmodels is conducted by 14 faculty members and by approximately 40 students (Ph.D. andM.Sc.) and postdoctoral fellows.

A number of experimental programs are pursued in the submicron center for experimentalsemiconductor research (Israel Bar-Joseph, Mordehai Heiblum, Dan Shahar and AmirYacoby). Research in superconductivity is conducted by Eli Zeldov's group.

A major direction in theoretical effort is the research on transport in one dimensional systems,quantum dots, disordered systems, and Quantum Hall systems (Alexander M. Finkel'stein,Yuval Gefen, Yoseph Imry, Yehoshua Levinson, Shimon Levit, Yuval Oreg and Ady Stern).Research in astrophysics is led by Tal Alexander, Moti Milgrom, Vladimir Usov, and EliWaxman. Aspects of large N interacting matrix models and gauge fields are investigated byShimon Levit.

More specifically the following projects are being persued:

Professor Israel Bar-Joseph In experimental solid state physics the investigation is conducted on Optical spectroscopy ofthe two-dimensional electron gas in zero and strong magnetic fields (I. Bar-Joseph). Near fieldspectroscopy of semiconductor heterostructures (I. Bar-Joseph). Electron-hole complexes inquantum wells: Dynamics and steady state properties (I. Bar-Joseph). Professor Moty Heiblum Infra-red photodetector arrays in gallium-arsenide (I. Bar-Joseph, V. Umanski, M. Heiblum).Controlled Dephasing of Electrons -Which Path Experiments (M. Heiblum, D. Mahalu, V.Umansky, H. Shtrikman). Statistics of Fractional Charges (M. Heiblum,Vladimir Umansky,and Diana Mahalu).

Dr. Dan Shahar Experiments on materials at ultra low-temperatures (Dan Shahar). Fractional and integerquantum Hall effect and related phenomena (Dan Shahar). Quantum phase transitions: Generaltransport studies and mesoscopics of the metal-insulator, superconductor-insulator and othertransitions (Dan Shahar).

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32 Condensed Matter Physics

Dr. Amir Yacoby Electrostatic imaging of the Local Electronic Properties of a Two Dimensional Electron Gas(A. Yacoby, D. Mahalu, S. Ilani, H. Shtrikman, K. Teitelbaum). Transport in quantumwires.(A. Yacoby, V. Umansky, O.M. Auslaender).

Professor Eli Zeldov High-temperature superconductivity (E. Zeldov). Vortex Dynamics (E. Zeldov). Vortex matterphase transitions (E. Zeldov). Magneto-optical imaging (E. Zeldov).

The members of the theory group are working on Physics of Low-dimensional Systems:

Professor Yuval GefenNon-Equilibrium and Quantum Noise (Y. Gefen). Electron-Electron Interactions in FiniteQuantum Systems (Y. Gefen). Electronic Dephasing in Mesoscopic Systems (Y. Gefen, Y.Imry, Y. Levinson, S. Levit).

Professor Joe Imry Electronic Dephasing in Mesoscopic Systems (Y. Gefen, Y. Imry, Y. Levinson, S. Levit); Low-Temperature Dephasing, the Special Effects of Low Energy (e.g. two-level) modes (Y. Imry).Effects of Interaction on Localization, on Single-Electron Resonances And A-BInterferometers (Y. Imry). Mesoscopic Superconductivity, Including Very Small Grains (Y.Imry, Y. Levinson). Quantum Noise and Shot Noise (Y. Imry, Y. Levinson).

Professor Yehoshua Levinson Electronic Dephasing in Mesoscopic Systems (Y. Gefen, Y. Imry, Y. Levinson, S. Levit).Acoustoelectric and pumping current in mesoscopic systems (Y. Levinson). Nonequilibriumcurrent noise in mesoscopic systems (Y. Levinson).

Professor Shimon Levit Dephasing in Quantum Dots (Y. Levinson, S. Levit). Large N Interacting Matrix Models(S.Levit). Chaos and Interactions : Statistics of Quasiparticle and Quasihole Levels in SmallInteracting Disordered Systems -Quantum Dots (S. Levit). Controlled decoherence ofphenomena in mesoscopic systems. Coupled dephasor-dephasee pairs (S. Levit). Dr. Yuval OregDisordered super conductors in low dimension (Y. Oreg). A generalization of Hund's rules todisordered Quantum dots (Y. Oreg). Many body effects in nano scale systems (Y. Oreg).

Dr. Adi Stern The Fractional Quantum Hall Effect (A. Stern). Coulomb Drag in Low Dimensional systems(A. Stern). Transport in Novel Materials (e.g., organic semi-conductors, p-wavesuperconductors) (A. Stern).

Condensed Matter Physics 33

The members of the Theoretical Astrophysics group:

Dr. Tal Alexander Super-massive black holes in galactic centers (T. Alexander). Gravitational lensing effects inthe Galactic Center (T. Alexander). Stellar dynamics and tidal effects near a black hole (T.Alexander).

Professor Moti Milgrom Underlying theories for the modified dynamics (M. Milgrom). Non-linear potential theories(M. Milgrom). Phenomenology of galaxy dynamics (M. Milgrom). Quark Stars (M. Milgrom,V. Usov).

Professor Vladimir UsovExplosion Induced by Gamma-Ray Bursters (M. Milgrom, V. Usov). Quark Stars (M.Milgrom, V. Usov). Physical processes in relativistic electron-positron plasma (V. Usov).Physical processes in very strong magnetic fields (V. Usov). Physical processes at the surfaceand astrophysical appearance of strange-quark-matter stars (V. Usov). The theory ofnonthermal radiation from compact astronomical objects (pulsars, white dwarfs, gamma-raybursters etc.) (V. Usov). Hydrodynamics and high-energy physics of colliding stellar winds inbinary systems (V. Usov).

Professor Eli Waxman High energy astrophysics (E. Waxman). Gamma-ray bursts: origin and underlying physics (E.Waxman). Ultra-high energy cosmic-rays (E. Waxman). High energy neutrinos fromastrophysical sources (E. Waxman). Non-thermal processes in the inter-galactic medium (E.Waxman).


Professors

Alexander Finkelstein, Ph.D., Landau Institue, Moscow, Russian FederationThe Charles and David Wolfson Professor of Theoretical Physics

Yuval Gefen, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelMordehai Heiblum, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, United States

Alex and Ida Sussman Professor of Submicron Electronics Yoseph Imry, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Max Planck Professor of Quantum Physics Shimon Levit, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Harry Kweller and Kathleen Kweller Professor of Condensed Matter Physics Mordechai Milgrom, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Isidor I. Rabi Professor of Physics Vladimir Usov, Ph.D., Space Research Institute, Moscoe, Russian FederationEli Zeldov, Ph.D., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

The David and Inez Myers Professor



Israel Bar-Joseph, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Jane and Otto Morningstar Professor of Physics

Ady Stern, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelIncumbent of the Dr. Victor L. Erlich Career Development Chair

Eli Waxman, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelYigal Allon Fellow Incumbent of the Beracha Foundation Career Development Chair

Senior Scientists

Tal Alexander, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelYuval Oreg, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelDan Shahar, Ph.D., Princeton University, Princeton, United States

Incumbent of the Corinne S. Koshland Career Development Chair Amir Yacoby, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Senior Staff Scientists

Hadas Shtrikman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelVladimir Y. Umansky, Ph.D., Academy of Science of the USSR, Leningrad, Russian

Federation

Special Contract

Yehoshua Levinson, Ph.D., Semiconductor Physics Institute, Leningrad, Russian FederationThe Council of Higher Education Fellowship to Senior Immigrant Scientist

Yuri Myasoedov, Ph.D., Franko Lvov State University, Ukraine

Engineers

Igor Bolbatov, M.Sc., University of Tashkent, Russian FederationNesi Daniel, B.A., Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel (left April 2001) Diana Mahalu, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelOlga Raslin, M.Sc., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, IsraelMichael Shneiderman, M.Sc., University of Tashkent, Russian FederationNahum Stern, M.Sc., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelMaya Veinguer, M.Sc., Electrochemical Institute, Leningrad, Russian Federation (left August

2001)

Condensed Matter Physics 35

Consultants

Yakir Aharonov, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelAmnon Aharony, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelOrah Antin, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelGrzegorz Jung, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, IsraelAlex Kamenev, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (left July 2001)Konstantin Kikoin, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, IsraelItzchak Yigal Meir, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel (left August

2001)

Visiting Scientists

Satyajit S. Banerjee, Tata Inst. of Fund. Rese. Mumbai, IndiaYunchul Chung, University of Oxford, UKAxel Esser, Humbolt University , Berlin, GermanySoenke Groth, University of Hamburg, GermanyYang Ji, Nat. Lab. for Superlattices, Beijing, PR ChinaRoman Krahne, University of Hamburg, GermanyArkady Krasheninnikov, University of Helsinki, FinlandEros Mariani, University of Hamburg, GermanyJens Martin, Omicron Vacuumphysik, Taunusstein, GermanyKathryn Moler, Stanford University, U.S.A.Ganapathy Sambandamurthy, Indian Inst. of Sci., Bangalore, IndiaMaxim Tcheremissine, A.F. Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, RussiaRobert Whitney, University of Birmingham, UK


Alexey Gennagievich Aksenov, Ph.D., Institute of Theoretical & Experimental Physics, Russia

Satyajit Banerjee S., Ph.D., University of Mumbai, IndiaDmitri Feldman, Ph.D., Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics, RussiaSambandamurthy Ganapathy, Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science, IndiaTimothy Griffiths, Ph.D., University of Exeter, United KingdomShahar Hod, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelYang Ji, Ph.D., Chinese Academy of Sciences, ChinaEugene Kanzieper, Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, IsraelRoman Mark Krahne, Ph.D., University of Hamburg, GermanyJens Martin, Ph.D., University of Tuebingen, GermanyAlexander Punnoose, Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science, IndiaRobert Steven Whitney, Ph.D., University of Birmingham, United KingdomGo Yusa, Ph.D., University of Tokyo, Japan


Research Students

Ophir Auslaender Maxim Khodas
Michal AvinunRafi BistrizerGalya BlumVitaly BraudeEyal ComfortiUri GavishEran GinossarShmuel GlasbergYoav GordinJavier GroshausDmitry GutmanTal Hazak-VerdeneShahal IlaniAndreas JohanssonUri Keshet
Izhar NederYossi PaltielAssaf Pe'erEinat PeledMichal RokniAmir SagivIlan SagivMoshe SchechterArkady ShechterAlessandro SilvaAlexander SoibelDavid SprinzakKatya TeitelbaumIddo UssishkinYossi Yayon

Administrator

Tomer Hansen

Particle Physics

Itzhak Tserruya, Head The Samuel Sebba Professorial Chair of Pure and Applied Physics

The Department of Particle Physics is composed of several groups which have inter-relatedresearch directions.

In Experimental Physics, we have groups in High Energy Physics, Heavy Ions, MolecularPhysics, Nuclear Physics, Plasma Physics and Radiation Detection. In Theoretical Physics, wehave activities in Particle Physics and Field Theory, as well as Many Body Theory andQuantum Mechanics.

The Department has a total of 17 tenured faculty members, 10 experimentalists and 7 theorists(including the President) and 2 senior scientists. We also have 2 professors on extension ofservice and 7 professors emiriti.

Experimental High Energy Physics: OPAL, ZEUS and ATLAS

The group which includes Giora Mikenberg, Ehud Duchovni, Eilam Gross and DanielLellouch, participates in the OPAL experiment run at the LEP collider at CERN, Geneva. Thegroup is mainly involved in the search for the Higgs boson and for supersymmetric particles.

The group led by Uri Karshon and including also Yehuda Eisenberg, participates in the ZEUSexperiment run at the HERA accelerator which provides e-p collisions at the DESY laboratoryin Hamburg. The group is specifically involved in the analysis of the production of heavyquarks (charm and beauty), the measurement of the gluon density in the proton and the studyof the photon structure, in particular its charm content.

Both groups will be joining to work at ATLAS in the future. The ATLAS experiment is beingconstructed by 1900 collaborators in 144 institutes around the world. It will study proton-proton interactions at the Large Hadron Collider LHC at CERN.

Heavy Ions: the CERES and PHENIX Experiments

Led by Itzhak Tserruya, the group includes also Zeev Fraenkel and Ilia Ravinovich. TheCERES/NA45 (Cherenkov Ring Electron Spectrometer) experiment is devoted to studying theproduction of low-mass electron-positron pairs in heavy-ion collisions at the CERN SPS. Anew set of measurements with an upgraded spectrometer has been completed in order to

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38 Particle Physics

elucidate the intriguing excess of low-mass pairs previously observed by CERES in central Pb-Au collisions.

The main activity of the group is now focussed on the PHENIX experiment at the RelativisticHeavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory which started operations in thesummer of the year 2000. As part of its contribution to the PHENIX detector, the group isresponsible for the innermost set of pad chambers that are essential elements of the chargedparticle tracking system. The group is mainly interested in the measurement of low-masselectron-positron pairs and is also involved in analysis of global and hadronic observables.

Molecular Physics

Led by Daniel Zajfman, the group includes also Zeev Vager. The main subjects of research arerelated to the structure and dynamics of molecular ions, as well as the trapping and cooling ofthese ions. More specifically, experiments dedicated to the study of molecular structures aswell as ion reactivity using the Coulomb Explosion Imaging technique are being carried out,mainly at the Test Storage Ring (TSR) located at the Max-Planck-Institut at Heidelberg. Also anew type of electrostatic ion trapping device is now in use, which allows to measure thelifetime of metastable states, as well as the study of trapped beam dynamics.

Experimental Nuclear Physics

Led by Michael Hass, the group also includes Gvirol Goldring. Measurements are carried outin two major areas: a.- Nuclear Structure and electromagnetic moments in nuclei with extremevalues of isospin as exist far from the valley of stability. Among them are Beta-NMR studies atISOLDE (CERN) on 17Ne and on 57Cu at GANIL (France), studies of isomeric levels atGANIL and at GSI (GERMANY) and investigation of nuclear parity-violation at GSI. b.-Nuclear-astrophysics experiments such as measurement at the 3 MV VDG accelerator of the7Be(p,gamma)8B cross section which is essential for understanding the "solar-neutrino puzzle"and the cross sections of 3He on 7Li and 7Be pertaining to primordial nucleusynthesis.Production and identification of radioactive nuclide such as 44Ti and 7Be using AcceleratorMass Spectrometry (AMS), in collaboration with Prof. Michael Paul of Jerusalem are studiedat the 14 UD Koffler accelerator.

Plasma Physics

Led by Yitzhak Maron, the subjects of research include nonequilibrium plasmas under highenergy density or in the presence of strong electric and magnetic fields. Investigations of theparticle flow, non-thermal electron distribution,temporal and spatial magnetic field evolution,turbulent fields, and energy balance are based on high-resolution spectroscopic diagnostics inthe visible, u.v., VUV, and x-ray regions. Theoretical aspects include effects of dense plasmason atomic levels, spectra under oscillating electric and magnetic fields, Stark broadening ofspectral lines, atomic-physics modellings, and magnetohydrodynamics. Applications arerelated to Inertial Confinement Fusion, High-Current Switching, X-ray lasers, X-ray sources,X-ray lithography, and Space Physics.

Particle Physics 39

Radiation Detection Physics

The work led by Amos Breskin and including Rachel Chechik and Sergei Shchemelinin,involves study of radiation interactions with gas and solid matter and the development ofmethods to exploit the secondary charges created in these interactions for radiation detection.This permits conceiving fast and accurate advanced radiation imaging detectors equipped withnovel electron multipliers and efficient radiation converters, such as photocathodes forultraviolet and visible light, and x-ray and neutron converters. The research program includesboth experimental investigations and theoretical modeling.

An important activity is the development of modern detection concepts for nuclear and particlephysics, synchrotron radiation, material science, medicine and radio-biology. New methodsare investigated in improving the detectability of small cancer tumors, early detection ofprostate cancer and in quantifying and understanding the causes of radiation damage to DNA.

Theoretical Particle Physics

Led by Yossi Nir, subjects include phenomenology of super-symmetric theories; CP violation,especially in B decays; neutrino masses and oscillations, being related to measurements ofsolar neutrinos or of atmospheric neutrinos.

Work of Zvi Lipkin includes CP violation, the quantum theory underlying new neutrinoexperiments and the spin structure of baryons.

Field Theory

The work of Doron Gepner is centered around two subjects: 1) Solving the quantum fieldtheory associated with manifolds of exceptional holonomy: minimal models associated withthe so called Shatashvili--Vafa algebra are investigated and smooth non--orbifoldconstructions are realized in analogy with the Gepner construction. 2) Realising pseudoconformal field theories: these have the same fusion rules as known affine or bosonic theories,but different modular matrix. All pseudo bosonic theories and also some of the pseudo affinetheories can be realised. The plan is to realise all affine theories by using multi-para fermions.

The work of Yitzhak Frishman includes various subjects in non-Abelian gauge theories,perturbative and non-perturbative.

More specifically

Issues of confinement and screening in non-Abelian gauge theories have been addressed. Thestring tension was computed in various cases in model theories in two dimensions.

The case of massless QCD(2) was expressed in terms of currents instead of fermions. Themass of the lowest two current meson was computed, for any number of colors and flavors,within the two current sector. Although justified for large number of colors versus flavors or

40 Particle Physics

vice versa, the result fits surprisingly well also for the case of equal number of colors andflavors, comparing with DLCQ calculations. Field theory and string theory.

The work of Ofer Aharony involves field theories, string theories, and the recently discoveredrelations between them along the lines of the AdS/CFT correspondence. Particular interest isin the study of string theory duals for non-conformal field theories like QCD, in understandingnon-gravitational non-local field theories (such as "little string theories") and in finding ageneral non-perturbative definition for string theory / M theory.

The work of Micha Berkooz includes String Theories, Gravity, Field Theories, and theirinterplay. It currently focuses on non-perturbative aspects of these theories such as basic non-perturbative definitions of String Theory/Gravity, UV/IR relations, strong coupling phasetransitions, strongly coupled string theories, string theories without gravity, Black holes, thequantum behavior at singularities of spacetime, and the cosmological constant. Anotherinterest is in phenomenological aspects of String theory in particular in the astro-particlecontext.

Many Body Theory

Michael Kirson works on nuclear models, within the general framework of interacting many-body systems, and on applications of algebraic methods to the study of simplified models ofstrongly-interacting many-body systems.

Recent work has involved continued study of the SU(2|2) limit of the Hubbard model and ofsystematics of nuclear data near the N=Z line.

Quantum Mechanics

The work of Shmuel Gurvitz includes perturbative approach to tunneling problems; quantummeasurement and decoherence; Zeno effect; deep inelastic scattering.


Professors

Amos Breskin, Dr. Ing., University of Grenoble, FranceThe Walter P. Reuther Professor of Research in the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy

Yitzhak Frishman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Amos de Shalit Professor of Theoretical Physics

Haim Harari, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelInstitute Professor The Annenberg Professor of High Energy Physics

Uri Karshon, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (on extension of service) The Max and Anne Tanenbaum Professor of Nuclear Physics

Michael W. Kirson, Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca, United StatesThe Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Professor

Particle Physics 41

Moshe Kugler, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Isabelle and Samuel Friedman Professor of Theoretical Physics

Yitzhak Maron, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelGiora Mikenberg, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Lady Davis Professor of Experimental Physics Yosef Nir, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelItzhak Tserruya, Ph.D., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

The Samuel Sebba Professor of Pure and Applied Physics

Professors Emeriti

Abraham E. Blaugrund, Ph.D., State University of UtrechtYehuda Eisenberg, Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca, United StatesZeev Fraenkel, Ph.D., Columbia University, New York, United StatesGvirol Goldring, Ph.D., University of London, London, United KingdomHarry J. Lipkin, Ph.D., Princeton University, Princeton, United StatesAvraham S. Rinat, Ph.D., University of AmsterdamIgal Talmi, Dr. Sc. Nat., E.T.H., Zurich, SwitzerlandZeev Vager, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelZeev Zinamon, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel


Eli Cheifetz, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelEhud Duchovni, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelDoron Gepner, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelEilam Gross, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelShmuel Gurvitz, Ph.D., Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Moscow, Russian

Federation Michael Hass, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Murray B. Koffler Professor Daniel Zajfman, D.Sc., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

Simon Weinstock Professor of Astrophysics

Senior Scientists

Ofer Aharony, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelYigal Allon Fellow Incumbent of the Joseph and Celia Reskin Career Development Chair

Micha Berkooz, Ph.D., Rutgers University, Piscataway, United States

Scientist

Yael Shadmi, Ph.D., Stanford University, Stanford, United States (left September 2001)

42 Particle Physics


Rachel Chechik, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelVladimir Fisher, Ph.D., Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics, Moscow, Russian Federation Daniel Lellouch, Ph.D., University of Paris VI, Paris, France

Associate Staff Scientists

Vladimir A. Bernshtam, Ph.D., Donetsk State University, Donetsk, UkraineYuri V. Ralchenko, Ph.D., Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russian

Federation Ilia Ravinovich, Ph.D., Yerevan Physics Institute, ArmeniaSergei Shchemelinin, Ph.D., Leningrad University


Alexander Starobinets, Ph.D., The Institute of High Current Electronics, Russian Federation

Special Contracts

Boris Khachaturov, Ph.D., Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russian FederationSana Shilstein, Ph.D., Giredmet, Moscow, Russian Federation

Engineers

Eliahu Elias, B.A., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelDonald Hochman, Ph.D., SUNY, Stony Brook, United States

Consultants

Avraham Akkerman Oren Bergman, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, HaifaShmuel Elitzur, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel Amnon Fisher, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, IsraelAmnon Fruchtman, Center for Technology Education, Holon, IsraelAmit Giveon, The Hebrew University of Jerusaelm, JerusalemAlexander Goldgirsh, Soreq Research Center, Yavneh Yuval Grossman, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, IsraelMarek Karliner, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelEdmond Klodg, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelYaron Oz, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelJacob Sonnenschein, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel (left July 2001)Natan Weiss, Kraytor Ltd., Rehovot, Israel Rafael Yaari (left December 2001)

Particle Physics 43

Visiting Scientists

Avraham Berkovitz, Kaplan Hospital, RehovotAlexei Buzulutskov, Budker Institute for Nuclear Physics, NovosibirskAlexander Dolgov, ITEP, Institute Theo. & Exp. Phys., MoscowCunfeng Feng, Shandong University, ChinaDavid Kutasov, University of Chicago, Il, USADipali Pal, Cyclotron Ctr., Calcutta, IndiaJoan Simon (Soler), University of Barcelona, SpainLeonid Vainshtein, University of Chicago, IL, USAPeter Wurm, Max Planck Institute, Heidelberg, Germany


Lagy Baby Thundiyam K., Ph.D., Bangalore University, IndiaMarcin Balcerzyk, Ph.D., Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies, PolandCristina Bordeanu, Ph.D., University of Bucharest, RomaniaNadav Drukker, Ph.D., Princeton University, USABartomeu Fiol, Rutgers University , NJ, U.S.A. Leonid Gladilin, Ph.D., Moscow State University, RussiaGerman Martinez, Ph.D., Maryland University, USADebsankar Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D., University of Calcutta, IndiaItzhak Orion, Ph.D., Ben-Gurion University, IsraelHenrik B. Pedersen, Ph.D., University of Aarhus, DanemarkHarlan Saul Robins, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, USAYael Shadmi, Ph.D., Stanford University, USABhartendu Kumar Singh, Ph.D., Banaras Hindu University, IndiaSuijian Zhou, Ph.D., Institute of High Energy Physics, China

Research Students

Ben-Zion AmarantYaron Emanuel AntebiRon AradGili AssafGali Bar-ElOmer BaradGuy BaruchSven BergmannEran BouchbinderAlexander CherlinGuy EngelhardHaim Feldman

Dimitri FisherRam FishmanGuy Y. GartyErez GershnabelSarah Goldberg-MontzLev GregorianEytan GrosfeldNizan HoreshTamar KashtiDmitry KernerUri KeshetOleg Khasanov

44 Particle Physics

Amit KlierAlexandre Kozlov

Shlomo S. RazamatPeter Renkel

Eyal KrouppMichael KupperAlexander MilovDirk Michael MoermannAdi NaamanAdi NatanEvgeny NisenboimBoris NoyvertAssaf PatirGilad PerezEugene ProssoGuy Raz

Eitan RowenEran SelaEfrat SheferEvgeny StambulchikDaniel StrasserAssaf TalKonstantin TsigutkinTomer VolanskyTomer YanirGuy ZivLidija Zivkovic

Administrator

Kobi Ben-Shmuel

Physics of Complex Systems

Yaron Silberberg, Head

Three groups study topics related to soft matter physics, biologically motivated physics andexperimental nonlinear dynamics:

Elisha Moses is an experimentalist who is currently studying physical aspects of biologicalsystems:

1. The division of cells is completed only when the two daughter cells are physically separated - by a "ring" of actin and myosin molecules that constricts it till the cell is cut in two. What are the mechanics and the structure of this ring of molecular motors? The latest amazement is that co-operation between amoeba can help division - by signaling a neighbor to assist mechanically in the final stage of physical separation ("mid-wife" phenomenon of a-sexual cells).

2. What are the signaling dynamics of neurons that are arranged in special, specified configurations?

3. How can we improve the measurement and interpretation of signals that emanate in brain activity?

4. Can we improve the resolution of imaging in living objects by using Scanning Electron Microscopy on an atmospheric environment?

In the past five years he has studied: 1) Nonlinear dynamics in membranes, a number ofstriking configuration transitions induced by the application of optical tweezers. 2) A newinstability in flames - the fingering of two dimensional combustion fronts. 3) The dynamics ofobjects falling in fluids - and whether they flutter or tumble (e.g. the Dakar submarine). 4) Theshape of living cells and the "pearling" instability induced in them by an actin-sequesteringdrug. 5) Neuronal connectivity and cooperativity - as portrayed by their migration andaggregation patterns.

Joel Stavans` group has studied the interaction of hydrophobically-modified polymers andartificial membranes, as a simple model that mimics the mechanical properties of realbiological membranes. In particular they have focused their attention on the morphologicaltransitions the polymers induce on membranes of different geometrical shape. In addition,experiments are being carried out to probe the elasticity of protein-DNA complexes at the level

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46 Physics of Complex Systems

of single DNA molecules, to understand the role the proteins play in the formation andstructure of the bacterial nucleoid.

Victor Steinberg's group is studying nonlinear dynamics in various systems. This year theyworked on several projects: (i) Elastic turbulence and Batchelor regime of mixing in dilutepolymer solutions; (ii) Single polymer dynamics in a random flow; (iii) Pattern selection anddynamics in Rayleigh-Benard convection in SF6 near its critical point in very large aspect ratiocells; (iv) Convective turbulence in SF6 near its gas-liquid critical point; (v) Developing ofnew acoustic detection technique of vorticity distribution in turbulent flows; (vi) Microfluidicswith polymer solutions. Significant progress has been made in the first subject: The neweffective method of mixing of viscous fluids, based on the elastic turbulence, was suggested. Itturns out that this regime of mixing maybe quantitatively described by the Batchelor model,one of two models of turbulent mixing which were solved analytically. It was the firstexperimental verification of numerous predictions based on this model. New project on asingle polymer dynamics in a random flow was started. Using fluorescent microscopy for longlambda phage and T2 DNA molecules they were able to follow a single DNA molecule inlaminar and turbulent flows. Together with the group of Prof. A. Warshawsky fromDepartment of Organic Chemistry they developed, tested and used a new fluorescent probe forPAAM high molecular weight polymer molecules. It is the first time that the fluorescentvisualization was conducted for artificial polymers. In Rayleigh-Benard convection theyobserved new pattern selection mechanism which shows up in reentrant hexagons due to non-Boussinesq effect at various Prandtl numbers in the range between 20 and 40. This systemprovides us an opportunity to reach also extremely large Rayleigh numbers and studydeveloped turbulence as a function of Prandtl number that was impossible with other systems.This year we conducted measurements of thermal boundary layer in a wide range of Ra and Prnumbers. New project on acoustic detection of vorticity and particularly vorticity distributionin von-Karman swirling turbulent flow between two discs was started. First result on soundscattering from a single vortex and simultaneous measurements by a conventional particleimage velocimetry technique was obtained.

Five groups are studying topics related to the theory of statistical mechanics, nonlineardynamics, turbulence and chaos :

Eytan Domany's research turned in the last few years towards problems that lie near theinterface between physics and other disciplines; Protein Folding, Clustering of Data andrelated topics in Bioinformatics. He also maintain a certain level of activity in StatisticalMechanics. In nearly all aspects of his work computers play a central role. In statisticalmechanics, he tries to understand the structure of the low temperature phase of short-rangespin glasses.

Clustering techniques are used to study a variety of biological data. In particular, DNAexpression profiles obtained from gene chips are analyzed. We collaborate with Weizmannresearch groups in immunology and cell biology, and also with groups from the US andEurope, on analysis of their gene expression data (mainly from a several forms of cancer). Wealso use clustering for classification of protein structure.

Physics of Complex Systems 47

In the field of protein folding, a contact-map representation of protein structure was used in along-term program aimed at identifying a protein's structure from its amino acid sequence. Anefficient way to make moves in the space of physical contact maps was developed. We provedthat simple contact energy functions cannot be used to stabilize the native fold of even a singleprotein and are trying to attack the problem by other methods.

Gregory Falkovich studied the role of interaction between Solitons in causing errors in opticalsoliton transmission.

Daniel Kandel's research focuses on the physics of thin films and membranes. In the thin filmarea, he has studied growth and decay processes of structures on crystalline films, usingkinetic models of step flow as well as continuum descriptions of surface evolution. In addition,he has investigated elastic relaxation in epitaxially grown strained films. He has alsotheoretically studied shape instabilities induced by inclusions in membrane vesicles. Thiswork is relevant to the experimental work of the group of Joel Stavans.

David Mukamel's group is active in the general area of statistical physics. In particularextensive studies of collective phenomena far from thermal equilibrium have been carried out.Models corresponding to phase separation, wetting and roughening transitions, and coarseningprocesses have been introduced and studied. Equilibrium collective phenomena are alsoinvestigated in various contexts. The denaturation and unzipping phase transitions of DNAmolecules have been analyzed. Peculiar phenomena which are characteristic of systems withlong range interactions (such as gravitational systems) have also been investigated.

In Uzy Smilansky's group, research on Quantum Chaos evolved around the following topics:

1. Quantum graphs - spectral statistics, scattering and trace formulae. 2. Conditions for hyperbolicity for billiards on surfaces with constant curvatures. 3. Quantization of billiards in homogeneous magnetic fields, and the density of exterior

and interior edge states. 4. Level statistics in periodic, extended chaotic billiards, and the effects of weak disorder. 5. The classical and quantum spectral duality.

Three groups are active in laser science and optics :

Nir Davidson's group develops new techniques for laser cooling and trapping of neutral atoms.They are studying new optical traps that are based on repulsive light forces, in whichspontaneous emission of photons is suppressed. Such traps provide long atomic coherencetimes and hence enable extremely accurate spectroscopic and dynamical measurements,including observation of chaotic motion of ultra-cold atoms in optical "billiards". They arealso conducting experiments in a Bose-Einstein condensate including measurements of itszero-temperature excitation spectra its ground state properties and its coherence.


Asher Friesem and his group are conducting basic investigations on non-conventionalelements based on diffractive and planar optics, on the resonance behavior of grating-waveguide structures, on the performance of special phase elements inside laser cavities, andon new optical architectures for a variety of applications. These investigations are leading tonew laser configurations, and highly advanced optical systems for display, storage andretrieval, metrology, and high-speed and high density communication.

Yaron Silberberg and his group are studying ultrafast and nonlinear optics. Using femtosecondoptical pulses, they study how the shape of these pulses affects the interaction between thelight and atoms or molecules. In particular, this year the group investigated how shaped pulsescan be used in nonlinear laser spectroscopy. In another effort, the group investigates thenonlinear microscopy - using femtosecond pules in biological microscopy. The group hasdeveloped a new type of microscope based on third-harmonic generation and it tests it onvarious types of biological specimens. Finally, the group also works on soliton physics, andcontinues its studies of discrete solitons in waveguide arrays. In Magnetics, Amikam Aharoni (retired) studies the theory of Micromagnetics. Recently, hehas been mostly engaged in preparing review articles of several parts of this field for severalconferences, but has also performed some original calculations, such as that of theferromagnetic resonance in a hollow sphere.

Shmuel Shtrikman is interested in Magnetic Levitation, the Mathematics and Physics of MagicSquares and in the Application of the Singular Moment Method. Adam Schwimmer continued to study various aspects of Quantum Field Theory and Stringtheory and their interrelation. In particular the group studied the relation between ConformalField Theories appearing on the boundary of AdS type space-times and the String Theorydescription in the bulk. The role played by the stringy Solitons ("D-branes") in holographictheories was elucidated.

http://www.weizmann.ac.il/physics/complex/complex.home.html


Professors

Eytan Domany, Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca, United StatesThe Henry J. Leir Professor

Asher A. Friesem, Ph.D., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States (on extension of service) The Peter and Carola Kleeman Professor of Optical Sciences

David Mukamel, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Harold J. and Marion F. Green Professor

Adam Schwimmer, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Ruth Epstein Recu Professor of Theoretical Physics


Yaron Silberberg, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelUzy Smilansky, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Wolfgang Gentner Professor of Nuclear Physics Victor Steinberg, Ph.D., Laboratory of Critical Phenomena, Moscow, Russian Federation

The Harry de Jur Professor of Applied Physics

Professors Emeriti

Amikam Aharoni, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelEphraim H Frei, Ph.D., University of Vienna, AustriaShmuel Shtrikman, D.Sc. (tech.), Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel


Gregory Falkovich, Ph.D., Novosibirsk State UniversityElisha Moses, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelJoel Stavans, Ph.D., University of Chicago, United States

Senior Scientists

Nir Davidson, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Rowland and Sylvia Schaefer Career Development Chair

Daniel Kandel, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Ruth Epstein Recu Career Development Chair


Michal Vechoropoulos, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Special Contracts

Yuri Burnishev, Ph.D., Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics, Ural Branch of the, Russian Federation

Jeff Steinhauer, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, United States

Engineer

Rostyslav Baron, Ph.D., Institute of Low Temperatures, Kharkov's, Russian Federation

Consultants

Ibrahim Abdulhalim (left November 2001)Joseph Avron, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel


Shmuel Blit, IndependentIdo Canter, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, IsraelDoron David, Plan-Op Ltd., Ashkelon, Israel (left July 2001)Amit Givon, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel Nahum Gorbatov, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelErez Hasman, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, IsraelRuvin Lipyanski, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, IsraelSimon Litsyn, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel (left April 2001)Sergei Lukaschuk, Biosonix Ltd., Hod-Hasharon, Israel (left December 2001)Aharon Peled, Academic Institute of Technology, Holon, Israel Eliezer RabinovichVictor Weiss, El-Op, Rehovot, Israel (left August 2001)

Visiting Scientists

Himanshu Agrawal, Tata Inst. of Fund. Rese. Mumbai, IndiaMartin Evans, University of Edinburgh, ScotlandMichael Golub, Holo-Or Ltd., IsraelSven Lubeck, Gerhard Mercator University, GermanyAlejandro G. Monastra, Laboratoire de Physique Theorique, France


Himanshu Agrawal, Ph.D., Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, IndiaLiat Ben-Tovim, Ph.D., University of Cambridge, United KingdomGregory Berkolaiko, Ph.D., University of Bristol, United KingdomNandor Bokor, Ph.D., Technical University of Budapest, HungaryNir Friedman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelSven Gnutzmann, Ph.D., University of Essen, GermanyYariv Kafri, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelChen Keasar, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelRoberto Morandotti, Ph.D., University of Glasgow, United KingdomKatherine Naimark, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelArun Roy, Ph.D., Raman Research Institute, IndiaBernhard Schnurr, Ph.D., University of Michigan, USAJeffrey Steinhauer, Ph.D., University of Southern California, USAMichael (Mikhail) Stepanov, Ph.D., Institute of Automation & Electrometry, RussiaStephan Yves Thiberge, Ph.D., Institut Non-Lineaire - Universite de Nice, FranceJanos Torok, Ph.D., Technical University of Budapest, HungaryDaniel Volk, Ph.D., University of Cologne, GermanyJoachim Weber, Ph.D., University of Essen, Germany


Research Students

Roee Amit Guy Hed
Mikkel AndersenOriel BanneDavid BironGalya BlumIlan BreskinTeodor BurgheleaDina CarassoYaron CaspiBarak DayanNirit DudovichUri EinavLeon EisenHagai EisenbergHelen Rachel Eisenberg GoltenAlexander FeigelOfer FeinermanAlexander FouxonInbal FriedlerNir FriedmanEugene FrumkerHilah GalGaddy GetzAlexander GroismanTzahi GrunzweigBoris GutkinTal Hazak-Verdene
Weihong HuangAmiel IshaayaNavot IsraeliYariv KafriAriel KaplanTsvi KatchalskiNadav Yehuda KatzItai KelaErel LevineNava Levit-BinnunGuy Levy-YuristaDaniel MandelikDror MirzayofDan OronRam OronRoee OzeriAvi Pe'erOsnat RavidDror SagiRina Seidin-AshkenaziShahar SeiferRevital ShechterLiran ShimshiIlan TsafrirBasile VerdeneDvir Yelin

Administrator

Israel Gonen

Physics Services

Israel Bar-Joseph, Head The Jane and Otto Morningstar Chair of Physics

The Physics Services, comprising of four different units, offers advanced services in particleaccelerators, electronics, data acquisition, vacuum and cryogenics, thin films and mechanicalworkshop. These units provide services to the scientific groups throughout the institute as wellas to various external users.

The structure of the Physics Services is:

1. Accelerator Laboratory (Prof. M. Hass, in charge) Operation of the 14 MV Pelletron accelerator and the 2 MV VDG accelerator

2. Electronics and Data Acquisition (Dr. L. Levinson, in charge) DAQ solutions to research problems Electronics design and construction Repair of sophisticated electronic instruments Real-time DAQ software

3. UHV, cryogenics and thin films (Dr. M. Rappaport, in charge) Consultation and design for experimental systems Thin films deposition: evaporation, sputtering, electron-gun, rolling

4. Mechanics workshop (Y. Asher, in charge)

Staff

Associate Professor

Israel Bar-Joseph 1, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Jane and Otto Morningstar Chair of Physics

1Department of Condensed Matter Physics

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54 Physics Services


Oded Heber, Ph.D., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, IsraelLorne Levinson, Ph.D., Brown University, Providence, United StatesMichael Rappaport, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, United States

Engineer

Alexander Roich, M.Sc., Technological Institute for Electricity and Communication, Tashkent

Consultant

Michael Paul, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

The Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for High Energy Physics

Giora Mikenberg, Director The Lady Davis Professor of Experimental Physics

Although the universe in which we live looks very complex, with a large variety of differentmolecules and forces that binds them together, it is commonly assumed that shortly after themoment of creation the universe was a much simpler place. In particular, it is believed thatonly a single (unified) force existed. During the expansion of the universe its temperaturedropped and the unified force was split into the four forces we know today (gravitation,nuclear, electromagnetic and the weak force which drives the radioactive decay). First viablemodels of the unification concept were suggested about 25 years ago and were experimentallyconfirmed some 15 years ago. A major consolidation of this concept was later done at LEP, theLarge Electron Positron accelerator situated at CERN. Virtually all of the present knowledgeabout the fundamental particles and their interaction is included in a model named 'StandardModel. In spite of its spectacular success and its incredible predictive power, the StandardModel cannot be the ultimate theory of particles and their interactions. Few fundamentalmeasurements are still to be done and few crucial questions are still to be answered. Thefollowing projects that are supported by the Benoziyo center, address some of the morefundamental aspects of the Standard Model.

Physics at LEP

Major among the missing ingredients of the Standard Model is the existence of the predictedHiggs boson which give rise to mass, and the prediction of the existence of a whole family ofnew particles which are connected to regular particles by a new type of basic symmetry ofnature (Supersymmetry). With the closure of the LEP accelerator, the largest accelerator in theworld, a wealth of data has been accumulated at the highest energy of e+e- collisions. A groupof Weizmann scientists has taken part in one of the four large LEP experiments - OPAL. Thegroup plays a major role in the search for the Higgs boson, which was culminated in a recentreport of a hint for a 115 GeV Higgs boson. Although no new particles, that are predicted bythe Standard Model have been found, the group is looking for hints of deviations of the datafrom the Standard Model, which could be used as a guidance to search in future accelerators,including possible unconventional signs of the existence of s-particles, which are predicted bySupersymmetry. Our team at OPAL also pursued searches for signs of these particles.

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56 The Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for High Energy Physics

Physics at HERA

The Weizmann Institute HERA group is an active member of the ZEUS experiment, which isrun by a big international collaboration. The data is taken at the HERA accelerator at DESY,Hamburg, which is a unique high-energy electron-proton (e-p) collider. The group isspecifically involved in analyzing production of the heavy quarks charm and beauty. Bystudying the production of pairs of charm or beauty quarks in high-energy e-p collisions onecan infer the density of the gluons within the proton. The interaction between the electron andproton takes place by exchanging a particle that is responsible for the electric force - thephoton. Heavy quarks can also be produced in e-p collisions when a parton in the protoncollides with a parton in the exchanged photon. The study of these processes sheds light on thepartonic structure of the photon, in particular its charm content. Accurate tests on thepredictions of the theory of the strong force, QCD, are performed in a new regime, which wasnever explored before.

Physics with Heavy Ions: The CERES and PHENIX Experiments

An exciting prediction of QCD, the currently accepted theory of strong interactions, is theexistence of a transition from normal matter into a new state called the Quark-Gluon-Plasmawhich is the strong force equivalent of the electromagnetic plasma. It is believed that theuniverse underwent such a transition some ten microseconds after the big bang when thetemperature was roughly 10 000 higher than the temperature at the center of the sun. Thesetemperatures can be reached today in the laboratory, in collisions of heavy nuclei, like lead orgold, accelerated to ultra-relativistic energies using modern accelerators. The Weizmann groupis engaged in a highly original experiment called CERES running at CERN and speciallydesigned to identify and study this primordial state of matter. The results of the CERESexperiment seem to hint at modifications of particle properties (like mass and/or width) as aprecursor of chiral symmetry restoration, a phenomenon predicted to occur together with theformation of a Quark-Gluon-Plasma. To further elucidate this exciting finding the grouphasextended its activities to the new and more powerful accelerator called RHIC (the RelativisticHeavy Ion Collider) at Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA. Together with scientists fromother countries, the Weizmann group has constructed a novel detector called PHENIX, one ofthe two major detectors operating at RHIC. RHIChas started regular operations in the summerof year 2000, opening a new era and new horizons in the study of nuclear collisions atunprecedented high energies, and offering the best ever conditions to detect the phasetransition and to measure the properties of the Quark-Gluon-Plasma.

Preparations for LHC

The LEPaccelerator has been taken out of its tunnel and a new machine - the Large HadronCollider (LHC) will start to be installed. The LHC is expected to start operating in 2006delivering proton beams of 7 TeV each. The new machine will host two large detectors -ATLAS and CMS. The Weizmann group, together with the Technion and Tel-Aviv groups andwith seven groups from Japan, is constructing the forward muon trigger system of the ATLAS

The Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for High Energy Physics 57

experiment. The system is based on the innovative Thin-Gap Chamber, which was developedat Weizmann. By now more 700 large area detectors, out of the 2500 that are planed, havealready been built in our newly built laboratory (Mexico). The muon trigger system will play acrucial role in increasing the ability of the ATLAS detector to discover the Higgs boson andthe various SUSY particles. It is predicted that the LHC will provide a decisive test of theStandard Model and some of its extensions.

58 The Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for High Energy Physics

The Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Center for Submicron Research

Mordehai Heiblum, Director Alex and Ida Sussman Professorial Chair in Submicron Electronics

Research activities at the Center are concentrated on fabrication and investigation of smallsemiconductor structures. The energy spectrum, interactions, and dynamics of electrons inthese structures are strongly affected by the reduced dimensions. The structures are grown bystate-of-the-art molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), patterned using very high resolution electronbeam writing and processed using advanced techniques.

Research at the Center is conducted by a staff of approximately 30 people, organized in threescientific groups (headed by Israel Bar-Joseph, Moty Heiblum, and Amir Yacoby), and ahighly skilled professional team. Major research activities are directed toward studying thetransport properties of electrons and holes at a large parameter range: from DC to microwavefrequencies, from room temperature to a few milliKelvin above absolute zero, and from zero toextremely high magnetic fields. Another research effort is directed toward studying the opticalproperties, with continuous wave or with short pulses, of two-dimensional electron gas and ofhighly excited one-dimensional wires. An important facet of the research at the Center is thedevelopment of new confining structures and the fabrication of a very pure material.

The activity at the Center also involves application-oriented research. An intensive effort isconducted to grow and fabricate GaAs-based planar array of an infra-red detector. The uniqueproperty of such arrays is the monolithic integration of the electronic read-out on the detectorsthemselves. Another effort is in making GaAs FET based biological and chemical sensors. TheCenter was also chosen to be a Large Scale Facility in the Europian Union, having theresources to host many scientists from Europe for short periods of time.

Here are some of the scientific projects conducted by the different groups:

Controlled Dephasing of Electrons (Which path experiments)

By observing with a sensitive detector the path an electron chooses to take interference of theelectronic waves vanishes. A Quantum Point Contact (QPC) in close proximity to anAharonov-Bohm ring interferometer allows the controlled dephasing (destruction ofinterference) via affecting the properties of the QPC. Special interferometers, working in largemagnetic fileds are now under construction. (Yang Ji (Post Doc), Yunchul Chung (Post Doc),Diana Mahalu, H. Shtrikman, Vladimir Umansky, and Moty Heiblum).

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60 The Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Center for Submicron Research

Statistics of Fractional Charges

The charge of the quasi particle in the fractional quantum Hall (FQH) regime had beenpredicted to be a fraction of the electronic charge. Via shot noise measurements this charge hadbeen measured in the FQH regime at a filling factor 1/3 and was found to be e/3 as predicted.More recently a charge e/5 was measured at a filling factor 2/5. The behavior of charges arenow being investigated under different conditions. The effect of barriers on bunching of suchfractional charges is being investigated. (Eyal Comforti, Ph.D. student, Yunchul Chung (PostDoc), Vladimir Umansky, Diana Mahalu, and Moty Heiblum).

Phase Measurements of a Mesoscopic System

An interferometer with a quantum dot (QD) in the Kondo regime was constructed in order tomeasure phase evolution of the 'Kondo QD'. Such a QD is expected to behave differently froma QD in the Coulomb Blockade regime measured before. Phase was measured and results aredifferent from the predicted ones theoretically. (Ji Yang, H. Shtrikman, D. Mahalu, and MotyHeiblum).

Local Thermodynamic Probing of the two Dimensional Electron and Hole Gases

We use a single electron tarnsistor as a local electrostatic probe to study the underlying spatialstructure of the metal insulator transition (MIT) in two dimensions (2D). Our localcompressibility measurements reveal a striking microscopic evolution from a continuousliquid phase to a discrete insulating phase. In contrast to the continuous compressible phase,the new discrete phase consists of microscopic charge configurations that are surrounded bythe liquid phase and are compressible only at discrete values of the local density. The discretephase appears already on the metallic side of the MIT and when the density is lowered itsvolume increases on account of the continuous phase. The individual charge configurations,that comprise the discrete phase, are found to interact via quantum mechanical tunneling andvia mutual Coulomb interaction. (Shahal Ilani, Ph.D. student, Katya Teitelbaum, Ms.c. student,Diana Mahalu, Hadas Shtrikman, and Amir Yacoby).

Tunneling Spectroscopy of One Dimensional Conductors

We have studied experimentally the tunneling conductance of a 1D wire in two differentgeometry's using the cleaved edge overgrowrth method. The first consists of tunnelingbetween two parallel 1D wires that are separated by a 6nm barrier. Conservation of energy andmomentum in the tunneling process restricts current flow to very specific values of the relativevoltage between the wires and external magnetic field. We will show that our measurementsprovide a direct way of measuring the detailed dispersion relation, E(k), of the electrons in thewires. In the second geometry we have measured the low temperature conductance of a one-dimensional island embedded in a single mode quantum wire. The tunneling is through asingle state of the island. Our results show that while the resonance line shape fits thederivative of the Fermi function the intrinsic line width decreases in a power law fashion as the

The Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Center for Submicron Research 61

temperature is reduced. This behavior agrees quantitatively with Furasaki's model for resonanttunneling in a Luttinger liquid. (Ophir Auslaender, Ph. D. student, Vladimir Umansky, andAmir Yacoby).

Near field spectroscopy of a gated electron gas

The near-field photoluminescence of a gated two-dimensional electron gas was measured. Weused the negatively charged exciton, X-, formed by binding of an electron to a photo-excitedelectron-hole pair, as an indicator for the local presence of charge. We have shown that the X-lineshape is a Lorenzian with an amplitude that is linearly proportional to the local electrondensity. Thus, by analyzing the X- line at each spatial point we could get a quantitative imageof the electron density distribution in the plane (Y. Yayon, Ph.D student, M. Rappaport, V.Umansky, and Israel Bar-Joseph).

Charged excitons in the fractional quantum Hall regime

We studied the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of a low-density two-dimensional electrongas at high magnetic fields and low temperatures. Our work was motivated by recenttheoretical studies that have suggested that the charged exctions (X-) could be useful indescribing the many electrons + hole system in that regime. Using a gated structure we wereable to follow the dependence of the PL spectrum on the filling factor not only by changing themagnetic field at a constant density, as is commonly done in PL experiments, but also byvarying the density at constant magnetic field. Our main finding is that the singlet and tripletX- lines evolve continuously from the dilute limit into the fractional quantum Hall (FQH)regime, where they are sensitive probes for the many-body interactions. This observation callsfor new interpretation of the PL data at the FQH regime in terms of bound electron-holecomplexes. We also identified conclusively the ''dark'' triplet and show that it crosses thesinglet line at high magnetic field. This observation resolved a serious contradiction betweentheoretical predictions and the available experimental data. (G. Yusa, post-doctorat fellow, H.Shtrikman and Israel Bar-Joseph).

62 The Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Center for Submicron Research

The Albert Einstein Minerva Center for Theoretical Physics

Yoseph Imry, Director The Max Planck Professor of Quantum Physics

The Albert Einstein MINERVA Center for Theoretical Physics was established in 1980 withthe generous donation of an endowment fund from the Bundes Ministerium fur Forschung undTechnologie (BMFT) of the Federal Republic of Germany, through the joint committee forGerman?Israeli Scientific Cooperation (Minerva). The main emphasis of the Center is to fosterhigh level research in theoretical physics, while promoting cooperation among German andIsraeli theorists. The Center supports human? contact activities, such as theoretical physicistsvisiting from abroad and consultants working with different theory groups in the Institute. TheCenter also supports, partially or fully, small topical meetings and workshops. Naturally, mostof the activity of the Center is related to research projects based at the Faculty of Physics, butconsiderable support has also been lent to appropriate projects in the Faculty of Chemistry and,to a lesser extent, in the Faculty of Mathematics. The support from the Center plays animportant role in almost all the research in theoretical physics at the Institute.

Visiting Theoretical Physicists

During 2001 we supported 38 visitors who came to the Institute to collaborate and to givelectures. The visitors came from the Germany (12), United States (11), England (4), France(3), Switzerland (2), Russia (1) , Italy (1), Canada (1), Poland (1), Slovakia (1) Spain (1).

The Advisors (Associate Membership) Program

The advisors are theoretical physicists, with appointments in other academic institutes inIsrael, who come to the Weizmann Institute for up to 1 day per week for part or the whole ofthe academic year. They collaborate with scientists from the Weizmann Institute and givelectures here. Much joint work results.

In 2001, four advisors were in the Department of Condensed Matter Physics, six in theDepartment of Particle Physics, and one in the Department of Complex Systems. The advisorsfor Condensed Matter Physics were Prof. Ora Entin-Wohlman from Tel Aviv University; Prof.Yigal Meir, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Prof. Yakir Aharonov, Tel Aviv University;and Prof. Alex Kamenev, Technion. The advisors for Particle Physics were Prof. Amit Givon,The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Prof. Marek Karliner, Tel Aviv University; Prof. JacobSonnenschein, Tel Aviv University; Dr. Yuval Grossman, Technion; Prof. Shmuel Elitzur, The

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64 The Albert Einstein Minerva Center for Theoretical Physics

Hebrew University of Jerusalem; and Prof. Eliezer Rabinovici, The Hebrew University ofJerusalem. The advisor for Complex Systems was Prof. Ido Kanter, Bar-Ilan University.

The Center supported two conferences:

The 7th Gentner Symposium on Quantum Chaos - Ein Gedi, Israel, 24.02.2001 - 02.03.2001

The upgrade of the PHENIX detector at RHIC - New York, USA, 20.03.2001 - 23.03.2001

The Maurice and Gabriella Goldschleger Center for Nanophysics

Yoseph Imry, Director The Max Planck Professor of Quantum Physics

The Maurice and Gabriella Goldschleger Center for Nano physics was established in 2001.Fueled by the success of the research on Mesoscopic Physics, the main goal of this center is topromote theoretical research in Nanophysics. This is the small-size end of the mesoscopicregime and the fundamental interplay of the microscopic quantum mechanical behavior andthe environmental degrees of freedom will be studied in both equilibrium and nonequilibriumaspects. Primary examples of systems on which these studies are relevant are nanofabricateddevices such as quantum dots and conducting lines as well as novel molecules such as carbonnanotubes. The electronic conducting (and perhaps superconducting), thermal, magnetic andoptical properties of such systems will be addressed. While this research is concerned withbasic Physics, it is relevant to, for example, future electronic and optical applications.

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66 The Maurice and Gabriella Goldschleger Center for Nanophysics

The Minerva Center for Nonlinear Physics of Complex Systems

Uzy Smilansky, Director The Wolfgang Gentner Professor of Nuclear Physics

The Center was established jointly by the Technion and the Weizmann Institute. It maintainsstrong links with the Max Planck Institute for Physics of Complex Systems in Dresden. TheCenter supports the activities of three groups at the Weizmann Institute.

Hydrodynamics, Turbulence and Pattern Formation-Theory

1. Turbulence. In the first stage of this research, we pointed out that the objects oftheoretical relevance vis-a-vis universal properties are the many-point time correlationfunctions of velocity differences. The simultaneous counterparts of those arehomogeneous functions of their arguments, with the homogeneity exponents beinguniversal numbers whose computation from first principles we seek. The nth ordercorrelation function is associated with a universal exponent n. We showed that the timecorrelation functions do not obey dynamical scaling. This breaking of temporal scaleinvariance is an important characteristic of turbulence, that was not appreciated before.We then studied the dynamics of time correlation functions, and showed that they obeyan infinite hierarchy of partial differential equations. The hierarchy of equations wasshown to be invariant under a rescaling group, and therefore the space of solutions wasshown to be foliate into sectors each characterized by "classical scaling" but with ascaling exponent h belonging to an an interval hmin < h < hmax. The full solution wasgiven in terms of an integral over these "classical scaling" solution with a nontrivialweight factor that is characterized by a scalar function Z(h). The scaling exponents nare obtained as the minimal value of nh + Z(h), a formula which agrees with the"multifractal" model of turbulence, that was here derived from first principles for thefirst time. Lastly, we developed closure schemes to compute Z(h) from first principles.Firstly we demonstrated, in uncontrolled closure for the Navier-Stokes problem, thatanomalous scaling exponents appear naturally in the theory, and secondly we developeda shell model for which we could control the closure and compute exponents that couldbe compared with the results of numerical experiments.

2. Fractal Grourth. We first considered flame propagation in which the flame frontwrinkles on all scales. We showed that the dynamics and the resulting geometry can beunderstood very well by following the dynamics of singularities in the complex plane.This method reduces the partial differential equation to a dynamical system, with noiseinterpreted as a source of new singularities. Using this language we could explain the

ζ

ζ

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68 The Minerva Center for Nonlinear Physics of Complex Systems

effect of noise on flame propagation in channel geometries and the scaling laws thatcharacterize flame fronts in radial geometry. In the second stage of this work weconsidered Laplacian growth and Diffusion Limited Aggregates (DLA). By constructingconformal maps from the unit circle to the fractal patterns we obtained dynamicalequations for the conformal maps, allowing us to solve for the interesting patterns thatevolve in these systems. We understood completely Laplacian dynamics in channelgeometries, and are developing a theory of DLA which is able to predict all themultifractal properties from first principles.

Hydrodynamics, Turbulence and Pattern Formation-Experimental

During the past years the main progress has been on the following projects:

1. Spatio-temporal chaos in Rayleigh-Benard convection in very large aspect ratio cells in agas near the gas-liquid critical point was studied. This unique system gave us thepossibility to discover new spiral and target defect chaotic state, coexisting up- anddownflow hexagons, labyrint state and more. We studied in detail part of these newinstabilities and patterns in close collaboration with theorists from Bayreuth University,Germany, Profs. F. Busse and W. Pesch.

2. Nonlinear interaction of first and second sound waves and possible wave turbulencestate were studied in superfluid helium. Meantime just one mechanism of the waveinteraction, namely parametric generation of the second sound by first one, wasinvestigated. After its theoretical prediction about 20 years ago, it was first observed byus experimentally. New technology of the second sound detection by superconductingbolometers evaporated on glass fibers was developed. Two unexpected effects wereobserved: intermittent nature of the second sound and sudden drop of the second soundamplitude at large values of the first sound amplitude far away from the threshold.Universality of amplitude fluctuations in a wide range of the control parameter above theinstability threshold was established and explained by four-waves indirect interaction ofthe second sound waves via the first sound. Amplification of the second sound by thefirst one and an effect of phase conjugation for the second sound were found.However,theoretically predicted wave turbulence for the nonlinearly interacting secondsound waves was not observed.

3. Significant progress has been made in our understanding of the role of elastic stresses inhydrodynamics of polymer solutions. In particular we studied the role of viscoelasticityon stability and pattern selection in Couette-Taylor flow of a dilute polymer solution. Wesucceeded to vary the solution elasticity by three orders of magnitude, and in this way toget the complete stability diagram of this flow from pure inertial case of Newtonian fluidtill very elastic flow. New type of patterns were observed and characterized, in particularnovel localized stationary vortex pairs state was discovered. Their properties andinteraction, as well as the mechanism of the elastic instability were quantitatively studiedin details. As a continuation of these studies we discovered new turbulent state, coinedby us the elastic turbulence, which occurs at negligible values of Re and large values ofDe. It results just from elastic nonlinearity and driven by the elastic forces in 3D

The Minerva Center for Nonlinear Physics of Complex Systems 69

complex how. Furhter studies of 3D complex viscoelastic flows will help to reveal themechanism of turbulent drag reduction.

4. Turbulent convection was studied in a gas SF6 near the gas-liquid critical point. Thisunique system provides us an opportunity to reach extremely large Raleigh numbers (upto 1015) and to study the Pr dependence over an extremely wide range in the samesystem. The existence of the critical fluctuations provided us the possibility to performlaser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) measurements of the velocity field in a rather widerange of the closeness to the critical point. Using this novel technique developed in ourlaboratory, we studied statistical properties of the velocity field in a wide range of Re andPr numbers. Together with the local temperature and global heat transfer measurementsit provided us complete information about convective turbulence.

5. Appearance and dynamics of shock sound waves in a gas near the gas-liquid critical point was investigated. It is a first step towards the acoustic turbulence problem. The onset of wave resistance due to generation of surface waves is still ongoing project. Quantum vortex nucleation and detection were investigated as a first step to future experimental program. Dynamics of topological defects in nonequilibrium structure was further investigated as a continuation of our joint efforts with the theoretical group of Profs. L. Kramer and W. Pesch from Bayreuth University, Germany.

Quantum Chaos - Theory

The research focussed on two main issues in quantum chaos:

1. The semiclassical approximation and its applications, its accuracy, and diffractivecorrections. We developed a new approach to the quantization of billiards and potentialsystems, using scattering theory. We used it to derive the semiclassical trace formulafrom a new point of view, and to apply it in spectral analysis. The semiclassicalapproximation is the main tool in quantum chaos. Serious doubts were raised in theliterature concerning the accuracy of the semiclassical trace formulae for chaoticsystems in d > 2 dimensions. In particular it was proposed that the semiclassical errormeasured in units of the mean level spacing diverges in the semiclassical limit for d > 2.To check and investigate this crucial point, we developed a new method for theestimation of the semiclassical error, and used it in our numerical analysis of the Sinaibilliards in 2 and 3 dimensions. Our results show that the traditional error estimatementioned above is not valid, and the semiclassical error diverges at most as log ratherthan the traditional estimate 2-d.

The semiclasical trace formula implies a duality between the quantum spectrum and theclassical spectrum of periodic orbits (or tori) in classically chaotic (integrable) systems.The fact that the quantum spectra display universal statistics in the semiclassical limitimplies that the classical spectrum of periodic orbits should also display universalstatistics which can be predicted from an "inversion" of the trace formula. We derived the diffraction penumbra corrections to the semiclassical spectral density ofdispersing (Sinai) billiards which are due to orbits which are almost tangent to the

70 The Minerva Center for Nonlinear Physics of Complex Systems

boundary. These corrections are of the most significant modifications of the traceformula considered so far in the literature. We also pointed out the advantage of thescattering approach to identify next to leading order corrections to the semiclassicalapproximation. In particular we could analyze contributions form orbits which are in thepenumbra region, and we were even able to observe classically forbidden orbits, whichcontribute exponentially small corrections to the trace formula. A very useful tool for theanalysis of the spectral properties of quantized billiards, was the generalization of thesemiclassical trace formula to general boundary conditions on the billiard boundaries.

2. Spectral Statistics. Periodic systems which are built by concatenating chaotic unitsdisplay quantum statistics, which, on the large energy scale manifest the chaoticproperties of the "unit cell", and on the small energy scale, the periodicity of the system.We derived a semiclassical theory for such systems and obtained a universal expressionfor the spectral form factor. It agrees very well with numerical simulations and with fieldtheoretical calculations. When the periodicity of the system is disrupted by disorder,Anderson localization sets in. This has typical effects on the spectral correlations whichmake the transition to the Poisson limit when the disorder is sufficiently large. We wereable to describe this transition semiclassically, and explain most of the features observedin simulations.

In the quest for the simplest quantum systems which displays spectral fluctuations whichare reproduce by random matrix theory, we proposed quantum graphs, for which anexact trace formula exists, and the "classical dynamics" was shown to be mixing. Anextensive test of the spectra of simple graphs have shown an excellent reproduction ofvarious statistical measures derived from random matrix theory.


Dean: Lia Addadi The Dorothy and Patrick Gorman Professor

Israel Dostrovsky, Ph.D.(University of London)

Institute Professor The Agnes Spencer Professor of Physical Chemistry

72 Faculty of Chemistry


Dean: Lia Addadi The Dorothy and Patrick Gorman Chair

Department of Chemical Physics

The department consists of theoreticians and experimentalists working at the interface betweenphysics and chemistry. The experimental research is focused, in general, on the understandingof the interaction of matter with different kinds of radiation or charged particles. The effect ofthe chemical environment on this interaction is investigated by methods like magneticresonance, laser spectroscopy, electron tunneling, and electron transmission. Newexperimental techniques are developed and then applied to a variety of problems in chemistry,physics and biophysics such as photochemistry on semiconductor surfaces, the study ofprotein folding through single molecule spectroscopy, and the study of molecules as possiblecandidate for electronic devices, The manipulation of chemical reactions by lasers is studiedboth theoretically and experimentally and the effect of strong laser fields on matter is probed.Extensive theoretical research is also devoted to the complexity of nature and non lineardynamics, reaction dynamics in condensed matter, electron transfer reaction in solutions andquantum optics.

Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The research at the department is focused on understanding the complex inter - relationshipsamong the major Earth systems and between the human need for alternative energy source andthe consequent impact on the Earth's environment. The efforts in all directions are equally splitbetween field/experimental work and theoretical studies.

The research into climate change and the atmospheric greenhouse effect takes severaldirections, including climate dynamics, oceanic circulation, paleoceanography and the studyof past climatic patterns, plant-environment interaction and atmospheric chemistry as the basicmeans to understand and predict future changes.

In Hydrology, the research activity has centered on combination of field and laboratory studieswith theoretical models to understand flow of water and chemicals from the ground surface,through the unsaturated zone into the geological saturated formations.

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The Solar Energy research is focused on all aspects of using concentrated solar light. Itincludes the development of new hybrid solar thermal systems, solar fuels, concentratedphotovoltaic systems and solar lasers. A technology transfer to the industry was initiated as aresult of this work.

Our main objective to the future is to develop the scientific activity that is based onexperimental studies and provides the basis for integration of field observations intomathematical models. The dynamic of the atmosphere, environmental analytical chemistry,field hydrology and climate prediction are among the main fields that we want to develop inthe near future.

Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Department of Materials and Interfaces of the Weizmann Institute of Science is aninterdisciplinary one being composed from physicists, chemists and material scientists. Acommon theme of much of the research done in the department is the design of materials fromelementary units with unique, pre-designed functionality (either atomic, molecular ormacromolecular). A complementary effort involves the understanding of the functionality ofvarious materials, based on cooperative phenomena of assemblage of molecules intosupramolecular architectures. In addition to new insights in how materials properties can beunderstood from their atomic, molecular and macromolecular composition and structure, thispermits the development of new high performance materials for numerous applications.

Some recent achievements include: design and preparation of diodes with films of simpleorganic compounds at the interface, which allow for electrostatic control over the diodeperformance; understanding how trans-membrane transfer of very large biomolecules such asDNA occurs; development of a new method for getting depth information on a nanometerscale, using XPS measurements; the rheological properties of ultra thin water films;spontaneous enantio-selective polymerization of polypeptides on the water surface; newanalytical technique for films adsorbed on gold substrate using the shift of the plasmonresonance frequency; predictions of novel network structures in microemulsions and electro-and magneto-rheological fluids. Different research directions include nanotribological studiesthat reveal that polymer brushes can enormously reduce friction between rubbing surfaces andthat liquid films can abruptly solidify when confined; early stages of crystal nucleation-astereochemical approach using X-crystallography; study of a surface superconducting state inNa-doped WO3 with indications for Tc at 91K; nano-lithography of modified self-assembledorganic monolayers; self-standing thin ferroelectric films; nano-mechanics of carbonnanotubes including their use as in-situ stress sensors in polymer matrices; synthesis ofinorganic nested fullerenes that display improved tribological properties, as well as thesynthesis of new inorganic nanotubes. New insight in how nanoparticulate materials can beused to convert sun light to electrical energy and how polycrystalline film solar cells can bestabilized.

Faculty of Chemistry 75

Research in the Department of Organic Chemistry

The areas of research in the Department of Organic Chemistry include synthetic andmechanistic organic, inorganic and organometallic chemistry involving novel reactions fororganic synthesis; syntheses of physiologically active compounds; polymeric reagents; bondactivation studies; homogeneous catalysis by specifically designed metal complexes; selectiveoxidation catalysis by polyoxometalates; and the development of molecule-basedtechnologies. Bioorganic chemistry includes the studies of plant antiviral agents; the molecularmechanism of action of rhodopsin; artificial ion carriers and molecular sensors. Biologicalchemistry includes studies on structure, function, and mode of action of biologically activepeptides and proteins; thermophilic enzymes; enzymes involved in DNA repair, DNA andRNA processing; and studies of ordered, compact states of nucleic acids. Methods for veryaccurate ab initio calculations of molecular properties are being developed and applied.

Department of Structural Biology

The Department is committed to research in the major areas of structural biology and isinvestigating biological systems from the atomic to the cellular level of organization. Theultimate goal is to obtain a complete picture of biological structures in their complexity, with acontinuity at all length scales, from Angstroms to millimetres. The structures of biologicalmacromolecules and their complexes are studied at the length scale of Angstroms by X-raydiffraction from crystals, and in solution by advanced spectroscopic techniques such as nuclearmagnetic resonance and EXAFS. Electron microscopy, electron tomography and atomic forcemiscroscopy are imaging techniques that span the range between nanometers and microns,from single molecules to macromolecular assemblies and whole tissue organization.

The elucidation of the relations between structure and function of key components in mainbiological pathways is one of the generalized goals of the research conducted in theDepartment. One such pathway is the translation of the genetic code from DNA to proteins. Ahighlight of the past year has been the continued progress in determination of differentribosome structures also in complex with antibiotics. These most significant achievementscrown the titanic efforts of tens of years of research aimed at elucidating the structure andmechanism of action of ribosomes. Ribosomes are giant particles composed of RNA and morethan 50 proteins that are the principal protein synthesis machinery of the cell. The mechanismof translation of the code into proteins is also investigated by X-ray crystallography of tRNAsynthetases and their complexes. Additional research in this area includes work on helicasesthat unwind RNA, analysis of the theoretical linguistic aspects of the code itself andelucidation of the 3-D structure of DNA and of DNA-protein complexes. Chaperone-assistedprotein folding constitutes the last 'station' in the pathway.

Structural and dynamical aspects of enzyme and protein function and recognition constituteanother focal point of activity. Examples are studies on the mechanism of acetylcholinesterase,a key enzyme in the transmission of nerve impulses, on proteins regulating membrane - fusionand virus entry into the cell and on protein - saccharide complexes. Antibody - antigenrecognition is studied using NMR and the tools of molecular biology to unravel the energetic


contributions of single interactions, and through antibodies interacting with monolayer andcrystal surfaces.

Studies on the relations between organic and mineral components and between structure,function and mechanical properties of mineralised tissues including bone, teeth, shells andmany others, are performed over the whole range of hierarchical organizations. Thedevelopment of new techniques in archeological chemistry provides information about humanlife conditions and technologies in prehistoric times .

The X-ray and NMR facilities are now state-of-the-art. A major upgrade in The electronmicroscopy facility has also taken place with the addition of two high resolution transmissionelectron microscopes and an environmental field emission scanning electron microscope.

Chemical Physics

Daniela Goldfarb, Head

The research in the Department of Chemical Physics covers a wide range of interdisciplinarysubjects, combining the fields of chemistry and physics.

New techniques are being developed in solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)spectroscopy for the study of zeolites, nanoparticles, peptides and proteins by Shimon Vega, aswell as for studies of nucleic acids and high performance polymers by Lucio Frydman. NMRmethods are also used by Zeev Luz to investigate dynamics and ordering processes incondensed phases. Electron spin resonance (ESR) and double resonance spectroscopic(ENDOR) techniques are developed and applied by Daniella Goldfarb for the characterizationof metal active sites in porous inorganic catalysts and metalloenzymes.

Theoretical methods are being applied for the investigation of microscopic and macroscopicproperties. Bimolecular reactions and dynamics in condensed phases, photoinduced process,spectroscopy and energy relaxation of polyatomic molecules are being studied by Eli Pollak.Forward and backward electron transfer reactions in liquid solutions, controlled by diffusionand spin conversion in radical ion pairs, are being studied by Anatoly I. Burshtein within theoriginal integral encounter theory, beyond the rate concept. The complexity in nature and thescaling and geometry of turbulence are being investigated by Itamar Procaccia. Fractal growthpatterns were studied using iterated conformal maps, thus solving some old open problems.Zeev Olami is exploring the elastic/stress/structure properties of glasses and localization andscattering phenomena for vibration models of glasses and disordered systems.

Lasers and their interaction with matter are being investigated both theoretically andexperimentally. Light-matter interactions (quantum optics) and their applications for quantuminformation are being investigated theoretically by Gershon Kurizki in periodic structures,cavities, cold atom gases and condensates. Ilya Averbukh and Yehiam Prior study, boththeoretically and experimentally, various aspects of nonlinear optical interactions, includingexcitation and detection of atomic and molecular wavepackets prepared by shapedfemtosecond pulses, nonlinear optical interactions under the tip of a scanning near-field opticalmicroscope, femtosecond laser material processing and molecular alignment and orientationby strong laser fields, atom optics and atom lithography applications. Moshe Shapiro isinvestigating, theoretically and experimentally, the coherent control of chemical reactions andthe purification by optical means of racemic mixtures of optical isomers and the constructionof decoherence-free spaces for quantum computation. David J. Tannor is studying,theoretically, femtosecond control of chemical reactions, and dissipative quantum mechanics.

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78 Chemical Physics

Light induced processes on semiconductor surfaces are investigated by Gad Haase by applyingscanning tunneling microscopy; the influence of a single defect or a single adsorbed atom onthe local reactivity is studied on the atomic length scale. Ron Naaman is investigating the useof molecules as components in electronic devices and sensors. This includes studying theelectronic properties of organized thin molecular films and investigating information transferthrough them. Gilad Haran uses fluroescence and Raman microspectroscopy to probe single-molecule dynamics, and study processes ranging from protein folding to adsorbate diffusionon nanoparticles.

http://chemphys.weizmann.ac.il/


Professors

Lucio Frydman, Ph.D., University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaGuastalla Fellow

Daniella Goldfarb, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelGershon Kurizki, Ph.D., University of New Mexico

The George W. Dunne Professor of Chemical Physics Ron Naaman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Aryeh and Mintzi Katzman Professor Eliyahu Pollak, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelYehiam Prior, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, United States

The Sherman Professor of Physical Chemistry Itamar Procaccia, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

The Barbara and Morris L. Levinson Professor of Chemical Physics Moshe Shapiro, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

The Jacques Mimran Professor David Joshua Tannor, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, United StatesShimon Vega, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Joseph and Marian Robbins Professor

Professors Emeriti

Shneior Lifson, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (deceased January 2001)

Zeev Luz, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

Associate Professor

Ilya Averbukh, Ph.D., USSR Academy of Science Russia, Moscow, Russian Federation

Chemical Physics 79

Senior Scientists

Gad Haase, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelIncumbent of the Jacob and Alphonse Laniado Career Development Chair of Industrial and Energy Research

Gilad Haran, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Benjamin H. Swig and Jack D. Weiler Career Development Chair

Zeev Olami, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelIncumbent of the Morris and Ida Wolf Career Development Chair

Senior Staff Scientist

Peter S. Stern, Ph.D., The City University of New York, United States

Associate Staff Scientist

Abraham Kofman, Ph.D., Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

Assistant Staff Scientists

Shirley Daube, Ph.D., University of Oregon, Eugene, United StatesShifra Kababya, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelAnna Pomyalov, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Special Contracts

Anatoly Burshtein, Ph.D., Siberian Branch of the Academy of Science, Russian FederationThe Council of Higher Education Fellowship to Senior Immigrant Scientist

Victor Lvov, Ph.D., Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Novosibirsk, Russian FederationViera Skakalova, Ph.D., Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava (left December 2001)

Engineer

Naomi Raz, M.Sc., University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

Visiting Scientists

Alexander Artemyev, General Physics Institute, RussiaFelipe Barra, Free U, Brussels ., BelgiumMikhail Brik, Kuban State University (KSU), RussiaPatrick Carl, University of Illinois At Chicago Circle, Ill, U.S.A.Tihamer Geyer, University of Freiburg, Germany

80 Chemical Physics

Thomas Michel Gilbert, University of Paris VI (Pierre Et Marie Curie), FrancePaolo Giuliani, University of Calabria, ItalyPeter Halevi, University of Mexico, MexicoHanno Hammer, University of Cambridge, UKRamaswamy Kannan, Indian Inst. of Sci., Bangalore, IndiaMark Keil, University of Oklahoma, U.S.A.Mrignayani Kotecha, Science College, Jabalpur, IndiaAdonis Lupulescu, Tech. University of Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaClaude Nogues, CNRS ,Thiers, FranceNandakumar Patincharath, University of Durham, UKDavid Petrosyan, University of Ulm, GermanyAvraham Rosenberg, Hebrew University , Rehovot, IsraelIoannis Thanopoulos, ETH, Zurich, SwitzerlandQun Zhang, University of Sci. & Tech. of China, Hefei, Anhui, PR ChinaShesheng Zhang, Wuhan Transportation University, PR China


Yael Balazs, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, USAFelipe Javier Barra de la Guarda, Ph.D., Universite Libre de Bruxelles, BelgiumPatrick Carl, Ph.D., University of Iowa, USAPareshkumar C. Dave, Ph.D., Bhavnagar University, IndiaErik Mattias Eden, Ph.D., Stockholm University, SwedenBoris Epel, Ph.D., Kazan State University, RussiaJames Faeder, Ph.D., University of Colorado, USAEinat Frishman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelTihamer Geyer, Ph.D., University of Freiburg, GermanyThomas Gilbert, Ph.D., University of Maryland, USAStefano Giovanazzi, Ph.D., University of Trieste, ItalyChristopher Vincent Grant, Ph.D., University of California, USAHanno Hammer, Ph.D., University of Cambridge, United KingdomMiron Hazani, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, IsraelRamaswamy Kannan, Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science, IndiaPetr Kral, Ph.D., Czech Republic Academy of Sciences, Czech RepublicAdonis Vasile Lupulescu, Ph.D., Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFalk Martin, Ph.D., University of Freiburg, GermanyKotecha Mrignayani, Ph.D., University of Jabalpur, IndiaAnatole Neufeld, Ph.D., Russian Academy of Science, SB, RussiaDuncan O'Dell, Ph.D., University of Bristol, United KingdomNandakumar Patincharath, Ph.D., Indian Institute of Technology, IndiaDavid Petrosyan, Ph.D., National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, ArmeniaAnna Elizabeth Rhoades, Ph.D., The University of Michigan, USAIoannis Thanopoulos, Ph.D., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology-ETH, Switzerland

Chemical Physics 81

Qun Zhang, Ph.D., University of Science & Technology of China, ChinaShesheng Zhang, Ph.D., Wuhan Transportation University, ChinaYujun Zheng, Ph.D., Shandong University, China

Research Students

Shaul AloniTali AquaItai AradDafna ArieliReit ArtziDebbie BauteMaya BenningaErez BoukobzaThomas BraunigerJurgen BuhlerItai CarmeliRaanan CarmieliSilvia G. ChuartzmanYoram CohenBenjamin DavidovitchDavid EntenbergEinat FrishmanVladislav GladkikhAmir GoldbourtGil Goobes

Julia GrinshteinSupratim Guha RayRachel HavdalaTamar Kustanovich-FlorYosef Yehuda KuttnerMonika LeibscherAnders LevermannIftakh NevoMikhal OrenYuri PaskoverIddo PinkasSharon RuthsteinAlexander SamokhvalovAlon SchwartzYoav ShrotShlomo SklarzOren TalElena VinogradovAmir WeissJingyan Zhang

Administrator

Varda Katzir

82 Chemical Physics

Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

Aldo Shemesh, Head

This Department, established in 1990, is dedicated to understanding the complex inter-relationships among the major earth systems and between the human need for energy and theconsequent impact on the earthõs environment. This requires knowledge of all theinterdependent ecosystems that together constitute the “environment”, as well as acommitment to improving the manner in which humans utilize energy.

The Department's research activities have several areas of focus. One is in the field of physicaloceanography and hydrology. A second is in the use of stable isotopes for paleoclimaticreconstruction and biosphere-atmosphere interactions, and a third is in the field of atmosphericchemistry. Research in solar energy is conducted in a dedicated facility, the Solar Tower, oncampus. The Department is distinguished by the fact that many collaborations exist amongfaculty members from quite different backgrounds. Such collaborations are viewed as essentialin the fields of environmental and energy sciences.

The following is a partial list of research projects that are currently conducted in thedepartment:

Climate Stability and Variability. El Niño Dynamics. Climate Change and the Stable Isotope Record of Marine and Continental Sediments. Plant Environment Interactions. Atmospheric Processes of Key Species in the Ozone Photochemical Production Cycle. Heterogeneous Chemistry of Peroxy Radicals and the Atmospheric Fate ofMultifunctional Organic Nitrates. Fluid Flow and Chemical Transport in Fractured and Heterogeneous Porous Media. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (NMRI) of Fluid Flow in Rock Fractures. Water/chemical Infiltration in the Unsaturated Zone and Capillary Fringe Theory ofChemical Transport in Heterogeneous Porous Media. Chemical and Isotopic Indicators of Connate Groundwater. Photochemistry and Solar Energy. Solar Receiver. Energy Transport in complex media. High-Temperature Solar-Driven Thermodynamic Cycles. Solar Neutrinos.

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84 Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The interdisciplinary nature of the Department is well reflected in the academic training of theresearch students. Their backgrounds vary enormously from physics to biology and geology.We encourage the participation of students who are interested in not only investigating indepth a specific subject, but who are also interested in a broader, more integrative approach toscience.

Home Page: www.weizmann.ac.il/ESER/home.html


Professors

Israel Dostrovsky, Ph.D., University of London, London, United KingdomInstitute Professor The Agnes Spencer Professor of Physical Chemistry

Eli Tziperman, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United StatesThe Barry Rymer Family Professor

Professors Emeriti

Joel R Gat, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelMartin M. Halmann, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel


Brian Berkowitz, D.Sc., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, IsraelJacob Karni, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United StatesAbraham Kribus, Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca, United States (left October 2001)

Incumbent of the Recanati Career Development Chair of Energy Research (until October 2001)

Aldo Shemesh, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelDan Yakir, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem at Rehovot, Rehovot, IsraelAmnon Yogev, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Stephen and Mary Meadow Professor of Laser Photochemistry

Senior Scientists

Einat Aharonov, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United StatesYigal Allon Fellow Incumbent of the Anna and Maurice Boukstein Career Development Chair

Yinon Rudich, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the William Z. and Eda Bess Novick Career Development Chair

Environmental Sciences and Energy Research 85


Elisabetta Boaretto, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelRuth Yam, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Special Contract

Harvey Scher, Ph.D., Syracuse University, Syracuse, United States (retired September 2001)

Engineer

Ruth M.J. Benmair, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Consultants

Israel CarmiEmanuel Mazor Mariana Stiller (left May 2001)Bruno Yaron, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel (left May 2001)

Visiting Scientists

Andrea Cortis, Tudelft Univ. of Technology, NederlandMarco Dentz, University of Heidelberg, GermanyDebbie Hemming, University of Arizona, U.S.A.Tangbao Lin, Henan Agri . University, PR ChinaSariel Shalev, University of Haifa, Israel


Marco Dentz, Ph.D., Universitat Heidelberg, GermanyIshai Dror, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelHezi Gildor, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelJose Marc Gruenzweig, Ph.D., Agriculture Faculty, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelDeborah Louise Hemming, Ph.D., University of Cambridge, United KingdomRegina Katsman, Ph.D., Technion, IsraelTongbao Lin, Ph.D., Agriculture Faculty, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelClaudia Pasquero, Ph.D., Politecnico di Torino, ItalyEyal Rotenberg, Ph.D., Technion, IsraelBurkhard Wilske, Ph.D., Johannes Gutenberg University, Germany

86 Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

Research Students

Hagit Pninah AffekRudi BertocchiAlla FalkovichEli GalantiHezi GildorOlga HarsonskiMorna IsaacYohai KaspiMelissa LevyGennady MargolinKadmiel MaseykTamar Moise

Erel MorrisNir NaftaliHanita OvdatIdit Pe'erMiri Rietti-ShatiRoiy SayagAya Schneider MorOlga SingurindyKeren TrevesRoberto VentrellaMark VilenskyLaure Zanna

Administrator

Neomi Baumann

Materials and Interfaces

Reshef Tenne, Head

The scientific activities of the department, which are interdisciplinary and involve closeinteractions among chemists, physicists, materials scientists, theoreticians, andexperimentalists, follow two major themes: 1) the design and understanding of the propertiesof new materials, and 2) the investigation of the structure and interactions of interfaces, theirmodification, and their role in determining macroscopic properties of inorganic, organic, andbiological materials. Synthetic studies focus on the generation of new tailor-made functionalmaterials, including molecularly-engineered semiconductors (D. Cahen), nanocrystalline andquantum dot semiconductors (G. Hodes, M. Lahav, I. Rubinstein), ultra-strong solidcomposites and carbon nanotube-based structures (D. Wagner, E. Joselevich), inorganicfullerenes and inorganic nanotubes (R. Tenne, G. Hodes), photovoltaic materials (D. Cahen, G.Hodes, R. Tenne), thin films of ferroelectric materials and related dielectric materials (ILubomirsky). Tungsten oxide, which is surface enriched by alkali metals was found to exhibitsuperconducitivity with high transition temperatures (S. Reich). Materials development atinterfaces includes ultrathin films on electrodes (I. Rubinstein), nanolithography (J. Sagiv),polymer functionalisation of surfaces and rheology of fluids in confined spaces (J. Klein) andthin organic films composed of interfacially active molecules with unique, chemical andphysical, including optical and electronic properties (D. Cahen, M. Lahav, L. Leiserowitz, I.Rubinstein, J. Sagiv). Analytical and experimental studies treat many aspects of complexfluids (R. Granek, J. Klein, S. Safran), as well as biopolymer networks and membranes in vitroand in living cells, with a focus on their role in molecular transport (M. Elbaum). Theoreticalstudies focus on understanding and prediction of the structure, of bulk and surface properties,surface instabilities in supercooled liquids, microemulsions, ferrofluids, elastic solid films, andthe dynamics theory of complex materials (Z. Alexandrowitz, R. Granek, J. Klein, S. Safran).Studies on chiral aggregates and clusters related to the problem of origin of chirality on earthare continuing (M. Lahav, L. Leiserowitz). Sophisticated characterization techniques such asX-ray reflectivity and surface diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transforminfra-red, surface force measurements, ellipsometry, electrochemistry, surface plasmonspectroscopy, Raman microscopy, high-resolution optical imaging, electron microscopy,scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy continue to be applied to the study of thestructure and function of surfaces, thin films, membranes, and polymers. A clean room facilityhas been established and systems for film preparation and characterization have been installed.

http://www.weizmann.ac.il/material/

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88 Materials and Interfaces


Professors

David Cahen, Ph.D., Northwestern University, Evanston, United StatesJacob Klein, Ph.D., University of Cambridg, Cambridge, United Kingdom

The Hermann Mark Professor of Polymer Physics Meir Lahav, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (on extension of service)

The Margaret Thatcher Professor of Chemistry Leslie Leiserowitz, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (on extension of

service) The Patricia Elman Bildner Professor of Solid State Chemistry

Shimon Reich, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Robert W. Reneker Professor of Industrial Chemistry

Israel Rubinstein, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelSamuel Safran, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States

The Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Professor Reshef Tenne, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelDaniel Hanoch Wagner, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

The Livio Norzi Professor

Professors Emeriti

Zeev Alexandrowicz, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelJoseph Jagur-Grodzinski, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelMoshe Levy, Ph.D., State University of New York, Syracuse, United StatesJoost Manassen, Ph.D., University of AmsterdamDavid Vofsi, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (deceased

September 2001)


Rony Granek, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelIncumbent of the Morris and Rose Goldman Career Development Chair

Gary Hodes, Ph.D., Queen's University of BelfastJacob Sagiv, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Gideon Levin, Ph.D., State University of New York, Syracuse, United States (retired June 2001)

Materials and Interfaces 89

Senior Scientists

Roy Bar Ziv, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelYigal Allon Fellow

Michael Elbaum, Ph.D., University of Seattle, Seattle, United StatesIncumbent of the Delta Career Development Chair

Ernesto Joselevich, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelYigal Allon Fellow

Igor Lubomirsky, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Rivka Maoz, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelRonit Popovitz-Biro, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIsabelle Weissbuch, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Alexander Vaskevich, Ph.D., Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, Moscow, Russian Federation

Special Contracts

Grigorii Leitus, Ph.D., Metallurgy Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation

Rita Rosentsveig, Ph.D., Leningrad Technological Institute, Russian FederationIlija Zon, Ph.D., Academy of Science USSR, Moscow, Russian Federation

Consultants

Anna Albu-Yaron, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, IsraelVladimir Alperovich, Negev Torenado Ltd., Sde-Boker, IsraelHaim Grunbaum, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel (left June 2001)Zeev Porat, Nuclear Research Center, Negev, Israel

Visiting Scientists

Daniel Frankel, University of ST Andrews , Fife, ScotlandMark Frogley, University of London, UKShantang Liu, University of Beijing, PR ChinaJaya P. Nair, University of Bhopal , Madhya . Pradesh, IndiaYuan Yao-Feng, University of Zaragoza, Spain



Fausi Abed El-Al, Ph.D., University of Clausthal, GermanyCoralie Alonso, Ph.D., Joseph Fourier University - Grenoble I, FranceRoy Bar-Ziv, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelAsa Hilton Barber, Ph.D., University of London, Imperial College, United KingdomCarole Cooper, Ph.D., University of Manchester, United KingdomKevin Dobson, Ph.D., University of Otago, New-ZealandDaniel Frankel, Ph.D., University of St. Andrews, Scotland, United KingdomMark Frogley, Ph.D., University of London, United KingdomNir Gov, Ph.D., Technion, IsraelRichard Gurney, Ph.D., Purdue University, USAStephanie Hoeppener, Ph.D., W.W.University of Muenster, GermanyNir Kampf, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelShantang Liu, Ph.D., Peking University, ChinaJaya Parameswaran Nair, Ph.D., Barkatullah University, IndiaJayakrishnan Ramchan Nair, Ph.D., Barkatullah University, IndiaYoram Selzer, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelDengguo Wu, Ph.D., Peking University, ChinaHelmut Zepik, Ph.D., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology-ETH, Switzerland

Research Students

Asmahan Abu ArishIfat AshiriAlisa BandMaya Bar-SadanRonith BullerAvi CaspiIlanit Doron-MorRan EliashNeta Filip GranitMichal Finegoldziv GefenJamal GhabbounGuy HedAriel IsmajGregory KalyuzhnyAurelie Lachish-ZalaitDmitry LukatskyAlexander MargolinElena Naiman-Poverenov

Matti OronDiana RavichUri RavivYaron Rozenfeld HacohenIrit Ruach NirSven RuhleHanna SalmanAdi SalomonShaibal K. SarkarChristoph SchuffenhauerTali SehayekInna SolomonovNatalia StavitskiMao TangZvi TlustyTatyana TsirlinaAyelet VilanIris Visoly FisherPalle Von Huth

Materials and Interfaces 91

Meni Wanunu Qing Zhao
Shira Yochelis Gov-AryAlla Zak
Anton Zilman

Administrator

Zelu Itzicovitch

Organic Chemistry

David Milstein, HeadThe Israel Matz Professor of Organic Chemistry

The research in the Department of Organic Chemistry spans a wide range of topics, includingsynthetic-, organometallic-, polymer-, biorganic-, biological- and computational chemistry.

New synthetic methods based on free radical reactions and on the newly invented "temporarysulfur connection", which permits the control of regioselectivity and stereoselectivity, arebeing developed by Mario Bachi and applied to the synthesis of physiologically activecompounds. Neuroactive (-)-( )-kainic acid and potent antimalarial endoperoxide sulfoneshave been prepared.The mechanism by which endoperoxides kill malarial parasites is beingstudied.

Electron-rich complexes of transition metals, capable of insertion and activation of some of thestrongest bonds are being developed by David Milstein. The selective insertion of a metal intoa simple carbon-carbon bond presents new prospects for selective hydrocarbonfunctionalization. Activation of N-H and O-H bonds opens new directions for the selective useof ammonia and water. Facile activation of bonds to carbon by specifically-designedcomplexes has led to new catalytic reactions of significance to the chemical andpharmaceutical industries, including highly efficient carbon-carbon bond formation. A newapproach towards catalysis based on the ordering of metal complexes in thin films has beendemonstrated (with Meir Lahav, Materials and Interfaces). The use of metals for thegeneration, stabilization and controlled release of biologically relevant, unstable organictransients is being studied.

Soluble metal oxide clusters termed polyoxometalates are being investigated and developed ashomogeneous oxidation catalysts by Ronny Neumann. Polyoxometalates have the ability toactivate environmentally benign oxygen donors such as molecular oxygen, hydrogen peroxide,nitrous oxide and ozone. In the presence of hydrocarbons, selective oxidation reactions can becarried out. Catalytic oxidation reactions which are being investigated include the epoxidationof alkenes, the hydroxylation of alkanes, oxydehydrogenation of alcohols and other substratesand oxyhalogenation. Mechanistic and kinetic studies using a large variety of spectroscopicand chromatographic techniques allow the identification of active intermediates, thedetermination of different modes of activation of oxygen donors and the preparation ofimproved catalysts.

α

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94 Organic Chemistry

Metal binding ligands and polymers are being developed by Abraham Warshawsky to be used:as drugs, to reduce the level of toxic radicals and for the treatment of Parkinson's disease; ascatalysts for the synthesis of herbicides, amino acid analogs, CO2 fixation and chemicalstorage of hydrogen; to remove toxic metal ions from the environment. Photochromic anddiagnostic membranes are being developed. Combinatorial research is used towards thediscovery of polymeric active drugs in cancer diagnosis and the synthesis oforganophosphorous neurotransmitters.

Hypericin is a highly potent anticancer agent with cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity. Anumber of hypericin analogs, which vary in their ability to enter into the cells and generatesinglet oxygen, have been synthesized by Yehuda Mazur and are being evaluated (with GadLavie, Sadick Hazan,Tel Hashomer Hospital).

Biological activity of visual pigments and bacteriorhodopsin is related to a photocycle duringwhich both the retinal and the opsin moieties undergo a series of structural changes. Themolecular changes and their correlation with the corresponding biological functions are ofprimary importance. The use of artificial pigments, model compounds and spectroscopicmethods by Mudi Sheves has resulted in the clarification of the role that single and doublebonds play in the photocycle; protein-chromophore interactions in the binding site; and therole of water and light in retinal protein activity.

In Abraham Shanzer's group the principles of biomimetic chemistry are being applied for thesynthesis of bioactive molecules with emphasis on iron-carriers that are recognized bymicrobial membrane receptors and consequently transported into living cells. When labeledwith fluorescent markers, these carriers provide diagnostic tools. When linked to cytotoxicagents, they are envisioned as a new generation of anti microbial agents. The molecule-basedtechnologies investigated by Avi Shanzer include: (a) preparation of molecules with desiredoptical, electronic and magnetic properties, and with their assembly on gold surfaces (withIsrael Rubinstein, Materials and Interfaces); (b) modification of semiconductor properties byadsorption of tailor made organic molecules (with David Cahen, Materials and Interfaces andRon Naaman, Chemical Physics). The resulting organic-inorganic hybrids provide molecularsensors for light and metal ions.

The structure, function and thermal stability of thermophilic enzymes are being studied byYigal Burstein, aiming at understanding the mechanisms of adaptation of enzymes to extremeenvironment and for designing novel enzymes for biotransformations in organic chemistry. Afamily of highly homologous alcohol dehydrogenases that span the phenotypic range oftemperature in microorganisms, is investigated. Structural elements conferring thermalstability were identified and analyzed employing genetic engineering methods.

Chemical, biological and clinical studies of modulatory peptides including immunomodulatorantibacterial anticancer and neuroactive compounds are being carried out by Mati Fridkin.Novel technologies for drug delivery and stabilization are being developed.

Design, synthesis, structure and function of novel HIV-1 inhibitors, targeted againsttranscription transactivator protein (Tat)-aminoglycoside-arginine conjugates (AACs) are

Organic Chemistry 95

being studied by Aviva Lapidot with the aim of understanding the mechanisms of inhibition ofthe diversity functions of Tat protein, which might be critical for anti-AIDS strategies. Thisnew class of components revealed antiviral activity in cell cultures and inhibited viral-host cellfusion, as well as binding to TAR-RNA (with G. Borkow, Kaplan Hospital and J. Este, Spain).

DNA organization and survival under stress is being studied by Avi Minsky. Morphologicalchanges that occur within living cells, following their exposure to various stress conditions arebeing studied by electron microscopy and X-ray scattering. Under such conditions, genomicDNA undergoes either a spontaneous or a protein-promoted phase transition into highlypacked and ordered structures in which the DNA molecules are sequestered and effectivelyprotected. A new and general mode of protection through biocrystallization is indicated. Thestructural properties of stress-induced DNA-binding proteins that are involved in thesestructural transitions are being studied. Ultrasensitive calorimetrical methods are used toassess the effects of the large intracellular crowding and viscosity upon the thermodynamicfeatures of interactions between macromolecules, such as DNA and proteins.

The structure and function in pre-mRNA splicing of large nuclear ribonucleoprotein particlesis being studied by Yossi Sperling. Large nuclear ribonucleoprotein (lnRNP) particles wereisolated, visualized, and characterized. The isolated lnRNP particle is a huge macromolecularassembly that contains, in addition to pre-mRNA, all known components required for its post-transcriptional processing (capping, polyadenylation, editing and splicing). Hence, it can beregarded as representing the nuclear RNA processing machinery. The function and structure ofthese particles is being investigated in order to achieve a better understanding of cellular keyregulatory mechanisms pertaining to RNA processing, and particularly to pre-mRNA The computational chemistry group of Jan (Gershom) Martin is engaged both in thedevelopment of highly accurate ab initio computational thermochemistry methods (W1 andW2 theory) and in the methodology and applications of density functional theory, with aparticular focus on organometallic reaction mechanisms relevant to homogenous catalysis.Theoretical vibrational spectroscopy beyond the harmonic approximation and basis setdevelopment (the SDB-cc-pVnZ basis sets) are subsidiary research interests.


Professors

Mario D. Bachi, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusaelm, Jerusalem, Israel (on extension of service) The Charles and Charlotte Krown Professor of Medicinal Chemistry

Yigal Burstein, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Maynard I. and Elaine Wishner Professor of Bio-Organic Chemistry and Malignant Diseases Research

Mati Fridkin, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Lester B. Pearson Professor of Protein Research

David Milstein, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe Israel Matz Professor of Organic Chemistry


Abraham Shanzer, Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Charlotsville, United StatesThe Siegfried and Irman Ullmann Professor

Mordechai Sheves, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Ephraim Katzir-Rao Makineni Professor of Chemistry

Joseph Sperling, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Hilda Pomeraniec Memorial Professor of Organic Chemistry

Professors Emeriti

Valeri A. Krongauz, Ph.D., L.Y. Karpov Physical Chemistry Institute, Moscow, Russian Federation

Aviva Lapidot, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelDavid Lavie, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelYehuda Mazur, Dr.sc.tech., E.T.H, Zurich, SwitzerlandAbraham Patchornik, Ph.D., The Hebrew Univesity of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel


Gershom (Jan) Martin, Ph.D., University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, BelgiumIncumbent of the Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Career Development Chair (until November 2001)

Abraham Minsky, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelRonny Neumann, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelAbraham Warshawsky, Ph.D., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (deceased

November 2001) The Rebecca and Israel Sieff Professor of Organic Chemistry (until November 2001)


Rina Arad-Yellin, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelAlexander M. Khenkin, Ph.D., Academy of Science, Russian FederationLeonid Konstantinovskii, Ph.D., Rostov University, Rostov on Don, Russian FederationMoshe Peretz, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Assistant Staff Scientist

Edward E. Korshin, Ph.D., Kazan State University, Russian Federation

Consultants

Herzel Ben-Hur, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel (left December 2001)Isaak Bilkis, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot, Israel (left July 2001)Virginia Buchner

Organic Chemistry 97

Shlomo Dukler (left July 2001)Amihai EisenstadtGary Gellerman, Peptor Ltd., Rishon-Lezion, Israel Jonathan Gershoni, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel (left December 2001)Michael Gozin, Collgard Biopharmacenticals Ltd., Israel (left December 2001)Alfred Hessner, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, IsraelZvi Landau, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel (left October 2001)Oleg Marder, Luxembourg Ind. Ltd., Tel-Aviv, IsraelBrenda Mester, Lapid Pharmazetikal Ltd., Israel Shulamit Michaeli, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, IsraelAaron Palmon, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (left December 2001)Ehud Shchori, ES Polymers, Bet-Elazari, Israel (left December 2001)

Visiting Scientists

Daniel A. Boese, University of Cambridge, UKAlexandre Chif, Chromtec, Rehovot, IsraelAmiram Hirshfeld, Nat. Police Headquarters, IsraelAndre Lucassen, University of Nijmegen, NederlandKyaw Myo Naing, University of Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)Michiel Van Vliet, Tech. University of Delft, NederlandGregor Wille, University of Munich, Germany


Nissan Ashkenazi, Ph.D., Technion, IsraelDaniel Boese, Ph.D., University of Cambridge, United KingdomRegis Michael Gauvin, Ph.D., Universite Louis Pasteur, FranceDominik Thomas Hermann, Ph.D., Max-Planck Institut, GermanyInna Levin, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelAndre Lucassen, Ph.D., University of Nijmegen, The NetherlandsU. Kyaw Myo Naing, Ph.D., University of Yangon, MyanmarStephan Reinhard Oevers, Ph.D., Max-Planck Institut, GermanyShai Rahimipour, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelAndrew Shchavlev, Ph.D., Saratov State University, RussiaEyal Shimoni, Ph.D., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology-ETH, SwitzerlandParthiban Srinivasan, Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science, IndiaMilko Erik Van der Boom, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelMichiel C. A. Van Vliet, Ph.D., Delft University of Technology, The NetherlandsVeerappan Vijayabaskar, Ph.D., Madurai Kamaraj University, IndiaYing Wang, Ph.D., Hunan University, ChinaGregor Franz W. Wille, Ph.D., University of Munich, Germany


Research Students

Ovadia AbedAmir AharoniGonen AshkenasyIzik Bar-NahumEyal Ben-AriRevital Ben-DanielYaroslav V. BilokinKeren CarmiRevital CohenTali DadoshDavid DangoorReto DortaTamar EliashJoseph EnglanderDaphna Frenkiel-KrispinMark GandelmanEdi GoichbergRoman GoikhmanRivka GoobesFan GuibaoShelley HaberAdina HaimovSagit HindiMark IronBerith IsaacHagit Kornreich-Leshem

Smadar Levin-ZidmannAlexander LitovchickGalia MaayanDavid MarguliesOhad MedaliaMichael MeijlerGal MeiriGalina MelmanKeren Mevorat KaplanMichael MontagShai RahimipourIlana RogachevNoa RubinBoris RybtchinskiRinat Sack-RenerDorit SlobodaAlex SzpilmanBoaz TiroshHaim TsuberyMaxym VasylyevHaim WeissmannGalit YahalomEylon YavinUri ZadokHailin Zheng

Administrator

Asher Bar-On

Structural Biology

Amnon Horovitz, Head The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Biochemistry

Ångstroms The Department is committed to research in the major areas of structural biologyand is investigating biological systems from the atomic to the cellular level of organization.The ultimate goal is to obtain a complete picture of biological structures in their complexity,with a continuity at all length scales, from Ångstroms to millimeters. The structures ofbiological macromolecules and their complexes are studied at the length scale of Ångstromsby X-ray diffraction from crystals, and in solution by advanced spectroscopic techniques suchas nuclear magnetic resonance and EXAFS. Electron microscopy, electron tomography andatomic force miscroscopy are imaging techniques that span the range between nanometers andmicrons, from single molecules to macromolecular assemblies and whole tissue organization.

The elucidation of the relations between structure and function of key components in mainbiological pathways is one of the generalized goals of the research conducted in theDepartment. One such pathway is the translation of the genetic code from DNA to proteins. Ahighlight of the past year has been the continued progress in determination of differentribosome structures also in complex with antibiotics. (The highlight of the year is thedetermination of the structure of the small ribosomal unit at 3.3Å resolution). These mostsignificant achievements crown the titanic efforts of tens of years of research aimed atelucidating the structure and mechanism of action of ribosomes. Ribosomes are giant particlescomposed of RNA and more than 50 proteins that are the principal protein synthesismachinery of the cell. The mechanism of translation of the code into proteins is alsoinvestigated by X-ray crystallography of tRNA synthetases and their complexes. Additionalresearch in this area includes work on helicases that unwind RNA, analysis of the theoreticallinguistic aspects of the code itself and elucidation of the 3-D structure of DNA and of DNA-protein complexes. Chaperone-assisted protein folding constitutes the last _station_ in thepathway.

Structural and dynamical aspects of enzyme and protein function and recognition constituteanother focal point of activity. Examples are studies on the mechanism of acetylcholinesterase,a key enzyme in the transmission of nerve impulses, on proteins regulating membrane-fusionand virus entry into the cell and on protein-saccharide complexes. Antibody-antigenrecognition is studied using NMR and the tools of molecular biology to unravel the energeticcontributions of single interactions, and through antibodies interacting with monolayer andcrystal surfaces.

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100 Structural Biology

Studies on the relations between organic and mineral components and between structure,function and mechanical properties of mineralized tissues including bone, teeth, shells andmany others, are performed over the whole range of hierarchical organizations. Thedevelopment of new techniques in Archeological Chemistry provides information abouthuman life conditions and technologies in prehistoric times.

The X-ray and NMR facilities are now state-of-the-art. A major upgrade is on the way in theelectron microscopy facility, with the addition of two high resolution transmission electronmicroscopes and an environmental field emission scanning electron microscope.


Professors

Lia Addadi, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Dorothy and Patrick Gorman Professor

Jacob Anglister, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Joseph and Ruth Owades Professor of Chemistry

Joel L. Sussman, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United StatesEdward Trifonov, Ph.D., Moscow Physico-Technical Institute, Russian Federation

The Judith Kleeman Professor of Molecular Biophysics Stephen Weiner, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States

The Walter and Dr. Trude Brochardt Professor of Structural Biology Ada E. Yonath, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Martin S. Kimmel Professor

Professors Emeriti

Henryk Eisenberg, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelWolfie Traub, Ph.D., University of London, London, United Kingdom


Amnon Horovitz, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe Carl and Dorothy Bennett Professor of Biochemistry

Karol A. Muszkat, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe Henry and Bertha Benson Professor

Mark Safro, Ph.D., Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow, Russian FederationThe Lee and William Abramowitz Professor of Macromolecular Biophysics

Zippora Shakked, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Helena Rubinstein Professor of Structural Biology

Structural Biology 101

Senior Scientists

Deborah Fass, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United StatesIncumbent of the Lilian and George Lyttle Career Development Chair

Aaron J. Gilboa (Kalb), Ph.D., University of California, Davis, United StatesIrit Sagi, Ph.D., Georgetown University, Washington, United States

Incumbent of the Robert Edward and Roselyn Rich Manson Career Development Chair


Ilana Agmon, Ph.D., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel


Naama Kessler, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Junior Staff Scientists

Harry-Mark Greenblatt, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelMaggie Kessler, Ph.D., University of North London, United KingdomAnat Zaytzev-Bashan, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Special Contract

Dmitry Tvorovski, Ph.D., Pyatigorsk State Pharmaceutical Academy, Pyatigorsk, Russian Federation

Consultants

Felix Frolow, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelYehuda Goldgur, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, IsraelBernard Green, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (left December 2001)Eva Meirovitch, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel (left December 2001)Moshe Mevarech (left December 2001)Uriel Olsher, Ministry of Defense, Haifa, Israel (left December 2001)Yitzhak Orion, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, IsraelGiora Sömjen (left December 2001)Emanuel Yakobson, Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, IsraelAnat Zvi, Research Institute of Biology, Nes-Ziona, Israel


Visiting Scientists

Francesco Berna, University of Florence, ItalySonia Hernandez-Barra, Wayne State University, U.S.A.Michael Levitt, Ph.D., University of Cambridge, EnglandClive Trueman, National Museum of Natural History, U.S.A.Veerappan Vijayabaskar, Madurai University , Tamil Nadu, India


Igor Berezovsky, Ph.D., Russian Academy of Sciences, RussiaFrancesco Berna, Ph.D., University of Florence, ItalySimone Botti, Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelSilvina Federman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelMaggie Kessler, Ph.D., University of North London, United KingdomCsilla Nemes, Ph.D., Budapest University, HungaryAnne Nicolas, Ph.D., Mediterrannean University, FranceEdwin Harold Rydberg, Ph.D., The University of British Columbia, CanadaFauzi Silbak, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelIngrid Maria Weiss, Ph.D., Technical University of Munich, GermanyDawn Mae Wong, Ph.D., University of Salford, United Kingdom

Research Students

Amnon AmirDana BaramDeborah BartfeldZohar BironSimone BottiJordan ChillIlit Cohen-OpriOded DanzigerBareket DassaHay DvirRivka ElbaumArtem G. EvdokimovRoman FishmanYael FridmannMerav Geva-MelamudBat ami GotlivArnon GrafitGalit Greber-KafriEinav Gross

Arnon HennItamar KassMalka KitaynerOded KleifeldOlga KoganEugene KolkerElizaveta KossoyYael LeviAvital LevyGregory LinshizRosemarie MacionCameel MakhoulRoni MashiachVictor NeduvaRachel PachimaSabine QuadtSefi RazOsnat RosenGabriel Rosenblum

Structural Biology 103

Avraham Olivier Samson Ariel Solomon
Dadi SegalNetta SelaMichal SharonDavid ShayaLiat ShimonRoy Sirkis
Oded SuadRaz ZarivachPaul ZaslanskyTzviya Zeev Ben-MordehaiElla Zimmerman

Administrator

Asher Bar-On

Solar Research Facilities Unit

Lia Addadi, Scientist-in-Charge The Dorothy and Patrick Gorman Chair

Michael Epstein, Head

A main project of the Unit is the 73-m2 hyperboloidal reflector, which was completed andannexed to the Solar Tower at around 40 m above the ground in 1999, and is now beingutilized for beam-down optics. The heliostats on the field concentrate the solar energy on thetower reflector, which directs this energy down to the ground through a funnel-likeconcentrating device (compound parabolic concentrator - CPC). This is the world largest non-imaging secondary concentrator. It is aimed at providing approximately 600 kW of solarenergy concentrated to a level of 4500 kW/m2.

The experimental setup is to be used at the first stage for testing a 500-kW high pressure/hightemperature solar/air receiver, which was constructed and assembled within the framework ofthe CONSOLAR program, and the experiments continue as scheduled.

The bench-scale thermochemical reactor tests, aimed at the development of a high-temperaturesolar system for the production of hydrogen and zinc via solar carbothermal reduction of zincoxide, were accomplished after four consecutive years of arduous efforts. The results laid thebasis of a proposal submitted to the European Commission to upscale the system. The proposalwas already accepted and with the collaboration of major European research institutes, theproject will start in early 2002.

An extensive experimental study was undertaken in order to determine the capabilities andlimitations of the Tornado flow configuration as a gasdynamic method for protection of a solarreactor quartz window against destruction caused by deposition of incandescent solid particleson its surface. The dependence of the Tornado flow characteristics on Ekman number has beendemonstrated and the value of the transition Ekman number was established, beyond which theregular Tornado configuration degenerates into a diffuse flow pattern.

In the framework of the project of production of hydrogen and carbon black by solar thermalsplitting of methane, the study of enhanced absorption of radiation in the gas in the reactionzone by seeding of fine solid particles has been intensified. A simulation test program ispresently being conducted in the laboratory. Gas flowing in a Tornado configuration in thesolar reactor model is seeded with carbon black powder, which is entrained in a secondary gas

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stream. The objective of these tests is the establish an envelope of parameters, such as mainand carrier gas flowrates, carbon black injection speed, appropriate location of carbon blackinjection port and angular coordinates of the injected carbon black carrier stream, for whichsuccessful seeding of gas inside the reactor cavity can be accomplished without any powderdeposition on the reactor window.

Another significant undertaking, aimed at solar reforming of low hydrocarbons with steam inan open cycle, within the framework of the EU/JOULE program, is going on, with the purposeof burning carbon monoxide and hydrogen mixture directly into an adapted gas turbine, inorder to generate up to 300 kW of electricity. The experimental system was accomplished andsolar testing was initiated. This activity is performed in cooperation with the DeutschesZentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt eV (DLR), Stuttgart, Germany.

Two new projects, supported by the Israel Ministry of National Infrastructures, have beenstarted: the conversion of the air receiver to a chemical reactor by applying an innovativecatalytic system on its ceramic configuration, and the gasification of dispersed biomassparticles in a continuous phase of molten salt.

Research Staff

Professor

Lia Addadi1, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Dorothy and Patrick Gorman Professor


Akiba Segal, Ph.D., Jassy University, Romania


Roman Adinberg, Ph.D., Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian FederationAlexander Berman, Ph.D., Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation

Special Contract

Irina Vishnevetsky, Ph.D., Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation

Engineers

Rami Ben-Zvi, M.Sc., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, IsraelMichael Epstein, B.A., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

1Department of Structural Biology

Solar Research Facilities Unit 107

Itzhak Levy, B.A., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, IsraelDoron Lieberman, M.Sc., Ben-Gurion Univesity of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

Visiting Scientist

Abraham Kogan, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

108 Solar Research Facilities Unit

Chemical Services

Mordechai Sheves, Head

Chemical Services, comprising seven major units, offers advanced and routine facilities foranalytical and preparative chemical techniques to Institute scientists. Each unit is headed by aResearch Fellow or a Staff Scientist and is operated by qualified technical staff. Thedevelopment program for Chemical Services and its mode of operation is supervised by UsersCommittees and by scientific advisers.

The NMR Unit (People in Charge: Raphael Poupko and Peter Bendel)

The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Unit comprises four laboratories equipped with highresolution Fourier transform NMR spectrometers ranging from 250-500 MHz. The low-fieldNMR instrument (Bruker WH-250) is used primarily for routine identification and standardwork with small organic molecules. The Bruker AMX-400 system was upgraded during 1998to the "Advance DMX" version. It includes three probes: A selective 5 mm proton probe withhighest sensitivity for biological systems and 2D measurements; a 5 mm automatic QNPprobe, switchable by computer for 1H, 19F, 31P and 13C nuclei, and a 10 mm multinuclearprobe covering the range Ag to P. It mainly serves scientists in the Department of OrganicChemistry and provides a modern facility for their analyses. The high-field NMR instrument,Bruker AM-500, was used mainly for specialized research, including 2D NMR andbiologically oriented work. The instrument is equipped with dedicated NMR probes for 1H,2H, 13C, 15N, and 31P measurements, as well as for "inverse" experiments, and a 13C CP-MASS probe.

In addition, a Bruker 400-DMX widebore spectrometer is used for NMR microscopic imaging.Spectroscopic capabilities include 1H and broad band multi nuclei probes and an automaticQNP probe, switchable by computer. Imaging is provided by two systems: a microscopy probeincludes actively shielded gradients (up to 200 G/cm) with 5 mm rf coils for 1H, 1H/13C and1H/31P. A microimaging probe with actively shielded gradients (up to 20 G/cm) includes a 5cm birdcage 1H coil and is used for imaging samples of 5 mm-3 cm (including small mice).NMR measurements can be performed with cardiac or respiratory gating. The spectrometer isused mainly for research in biology for non-invasive physiological and metabolicmeasurements of small samples.

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110 Chemical Services

The Biospec laboratory contains an NMR spectrometer (Bruker) based on a 4.7 Tesla magnetwith a 30 cm horizontal bore. The system was upgraded during 1996 to the "Advance DBX"version with fully broadband dual-channel operation, self-shielded gradients and anassortment of resonators and surface coils with active coil detuning for crossed-coil operation.The system performs NMR spectroscopy and imaging experiments on animals, plant systemsand other large and heterogeneous samples and specimens. It is being used by researchers fromthe Chemistry and Biology faculties for investigating tumors implanted in mice, models forangiogenesis of tumor blood vessels, spinal cord vessels, spinal cord damage and its treatmentin rats, and characterizing flow and transport in porous media in three-dimensional rockfracture models.

The 800 MHz high-resolution spectrometer (Bruker, DRX Avance-800) provides access to thehighest magnetic field currently available of commercial spectrometers, enabling state-of-the-art high-resolution experiments for macromolecular structure determination. The accessoriesinclude a multi-nuclear TXI probe with z gradient (15N, 13C, 1H, 5mm), a multi-nuclear QXIprobe with x, y and z gradients (15N, 13C, 31P, 1H, 5mm), and two solid-statte MASS probescovering both low and high multi-nuclear frequency ranges.

The ESR Unit (Person in Charge: Lev Weiner)

The Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) Unit is equipped with a Bruker ER 200 D-SRCspectrometer (9.5 GHz, X band). The various measurement techniques of radicals andparamagnetic ion in a solid state and in solutions is available at a wide range of temperatures.

The ESR Unit provides consultation and training for scientists interested in techniques for thedetection and quantitation of oxidative stress in chemical and biological systems.

A novel spin-tapping technique has been developed for quantitating and monitoring thekinetics of appearance of short lived reactive oxygen species and carbon-centered radicals inchemical, photochemical and biological systems. The technique can also be used to distinguishbetween the various reactive oxygen species, which include superoxide and hydroxyl (OH)radicals, as well as singlet oxygen (1O2). The ESR technique is applicable to stronglyscattering and stained systems, such as organ homogenates and cell cultures.

A novel ESR approach has been developed for the quantitative determination of sulfhydrylgroups (down to 10-12 moles) in chemical and biological systems.

The Mass-Spectrometry and Chemical Analysis Unit (Person in Charge: AryeTishbee)

The Chemical Analysis Laboratory, provides training, consultation and method developmentfor separation, purification, and isolation of a wide range of organic compounds by GasChromatography, Mass Spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),Amino Acids, Atomic Absorption spectrophotometry, and Micro RAMAN analysis, units.

Chemical Services 111

The Micro RAMAN unit provides micro Raman measurements, using 780 nm and or 633nmlaser excitation, magnification range from x5 to x100, for a verity of samples, includingtemperature controlled stage with operating range of - 200 to + 500 Celsius.

Available equipment: Renishaw Micro Raman Imaging Microscope Controlled via a PC basesoftware, with temperature control, moving xyz stage, dual lasers 633 and 780nm, and Grams2c spectral manipulation software.

The Mass Spectrometry Unit provides mass spectra for the determination of molecular weightsand structure elucidation of organic compounds up to 4000AMU including labile metalcomplexes, and for Peptides and proteins up approx. 40,000AMU Detection limit approx. 50pg.

Analyses of complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds up to 1000 AM with, systempeak matching and library search and MS/MS capability. Detection Limit approx. 10pg.

Available equipment: HPLC - MS Micromass ZMD 4000 Mass Spectrometer equipped withESI and APCI probes for Electrospray and APCI analysis. Connected to a MassLynx datastation. High Sensitivity GCQ Polaris Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer with MS/MScapabilities for volatile compound, connected to Xcalibur data station equipped with NISTLibrary search capabilities.

The Amino Acid Analyzer Unit provides qualitative and quantitative Analysis of protein andpeptide hydrolyzates. Detection Rage of 100-3000 pmoles, using OPA and FMOC pre columnderivatization, monitoring at UV, using reverse phase separation. Detection range of 5 - 3000pmole using AccQ.Tag pre column derivatization and monitoring Fluorescent emission.

Available equipment: Waters PicoTag Work Station for gas phase Hydrolysis Hewlet Packard1090 HPLC equipped with Diode array Detector and autoinjector with a PC basedChemstation database, utilizing Amino Quant chemistry for the analysis. Waters 2690Alliance HPLC equipped with fluorescence and Diode Array detectors and autoinjector ,utilizing AccQ.Tag and or Pico Tag chemistries for the analysis of Hydrolizates and somephysiological Amino acids.

The Atomic Absorption unit provides Analysis for a verity of elements in sensitivity of fewmg/L depending on the analyte, a wide range of lamps is available for different elements. BothFlame and Graphite Oven atomizers are available.

Available equipment: Perkin Elmer 5100 atomic absorption unit equipped with HGA Graphitefurnace, and PC based gem software to control the instrument.

The X-Ray Crystallography Unit (People in Charge: Linda Shimon and Ellen J.Wachtel)

The Unit for X-ray Crystallography offers facilities for advanced chemical, biochemical,physical, and geophysical research. The service provides crystal structure solution and


refinement of atomic parameters, training for users interested in crystallographic computingand consultation for growing crystals suitable for X-ray analysis. The measurements of organicand organometallic materials are performed either at LN or ambient temperatures using aNonius KappaCCD diffractometer mounted on a FR590 generator Mo radiation.Measurements may also be performed on a Nonius Mach3 Kappa diffractometer mounted on aFR590 generator with Cu radiation. Inorganic materials are measured on a Rigaku AFC5R 4circle diffractometer mounted on a Rigaku RU300 rotating anode with Ag radiation.

Macromolecular crystallographic measurements are made on two systems. One, a state-of-the-art R-Axis4++ image plate detector mounted on a Rigaku rotating anode generator equippedwith Osmic confocal focusing mirrors. This system is also outfitted with a 2-theta stageallowing high resolution data collection. The second system is an R-AxisIIc image platedetector mounted on a Rigaku rotating anode generator with Osmic confocal mirrors. Bothsystems are equipped with Oxford cryostream cooling systems for low temperaturemeasurements.

The Low Angle X-Ray Scattering Laboratory is intended for use by scientists studying thesolution structure of macromolecules or partially organized systems, such as microemulsions,liquid crystals, and natural and synthetic polymeric fibers. A modified Rigaku low-anglecamera used in conjunction with a one-dimensional linear position sensitive detector isprovided for isotropic materials; a Searle camera with Franks optics and an Imaging Platedetector is used for samples displaying anisotropic patterns. Software is provided forcalculating Guinier fits and Patterson-like functions and for the Hayter-Penfold method fordetermining structure factors for macroion solutions. Simple modeling programs are alsoavailable.

The X-Ray Powder Diffractometry Laboratory makes available for general use the Rigaku D/Max-B automated powder diffractometer interfaced to a DECpc 433dxlp computer.Attachments are provided for high temperature measurements and automated handling of largenumbers of samples. A variable temperature cell for capillary specimens is also available. TheIBM software package includes peak finding, unit cell constant determination and SEARCH/MATCH with the on-line Powder Diffraction File database.

Spectroscopy Unit

Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy consists of a Nicolet 460 single beam infrared Fourier transformspectrophotometer (FTIR) fully operated by a Nicolet computer (512K RAM, 13" high-resolution color monitor) equipped with two internal 3.5 inch disk drives for programming anddata storage. The optical bench provides a maximal resolution of 2 cm-1 over the completespectral range from 4000 to 400 cm-1 and contains a sample compartment built especially forintroducing various IR accessories, such as gas cell, ATR, and so forth. This equipment issuitable for a large variety of analytical IR applications, offering high sensitivity andphotometric accuracy and computerized data manipulation capabilities.


In addition, the Spectrometry Unit provides facilities for measuring optical absorption, opticalrotatory dispersion (ORD) and circular dichroism (CD) at a wavelength range of 180-1000 nmand at a temperature range of -190_C to 70_C.

Available equipment: Aviv Model 202 spectropolarimeter, UV-visible diode arrayspectrophotometer, Beckman DU-7500.

The Unit for Radioactive Counting provides facilities for scintillation counting of -radioactive sources. The unit is equipped with a Beckman Model LS7500 -scintillationcounter.

The Surface Analysis Unit (Person in Charge: Sidney Cohen)

The surface analysis group provides the means for a variety of surface-sensitivemeasurements. These include chemical composition of the exposed atomic layers, atomicscale surface topography, electronic and mechanical surface properties, and detection ofadsorbed molecules.The various units of this group are housed in two laboratories and includefacilities for rudimentary sample preparation and cleaning, such as ozone cleaner, clean hood,and so forth.

The Ultrahigh Vacuum Unit is a multifaceted system for surface analyses at pressures below10-9 torr. The main analysis chamber includes a Kratos Axis HS photoelectron spectrometer,which detects elements and determines their chemical state on the surface at depths up to 3 nmwith sensitivity of 0.1%. The system includes an ultraviolet lamp for valence bandmeasurements, monochromator for high resolution work, ion gun for sputtering the surface,and flood gun for insulating samples. In addition, an electron gun for performing electronenergy loss spectroscopy has been installed. A second vacuum chamber attached to theanalysis chamber contains a VG Low Energy Electron Diffractometer to determine the surfacecrystalline state, and scanning tunneling microscope (Omicron) for atomic-scale structure.

The Scanned Probe Microscopy Unit contains three separate scanning tunneling/scanningforce microscopes (Digital Instruments Nanoscope, NT-MOT P47/LS and TopometrixTMX2010) that enable determination of surface topography and mechanical and electricalproperties at resolutions ranging from tens of microns down to atomic scale. Liquid cells and agas inlet allow working in different media and under controlled humidity.

The Surface-Sensitive Infrared Unit consists of a Bruker IS66 Fourier Transform InfraredSpectrometer fitted with both DTGS and MCT detectors for a range of system throughputs.The stardard KBr beamsplitter can be switched with a Mylar beamsplitter, allowing access tothe far IR spectral region (down to 150 wavenumbers). Surface studies are enhanced by theuse of a grazing angle external reflection attachment and attenuated total reflectionattachment, both of which enable obtaining clean spectra of a single monolayer in minutes.

ββ


Electron Microscopy Unit (Person in Charge: Konstantin Gartzman)

The staff of the Electron Microscopy Unit provides analytical services to all of the departmentsof the Weizmann Institute and other institutes, and helps scientists to carry out their ownresearch using the units equipment. The unit provides on-the-spot practical training in electronmicroscopy and sample preparation.

For general applications, there are two scanning (SEM) microscopes, one of them with a newmicromanipulator and Electron Beam Induced Current (EBIC) imaging system, and dedicatedfor materials science and another Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) withField Emission Gun (FEG) that provides high resolution imaging for both biology and materialscience in high and low vacuum environment, one transmission (TEM) instrument, equippedwith a cryo-holder for low-temperature work. There are also three general elemental analysisfacilities (EDS - energy-dispersive analysis of electron-induced X ray fluorescence) attachedto these three microscopes. One more high resolution TEM dedicated to material science isable to obtain images with atomic resolution and is equipped with Electron Energy LossSpectroscopy tool for analytical purposes. For samples of biological interest there are threemore TEMs, two of which are equipped for low-temperature applications as well as havingdigital slow-scan cameras (CCDs) for low-dose work. The newest cryo-capable TEM alsoincludes a completely computer-controlled sample stage and high-resolution CCD, forautomated tomographic applications. In addition, various pieces of auxiliary equipment forsample preparation are available in the unit. These include polishing apparatus, dimpling andion milling machines, sputter, and physical evaporation apparatus, a critical point dryer, andseveral ultramicrotomes. The EM unit is also equipped for conventional as well as low-temperature preparation of biological samples and immuno-labeling. There is equipment forcryo-applications such as high-pressure freezing, cryo-plunging, freeze substitution and cryo-sectioning. Image processing facilities include Unix workstations, and several Macintosh andPC computers, with advanced software for image analysis, 3-D reconstruction andvisualization. A laser optical bench allows for quantitative analysis of negatives, and there isone high-resolution scanner for digitization of images.

The Molecular Modeling Unit (Person in Charge: Miriam Eisenstein)

This unit offers diverse modeling services to many groups in the Chemistry and Biologyfaculties. These include homology modeling and fold recognition for proteins, protein-proteindocking and ligand-protein docking, conformational analysis of organic molecules, DNA/RNA-ligand interactions and analysis of macromolecular assemblies. The available equipmentis a Silicon Graphics Indigo-II-Extreme work station. Several different computer programs andpackages are in constant use: The MSI Biosym package for display, homology modeling andenergy minimization, Encad for energy minimization and molecular dynamics, Chem-3D+ andModel for conformational analysis of organic molecules, Emol for accurate interaction energycalculations for organic molecules, Molfit for docking large biological molecules, Dock forligand-protein docking and Profit for fold recognition.


Staff

Professor

Mordechai Sheves1, Ph.D., The Weizmann Institute of Science

Senior Research Fellows

Raphael Poupko, Ph.D., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (retired September 2001)

Arye Tishbee, Ph.D., University of Houston, Houston, United States


Peter Bendel, Ph.D., State University of New York, Stony Brook, United StatesHagai Cohen, Ph.D., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, IsraelSidney Cohen, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelMiriam Eisenstein, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelKonstantin Gartsman, Ph.D., Physical Technical Institute, Russian FederationEugenia Klein, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelEllen J. Wachtel, Ph.D., Yale University, New Haven, United StatesLev Weiner, Ph.D., Institute of Catalysis, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation


Linda J.W. Shimon, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelVera Shinder, Ph.D., Moscow University, Biochemical Institute, Academy of ScienceSharon G. Wolf, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Yishay Feldman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelVeronica Frydman, Ph.D., University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaTali Scherf, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Haim Rozenberg, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelEyal Shimoni, Ph.D., ETH, Zurich, Switzerland

1Department of Organic Chemistry


Special Contract

Tatiana Rubinova, Ph.D., Domsk Technical University, Domsk, Russian Federation

Visiting Scientist

Michael Mizhiritskii, Frutarom, Haifa, Israel

Postdoctoral Fellow

Gila Elhanati, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

The Center for Energy Research

Lia Addadi, Director The Dorothy and Patrick Gorman Chair

The Energy Research Center was established in 1980 to promote and encourage research in allaspects of energy-related research. Energy research covers a broad range of disciplines, and allthe Faculties in the Institute are involved. The basic philosophy of the Center is to keep thevarious energy projects within the framework of the departments in which they originated aslong as possible and to promote close contact between scientists working in the various fields,thereby encouraging innovation.

The Center provides facilities shared by all the research groups, holds seminars anddisseminates information.

Most of the energy research work done in the Institute is related to the exploitation of solarradiation. There are research projects in the direct conversion area, in thermal electricitygeneration, in thermally driven chemical processes, and in photochemistry.

Within the commissioning of the Canadian Institute for the Energies and its Solar ResearchFacilities Unit, and the operation of the Schaeffer Solar Furnace, it became possible to carryout many new projects.

Solar fuels

Research on the gasification of carbonaceous materials was continued. In this program,concentrated solar light is used for gasification of low value materials like heavy oil, coal andurban waste. At high temperature of the solar receiver, the carbonaceous materials are reactedwith Zn oxide to produce CO and Zn vapor. The reaction products are then reacted with waterto produce hydrogen and recover the Zn oxide.

High temperature receivers

A new generation of receivers that can reach higher temperatures by direct heating ofcompressed gas is being developed. The goal of the research is to achieve temperatures above2000_C. These receivers will be used in the future to operate a new generation of thermalmachines or chemical systems that are now under development.

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118 The Center for Energy Research

Novel solar optical systems

The goal of this project is to achieve peak solar concentrations above 20,000 in solar centralreceiver systems. This goal will be achieved by closed loop continuous tracking of the sun byheliostats, improved imaging optics and new concepts of nonimaging optics. High peak solarconcentration will improve the performance of existing solar thermal systems, and will allowin the future achieving higher temperatures with the newly developed solar receivers.

Solar-pumped lasers

Work on solar-pumped lasers continued. The focus of the present research is to develop phaseconjugate mirrors for high power solar lasers to improve beam quality that will support in thefuture transmission of high power lasers, and communication in space systems. In anotherresearch, gas phase solar molecular dimer lasers are being developed. These lasers will be thefirst generation of tunable directly pumped solar lasers.

Technology transfer to industry

The following major activities took place during last year:

An industrial consortium, with four Israeli industries and two universities, which wasestablished in 1995 as part of the MAGNET Program of the Israeli Ministry of Industry for theindustrialization of the solar technologies that were developed under the framework of theEnergy Research Center, completed its successful second year of operation. The goal of theseprojects is to develop the technologies of small- and large-scale solar thermal and solarphotovoltaic electric systems, and solar lasers.

An industrial consortium based on the cooperation between American and Israeli industrieswas formed under the framework of the Joint Israeli-American Commission for AdvancedTechnologies. The goal of this project is to develop solar thermal plants based on the conceptof the solar reflective tower.

An industrial consortium based on cooperation between Israeli and European organizationswas established under the Fourth Framework Program of the European Union. The goal of thisorganization is to develop advanced solar-assisted systems that will use synthesis gas obtainedby solar reforming to operate gas turbines and fuel cells.

The Fritz Haber Center for Physical Chemistry

Daniella Goldfarb, Director

The Fritz Haber Center supports various activities in experimental and theoretical ChemicalPhysics. The support of the Center is given directly to research groups for ongoing activitiesand to help initiate new activities. Because of the difficulty of raising outside funds for newactivities, the Center supports new endeavours at an early developmental stage, as well as theupgrade of operating laboratories or extension of existing experimental systems. The supportis usually dedicated to the purchase of scientific equipment.

In the last year the Center supported a number of different activities in the various areas ofphysical chemistry. It supported the purchase of a special microscope holder for liquid crystalresearch and an optical microscope and camera for mounting single crystals for single crystalhigh field EPR studies of proteins. In addition pulse shaper for selective preparations ofground state vibrational wave packets on femtosecond time scale was purchased. Support wasprovided for a single molecule imaging set-up. Funds were provided for accessories for magicangle NMR experiments on peptide-membrane interactions, and for a high temperaturesynthetic reactor for synthesis of inorganic fullerenes and nanotubes. Diode lasers wereacquired for surface photovoltage imaging of a single dye molecule on a surface. In addition, amini-excimer laser was purchased for studying electronic properties of organized thin films.Finally, the Center also supported the purchase of a dry box for non-aqueous electrochemistry.

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120 The Fritz Haber Center for Physical Chemistry

The Ilse Katz Institute for Material Sciences and Magnetic Resonance Research

Lia Addadi, Director The Dorothy and Patrick Gorman Professsor

The Institute was established in November 2000 with a generous founding endowment madeby Ilse Katz. Prof. Lia Addadi, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry, has been nominated as itsfirst Director.

The Institute will be dedicated to the promotion of excellent research in the fields of materialsand magnetic resonance at the Weizmann Institute. Both fields represent to date spear points oftechnologically advanced interdisciplinary research, encompassing topics ranging frommedicine to physics, through chemistry and biology. Large investments are required ininfrastructure and instrumentation. At this initial stage, this will be the main focus of the IlseKatz Institute. In addition, the Ilse Katz Institute will encourage and support younginvestigators committed to advanced research in any field of materials and magneticresonance.

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122 The Ilse Katz Institute for Material Sciences and Magnetic Resonance Research

The Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Archaeological Science

Stephen Weiner, Director Dr. Walter and Dr. Trude Borchardt Chair of Structural Biology

Archaeology is the study of ancient cultures based on the material remains that have survivedthe ravages of time. This represents a most challenging objective that requires on the one hand,some of the most sophisticated analytical tools available, and on the other hand a keenunderstanding of human culture and history. This blend of science and humanities is unique.Israel's geographic location at the cross-roads between Africa, Europe and Asia, and itsrelatively mild climate, are two of the main reasons why this small country is so well endowedwith a wonderfully rich archaeological record.

The achievements of the archaeological community of this country over the last 80 years havecontributed enormously to the overall knowledge of past human culture. The last 40 yearshave, however, witnessed a shift in the way archaeological research is practised. There is anincreasing use of the scientific method, along with a dependence on more and moresophisticated analytical capabilities. This trend in turn has exasperated a situation that exists inIsrael, and almost all western countries, namely that archaeologists are educated in thefaculties of humanities, yet the practice of archaeology in many respects is most suited to thenatural sciences.

This situation prompted the Weizmann Institute to establish the Kimmel Center forArchaeological Science, with its primary aim for the forseeable future being the training ofstudents at the PhD level in both the natural sciences and archaeology. In November 1997, theCenter was formally established in a newly renovated building on the campus designed by thefamous architect, Mendelsohn. At present 5 PhD students are enrolled in the program.

The Center's resources are used primarily for fellowships and modest research funds for PhDstudents participating in the program. Some of the research topics currently being investigatedare domestication of wheat using both modern and ancient DNA, ethno-archaeological studyof the Maasai in Kenya to develop better means of identifying archaeological sites occupied bypastoralists, the structure and preservation of charcoal from archaeological sites, the study ofauthigenic minerals that form in the sediments of prehistoric caves as a means ofreconstructing the paleochemical environment within ancient sediments, and the developmentof chert mining in prehistory using cosmogenic isotopes. The Center also supports themaintenance and upgrading of the technological infrastructure required for archaeological

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124 The Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Archaeological Science

research at the Institute. The main campus facilities currently used for archaeological research,include the Radiocarbon Laboratory, an ancient DNA laboratory, a laboratory forarchaeometallurgical research, electron microscope facilities for imaging and elementalanalyses, Raman and infrared vibrational spectrometers, and the Accelerator MassSpectrometry beam line in the Pelletron accelerator. The Center also supports scientificexchanges with foreign scientists, and holds weekly meetings and seminars for scientificcommunication.

The Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Molecular Design

David Milstein, Director The Israel Matz Professor of Organic Chemistry

The Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Molecular Design was established in November2000. It is aimed at the design and synthesis of organic and organometallic molecules of novelproperties and at the development of new synthetic methodology. Cooperation betweenscientists working on various aspects of these areas is strongly encouraged.

The Center deals with the following topics:

1. The design and synthesis of novel metal-binding coordination compounds with specialchemical properties.

2. Development of methodology for the synthesis and structural modification of organiccompounds of importance for the pharmaceutical- and fine chemical industries.

3. Development of novel molecular catalysts for efficient, selective and environmentallyfriendly processes of high industrial and academic interest.

4. Development and application of theoretical calculations of molecular properties andcomputational studies of the reactivity of organic and organometallic molecules.

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126 The Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Molecular Design

The Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Center for Biomolecular Structure and Assembly

Ada E. Yonath, Director The Martin S. Kimmel Professor

The Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Center for Biomolecular Structure and Assembly,established in 1988, aims at encouraging research at the molecular level on frontier scientificproblems concerning the assembly of biological macromolecules into functionally activeintracellular units and organelles. The center is fully responsible for the following aspects ofbio-macromolecular structural research: nucleic-acids and protein expression purification,crystallization, crystallographic data collection and data evaluation facilities, computingstations and visualization units. It also shares responsibility for the newly establishedmolecular-NMR laboratory as well as other functions of the chemical and biological services.In addition, it provides the means for the upgrading and the maintenance of key inter-departmental common facilities.

Funds are being divided into the following categories:

a. Purchasing, installation and development of state-of-the-art sophisticated equipment tobe used for the investigation of structural aspects of life sciences. The methods supportedare cryo and ambient-temperature X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, EMimaging and time-resolved experiments at the micro-second limits.

b. Supporting the biocrystallographic laboratory. This is a common facility for large scalepreparations of sensitive biological materials in purity allowing high performance ofcrystallographic analysis and/or NMR studies.

c. Sponsoring structural aspects of the Human Genome Project.

d. Funding selected programs of an outstanding quality, albeit premature and/or risky to befunded by the common agencies.

e. Assisting in activities of young scientists as well as of more experienced new comers.

f. Providing means for the organization of conferences, seminars courses and symposiadealing with aspects of structural biology; facilitating short and long term visits of

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128 The Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Center for Biomolecular Structure and Assembly

leading scientific figures as well as post doctoral fellows. Facilitating the attendance ofgraduate students in workshops and advanced courses, carried out in Israel and/orabroad. The center also stimulates interactions with experts with specific skills in thearea of structural biology.

g. The upgrading, maintenance, development and repair of the existing instrumentation ona regular basis and by emergency calls.

The Joseph and Ceil Mazer Center for Structural Biology

Ada E. Yonath, Director The Martin S. Kimmel Professor

The Joseph and Ceil Mazer Center for Structural Biology, established in 1980, encouragesresearch and cooperation among scientists working in this area. The Center operates by (a)direct grants to selected research projects, especially those that attempt to solve significantalbeit risky problems; (b) participation in providing biological, chemical, and crystallographicservices, in purchasing equipment and in improving experimental facilities; and (c) sponsoringseminars, symposia, short-term visits and the participation of young scientists in schools,workshops and meetings.

A significant part of the funds are allocated for the maintenance of the laboratory for biologicalstructure determination. Support was also given to Chemical and Biological Services.

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130 The Joseph and Ceil Mazer Center for Structural Biology

The Gerhard M. J. Schmidt Minerva Center for Supramolecular Architecture

Meir Lahav, Director (until June 2001) The Margaret Thatcher Professor of Chemistry

Reshef Tenne, Director (from July 2001)

The Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Center on Supramolecular Architectures was founded in 1995 topromote interdisciplinary research in the field of condensed matter chemistry and physics.

The activity comprises experimental and theoretical studies in the field of structure andfunction of thin organic films, and other soft architectures (such as micelles, vesicles andmembranes) related to the material sciences.

The Center supports collaborative studies among German and Israeli scientists, in general, andof young scholars, in particular. This is done by helding joint seminars, winter schools, andshort exchange visits of graduate and post-doctoral students.

A joint workshop between young Israeli and German scientists on "Functional MolecularArchitectures", supported by the Center was held on October 4-7, 1999, in Kaput, Germany.

The next student workshop of the Center on "Molecular, Interfacial and Biological Aspects ofMesostructure" will be held in Kibbutz Mashabei Sade, Israel 1-4 April 2001.

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132 The Gerhard M. J. Schmidt Minerva Center for Supramolecular Architecture

The Sussman Family Center for the Study of Environmental Sciences

Aldo Shemesh, Director

The Center began operating in 1993. Its main goals are to promote, coordinate, and supportresearch on the environment in the Institute in general, and in the Department ofEnvironmental Sciences and Energy Research in particular.

Last year the Center supported the purchase of a state of the art, multiple computing processor/server (four processor ES40 666Mhz alpha machine, from Compaq/Digital). This computer isused to investigate Ocean-atmosphere dynamics. It is used to study climate phenomena bothfrom El Nino, which is on a scale of a few years, and from glacial-interglacial cycles that occurevery 100,000 years. Our group is also involved in an attempt to insert observations from thePacific Ocean into an El Nino model, in order to improve prediction skills, and to predictglobal warming.

Another large scientific project that was supported by the Sussman Family Center is the YatirForest Project. We exploit Israel's geographic location in a climate transition zone, betweenarid and semi-arid, and use a forest ecosystem at the edge of the Negev desert as a model formonitoring and investigating the effects of climate on forest activity. This study is part of alarge scale, global effort to better understand the influence of plants and the land biosphere onthe rate of rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide and, consequently, global warming.

A new unit, Gas Bench II, was purchased with the aid of Center funding, and was connected toour continuous flow mass spectrometer. This new equipment enables us to delve into reallyexciting research on coral reefs. Recently, a phenomenon called coral bleaching has raisedconcerns about the deteriorating conditions in the world's oceans and the implications for lifeon our planet. The process of coral bleaching exposes the white calcium carbonate skeletons ofthe coral colony, due to the loss of their symbiotic algae from the tissues of polyps. Using ournew GasBench, we are engaged in the study of reconstructing stress conditions in corals. Weconduct this research on corals that were retrieved from Japan and the Seychelles Islands, andhope to get a better understanding of the isotopic manifestation of environmental parameterson coral response.

The Center also supported the absorption of a new senior scientist in the field of Geophysics. Itprovided a partial support to establish a state of the art computing capacity for geophysicalproblems in the field of Earthquake and Rock Mechanics.

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134 The Sussman Family Center for the Study of Environmental Sciences

Other activities supported by the center are:

1. Scientific conference organized by the department students that brought togetherstudents of all fields of Environmental Sciences in Israel from all Institutions.

2. Negev Planning: Environmental Reserves, Urban Complexes, Production areas andInterconnected Scenery Roads. In this project environmental planning emphasizingnatural heritage assets of the Central Negev were planned and presented to theGovernment for implementation during the Negev planning for year 2020.

3. Two post-doctoral fellows that are operating the tower site at Yatir, collecting the datanecessary for both field and laboratory experiments.

The Center will continue to allocate funds both for the acquisition of new equipment, and forindividual research projects. Applications for individual research projects and/or smallequipment can be made at any time.


Dean: David Mirelman The Besen-Brender Professor of Microbiology and Parasitology

Ephraim Katchalski-Katzir, Ph.D.(The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Institute Professor The Theodore R. Racoosin Professor of Biophysics

136 Faculty of Biochemistry


Dean: David Mirelman The Besen-Brender Professor of Microbiology and Parasitology

The Faculty of Biochemistry consists of three departments: Biological Chemistry, MolecularGenetics and Plant Sciences. The Faculty is also responsible for the activities of the BiologicalServices Department. A number of Research Centers operate within the different Departments:Plant Sciences -- The Avron-Willstätter Minerva Center for Research in Photosynthesis; TheCharles W. and Tillie K. Lubin Center for Plant Biotechnology; The Harry and JeanetteWeinberg Center for Plant Molecular Genetics Research ; the Mel Dobrin Center for Nutrition.Molecular Genetics -- The Leo and Julia Forchheimer Center for Molecular Genetics; TheCrown Human Genome Center. Biological Chemistry -- The Dr. Josef Cohn Minerva Centerfor Biomembrane Research. In addition, the newly established Institute for MolecularMedicine, commemorating the late Y. Leon Benoziyo, is now operating under the auspices ofthe Faculty.

The number of research groups headed by a Principal Investigator was 60. The total scientificpersonnel was 363. This included 24 research assistants, 155 Ph.D. students, 57 M.Sc.students, 52 postdocs, and 15 visiting scientists.

Faculty members continued to be quite successful in obtaining grants to support their researchactivities. The number of grants was 231, totaling 10,850.000 $ (gross), slightly less than inyear 2000. The grants were obtained from a variety of public sources as well as from industry.The proportion of research grant funds originating from industry was 37%.

The number of scientific publications made by Faculty members in peer-reviewedinternational journals during 2001 was 221, very similar to the publications of your 2000, andmembers of the Faculty continued to make numerous presentations at important internationalscientific meetings and to conduct investigations covering a wide range of research programsOne of the more exciting aspects of modern biological research, which is characterizing thepost genome era, is that basic questions at the molecular level can be studied in very diversesystems and the findings can become relevant also to other systems. For instance, the resultsobtained from the identification of genes involved in the development of an organ or a specifictissue in the fruit fly, Drosophila, are frequently found to have similarities in mammaliansystems. The characterization of proteins involved in regulating membrane fusion in yeast orthe understanding of how membrane transporters recognize and expel a wide range of drugsfrom bacterial cells is rapidly enabling the search for their mammalian counterparts, and thismay help in the rational design of novel therapies for human malignancies.

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The following are brief descriptions of some of the more salient new research findings madeby a number of members of the Faculty during year 2001. In the Department of BiologicalChemistry a novel yeast based screening has been used to identify elements mediating theactivation of potassium channels by two subunits ( ) of G-proteins . The method enabled theselection for channel mutants which are active in the absence of G and thereby rescue yeastgrown on low potassium. The results suggest that the second transmembrane domain of thechannel plays the key role in channel activation by the phospholipid dependent binding of Gproteins. In another field, a unique mechanism was discovered in which division of amoebiccells is assisted by a neighboring cell. When an amoebae divides, the two daughter cellsremain attached by a tubular tether which has to be severed mechanically. In 30% of the casesthis is achieved by a neighboring cell which travels up to 200 _m towards the dividing cell andphysically breaks the connecting tube thus acting as a midwife. The process involves a yetunidentified heat stable chemoattractant of rather high molecular mass. Another interestingdevelopment is a method to prolong the half-life in blood circulation of the cytokineinterferon. Seven moieties of the amino group substituent FMOC were linked to the aminogroups of human interferon resulting in an inactive molecule. After injection the modifiedsubstituents undergo spontaneous hydrolysis generating active interferon with a half life ofmore than a day. In mice, the modified interferon had 7-8 times longer circulating anti-viralactivity than the native cytokine.

The completion of the sequencing of the human genome as well as that of the genomes of otherorganisms represents a major scientific achievement at the dawn of the new millenium. andResearchers in the Department of Molecular Genetics and the Crown Human Genome Centerhave continued to significantly contribute to this worldwide effort . One of the challengesundertaken is to assign a function to specific genes isolated from human genetic diseases orother sorts of human pathologies. In this respect, the use of knock out mice turned out to bevery beneficial. Recent work in this direction was performed on Lis1, which is one of thegenes which are mutated in the lissencephaly ("smooth brain") disease. They created micemutated in Lis1, which allowed them to analyze in detail brain developmental processes. Theyrevealed abnormal neuronal morphology and abnormal neuronal migration patterns whichfurther explain the severe brain defects in the patients. Another interesting gene which is beingstudied is the protein tyrosine phosphatase Epsilon (PTPe) plays an important role in survivaland proliferation of breast cancer cells. Cells from tumors induced by the Neu oncogene inPTPe-deficient mice grow more slowly and appear less transformed that similar cells, whichdo express PTPe. The phosphatase was shown to be a physiological activator of the Src kinase;lack of PTPe reduces Src activity, leading to a less-transformed cellular phenotype. Anotherchallenging direction in the Department, relates to the production of synthetic viruses, a workwhich has important practical implications in the field of gene therapy. The work wasperformed with the distinct constituents of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and by developing thetools to generate artificial particles with capacity to get into the cells. To this end a tissueculture system susceptible to HBV infection was developed and utilized to resolve themechanism of particle-cell interaction via the cellular receptors and it was demonstrated thatthese synthetic particles efficiently get into the cells.

The availability of a nearly complete plant genome is also revolutionizing the research beingdone at the Department of Plant Sciences. Plant genomes show a great degree of plasticity, so

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that the genetic variance within any one plant species can be much greater than anythingencountered within animal species. Members of the Department have unraveled part of thereason for this rapid genomic evolution which is due to the unique dynamic process ofpolyploidization. Another exciting area of investigation has been the genome organization ofplant defense 'sentinels' and trying to understand how they facilitate the plants adaptability to achanging pathogen environment . In other work, plant nuclei were used as a model system forgene expression and these studies showed how methylation/demethylation effected chromatinreorganization with emphasis on the function of methyl-binding proteins These events triggercontrol of gene expression by bringing genes into the proximity of heterochromatin viainteraction with heterochromatin-associated proteins. Due to their immobility plants mustadapt to a large variety of environmental inputs. A recent investigation has demonstrated forthe first that light activates specific oxidation of a chloroplast regulatory factor showing thatthe molecular mechanism by which REDOX signaling plays a role in photosynthetic lightsensing. The findings explain how any REDOX signal can be propagated in diverse cellularmilieu and have ramifications for similar signaling in all eukaryotic cells. The knownproduction of reactive oxygen species by chlorophyll has served as a basis to design new light-activated anti-cancer drugs which are currently in clinical trials . Lysine is an essential aminoacid of major importance and it also serves also as a major signaling molecule for transmissionof nerve signals . The regulation of lysine catabolism and the involvement of uniquemultifunctional genes in plants was recently elucidated and this is another example of howanswers in the molecular biology of plant cells may help investigations of more complexsystems in mammalian cells .

Continuous progress in the Life Sciences is more and more dependent on the ability tointroduce modern equipment as well as the to increase the cooperation between scientists ofdifferent expertise. During 2001 we have expanded our use of the robotic DNA microarraytechnology which enables the identification of differentially expressed genes. We have alsoincreased our bioinformatics capabilities which allow the analysis of ever increasing amountsof genetic information as well as our proteomics capabilities using novel mass spectrometrybased microsequence analysis of isolated proteins . Our facility for transgenic animals wasexpanded and this will facilitate the in vivo study of the function of certain genes. We are alsoin the midst of establishing a modern facility for transgenic plants. Faculty members arecontinuing to develop cooperation with scientists of other disciplines and two young newfaculty members with a background in protein chemistry and plant genetics have establishedlaboratories in our Faculty during 2001.

The worldwide competition in the Life Sciences is increasing and in order to maintain ourcompetitive position we are constantly searching to recruit talented young scientists and tocontinue to invest in the establishment of new facilities and the acquisition of new equipment.

Biological Chemistry

Haim Garty, Head

The Department of Biological Chemistry was established in 1997 by merging the Departmentof Membrane Research and Biophysics with the Department of Biochemistry. The combinedDepartment has about 30 research groups whose activities span several areas in Life Sciences.The common thread is the study of proteins, and in particular membrane proteins with keybiological functions. We seek a molecular understanding of their structure, function, andinteraction with other factors. A variety of biochemical, biophysical and molecular biologicalmethods are being employed, with much overlapping interests and inter-group cooperation.Current research activities evolve around the following five foci of interest:

1. Protein folding, interactions with ligands and protein-protein recognition.

E. Katchalsky-Katzir and his colleagues are investigating molecular mechanisms ofprotein recognition by examining interactions between specific proteins and a randompeptide array. Protein-protein and protein-ligand association is being studied also by thegroup of G. Schreiber. Their work focuses on several medically relevant systems such asthe binding of interferon to its receptor. M. Wilchek and his group are studying thestructure of avidin and its exceptionally high affinity to biotin. The avidin-biotincomplex is being utilized for a variety of new biotechnological applications. E. A. Bayerand his colleagues are studying the structure and architecture of the multi-enzymecellulosome complex, its interactions with cellulose and other plant cell-wallpolysaccharides. C. Gitler is characterizing vicinal thiols in cell proteins and examiningtheir roles in redox regulation and defense against oxidative stress. The group of D.Tawfik is interested in the evolution and mechanism of enzymes. The work aims atreproducing Darwinian evolution at the molecular level and in real time to generatenovel tailor-made enzymes.

2. Structure and function of ion channels, pumps, other transporters, and photosynthesisproteins.

Several groups are investigating proteins that form specific pores across the cellmembrane. E. Reuveny is investigating the molecular properties of a group of neuronalK+ channels and their interaction with G-proteins. Y. Shai's group is exploring thestructure and underlying principles of proteins involved in pore formation, cell lysis, andvirus-cell fusion. Nuclear pore complexes, multi-protein structures that transport

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macromolecules in and out of the nucleus, are being studied by Z. Reich. His workutilizes biophysical methods such as atomic force microscopy. H. Garty is studyingepithelial ionic channels which participate in maintaining body salt and water balance. S.J. D. Karlish and his co-workers are exploring the structure, organization and regulationof the Na+/K+ ATPase. This ion pump plays a central role in maintaining Na+ and K+

gradients across the cell membrane. Another family of transport proteins, which extrudetoxins from cells and hence pose a major obstacle in cancer chemotherapy and antibiotictreatment, is being studied by E. Bibi. Other researchers are interested in photosynthesisand its relation to ion transport. Z. Gromet-Elhanan is studying the rotary mechanism ofthe photosynthetic F0F1 ATP synthase, using genetically engineered hybrid bacterial/plant F1-core assemblies and single molecule analysis. S. Malkin is investigatingbiophysical, biochemical and physiological aspects of photosynthesis, usingphotoacoustics, fluorescence and other methods. The groups of U. Pick and A. Zamir arecollaborating to elucidate the mechanisms by which the green alga Dunaliella copes withextreme changes in external salinity and pH.

3. Mechanisms by which proteins and lipids are transported from their point of synthesis,sorted, and inserted into various organelles.

Studies related to this general problem in cell biology are being carried out in a numberof laboratories. E. Bibi and his co-workers are studying the role of the signal recognitionparticle (SRP) and other cellular components in the biogenesis of prokaryotic membraneproteins. Z. Elazar is investigating intracellular protein traffic in eukaryotic systems. Hiswork has led to the identification of new factors that couple transport vesicles tocytoskeletal elements. Delivery of lipids to the cell membrane and their role in neuronalgrowth is being studied by A. Futerman and his colleagues, with particular emphasis onsphingolipid storage diseases such as Tay Sachs and Gaucher disease.

4. Signal transduction, and molecular pathogenesis.

Several researchers in the department are interested in problems related to signaltransduction, chemotaxis and pathogenesis. M. Eisenbach is investigating mechanismsby which ligand-binding evokes altered cell motion. He is examining chemotaxis inbacteria and human sperm cells. Neuroactive proteins which govern neuronal growth,regeneration, and specific connectivity are being investigated by M. Fainzilber and hisco-workers. The group of D. Wallach is studying mechanisms that control cell death.They have cloned and characterized several signaling proteins that are involved in thesignaling for cell death and inflammation by receptors of the TNF/NGF family and in itsregulation. D. Mirelman and his co-workers are characterizing regulatory mechanismsthat control the expression of virulence factors in the human intestinal protozoanparasite, Entamoeba histolytica. Other studies, in collaboration with the group of M.Wilchek, focus on the therapeutic properties of the biologically active garlic moleculeAllicin. Y. Shechter is exploring the actions of vanadium salts, which appear to mimicthe metabolic effects of insulin. R. Miskin is studying the plasminogen activationsystem, and is utilizing transgenic animals to reveal new roles of this system.Therapeutic and pathogenic signals of the cell membrane are being examined by M.

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Shinitzky in tumor cells subjected to hydrostatic pressure. U. Zor is investigating theformation and cellular action of reactive oxygen species. E. Shapiro' s group is using ahigh-level computer process description language, Stochastic Pi Calculis, tomathematically specify and simulate signal transduction pathways.

5. Protein interactions with DNA to control expression, stability and repair of geneticinformation.

Two groups are studying mechanisms mediating regulation of gene expression. R.Dikstein and her associates are investigating proteins involved in cell specifictranscription. They have identified a subunit of the transcription initiation factor TFIIDwhich is required for B cell specific and cytokine inducible gene expression. M. Walkerand colleagues are studying specific expression of the insulin gene and other genes inpancreatic beta cells, with a view to better understanding their function, developmentand involvement in diabetes. Z. Livneh and his co-workers are exploring the molecularmechanisms of DNA repair and mutagenesis. They have developed and exploited aunique in vitro assay to analyze the mechanisms by which cells cope with DNA lesions.This led to the discovery of a novel type of DNA polymerase, which specializes inreplicating damaged DNA, with the concomitant production of mutations.

Additional information on the work carried out in the various research groups can be obtainedin the department's Home Page: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/Biological_Chemistry/


Professors

Ilan Chet, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelMichael Eisenbach, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

The Jack and Simon Djanogly Professor of Biochemistry Haim Garty, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelCarlos Gitler, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States (on extension of

service) The E. Stanley Enlund Professor of Membrane Research

Steven J.D Karlish, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe William D. Smithburg Professor of Biochemistry

Ephraim Katchalski-Katzir, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelInstitute Professor The Theodore R. Racoosin Professor of Biophysics

Zvi Livneh, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Maxwell Ellis Professor of Biomedical Research

Shmuel Malkin, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (on extension of service) The Joseph Meyerhoff Professor of Biochemistry


David Mirelman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Besen-Brender Professor of Microbiology and Parasitology

David Wallach, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelMeir Wilchek, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (on extension of service)

The Marc R. Gutwirth Professor of Molecular Biology

Professors Emeriti

Roy S. Caplan, Ph.D., University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaDavid Danon, Ph.D., University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandZippora Gromet-Elhanan, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelOra Kedem, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelIsrael R. Miller, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelNathan Sharon, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelAda Zamir, Ph.D., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel


Ed Bayer, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelEitan Bibi, Ph.D., Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

Israel Zvulun Elazar, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Incumbent of the Shloimo and Michla Tomarin Career Development Chair of Membrane Physiology (until November 2001)

Anthony H. Futerman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelRuth Miskin, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Lawrence G. Horowitz Professor of Cancer Research Uri Pick, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Charles and Louise Gartner Professor Yechiel Shai, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Harold S. and Harriet B. Brady Professor of Cancer Rrsearch Yoram Shechter, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Charles H. Hollenberg Professor of Diabetes and Metabolic Research Meir Shinitzky, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Olin-Sang Professor of Leukemia Research Michael Walker, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Marvin Myer and Jenny Cyker Professor of Diabetes Research Uriel Zor, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

The William B. Graham Professor of Pharmacology

Senior Scientists

Rivka Dikstein, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Martha S. Sagon Career Development Chair


Michael Fainzilber, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelIncumbent of the Daniel E. Koshland Sr. Career Development Chair

Ziv Reich, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelYigal Allon Fellow Incumbent of the Abraham and Jennie Fialkow Career Development Chair

Eitan Reuveny, Ph.D., North Western University, Chicago, United StatesGideon Schreiber, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

Incumbent of the Dewey David Stone and Harry Levine Career Development Chair Dan S. Tawfik, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Yigal Allon Fellow


Carol Asher, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelRina Barak, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelTalia Miron, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelDaniel M. Tal, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Rivka Adar, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelMoshe Balass, Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, IsraelElena Bochkareva, Ph.D., Institute of Protein Research, Academy of the USSR, Pushchino,

Russian Federation Stefan Leu, Ph.D., University of Berne, Switzerland


Shira Albeck, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelElena Appel, Ph.D., Medical School, Novosibirsk, Russian FederationTamar Paz-Elizur, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Special Contract

Eugene Pressman, Ph.D., Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation (left December 2001)

Consultants

Diana Bach (left August 2001)Ayelet Gonen, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelWilfred Donald Stein, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelDaniel Yam, Yamega Ltd., Rishon-Lezion, Israel (left May 2001)


Visiting Scientists

Jacques Bodennec, University of Lyon-Sud, FranceFrancisca C. Bronfman, Cath. University of Louvain, BelgiumZeev Handzel, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, IsraelRose Johnstone, McGill University , Montreal, CanadaRamalingam Krishnan, School of Biological Studies, IndiaMargherita Morpurgo, University of Padova, ItalyChristian Riebeling, University Med . Ctr , Berlin, GermanyTatyana Savchenko, Azerbaijan Acad. of Sci., Baku, AzerbaijanFei Sun, Shangai Medical University, PR China


Yosef Adan, Ph.D., University of Kyushu, JapanAmir Aharoni, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelElena Ainbinder, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelJacques Bodennec, Ph.D., Claude Bernard University - Lyon I, FranceFrancisca Veronica Bronfman Caceres, Ph.D., University of Leuven, BelgiumRosaria Buccoliero, M.D., Siena University, ItalySilvestro Conticello, Ph.D., University of Bari, ItalyDalia El-Ani, Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, IsraelSini Ezer, Ph.D., Technion, IsraelSimone C. Fishburn, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelAsael Herman, Ph.D., Agriculture Faculty, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelRuti Kapon, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelRoni Kasher, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelGanesh K.A. Kolumam, Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science, IndiaRamalingam Krishnan, Ph.D., Madurai Kamaraj University, IndiaAdva Mechaly, Ph.D., Technion, IsraelZiv Oren, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelAnat Reizelman-Lucassen, Ph.D., University of Nijmegen, The NetherlandsChristian Riebeling, Ph.D., Free University of Berlin, GermanyTatyana Savchenko, Ph.D., Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, AzerbaijanHai Kun Shi, Ph.D., Beijing Medical University, ChinaFei Sun, Ph.D., Shanghai Medical University, ChinaHaim Tsubery, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelEvgeniy Varfolomeev, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelGeetha K. Varier, Ph.D., Cochin University of Science & Technology, IndiaEduardo Villalobo Polo, Ph.D., University of Seville, SpainIris Yedidia, Ph.D., Agriculture Faculty, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel


Research Students

Sheera Adar Yury Goltsev
Julia AdlerElena AinbinderNoga Alagem-BursteinMoran AlalufNira AmarGali AradThangavelu ArumugamTal AtarotSofia AuslenderShlomo AvitalSharon AvkinDorit AvrahamiDaniela Bar-ElEyal BarakReut BartoovGad BeckAdi Ben Zeev - BrannVered Ben-AriTehila Ben-MosheHerzel Ben-ShlomoEfrat Ben-ZeevAlexander BerchanskyAla BerdichevskySwetlana Boldin-AdamskyJudith Brauch Ben-PorathAnat BrenEytan CohenOrit CohenGalit Cohen Ben-LuluShay CovoAviv De-MorganNoam DiamantAsa EitanYael EshedEphraim FassMaria Gabriella FuzesiDoron GerberLyubov GinzburgMoshe GoldsmithItzhak Goldwaser
Igor GoncharovTanya GoncharovShlomit HanzAlexander HeifetzAnat HerskovitsShachar IwanirLior IzharHanna JaaroUriel KatzYossef KligerAndrei KovalenkoNoga Kozer G.Venkataraman KrishnanPremkumar LakshmananeAster Legesse-MillerNatalie LehaviOded LewinsonArthur LiberzonPazit LibrosMoshit LindzenRon LittmanGila LustigAsaf MahadavAyelet Maor-ShoshaniAri MeersonAdi MesikaShahar Molshanski-MorReinat NevoFabio NudelmanZiv OrenMichal Ortal-SchwartzNiv PapoGuy PatchornikYakov PazSergio PeisajovichAvishay PelahDori PelledNoa PerlmanEran PerlsonYair Pilpel


Amir Porat Hagit Shapiro
Krishna PrasadAkhil RajputParameswaran RamakrishnanMerav RevachGabriela RidnerInbal RivenLaila Catalina RoismanNir RubinsKelly SackettRona Sadja GertnerYael Sagi-YosephYuval SagivNeta Sal-Manlior SegevTzvia SelzerUri ShaharBoaz Shapira
Sophie ShnaperHagai ShorerAntonina SilkovIndranil SinhaDavid StrugetskyMarianna TcherpakovSelena TrajkovicTal VarsanoRuty WindriechOrit Wolstein (Wiener)Yu-Xin XuItamar YadidJianshe YanSigalit ZchutGil ZeidnerYaara Zwang

Administrator

Maanit Zibziner

Molecular Genetics

Adi Kimchi, Head The Helena Rubinstein Chair in Cancer Research

The department of Molecular Genetics focuses on molecular and genetic mechanismsunderlying basic biological processes occurring either in the context of the entire organism orat the level of single cells. A wide range of biological problems are being addressed in thefields of human genetics, development, cell biology, cancer, and structure/ organization ofgenes. Additionally, the fields of bioinformatics and computational biology, which are beingdeveloped in the department, provide novel powerful approaches to address some of thesebiological issues. The specific topics include developmental studies in Drosophila and mousemodel systems, a search for the molecular basis of a few human genetic diseases, the study ofapoptosis and cancer promoting genes, study of cytokines and their receptors, virus-hostinteractions, control of gene expression, protein trafficking, and the structure, organization andevolution of genes.

In the Drosophila system, the lab of Benny Shilo studies signaling by the EGF receptorpathway which regulates cell fate decisions at different stages of development. They found thatthe cardinal ligand in this pathway, Spitz, is activated by a specific cleavage which involvesthe participation of two other proteins, isolated by genetic screens, They also focus on thedevelopment of the tracheal system as a model for branching morphogenesis. Talila Volk's labstudies the molecular events leading to the generation of muscles and tendons duringembryonic development. They discovered the existence of a two-way communication patternbetween these cell types and further identified among the proteins that control tendon celldifferentiation two isoforms of RNA-binding proteins. In the mouse system, the lab of PeterLonai studies the role of FGF receptors in development. By Knocking out the FGF receptor 2gene and circumventing early defects, they showed that this receptor is required for limboutgrowth and lung branching morphogenesis. Moreover they found, by working withembryoid bodies, that FGF signaling via the Akt/PKB is connected to basement membraneformation.

The issue of human genetic diseases is confronted by several groups. The lab of. Orly Reinerstudies the lissencephaly disease which is a severe human brain malformation caused bymutations in either the LIS1 gene or the Doublecortin (DCX). By connecting LIS1 functionwith microtubule regulation and showing the existence of cross interactions between the twoproteins they provided the first mechanistic clue to their mode of action. Additionally, micedeficient in Lis1 display abnormal neuronal morphology and migration patterns which furtherexplains the severe brain defects in the patients. A long term approach undertaken in lab of

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Yoram Groner addresses how gene dosage produces the defects found in Down syndrome. Forthis purpose, they cloned, characterized, and examined the expression of candidate genes andmodeled their gene-dosage in transgenic and knockout mice. An exciting target is the RUNXIgene, a transcription factor involved in human leukemias. The disruption of this geneobliterates definitive hematopoiesis and impairs the formation of vascular capillaries. JacquiBeckmann (together with Doron Lancet) focuses on genetic variation as a tool for thedevelopment of personalized medicine and for identifying chromosomal regions containingsusceptibility loci involved in defined traits. The capability to assess polymorphism in a largenumber of patients by genotyping SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) will open thepossibility to reveal genetically determined traits in multifactorial diseases.

Basic cellular processes are being approached from the molecular angle, both in mammaliancells and in yeasts, by several groups. The lab of Jeff Gerst utilizes yeast genetics to dissect theprocess of intracellular membrane trafficking and exocytosis. They focus on the role ofSNAREs, fusogenic proteins necessary for the steps leading to vesicle docking and fusion, andhave characterized the involvement of protein kinases and phosphatases and of interactingproteins in regulating their functioning. Work by the lab of Chaim Kahana dissects theregulation of intracellular polyamines. Due to their critical role in several fundamentalprocesses, multiple pathways such as biosynthesis, catabolism, uptake, and excretion tightlyregulate their intracellular concentration. Utilization of the yeast system has provided theidentification of new components critical for polyamine transport across the plasmamembrane. Work by the lab of Yosef Shaul dissects the molecular basis of virus-hostinteraction, focusing on the Hepatitis B virus which has a distinct type of life cycle. At earlyphases of infection, a multivalent mechanism of HBV attachment with synergistic interplayhas been characterized. In this system, the HBV regulatory protein, pX, plays an essential rolein infection. The lab of Ari Elson studies the role of two protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPepsilon and alpha) in cellular signaling and in mouse development. The oncogenic propertiesof PTP epsilon were unrevealed by the finding that cells from tumors induced by the Neuoncogene in PTP deficient mice appear less transformed and that this phosphatase is aphysiological activator of the Src kinase. Young PTP epsilon -null mice generated in the lab,exhibit hypomyelination of sciatic nerve axons suggesting that this enzyme regulatesperipheral nerve myelination. This is associated with increased phosphorylation and increasedactivity of voltage-gated potassium channels in Schwann cells.

Apoptosis, is another fundamental process in cell biology. Function-based genetic selectionswere developed and used in the lab of Adi Kimchi to identify rate limiting genes that controlthe complex molecular network of apoptosis. Half a dozen novel pro-apoptotic genes (DAPgenes) were discovered. The detailed structure/function studies of these genes, theidentification of substrates and interacting proteins, and analysis of their connection to precisesubcellular events, highlight critical parts of the apoptotic network. Loss or inactivation of oneof these genes (DAP-kinase) is implicated in cancer development. Cytokine signaling is anadditional studied theme. The lab of Leo Sachs continues their pioneering work on thecytokine mediated control of multiplication, differentiation and apoptosis of hematopoieticcells, and the ability to suppress malignancy of certain types of leukemic cells by inducingtheir differentiation. The lab of Michel Revel focuses on regulation and function of cytokineswith an emphasis on IL6 and interferon-β. They developed new strategies to inactivate or to

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activate receptors for the IL6 cytokine. A fusion protein of the soluble interleukin-6 receptor tointerleukin-6 was found to stimulate myelin gene expression in vitro and of sciatic nerveremyelination. The chimera also enhances in vitro maintenance and proliferation of humanstem cells (CD34(+)CD38(-/low). The lab of Menachem Rubinstein focuses on regulation andfunction of two other cytokines and their binding proteins. They identified a secreted proteincapable of antagonizing IL18 and thus regulating the Th1 cytokine responses. Another studiedcytokine is the leptin whose effects on ovarian steroidogenesis and on angiopoietin-2expression in adipose tissues have been thoroughly investigated.

Genomic approaches are utilized in the lab of Doron Lancet to study the structure,organization and evolution of olfactory receptor genes. Processes of gene duplication,generation of pseudogenes and recombination can be traced, by comparing clusters ofolfactory genes in different organisms. The lab of Shmuel Pietrokovski focuses oncomputational and experimental analysis of protein sequences. Different algorithms aredeveloped to compare blocks of sequences for predicting protein motifs, identifying newfamily members, and relating protein structure to function. Functional and evolutionaryaspects of the intein family of proteins are being approached experimentally in the lab. NaamaBarkai uses computational approaches for analyzing biological networks in order to identifyprinciples that govern the design and function of those networks. One example is the networkof genes that mediates the patterning of the dorsal region in the Drosophila embryo. Theyfound that the patterning event is highly robust to changes in the levels of most of the key genecomponents. In another research direction they explore the genome-wide organization of thenetwork regulating gene expression by developing algorithms to analyze data obtained fromDNA expression chips.

Altogether the department combines structural genomic approaches with functional 'post-genomic' studies. Moreover, the work with multiple model organisms (i.e., yeast, fly, mouseand human) removes the species barrier and offers the opportunity to study a single biologicalprocess in several systems, thus benefiting from the various genetic and molecular tools thateach system provides.


Professors

Jacques S. Beckmann, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelYoram Groner, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Dr. Barnet Berris Professor of Cancer Rsearch Adi Kimchi, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

The Helena Rubinstein Professor in Cancer Research Doron Lancet, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Ralph D. and Lois R. Silver Professor of Human Genomics Michel Revel, Ph.D., University of Strasbourg, France

The Ruth and Jerome A. Siegel and Freda and Edward M. Siegel Professor of Virology Menachem Rubinstein, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Edna and Mickey Weiss Professor of Cytokines Research


Leo Sachs, Ph.D., University of Cabmridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom (on extension of service) The Otto Meyerhof Professor of Molecular Biology

Yosef Shaul, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Oscar and Emma Getz Professor

Ben-Zion Shilo, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe Hilda and Cecil Lewis Professor of Molecular Genetics

Professors Emeriti

Alvin M. Kaye, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United StatesErnest Winocour, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel


Jeffrey Gerst, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Henry Kaplan Career Development Chair of Cancer Research (until November 2001)

Chaim Kahana, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Jules J. Mallon Professor of Biochemistry

Peter Lonai, Ph.D., Budapest University, Budapest, Hungary (retired September 2001)The John Roberts Professor of Cancer Research (until September 2001)

Rabi Simantov, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Andre Lwoff Professor of Neurogenetics

Talila Volk, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Soretta and Henry Shapiro Career Development Chair (until January 2001)

Senior Scientists

Naama Barkai, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelIncumbent of the Soretta and Henry Shapiro Career Development Chair

Ari Elson, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Adolfo and Evelyn Blum Career Development Chair of Cancer Research

Opher Gileadi, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (left September 2001) Incumbent of the Carl and Frances Korn Career Development Chair in the Life Sciences (until September 2001)

Shmuel Pietrokovski, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Philip Harris and Gerald Ronson Career Development Chair

Orly Reiner, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Aser Rothstein Career Development Chair of Genetic Diseases



Judith Chebath, Ph.D., University of Marseilles, FranceDitsa Levanon, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelDaniella Novick, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Edna Ben-Asher, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelBatya Cohen, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelTamar Unger, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Nili Avidan, Ph.D., Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, United StatesAdva Mechaly (Zmora), Ph.D., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel


Marat Gorivodsky, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel (left July 2001)

Special Contract

Catherine Cerruti, Ph.D., Academie de Montpellier, Universite Montpellier II, Sciences, France

Eyal Schejter, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (left October 2001)

Engineers

Joseph Lotem, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelDalia Rotman, Ph.D., University College, London, United Kingdom

Consultants

Avshalom Elitzur, The Open University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelRuth Gross-IsseroffMoien Kanaan, Bethlehem University, Jerusalem, IsraelHilla Knobler, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel Itschak Lamensdorf, Pharmasense, ATI, Ashkelon, IsraelBen-Simchon LevanaRon Shamir, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel Dina Sonkin, Q.B.I. Ltd., Israel (left March 2001)Idan Tamir, Sense-IT, Herzelia, Israel


Visiting Scientists

Daniel Elbirt, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, IsraelLi Li, Xian Xiang Public Health School , Henan, PR ChinaArumugam Premkumar, Madurai University , Tamil Nadu, IndiaKalyan Srivastava, Inst. of Med. Sci., Banaras, IndiaPeilin Zhang, University of Antwerp (RUCA), Belgium


Avital Adato, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, IsraelPremkumar Arumugam, Ph.D., Madurai Kamaraj University, IndiaGad Asher, M.D., Tel-Aviv University, IsraelIsrael Ben-Dor, Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, IsraelSven Bergmann, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelShani Bialik, Ph.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, USARuth Birk, Ph.D., Agriculture Faculty, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelDevrim Gozuacik, Ph.D., Paris XI University, FranceEswara Kumar, Ph.D., Madurai Kamaraj University, IndiaItschak Lamensdorf, Ph.D., Technion, IsraelAlon Levy, Ph.D.,M.D., Agriculture Faculty, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelXiaofeng Li, Ph.D., Wuham University, ChinaTsviya Olender, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelInga Peter, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, IsraelNilima Prakash, Ph.D., University of Hamburg, GermanyGurunathan Sangiliyandi, Ph.D., Madurai Kamaraj University, IndiaOrit Shmueli, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelKalyan Srivastava, Ph.D., Banaras Hindu University, IndiaMerav Yarmus, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelPei-Lin Zhang, M.D., West China University of Medical Sciences, ChinaRina Zilkha-Falb, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, Israel

Research Students

Gil Amitai Dorit Cohen
Tal Bachar-RavehDalit BarkanOlga BelenkiyMerav Ben-YehoyadaHarold BurgessMichal CaspiYonathan CaspiRon Chen
Mati CohenYehudit CohenArie CooperAyelet Dahari-SchlesingerDoris David-ParnesAdriana Dermer ReuvenyGilad DoitshMor Dolev


Zohar DorRuslan Dorfman

Yoav LubelskyOrna Man

Avigdor EldarGad ElizurOmri ErezOfer FainaruEster FeldmesserIgal FinarovMilana Frenkel-MorgensternGilgi FriedlanderElena FriedmannTania FuchsGalina GabrielyShilpa GandreAmos GdalyahuDana GerberIndraneel GhoshHava Gil-HennYoav GiladLillian R. GlazerGustavo GlusmanAlona GochbergEran GoldbergDan GoldstaubShira GranotYehudit HasinSivan Henis-KorenblitVladimir HurginJan Hendrik IhmelsBoaz InbalGhil JonaRon KafriSharon KahanEyal KalieAnil Kumar V.S.G. KamarajuMichal KenanTadeusz KornagaJudith KrautHagit KrugLimor LandsmanAya LangeRonen LevyYinon Y. Levy

Lea MarashMichael MarashShay MarcusIdan MenasheHelit Nabel-RozenDenis A. OstapenkoNir ParanOshrat PeretsYakov PeterTalia PolakAmir PoznerAderet ReichMicah RobinsonNaomi Rosen SwidlerDalia RosinAsaf RotemAlon SabbanAvital Sadovski-SadotYehuda SalzbergAmir SapirOfer SarigRuth ScherzDaniel SegreMeir ShamayGidon ShaniTal ShayBarak ShenhavOrit ShmueliSara ShniderGalit ShohatTal SinesEinat SitbonShalom Guy SlutskyAlona (Adel) SosinskyJulie StampnitzkyArul SubramanianTamar TalZohar TiranHila Toledano KachalskiRachel TsruyaMichael Tugentman


Dalit Vaizel-Ohaion Eilon Woolf
Gloria VolohonskyAdina WeinbergerNomy Wender
Talia YarnitzkyGordin Zupkovitz

Administrator

Reuven Haran

Plant Sciences

Robert Fluhr, Head

Basic understanding of how plants grow and react to the environment are central to our long-lasting endeavor to understand basic mechanisms that drive biological processes as well as todevising a rational approach to secure more food, and food of better quality. This is importantas plants offer the world the main renewable resource of foods, building material and energy.We appreciate that plants as multicellular organisms have developed highly sophisticated shortand long-term adaptive mechanisms to the changing environment as a result of the simple factthat they cannot alter their location during environmental change. Thus, the research activitiesin the Department of Plant Sciences are centered around plant biology and its relation to theenvironment. Our model and real time systems study the function and regulation of isolatedgenes and their interactive behavior in the context of the whole plant. To accomplish this wehave developed extensive in-house genomic, bioinformatic and transgenic infrastructures thatenable us to isolate novel genes by gene trapping, knockout or map-based cloning. With thehelp of bioinformatic analysis and our ability to transform whole plants, cloned genes arestudied and manipulated in the context of the whole organism.

A unique aspect of plant biology is the harnessing the energy of light, a subject of activeresearch in the department. This complex process, on which all life depends, begins with theabsorption of photons and transduction of that energy to biologically useful forms. The rapidkinetics of photon absorption starts with the pigment chlorophyll. The way this molecule isbuilt and embedded into its receiving proteins makes for a remarkably efficient light-conversion machine. Avigdor Scherz studies the quantification of atoms, groups and moleculesand their electronegativity using metal substituted bacteriochlorophylls. The generation ofreactive oxygen species (ROS) by illuminating novel bacteriochlorophyll derivatives has nowfound its application in photodynamic therapy of tumors. Marvin Edelman's group hasdeveloped unique bioinformatics tools to study plant ligand- binding site interactions,including those occurring during photosynthetic processes. The approach is based on ananalysis of inter-atomic contacts and interface complementarity. Some of the issues dealt withwere: binding pocket flexibility and defining consensus binding structures for specific ligands.Modeling projects include the binding of tentoxin to plastid ATPase; conjugation ofglutathione with photosystem-II herbicides in glutathione-s-transferase; modeling substrate-enzyme reactions of terpenoid cyclases. In collaboration with A.K. Mattoo (Beltsville,USA),they discovered a calcium-dependent but light- and redux-independent enzymaticphosphorylation of PSII proteins that is important in the regulation of photosynthesis.

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158 Plant Sciences

The conversion of light to chemical energy takes place in the chloroplast, a special plant-specific organelle. As plants can find themselves in situations of bright sun light, shade anddark one would expect rapid adaptation of energy trapping. Avihai Danon has showncontinuous sensing of the state of reducing equivalents generated by the light-reactions ofphotosynthesis in the chloroplast. Light activates specific oxidation of a regulatory factorcalled RB60. The reduced compounds directly modify key regulatory proteins that influencethe translation rate of mRNA through special RNA-binding proteins. His work implies thatthese regulatory mechanisms are more universal than previously appreciated.

The features that distinguish plants from animals are not limited to photosynthesis. Plants aresessile, have rigid cell walls and have no fixed germline. This means that their developmentdiffers radically from that found in animals. Gideon Grafi' group showed that cellulardediffereniation has ramifications in chromatin structure Retinoblastoma protein was found toregulate the formation of heterochromatin subdomains within interphase nuclei. This interactswith heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1)-like proteins and histone modifiers, such as histonemethyltransferases, histone deacetylases and methyl-binding proteins (MBDs). A new labfeaturing devlopment in plants was opened in the Depaetment by Dr. Yuval Eshed. Plantslateral organs such as leaves and floral organs are formed by unique groups of organized cellscalled meristems. Organ formation is highly regulated in time and space partly throughcommunication between the meristem and the already formed organs. Research in YuvalEshed's lab focuses on the nature of such communication. Recent studies demonstrated thatmeristem born queues determine the asymmetric development of plant leaves.

Transgenic crops as well as transgenic biocontrol agents are beginning to play an importantpart in the protection of plants from insect, disease, and weed problems. Often the crops or thebiocontrol agents are closely related to weeds or to pathogens of crops (respectively), and thereis a likelihood of transfer of genetic material to these relatives. Jonathan Gressel and hiscolleagues have been developing the framework for assessing the risks that this will happen ona case by case basis. More importantly, they are studying ways to use genetic engineering, toprevent the transfer or to mitigate the effects of such transfer, should it occur. The group isactively developing crops and agrotechnology to facilitate control of parastic weeds withcolleagues at CIMMYT in Mexico and Kenya.

Cultivated plants are especially prone to disease but, importantly, plants (especially the wildrelatives of cultivated plants) have inbuilt pathogen recognition molecules that are calledresistance genes. If the genes are present the plant will recognize the pathogen in the earlystages of infection and mount successful defense. Robert Fluhr's group used molecular genetictechniques to uncover the genes that are central for resistance to plant vascular diseases. Itturns out that many other plant resistance genes and innate animal resistance genes havecommon molecular features. Understanding their molecular architecture, structure-functionrelationships and evolution are crucial for planning rational approaches to plant-pathogenprotection. The rapid adaptive responses of plants to the biotic and abiotic environment dictatetheir success as organisms. Breeders of higher yielding crops have traditionally relied onassembling the best of what is available in nature into crop plants. But with the help offundamental understanding of plant metabolism, particularly amino acid synthesis, GadGalili's group has shown that biosynthetic and catabolic pathways can be manipulated for

Plant Sciences 159

enhanced production of essential amino acids. The production can be directed to special cellsin the seeds. Research is directed in studying the complex regulatory process that controls theirsteady-state levels, as well as appreciation of the molecular structural folding of storageproteins, the ultimate recipients of the amino acid building blocks. These efforts are directed toimproving the quality of plant products by novel means. Realizing that the production ofhybrid varieties has enabled massive yield expansion, improved quality and better tolerance tobiotic and abiotic stresses, Moshe Feldman's group has recently developed a naturallymodified wheat genome that facilitates hybrid wheat production. Wild germplasm containsuntapped useful genes that can be hybridized into the cultivated wheat. Moshe Feldman'sgroup produced special lines facilitating the identification and mapping of useful qualitativeand quantitative genes in wild wheat and transfer them to cultivated background.

Bread wheat is a polyploid organism. Recently it was found by Moshe Feldman and Avi Levythat polyploidy induce rapid genomic changes affecting non-coding as well as codingsequences. The mechanism involved in bringing about these changes as well as the biologicalsignificance are currently under investigation.

Coping with the environment has both short and long-range implications. It has long beenappreciated that even the basic plant genome architecture, which dictates the mostfundamental aspect of plant biology is fluid and tends to change as a result of stress. AvrahamLevy has developed tools to examine this fluidity as described by mobile transposableelements. He has shown how their ongoing activity modifies gene expression and ultimatelyplant evolution. His research has now harnessed these elements in a system of transposontagging, enabling scientists to track rapidly changes in genes of interest. Another aspect ofplant genome evolution that Avraham Levy has studied, is the repair of DNA damages such asbreaks in the DNA. He showed that DNA repair is error-prone in plants, speeding up themolecular clock of evolution compared to other organisms. The mechanism of repair and thegenes that are involved in controlling the stability of plant genomes is now underinvestigation.

The brief foray into the salient features of our research efforts show the integration ofmethodologies from genetics, physiology, biochemistry, structural botany, molecular biologyand protein modeling. What has become clear, is that investigating plants not only providesimportant starting points for their improvement but as an "outsider" organism their studypresents fresh scientific viewpoints in general biology.


Professors

Marvin Edelman, Ph.D., Brandeis University, Waltham, United StatesThe Sir Siegmund Warburg Professor of Agricultural Molecular Biology

Gad Galili, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Bronfman Professor of Plant Science

160 Plant Sciences

Jonathan Gressel, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States (on extension of service) The Gilbert de Botton Professor of Plant Sciences

Avigdor Scherz, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

Professors Emeriti

Dan Atsmon, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelMoshe Feldman, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelEsra Galun, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel


Robert Fluhr, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelAvraham Levy, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Senior Scientists

Avihai Danon, Ph.D., University of Arizona, Tucson, United StatesIncumbent of the Judith and Martin Freedman Career Development Chair

Yuval Eshed, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelYigal Allon Fellow

Gideon Grafi, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel


Vlad Brumfeld, Ph.D., University of Bucharest, Romania


Vladimir Sobolev, Ph.D., Institute of Catalysis, Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Siberia, Russian Federation


Alexander Brandis, Ph.D., Lomonsov Institute of Fine Chemical Technology, Moscow, Russian Federation

Olga Davydov, Ph.D., Rsearch Institute for Essential Oil Plants, Crimea, UkraineRon Vunsh, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Cathy Bessudo, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Plant Sciences 161

Tova Trebitsh Shitrit, Ph.D., The Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel (left June 2001)

Special Contract

Eitan Millet, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (left September 2001)

Engineer

Dvora Aviv, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Consultants

Moshe Flaishman, Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel (left November 2001)Neta Holland, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (left August 2001)Hadar KlessSimcha Lev-Yadun, Haifa University, Haifa, IsraelMichal Oren-Shamir, Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel Moshe Sagi, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

Visiting Scientists

Bertrand Gakiere, Rhone Poulenc, Lyon, FranceMukesh Jain, University of New Delhi, IndiaJihong Li, Chinese Acad . of Trop Agri , Chengxi , Haikou, PR ChinaBrendan Mcconkey, University of Waterloo, Ontario, CanadaLuhua Song, Handu Central H., Hebei Province, PR ChinaYouli Yao, Kochi . U,, Japan


Bertrand Gakiere, Ph.D., Joseph Fourier University - Grenoble I, FranceMoshe Greenwald, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, IsraelFengying Guo, Ph.D., Southwest Agricultural University, ChinaFangpu Han, Ph.D., Northeast Normal University, ChinaUri Hanania, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, IsraelNeta Holland, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelMukesh Jain, Ph.D., Jawaharlal Nehru University, IndiaDavid Kaftan, Ph.D., University of South Bohemia, Czech RepublicAnat Kahana, Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, IsraelJihong Li, Ph.D., Academy of Tropical Agriculture Sciences, ChinaBrendan James McConkey, Ph.D., University of Waterloo, Canada

162 Plant Sciences

Alexander Raskind, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelMoshe Sagi, Ph.D., Agriculture Faculty, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelEvgenia Vishnevetsky, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelYouli Yao, Ph.D., Ehime University, Japan

Research Students

Refael Aharon Laurence Libs
Hani Al-AhmadTal AlergandIdan AshurSharon AyalMariana BaborNeta CaganBarry A. CohenAmnon DafniRakefet David SchwartzEyal EmmanuelEran EyalAaron FaitEphraim FassSilvina FedermanDan FrumkinRina GlozmanOfra HadrianHege Hvattum LundBoaz KaplanRuth Noemi Kaplan-LevyKhalil KashkushYael KatzOksana KernerDimitry KolbasovAlexander LevitanGil Lewitus
Ilya lichmanIgor MeerovitchEti MeiriVered MoradRafael NajmanovichHadas Ner-GaonRoy OppermanAlexander RaskindEitan RubinIlan SamishSigal Savaldi-GoldsteinShai ShaharHezi ShakedGalia ShyAsya StepanskyGuiliang TangYahel VakratSarit WeissmannLeor WilliamsElizabeth YehudaRoie YerushalmiTamar YifharAssaf ZemachJing ZhaoXiaohong ZhuYehudit Zohar

Administrator

Maanit Zibziner

Biological Services

Chaim Kahana, Head The Jules J. Mallon Professor of Biochemistry

The Department of Biological Services provides specialized facilities and services to morethan 700 scientists and students in areas of molecular biology, protein analysis, cell biology,bacteriology, and immunology. These services include DNA sequencing, protein sequencing,Mass spectroscopy analysis, oligonucleotide synthesis, peptide synthesis, biologicalcomputing, bioinformatics, cell sorting, antibody preparation, bacterial fermentation anddownstream processing, irradiation, and maintenance of electronic equipment andmicrocomputers. In addition, staff members of the Biological Services provide coursesthrough the Feinberg Graduate School on the use of the systems. The Biological ComputingUnit hosts the Israeli National Node (INN), which maintains a comprehensive collection ofDNA and protein databases and programs. The Bioinformatics Unit works together with theGenome Center to generate database-searching tools and import and provide access to a largenumber of genetic databases. The biological Services are actively involved in researchprograms in the area of bioinformatics, thereby contributing to the Genome Project. Most ofthe services are also available to scientists from other academic institutions and to the industry.Public databases are freely accessible through the Internet.

In 2000 a Maldi-Tof mass spectrometer was installed in the new mass-spectrometry unit andstarted to provide mass analysis of peptides, proteins and nucleic acids. We introduce now twonew mass spectrometers, i.e. API-3000 Triple Quadrupole and API-QSTAR Pulsar-iQuadrupole -TOF with o-MALDI source electrospray mass spectrometers. The DNA-chiplaboratory is providing standard service utilizing the pre-made arrays and in parallel efforts aremade to develop local DNA printing capabilities. A new DAPSAS computer, which wasinstalled last year, was activated.

Research Staff

Professor

Chaim Kahana1, Ph.D., The Weizmann Institute of Science The Jules J. Mallon Professor of Biochemistry

1Department of Molecular Genetics

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164 Biological Services


Leon Esterman, B.Sc., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelOra Goldberg, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelJaime Prilusky, Ph.D., National University of CordobaAharon Rabinkov, Ph.D., Leningrad Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry,

Russian Federation


Orith Leitner, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelAlla Shainskaya, Ph.D., Palladine Institute of Biochemistry, Ukraine Academy of Sciences,

Kiev, Ukraine Ayala Sharp, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIrina Shin, Ph.D., Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics of the USSR Academy of Sciences,

Moscow, Russian Federation


Shifra Ben-Dor, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelShirley Saban-Horn, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Vered Chalifa-Caspi, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Engineer

Marilyn Safran, M.Sc., Boston University, Boston, United States


Shirley Horn-Saban, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelRon Ophir, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, IsraelShifra Teitz Ben-dor, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

The Avron-Wilstätter Minerva Center for Research in Photosynthesis

Avigdor Scherz, Director

The Minerva Foundation, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) and the WeizmannInstitute of Science (WIS) established the Avron-Minerva center for Photosynthesis in 1995.The center was outset to promote research in the chemical, physical, technological andregulatory aspects of photosynthesis from the molecular to the global level. Importantly, theMinerva foundation has aided the global need for crops suitable to arid areas by establishing ahigh profile research in Israel in both at the fundamental and technological aspects of plantgrowth. To fulfil these goals the Minerva foundation has provided a generous gift for a newcenter in the HUJ, whose research aims include photosynthesis regulation. The new center wasmerged with the older, Wilstätter-Minerva center that was established earlier, in WIS, andoriginally aimed at understanding of solar energy conversion in photosynthesis.

The recent genomic revolution combined with the development of bio-informatics andproteomics, have opened a new frontier in the research of photosynthesis. It is possible now tointegrate data from the genotype to the phenotype levels utilizing a multi-disciplinary array ofmethodologies that deal with a broad range of questions in order to understand the molecularfoundation of the photosynthetic machinery as a whole, the clockwork of membrane andglobular protein formation, assembly and communication and the related adaptation of thephotosynthetic organism to the eco-system. Moreover, products and principle components ofthe photosynthetic machinery are now used for medicine (like in photodynamic therapy ofcancer) and nutrition (carotenoids).

Such progress requires the establishment of research arena which enables integrativeapplication of different disciplines to molecular, cellular and multi-cellular systems.

The activities of the Avron-Minerva center planed for coming years should implement andexploit these new developments. Thus, three major research lines have been selected: (1)photosynthetic protein complexes: Bio-synthesis, assembly into functional units, and cellularorganization into supra-structures; (2) acclimation of photosynthetic organisms toenvironmental stress: (3) development of novel technologies such as photodynamic therapy ofdifferent diseases using chlorophylls or bacteriochlorophyll and light, and production ofcarotenoids derivatives. The principles discovered here are applied to other research fields aswell.

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166 The Avron-Wilstätter Minerva Center for Research in Photosynthesis

Following this rational, the center provides seed money for multidisciplinary researchprograms (1-3 years), international meetings and exchanges of German and Center's members.On the Israeli side, travel support is mainly provided to students and post-doc fellows.Research funds are limited to members of the center. Four new members have recently joinedthe center.

The Y. Leon Benoziyo Institute for Molecular Medicine

David Mirelman, Director The Besen-Brender Professor of Microbiology and Parasitology

The main goals of the Y. Leon Benoziyo Institute for Molecular Medicine (BIMM) are topromote and encourage novel and interdisciplinary research programs with special emphasison the elucidation of molecular aspects of a variety of diseases that afflict mankind. One of theaims is to assist in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of important human diseases andto identify unique pathways and approaches that could be the basis for the development ofnovel therapies that will help us combat disease. BIMM provides support for promisingprojects and assists in the purchase of novel technologies and equipment as well as promotes aseries of monthly lectures by invited speakers and a yearly international symposium of expertson selected topics at the Weizmann Institute.

The Steering Committee of the Y. Leon Benoziyo Institute consists of the Director, Prof. DavidMirelman; Prof. Moshe Oren, Dean of the Faculty of Biology, and Prof. Yoram Groner,Deputy President of the Weizmann Institute.

The Steering Committee decided to extend the support given in 2000 for the research programof Prof Yossi Shaul. Prof. Shaul has made very impressive progress in his investigations of thehuman c-Abl gene. He has found that when this gene is modified it causes chronicmyelogenous leukemia (CML) and acute lymphocytic leukemias (ALL). He has discoveredthat this gene acts in collaboration with another one by demonstrating that they physicallyinteract with each other and that this interaction often ends in a molecular modification. Prof.Shaul is currently investigating the possibility that c-Abl might control the switching betweencell growth and death.

During 2001 the Steering Committee also received and reviewed numerous research proposalson subjects dealing with different aspects of molecular medicine. Out of these, the Committeechose three new proposals for financial support from the following Institute scientists: ProfEitan Bibi on his studies of the molecular mechanism of multidrug resistance, a knownobstacle and sometimes a very serious limitation to chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer andinfectious diseases. Support was also given to Dr. Atan Gross from the Department ofBiological Regulation for his research on the role of the pro-apoptotic proteins in life and cell-death. Apoptosis is a subtly orchestrated disassembly of critical molecular structures,permitting the programmed death of doomed cells. Understanding the molecular events of

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168 The Y. Leon Benoziyo Institute for Molecular Medicine

apoptosis may yield new paths in the treatment and cure of disease, the process of aging, andcures for cancer. The third grant was awarded to Dr. Naama Barkai from the Department ofMolecular Genetics for her research in developing computation tools that will enable the betterunderstanding of the logic of regulation of gene expression. Dr Barkai is using the expressiondata generated by the novel DNA chip technology in order to try and predict the response of acell to different perturbations or mutations and also to try and modulate specific states.

During 2001 the Institute for Molecular Medicine also supported the acquisition of noveltechnologies and equipment for advanced molecular biology research. The Institutecontributed to the purchase of a top of the line Mass Spectrometry apparatus to enable thesequence analysis of minute amounts of proteins for functional proteomics research. TheInstitute also continued with its support of a series of monthly seminars in Molecular Medicineby world leading scientists as well as the sponsorship of an annual international scientificconference at the Weizmann Institute. The Second International Symposium of the Y. LeonBenoziyo Institute on "Protein-Centered Approaches from Basic Research to FightingDisease" will be organized by Dr. Mike Fainzilber. It was planned for December 2002 but hasbeen postponed to June 2002. Distinguished scientists from Israel and abroad have beeninvited to present their research before a wide gathering of scientists from all researchinstitutions and biotechnological companies in Israel.

The Institute plans to expand its activities during 2002 and to increase the level of support forall its activities.

http://www.weizmann.ac.il/acadsec/Scientific_Activities/benoziyo-molecular-center.html

The Dr. Josef Cohn Minerva Center for Biomembrane Research

Haim Garty, Director (until November 2001)

Zvi Livneh, Director (from December 2001) The Maxwell Ellis Professorial Chair in Biomedical Research

The Josef Cohn Center for Biomembrane Research was officially inaugurated in 1988 tocommemorate Dr. Cohn's major contributions to the scientific links between Germany andIsrael. The aim of the Center is to initiate and promote interdisciplinary scientific research ofprocesses involved in the transfer of information across membranes of living cells. This isachieved by provision of seed money for original and innovative research activities, byfellowships to young investigators in this field, and by supporting workshops on hot topics inthis field.

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170 The Dr. Josef Cohn Minerva Center for Biomembrane Research

The Crown Human Genome Center

Doron Lancet, Director The Ralph D. and Lois R. Silver Professor of Human Genomics

The center has been inaugurated in 1998 in order to advance genome research at the WeizmannInstitute. The center addresses the challenges posed by the worldwide enormous progress inDNA sequencing of various genomes. This includes numerous bacterial genomes, as well asthose of the nematode C. elegans, the Drosophila fruitfly. Importantly, this year, the Humangenome has been completed and the mouse genome is nearly finished too. There is also acollaboration with plant genome research at the institute.

The Center, in close collaboration with the Department of Biological Services, providesWeizmann scientists with the following infrastructure activities: 1) Large scale DNAsequencing of genomic segments, including the identification and purchase of genomic clones.Projects include sequencing of entire 100kb clones as well as sequencing of hundreds ofshorter clones, e.g. Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs). 2) DNA microarray technologies,including an Affymetrix instrument with photolithography-generated oligonucleotide arrays,which analyses mRNAs expression patterns or genomic mutations in thousands of genes fromdifferent species. Last year, an alternative glass slide cDNA spotting and scanning technologyhas been implemented, and specifically applied to several systems, including the entire genegamut of yeast. In this framework, "Project 40" has been initiated to discover the basic pattersof gene expression in 40 human tissues and for 60,000 genes. 3) Computational genomics,including knowhow on how to utilize the draft of the human genome, as well as othercompleted genomes, in terms of genomic maps and gene repositories. This includes access toexternal databases and internal data structures such as GeneCards, Unified Database (UDB),GESTALT, and CroW21, a mapping toll for human chromosome 21, in collaboration withProf. Yoram Groner.

This year the Sequenom MassArray system for discovering and scoring Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) has been installed. SNPs are points of genomic differences that arescattered all about the genome. This technology is becoming a highly important topic ofgenomic research, aimed at understanding variations among individuals within a species. Incollaboration with Prof. Jacques Beckmann, a pharmacogenetic project has been initiatedthrough Yeda with Teva Pharmaceuticla Industry and the Technion, based on thisinstrumentation.

Gene discovery projects, performed in collaboration with medical establishments throughoutIsrael, include the identification of a gene for a mental retardation gene, mucolipidosis 4, the

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172 The Crown Human Genome Center

gene for Hereditary Inclusion body Myopathy (HIBM), a muscular distropy and the gene forPolymorphic Ventricular Tachicardia (PVT), an early onset heart failure. The Center alsoharbors a program in evolutionary genomics, including the evolution of the sense of smell andprebiotic evolution.

The Crown Human Genome Center receives support from Crown Family, the Abraham andJudy Goldwasser Fund, the Alfried Krupp Foundation, the Israel ministry of Science Cultureand Sports as a National Laboratory for Genome Infrastructure and for an Israel-Indiacollaboration, from DoubleTwist Inc. and from a Magneton project from the Ministry ofIndustry and Trade.

Home page: http://bioinfo.weizmann.ac.il/genome_center/

The Mel Dobrin Center for Nutrition

Robert Fluhr, Director

Increasing plant productivity and nutritional quality are a major human interest. In the pastyear, the Dobrin Center has continued to provide a coordinating and supportive framework forvarious activities aimed at increasing our understanding of the genetics, biochemistry, andphysiological processes that may lead to improvements in crop plants.

During the past year, the Center supported novel approaches for the production of nutritionallyimproved plants, and reducing crop plants losses caused by biotic and environmental stresses.In addition, the Center has continued to provide support for the exchange of scientists and forthe participation of young scientists in international conferences that deal with plant nutrition

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174 The Mel Dobrin Center for Nutrition

The Leo and Julia Forchheimer Center for Molecular Genetics

Ben-Zion Shilo, Director (until March 2001) The Hilda and Cecil Lewis Chair of Molecular Genetics

Adi Kimchi, Director (from April 2001) The Helena Rubinstein Chair in Cancer Research

The functions of the center, which was established by the Forchheimer foundation of NewYork in January 1982, are to promote Molecular Genetics in general, and recombinant DNAtechnologies in particular, to probe into the molecular mechanisms of life processes as well astrain scientists in the development of biotechnology and biomedical industries based onMolecular Genetics.

The center has been instrumental in enlarging or establishing several scientific services incampus. Recent examples include the laboratory for the production of transgenic and knockout mice and participation of the center in establishing state of the art facilities for the analysisof DNA, including an automated DNA sequencing unit, advanced computer hardware andsoftware. This equipment allows molecular geneticists at the Weizmann Institute to participatein world wide studies on the human genome, to conduct functional studies on isolated genes,and perform genetic studies in invertebrate model organisms.

The center supports research in Molecular Genetics by allocating funds for promising andinnovative projects, as well as helping in the purchase of new equipment. In 2001, severalmajor projects were funded and the following equipment was purchased:

1. Under the auspices of the Center, we continued to support the pioneering work of Dr.Naama Barkai, who analyzes whole genome expression in yeast. A biological physicistwith a broad background in modeling biological processes, Dr. Barkai's comprehensiveand quantitative approach to genetic research enables her to organize and sift throughvast amounts of generated data, and to separate significant from insignificant bits ofinformation.

2. The Forchheimer Center also supported the research efforts of Prof. Peter Lonai, whostudies whole genome expression in mice, as well as the role of FGF (fibroblast growthfactor) receptors in patterning the extracellular matrix as the mouse embryo develops.

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176 The Leo and Julia Forchheimer Center for Molecular Genetics

Prof. Lonai has identified genes that are required for epithelial-mesenchymalinteractions. ("Epithelia," or epithels, are cell sheets covering our body's external andinternal surfaces, and make an overlay above more loosely-arranged cells calledmesenchyme.) His use of gene targeting for genetic analysis yields realistic answers as tothe "how, when and where" of specific gene function, in an organism which is relativelyclose to our own.

3. In addition, the Center helped fund the research efforts of Prof. Chaim Kahana, whoinvestigates the role played by polyamines in cell growth control and cancerousprocesses. Utilization of the yeast system has provided the identification of newcomponents critical for polyamine transport across the plasma membrane.This issue isamong those being investigated in Prof. Kahana's laboratory.

4. Many reagents, especially DNA plasmids used for expression of genes in bacteria andmammalian cells, are utilized by the entire community of Molecular Geneticists at theWeizmann Institute. However, in many cases the same plasmids are purchased multipletimes, or scientists are not always certain which plasmid is best for a particular purpose.To overcome these problems, Dr. Batya Cohen, an experienced molecular biologistestablished a centralized plasmid collection. The details of this collection are availableon the web for Weizmann scientists, and Dr. Batya Cohen provides the desired plasmidsupon request. The center pays 25% of Dr. Cohen's salary.

5. The Forchheimer center has provided funds for the purchase of a new confocalfluorescent microscope for the department. The major advantage of this state of the artmicroscope is a laser allowing to detect separately the fluorescence of YFP in CFPproteins in live specimens. Thus, the dynamic localization of two differently taggedproteins or cells can be visualized. Studies at the department are focusing not only on theanalysis of these processes in cultured cells, but also on the visualization of processes inwhole live embryos of the fruit fly. A second laser in this microscope allows thesimultaneous staining of nuclei in fixed tissue, while a third laser detects redfluorescence.

The Kekst Family Center for Medical Genetics

Yoram Groner, Director The Dr. Barnet Berris Professor of Cancer Research

The Kekst Family Center for Medical Genetics was established by Gershon and Carol Kekst.The Center's main objective is to promote the investigation of medical aspects of genetics,with the aim of understanding the molecular mechanisms of life processes, and its subsequentapplication to medicine.

The Center provides financial assistance to investigators embarking on new projects in thefield of molecular medicine, as well as to cross-disciplinary research collaborations betweengroups from different departments. It also supports the organization of international and localconferences and workshops aimed at disseminating and promoting communication betweenresearchers in fields related to medical genetics. Funds are allocated to support the purchase ofnew equipment with the aim of upgrading the technical infrastructure of medical genetics atthe Institute.

The activities of the Center are coordinated by a steering committee, comprised of YoramGroner (Department of Molecular Genetics), Moshe Oren (Department of Molecular CellBiology) and David Mirelman (Department of Chemical Biology).

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178 The Kekst Family Center for Medical Genetics

The Charles W. and Tillie K. Lubin Center for Plant Biotechnology


The Lubin Center encourages research activities that contribute to the understanding of thebiology of crop plants, in general, and cereals, in particular. The center promotes infrastructureand methodology for the production of transgenic plants for research purposes. The Centercontinues to maintain seed stocks of various wheat aneuploids and wild relatives of cultivatedwheat as well as other plants. In the past year different methods for the production of hybridwheat, based on geneticic male-sterility, have been developed and optimized. New projectsinclude stting up experimental systems to understand the origin of genes that were importantfor cultivation of cereals that will play an important part in our appreciation of how plants weredomesticated.

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180 The Charles W. and Tillie K. Lubin Center for Plant Biotechnology

The M.D. Moross Institute for Cancer Research

Yosef Yarden, Director (until November 2001) The Harold and Zelda Goldenberg Professor of Molecular Cell Biology

Yoram Groner, Director (from December 2001) The Dr. Barnet Berris Professor of Cancer Research

The M.D. Moross Institute for Cancer Research, established in November 1998 with agenerous founding endowment made by the Manfred D. Moross Foundation, will be dedicatedto the promotion of excellent cancer research at the Weizmann Institute.

The M.D. Moross Institute aims to promote, facilitate and enhance cancer related research atthe Weizmann Institute. To this end the M.D. Moross Institute will work as an umbrellainstitute encompassing other Weizmann Institute centers and some major funds that areinvolved in cancer research, in order to achieve a campus-wide synergy in cancer research.

Cancer related research constitutes more than half of all Weizmann Institute activities in theLife Sciences, involving close to 50 groups (approximately 350 people). This breadth is aresult of the Institute's inherently interdisciplinary nature, and is a feature that is likely tobecome even more prominent in the years to come, as disciplines overlap each other's domainsand coalesce to create new areas of expertise. Seminal contributions of Weizmann Institutescientists often cannot be realized due to a hiatus in critical funding during the post-discoveryperiod. The M.D. Moross Institute for Cancer Research will provide this timely and significantsupport.

The main areas of support include:

• Special support for the acquisition of new trans-disciplinary technologies aimed atencouraging research collaboration between different groups.

• Funding collaborative research projects between various cancer researchers at the Weiz-mann Institute, and between these scientists and clinicians at the Tel Aviv Sourasky-Ichilov Medical Center with the aim of translating basic Weizmann laboratory researchinto clinical application in the hospital.

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182 The M.D. Moross Institute for Cancer Research

• Supporting scientists who have submitted or resubmitted large, ambitious research plansto significant external granting agencies, to cover their research expenses for the interimperiod between submission and acceptance.

• Life Science Colloquia in the field of cancer research, to which distinguished scientistsare invited to present an Institute-wide lecture on their research, and to spend a few dayson campus for meetings and discussion with faculty and students.

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The David and Fela Shapell Family Center for Genetic Disorders Research

Yoram Groner, Director The Dr. Barnet Berris Professor of Cancer Research

The David and Fela Shapell Family Center for Genetic Disorders Research was established byDavid and Fela Shapell in honor of Jacob Shapell, their beloved grandson, to support researchon Down syndrome and other genetic disorders. The Center's main objective is to promote theinvestigation of molecular genetic aspects of Down syndrome and other genetic disorders,with the aim of understanding the molecular mechanisms by which altered genotype leads toaltered phenotype.

The Shapell Center provides financial assistance to investigators embarking on new projects inthe field of molecular genetics, as well as to interdisciplinary research collaborations betweengroups using the infrastructure of the Facility for Genetically Modified Animals (FGMA).Funds are also allocated to the purchase of new equipment with the aim of upgrading thetechnical infrastructure of FGMA.

The Shapell Center also supports the organization of international and local conferences andworkshops aimed at disseminating and promoting communication between researchers infields related to medical genetics. The activities of the Center are coordinated by a steering committee, including Yoram Groner(Department of Molecular Genetics), Moshe Oren (Department of Molecular Cell Biology)and David Mirelman (Department of Biological Chemistry).

The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Center for Plant Molecular Genetics Research


A most pressing problem currently addressed by plant scientists throughout the world concernsnumerous natural and man-made environmental hazards, such as contamination of theenvironment by pesticides and herbicides, increased salinization of agricultural soils anddegraded water resources. The stability of man's environment is key to his steady social andtechnological progress. - Dealing with these and other problems is critical in planning futureenvironmentally-safe increases in crop yields in face of the growing demands of an expandingglobal human population.

The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Center has devoted funds to research committed to thesetasks. Three different areas were supported this year. The salient features of the supportedresearch include plant pathogen interaction and environmental interactions.

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186 The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Center for Plant Molecular Genetics Research

Faculty of Biology

Dean: Moshe Oren

Michael Sela, Ph.D. (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Institute Professor The W. Garfield Weston Professor of Immunology

188 Faculty of Biology

Faculty of Biology

Dean: Moshe Oren

The Faculty of Biology is one of two faculties of Life Sciences at the Institute. Originally, thesister Faculty of Biochemistry concentrated on research at the molecular level, whereas theFaculty of Biology focused on the organism level. Although this distinction has manyexceptions, the four scientific Departments of the Faculty of Biology dedicate their efforts tounderstanding biological processes in their normal and in their pathological settings. Theefforts of two of our scientific Departments are almost entirely oriented at organs or tissues.These are the Department of Neurobiology and the Department of Immunology, whichconcentrate on the nervous system and all aspects of the body's defense mechanisms,respectively. The research groups of the Department of Molecular Cell Biology are linked by acommon interest in function and structure at the cellular level. Our youngest department,Biological Regulation, was established at the end of 1995 as part of a reorganization in the LifeSciences. A large variety of regulatory processes, including the transmission of biologicalsignals at the cellular level (signal transduction) and at the organism level (hormones andgrowth factors) is addressed by the Department's scientists.

Complementing the physical organization of the Faculty into Departments, interdisciplinaryResearch Institutes and Centers coordinate campus-wide research projects. The EinhornDominic Institute for Brain Research and its associated centers The Nella and Leon BenoziyoCenter for Neurosciences and The Murray H. and Meyer Grodetsky Center for Research ofHigher Brain Functions support and fortify studies of the most fascinating and least understoodorgan, the brain. The M.D. Moross Institute for Cancer Research, based in the Faculty ofBiology, coordinates Institute-wide research addressing the most deadly disease of Westernsociety, cancer. The Yad Abraham Center for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy supports workaiming primarily to implement the basic knowledge generated at the Weizmann towards betterdiagnosis and treatment of cancer. Studies on aging, a major focus of interest in contemporaryWestern societies, are supported by the Meller Center for the Biology of Aging. Clinicallyimportant aspects of our immune system are also being explored: the Robert Koch Center forResearch in Autoimmune Disease is studying the consequences of malfunction of the immunesystem and is exploring ways to intercept such unwelcome processes, while the Rich Centerfor Transplanation Biology Research is supporting work aimed at increasing the success ofbone marrow transplantation in the treatment of cancer and other life threatening diseases. TheWillner Family Center for Vascular Biology supports the study of angiogenesis (new bloodvessel formation) and of functional aspects of our blood system.

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190 Faculty of Biology

The Faculty considers its major aim to foster biological studies both at the organism and at themolecular level, by using state of the art technologies. Accordingly, we are streamliningservices that help research groups generate animal models, including gene-knockout andtransgenic animals. In parallel, we seek to enhance our research activities that usesophisticated imaging methods, including functional MRI and EEG, to follow the function ofinternal organs, tumors and the brain. In anticipation of changes in the directions of biomedicalresearch in the 21st century, the Faculty is encouraging research in the field of biologicalphysics, bringing together researchers trained in physics and in the life sciences.

Our other major challenge is to attract and recruit outstanding young scientists. In an age ofconstantly growing complexity of unanswered biological questions and ever increasingcompetition for discoveries, we consider it our shared responsibility to provide optimalconditions for the creativity of our promising Senior Scientists.

Our only service Department, the facility for Preclinical Research, has recently undergonedramatic changes that bring the Weizmann Institute into the cutting edge of modern biologicalresearch. Both the new and the extensively renovated facilities host our laboratory animalsunder improved disease-free conditions and allow more efficient research of mammals. Ofparticular importance is the recently opened Facility for Genetically Modified Animals. Thisstate of the art facility is providing Weizmann Institute researchers with a powerful timely toolfor developing animal models of human diseases.

Biological Regulation

Hadassa Degani, Head The Fred and Andrea Fallek Professor of Breast Cancer Research

The regulation of processes responsible for the concerted action of cells, tissues, and organs iscarried out in our Department. Our studies include the identification of signaling moleculessuch as hormones and growth factors, their specific receptors, their target cells, and themechanisms involved in the transduction of the signals that determine where and when theseprocesses are triggered and implemented. Since deregulation of such processes are a cause formany human diseases (heart failure, stroke, cancer and abnormal growth, infertility, lack ofnerve regeneration after injury, etc.), we make an effort to use our results for the developmentof tools for early diagnosis and for the design of new drugs for pharmacological intervention.A diversity of methodologies and experimental approaches are used in our Department. Theseinclude biochemical, molecular biology, and physiological methods, organ and tissue cultures,whole animal studies, and in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy(MRS).

Our studies this year included:

1. The development of in vivo imaging of molecular, metabolic and physiologicparameters, using nuclear magnetic reMNava Dekel).

2. Characterization of the role of BCL-2 family members and caspases in cell life and deathprocesses. The cell death-regulating activity of the BCL-2 family members appears todepend on their ability to modulate mitochondrial function. We are studying two pro-apoptotic molecules from this family, BID and BAX, using mammalian systems andyeast as a model system. In addition, we are using ovarian follicle atresia/ovulation as amodel to study the cellular functions of caspases in-vivo (Atan Gross).

3. The development of novel selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM'S). Theseinclude (i) a novel derivative of the phytoestrogen genistein, 6-carboxy-genistein, withunique effects on the vascular, bone and uterus; (ii) synthetic peptides, having estrogen-like activity, derived from a phage display peptide library (in collaboration with E.Katzir, Department of Biological Chemistry, WIS); and (iii) betatypic anti-idiotypicantibodies that can act as a surrogate antigen (Fortune Kohen).

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192 Biological Regulation

4. The characterization of caveolae function in multidrug resistant cancer cells, elucidationof the role of caveolin in drug export and drug response, and analysis of caveolin-mediated loss of anchorage-independent growth in multidrug resistant cells. In addition,we have studied aspects of the molecular and cell biology of phospholipase D isozymesin yeast and mammalian cells in relation to their possible functions in signal transductionand in intracellular membrane traffic. Finally, we explored the possible use of novelsteroidal alakloids in chemotherapy of multidrug resistant cancer (MordechaiLiscovitch).

5. Application of MRI for elucidation of the regulatory pathways that control therecruitment of endothelial capillaries (angiogenesis), vascular maturation, andremodeling of the lymphatics by small avascular dormant tumors (Michal Neeman).

6. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of human prostate tumors and bone metastases thereofwith Pd-Bacteriopheophorbide and light has been achieved in mice high rates of success.The new treatment protocol aimed at destruction of the tumor vasculature is conductedwith no drug-light interval and performed in one session based on the fast clearance(several minutes) of the sensitizer from the circulation. The role of oxygen free radicalsin normal physiological processes is being studied at the molecular and cellular levelsusing. In this study Bacteriopheophorbide and light are used as a photoswitch to generatereactive oxygen species (Yoram Salomon in collaboration with Avigdor Scherz, PlantSciences).

7. The characterization of the intracellular transmission of extracellular signals by sevendistinct signaling pathways: four MAP Kinase cascades (ERK, JNK, p38 and BMK) twoPI3K dependent cascades (AKT and S6K) and the PKA cascade. These studies included(i) identification of novel components, (ii) cross-talk between the distinct cascade, (iii)intracellular localization of components of the cascades, and are aimed to elucidate howthe signaling network formed by these signaling cascade regulate gene expression,proliferation, and differentiation (Rony Seger).

8. (a) The demonstration that extra cellular phosphorylation of Vitronectin by PKA, PKC,and CKII, provides regulatory devices in blood (fibrinolysis as well as cell adhesion andspreading). (b) The elucidation of the invovement of Vitronectin in the characterizationof the signal transduction pathways that control these processes (c) The discovery thatthe pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF , a factor associated with retinopathies anda potent anti-angiogenic factor) in human blood, and its biological and pharmacologicalsignificance of this finding (Shmuel Shaltiel).

9. Ovulation in mammals is a preferable target for contraception and fertility regulation.We investigate two of the ovulatory processes: (i) Oocyte maturation, including thedifferential regulation and expression of phosphodiesterases in the germ cells andsomatic compartments in the ovary; and the role of meiosis activating sterols (MAS). (ii)Follicular rupture at ovulation and the involvement of proteolytic cascades (plasmin

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activating system, and collagenases), eicosanoids and other paracrine regulators (AlexTsafriri).

10. Our interest centers on a group of growth factor receptors that play a critical role incancers of epithelial origin. The four ErbB receptors (also called HER) bind a largevariety of stromal growth factors and mediate cell growth and differentiation. We areespecially interested in ErbB-2, a ligand-less receptor that cats as a potent oncoprotein,and physiological mechanisms that down regulate growth factor signaling. Uniquely, thesignaling-competent form of ErbB-2 is coupled to a chaperone. Once inactivated bychaperone antagonists, ErbB-2 loses its oncogenic activity due to rapid degradation.Unexpectedly, we identified synthetic kinase inhibitors that mimic the antagonists byavidly binding to ErbB-2 and effectively presenting it to the chaperone-mediateddestruction pathway. This understanding may lead to the development of new cancerdrugs or combinations of cancer therapeutics. The major physiological pathways leadingto signaling desensitization are related to endocytosis of the ligand-receptor complexes.By studying the mechanism induced by c-Cbl, an endosomal oncoprotein we previouslyidentified as a ubiquitin ligase, we found that Grb2, a ubiquitous adapter, acts as amediator of c-Cbl-induced receptor endocytosis. Currently we concentrate on othernegative regulators, such as Sprouty, Ack1, TSG-101, Hgs and Kekkkon1, in an effort togain insights which will help harness cellular mechanisms for cancer therapy (YosefYarden).

The Department has now 11 scientific group leaders, one staff scientist, 35 doctoral students,15 masters students, and 12 postdoctoral fellows. The research groups in the Department alsoinclude physicians and guest researchers from hospitals, with whom we have developedsubstantial research collaborations, including the planning of clinical trials.


Professors

Hadassa Degani, Ph.D., State University of New York, Stony Brook, United StatesFred and Andrea Fallek Professor of Breast Cancer Research

Mordechai Liscovitch, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Harold L. Korda Professor of Biology

Yoram Salomon, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe Charles W. and Tillie K. Lubin Professor of Hormone Research

Shmuel Shaltiel, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (on extension of service) The Hella and Derrick Kleeman Professor of Biochemistry

Alexander Tsafriri, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Herman and Lily Schilling Foundation Professor

Yosef Yarden, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Harold and Zelda Goldenberg Professor of Molecular Cell Biology



Nava Dekel, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelThe Philip M. Klutznick Professor of Developmental Biology

Michal Neeman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelRony Seger, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Fortüne Kohen, Ph.D., Brandeis University, Waltham, United States

Senior Scientist

Atan Gross, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelIncumbent of the Armour Family Career Development Chair of Cancer Research


Iris Schvartz, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (left September 2001)


Edna Haran Furman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelDaniel Harari, Ph.D., Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne,

Australia (left July 2001)

Consultants

Rinat Abramovitch, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, IsraelHerzel Ben-Hur, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, IsraelShimon Cohen, Orbotech Ltd., Yavneh, IsraelJoseph Friedman, Kupat Holim, Petach-Tikva, Israel Irit Granot, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel (left June 2001)Dov Grobgeld, Orbotech Ltd., Yavneh, IsraelGideon Halperin, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Nes-Ziona, Israel (left December

2001) Alex Levitzki, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (left February 2001)Moshe Merikovsky, Faculty of Agruculture, Rehovot, Israel (left June 2001)Lea Pollak, Assaf Harofeh, Medical Center, Tzrifin, Israel (left November 2001)Reuven Reich, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelDalia Sömjen, Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel (left September 2001)Catherine Tempel-Brami, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, IsraelIdo Wolf, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel

Biological Regulation 195

Visiting Scientists

Daniel Aebersold, University of Bern, SwitzerlandEdna Bechor, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, IsraelElke Burgermeister, Roche Diagnostics, Penzberg, GermanyYi Guo, China Medical University , Shenyang, PR ChinaNeeru Jain, University of Delhi, IndiaNatalya Koudinova, Russian People's Friendship University , Moscow, RussiaSeymour Pomerantz, University of Maryland, MD, U.S.A.Daphna Weinstein, Assaf Harofe Hospital, Zrifin, IsraelAnna Wojtowicz, Jagellonian University , Krakov, PolandQiyue Xie, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, PR China


Outhiriaradjou Benard, Ph.D., Medical College Hospital, IndiaSwetlana Boldin-Adamsky, Ph.D.,M.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelElke Burgermeister, Ph.D., University Clinic of the RWTH of Aachen, GermanyEliezer Girsh, Ph.D., Agriculture Faculty, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelSabina Glozman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelYi Guo, Ph.D., China Medical University, ChinaGal Gur-Shachar, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, IsraelYael Kalma, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelGabriele Kerber, Ph.D., University of Giessen, GermanyNatalia Koudinova, Ph.D.,M.D., School of Medicine, RussiaSarah Kraus, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, IsraelMina Marmor, Ph.D., University of Toronto, CanadaRachel Sarig, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelDalia Seger, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelHanshuang Shao, Ph.D., South China Tropical Agriculture University, ChinaHongzhi Sun, Ph.D., Shanghai Medical University, ChinaAnna Katarzyna Wojtowicz, Ph.D., Jagiellonian University, PolandQiyue Xie, Ph.D., The PLA General Hospital, China

Research Students

Roy Amariglio Xiumei Cao
Jing BaoMichael BatkinNeta Ben ChaimLiat Ben-Yehoshua JosefsbYael BergknoffLiora Bogin-Berkowitz
Maya ChetritAmi CitriHagit DafniGalit EliyahuInbal FlashEran Gershon


Roman GersnerAssaf Gilead

Vicki PlaksYehudit Posen

Dorit GranotMichal GreenbergShimon GrossGal HaimovichRinatte HamiTomer IsraelyMiriam KandliMenachem KatzRachel Katz-BrullBose Skaria KochupurakkalMichal Kovo-HasharoniShlomi LazarYossy MachlufGalia Maik-RachlineNimrod MarilGoldie Marmorgalit MazoozOhad MazorYaron MosessonShlomo OvedYael Paran-Peleg

Dina PreiseDana RavidZiv RavivAriel RinonDalia Rivenzon-SegalChanan RubinHadara RubinfeldSmadar SchreiberDalia SegerSagit Sela-AbramovichMaya ShellyLiora ShiftanKeren ShtiegmanXiaoqing TangHadassa WatermanKeren YacobiLiat YakirZhong YaoYuval YungJudith ZilbersteinKeren Ziv

Administrator

Rachel Benjamin

Immunology

Israel Pecht, Head The Dr. Morton and Anne Kleiman Professor

The exponential growth of research activity in the life sciences has immunology in its center:The wide range of research activities in our Department cover a spectrum of questions inimmunology ranging from fundamental aspects of antigen recognition and intercellularsignaling to intercellular communication as well as cell migration and homing. Naturally, theprogress made in resolving the underlining principles of normally operating immune functionsis also applied to furthering the understanding of its disorders. Therefore, several aspects ofautoimmunity allergies, as well as cancer, are being pursued.

Among the different interesting advances made during the recent years is the effectivecollaborations developing amongst several researchers of the Department in studying therelationship between migration and adhesion of immune cells and its control by physical andbiochemical parameters.

The activities of the different research groups are briefly summarized below:

R. Alon's studies focus on the molecular basis and cellular mechanisms by which vascularadhesion molecules (selectins, integrins and their respective ligands) operate to tether andarrest circulating leukocytes on vascular endothelium under shear flow. The group investigatesthe crosstalk between these adhesion receptors and chemokine receptors on recruitedleukocytes, facilitating their emigration to specific tissues both in normal and pathologicalimmune processes. A new focus of the lab is the role of mechanical signals, transduced toadherent leukocytes by shear flow, in the translation of biochemical signals from vascularendothelial cells into productive transendothelial leukocyte migration.

R. Arnon studies of antigenicity and vaccine development; Immunochemical aspects ofschistosomiasis; Synthetic peptides and synthetic vaccines. Experimental allergicencephalomyelitis, its suppression by basic copolymers of amino acids and relevance tomultiple sclerosis (collaboration with M. Sela, D. Teitelbaum). In addition she examines thepossible use of antibodies for local drug delivery of the anti-cancer agent, cis-platinum(collaboration with M. Wilchek).

A. Ben-Nun demonstrated new primary target antigens (MOG, MOBP) in multiple sclerosisand their implications for pathogenic processes and immune-specific therapy; He studiesepitope-directed immune-specific therapy of MOG-induced EAE mediated by altered

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peptides. The mechanisms of T cell modulation; T cell receptor and ligand interaction inautoimmune disease; Non-superantigenic bacterial toxins, T cell subsets and autoimmunedisease; Effect of encephalitogenic myelin-specific T cells and demyelinating antibodies onnerve conduction in the central nervous system in vitro.

G. Berke's investigates the induction and effector functions of killer T lymphocytes in cancerimmunity, the regulation of tumor immunity and tumor escape from immune attack. He studies(a) Tetrameric MHC - peptide complexes in cancer detection and as candidate cancer vaccines,(b) Fas/Fas-L interactions in tumor immunity, (c) Regulation of expression and functions ofthe death receptor Fas in primary and metastatic tumors.

I.R. Cohen's research activities concentrate on the following topics: Autoimmune diabetes:Pathogenesis and clinical trials; Autoimmunity to p53 and the development of systemic lupuserythematosus (with Varda Rotter); Regulation of immune inflammation by smallcarbohydrate molecules (with Ofer Lider); Autoimmunity to hsp60 and the development ofsubunit vaccines against infectious diseases; Innate receptors for hsp60; Bio-informatics:antigen chip (with Eytan Domany), modeling languages (with David Harel, Amir Pnueli).

Z. Eshhar pursues the Immuno-gene therapy of tumours by redirecting effector lymphocytesusing chimeric receptors using human prostate and breast carcinoma models; Modulation ofIgE-receptor interactions in the allergic response; Design and generation of catalyticantibodies.

S. Fuchs studies immunoregulation of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG)and the relation between myasthenia gravis and acetylcholine receptor (AChR); Structure,function and signal transduction of dopamine receptors and their presence in peripheral tissuesin health and disease.

T. Lapidot pursues the identification of cytokines, chemokines, stromal cells and adhesionmolecules that regulate the migration and developmental program of human stem cells, bothnormal and leukemic, in a functional in vivo assay as well as the applications for human geneand cancer therapy. In particular the role of the Chemokine SDF and its receptor CXCR4.

O. Lider Studies how the immune system is operating under inflammatory conditions. Heanalyses the effects of cytokines on lymphocyte migration, cell surface adhesion receptorfunction. He attempts the evaluation of the enzymatic machinery required for leukocytesmigration and examines the capacities of these enzymes to generate natural small molecularweight inhibitors of inflammation.

E. Mozes studies the mechanisms underlying the down regulation of a) myasthenia gravis(MG) by an altered peptide ligand based on two myasthenogenic T cell epitopes of the humanacetylcholine receptor and b) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by peptides based on theCDR of a pathogenic anti-DNA autoantibody. The immunomodulation of T cell functions(including that of regulatory T cells), cytokine profile, activity of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs), costimulatory molecules, and of molecules involved in signal transduction isinvestigated.

Immunology 199

I. Pecht investigates the process of recognition by immunoreceptors and the mechanism oftheir signalling. Specifically how the coupling between these receptors' stimuli and cellularresponses is initiated and controlled. Regulation of mast cell secretion of inflammatorymediators is the investigated model for an immunological signalling cascade. T-cell antigenrecognition is the main system where the immunological surveillance processes is studied. Inaddition, the rather different problem of internal electron transfer in proteins is investigated.

Y. Reisner investigates a new approach for tolerance induction, using megadose stem-celltransplants to overcome MHC barriers in sublethally irradiated recipients; The mechanism(s)of tolerance induction by different veto cells is investigated; Also human/mouse chimera areused as new models for human antibody production and for adoptive cell therapy againstdifferent human leukemias and solid tumors.

I. Schechter investigates the regulation of stage specific genes during the life cycle ofschistosome (the parasite causing bilharzia) by alternative splicing, a mechanism thatgenerates structural diversity causing changes in gene function at different developmentalstages, as well as the function of stage-specific proteins.

M. Sela collaborates with E. Mozes on mechanism of action of peptides inhibitingexperimental myasthenia gravis, with R. Arnon and D. Teitelbaum on mechanism of action ofCopolymer 1, a drug against experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosisand with Y. Yarden on monoclonal antibodies to ErbB2 and their respective B cell epitopes,their roles in potential anti-tumor strategy.

I. Shachar studies homing, maturation and function of immature B cells. In order to fullymature and to participate in the humoral response, immature B cells first migrate into specificareas in the spleen, where they mature, while their arrival to other compartments is restricted.Our research is focused on the mechanisms controlling homing of immature B cells to thespleen and the differentiation to mature B cells in this compartment.


Professors

Ruth Arnon, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (on extension of service) The Paul Ehrlich Professor of Immunology

Gideon Berke, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Isaac and Elsa Bourla Professor of Cancer Research

Irun R. Cohen, M.D., Northwestern University Medical SchoolThe Helen and Morris Mauerberger Professor of Immunology

Zelig Eshhar, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Marshaal and Renette Ezralow Professor of Chemical and Cellular Immunology

Sara Fuchs, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (on extension of service) The Professor Sir Ernst B. Chain Professor of Neuroimmunology

200 Immunology

Edna Mozes, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Heinrich G. Ritzel Professor of Immunology

Israel Pecht, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Dr. Morton and Anne Kleiman Professor

Yair Reisner, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Henry H. Drake Professor of Immunology

Israel Schechter, M.D., Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (on extension of service) The Dr. Hymie Moross Professor of Molecular Immunology

Michael Sela, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelInstitute Professor The W. Garfield Weston Professor of Immunology

Professors Emeriti

Michael Feldman, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelNechama Haran-Ghera, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelRoald Nezlin, M.D., Ph.D., Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation


Avraham Ben-Nun, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Professor

Lea Eisenbach, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Georg F. Duckwitz Professor of Cancer Research

Tsvee Lapidot, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Pauline Recanati Career Development Chair of Immunology (until November 2001)

Ofer Lider, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Senior Scientists

Ronen Alon, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Tauro Career Development Chair in Biomedical Research

Idit Shachar, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, IsraelIncumbent of the Alvin and Gertrude Levine Career Development Chair of Cancer Research


Rebeca Hazdai-Tarrab, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (retired June 2001)

Daniel Schindler, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States (left July 2001)Bilha Schechter, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelDvora Teitelbaum, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Immunology 201


Rina Aharoni, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Liora Cahalon, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelAnat Faber Elmann, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (left January 2001) Sara W. Feigelson, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelNicole Claude Marie Kerlero De-Rosbo, Ph.D., La Trobe University, Bundoora, AustraliaRevital Zehavi-Feferman, Ph.D., Macquarie University Sydney, Sydney, Australia


Esther Bachar-Lustig, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelDmitry M. Gakamsky, Ph.D., Institute of Physics, Minsk, BelarusOrit Kollet, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Special Contract

Valentin Grabovsky, Ph.D., Daghestan State Medical Institute, Daghestan, Russian Federation (left August 2001)

Irina Skavirsky, Ph.D., Dnepropetrovsk Medical Institute, Ukraine

Engineers

Arieh Licht, M.Sc., Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, IsraelBilha Schechter, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelEsther Tzehoval, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Consultants

Vitaly Ablamunits, Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem, IsraelAlain Berrebi, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel (left July 2001)Alexander Brill, Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem, IsraelPinchas Burstein (left June 2001)Amiela Globerson Valentin Grabovsky, Biokine Therapatics Ltd., IsraelRami Hershkoviz, Assaf Harofeh Hospital, Tzrifin, Israel (left December 2001)Felix Mor, Rabin Medical Center, Belinson Campus, Betach-Tikva, IsraelRoald Nezlin (left October 2001)Alpha PeledCheryl Fitzer-Attas, Biotechnology General, Rehovot, Israel (left October 2001)Daniela RamHagai Schor, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

202 Immunology

Visiting Scientists

Asher Haviv, Hadassah Hebrew University Med. Ctr., Jerusalem, IsraelBasak Kayhan, University of Gazi, Ankara, TurkeyJianping Liu, University of Guanajuato, MexicoPrasanta Kumar Maiti, Indian Inst. of Sci., Bangalore, IndiaSvetlana Porozov, Shaare Zedek Med. Ctr., Jerusalem, IsraelSentrob Saragosti, Bichat Hospital, Paris, FranceMaya Zborovsky, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, IsraelKai-Yun Zhu, Central South University , Changsha, PR China


Abraham Avigdor, M.D., Ben-Gurion University, IsraelTamar Ben-Yedidia, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelAlexander Brill, Ph.D.,M.D., Saratov State Medical University, RussiaConstantin Fesel, Ph.D., Universite de Paris-VI, FranceSusanne Franitza, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelPolina Goichberg, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelYechiel Goldman, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelGayle Guadiz-Vaday, Ph.D., University of Rochester, USASung Ho Jeon, Ph.D., Seoul National University, KoreaBasak Kayhan, Ph.D., Gazi University, TurkeyAnat Kerem-Angel, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, IsraelOrit Kollet, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelJianping Liu, M.D., Hunan Medical University, ChinaPrasanta Kumar Maiti, Ph.D., Devi Ahilya University, IndiaGabriel Nussbaum, Ph.D.,M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, USAOrly Perl, Ph.D., South Bank University, United KingdomSarah Pri-Chen, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, IsraelMiri Rozner-Paas, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelSara Weiss Feigelson, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelXin Yao, M.D., Shanghai Medical University, China

Research Students

Jakub Abramson Shirly Becker- Herman
Hila Amir-KrollFabian ArdittiAmiram ArielShraga AvinerEfrat AvrahamErez Bar Haim
Talya BelogusAlain Ben-DavidIrene Bobilev-PrielLior CarmonGuy CinamonIdo Cohen

Immunology 203

Vered DanielAyelet Dar

Helena MedvedovskyOren Milstein

Benjamin DekelElad DinarOren DwirMarganit FaragoEran FinkelLiat FlaishonSusanne FranitzaLilach FriedmanSharon GanorSharon GatOfir GoldbergerHilit GurGili HartIris HechtTal IlaniSin-Hyeog ImJoy KahnJoel Kaye FlaxmanSung Hyung LeeJie Hui LiAriel B. LindnerNatalia LukaschukArthur MachlenkinAmir MalinaVictoria MalinaYehuda Matza

Avishai MimranDinorah MorvinskiNaama PeshesIsabelle Petit FridmanJehonathan Haim PinthusTatyana PonomariyovFrancisco QuintanaMeirav RechterShlomit Reich ZeligerInbal RingelCintia RoodveldtSarit SamiraRevital Shamrihila Shtark-benyaminElena ShvetsLina SouanAsaf SpiegelDavid SteinerLior TeitelbaumLilach Tencer HerschkovitzIlan VolovitzEitan WinterRong XuAlexandra ZaninMing-chao Zhong

Administrator

Nira Toledano

204 Immunology

Molecular Cell Biology

Benjamin Geiger, Head The Erwin Neter Professor of Cell and Tumor Biology

The molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying cell morphogenesis, dynamics, and fate,and their involvement in cell physiology, embryonic development, and cancer are the primarytopics of interest of the Department. These include studies on the mode of action of growthfactors and the nature of signals triggered by them in target cells. Growth regulation is alsoapproached through the study of either tumor suppressors, such as p53, which inhibitproliferation and can drive cells towards differentiation or apoptosis or growth activatinggenes and growth factors such as insulin, fibroblast growth factor, neuregulin and variouscytokines. These studies also address the basis for cancerous transformation either due toderegulated growth or to failure of growth suppressor or apoptosis-inducing genes. Advancedgene screening techniques and genetically modified experimental animals are used to identifyand characterize specific genes which are involved in normal and malignant growth, as well asin a variety of physiological signaling processes. In addition, there is broad interest in thediverse molecular mechanisms of cell adhesion in epithelial, endothelial, hemopoietic,mesenchymal and neuronal systems and the elucidation of their involvement in the regulationof cellular and embryonic morphogenesis. These studies include characterization of themechanism of adhesive interaction, the role of sugars in adhesive processes, cell-cellinteractions in the nervous system, the binding of surface-associated adhesion molecules to thecytoskeleton and the involvement of cytoskeleton-bound adhesions in cell motility andsignaling. The scope of topics is outlined below.

1. The regulation of cell growth and death

Cell proliferation and programmed cell death is studied by several research groups in thedepartment.

The laboratory of Doron Ginsberg is studying the E2F family of transcription factors,focusing on their role in controlling gene expression and cell proliferation. E2Fs regulatethe expression of genes required for cell cycle progression as well as genes involved inprogrammed cell death (apoptosis). This group used DNA microarrays and cell linescontaining inducible E2F-1 or E2F-3 to identify novel E2F target genes. Many of thesenovel E2F-regulated genes are involved in DNA replication. Thus, these results providenovel links between components of the DNA replication machinery and the cell cycleregulatory pathway involving the Rb tumor suppressor and E2F. Other novel E2F-regulated genes identified in this study are involved in mitosis and DNA repair. These

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206 Molecular Cell Biology

results indicate that E2F affects cell cycle progression both at the S-phase and duringmitosis. Furthermore, the data suggest that E2F-dependent gene regulation contribute tothe cellular response to DNA damage.

The Ginsberg group is also studying functional links between Ras and theretinoblastoma/E2F pathway. They found that activated Ras induces an increase in E2F-1 mRNA and protein levels. This effect of Ras on the up-regulation of E2F-1 mRNA isat the level of mRNA stability and the induced E2F-1 is transcriptionally active. Thesedata indicate that one of the molecular mechanisms underlying the collaborationbetween Ras and E2F in cell transformation involves an Ras-induced elevation oftranscriptionally active E2F-1 levels. Adhesion-mediated effects on cell growth arestudied by the groups of Doron Ginsberg and Benjamin Geiger, showing that cadherin-mediated interactions formed between cells and synthetic beads, coated with differentcadherin ligands, can induce an arrest in cell growth due to elevation of the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor, p27, and a decrease in Cdk2 activity while E2Factivity is not affected. This arrest is similar to contact inhibition of growth observed indense cultures.

The group of Moshe Oren is studying the role of the p53 tumor suppressor protein in theregulation of growth inhibition and cell death induced by genome damage and byoncogenic stimuli. They have shown that p53 can mediate cell death by transactivatingthe transcription of target genes, as well as by transactivation-independent mechanisms.In some cases, the death process involves p53-dependent cleavage of the pRB tumorsuppressor protein by a caspase protease.

David Givol's group studies genes activated in the p53 induced apoptotic process, theyused a mouse myeloid leukemic cell line (LTR6) expressing the temperature-sensitivep53 (val135) that undergoes apoptosis upon shifting the temperature to 32_C. At leasttwo new p53-target genes were identified as proapoptotic. One is the gene called PUMA,or bcl2 binding component 3, which was detected in our analysis and was characterizedby others. The other gene that was induced by p53 was Apaf-1. Apaf-1 associates withCytochrome C and caspase9 to form the apoptosome. Genetic and cellular data indicatethat Apaf-1 deficiency revokes the apoptotic effect of p53 and can substitute for p53 lossin promoting tumor formation. Our results of microarray analysis show that Apaf-1, themammalian homologue of C. elegans CED4, is a direct target of p53. This wasdemonstrated by elevated RNA expression and by identification of p53 target sitesequence located at -607 bp upstream to the RNA start site in Apaf-1 promoter. Inaddition p53 activates Apaf-1 promoter-luciferase construct using transient transfection.The activation of Apaf-1 by p53 is an important step in the control of apoptosis and intumor suppression.

Apoptosis in the mammalian ovary is studied by the group of Abraham Amsterdam,with a special emphasis on the selection of the dominant follicle and regression of thecorpus luteum. The investigation is focused on the complex crosstalk betweenhormones, growth factors, the extracellular matrix, oncogenes, survival genes and tumorsuppressor genes which determine cell fate. The lab explores the role of cell-cell

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contacts, intracellular communication and organization and expression of thecytoskeleton, both during differentiation and apoptosis of granulosa cells, whichcomprise the main bulk of the ovarian follicle. Most recently Dr. Amsterdam's group isinvestigating the modulation of gene expression in these ovarian follicular cellsstimulated by gonadotropins, the major regulants of folliculogenesis, in order to identifynovel genes involved in the control of reproduction.

Another project of the Amsterdam group is investigating novel markers for earlydiagnosis of ovarian cancer, and creating in vitro and in vivo models for ovarian cancerby injection of the cancer cells into the ovary. Two major aspects are investigated: a)Combined chemotherapy such as cisplatin and theophylin which were found tosynergize in inducing apoptosis in the cancer cells, reducing the side effects ofchemotherapy. b) The suppressive effect of short polypeptides, corresponding to sites onlaminin and β chains, on tumor development and metastasis. This tumor regressioninvolves down regulation of the oncogene mdm2 and the survival gene BCL2.

Mesenchymal stromal cells in the bone marrow regulate hemopoietic stem cell renewal,adhesion, migration, differentiation and death. The group of Dov Zipori is studyingthese processes using in vivo and in vitro models with the aim of delineating the role ofmembers of the transforming growth factor (TGF)β superfamily in the regulation ofhematopoiesis. One such member, activin A, was found to be a negative regulator of Blymphocyte generation. The mode by which activin A affects its target cells involvedantagonism with interleukin (IL)-6. It was found that this is due to cross-talk betweenintracellular signaling pathways of these cytokines occurring at the transcriptional level;the mediators of activin A signaling, Smad2 and Smad3, caused reduced transcriptionalactivation of IL-6 inducible promoters, by C/EBPβ and STAT3. Since little is known onmolecules specific to the mesenchyme that mediate stromal cell functions, this group innow involved in a gene discovery effort aimed at identifying novel proteins that accountfor the biological activities of mesenchymal cells. In addition, the regulation of mitosis,apoptosis and differentiation by the nuclear pre-mRNA splicing factor PSF isinvestigated.

2. The genetic basis for cancer

p53, the tumor suppressor gene that functions as the "guardian of the genome" plays apivotal role in "sensing" damaged DNA and in regulating critical decisions of whether acell should repair the damaged DNA or undergo apoptosis. Mutant p53 has lost theseactivities and thus permits the proliferation of cells which carry damaged DNA,eventually leading to their malignant transformation into cancerous cells. The researchin Varda Rotter's laboratory focuses on two main issues: the deciphering of thefunction of wild type p53 in the normal cell, and the understanding of how mutant p53acts in tumor cells. The combined results obtained from these two complementaryresearch directions shed light on the basic mechanism of malignant transformation andsuggests possible new approaches for cancer therapy that involve p53-dependent genereplacement. It is well possible that in addition of p53 being associated with the initialsteps of recognizing damaged DNA; p53 also takes part in the DNA repair process itself.It appears that following genotoxic stress p53 functions as a modulator that determines

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the pattern of BER activity and apoptosis in a cell cycle specific manner. Interestingly,involvement of p53 in BER is independent of the transcriptional activity of the p53molecule. A relationship between p53 and the maintenance of genomic integrity is alsosuggested by the physical interaction between p53 and the Werner (WRN) helicase.Mutations in WRN are responsible for the Werner syndrome, a human disorderresembling premature aging. It is believed that WRN prevents premature aging byreducing the incidence of certain types of genomic damage.

The group of Moshe Oren is exploring the interaction between WRN and the p53signaling network. This work may also contribute towards understanding the molecularbasis of human aging.

The groups of Oren and Rotter are also studying the effect of p53 mutations on thecellular response to chemotherapy. They have shown that particular human cancer-associated p53 mutations give rise to a protein that can inhibit the killing of tumor cellsby certain anti-cancer drugs. The group of Varda Rotter have shown that the ability ofmutant p53 to block apoptosis is dependent on its transcriptional activity. A core domainmutant p53 (143 Val to Ala) in which two N-terminal residues (22,23) essential fortransactivation were also mutated (Leu to Glu and Trp to Ser, respectively), wasexamined. While p53 containing the core mutation only, efficiently interfered with drug-induced apoptosis, further modification at the N-terminus abolished this blockingactivity. In addition, wild-type p53, mutated in the N-terminus (22,23), was unable toinduce apoptosis by itself. Nevertheless, it synergized with drugs in the induction ofapoptosis. This suggests that the integrity of the N-terminus is essential for both theactivity of wild-type p53 in apoptosis and for mutant p53 mediated block of drug-induced apoptosis. Thus supporting the notion that core p53 mutants act via amechanism of "gain of function". A related direction of studies is the mechanism ofcancer promotion by the mdm2 oncogene. Oren's group have found that mdm2 canblock p53-mediated apoptosis, and thereby prevent cancer cells from being killed

Eli Canaani's laboratory is studying the molecular basis for human infant acuteleukemia. This neoplasm is triggered by a series of chromosome translocations resultingin the fusion of the ALL-1 gene to each of a variety of partner genes. One of the goals ofthis study is to use DNA arrays on chip technology to identify targets for theleukemogenic ALL-1 fusion proteins. Another goal is to purify and characterizemultiprotein complexes containing normal ALL-1 or ALL-1 fusion proteins. Anadditional approach is to develop transgenic mice and flies expressing ALL-1 fusionproteins and study the consequences of that expression.

The research in Avri Ben-Ze'ev's group focuses on the integration between signaling bycell adhesion and the regulation of gene expression. They study molecules of thearamadillo family of proteins, in particular β-catenin, since this unique molecule has adual role in the cell. On the one hand, it is a pivotal component of cell-cell adhesionslinking transmembrane adhesion receptors of the cadherin family to the cytoskeleton. Inaddition, β-catenin is a major component of the Wnt signaling pathway that regulatesdevelopmental processes. In its signaling role in the nucleus, β-catenin binds to


transcription factors of the LEF/TCF family and induces the expression of specific targetgenes. Elevated expression of β-catenin by mutations in APC (a major regulator of β-catenin turnover), or in the β-catenin gene itself, are common to colon cancer,melanoma, breast cancer and a variety of other cancers. The oncogenic activity of β-catenin is believed to result from constitutive activation of its target genes thus leadingto overt cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Consistent with this view, the Ben-Ze'evlab found that a key regulator of the proliferative stage in the cell cycle, cyclin D1, is atarget of the β-catenin signaling pathway and its expression is enhanced in colon cancercells. Since the binding of the various β-catenin partners, such as LEF/TCF, cadherinand APC, is to the same domain on the β-catenin molecule, they are attempting, incollaboration with Benjamin Geiger and Mark Peifer (UNC, USA), to identify theminimal sequences in the cadherin molecule that can competitively inhibit the bindingbetween β-catenin and LEF/TCF in cancer cells without disrupting cell-cell adhesion.They found that short cadherin peptides (23-27 a.a. long) when expressed in tumor cellscan block oncogenic signaling by deregulated β-catenin without affecting cell-celladhesion. Another effort of the Ben-Ze'ev lab is directed towards identifying noveltarget genes (by DNA arrays) of the β-catenin pathway that might be involved in itstumorigenic activity. Recent studies have identified several such genes and their role inβ-catenin signaling is currently under investigation. Since deregulated β-cateninsignaling and mutations in the major tumor suppressor, p53, are often associated withcolon cancer, in collaboration with Moshe Oren and Benjamin Geiger, they areaddressing the cross talk between the β-catenin and p53 signaling pathways. Thesestudies have shown that deregulated β-catenin induces the accumulation of activatedp53, and activated p53 can downregulate the expression of β-catenin. The molecularmechanisms underlying this cross talk, that is believed to serve as a protectivemechanism against the consequences of oncogenic activation by β-catenin, are currentlyinvestigated.

3. Quantitative analysis of cell structure and dynamics

The cytoskeleton is anchored in the cell membrane at multiple sites, especially in regionsof cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions via a battery of transmembrane receptors andcytoplasmic cytoskeletal proteins. To characterize the molecular interactions andcomplexity in these regions, Zvi Kam and Benjamin Geiger have developed andapplied digital microscopic approaches, which provide quantitative information aboutthe distribution and dynamics of different adhesion- and cytoskeleton-associatedmolecules and characterized their inter-relationships. These studies indicated thatadhesion sites are highly diversified at the molecular level, with respect to theircomposition, dynamics and signaling capabilities. Zvi Kam had further developed noveltools for multidimensional microscopy that enables to simultaneously detect and analyzespatial and temporal changes in the 3-dimensional distribution of multiple molecules incells and embryos.

4. Control of gene expression

The group of Moshe Oren is studying the regulation of p53 protein stability, which isthe major mechanism responsible for the in vivo modulation of p53 function. They


found that the proteolytic degradation of p53, which occurs through the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway, is largely controlled by the Mdm2 protein (product of the mdm2oncogene). The ability of Mdm2 to promote p53 degradation is controlled byphosphorylation events occurring on both p53 and Mdm2. Moreover, the activation ofp53 by β-catenin is mediated by another important tumor suppressor protein, known asARF.

Gad Yagil is using computer analysis of special DNA sequences in prokaryotic andeukaryotic genomes. Special binary DNA sequences are found to be highly over-represented in the recently completed chromosomes 21 and 22 of the human genome. Arole as DNA unwinding centers controlling gene expression rates proposed.

The laboratory of Uri Alon uses combined experimental and theoretical approaches toreverse engineer genetic regulation circuits. Using the bacterium Escherichia coli as amodel system, they have developed GFP-based methods for assaying gene expression ona genomic scale. The aim is to develop the concepts and algorithms needed to map theregulation circuitry of an entire cell in terms of modular multi-gene systems andsubsystems and their interactions. The circuit diagrams are then tested experimentallyusing bacterial genetic methods.

5. Transmembrane signaling by cytokines and growth factors

Yehiel Zick's group investigates insulin resistance Failure of target cells to respond toinsulin, a state known as insulin-resistance, is a major cause for pathologicalmanifestations associated with diabetes- an ever-increasing "epidemic of the 21stcentury". Yehiel Zick's group investigates the role of Ser/Thr phosphorylation as amolecular basis of insulin resistance. These studies revealed that agents that induceinsulin resistance such as TNF , exploit phosphorylation-based negative feedbackcontrol mechanisms, otherwise utilized by insulin itself, to uncouple the insulin receptor(IR) from downstream effector proteins such as the IRS proteins, and thereby terminateinsulin signal transduction. These studies implicate PKCζ and its downstream targetsIKKβ as potential IRS kinases. These results may lead to potential pharmacologicalinterventions in disease states where this mechanism can be the underlying cause ofinsulin resistance, such as the prevalent form of obesity-induced diabetes.

To study the temporal and spatial communication of IRK with downstream effectors,attempts were made to identify novel elements involved in regulating IR trafficking. Itwas found that IR endocytosis occurs independent of phosphorylation of the IRSproteins, however, actin, ECM molecules, and annexin-II are key candidate players inregulating insulin receptor trafficking.

Galectin-8 A second aspect of Zick's group work involves studies of galectins, with aspecial emphasis on galectin-8, a secreted, surface-expressed mammalian lectin clonedby this group. The studies revealed that immobilized galectin-8 promotes cell adhesion,spreading, and migration, by forming protein-sugar complexes with integrins. Adhesionto galectin-8 triggers integrin-mediated signaling cascades including Tyrphosphorylation of FAK, Paxillin and P130cas; and activation of a Rho-family GTPases,

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MAPK and PI3K cascades. In contrast, soluble galectin-8 forms complexes withintegrins and fibronectin that negatively regulate cell adhesion. Such a mechanismallows local signals emitted by secreted galectin-8 to specify territories available for celladhesion and migration. Due to its dual effects on the adhesive properties of the cells andits association with fibronectin, galectin-8 might be considered as a novel type of amatricellular protein.

Secreted Galectin-8 induces the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors(CDKIs) p21 and p27 and negatively regulates cellular growth. Studies in progress areaimed at identifying the cell surface receptor that mediates the growth-inhibitory effectsof soluble galectin-8.

6. Cell adhesion and adhesion-dependent signaling

Several groups in the department investigate the structure, dynamics and signalingproperties of cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesions. In Benjamin Geiger's laboratory, themolecular mechanisms underlying the assembly of adhesion sites and their role in theorganization of the cytoskeleton are investigated. The Group is specifically studying theinvolvement, in adhesive interactions, of tyrosine phosphorylation events, mechanicalperturbation, cellular contractility and migration and the activation of diverse signalingand oncogenic pathways. Together with Lia Addadi (Structural Biology) studies addressthe very basic aspect of adhesive recognition. Using various adhesive surfaces it wasshown that adhesion consists of a sequence of molecular events, including fast andapparently direct carbohydrate mediated surface recognition (mediated by hyaluronan,followed by adhesion, mediated via such proteins as fibronectin and vitronectin. Bothtypes of interaction are highly specific and represent two distinct temporal stages in theadhesive process.

The molecular mechanism of induction of cell spreading, motility and formation oforganized multicellular complexes by neuregulin is investigated jointly by AlexanderBershadsky and Benjamin Geiger. It was found that in epithelial cells neuregulin is apotent morphogen, inducing reorganization of epithelial cells into complex gland-likestructures, due to specific stimulation of the members of the ErbB family of receptors(ErbB-2/ErbB-3 dimers). They have shown that this process requires both PI 3-kinaseand MEK activity and depends on coordinated changes in the actin- and microtubule-based cytoskeleton. The C-terminal domain of ErbB-3, bearing the docking sites for thep85 subunit of PI 3-kinase is essential for these morphogenetic effects.

The group of Alexander Bershadsky is studying molecular pathways connecting celladhesion and cytoskeletal dynamics. They have shown that cadherin-mediated cell-celladhesion affects the actin cytoskeleton and cell motility via recruitment of the Armadillofamily protein p120ctn to adherens junctions. Cytoplasmic p120ctn activates Rho familyG-proteins, Rac and Cdc42, which in turn activate actin polymerization, lamellipodiaand filopodia formation and cell migration. Sequestration of p120ctn to the adherensjunctions reduces its cytoplasmic level, decreasing the activity of Rac and Cdc42 andcell migration ability. This mechanism can explain a cell reaction known as a "contactinhibition of locomotion" which plays an important role in normal tissue morphogenesis


and is often impaired in invasive neoplasic cells. The group of A. Bershadsky (incollaboration with G.G. Borisy at the Northwestern University in Chicago) showed thatformation of the cell-cell adherens junctions could also affect the dynamics of anothercytoskeletal system, microtubules, stabilizing the non-centrosomal "minus" ends ofmicrotubules. This process may be important in the cell-cell contact dependentgeneration of cell polarization.

Yehiel Zick's group have shown that galectin-8, a secreted mammalian lectin, inhibitsadhesion of human carcinoma 1299 cells to plates coated with integrin ligands, andinduces apoptosis. Affinity chromatography over immobilized galectin-8 revealed that amajor galectin-8 binding-protein is 3β1 integrin. Furthermore, endogenous galectin-8,secreted from 1299 cells, forms complexes with 3β1 integrin. These findings suggestthat galectin-8 is a novel matricellular integrin binding-protein that modulatesinteractions of integrins with the extracellular matrix and thus regulates cell adhesionand cell survival.

The laboratory of Elior Peles focuses on several molecular aspects of myelinated axons,myelinating glial cells, and neuron-glia communication. The reciprocal interactionsbetween neurons and glial cells are crucial for many aspects of neuronal development.These interactions modulate fundamental processes that are required for the correctwiring of nerve cells and are involved in the coordinated differentiation of axons andmyelin-forming cells. This lab is studying the molecular mechanisms involved in thedevelopment and maintenance of myelinated nerves. They study neuron-glia interactionsthat are mediated by the Caspr proteins, a family of novel cell recognition molecules,which link axons to their myelinated glial cells. These studies include characterization ofthe role of the different Caspr proteins during development using microscopiclocalization, identification of the molecular targets of these proteins that couple them tothe axonal cytoskeleton, development of transgenic and knock-out animal models andthe use of C. elegans as a genetic model to study the role of two Caspr-like proteins incell-cell interactions.

7. Molecular genetics of human diseases

Analysis of the structure, evolution and function of products of the dystrophin gene,which is defective in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), is carried out by the groupof Uri Nudel and David Yaffe. Gene inactivation techniques are used to study thefunction of Dp71, the major non-muscle product of the DMD gene, and its possibleinvolvement in development and learning capacity. Cloning and analysis of thehomologous genes from sea urchin and drosophila have important implications withregard to the evolution of the DMD gene family and function of the DMD gene products.Additional studies are directed towards the prenatal diagnosis of DMD on the basis ofdystrophin expression in amniotic fluid and chorionic villi cells. The possible applicationof some of the findings for DMD gene therapy is being investigated.

Achondroplasia, the most abundant form of inherited human dwarfism results from apoint mutation in the transmembrane region of FGFR3. The skeletal dysplasia isprobably caused by constitutive signaling due to receptor dimerization. In the laboratory

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of David Givol, a mouse model for achondroplasia was generated by introducing thehuman mutation (glycine 380 to arginine) into the mouse FGFR3 by a "knock-in"approach using gene targeting. This resulted in dwarf mice that share many features withhuman dwarfism. David Givol's group found that the FGFR3 locus is sensitive to thepresence of neomycin selection marker (Neo) after gene targeting. Neo caused improperRNA expression and functional inactivation of the gene. Mice homozygous withtargeted FGFR3 behaved like FGFR3 knockout phenotype with bone overgrowth due tothe lack of properly spliced RNA. Removal of Neo by Cre/lox recombination resulted inregain of FGFR3 mutant function and dwarfism.

In collaboration with the laboratory of Abraham Amsterdam, it was found that FGFR3mutation led to dramatic changes in the pituitary and the gonadal phenotype leading toattenuation of the development of the pituitary gland, and to intense apoptosis of theovarian follicular cells and the leyding testicular cells, which is associated with apronounce elevation of p53 expression. This phenomena demonstrates for the first timefunctional link between FGFR mutation and the development of the pituitary-gonadalaxis.


Professors

Abraham Amsterdam, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe Joyce and Ben B. Eisenberg Professor of Molecular Endocrinology and Cancer Research

Avri Ben-Ze'ev, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe Samuel Lunenfeld-Reuben Kunin Professor of Genetics

Eli Canaani, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, United StatesThe Harry Kay Professor of Cancer Research

Benjamin Geiger, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Professor Erwin Neter Professor of Cell and Tumor Biology

Moshe Oren, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelVarda Rotter, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

The Norman and Helen Asher Professor of Cancer Rsearch

Professors Emeriti

David Givol, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelDavid Yaffe, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel


Alexander D. Bershadsky, Ph.D., Cancer Research Center, Moscow, Russian FederationThe Joseph Moss Professor of Molecular Endocrinology

Zvi Kam, Ph.D., Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, IsraelThe Israel Pollak Professor of Biophysics


Uri Nudel, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Elias Sourasky Professor

Yehiel Zick, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Marte R. Gomez Professor of Photosynthesis

Dov Zipori, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Joe and Celia Weinstein Professor

Senior Scientists

Uri Alon, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelYigal Allon Fellow

Doron Ginsberg, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Recanati Career Development Chair of Cancer Research

Elior Peles, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Madeleine Haas Russell Career Development Chair


Janna Blechman, Ph.D., Moscow University, Moscow, Russian Federation


Dan Michael (Michalovitz), Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelTatiana A. Rozovskaia, Ph.D., Institute of Molecular Biology, USSR Academy of Sciences,

Moscow, Russian Federation


Tamar Ben-Yedidia, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelEinat Sadot, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (left October 2001)Michael Shtutman, Ph.D., Russia Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation

Engineer

Gila Tzur, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehotov, Israel

Consultants

Levana Ben-Simchon (left January 2001)Shmuel Evron, Wolfson Hospital, Holon, Israel Janny Frankel, Assaf Harofeh Hospital, Tzrifin, Israel (left September 2001)Meir Krupsky, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel Shoshana Peller, Assaf Harofeh Hospital, Tzrifin, Israel (left December 2001)


Miron Prokocimer, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel (left May 2001)Peretz Resnitzky, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel (left October 2001)Shmuel Rosenblatt, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel (left July 2001)Alexander Savitzky (left September 2001)

Visiting Scientists

Christoph Ballestrem, Tech. University of Dresden, GermanyMarie Chaussepied, Institut Pasteur, Paris, FranceJean-Eudes Dazard, CNRS Montpellier, FranceKrishnamurthy Janakiraman, Madurai University , Tamil Nadu, IndiaEinat Sadot, Vulcani Center, IsraelMordechai SegalKimihisa Tajima, Fukui Med. School, Matuoka, JapanAvner Yayon, Prochon, Rehovot, Israel


Mira Barda-Saad, Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, IsraelAnat Bren, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelMarie Chaussepied, Ph.D., Universite Denis Diderot, FranceYaron Daniely, Ph.D., New York University, USAAyelet David, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelJean-Eudes Dazard, Ph.D., University of Montpellier I, FranceAdriana Folberg-Blum, Ph.D., McGill University, CanadaChristoph Graf von Ballestrem, Ph.D., University of Geneva, SwitzerlandKannan Karuppiah, Ph.D., Madurai Kamaraj University, IndiaJoachim Kirchner, Ph.D., Munich University, GermanyElina Levina, Ph.D., Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, RussiaMichal Ronen, Ph.D., Ben-Gurion University, IsraelOrit Rozenblatt-Rosen, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelYaron Shav-Tal, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelGalit Shenhar, Ph.D., Technion, IsraelSigalit Shimhoni-Leibovitz, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelJan Taplick, Ph.D., University of Vienna, AustriaMichal Vechoropoulos, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, Israel

Research Students

Konstantin Adamsky Dalia Berman
Katya ArnoldJair BarEli Berkovich
Gil BlanderLior BlankSigalit Boura-Halfon


Cohava CohenMichal Cohen

Miri MoasLior Nissim

Yael CohenMiriam Cohen-KorenMaralice Elaine Conacci-SorrellAlexandros DamalasNeta ErezNoam ErezAyellet FalcovitzRevital Feinstein-LeizerPolina Goichberg-SheferLeora GollanRinat GorenInna GroshevaMira Hasky-NegevAvia HerschkovitzTzippi HershkoIrina IssaevaUta JatzwaukTamar Juven-GershonShiraz KalirYael KalmaLena KardashSmadar LapterAyelet LaronneYifat LevyNurit LichtensteinYanfang LiuBella LurieNatalia MagidShmuel ManganDevorah MatasSean MatliesRuth MayaRon MiloMichael MilyavskyNeri Minsky

Hagai OfferReshmi ParameswaranShirley PolagerSebastian PoliakRevital RosenbergNitzan RosenfeldNiva RussekRachel SarigRavid SassonSagit Sela-AbramovichShai SenderovichNir ShaniIgor ShatsShai Shen-OrrOhad ShifmanSigalit Shimhoni-LeibovitzTsipi ShohamAlexander SigalIvo SpiegelPerry StambolskyYuval TabachXiaohu TangLiat Topper HaklaiShuki VardiXinjiang WangLilach WeiszRonen Zaidel BarAmir ZalcensteinEli ZamirAlon ZaslaverJakob ZhurinskyBaruch ZimermanJulia ZonisIrit Zurer

Administrator

Nira Toledano

Neurobiology

Ephraim Yavin, Head (until September 2001) The Bee Wiggs Professor of Molecular Biology

Zvi Vogel, Head (from October 2001) The Ruth and Leonard Simon Chair for Cancer Research

Research in Neuroscience in the Department of Neurobiology encompasses a wide variety ofsubjects, in areas including cellular and molecular biology, neuroanatomy, functional magneticresonance imaging (fMRI), physiology, pharmacology, psychophysics, and computationalsciences.

Basically, the research of the various groups of the Department covers, among others, thefollowing topics:

• Analysis of the molecular and cellular basis of neuronal and synaptic function.

• Imaging of neuronal activity underlying higher brain functions.

• Tracing and characterization of neuronal communication profiles.

• Characterization of the CNS response to trauma and lesion; developing molecular andcellular therapeutic agents.

• Determination of the underlying processes and mechanisms of vision, perception,learning, and memory in behaving rodents and primates.

• Computer modeling of brain function.

At the Neurobiology Department, the structure, function, development, and plasticity of thenervous system are studied at various levels of analysis, using different types of cell andexperimental animal models. The groups studying neuronal function at the molecular andcellular levels use in vitro systems ranging from non-neuronal and neuronal cell lines toprimary neuronal and glial cells of cerebellar, hippocampal and cortical origin. In many cases,the cells studied are transfected with genes of interest. These cell systems allow the study ofthe roles of various components of the nervous system, including cell surface membranecomponents, specific enzymes, neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, growth factors,

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218 Neurobiology

neuroreceptors, lipid components, ionic channels and cytoskeletal constituents. Algorithms forthe synaptic plasticity between neurons, and the role of dendritic ion channels in synaptic inputand information processing, are also being studied. Injury models of nerve lesion and oxidativestress paradigms are applied to examine the principles of CNS regeneration, rescue fromischemia and stroke, and apoptotic cell death and senescence.

The groups studying the CNS at the system level are striving to understand the complexneuronal mechanisms underlying learning, memory, and sensory processing (vision, taste,smell), and to determine the relationship between brain and mind. Using track tracingmethods, the rules governing the interconnections in the visual cortex are being unraveled.Behavioral studies focus on principles of learning and consolidation, cortical informationprocessing, learning disabilities, and addiction. Functional brain imaging of the human visualcortex is being studied by various techniques, including fMRI. Psychophysical approaches arebeing used to define processes involved in image segmentation, learning and memory skillacquisition, motor control, and language. Nearly 20 groups of researchers carry out bothindependent studies and collaborative research with colleagues from within the Departmentand outside it.

Neurobiology Department Home Page: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/neurobiology/


Professors

Yadin Dudai, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Sara and Michael Sela Professor of Neurobiology

Amiram Grinvald, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Helen Norman Asher Professor in Brain Research

Yitzhak Koch, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (on extension of service) The Adlai E. Stevenson III Professor of Endocrinology and Reproductive Biology

Michal Schwartz, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Maurice and Ilse Katz Professor of Neuroimmunology

Menahem Segal, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United StatesThe Harry and Leona Levine Professor of Neurosciences

Israel Silman, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (on extension of service) The Bernstein-Mason Professor of Neurochemistr

Vivian I. Teichberg, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Louis and Florence Katz-Cohen Professor of Neuropharmacology

Zvi Vogel, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Ruth and Leonard Simon Professor of Cancer Research

Ephraim Yavin, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe Bee Wiggs Professor of Molecular Biology

Neurobiology 219

Professors Emeriti

Uriel Z. Littauer, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelDavid Samuel, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelIzchak Z. Steinberg, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel


Ehud Ahissar, Ph.D., Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

Irith Ginzburg, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Sophie and Richard S. Richards Professor of Cancer Research

Henry Markram, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelThe Hellen and Sanford Diller Family Professor of Neurobiology

Dov Sagi, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelThe George Zlotowski Professor

Michail Tsodyks, Ph.D., L.D. Landau Institute of Theoretical Physics, Moscow, Russian Federation

Senior Scientists

Avi Karni, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (left October 2001)Sima Lev, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Yigal Allon Fellow Incumbent of the Helena Rubinstein Career Development Chair

Rafael Malach, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, United States


Amos Arieli, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelYoles Ester, Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, IsraelSebastian Haiderleu, Ph.D., M.D., Medical High School, Kishinev, Moldova (retired

September 2001)


Eduard Korkotian, Ph.D., University of Yerevan, Armenia


Igal Nevo, Ph.D., University of Paris XI, FranceEyal Seidemann, Ph.D., Stanford University, Stanford, United StatesHamutal Slovin, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

220 Neurobiology

Special Contracts

Shabtai Barash, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelBagdasarian Knarik, Ph.D., Orbeli's Institute of Physiology of Armenian Academy of Science,

Armenia

Engineers

Naama Rubin, M.Sc., University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, United StatesChaim Wijnbergen, M.Sc., Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel (deceased

September 2001)

Consultants

Ivgenya Agranov, Loewenstein hospital, Ra'anana, IsraelBernard Attali, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelAlexander CoopermanIlya Fleidervish, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IsraelPnina Green, Beilinson Hospital, Petach-Tikva, Israel Michael Gutnick, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel Mia Levite, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Visiting Scientists

Michal Besser, University of Tel - Aviv, IsraelFrederic Chavane, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceShlomit Dachir-Kanot, Israel Inst. of Bio. Rese., Nes Ziona, IsraelPinhas Fuchs, Institute for Biological Research, Nes-Ziona, IsraelMiroslav Gottlieb, Inst. of Neurobiology, Kosice, SlovakiaJun-Yi Luo, Shandong Ctr. Of Disease Contol, PR ChinaXiaozhong Luo, University of HeibeiShaoling Ma, Henan Med. College, PR ChinaEtan Markus, University of Conneticut, U.S.A.Cyril Monier, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceSergio Serulnik, Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelMark Justin Shulewitz, University of California at Berkeley, U.S.A.Nandini Vasudevan, Rockfeller University , NY, U.S.A.Dawn Mae Wong, University of Sci &Technology , Hong Kong, Hong KongCaizhi Wu, Shandog Prov, Hosp , Jihan, PR China


Elena Avignone, Ph.D., International School for Advanced Studies, ItalyRina Barouch, Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, Israel

Neurobiology 221

Hengfu Bu, Ph.D.,M.D., Academy of Military Medical Sciences, ChinaRooma Desai, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelAline Desmedt, Ph.D., Universite Bordeaux 1, FranceIgor Goncharov, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, IsraelJuan Antonio Ibarra Arias, Ph.D., National University of Mexico, MexicoDirk Erwin Jancke, Ph.D., Ruhr-University Bochum, GermanyJoshua Knappenberger, M.D., University of Utah School of Medicine, USAIstvan A. I. Morocz, M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, USAEyal Seidemann, Ph.D., Stanford University, USAMark Justin Shulewitz, Ph.D., University of California, USADonghua Tian, Ph.D.,M.D., Post-graduate Medical College, ChinaOrna Zagoory, Ph.D., Ben-Gurion University, Israel

Research Students

Ilane Abitbol Ianai Fishbein
Yael AdiniMark AizenbergGonzalo Aranda-AbreuRachel ArgovGalit ArieStella AronovRoee AtlasHila AvidanAmir BaharSharon BakalashPazit Bar-OnDavid BaramDiego BermanDmitri BibitchkovAvital BitanJacob BlumenthalElena ButovskyOleg ButovskyAlon ChenGuobin ChenSharon CohenKatayun Cohen-KashiNaomi CoslovskyDori DerdikmanRooma DesaiHila EldarAlon Fichman
Jasmin FisherIgor FriedmannEfrat FurstYoav GalEfrat GamzuYonatan GanorIlan GoldbergMiri GoldinAnirudh GuptaUri HassonEhud HaubenAlice J. HeicklenNir KalismanAriel KamslerMikhail KatkovTal KenetJonathan KipnisPablo KizelszteinPer Magne KnutsenMaria KormanFaina KupershteinOrly Laskar-LevyYulia LernerVladimir LitvakAlex LoebelIrina LubarskiVictoria Malina

222 Neurobiology

Ofer MelamedArmenuhi Melikyan

Revital ShaniDahlia Sharon

Tal MizrahiGila MoalemRoy MukamelNoa Ofen- NoyDavid Omer-BacklashDana PeledYaron PennYair PilpelZiv PoratJoseline Priya RatnamAssaf RotemAnat SamuelEster Miriam SchallmachTamar Debora Schirman - HildesheiHadas SchoriRakefet SeiferSergio David SerulnikIftach ShakedAmalia Shalom Gothilf

Yoav ShaulEkaterina SigalovGilad SilberbergJimmy StehbergDebora SteinerAlexander SterkinAnna SterkinMarcin SzwedYasuto TanakaMaria Toledo-RodriguezIvo VanzettaXiaolan WangYin WangYun WangAdam WasserstromEdward YakubovMing-Sha ZhangYaniv Ziv

Administrator

Varda Katzir

Veterinary Resources

Alon Harmelin, Head

There are 55 members in the Experimental Animals Center.

Maintenance Unit

The unit houses an average of 2,500 guinea pigs and rabbits, 80,000 mice and rats, 60monkeys.

Animal Services

The Diagnostic and Quality Control laboratory performed more than 3,000 post-mortemexaminations, including viral, bacteriological, parasitological, histopathological, and clinical-pathological examinations, PCR examination for helicobacter and pneumocystis carinii. Thequality control includes also sterility control of the animal diets, M.A.P. tests of biologicalmaterials and possible contamination of tissue cultures.

The Histological Laboratory prepared more than 5,000 histological sections. The laboratoryuses routine and special staining techniques, histochemistry and preparations for in situhybridization. A special service for systematic pathological evaluation of geneticallyengineered mice, cryostat histological techniques and confocal microscopy is in full operationnow.

The Isolation and Sterile-Animal Unit (axenic animals) introduced 50 new pathogen-freestrains into the breeding unit.

The Laboratory Animal Food Production Factory, fully automated, produced 20 tons of pellets,containing various types of diets. The Unit specialized in production of certain nutrients richand deficient rodent diets. The production of regular food has been stopped this year.

The Transgenic Animal Unit, including a gene-targeting service laboratory, produced dozensof transgenic and chimeric mice. The embryo-freezing program has been completed.

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224 Veterinary Resources

Staff


Alon Bernstein, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelTatiana Burakova, Ph.D., USSR Academy of Science, Moscow, Russian FederationAhuva Knyszynski, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel


Rebecca Haffner-Krausz, Ph.D., University of London, London, United Kingdom


Raya Eilam-Altstadter, Ph.D., Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

Veterinarians

Alon Harmelin, BVsc. MRCVS, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, School of Veterinary Medicine, R.S.A.

Ori Brenner, B.V.Sc., University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, School of Veterinary Medicine, Diplomate ACVP

Bella Finarov, D.V.M., Moscow Veterinary Academy

Engineer

Lia Itzicovitch, M.Sc., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Administrator

Kaduri Abudi

Helen and Norman Asher Center for Human Brain Imaging

The Center for Human Brain Imaging will utilize an ultra modern facility dedicated to theimaging and understanding of human brain function. The Center will support the operations ofmost advanced neuroimaging technology available, including a 4-tesla f-MRI (FunctionalMagnetic Resonance Imaging) machine. This equipment will allow unprecedented researchand diagnostic inroads into the functions and malfunctions of the human mind.

Beyond its implications for basic science, however, the potential for clinical and biomedicalapplications based on this research is enormous. Initially, the f-MRI's high resolution as animaging tool will allow for much greater precision in mapping the brain (the f- MRI greatlyimproves upon existing technologies, for example, in locating and assessing the effects ofbrain tumors and tissue damage caused by cerebral events or head injuries). In the longer term,increased understanding of the causes of such mental disorders as depression , schizophrenia,autism, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, epilepsy, stroke, dementia and countless others, will lead tothe development of currently unimaginable diagnostic tools and treatment modalities.

With the physical facilities of the program now in place, and good progress towards theprocurement of its major equipment, the Center support of the fMRI operations will enable thetranslation of the potential of the fMRI into scientific reality by fostering inter-disciplinaryresearch programs that combine several complementary approaches.

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226 Helen and Norman Asher Center for Human Brain Imaging

Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for Neurosciences

Ephraim Yavin, Director (until September 2001) The Bee Wiggs Professor of Molecular Biology

Zvi Vogel, Director (from October 2001) The Ruth and Leonard Simon Professor for Cancer Research

The Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for Neurosciences was established in 1978. Since itscreation, this center has been geared toward the promotion and support of studies of thenervous system at molecular, cellular and multicellular levels. The Benoziyo Center supportsthe research of scientists in a wide range of fields at the Weizmann Institute, allowing them tounravel structure-function-activity relationships in the brain and to understand the complexneuronal mechanisms underlying learning, memory, and sensory processing (vision, taste,smell), as well as the relationship between brain and mind. Much time, intellectual effort andfinancial resources still need to be devoted to further elucidate the mechanisms underlyingneuroplasticity, neurosignaling cascades, network patterns, memory and cognitivepsychophysics. Solving the molecular basis of human brain disorders, such as Alzheimer'sdisease, is high on the list of priorities of the Benoziyo Center. The Center provides financialassistance to scientists initiating new projects and to some students in need of salaries. Inaddition, it provides a means for reknowned world neuroscientists to visit the WeizmannInstitute, and supports travel of students to international or local Neuroscience meetings.

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228 Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for Neurosciences

The Carl and Micaela Einhorn-Dominic Institute for Brain Research

Amiram Grinvald, Director The Helen and Norman Asher Professor of Brain Research

The Einhorn-Dominic Institute of Brain Research was inaugurated in November 1996. Amongits primary missions was the initiation of new activities in brain research at the WeizmannInstitute, particularly those requiring collaborations among several disciplines in severalfaculties. This year we focused on the planning of WIS new human brain imaging facility (F-MRI and Electroencephalography) and supported joint molecular and cellular brain research.

The Einhorn-Dominic Institute policy is to encourage brain research in the Department ofNeurobiology and all other faculties at the Weizmann Institute of Science targeted at thestudies of higher brain functions. Funding decision are made by the Brain Research Institute'sad-hoc Committee. The Committee will assign higher priority to support multi-disciplinaryresearch collaborations among scientists from different departments and faculties at the WIS.The current policy is to provide a few large grants. Such support may be granted for a fewyears, depending on the research progress accomplished after the first year.

This year the Dominic Institute funds were allocated to five researchers: Yadin Dudai, EfraimYavin ,Ehud Ahissar, Misha Tsodyks, Henry Markram, Shabtai Barash and Amiram Grinvald.

In addition the Institute also hosted a number of eminent scientists from around the world, whogave lectures in our weekly Seminars. Visiting lecturers came to our campus from FreiburgUniversity, The Hebrew University, Carnegie Mellon University, MIT, New York University,Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Bar-Ilan University, Brandeis University and CornellUniversity.

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230 The Carl and Micaela Einhorn-Dominic Institute for Brain Research

The Murray H. and Meyer Grodetsky Center for Research of Higher Brain Functions

Amiram Grinvald, Director The Helen and Norman Asher Professor of Brain Research

General Activities

Based on the decision of the WIS administration, during the year 2001, 100% of the Murray H.and Meyer Grodetsky Center for Research of Higher Brain Functions supported the research ofProf. A. Grinvald.

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232 The Murray H. and Meyer Grodetsky Center for Research of Higher Brain Functions

The Robert Koch-Minerva Center for Research in Autoimmune Diseases

Irun R. Cohen, Director The Helen and Morris Mauerberger Professor of Immunology

The Center was established by an endowment from the Minerva Foundation, on the basis of acompetitive review by the scientists of the Minerva Foundation. The Center aims to furtherresearch in the area of autoimmune diseases.

The activities of the Center are coordinated with a Minerva Steering Committee, whosemembers include Prof. H. Wekerle (Chairman), Prof. H. Kolb, and Prof. S.H.E. Kaufmannfrom Germany, and Prof. Irun R. Cohen (Immunology), Prof. Edna Mozes (Immunology),Prof. Yaakov Naparstek (Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem), and Prof. YehudaShoenfeld (Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer) from Israel.

Autoimmune diseases are the result of damage to body tissues inflicted by a misguided attackof the immune system against normal self-components. The diseases caused by autoimmunityinclude multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile diabetes, systemic lupuserythematosus, myasthenia gravis, and various types of kidney, skin, muscle, and endocrineproblems. The Center is active in organizing international and local conferences andworkshops aimed at disseminating and strengthening communication and collaborationbetween research workers in the field of autoimmunity and related fields. Funds dedicated tothe purchase of equipment are used to import, develop and upgrade the technical foundation ofautoimmunity research at the Weizmann Institute. A third activity of the center is the supportof full research proposals based on external review by the steering committee. Researchproposals are invited according to the availability of funds.

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234 The Robert Koch-Minerva Center for Research in Autoimmune Diseases

The Belle S. and Irving E. Meller Center for the Biology of Aging

Israel Pecht, Director The Dr. Morton and Anne Kleiman Professor

The Center, established in 1979, aims to further research that will contribute to ourunderstanding of the fundamental biological processes related to the phenomena of aging andits pathology. Areas of research supported concentrate on the cellular interactions in theimmune system, and related aspects of the structure and function of the vascular system,connective tissues, the molecular genetics of differentiation, and the molecular basis ofmalignant transformation.

To achieve its aims, the Center provides support for individual research and, in addition,contributes to the infrastructure of interdisciplinary research facilities at the Institute. Thus, theCenter is supporting certain activities in the field of gene targeting and transgenic animals,which constitute powerful tools for studying the molecular basis of the immune system as wellas various disorders that are involved in the aging process.

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236 The Belle S. and Irving E. Meller Center for the Biology of Aging

The Willner Family Center for Vascular Biology

Hadassa Degani, Director Fred and Andrea Fallek Professorial Chair in Breast Cancer Research

The Willner Family Center for Vascular Biology was officially inaugurated on November 3rd,1999. The Center was designed to focus on the regulation of key biological processes invascular systems such as blood, and on the identification of signaling molecules, theirreceptors, their target cells, and the mechanisms involved in the transduction of these signals.Since de-regulation of such processes are a cause for many human diseases (e.g., heart failure,stroke, and cancer), an effort is made to use our results to develop tools for early diagnosis ofthese ailments, and for the design of new drugs for pharmacological intervention.

Designed by Prof. Shmuel Shaltiel, who was the first Director of the Center, the long-rangegoals of the Center are: (i) to support innovative ideas, while still in their seeding stage, whenit is not yet possible to obtain financial support from conventional funding agencies; (ii) tonurture budding research of young outstanding investigators before their reputation isestablished; (iii) to finance research that requires an inter-disciplinary effort; (iv) to encouragecollaboration with hospitals and with other centers of excellence in Israel and abroad; (v) totrain doctoral and post-doctoral students in bioregulation and vascular biology.

The Center supported this year the scientific work of the following groups: Prof. HadassaDegani ($30,000) - "Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer - from Molecular Biology to diagnosticMRI and MRS": The onset, growth and spread of cancer have been characterized by molecularand cellular methods based mostly on extraction and cell-free analyses. Magnetic ResonanceImaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) allow to further explore, noninvasively, the anatomic,physiologic and metabolic characteristics of malignancy. We have performed studies aimed toelucidate the mechanisms involved in the regulation of tumor progression, invasion andmetastasis. New methodologies and algorithms to map tumor vasculature architecture andperfusion capacity were developed, using tracers (HDO), contrast agents and difffusion MRI.In addition, a method to measure the perfusion and metabolic fate of glucose and its mainproduct, lactate, was refined. These multiple techniques were applied to monitor progressionand metastasis of human breast cancer and prostate cancer implanted orthtopically in mice.The results revealed large inter- and intra- tumoral heterogeneity of the vasculature andhighlighted the necessity to image cancer at high spatial resolution. We also demonstrated thatthe vascular volume and flow show poor correlation in tumors, indicating an irregular structureof the capillary walls. Hormonal modulation of tumor progression using antiestrogens alteredthe vasculature properties, increasing the capillary permeability and affecting flow,presumably by modulating specific vascular growth and permeability factors. This treatment

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238 The Willner Family Center for Vascular Biology

also modulated the metabolic fate of glucose and suppressed the rate of glycolysis. The clinicaltesting of the method that we have developed for breast cancer diagnosis (termed the 3TP MRImethod), which is based on mapping the vasculature permeability and cell density, has beenextended to additional medical centers. In the Hospital of Boca Raton, Florida, the protocolwas improved to include imaging of both breasts at the same time. Even in the presence ofcomplex breast enhancement, the 3TP method permitted accurate diagnosis of malignant andbenign lesions. The 3TP method has been recently adapted for prostate cancer diagnosis andclinical trials have been initiated in Israel.

Prof. Yosef Yarden ($30,000) Cell-to-cell interactions are essential for embryonic developmentand for a plethora of physiological processes in adulthood (e.g., wound healing).Along withhormones and neurotransmitters, growth factors are the major messengers of intercellularcommunication in mammals. Many growth factors bind trans-membrane receptors whosecytoplasmic domain initiates signaling by means of an intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, andoncogenic processes often exploit growth factor signaling for malignant transformation. Anexample is provided by the ErbB family of receptors for the epidermal growth factor (EGF)and neuregulins: self-production of ligands (autocrine loops), truncated ErbB-1 variants andover-expression of ErbB-2 are frequently associated with virulent tumors, such as carcinomasand glioblastomas. Our past studies concentrated on understanding the layered structure of theErbB network of signaling and its positive regulators-- a group of adaptors and enzymes.Interestingly, a significant portion of the network is devoted to tuning of signals, a processaccomplished by a fine balance between positive and negative signaling pathways. Geneticevidence derived from worms and flies suggests that negative circuits were added to thenetwork relatively late in evolution, and they exhibit unexpected variation and complexity.Concentrating on negative mechanisms, we found that ligand-induced endocytosis anddegradation of active receptors is a major regulatory pathway involving not onlyphopshorylation, but also ubiquitination of receptors and associated molecules. Alongside,constitutive endocytosis and chaperone-mediated stabilization of kinase B9s conformation areessential for network maintenance. In addition, because ErbB proteins are asymmetricallyexpressed on the surface of neuronal and epithelial cells, multi-molecular complexesregulating post-synthesis sorting are important for signaling. In-depth understanding ofnetwork B9s desensitization may facilitate development of new cancer therapies. For example,antibody-induced endocytic removal of ErbB proteins is already in clinical use and drugsinterfering with kinase activity or chaperone B9s function are being tested on cancer patients.Identification of still unknown mechanisms that shut down oncogenic signal transduction willeventually expand the arsenal of therapeutic strategies.

Prof. Moti Liscovitch ($20,000) - "Rafts and Caveolae: Platforms for Launching SignalingCascades and Plasma Membrane Terminals for Drug Transport": Our work is directed towardsunderstanding the cell and molecular biology of phospholipase D and its role(s) in control ofcell growth, differentiation and function. We have been studying the cellular and molecularphysiology of eukaryotic phospholipase D isozymes, including their localization, mechanismsof activation and possible functions. Currently, we are engaged in identification and cloning ofa second yeast phospholipase D gene; we study the differential localization of mammalianphospholipase D isozymes in specific membrane microdomains; we investigate the possible

The Willner Family Center for Vascular Biology 239

role of phospholipase D2 in caveolae-mediated endocytosis and signaling; and we explore theaction(s) and target(s) of phosphatidic acid as a mediator of specific cellular events.

A second, related subject involves the role of caveolin in cancer multidrug resistance.Multidrug resistance severely impairs the efficacy of cancer chemotherapy. Several proteintransporters that mediate drug export have been identified, but additional adaptations appear tobe necessary for a full-fledged drug resistance. We have recently shown that caveolae and thecaveolar coat protein caveolin are dramatically up-regulated in multidrug resistant cancer cellsand that the multidrug transporter P-glycoprotein is localized in caveolae-like domains. We arestudying the possible involvement of caveolin-dependent mechanisms in mediating drugresistance and the impact of high caveolin expression on the phenotypic transformation ofmultidrug resistant cancer cells. In addition, studies are underway aimed to elucidate themolecular basis for targeting P-glycoprotein, a multispan integral membrane protein, tocaveolae-like domains.

Prof. Michal Neeman ($20,000) - "Magnetic resonance imaging of angiogenesis": Remodelingof blood vessels is an integral and essential component of reproduction, development, woundhealing and cancer. The goal of our group is to define the regulation of specific elementsinvolved in the control of angiogenesis and their integration in vivo. For that end we developnon invasive MRI methods for mapping vascular expansion and regression, stabilization ofvessels by their maturation, adjustment of vessel permeability and the role of blood vesselsand proangiogenic factors in modification of the extracellular matrix and lymphatic function.Using these tools we monitor the kinetics of vascular remodeling in the live animal, duringnormal development, wound repair and cancer, and study the response to defined molecular,pharmacological or physical intervention aimed to suppress or stimulate angiogenesis. Overthe last year our effort included evaluation of the role of neovasculature in dormancy ofovarian carcinoma tumors, analysis of the role of hyaluronan in mediating adhesion andangiogenesis in the normal ovary and ovarian cancer and a study of the acute response toVEGF and the role of VEGF in lymphatic function.

240 The Willner Family Center for Vascular Biology

Women's Health Research Center

Varda Rotter, Director The Norman and Helen Asher Chair of Cancer Research

The Woman's Health Research Center is interested in promoting studies on gender -relatedphysiology and disorder leading to specific pathologies. The center, focused on issuesconcerning fertility, cancer and osteoporosis, is trying to bridge between between basicresearch and clinical studies. The center supports basic research in ovarian function, such asthe regulation of female germ cell development into an ovum, capable of fertilization andembryonic development. Any impairment in these processes may lead to infertility. Basicresearch in this area led to remarkable achievements in the development of assistedreproductive techniques and offers high hope improve human health through advances in stemcell research and therapeutic cloning. Another focus of the center are gender specificmalignancies. It is well accepted that various cancer types are greatly dependent on hormonalcontrol and thus better understanding of the relationship between gender specific tumors andhormones that may contribute to better diagnosis and therapy of such tumors. Support of thecenter of basic research on the structure and development of bones is directly pertaining to thedevelopment of osteoporosis and its potential cure.

241

242 Women's Health Research Center

Yad Abraham Research Center for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy

Benjamin Geiger, Director The Erwin Neter Professor of Cell and Tumor Biology

The Yad Abraham Research Center for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy was established in1998 to promote cancer research, and in particular for the development of new avenues forearly detection of malignant processes and the development of novel therapeutic approaches.The Center supports research projects focusing on the genetic basis for cancer, including thecharacterization of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and studies on the relationshipsbetween cancer and programmed cell death. Special attention is given to studies concerningthe relationship between malignant processes studied in vitro and in experimental animals andthose associated with human cancer. The Center promotes interdisciplinary studies combiningmolecular approaches at the cellular level with studies at the level of the intact organism.

In 2001, the Center supported studies on the following topics:

1. The involvement of p53 and its regulators in human cancer, using DNA micro-array approaches.

2. The involvement of cell-cell adhesion and the associated beta-catenin signaling molecule in the transformed phenotype.

3. New approaches for the treatment of ovarian carcinomas, based on the modulation of signaling and apoptotic mechanism (continued from last year).

4. Involvement of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion in cancer and in the regulation of cell growth and death, with a particular emphasis on ovarian cancer and glial tumor.

5. The role of E2F transcription factors in cancer .

I addition, the Yad Abraham Center supported a symposium, in memory of Prof. NathanTrainin, one of the founders and leaders of cancer research at the Weizmann Institute. Thesymposium was entitled: Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Cancer.

The Center also organized a series of nation-wide workshops addressing different aspects ofblood-vessel biology, with an emphasis on tumor angiogenesis. The coordinator of thesewidely attended workshops was Prof. Michal Ne'eman.

243

244 Yad Abraham Research Center for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy


Dean: Samuel A. Safran (until November 2001)The Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Professor

Dean: Yosef Yarden (from December 2001) The Harold and Zelda Goldenberg Chair of Molecular Cell Biology

246 Feinberg Graduate School


Dean: Samuel A. Safran (until November 2001) The Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Professor

Dean: Yosef Yarden (from December 2001) The Harold and Zelda Goldenberg Chair of Molecular Cell Biology

The Feinberg Graduate School, founded in 1958, serves as a training ground for futuregenerations of creative researchers and scientific leaders. The student body also contributes tothe atmosphere of intellectual stimulation and challenge at the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Operating under charters granted by both the State of Israel and by the Board of Regents of theState of New York, the Feinberg Graduate School confers Master of Science (M.Sc.) andDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in the Life Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics,Computer Science, and Science Teaching. The enrollment for 2000/2001 was 824 students; ofthese students, 224 were studying in the M.Sc. program and 600 were studying in the Ph.Dprogram.

The extensive facilities of the Weizmann Institute are available to all students of the FeinbergSchool, and the Institute's senior staff forms the teaching faculty. The Ph.D student-teacherratio is approximately 2:1, allowing considerable individual attention to each Ph.D. student.Every student is required to attend courses and participate in a research project at theWeizmann Institute.

Admission to the Graduate School is based upon a student's previous academic record andletters of recommendation from former teachers. In addition, there may be a personal interviewwith faculty members who assess the candidate's ability and skills. Once accepted, the studentis exposed to a wide range of activities including lecture courses, teaching laboratories,individually guided study, and an independent research project. The research project issupervised by a scientific advisor, as well as a small committee of experts in the relevant fieldwho examine the research proposal, evaluate its feasibility, and monitor the progress of theproject. Finally, a thesis is submitted and evaluated; when approved, the appropriate degree isgranted by the Scientific Council of the Weizmann Institute of Science.

In recognition of the ever-increasing importance of advanced science-based industry in Israel,students are also introduced to basic concepts relevant to applied science and to research anddevelopment in an industrial environment. In addition, selected M.Sc. candidates are

247


encouraged to perform their research projects in collaboration with industrial, medical, orgovernment laboratories.

Multidisciplinary programs of study have been instituted in Biological Physics, Molecular andStructural Biology, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (with separate tracks forBiology and for Mathematics & Computer Science). Special programs are also available inEnergy and Environment and Archeological Sciences (for Ph. D. Students only).

The official language of instruction at the Feinberg Graduate School is English, which enablesforeign students (approximately 17% of the Ph.D. enrollment) to take part in all the School'sprograms. This, as well as the inclusion of foreign visiting scientists in the teaching program,contributes to an international atmosphere.

As a matter of policy, students accepted to the School receive a scholarship covering tuitionand living expenses. These are supported by (a) John F. Kennedy Memorial Foundation; (b)Levi Eshkol Fellowships, administered by the Israel Ministry of Science and Technology; (c)Clore Scholars Program; and approximately 300 individual supporters whose generositysponsors the studies of graduate students at the School (d) Planning & Budgeting Committeeof the Council for Higher Education (e) Mifaal Hapais (f) Dr. Jacob Isler Foundation.

The Feinberg Graduate School has for many years been the recipient of financial support fromthe United States through the Agency for International Development (AID), within theframework of the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program. The 2000/2001AID grant was $900,000. AID funds are used to purchase a significant portion of the scientificequipment needed by students for their advanced research projects.

Structure

The Feinberg Graduate School's academic activities are conducted and supervised by Boardsof Study in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, the Life Sciences and Science Teaching.

Fields of study and multidisciplinary programs include:

Mathematical Sciences: Mathematics Computer science and applied mathematics Bioinformatics: math and computer science track

Physical Sciences: Physics Applied physics Biological physics

Chemical Physics: Chemistry (physical/theoretical, molecular/material/nano Envronmental sciences (general information)

Feinberg Graduate School 249

Structure and molecular biology Computational biology and bioinformatics

Life Sciences: Biology (cell/molecular, neurobiology, chemical immunology, Plant sciences, molecularregulation, molecular genetics) Computional biology and bioinformatics.

Sciene Teaching: (Mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, earth and environmental science,biology)

Professor Tamar Flash - Mathematics and Computer Science Professor Adam Schwimmer - Physics Professor David Cahen - Chemistry Professor Varda Rotter - Life Sciences Professor Bat-Sheva Eylon - Science Teaching

The four Chairs, together with the Dean, form the Steering Committee of the School. Astudent representative participates in deliberations of the Steering Committee, with theexception of those relating to the evaluation of individual students.

A postdoctoral fellowship program, headed by Professor Harry Dym, is also administered bythe Graduate School. The program currently provides some sixty odd stipends per year forPostdoctoral Fellows. This is a substantial increase from the 20 stipends that were awarded bythe Graduate School some 20 years ago. These stipends are awarded for periods which runfrom 1-3 years. In addition the Graduate School helps administer the recently institutedprogram of Koshland Scholars for distinguished postdoctoral fellows. A significant number ofother postdoctoral fellowships are available through grants that are administered by individualscientists.

Policy

The scientific and educational policy of the Feinberg School is directed toward the promotionof academic excellence. Emphasis is placed on maintaining a high level of teaching, withparticular attention given to exceptionally bright and creative students. These are encouragedto enroll in a special program leading directly to the Ph.D. degree (thereby skipping theMaster's thesis). They may be allowed to take special combinations of courses and toparticipate in summer schools, workshops, and conferences in Israel and abroad. In addition,the regular curriculum is enriched by the inclusion of prominent visiting scientists who teachat the School. A distinguishing feature of the School is its practical approach to teaching witha strong emphasis on laboratory work. Teaching laboratories in the Life Sciences and inPhysics ensure that new students acquire skills in basic experimental procedures. A largenumber of more advanced courses in laboratory techniques are offered as well. In addition,students have access to the central computer facilities of the Institute. To provide new studentswith as wide a variety of research projects as possible, the School conducts a rotation program


that allows first year M.Sc. students to spend three 10-week periods in different Institutelaboratories. This enables them to make informed decisions regarding the research area inwhich they wish to specialize.

On-going Programs

Efforts are made to attract the best Israeli students to the Feinberg Graduate School byconducting open-house days, student-targeted seminars, and a summer student program. TheSchool also encourages the admission of qualified foreign students from all over the world.This is facilitated by the School's presence on the World Wide Web where a wealth ofinformation is available (http://www.weizmann.ac.il/feinberg)

The number of foreign students at the Graduate School in 2001 was 145 Among these are asignificant number of students from developing countries. These figures, of course, refer tothose students accepted from a much larger number of qualified applicants.

Services to Society

The Feinberg Graduate School has academic and administrative responsibility for four othereducational programs: the Science Teaching Department, the Youth Activities Section and"Perach," the one-on-one Tutorial Program, and the Katzir Center. The Science TeachingDepartment, headed by Prof. Uri Ganiel (till September 30), 2001 and from October 1, 2001,headed by Prof. Abraham Arcavi, is responsible for the development of curricula for primaryand secondary schools, with special emphasis on implementation. The Department hosts avariety of in-service training programs and seminars in mathematics, physics, chemistry,environmental - computer- and life sciences. These accomplishments have earned it nationaland international recognition (for details, see the Science Teaching section). The YouthActivities Section, headed by Dr. Zvi Paltiel, organizes extracurricular science programsdesigned to stimulate and expand the interest of young people in science. These activitiesinclude dozens of on-campus weekly science clubs, the Field School of Science, aMathematics Olympiad, Science Fair, Science Experiment Bank, group visits to the Garden ofScience, the Amos de-Shalit Summer Science Workshop, and the Bessie F. LawrenceInternational Summer Science Institute. On-campus activities take place at the Amos de-ShalitYouth Center. Every year about 22,000 students participate in these programs. Finally, there is"Perach," the one-on-one tutorial program whose objective is to improve the academicperformance and strengthen the self-confidence and motivation of underprivileged pupils. Thisproject was initiated about 27 years ago by a Feinberg graduate student and was subsequentlyadopted by all seven institutions of higher learning in Israel. In 2000/2001, more then 26,600students enrolled in the program working with more then 50,000 children nationwide.


Ph.D. Recipients 2001


Name Title of Thesis Advisor/s Depatrment

Elena Ainbinder Mechanisms involved in the induction of glutathione S-transferase gene expression by chemical agents

R.Dikstein Biological Chemistry

Tal Bachar-Raveh The function of DAP-kinase in cell death and oncogenic transformation

A.Kimchi Molecular Genetics

Dalit Barkan Effects of leptin on peripheral targets

M.Rubinstein Molecular Genetics

Herzel Ben-Shlomo

The signal recognition particle complex of the trypanosomatid leptomonas collosoma: expression of the 7SL RNA and the characterization of a novel tRNA-like molecule that associates with the 7SL RNA

S.Michaeli Biological Chemistry

Swetlana Boldin-Adamsky

The Role of ongoing glucosylceramide synthesis in neuronal growth

A.Futerman Biological Chemistry

Judith Brauch Ben-Porath

Foundations and development of transformation systems in the unicellular Green Alga Dunaliella

A.Zamir Biological Chemistry

Barry A. Cohen Ontogeny of pathogenesis and the biochemical responses of orobanche following infection by compatible Fusarium spp.

J.Gressel Plant Sciences

Silvina Federman Studies on the assembly of photosynthetic pigment-proteins from Pisum sativum and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6083 into energy transfer and electron transfer complex

A.ScherzS.Malkin

Plant Sciences

Lillian R. Glazer Identification of new components in drosophila tracheal patterning

B.Shilo Molecular Genetics

Dan Goldstaub The effects of the viral 2A-protease on mammalian cells - insights on translation initiation

C.Kahana Molecular Genetics


Itzhak Goldwaser Studies toward evaluation of the insulinomimetic potencies of novel organo-vanadium complexes

Y.ShechterM.Fridkin

Biological Chemistry

Yossef Kliger HIV-1 induced membrane fusion Y.Shai Biological Chemistry

Tadeusz Kornaga Generation of mouse strains with potentially lethal induced mutations using the Cre/loxP system

P.Lonai Molecular Genetics

Aster Legesse-Miller

Molecular characterization of GATE-16/Aut7p, a novel soluble factor participating in multiple membrane traffic processes

Z.Elazar Biological Chemistry

Ziv Oren Cell specific cytotoxicity by a novel repertoire of antimicrobial polypeptides. Structure-function study

Y.Shai Biological Chemistry

Denis A. Ostapenko

In vivo analyses of the function of yeast RNA polymerase II transcription factors

O.Gileadi Molecular Genetics

Alexander Raskind

Calcium-dependent protein phosphorylation in the chloroplast thylakoid membrane

M.Edelman Plant Sciences

Eitan Rubin Evolution of the Ac-Ds transposable element family

A.Levy Plant Sciences

Orit Shmueli Analysis of genes associated in Lissencephaly

O.Reiner Molecular Genetics

Guiliang Tang Molecular dissection and regulation of lysine metabolism in higher plants

G.Galili Plant Sciences

Dalit Vaizel-Ohaion

Mutations in oblivious reveal requirements for centrosomal function during early drosophila embryogenesis

E.Schechter Molecular Genetics

Yu-Xin Xu Structure-functional analyses of small RNAs in trypanosomatids

S.Michaeli Biological Chemistry

Talia Yarnitzky Functional analysis of the Drosophila neuregulin homologue, vein, in embryonic and adult development

T.Volk Molecular Genetics


Faculty of Biology


Ilane Abitbol The cardiac Iks channel complex: molecular and biophysical properties. Implications for the long QT syndrome

B.Attali Neurobiology

Gonzalo Aranda-Abreu

Tau RNA binding Proteins: identification and physiological role in the multi-step mRNA localization pathway

I.Ginzburg Neurobiology

Michael Batkin The catalytic subunit of protein kinase A: an insight into the biorecognition and bioregulation

S.Shaltiel Biological Regulation

Lior Carmon Novel approaches for discovery and use of tumor-associated antigen peptides in vaccination and immunotherapy

L.Eisenbach Immunology

Revital Feinstein-Leizer

Annexin II a regulator of insulin receptor trafficking

Y.Zick Molecular Cell Biology

Susanne Franitza Modulation of T cell chemotaxis by cytokines and chemokines within extracellular matrix-like gels

O.LiderR.Alon

Immunology

Igor Friedmann Thrombin as a regulatory wound-healing enzyme in the injured central nervous system

M.Schwartz Neurobiology

Efrat Gamzu Sensory encoding and the role of velocity in tactile perception.

E.Ahissar Neurobiology

Michal Greenberg

tBid's mechanism of action at the mitochondria

A.Gross Biological Regulation

Alice J. Heicklen TAU promoter activity and regulation

I.Ginzburg Neurobiology

Sin-Hyeog Im Immunomodulation of antibody-mediated autoimmunity: experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis as a model

S.Fuchs Immunology

Tamar Juven-Gershon

Understanding the biological functions of MDM2 through its interactions with other proteins

M.Oren Molecular Cell Biology


Pablo Kizelsztein

Activation and desensitization of the AMPA subtype (GluR1) of glutamate receptor

V.Teichberg Neurobiology

Orly Laskar-Levy

Expression and hormonal regulation of GnRH and somatostatin genes in the rat mammary gland

Y.KochM.Walker

Neurobiology

Ruth Maya Regulation of MDM2 mediated p53 degradation

M.Oren Molecular Cell Biology

Gila Moalem T cell immune response in the injured central nervous system

M.SchwartzI.Cohen

Neurobiology

Hagai Offer Role of p53 in the DNA repair pathway

V.Rotter Molecular Cell Biology

Meirav Rechter Cloning expression and analysis of the immuno-regulatory properties of the C-X-C chemokine connective tissue activating peptide-III (CTAP-III)

O.LiderI.Cohen

Immunology

Hadara Rubinfeld

The regulation of the subcellular localization of ERK2 and MEK1

R.Seger Biological Regulation

Rachel Sarig Targeted inactivation of the DMD gene product Dp71: promoter activity and the resulting phenotype

D.YaffeU.Nudel


Dalia Seger Phosphorylation and proteolysis in the control of vitronectin function

S.Shaltiel Biological Regulation

Sergio David Serulnik

Understanding the formation of the conditioned response: mathematical modeling and electrophysiological studies

E.AhissarM.Segal

Neurobiology

Sigalit Shimhoni-Leibovitz

Analysis of the function of Dp71, the major non-muscle product of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene

D.YaffeU.Nudel


Tsipi Shoham Studies on the role of the organ stroma in the restriction of lymphopoiesis: activin A negatively regulates B lineage cells

D.ZiporiU.Pick




Lina Souan Analysis of the immune response to prion protein peptides in rodents

I.Cohen Immunology

Yasuto Tanaka From perception to memory: memory traces in early vision and the role of attention

D.Sagi Neurobiology

Yun Wang Functional microcircuitry of rat neocortex

H.Markram Neurobiology

Rong Xu Regulation of Fc RI signal transduction by the mast cell function-associated antigen MAFA

I.Pecht Immunology

Eli Zamir Molecular diversity and dynamics of cell matrix adhesions in cultured fibroblasts

B.Geiger Molecular Cell Biology

Judith Zilberstein

Mechanisms involved in chlorophyll based photoinduced damage: photodynamic therapy of melanoma

A.ScherzY.Salomon

Biological Regulation


Shaul Aloni The effects of defects and single adatoms on the local electronic structure of semiconductor sufaces

G.Hasse Chemical Physics

Yaroslav V. Bilokin

Organic synthesis through temporary sulfur connection

M.Bachi Organic Chemistry

Simone Botti Multiple roles for the electrostatic properties of cholinesterases: catalysis and molecular recognition

I.SilmanJ.Sussman

Structural Biology

Thomas Brauniger

Deuterium NMR studies of dynamic disorder in molecular crystals

Z.Luz Chemical Physics

Jurgen Buhler In-situ back-scattering CARS spectroscopy on CVD diamond

Y.Prior Chemical Physics

Benjamin Davidovitch

Applications of conformal methods for growth processes

I.Procaccia Chemical Physics


Artem G. Evdokimov

1) The Interaction of saccharides with concanavalin A: a crystallographic study of molecular recognition and solvent effects at the atomic level 2) Ultra-high resolution X-ray and neutron diffraction studies and density functional calculations on the methyl pentofuranosides

J.GilboaF.Frolow

Structural Biology

Einat Frishman Control of bimolecular reactions M.Shapiro Chemical Physics

Hezi Gildor Dynamics of glacial-interglacial cycles: the sea ice switch mecahnism and the role of ocean biochemistry

E.Tziperman Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

Gregory Kalyuzhny

Metal ion binding in self-assembled monolayers and molecular switches

I.Rubinstein Materials and Interfaces

Eugene Kolker Segmented structure of protein sequences

E.Trifonov Structural Biology

Alexander Litovchick

Aminoglycoside-arginine conjugates as novel HIV Tat antagonists

A.Lapidot Organic Chemistry

Ohad Medalia Structural characterization of large macromolecular assemblies by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy

J.Sperling Organic Chemistry

Idit Pe'er Solar pumped dimer gas Laser A.Yogev Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

Shai Rahimipour Potential cytotoxic derivatives of gonadortopin-releasing hormone (GnRH): synthesis and evaluation

M.FridkinY.Koch

Organic Chemistry

Ilana Rogachev Amphiphilic dithiocarbamates: relations between their binding, enzyme inhibition and transport properties and their action as regulators of radical production

A.WarshawskyJ.Gressel

Organic Chemistry




Tatyana Tsirlina Highly oriented TMDC thin films: growth mechanism, properties and applications

R.Tenne Materials and Interfaces

Jingyan Zhang Electron spin resonance studies of the formation mechanism of mesoporous materials and the incorporation of managanese ions

D.Goldfarb Chemical Physics


Dan Ben-Zvi Children as explorers: exploratory data analysis by junior high school students in a computer assisted environment

A.ArcaviA.Friedlander

Science Teaching

Dvora Cohen The development, implementation, and assessment of the learning module "Brain, Medicines, and Drugs" in high schools in Israel

A.HofsteinR.Ben-Zvi

Science Teaching

Jeff Dodick Cognitive development of temporal thinking in geology

N.OrionS.Weiner

Science Teaching

Yael Kali The rock-cycle program as a mean for fostering thinking skills: development, implementation and research

N.OrionB.Eylon

Science Teaching

Dorothy Langley Integrating inquiry activities into physics instruction in a computer-based information technology environment

B.Eylon Science Teaching

Idit Yerushalmi Promoting self-monitoring in physics problem-solving: professional development through a "cooperative teachers inquiry" workshop

B.Eilon Science Teaching


Jacob Greenstein Studies in modules over affine Lie algebras

A.Joseph Mathematics


Faculty of Physics

Alexei Grigoriev Regularity properties of dependence on parameters of Pichard-Fuchs systems for polynomials, and the implied estimates on oscillation of complete Aberlian integrals

S.Yakovenko Mathematics

Nadya Gurevich The Theta correspondence for spin7

S.Gelbart Mathematics

Robert Krauthgamer

Coping with NP-hardness: approximating minimum bisection and heuristics for maximum clique

U.Feige Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

Anna Litvak-Hinenzon

Parabolic resonances in Hamiltonian systems

V.Rom-Kedar Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

Erez Sali Class-based visual recognition and reconstruction

S.Ullman Computer Science and Applied Mathematics


Sven Bergmann Windows to new physics: neutrino oscillations and CP violation

Y.Nir Particle Physics

Haim Feldman Coulomb explosion imaging of medium weight molecules

Z.Vager Particle Physics

Alexander Groisman

Dynamics of dilute polymer solutions in complex flows

V.Steinberg Physics of Complex Systems

Yariv Kafri Collective phenomena far from thermal equilibrium and study of the denaturation of DNA

D.Mukamel Physics of Complex Systems

Ram Oron Phase elements for transverse mode selection in laser resonators

A.Friesem Physics of Complex Systems

Michal Rokni Quantum effects in optical and acoustic phenomena in semiconductors

Y.Levinson Condensed Matter Physics


Rina Seidin-Ashkenazi

Phase transitions in liquid crystals in the presence of surfaces and fields

D.MukamelS.Shtrikman

Physics of Complex Systems

Efrat Shefer Study of novel stable photocathode materials for gaseous photon detectors in the near-UV to visible spectral range

A.Breskin Particle Physics

Iddo Ussishkin Coupled half-filled Landau levels (and on interband Coulomb scattering in GaAs, too)

A.SternY.Imry

Condensed Matter Physics


M.Sc. Recipients 2001


Sharon AvkinMariana BaborAla BerdichevskyAyelet Dahari-SchlesingerEyal EmmanuelEran EyalEphraim FassElena FriedmannAlona GochbergMichal KenanNoa Perlman

Yair PilpelTalia PolakAsaf RotemAlon SabbanRona Sadja GertnerIlan SamishHagai ShorerEinat SitbonJulie StampnitzkyMichael TugentmanGil Zeidner

Faculty of Biology

Talya BelogusYael BergknoffIrene Bobilev-PrielAmi CitriMichal CohenCohava CohenSharon CohenAyellet FalcovitzAlon FichmanYonatan GanorGal HaimovichMira Hasky-NegevNir Kalisman

Menachem KatzNurit LichtensteinBella LurieVictoria MalinaSean MatliesMiri MoasYehudit PosenNitzan RosenfeldHadas SchoriSagit Sela-AbramovichAsaf SpiegelIvo SpiegelEitan Winter


Alisa BandErez BoukobzaRan EliashJoseph EnglanderDavid EntenbergEdi Goichberg

Rachel HavdalaSagit HindiMorna IsaacItamar KassAurelie Lachish-ZalaitMelissa Levy


Gregory LinshizDavid MarguliesRinat Sack-RenerAdi SalomonAvraham Olivier Samson

Ariel SolomonOren TalMeni WanunuAmir WeissUri Zadok


Ran Segall Michal Tabach


Yonah CherniavskyRoman DovgardAmiel FermanDana FismanSharon Gilaie-DotanByung-Woo Hong

Dvir KleperYoad LustigFelix PolyakovYael TaumanGera Weiss

Faculty of Physics

Galya BlumIlan BreskinDina CarassoYoav GordinTal Hazak-VerdeneGuy Hed

Nadav Yehuda KatzUri KeshetDror MirzayofGuy RazAmir SagivBasile Verdene


Post Doctoral Fellowships for 2001

The David Aftalion Postdoctoral Fellowship

Sung Ho Jeon ImmunologyOrly Perl Immunology

The Jean-Jacques Berreby Postdoctoral Fellowship

Orna Zagoory Neurobiology

The Dov Biegun Postdoctoral Fellowship

Subhajit Ghosechowdhury Mathematics

The Sir Charles Clore Postdoctoral Fellowships

Shani Bialik Molecular GeneticsBoris Epel Chemical PhysicsAdriana Folberg-Blum Molecular Cell BiologyRuti Kapon Biological ChemistryShahar Nevo MathematicsItzhak Orion Particle PhysicsYoram Selzer Materials and InterfacesParthiban Srinivasan Organic ChemistryJeffrey Steinhauer Physics of Complex Systems

The Gina & Leon Fromer Endowed Postdoctoral Fellowship

Mark Justin Shulewitz Neurobiology

The Goldberg Family Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship

Avital Adato Molecular Genetics

The Harold & Jean Grossman Postdoctoral Fellowship

Gad Asher Molecular Genetics

The Arthur Kaplan Postdoctoral Fellowship

Michiel C. A. Van Vliet Organic Chemistry


The Edmond I. & Lillian S. Kaufman Postdoctoral Fellowship

Cristina Bordeanu Particle Physics

The Koret Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship

Igor Gejadze Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Koshland Postdoctoral Fellowships

Sven Bergmann Molecular GeneticsJacques Bodennec Biological ChemistryDmitri Feldman Condensed Matter PhysicsMaria Gorelik MathematicsHarlan Saul Robins Particle PhysicsEyal Seidemann NeurobiologyGuy Sella Computer Science and Applied MathematicsEric Vigoda Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Sadie, Moses & Harry Marks Postdoctoral Fellowship

Alex Biryukov Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Pacific Theatres Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship

Igor Berezovsky Structural BiologyHanno Hammer Chemical Physics

The Louis L. & Anita M. Perlman Postdoctoral Fellowship

Roman Mark Krahne Condensed Matter Physics

The Dr. Robert G. Picard Postdoctoral Fellowship

Chen Keasar Physics of Complex Systems

The Maurizio Pontecorvo Postdoctoral Fellowship

Mina Marmor Biological Regulation

The Hughes & Sheila Potiker Postdoctoral Fellowship

Anat Kerem-Angel Immunology


The Stephen M. Reich Postdoctoral Fellowship

Yaron Daniely Molecular Cell BiologyChristoph Graf von Ballestrem Molecular Cell Biology

The Helena Rubinstein Postdoctoral Fellowship

Rachel Sarig Biological Regulation

The Sara Lee Schupf Women & Science Fellowship

Anna Elizabeth Rhoades Chemical Physics

The G. & Dr. Y. Shwartzman and S. & H. Medvedi Families Postdoctoral Fellowship

Edwin Harold Rydberg Structural Biology

The Marcus & Lily Sieff Postdoctoral Fellowship

Iris Yedidia Biological Chemistry

The Norman Sosnow Postdoctoral Fellowship

Robert Steven Whitney Condensed Matter Physics

The Ann Abrams Stone Postdoctoral Fellowship

Ying Wang Organic Chemistry

The Anne Stone Postdoctoral Fellowship

Mikhail Entov Mathematics

The Dewey David Stone Postdoctoral Fellowship

Stephan Yves Thiberge Physics of Complex Systems

The Harry K. Stone Postdoctoral Fellowship

Nandor Bokor Physics of Complex Systems

The Hugh David Stone Postdoctoral Fellowship

Jens Martin Condensed Matter Physics


The Reva G. Stone Postdoctoral Fellowship

Gregory Berkolaiko Physics of Complex Systems

Unesco & Israeli Council for Higher Education

U. Kyaw Myo Naing Organic ChemistryTatyana Savchenko Biological Chemistry

The Phil Zacharia Postdoctoral Fellowship

Claire Moura Mathematics

The Aron Zandman Postdoctoral Fellowship

Miron Hazani Chemical Physics


Prizes for Ph.D. Students 2001

D.N. Chorafas Foundation

Hezi Gildor Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The Daniel Brenner Memorial Prize

Gustavo Glusman Molecular Genetics

The Dov Elad Memorial Prize

Alon Chen Neurobiology

The Elchanan E. Bondi Memorial Prize

Ohad Medalia Organic Chemistry

The Esther Helinger Memorial Prize

Ruth Maya Molecular Cell Biology

The Gad Resheff Memorial Prize

Dan Ben-Zvi Science Teaching

The Giora Yoel Yashinsky Memorial Prize

Yariv Kafri Physics of Complex Systems

The Haim Holtzman Memorial Prize

Navot Israeli Physics of Complex Systems

The John F. Kennedy Prize

Gonen Ashkenasy Organic ChemistryHezi Gildor Environmental Sciences and Energy ResearchRobert Krauthgamer Computer Science and Applied MathematicsAlexander Milov Particle PhysicsZiv Oren Biological Chemistry


The Lady Anne Chain Memorial Prize

Tzvia Selzer Biological Chemistry

Graduate School Prize

Nava Almog Molecular Cell BiologyShaul Aloni Chemical PhysicsEinat Frishman Chemical PhysicsYossef Kliger Biological Chemistry

Prizes for M.Sc. Students

Liraz Chai Materials and InterfacesYoav Gilad Molecular GeneticsGuy Hed Physics of Complex SystemsNa'aman Kam Computer Science and Applied MathematicsVictor Kunin Molecular GeneticsRona Sadja Gertner Biological ChemistryOrit Samuel Biological ChemistryTamar Seeman-Emerson MathematicsIvo Spiegel Molecular Cell BiologyYael Tauman Computer Science and Applied Mathematics


Scholarship Awards

Ph.D. Scholarships in Perpetuity

The Jacques and Gisella Anavy Scholarship Established in 1983 by Jacques and Gisella Anavy, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Recipient: Itai Arad, Department of Chemical Physics

The Dr. Christian B. Anfinsen Scholarship Established in 1974 in Dr. Anfinsen's honor by the Washington Committee for theWeizmann Institute of Science, Washington, D.C. Recipient: Ariel B. Lindner, Department of Immunology

The Dr. Lester Aronberg Scholarship Established in 1981 by the Lester Aronberg Foundation, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Sylvia Chuartzman, Department of Chemical Physics

The Eda and Leon Asseo Scholarship Established in 1988 by Mrs. Eda Asseo, Tel Aviv, Israel Recipient: Shimon Gross, Department of Biological Regulation

The Jacob and Sonia Axelrad Endowed Doctoral Scholarship Fund in Cancer Research Established in 1999 through a bequest of Sonia Hager Axelrad, New York Recipients: Fabian Arditti, Department of Immunology; Moshe Goldsmith, Departmentof Biological Chemistry; Sivan Henis-Korenblat, Department of Molecular Genetics;Ruth Maya, Department of Molecular Cell Biology; Shlomo Oved, Department ofBiological Regulation; Yuval Yung, Department of Biological Regulation

The Thomas Ayers Scholarship in Energy Research Established in 1994 by Mr. Thomas Ayers, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Miri Rietti-Shati, Department of Environmental Sciences and EnergyResearch

The Lillian Baker Scholarship Established in 1991 through a bequest of Lillian Baker, Hallandale, Florida Recipient: Idan Ashur, Department of Plant Sciences

The Florence and Theodore Baumritter Scholarship Fund for Russian Students Established in 1991 by Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Baumritter, Boca Raton, Florida Recipient: Ruslan Dorfman, Department of Molecular Genetics

The J. Myron and Zachary Michael Bay Scholarship Established in 1979 by Jerry Adler and friends, The Magen David Wine Corporation,Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Dahlia Sharon, Department of Neurobiology

The Bayer Corporation Scholarship in Perpetuity Established in 1996 by the Bayer Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Recipient: Gonen Ashkenazy, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Becker Family Fund Scholarship Established in 1975 through a bequest of Louis Becker, New York Recipient: Lillian R. Glazer, Department of Molecular Genetics


The Mollie Freeman Becker Scholarship Established in 1971 by Mrs. Samuel Becker, Newton, Massachusetts Recipient: Uriel Katz, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Shlomo Beilitz Scholarship Established in 1979 through a bequest of Shlomo Beilitz, Ra'anana, Israel Recipient: Michal Sharon, Department of Structural Biology

The Louis Bein Scholarship for Russian Students Established in 1991 by the Louis Bein Trust, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Alexander Samokhvalov, Department of Chemical Physics

The Abraham Berman Scholarship Established in 1966 through a bequest of Abraham Berman, South Africa Recipient: Uri Gavish, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Joseph W. and Emily J. Bernstein Scholarship Established in 1990 by the Amber Foundation, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Yael Adini, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Dr. Henri H. Birnbaum Scholarship Established in 1979 through a bequest of Dr. Henri H. Birnbaum, New York Recipient: Hagit Affek, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The Abraham H. Blank Scholarship Established in 1979 by Myron Blank, Des Moines, Iowa Recipient: Alexandros Damalas, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Alex and Yudas (Yetta) Bloom Scholarship Established in 1971 by Philip Bloom, New York Recipient: Thomas Braeuniger, Department of Chemical Physics

The Alan I. Bluestein Scholarship Established in 1990 by Milton J. Bluestein, Palm Beach, Florida Recipient: Yossi Paltiel, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Alejandro y Dinorah Margounato Blum Scholarship Established in 1986 by the Leon and Elena Blum Foundation, Montevideo, Uruguay Recipient: Michael Meijler, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Nathan and Emily Blum Scholarships Established in 1980 through a bequest of Nathan Blum, Chicago, Illinois Recipients: Einat Frishman, Department of Chemical Physics; Armin Biess, Departmentof Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Joseph Brainin and Sally Brainin Scholarship Established in 1967 in honor of Joseph and Sally Brainin by the American Committeefor the Weizmann Institute of Science, New York Recipient: Yaakov (Kobi) Nissim, Department of Computer Science and AppliedMathematics

The Melva and Martin Bucksbaum Scholarship for Biomedical/Cardiovascular Research Established in 1996 in honor of Melva Bucksbaum and in memory of her husbandMartin by family and friends, Des Moines, Iowa Recipient: Noga Burstein Alagem, Department of Biological Chemistry


The Dr. Rebecca Chutick and Dr. Lillian Chutick Doctoral Scholarship Fund for SovietImmigrant Students Established in 1994 through a bequest of Dr. Rebecca Chutick, New York Recipients: Alexei Grigoriev, Department of Mathematics; Boris Grits, Department ofPhysics of Complex Systems; Victor Kunin, Department of Molecular Genetics;Gennady Margolin, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The Isidore and Theresa Cohen Scholarship Established in 1973 by the Israel, Theresa, and Ronald Cohen Charitable Trust, CapeTown, South Africa Recipient: Irit Ruach-Nir, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Sam Cohen Windhoek Scholarships Established in 1981 by the Sam Cohen Trust, Namibia, South Africa Recipients: Amir Aharoni, Department of Organic Chemistry; Liat Ben-Yehoshua,Department of Biological Regulation; Benjamin Davidovitch, Department of ChemicalPhysics; Daphna Frenkiel, Department of Organic Chemistry; Bat-Ami Gotliv,Department of Structural Biology; Sin-Hyeog Im, Department of Immunology; TzviaSelzer, Department of Biological Chemistry; Lina Souan, Department of Immunology

The Frank Considine Scholarship in Geophysics Established in 2000 in honor of Frank Considine by the Chicago Committee for theWeizmann Institute of Science, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: David Erschler, Department of Mathematics

The Leo A. and Sarah G. Copin Scholarship Fund Established in 1994 through a bequest of Sarah Copin, Palm Beach, Florida Recipient: Yehuda Lindell, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Dan Danciger Scholarship Established in 1960 by the Dan Danciger Foundation, Kansas City, Missouri Recipient: Ilanit Doron-Mor, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Joseph and Sadie Danciger Scholarships Established in 1960 by the Sadie Danciger Trust and the Joseph and Sadie DancigerFund, Kansas City, Missouri Recipients: Iossif Polterovich, Department of Mathematics; Elad Shahar, Department ofComputer Science and Applied Mathematics; Tsvi Tlusty, Department of Materials andInterfaces

The Jack and Simon Djanogly Scholarships Established in 1971 by Sir Harry Djanogly, London, UK Recipients: Daniel Segre, Department of Molecular Genetics; Leor Williams,Department of Plant Sciences

The Pearl and Morris Dry Scholarship Established in 1966 by Sidney Dry, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Yael Levi, Department of Structural Biology

The Dr. Yehuda and Leah Dubowski Scholarship Established in 1988 by Mrs. Leah Dubowski, Kiryat Ono, Israel Recipient: Etti Meiri, Department of Plant Sciences


The Florence Edelman Scholarship in Perpetuity Established in 1987 through a bequest of Florence Edelman, New York Recipient: Michal Ortal-Schwarz, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Dr. Joshua and Helene Ehrlich Memorial Scholarship Established in 1987 through a bequest of Helene Ehrlich, Miami, Florida Recipient: Omri Erez, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Gerald and Thelma Estrin Scholarship Established in 1989 by their daughter, Judith Estrin, and by William Carrico, Los AltosHills, California Recipient: Liran Carmel, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Leon and Kathe Fallek Scholarships Established in 1974 by Fred S. Fallek, New York Recipients: Sigal Sivaldi-Goldstein, Department of Plant Sciences; Guiliang Tang,Department of Plant Sciences

The Belle and Philip Feinberg Scholarship Established in 1983 by Abraham Feinberg, New York Recipient: Michal Kovo-Hasharoni, Department of Biological Regulation

The Lillian Feinberg Scholarship Established in 1983 by Abraham Feinberg, New York Recipient: Adi Ben-Zeev Brann, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Shirley and Judge Wilfred Feinberg Scholarship Established in 1983 by Abraham Feinberg, New York Recipient: Ayelet Vilan, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Dr. Judith Schneider and Dr. E. Richard Feinberg Scholarship Established in 1983 by Belle S. Meller, New York Recipient: Orit Wolstein, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Harold Feinstein and Bess Rae C. Feinstein Scholarship Fund for Soviet Students Established in 1990 through a bequest of Bess Rae C. Feinstein, Chicago, Illinois Recipients: Alexander Groisman, Department of Physics of Complex Systems;Alexander Soibel, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Meyer Feldman Memorial Scholarship Established in 1973 through a bequest of Meyer Feldman, Tucson, Arizona Recipient: Iris Visoly-Fisher, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Joel Fellner and Gisella Schreiber Fellner and Ernest Ludwig Mannheimer and ArabellaWeiss Mannheimer Scholarship Fund, Established in 1983 by the Leopold and Clara M. Fellner Charitable Foundation, LosAngeles, California Recipient: Alexander Levitan, Department of Plant Sciences

The Joseph E. and Rose Fisher Scholarship Established in 1978 by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Fisher, Canton, Ohio Recipient: Hagit Affek, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The Rita Friedell and Donald Fiterman Scholarship Established in 1970 by Mr. and Mrs. Morlan Fiterman, Highland Park, Illinois Recipient: Leor Williams, Department of Plant Sciences


The Stephen W. Fleck Scholarship Fund Established in 1995 through a bequest of Herta Fleck, New York Recipient: Gad Beck, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Alexander and Lilly Foldes Memorial Scholarship Established in 1981 through a bequest of Lilly Foldes, New York Recipient: Eitan Sharon, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Joseph F. and Clara Ford Foundation Scholarship in Perpetuity Established in 1989 by the Joseph F. and Clara Ford Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts Recipient: Gil Goobes, Department of Chemical Physics

The Harry and Lillian Frankel Scholarship Established in 1959 through a bequest of Lillian Frankel, Shawnee Mission, Kansas Recipient: Yehuda Lindell, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Malcolm Fraser Scholarship in Medical Biology Established in 1987 in honor of Malcolm Fraser by the Australian Association for theWeizmann Institute of Science, Victoria, Australia Recipient: Yael Adini, Department of Neurobiology

The Samuel R. and Anna E. Friedman Scholarship Established in 1970 by the S.R. Friedman Charitable Trust, Palm Springs, California Recipient: Dahlia Sharon, Department of Neurobiology

The Margot and Alfred Furth-Regina Fleischer Scholarship in Chemistry, Established in 1992 through a bequest of Regina Fleischer, and by Alfred Furth, NewYork, in memory of his wife, Margot Recipient: Tamar Kustanovich-Flor, Department of Chemical Physics

The Rita Gehl Scholarship in Cancer Research Established in 1999 by Rita Gehl, London, UK Recipient: Devorah Matas, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Bessie and Barnet Ginsburg Memorial Scholarship Established in 1971 by the Bessie and Barnet Ginsburg Memorial Foundation,Westhampton Beach, New York Recipient: Alice Heicklen, Department of Neurobiology

The Israel, Sara and L. Chester Glaser Scholarship Established in 1975 through a bequest of L. Chester Glaser, New York Recipient: Armin Biess, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Goldberg Family Trust Doctoral Scholarship in Biomedical Research Established in 1997 through the Goldberg Family Charitable Trust, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Erez Bar-Haim, Department of Immunology

The Goldberg-Guild Scholarships Established in 1984 by Bernard Goldberg, Hallandale, Florida, and Irwin C. Guild, PalmBeach, Florida Recipients: Michail Blinov, Department of Mathematics; Guy Cinamon, Department ofImmunology; Yael Kali, Department of Science Teaching; Smadar Levin-Zaidman,Department of Organic Chemistry; Yinon Levy, Department of Molecular Genetics;Hannah Margel, Department of Science Teaching; Isabelle Petit, Department of


Immunology; Sebastian Poliak, Department of Molecular Cell Biology; Yoav Rodeh,Department of Mathematics; Xiaolan Wang, Department of Neurobiology

The Dr. Anna Goldfeder Scholarship Established in 1994 through a bequest of Dr. Anna Goldfeder, New York Recipient: Ruslan Dorfman, Department of Molecular Genetics

The J. Barney and Pauline Goldhar Foundation Scholarship Established in 1982 in honor of Paul and Gella Rothstein by Mr. and Mrs. J. BarneyGoldhar, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recipient: Idan Ashur, Department of Plant Sciences

The Richard and Rhoda Goldman Scholarship Established in 1982 by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Goldman, San Francisco, California Recipient: Hezi Gildor, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The Phillip and Beverly Goldstick Scholarship Established in 1980 by Phillip C. Goldstick, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Oded Kleifeld, Department of Structural Biology

The Dorothy and Maurice Gordon Scholarship Established in 1968 by Centrose Associates, Boston, Massachusetts Recipient: Michal Kovo-Hasharoni, Department of Biological Regulation

The Harold J. and Marion Green Scholarship Established in 1970 by Mr. and Mrs. Harold J. Green, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Michael Meijler, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Nandor F. Gross Scholarship Established in 1982 through a bequest of Kalman Gross, New York Recipient: Alon (Chemo) Chen, Department of Neurobiology

The Isadore and Bertha Gudelsky Family Scholarship Established in 1979 by the Isidore and Bertha Gudelsky Family Foundation, Potomac,Maryland Recipient: Dahlia Sharon, Department of Neurobiology

The Herbert Leiser Harband Memorial Scholarship Established in 1976 through bequests of Dorothea and Julius Harband, San Francisco,California, in memory of their beloved son Recipient: Shimon Gross, Department of Biological Regulation

The B.J. Harris Scholarship Established in 1970 by B.J. Harris, Palm Beach, Florida Recipient: Omri Erez, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Gertrude and Benjamin R. Harris Scholarship Established in 1989 through bequests of Gertrude and Benjamin R. Harris, Chicago,Illinois Recipient: Hadara Rubinfeld, Department of Biological Regulation

The Dr. Esther Hellinger Memorial Scholarship Established in 1986 through a bequest of Dr. Esther Hellinger, London, UK Recipient: Jeff Dodick, Department of Science Teaching


The Otto and Mary Hersch Scholarships Established in 1988 through a bequest of Mary Hersch, New York Recipients: Sven Bergmann, Department of Particle Physics; Vitaly Braude, Departmentof Condensed Matter Physics; Hagai Eisenberg, Department of Physics of ComplexSystems; Roee Ozeri, Department of Physics of Complex Systems; Dvir Yelin,Department of Physics of Complex Systems

The Luta and Ludwig Heusinger Scholarships Established in 1993 through a bequest of Dr. Ludwig Heusinger, Kfar Shmaryahu, Israel Recipient: Dan Volok, Department of Mathematics

The Fay and Harry Hoffman Scholarship Established in 1982 by Mr. Harry Hoffman, family and friends, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Lillian R. Glazer, Department of Molecular Genetics

The William T. Hogan and Winifred T. Hogan Scholarship Established in 1997 by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 714, Chicago,Illinois Recipient: Ronith Buller, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Lawrence Horowitz Scholarship Established in 1979 by Lawrence G. Horowitz, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Recipient: Itzik Goldwaser, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Anna Hurwitz Scholarship Established in 1984 by Allan Hurwitz, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Irit Ruach-Nir, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Fund Scholarships Established in 1965 by the John F. Kennedy Memorial Foundation, Rehovot, Israel Recipients: Yevgenia Apertsin, Department of Mathematics; Diego Berman, Departmentof Neurobiology; Avital Bitan, Department of Neurobiology; Michal Caspi, Departmentof Molecular Genetics; Mark Gandelman, Department of Organic Chemistry; GustavoGlusman, Department of Molecular Genetics; Jacob Greenstein, Department ofMathematics; Jan Hendrik Ihmels, Department of Particle Physics; Yinon Y. Levy,Department of Molecular Genetics; Efrat Shefer, Department of Particle Physics; TsipiShoham, Department of Molecular Cell Biology; David Sprintzak, Department ofCondensed Matter Physics; Yun Wang, Department of Neurobiology; Ella Zimmerman,Department of Structural Biology; Artem Zvavich, Department of Mathematics

The Malcolm Kingsberg Memorial Scholarship Established in 1972 through a bequest of Malcolm Kingsberg, New York Recipient: Gonen Ashkenazy, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Jeannine Klueger Scholarship Established in 1991 by Mrs. Seraphina Klueger-Kraus, Dusseldorf, Germany, in memoryof her daughter Recipient: Meirav Geva-Melamud, Department of Structural Biology

The Neil David Konheim Memorial Scholarship Established in 1985 by George Konheim, Beverly Hills, California Recipient: Helen Eisenberg Golten, Department of Physics of Complex Systems


The Richard Koret Scholarship Established in 1968 by the trustees of the Richard Koret Foundation, New York Recipient: Yael Levi, Department of Structural Biology

The Joseph Korodi Memorial Scholarship Established in 1993 by Emmy Singer Korodi, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Recipient: Nava Almog, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Samuel and Ronnie Kraut Fund for Scholarships in the Life Sciences Established in 1988 by Ms. Ricky Kraut through bequests of her parents, Samuel andRonnie Kraut, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Recipient: Konstantin Adamsky, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Lillian Hellman Kugler Scholarship in Cancer Research Established in 1995 through the Saerree K. and Louis P. Fiedler Family Fund, Deerfield,Illinois Recipient: Alexandros Damalas, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Robert Alan Kuniansky Memorial Scholarship Established in 1978 by Max L. and Helen Kuniansky, Atlanta, Georgia Recipient: Orit Wolstein, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Harold J. Lawn, M.D. Scholarship Fund Established in 1989 by Dr. Harold J. Lawn, St. Paul, Minnesota Recipients: Hagit Affek, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research;Deborah Bartfeld, Department of Structural Biology; Yehuda Hassin, Department ofComputer Science and Applied Mathematics; Yanfang Liu, Department of MolecularCell Biology

The Dr. Sophie N. Leschin Scholarship Fund Established in 1985 through a bequest of Dr. Sophie N. Leschin, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Itai Arad, Department of Chemical Physics

The Eudyce H. Levin Scholarship in Cancer Research Established in 1984 by Wallace "Bud" Levin, North Miami Beach, Florida Recipient: Jing Bao, M.D., Department of Biological Regulation

The Irena and Morris Goldstein and Stefan Joram Lewari Memorial Scholarship, Established in 1988 through a bequest of Irena Lewari, Cape Town, South Africa Recipient: Tamarah Arons, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Morris I. Lewisohn Scholarship Established in 1976 through a bequest of Morris I. Lewisohn, Teaneck, New Jersey Recipient: Thomas Braeuniger, Department of Chemical Physics

The Dorothy and Elias Lieberman Memorial Scholarship Established in 1972 by the Elias Lieberman Memorial Foundation, Jamaica, New York Recipient: Armin Biess, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Sally and Jerome Lipper Scholarship Fund for Young Immigrants Established in 1993 by the Kenneth and Evelyn Lipper Foundation, New York Recipient: Armenuhy Melikyan, Department of Neurobiology

The Samuel and Eleanor London Scholarship Established in 1986 through a bequest of Eleanor J. London, Los Angeles, California Recipient: Hadara Rubinfeld, Department of Biological Regulation


The Meyer Loomstein Scholarship Established in 1982 by Meyer Loomstein, Hollywood, Florida Recipient: Eitan Sharon, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Lou and Miriam Ludwig Scholarship Established in 1974 through a bequest of Louis Ludwig, New York Recipient: Michael Meijler, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Henry and Louis Malakoff Scholarship Fund, New Rochelle, New York Established in 1991 by Ms. Rebecca Malakoff, Brooklyn, New York Recipient: Yossi Paltiel, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Rixi Markus Scholarships in Memory of Eugenia, Ignacy and Herbert Alfred Heller Established in 1995 through a bequest of Mrs. Rixi Markus, MBE, London, UK Recipients: Pazit Bar-On, Department of Neurobiology; Yaron Shav-Tal, Department ofMolecular Cell Biology

The Rodolfo May Scholarships Established in 2000 through a bequest of Rodolfo May, Montevideo, Uruguay Recipients: Nava Almog, Department of Molecular Cell Biology; Omri Erez,Department of Molecular Genetics

The Martin and Dianne Mendoza Scholarship Established in 1991 in honor of Martin and Dianne Mendoza by friends and admirers,London, UK Recipient: Eli Zamir, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Leo Meyer Scholarship Established in 1965 through a bequest of Leo Meyer, San Francisco, California Recipient: Iris Visoly-Fisher, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Dr. Bert Migicovsky Scholarship Established in 1990 by the Ottawa Jewish Community, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Recipient: Alain Ben-David, Department of Immunology

The Minzer Family Fund Scholarship Established in 1978 by Margaret and Sol Minzer, Dallas, Texas Recipient: Yael Katz, Department of Plant Sciences

The Pola and Elias Mirson Scholarship Established in 1989 through a bequest of Pola Mirson, Buenos Aires, Argentina Recipient: Tania Fuchs, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Paul and Felicia Muskat Scholarship Fund Established in 1984 through a bequest of Paul Muskat, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recipients: Harold Antony Burgess, Department of Molecular Genetics; Ravid Sasson,Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Inez P. and David N. Myers Scholarship Established in 1981 by the David and Inez Myers Scholarship Fund, Cleveland, Ohio Recipient: Yaakov (Kobi) Nissim, Department of Computer Science and AppliedMathematics


The Gertrude and Valentin Nathan Scholarship Fund Established in 1997 through a bequest of Gertrude Nathan, New York Recipients: Gil Blander, Department of Molecular Cell Biology; Miriam Carmi,Department of Science Teaching; Oren Dwir, Department of Immunology; XiaoqingTang, Department of Biological Regulation

The Fanny Fletcher and Meyer Naxon Memorial Scholarship in Perpetuity Established in 1985 through a bequest of Meyer Naxon, Beverly Hills, California Recipients: Shaul Aloni, Department of Chemical Physics; Oded Kleifeld, Departmentof Structural Biology

The Clara and Bela B. Nevai Scholarship Established in 1972 by Mr. and Mrs. Bela B. Nevai, Dobbs Ferry, New York Recipient: Konstantin Adamsky, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Dr. Louis B. and Rose M. Newman Scholarship Established in 1971 by Dr. and Mrs. Louis B. Newman, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Michal Ortal-Schwarz, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Cemach Oiserman Scholarship Fund Established in 1979 through Yehuda Assia, Geneva, Switzerland Recipient: Uriel Katz, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Dora Ostre Memorial Scholarships Established in 1987 through a bequest of Dr. Sprinzl Weizenblatt, Asheville, NorthCarolina Recipients: Robert Krauthgamer, Department of Computer Science and AppliedMathematics; Ohad Medalia, Department of Organic Chemistry; Olivier Uzan,Department of Organic Chemistry

The Edith and Henry Plessner Scholarship Established in 1991 through a bequest of Edith Plessner, New York Recipient: Igor Goncharov, Department of Biological Chemistry

The David and Janet Polak Scholarship Established in 1997 by Mr. and Mrs. David Polak, Beverly Hills, California Recipient: Lillian R. Glazer, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Rose Lee and Marvin Pomerantz Scholarship Established in 1998 by Rose Lee and Marvin Pomerantz and friends, Des Moines, Iowa Recipient: Yehuda Matza, Department of Immunology

The Alfred Prager Scholarship Established in 1970 by the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Scienceand through a bequest of Alfred Auerbach, New York Recipient: Constantin Popa, Department of Mathematics

The Theodore R. and Edlyn Racoosin Scholarship Fund Established in 1993 through bequests of Theodore and Edlyn Racoosin, New York Recipients: Simone A. Botti, Department of Structural Biology; Dvora Cohen,Department of Science Teaching; Revital Feinstein, Department of Molecular CellBiology; Igor Friedmann, Department of Neurobiology; Shilpa Gandre, Department ofMolecular Genetics; Alexander Gnaenski, Department of Particle Physics; Dmitry


Gutman, Department of Condensed Matter Physics; Shahal Ilani, Department ofCondensed Matter Physics; Sin-Hyeog Im, Department of Immunology; Boris Noyvert,Department of Particle Physics; Yossi Paltiel, Department of Condensed Matter Physics;Guy Patchornik, Department of Biological Chemistry; Shai Rahimipour, Department ofOrganic Chemistry and Department of Neurobiology; Sitvanit Ruach, Department ofComputer Science and Applied Mathematics; Yuval Sagiv, Department of BiologicalChemistry; Yu-Xin Xu, Department of Biological Chemistry; Ayelet Zauberman-Lupo,Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Hirsch and Braine Raskin Foundation Scholarships Established in 1970 by the Hirsch and Braine Raskin Foundation, New York Recipients: Nimrod Maril, Department of Biological Regulation; Reinat Nevo,Department of Biological Chemistry; Talia Yarnitsky, Department of MolecularGenetics

The Harry, Lillian and Sylvan Ray Memorial Scholarship in Cancer Research Established in 1997 by Dr. M.L. Ray, Dallas, Texas Recipient: Liora Bogin Berkowitz, Department of Biological Regulation

The Harry and Mildred Remis Scholarship Established in 1973 by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Remis, Peabody, Massachusetts Recipient: Shimon Gross, Department of Biological Regulation

The Charles G. and Belle Reskin Doctoral Graduate Scholarship in Perpetuity Established in 1997 through a bequest of Charles Reskin, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Debora Steiner, Department of Neurobiology

The David Rich Doctoral Scholarship in Chemistry Established in 1999 by Mrs. Edra Rich, Phoenix, Arizona Recipient: Palle von Huth, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Lillian L. Rolde Memorial Scholarship Established in 1981 by L. Robert Rolde, Boston, Massachusetts Recipient: Gonen Ashkenazy, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Dorothy and Irving Rom Scholarship Established in 1990 by the Irving and Dorothy Rom Charitable Trust, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Idan Ashur, Department of Plant Sciences

The Ben and Esther Rosenbloom Foundation Scholarship Established in 1990 by Ben and Esther Rosenbloom, Baltimore, Maryland Recipient: Artem Zvavitch, Department of Mathematics

The Anna and Leo Rosner Scholarship Established in 1986 by the Leo Rosner Endowment Fund, Miami Beach, Florida Recipient: Uriel Katz, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Celia and Nelson Rostow Scholarship Established in 1990 through a bequest of Nelson Rostow, New Haven, Connecticut Recipient: Irit Ruach-Nir, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The David and Eleanore Rukin Scholarship Established in 1981 by the David and Eleanore Rukin Philanthropic Foundation, SaddleRiver, New Jersey Recipient: Tania Fuchs, Department of Molecular Genetics


The Rymer Family Scholarship Established in 1989 by the Barry Rymer Trust, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Omri Erez, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Sylvia and Aaron Scheinfeld Scholarship Established in 1977 by Mrs. Aaron Scheinfeld, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Eli Zamir, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Harry and Mae Schetzen and Prof. Martin Schetzen Scholarship Established in 1979 by Mrs. Mae Schetzen, New York Recipient: Yaakov (Kobi) Nissim, Department of Computer Science and AppliedMathematics

The Leon and Lily Schidlow Scholarship Fund Established in 1999 by Sr. and Sra. Leon Schidlow, Bosques de las Lomas, Mexico Recipient: Tal Ilani, Department of Immunology

The Ida and Abraham Schneider Scholarship Established in 1968 by Abraham Scheider, Palm Beach, Florida Recipient: Konstantin Adamsky, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Max Schoenfeld Scholarship Established in 1976 by Walter E. Schoenfeld, Seattle, Washington Recipient: Yael Levi, Department of Structural Biology

The Rudolph Schoenheimer Memorial Scholarship Established in 1968 by Fritz Schoenheimer, New York Recipient: Armenuhy Melikyan, Department of Neurobiology

The Stuart and Sarah Schulman Scholarship Fund Established in 1991 by Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Schulman, Boca Raton, Florida Recipient: Nava Almog, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Eugene and Lenore Schupak Endowed Doctoral Scholarship in Genetics Established in 1997 by the Schupak Family Foundation, Scottsdale, Arizona Recipient: Tamar Tal, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Jacob Schweppe Memorial Scholarship Established in 1971 through a bequest of Jacob Schweppe, Cape Town, South Africa Recipient: Gil Goobes, Department of Chemical Physics

The David and Pauline Segal Scholarship Established in 1999 by George and Joan Segal, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Ayelet Vilan, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Simon and Frieda Senderowicz-Perel Graduate Student Research Fund Established in 1999 through a bequest of Lea Senderowicz, Zurich, Switzerland Recipient: Yaron Caspi, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Max and Lena Sharp Scholarship in Perpetuity Established in 1972 by the Max and Lena Sharp Scholarship Fund, Toronto, Ontario,Canada Recipient: Iris Visoly-Fisher, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Lily Sieff Doctoral Scholarship Established in 1998 by Helen and Martin Kimmel, New York Recipient: Tamar Moise, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research


The Irving I. Singer Foundation Scholarship Established in 1974 by the Irving I. Singer Foundation, New York Recipient: Michal Ortal-Schwarz, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Blanche and Max Steig Memorial Scholarship Fund Established in 1993 through a bequest of Blanche Steig, New York Recipient: Dalit Barkan, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Oscar H. Stern Memorial Scholarship Established in 1976 through a bequest of Oscar H. Stern, New York Recipient: Nadia Gurevich, Department of Mathematics

The Sergey and Maria Steuerman Endowed Scholarship Fund Established in 1991 through a bequest of Maria Steuerman, New Rochelle, New York Recipient: Amir Goldbourt, Department of Chemical Physics

The Roy L. Swarzman Scholarship in Perpetuity Established in 1990 by Matthew Bucksbaum, Marvin Pomerantz and Mr. and Mrs.Stanley Isaacson, Des Moines, Iowa Recipient: Nir Naftali, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The Swiss Society of Friends of the Weizmann Institute of Science Scholarship in Perpetuity Established in 1985 by the Swiss Society of Friends of the Weizmann Institute, Zurich,Switzerland Recipient: Adi Ben-Zeev Brann, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Isaac H. Taylor Scholarship Established in 1972 by Isaac H. Taylor, Ellicott City, Maryland Recipient: Itzhak Goldwaser, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Samara Jan Turkel Scholarship Fund for Autoimmune Diseases Established in 1995 by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Bach, New York, in memory of theirgranddaughter Recipient: Amiram Ariel, Department of Immunology

The Frances L. Urban Scholarship Established in 1978 through a bequest of Miriam B. Urban, Palo Alto, California Recipient: Harold Antony Burgess, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Minnie and Arthur Vare Scholarship Established in 1968 by the Minnie and Arthur Vare Foundation, New York Recipient: Shaul Aloni, Department of Chemical Physics

The Raoul Wallenberg Scholarship Established in 1980 by the Swedish Committee and the Canadian Society for theWeizmann Institute of Science Recipient: Stella Aronov, Department of Neurobiology

The George Wasserman Foundation/Janice Wasserman Goldsten Scholarship Established in 1994 by the George Wasserman Foundation and by Janice WassermanGoldsten, Washington, D.C. Recipient: Alon (Chemo) Chen, Department of Neurobiology

The Paul and Greta Weinberger Scholarships Established in 1995 through a bequest of Paul Weinberger, New York Recipient: Ilanit Doron-Mor, Department of Materials and Interfaces


The Erwin and Claire Weiner Scholarship Established in 1973 by the Chicago Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science,Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Michal Caspi, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Celeste and Joseph Weingarten Memorial Scholarship Established in 1987 by Nancy Weingarten and friends, Boston, Massachusetts Recipient: Itai Arad, Department of Chemical Physics

The William W. Wilkow Scholarship Fund Established in 1987 by Mrs. William W. Wilkow, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Jeff Dodick, Department of Science Teaching

The Dr. Albert and Blanche Willner Scholarship for Russian Students Established in 1993 by Dr. and Mrs. Albert Willner, Delray Beach, Florida Recipient: Tanya Goncharov, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Milton Young Scholarship Established in 1983 by the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, New York Recipient: Alain Ben-David, Department of Immunology

The Samuel Zonne Scholarships Established in 1980 through a bequest of Samuel Zonne, Minneapolis, Minnesota Recipients: Miri Goldin, Department of Neurobiology; Alice Heicklen, Department ofNeurobiology; Pablo Kizelsztein, Department of Neurobiology

Annual and Semester Ph.D. Scholarships

The Fanny Denes Scholarship Established in 1969 by Dr. George Denes, Zurich, Switzerland, in memory of his mother Recipient: Boaz Tirosh, Department of Immunology and Department of OrganicChemistry

The Erlenbach Graduate Student Research Fund Established in 1998 by an anonymous donor, Erlenbach, Switzerland Recipients: Hila Amir-Kroll, Department of Immunology; Daphna Ben-Zeev Arieli,Department of Chemical Physics; David Biron, Department of Physics of ComplexSystems; Swetlana Boldin, Department of Biological Chemistry; Avi Caspi, Departmentof Materials and Interfaces; Arnon Chen, Department of Structural Biology; Reto Dorta,Department of Organic Chemistry; Dimitri V. Fisher, Department of Particle Physics;Hava Gil-Henn, Department of Molecular Genetics; Galit Greber-Kafri, Department ofStructural Biology; Khalil Kashkush, Department of Plant Sciences; Hanna Salman,Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund Scholarship Established in 1997 by the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, San Francisco, California Recipients: Galina Melman, Department of Organic Chemistry; Boris Rybtchinski,Department of Organic Chemistry


The Carol and Allan Gordon Scholarship Fund in Women's Health Research Established in 1997 in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Allan Gordon by friends and supporters,Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recipient: Rachel Katz-Brull, Department of Biological Regulation

The Joseph Meyerhoff Scholarships Established in 1983 through the Joseph Meyerhoff Fund and the Rebecca MeyerhoffFund, Baltimore, Maryland Recipients: Antonina Silkov, Department of Biological Chemistry; Elena Vinogradov,Department of Chemical Physics

The Dr. Morton and Toby Mower Graduate Student Research Fund Established in 1997 by Dr. and Mrs. Morton Mower, Baltimore, Maryland Recipients: Jasmin Fisher, Department of Neurobiology; Hilit Gur, Department ofImmunology; Liat Haklai-Topper, Department of Molecular Cell Biology; Nir Paran,Department of Molecular Genetics

The James M. Senor Memorial Scholarship Fund in Perpetuity Established in 1986 by the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science,Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recipient: Michal Kovo-Hasharoni, Department of Biological Regulation

The Richard and Cecilia Sonnenberg Scholarship Established in 1983 by the Richard and Cecilia Sonnenberg Educational and CharitableTrust, Cape Town, South Africa Recipient: Thomas Braeuniger, Department of Chemical Physics

The Harry M. Weinrebe Scholarships Established in 1999 by Mr. Harry Weinrebe, London, UK Recipients: Jordan Chill, Department of Structural Biology; Rivka Goobes, Departmentof Organic Chemistry

Honorary Scholarships

The Midori Goto Scholarship Established in 1990 by the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science,New York Recipient: Dalia Rivenzon-Segal, Department of Biological Regulation

The Elliott Gould Research Scholarship Established in 1989 by the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science,New York Recipient: Alain Bendavid, Department of Immunology

The Lilly Hamlisch Memorial Scholarship in Cancer Research Established in 1987 by the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science,New York, in memory of Marvin Hamlisch's mother Recipient: Eli Zamir, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Richard M. Hornreich Scholarship in Physics Established in 1996 by the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel, and familyand friends in Israel and abroad, in memory of Prof. Richard Hornreich Recipient: Yariv Kafri, Department of Physics of Complex Systems


The Shirley Maclaine Scholarship in Viral Immunology Established in 1988 by the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science,New York Recipient: Yossef Kliger, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Shlomo Mintz Scholarship Established in 1982 by the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science,New York Recipient: Selena Trajkovic, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Barbara Walters Scholarship Established in 1990 by the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science,New York Recipient: Iddo Ussishkin, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

M.Sc. Scholarships in Perpetuity

The Henrietta and Jack Abrams Scholarship Established in 1988 by Henrietta Abrams, Lauderhill, Florida Recipient: Eli Berkovich, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Egle Forti Ancona Scholarship in Perpetuity (The Dana Fund) Established in 1993 through a bequest of Mrs. Egle Forti, Rome, Italy Recipient: Orit Samuel, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Israel W. and Fannie Backe Scholarship Fund Established in 1987 through a bequest of Fannie Backe, Worcester, Massachusetts Recipient: David Entenberg, Department of Chemical Physics

The Abraham Berman Scholarship Established in 1966 through a bequest of Abraham Berman, South Africa Recipient: Einat Sitbon, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Louis C. and Edith B. Blumberg Scholarship Fund Established in 1989 by the Louis Blumberg Foundation, Southfield, Michigan Recipient: Avraham Samson, Department of Structural Biology

The Irena-Ida Bogdanowicz Scholarship Established in 1994 through a bequest of Irena-Ida Bogdanowicz, Tel Aviv, Israel Recipient: Liraz Chai, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Bonder Family Scholarship Fund Established in 1994 through the Leon Bonder Trust, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Oded Lachish, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Joan and William J. Brodsky Scholarship in Photodynamic Cancer Therapy in Perpetuity Established in 1995 by the Chicago Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science,Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Yehudit Posen, Department of Biological Regulation

The Adele S. and Abraham Browner Scholarship in Biomedical Research Established in 1999 through a bequest of Adele Browner, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Sharon Avkin, Department of Biological Chemistry


The Irving Chutick Foundation Bursary Established in 1981 by the Irving Chutick Foundation, New York Recipient: Galia Maayan, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Kitty Waas Dekker, Simon Waas and Rosette Dekker Scholarship Established in 1998 through a bequest of Rosette Dekker, United Kingdom Recipient: Shay Bar Haim, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Detroit Scholarship Fund for Soviet Students Established in 1992 by friends of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Detroit, Michigan Recipient: Vladimir Litvak, Department of Neurobiology

The Alan Dixon Scholarship in Cancer Research Established in 1995 by the Hon. Alan J. Dixon, St. Louis, Missouri Recipient: Menachem Katz, Department of Biological Regulation

The Bella and Hyman Eisenbaum Scholarship Established in 1994 through the Bella Eisenbaum Trust, Miami Beach, Florida Recipient: Anat Kirshenberg, Department of Computer Science and AppliedMathematics

The Alex Elovic Memorial Scholarship Established in 1996 through a bequest of Bernat Elovic, Miami Beach, Florida Recipient: Tal Hassner, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Charles I. and Fanny Engelstein Endowment Fund Established in 1995 through a bequest of Fanny Engelstein, New York Recipient: Hagai Shorer, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Dr. Eugene I. and Charlotte Falstein Graduate Scholarship Established in 1997 by Charlotte R. Falstein, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Shay Marcus, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Aaron and Zlata Fish Memorial Bursary Established in 1980 by Mr. and Mrs. Abe Fish, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recipient: Dror Mirzayof, Department of Physics of Complex Systems

The Sonia Floomberg Memorial Scholarship Established in 1998 through a bequest of Sonia Floomberg, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Recipient: Lior Bruker, Department of Biological Regulation

The Helen and Charles Friedman Scholarship Fund Established in l986 by Helen and Charles Friedman, Paradise Valley, Arizona Recipient: Keren Mevorat, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Naomi and Morris Futorian Scholarship Established in 1994 by Naomi Futorian, Northbrook, Illinois Recipient: Alon Sabban, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Leo and Frances Gallin Scholarship Established in 1994 by Leo and Frances Gallin, Los Angeles, California Recipient: Oded Lewinson, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Yasha Gluzman Scholarship Established in 1998 by Ilan Gluzman, Nutley, New Jersey Recipient: Asaf Rotem, Department of Molecular Genetics


The Samuel L. and Rebecca R. Goldstein Bursary Established in 1977 through a bequest of Samuel Goldstein, Lynn, Massachusetts Recipient: Galia Maayan, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Ethel and Anne Gordon Scholarship Established in 1990 through a bequest of Ethel Y. Gordon, New York Recipient: Uri Zadok, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Helena F. and Jacob Y. Gordon Scholarship Established in 1973 by Mrs. Jacob Y. Gordon, Newton, Massachusetts Recipient: Liraz Chai, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Salomon and Augusta Gottfried Scholarship Established in 1997 by Kurt and Sorel Gottfried, Ithaca, New York, in memory of hisparents Recipient: Itzik Goldwaser, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Joseph and Fanny Green Memorial Bursary Established in 1982 through a bequest of Muriel Green, Queens, New York Recipient: Gil Zeidner, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Samson David Gruber Memorial Scholarship Established in 1998 by Irving M. and Leanora S. Gruber, New York, in memory of theirson Recipient: Amiel Ferman, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Harry and Isadore Gudelsky Memorial Bursary Established in 1974 by the Isadore and Bertha Gudelsky Family Foundation, Potomac,Maryland Recipient: Nir Kalisman, Department of Neurobiology

The Harry Julius Harris Scholarship Established in 1997 through a bequest of Dorothy Harris and by Anne Ingber, New York Recipient: Eran Eyal, Department of Plant Sciences

The Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Scholarship in Brain Research Established in 1997 by friends and supporters, Chicago Committee for the WeizmannInstitute of Science, Chicago, Ilinois Recipient: Victoria Malina, Department of Neurobiology

The Otto and Mary Hersch Scholarships Established in 1988 through a bequest of Mary Hersch, New York Recipients: Nurit Avraham, Department of Condensed Matter Physics; Dina Fat'hi,Department of Physics of Complex Systems; Yoav Gordin, Department of CondensedMatter Physics; Tal Hazak, Department of Condensed Matter Physics; Einat Peled,Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Luta and Ludwig Heusinger Scholarships Established in 1993 through a bequest of Dr. Ludwig Heusinger, Kfar Shmaryahu, Israel Recipient: Sergey Khristo, Department of Mathematics

The Jaime and Suzy Iglicky Bursary Established in 1980 by Dr. Jaime and Suzy Iglicky, Caracas, Venezuela Recipient: Julie Stampnitzky, Department of Molecular Genetics


The Fanny E. and Lewis J. Isaacs Scholarship Established in 1989 through the Fanny E. Isaacs Living Trust, Glencoe, Illinois Recipient: Uri Zadok, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Thomas and Ruth Isackson Memorial Scholarship Awards Established in 1992 through a bequest of Ruth Isackson, Miami Beach, Florida Recipient: Gil Zeidner, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Benjamin Kaufman Memorial Scholarship Established in 1995 by Nathan Jacobs, New York Recipient: Joseph Englander, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Udi Khazam Memorial Scholarship Established in 1996 by the Khazam Family, London, UK and Vancouver, BritishColumbia, Canada Recipient: Uri Keshet, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Leon Kole Memorial Bursary Established in 1982 by Mrs. Isabelle Kole Stein and children, Hollywood, Florida Recipient: Galit Shohat, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Frank Korrick Scholarship Established in 1991 through a bequest of Francis Charles Korrick, Sydney, Australia Recipient: Ephraim Fass, Department of Plant Sciences

The Susan Lazarus Perpetual Scholarship Fund in Cancer Research Established in 1985 by Mr. Charles and Mrs. Ruth Lazarus, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,in memory of their daughter Recipient: Yehudit Posen, Department of Biological Regulation

The Philmore A. and Judith Leemon Scholarship in Brain Research Established in 1997 by Philmore A. and Judith Leemon, Las Vegas, Nevada Recipient: Sharon Cohen, Department of Neurobiology

The Dr. Aaron M. Lefkovits Scholarship Fund Bursary Established in 1986 by Dr. Aaron Lefkovits, Memphis, Tennessee Recipient: David Margulies, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Chaim Michel and Chaya Freyda Levine Scholarship, Established by Their Son, JulesLawren Established in 1995 through a bequest of Jules Lawren, New York Recipient: Sagit Sela-Abramovich, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Jacob P. and Estelle Lieberman Scholarship Established in 1990 by the International Fund for Education and Career Development,Tel Aviv, Israel Recipient: Rona Sadja, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Abe Lisan Educational Grant Bursary Established in 1974 through a bequest of Abe Lisan, Glenside, Pennsylvania Recipient: Avraham Samson, Department of Structural Biology

The Alexander and Mary Margolis and Bernard A. Margolis Perpetual Memorial ScholarshipFund Established in 1993 through a bequest of Bernard A. Margolis, Brooklyn, New York Recipient: Dror Mirzayof, Department of Physics of Complex Systems


The Ben and Ruth Marks Scholarship Established in 1990 by Ben and Ruth Marks, North Miami Beach, Florida Recipient: Vladimir Litvak, Department of Neurobiology

The Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Scholarship for the Study of Aging Established in 1996 in honor of Judge Abraham Lincoln Marovitz by the ChicagoCommittee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Stella Aronov, Department of Neurobiology

The Paula Marshall Bursary Established in 1983 by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Marshall, Downsview, Ontario, Canada Recipient: Michal Kenan, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Joory Mashal Bursary Established in 1981 by Joory and Doreen Mashal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Recipient: Uri Zadok, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Samuel Mayer Bursary Established in 1973 by Mrs. Elsie Mayer, Santa Monica, California Recipient: Lior Bruker, Department of Biological Regulation

The Joseph and Mable E. Meites Scholarship Fund Established in 1983 by Joseph and Mable E. Meites, Okemos, Michigan Recipient: Alon (Chemo)Chen, Department of Neurobiology

The Paul and Felicia Muskat Bursary Established in 1984 through a bequest of Paul Muskat, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recipient: Harold Antony Burgess, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Harold Paul Novick Scholarship in Perpetuity Established in 1982 by Mr. and Mrs. Samson Novick, New York Recipient: Anat Kirshenberg, Department of Computer Science and AppliedMathematics

The Walter Pancoe Scholarship Established in 1992 by Walter Pancoe, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Dana Fisman, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Gertrude and Ivar Philipson Bursary Established in 1961 through bequests of Gertrude and Ivar Philipson, Stockholm,Sweden Recipient: Arthur Liberzon, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Anna and Max Resnick Scholarship Established in 1996 by Howard Resnick, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Julie Stampnitzky, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Prof. David Rittenberg Memorial Bursary Established in 1971 in memory of her husband by Mrs. S. Rittenberg and friends, NewYork Recipient: Galia Maayan, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Paul and Gabriella Rosenbaum Scholarship in Biology Established in 1999 by the Paul and Gabriella Rosenbaum Foundation, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Anna Melnik, Department of Neurobiology


The Charles J. Rosenbloom Memorial Bursary Established in 1973 through a bequest of Charles J. Rosenbloom, Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania Recipient: Ephraim Fass, Department of Plant Sciences

The Dr. Arnold Rosenblum Scholarship in Theoretical Physics Established in 1992 by Dorothy Rosenblum, Brooklyn, New York Recipient: Amir Sagiv, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Ann B. Sadowsky Scholarship Established in 1987 through a bequest of Ann B. Sadowsky, Mineola, New York Recipient: Sagit Sela-Abramovich, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Bernard and Edith Samers Scholarship for Cancer Research Established in 1997 in honor and in memory of Bernard Samers, former Executive Vice-President, American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, New York Recipient: Ami Citri, Department of Biological Regulation

The Elsie Olin and Philip D. Sang Scholarship Established in 1995 by Mrs. Elsie Olin Sang, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Talia Polak, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Jerome D. and Beverly Scheer Scholarship Established in 1991 by Jerome D. and Beverly Scheer, Potomac, Maryland Recipient: Joseph Englander, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Alice and Lewis Schimberg Scholarship Fund Established in 1993 by Alice Schimberg, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Moshe Machline, Department of Computer Science and AppliedMathematics

The Henry and Soretta Shapiro Master's Scholarship Established in 1996 by the Soretta and Henry Shapiro Family Foundation, Chicago,Illinois Recipient: Yael Tauman, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Morris R. Shapiro Scholarship in Perpetuity Established in 1993 by the Charles and M.R. Shapiro Foundation, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Asaf Spiegel, Department of Immunology

The Sabina D. and Benjamin Shapiro Scholarship Fund Established in 1999 through a bequest of Sabina D. Shapiro, New York Recipient: Mariana Babor, Department of Plant Sciences

The Rachel and Arnold Smith Endowed Master's Scholarship Established in 1996 by Rachel and Arnold Smith, Phoenix and Paradise Valley, Arizona Recipient: Nir Kalisman, Department of Neurobiology

The Elias and Hilda Sofaer Scholarship Established in 1994 by Michael Sofaer, London, UK Recipient: Nurit Lichtenstein, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Rabbi and Mrs. Aaron Solomon Bursary Established in 1982 by Dr. Jonathan G. Solomon, Hampton, Virginia, in honor of hisparents Recipient: Yehudit Posen, Department of Biological Regulation


The Sylvia and Leonard Sorkin Scholarship Established in 1997 through a bequest of Leonard Sorkin, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Jonathan Kipnis, Department of Neurobiology

The Blanche and Max Steig Memorial Scholarship Fund Established in 1993 through a bequest of Blanche Steig, New York Recipient: Ronit Ben-Bassat Levy, Department of Science Teaching

The Gabriel Armand Stein Scholarship Fund Established in 1991 by Paul Stein, Jackson Heights, New York, in memory of his son Recipient: Lior Bruker, Department of Biological Regulation

The Sergey and Maria Steuerman Endowed Scholarship Fund Established in 1991 through a bequest of Maria Steuerman, New Rochelle, New York Recipient: Edi Goihberg, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Harry M. Tobe Memorial Bursary Established in 1981 by Dr. Barry A. Tobe, Downsview, Ontario, Canada Recipient: Gil Zeidner, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Ann Turman Bursary Established in 1987 by Ann E.K. Turman, Great Barrington, Massachusetts Recipient: Dana Fisman, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Werner and Daughter Renee Usansky Memorial Bursary Established in 1982 by Sra. Sara Z. de Usansky, Buenos Aires, Argentina Recipient: Sagit Sela-Abramovich, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Abraham and Esther Uslander Bursary Established in 1964 by Abraham and Esther Uslander, Miami Beach, Florida Recipient: Talia Polak, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Dr. Edgar Weil Memorial Bursary Established in 1975 by an anonymous donor, Los Angeles, California Recipient: Yael Tauman, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Paul and Greta Weinberger Scholarships Established in 1995 through a bequest of Paul Weinberger, New York Recipient: Uri Zadok, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Joe and Celia Weinstein Scholarship Established in 1995 by Major Max and Sylvia Shulman, New York Recipient: Galit Shohat, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Dr. Lee Franklin Weinstock Leadership Scholarship Established in 1994 through a bequest of Dr. Lee Franklin Weinstock, Detroit, Michigan Recipient: Nir Piterman, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Sarah Werch Research Scholarship Fund Established in 1994 by the Solomon Carl Werch Trust, Chicago, Illinois Recipient: Arthur Liberzon, Department of Biological Chemistry

The J. Stanley Weyman Memorial Scholarship Established in 1998 by Anne Weyman, London, UK Recipient: Michal Kenan, Department of Molecular Genetics


The Rose Weyman Memorial Bursary Established in 1987 by Stanley Weyman, London, UK Recipient: Orit Samuel, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Ruth Ann and Sam Wolfson Scholarship Established in 1996 by Ruth Ann and Sam Wolfson, Dallas, Texas Recipient: Yakov Paz, Department of Structural Biology

The Women of Vision Scholarship Fund in Breast and Ovarian Cancer ResearchEstablished in 1996 by friends and supporters, Florida Committee for the WeizmannInstitute of Science, North Miami Beach, Florida Recipient: Hagit Dafni, Department of Biological Regulation

The Yitzhak Fund (Heath Trust) Scholarship Established in 1992 through the offices of Martin Paisner, London, UK Recipients: Oleg Butovsky, Department of Neurobiology; Anna Finkel, Department ofBiological Chemistry; Elena Marshak, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Milton Young Memorial Bursary Established in 1980 by friends of Milton Young, New York Recipient: Eran Eyal, Department of Plant Sciences

The Lillian and Samuel L. Zuckerman Bursary Established in 1959 in honor of their parents' golden wedding anniversary by theZuckerman family, New York Recipient: Dror Mirzayof, Department of Physics of Complex Systems

Annual and Semester M.Sc. Scholarships

The Shimon Antin Scholarship Established in 1997 by the Shimon Antin Trust, Tel Aviv, Israel Recipient: Julie Stampnitzky, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Salim and Rachel Benin Scholarship Established in 1996 through the Jewish Agency for Israel (Israel Education Fund),Jerusalem, Israel Recipients: Moshe Machline, Department of Computer Science and AppliedMathematics; Daniel Strasser, Department of Particle Physics

The Anna and Sidney Dishal Scholarship Established in 1999 by Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Dishal, Piedmont, California Recipient: Morna Isaac, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The Jorge Kassel Scholarship in the Earth Sciences Established in 1990 by Mr. and Mrs. Jorge Kassel, Naucalpan, Mexico Recipient: Gennady Margolin, Department of Environmental Sciences and EnergyResearch

The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation Scholarship for Russian Students Established in 1996 by the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, New York Recipient: Oleg Igoshin, Department of Chemical Physics


The Anna and Isadore Roseman Foundation Semester Bursaries Established in 1980 through a bequest of Isadore Roseman, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Recipients: Michal Kenan, Department of Molecular Genetics; Hagai Shorer,Department of Biological Chemistry; Gil Zeidner, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Tammy Sherman Scholarship in Breast Cancer Research Established in 1999 by Mr. Basil Sherman and friends, London, UK Recipient: Yael Bergkoff, Department of Biological Regulation

The Jack and Leah Susskind Scholarship Established in 1999 by Leah Susskind, New York Recipient: Menachem Katz, Department of Biological Regulation

Scholarship Loan Funds

The Ralph and Shirley Coff Scholarship Loan Fund Established in 1983 through a bequest of Ralph Coff, New York

The Bennitt Mandell Memorial Revolving Loan Fund Established in 1991 through the Bennitt Mandell Charitable Remainder Unitrust, MiamiBeach, Florida

Science Teaching

Uri Ganiel, Head (until September 2001) The Rudy Bruner Professor of Science Teaching

Abraham Arcavi, Head (from October 2001)

The Department is composed of groups working in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computerscience, earth and environmental sciences, life sciences, and science and technology for junior-high school. Extensive research and development is carried out in all these areas, with the aimof producing high-quality and up-to-date learning materials for use throughout the Israelieducation system. The learning materials include not only classical textbooks, but also moderntechnologies like web sites for non-frontal teaching. The work is based upon an underlyingphilosophy that considers curriculum development and implementation, teacher in-servicedevelopment, research and evaluation as part of an integrated and continuous long-termactivity.

Our belief in the central role of teachers in improving education has led us focus our effortsalso on national teachers' centers, which serve as sources of support, information and materialsfor teachers throughout the country; they are also the site for preparing and supporting teachersto assume leadership roles in their schools or districts. The centers are in mathematics, physics,chemistry, science and technology in junior high school (in collaboration with the Tel AvivUniversity), and computer science (in collaboration with the Technion).

Mathematics Group

The main ongoing projects are:

The CompuMath Project: Design, development and implementation of innovative approachesto teaching mathematics through curriculum materials for junior-high school, that takeadvantage of computerized tools. Research on learning and teaching in classrooms whichstudy according to this program.

Heterogeneous Classes Project: Design, development and implementation of innovativeapproaches to teaching mathematics in junior high school (grades 7-8) to accommodate theneeds of several student sub-populations, in the same classroom.

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294 Science Teaching

"Math for All" (the Shay Program) Project: Design, development and implementation of aprogram for non-mathematically oriented high school students toward their matriculation(bagrut) requirements. It is based on informal sense-making and graphical approaches.Research on learning by students who are not mathematically oriented.

The MathComp Project: Development, implementation and evaluation of mathematicalactivities for students using the capabilities of Computer Algebra Systems, with textbooks forteacher education. Research on the impact of Computer Algebra on mathematical content,teaching methods and learning strategies.

Elementary Math Project: Design, development and implementation of mathematicalinvestigations. The activities require fifth and sixth graders' use of computerized tools.

Courses for elementary school teachers as part of a national project to professionalize theteaching of elementary mathematics.

Research and development project related to mathematics teachers and teaching, focusing on:(1) characterization and examination of teacher knowledge, (2) development and study ofresearch-based teacher education programs, (3) preparation of research-based materials for usein teacher education. As part of this work, the group runs the National Mathematics TeacherCenter.

Physics group

The group develops new courses for the classical high school physics subjects (mechanics,electromagnetism, optics and waves) as well as for elective courses and other educationalresources for students and teachers. The courses use instructional strategies that are sensitiveto student learning processes and foster active involvement. Computerized networks for coursedelivery are being studied in selected topics. The group is active in the development ofcomputerized learning environments and didactical methods for introducing computer-basedactivities into the curriculum.

The group runs a National Teacher Center responsible for coordinating the professionaldevelopment of physics teachers throughout Israel.

The group is engaged in research studies aimed at improving the learning process in severalareas: methods for fostering control and feedback in students' problem-solving activities;models for integrating the computer into physics learning to enhance understanding; detailedstudies of the implementation of new instructional strategies; and investigation of the utility ofstrategies for fostering teacher change in our long-term teacher courses.

Chemistry Group

The chemistry group develops new teaching units and instructional techniques, based on thediagnostic assessment of students' learning difficulties and misconceptions, their frames ofinterest and motivational characteristics.

Science Teaching 295

Currently the group is involved in developing two modules called "The Nature of Chemistry"and "Chemistry and Life" that are part of the new syllabus in chemistry for 10th gradestudents, "Chemistry 2000".These modules include textbooks and interactive computerprograms. The project is accompanied by a comprehensive study regarding the definition,characterization, and assessment of chemical literacy and understanding of concepts. Actionresearch is used in order to gain more insight regarding implementation of the chemistrycurriculum.

In order to improve learning in the chemistry laboratory, the group is involved in thedevelopment, implementation and assessment of inquiry-type experiments. Courses forchemistry teachers are conducted to train them in the use of these laboratories. Methods forassessing students' progress achievement have been developed and implemented in schools allover the country.

The group runs National Center for Chemistry Teachers.

A center for liaison with the chemical industry has been established; this center assists schoolsin conducting industrial field trips, and provides instructional materials such as informationabout industries, films, and booklets that help in the planning and execution of these field trips.The center is also involved in building a web site with a large collection of pedagogical ideasmostly from industry.

Science and Technology for All (MUTAV project)

In this project we have developed interdisciplinary learning modules aimed at non-science-oriented students, that is, those who opted not to specialize in the disciplinary sciences. Thefollowing modules have been developed so far: "Energy and the Human Being", "Science asan Ever-Developing Entity", "From the Dinosaurs to Darwin", "Brain, Medicine and Drugs"and "The Black Gold". Currently under development is a module that deals with forensicscience called "Science in the service of the police".

Diagnostic research on students' knowledge prior to the study of these modules accompaniesthe development effort. Research is also conducted on students' achievements as well as thechanges in their interest in learning science as a result of studying these modules. Thesestudies have clearly shown that these modules are adequate for this target population.

The group conducted teachers' workshops for science teachers, for example, in biology,chemistry, physics and agriculture.

Science and Technology in Junior-High School Group

A new syllabus for the unified subject Science and Technology in Junior-High School hasbeen developed, and the group is part of a national attempt to implement this syllabus. Thecurriculum attempts to cultivate scientific and technological literacy for all citizens and toprepare the necessary background for further studies. To achieve these goals, the curriculumfocuses on a thorough understanding of basic concepts and emphasizes the development of


independent learning skills in the context of subject matter. The curriculum is coordinated, thatis, it integrates knowledge among the sciences and between science and technology. Aninterdisciplinary approach is usually, not but always, adopted. Social aspects and relevance tothe individual student are central considerations in the choice of activities. The group runs aNational Teacher Center (together with Tel-Aviv University) responsible for coordinating theprofessional development of junior-high-school teachers throughout Israel. The center isinvolved in intensive activities with teachers throughout the country, and educates teacherleaders.

Formative evaluation of the new materials is accompanied by the investigation of newinstructional strategies, including a constructivist approach to the study of the particulatemodel of matter, project-based learning, knowledge integration using special computerizedprograms for knowledge representation, and learning science using a historical approach. Thegroup also conducts research on the professional development of teachers and teacher-leaders,and investigates new methods of student assessment.

Computer Science Group

We are developing a course in concurrent and distributed computation for twelfth gradestudents. Our activities include: writing textbooks, developing lab software, teacher trainingand research on cognitive aspects of learning this advanced subject.

In support of courses on logic programming, we have adapted a Prolog compiler to work inHebrew.

The main focus of our research is on teaching computer science to beginners in the tenth grade.We participated in the development of the Jeliot system for animation of programs and haveevaluated its use as a pedagogical aid. We are currently teaching an experimental course inobject-oriented programming in Java to evaluate the possibility of changing the programmingparadigm taught to beginners.

This year we collaborated with the Technion in setting up a national teachers' center incomputer science.

Earth and Environmental Sciences Group

The group is involved in curriculum development, implementation and evaluation involvingtarget populations from kindergarten to high school. The curriculum materials are developedfor a variety of learning environments: the laboratory, the outdoors, the computer and theclassroom.

Ongoing projects include: Development of new curriculum materials for the senior high schoolon earthquakes, the carbon cycle, plate tectonics and evolution in the dimension of geologicaltime; development of new curriculum materials for junior high school on the rock cycle, thewater cycle and earth systems; utilizing the outdoors as a learning environment throughgeological field trips; the Geotope, a research project performed by students; Let's Rock, acurriculum for kindergarten.


Life Sciences Group

Our long-term objective is to develop means to bridge between the dynamics of biologicaldiscoveries and high-school biology education. Toward this objective we focus our efforts ondevelopment and implementation of novel learning materials in biology for the junior- andsenior-high school level, as well as on research which is aimed to study the effectiveness of thenewly suggested learning strategies. Students` difficulties in understanding the microscopic-macroscopic relationships within living organisms are addressed in a new concept wedeveloped and are implementing to teach the topic of the living cell, as a longitudinal axiswhich accompany all the biological topics studied at junior-high school. We are attempting touse scientific research papers for a high school biology curriculum. We have focused adevelopmental biology curriculum on four key questions in the field, which are presented tothe students in a format of scientific research papers. In addition, we have used scientificresearch papers for a journal club forum we have established for a biology teachersdevelopment program. We have adopted some bioinformatics- related techniques, which areemployed by molecular biologists, in order to teach high school biology majors basic ideas ingenetics. For that purpose we have developed web-based learning material, which includesinteractive problem-solving activities that are based on the human-genome databases andsearch engines. National Teacher Centers

The overriding aim of the national centers is to provide a strong framework to support teacherdevelopment. They are responsible for the following activities:

1. Advancing the leadership capability of teachers. 2. Support and counseling in professional development programs and activities that are

carried out in the regional teacher centers. 3. Development of professional teachers' communities. 4. Establishing resource databases. 5. Carrying out research and evaluation.


Professor

Uri Ganiel, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (on extension of service) The Rudy Bruner Professor of Science Teaching

Professor Emeritus

Maxim Bruckheimer, Ph.D., Southampton University



Abraham Arcavi, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelIncumbent of the Walter and Elise Haas Career Development Chair

Mordechai Ben-Ari, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelBat Sheva Eylon, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, United States

The Chief Justice Bora Laskin Professor of Science Teaching Avi Hofstein, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelNir Orion, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Senior Scientists

Ruth Ben-Zvi, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, IsraelRuhama Even, Ph.D., Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States

Incumbent of the Reiter Family Career Development Chair


Alex Friedlander, Ph.D., Michigan State University, East Lansing, United StatesZahava Scherz, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel


Esther Bagno, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelMiri Kesner, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelRachel Mamlok, Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel


Gilat Brill, Ph.D., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

Special Contract

Anat Yarden, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Consultants

Tommy Dreyfus, Ph.D., Center for Technological Education, Holon, Israel (left August 2001)Hanna Goldring, Ph.D.,


Gilat Brill, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (until June 2001) Ronnie Karsenty, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel


Ivy Kidron, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelRachel Mamlok, Ph.D., Bar-Ilan University, Israel (until May 2001) Avi Marhavka, Ph.D., Tel-Aviv University, Israel (left June 2001)Orly Michael, Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelOshrit Navon, Ph.D., Ben-Gurion University, IsraelIdit Yerushalmi, Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

Research Students

Ayelet Baram Yula Midyan
Orit Ben Zvi-AssarafRonit Ben-Bassat LevyDan Ben-ZviMiriam CarmiDvora CohenAliza DayanJeff DodickOrna FallikMarcel FrailichYossi GudovitchShlomit HadadYacov HelfmanYael KaliEsther KapulnikMira KipnisSara KiroYifat KolikantTova KvatinskyDorothy LangleyHannah Margel
Einat MizrahiRoni MualemIta NaftalisYael NaotSarah PolakNoa RagonisRan SegallRachel SegevYael ShwartzShay SofferOrnit Spektor-LevyHana SteinMichal TabachTali WallachYoseph-Tiberio WeissCecile YehezkelIdit YerushalmiTzipi YeshnoRavid Yiron-Dar

Administrator

Mali Karni

Young@Science

Zvi Paltiel, Director

Extracurricular science activities for youth have been operating at the Weizmann Institute ofScience since the early 1960`s, based on the pioneering work of the late Professor Amos de-Shalit. They are aimed at promoting the enthusiasm and interest of school students in scienceand scientific thinking. The Youth Activities Section was founded in 1972, and since then theactivities have been constantly developing and expanding. Most of its programs are held at theInstitute`s Amos de-Shalit Youth Science Center which includes the Laub InternationalScience Youth Village and laboratories. Many Youth Activities programs receive support fromthe Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science.

The Laub International Science Youth Village, a dormitory facility with 12 units thataccommodates up to 80 people, a clubhouse, office, and the village square, adds anotherdimension to the activities. Besides giving participants in all the summer programs modernaccommodations, the youth village allows the Youth Activities Section to develop multi-dayprograms for students from all over Israel.

The Youth Activities Section draws heavily on the cooperation of The Weizmann Institute'sscientific community. The involvement of scientists and research students in all the programsprovides school students with the unique indispensable experience of interacting with activescientists.

In 2001 the programs offered by the Youth Activities Section and the number of theirparticipants were as follows:

Weekly Science Clubs: Afternoon courses in chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics,computers, astronomy, aerodynamics and space research - 784 students.

Summer Science Residential Programs in which the participants work in actual researchlaboratories, two or three in a laboratory with a mentor:

The Bessie F. Lawrence International Summer Science Institute - 65 students.

The Amos de-Shalit Summer Science Workshop - 20 students.

The Chais Family Exploration Camp (a science, music and art summer program), sponsoredjointly with the Association for Excellence in Education - 60 students.

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302 Young@Science

Science Day Camp for underpreviledged pupils from Bet-Shemesh - 20 students.

Competitions in Mathematics and Physics

Prof. Joseph Gillis Mathematics Olympiad - 117 students.

Junior High School Mathematics Olympiad - 395 students.

Physics Tournament which is a team competition for 11th and 12th graders - 130 students.

Math-by-mail: A nationwide project via mail aimed at math enthusiasts in grades 3-10 - 147students. Math-by-Mail in the former Soviet Union - 4,500 participants in grade 5th -10th .(in Russian). Math-by-Mail material is also being translated into Korean language anddistributed in South Korea by Young Astronauts Korea (YAK).

Science days

Adventures in Science with advanced science single or multi-day class programs for 10th,11th and 12th graders. These programs are introducing topics in the frontiers of science inphysics, chemistry and biology: One-day programs - 119 classes, (3,415 students) multi-dayprograms - 157 classes. (1,730 students).

Morning One-day Courses for Junior high-school classes in topics including waves, energy,motion and the senses including a visit to the Garden of Science - 280 classes (9,711 students).

Science Mobile - a large van fitted with science exhibits and models of Garden of Scienceexhibits which carries instructors and their programs to outlying schools and communities -180 classes (7,014 students).

Science Forum: 5 Israeli students delegation to the 2 weeks Science forum in London,England.

"Arrow" - a project to nurture young scientists. 10th grade students are accepted for a 3 yearproject. Starting with an overview of modern science (10th grade), to getting involved inresearch projects (11th grade) and working on an individual science project under thesupervision of a scientist. This summer 17 students participated in the final stage of the project,and 30 10th grade students in the first stage.

Science Workshop for Ethiopian Immigrants - Sponsored by the New York Federation andthe Jewish Agency has been held during August - 80 students.

The Amos De-Shalit Popular Science Lectures - Series of 4 lectures by prominentWeizmann Inst. scientists open to the public - 650 students.

Young@Science 303

The Clore Garden of Science is an outdoor science museum open to the public, whichemerged from the Youth Activities Section

Staff

Dr. Felix LaubBatya Levy

304 Young@Science

The Aharon Katzir-Katchalski Center

Samuel A. Safran, Director (until November 2001) The Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Professor

Yosef Yarden, Director (from December 2001) The Harold and Zelda Goldenberg Professor of Molecular Cell Biology

The Aharon Katzir-Katchalski Center of the Weizmann Institute of Science was established in1972, following the tragic death of Aharon Katzir-Katchalski at the hands of terrorists. TheCenter, set up as a living memorial to him, is administered through a Board of Trusteessupported by an International Advisory Committee.

The Center promotes activities in physical biology and macromolecular science and in suchother areas of science that fall within the wide-ranging interests of Aharon Katzir-Katchalski.The Center furthers international scientific cooperation through the organization of scientificmeetings and the exchange of scientists. Of particular concern to the Center is the impact ofscientific and technological advances on human society.

The Board of Trustee is presently composed of: E. Katchalski-Katzir, Chairperson; S. Safran,Director; The Preisdent, The Vice-President for Finance & Administration, and the Deans ofthe Faculties of Biology and Biochemistry of the Weizmann Institute of Science; R. Arnon, M.Eisenbach, U.Z. Littauer, Z. Livneh, M. Sela, J.L. Sussman, and I.Z. Steinberg.

The International Advisory Committee is composed of: M. Eigen, Chairperson; A. Engstrom,J, Gross, F. Jacob, E. Kellenberger, J.C. Kendrew, A. Kornberg, D. Koshland, M. Kotani, J.Lederberg, S. Lederberg, F. Oosawa, I. Prigogine, A. Rich, W. Rosenblith, F.O. Schmitt, A.K.Solomon, J. Wyman.

The Director of the Center is the Dean of the Feinberg Graduate School, ex officio. The Deancan appoint an advisory committee which is currently headed by Z. Livneh.

The Aharon Katzir-Katchalski Center has for many years been the recipient of financialsupport from various Foundations including the B. de Rothschild Fund for the Advancementof Science in Israel.

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306 The Aharon Katzir-Katchalski Center

Activities

The Annual Katzir-Katchalski Conference

These conferences are held annually, alternately in Israel and abroad. To date 22 conferenceshave been held. The latest were:

1990: 17th, Molecular Control of Development-Growth Differentiation and Malignancy, Ein Gedi, Israel Chairperson: L. Sachs, Israel

1990: 18th, From Receptor to Cell Response-Physiology and Pharmacology, Mario Negri Sud, Italy Chairpersons: D. Corda (Italy) and M. Shinitzky (Israel)

1991: 19th, Plant Bioenergetics and Ion Translocation, Rehovot, Israel Chairperson: Z. Gromet-Elhanan, Israel

1992: 20th, In the Crucible of the Scientific Revolution-A Special Symposium Dedicated to Aharon Katzir-Katchalski Twenty Years After His Death Chairpersons: O. Kedem and J. Jortner, Israel

1993: 21st, Applications of Membranes in Industry, Rehovot, Israel Chairperson: O. Kedem, Israel

1994: 22nd, Plant Molecular Biology-Biotechnology and Environment, Max-Planck-Institute, Koln, Germany Chairpersons: R. Fluhr, I. Chet (Israel), J. Schell (Germany)

1996: 23rd, International Conference on Environmental Impact of Polymeric Material. Chairperson: D. Vofsi

1996: 24th, Bioinformatics-Structure. Chairperson: J. Sussman

1997: 25th annual meeting "From the Dawn of Life to the End of Days" 25th Annual Convention im Memory of Aharon Katzir.

1998: 26th annual meeting "Polymer Based Technology (POC 98) Chairpersons: A. Warshavsky, M. Fridkin

1999: 27th Cellular Implications or Redox Signaling Chairpersons: C. Gitler, A. Danon

The Aharon Katzir-Katchalski Center 307

The Annual Katzir-Katchalski Lecture on Biological Foundations and Human Behavior

These lectures, endowed by Mr. S. Stulman of New York, have been held in Rehovot since1975. To date 19 lectures have been delivered. The latest were:

1988:13th, Arthur Kornberg (Stanford University, Stanford), Understanding Life as Chemistry; Initiation of DNA Replication at the Origin of the Chromosome

1989: 14th, George Klein (Karolinska Institute, Stockholm), I:The Neoplastic Microevolution a; II:The Neoplastic Microevolution b; III: The Role of Viral Transformation and Oncogene Activation by Chromosomal Translocation in the Genesis of B-Cell Derived Tumors

1990: 15th, Jean-Pierre Changeux (Institut Pasteur, Paris), Communications in the Nervous System: From Molecules to Cognitive Functions; Molecular Biology of Synapse Development

1992: 16th , Nicole Le Douarin (Coll?ge de France, Paris),The Development of the Nervous System Analyzed in the Avian Model; Alternative Methods for Inducing Immunological Tolerance

1992: 17th, Daniel E. Koshland (University of California, Berkeley), Transformation of Information Across Membranes in Biological Systems

1993: 18th, Amos Tversky (Stanford University) Rationality of Cognitive Illusion; A New Approach to Subjective Probability

1994: 19th, Joshua Jortner (President, The Isrel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Te Challenge of the Structure-Function Relation in Photosynthesis.

1996: 20th, Aaron Klug, F.R.S. (President Royal Society, London) Protein Designs for the Regulaiton of Gene Expression

1997: 21st, Charles Weissmann (University of Zurich) Prion Protein in Health and Disease

1998: 22nd, Prof. Judah Folkman (Harvard Medical School) New Directions in Angiogenesis Research. Do Vascular Endothelial Cells Control Organ and Tissue Size?

2000: 23rd, Prof. Miroslav Radman (Universite Paris-V, France) Molecular and Population Genetics of Evolution. Fidelity of Biosynthetic Processes: Mechanistic and Medical Aspects.

Katzir-Katchalski Travel Grants

These are provided to graduate students working within the areas of the Center's interests, tofacilitate their participation in courses, schools, and workshops abroad. Students from allIsraeli institutions of higher learning are eligible.

308 The Aharon Katzir-Katchalski Center

The program has been in operation since 1976. Through 2000, 731 grants were approved. In2001, 50 such grants were awarded.

Special Activities

The Center assists with the organization of scientific meetings that fall within its scope. Thelatest were:

1987: 9th International Biophysics Congress Chaiperson: H. Eisenberg, Israel

1988: 2nd International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology Chairperson: M. Edelman, Israel

1991: The 13th Edmond de Rothschild School in Molecular Biophysics: Chemotaxis of Cells and Unicellular Organisms Chairperson: M. Eisenbach, Israel

1995: Israeli-Hungarian Conference: Plants and the Environment Chairperson: A. Zamir, Israel

Institute-Wide Centers

310 Institute-Wide Centers

The Clore Center for Biological Physics

Benjamin Geiger, Director The Erwin Neter Professor of Cell and Tumor Biology

The Clore Center for Biological Physics was announced in November 2000. This Centeraddresses complex biological systems at the interface between life sciences and exact sciences,including physics, chemistry and mathematics. The activities of the Clore Center werelaunched in May 2001, in a workshop entitled: "Frontiers Of Biological Physics" in which twomajor topics were addressed, namely: Order and Biocomplexity and Cellular Mechanics.Among the lecturers were Stanislas Leibler (Princeton University), Eric Karsenti (EMBL) andPhilip Pincus (UCSB) and 7 researchers from the Weizmann Institute. In 2001 the CloreCenter announced its first round of research grants and 4 projects were selected for support.These projects represent genuine collaboration between research groups with distinct andcomplementary expertise.

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312 The Clore Center for Biological Physics

The Dolfi and Lola Ebner Center for Biomedical Research

Yosef Yarden, Director (until November 2001) Harold and Zelda Goldenberg Chair of Molecular Cell Biology

Samuel A. Safran, Director (from December 2001) The Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Professor

The Dolfi and Lola Ebner Center for Biomedical Research was established in August 1999.The Center promotes cutting edge research of human diseases at the molecular level. Studiesaddressing biochemical mechanisms that underlie the major threats to human health, such ascardiovascular defects, cancer and infectious diseases will be supported by the Center. Inaddition to investment in major instrumentation, individual grants are awarded according totwo categories:

1. Start-up support - during the first three years after joining the Institute, selected investigators receive support for start-up and seed money, allowing for later applications to external granting agencies.

2. A significant portion of the Center's resources is supporting research into the development of experimental models of human diseases, such as cancer and autoimmune disorders.

3. Another major investment is providing new services for the structural studies of proteins and enzymes using post-genomic technologies (proteomics). Receptors and enzymes studied using these techniques are considered emerging targets for new therapeutic approaches.

The activities of the Center are governed by an Advisory Committee that includes the Deans ofthe Faculties of Life Sciences, and Prof. Michael Sela.

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314 The Dolfi and Lola Ebner Center for Biomedical Research

Division of Information Systems

Yigal Burstein, HeadThe Maynard I. and Elaine Wishner Professor of Bio-Organic Chemistry

and Malignant Diseases Research

The recently expanded Division of Information Systems provides networking,communications, computation, data processing, library and internet services to Institutescientists, students and administrators. The Telephone Communication Services unit wasplaced under the Division's administration last year, and complements its overriding goal ofenabling the Institute to play a leading role in the information revolution. The role of fastcommunication facilities is constantly expanding, with ever-increasing demand for easy multi-platform access, to facilitate the retrieval and free flow of continually updated information.

The Division consists of five related departments:

• The Computing Center

• The Libraries

• The Department of Data Processing

• The Internet Services Unit

• The Telephone Communication Services Unit

The Computing Center (WICC) Aviva Greenman, Head

The Weizmann Institute Computing Center strives to provide the most advanced and efficientcommunications and computing environment for its faculty, students and staff. The WeizmannInstitute is a member of the Inter University Computing Center, popularly know by its HebrewAcronym MACHBA. The eight member universities share technology and services, to thebenefit of all. From the smallest personal computer to powerful multi-processor servers, theWICC supports and facilitates the computing and communications infrastructure, togetherwith providing the network-intensive applications necessary for the pursuit and advancementof science at the Weizmann Institute.

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316 Division of Information Systems

In addition, a fully backed-up Novell Netware-based file and print system is available for thepersonal computers at the Institute. Support is provided for approximately 3000 personalcomputers on campus, divided between PC's and Macintoshes. Currently, about fifty newpersonal computers are installed each month. The WICC continues to make an IBMmainframe available for administrative data processing.

The expansion of the campus network infrastructure to enable additional network-intensiveapplications continues, while the current equipment is upgraded for maximum performanceand reliability. The campus communication network is now based on a full-mesh 622Mb ATMbackbone with edge devices operating in 100Mb-switched environment. There are nowapproximately 4000 active connections to the campus network.

During the last year we initiated several major projects and integrated new technologies intoour system:

• We installed a sophisticated new Help Desk, accessible either by the WEB or by mail.This very successful system has already greatly improved the support and help providedto all WIS staff.

• The central Unix file server system was replaced by a high performance, highavailability EMC file server.

• A larger, more reliable tape backup system was installed, which allows for more onlinebackup and recovery services.

• The central Unix mail server was improved so as to be more robust.

• Dial-in services have been expanded, using the latest technologies such as SDSL andADSL, which allow users with computers at home to connect to the Institute networkand take advantage of all the network services, such as Internet and file server access.Other technologies such as VPN, voice over IP, and centralized management of allcomputing and communication resources are being investigated for suitability in ourenvironment.

• The Novell Netware servers have been upgraded to greatly increased disk and memorycapacity. The tape backup system has also been replaced by a larger high- performanceunit. The principal file servers are now connected by fiber channel to a central storagerepository that will form the basis of a Storage Area Network in future years.

• The Macintosh file server has been replaced with a new machine, which is more reliable,with better backup and recovery.

In addition to the above projects, the WICC is constantly evaluating state of the art techniquesto ease application access for the scientists: for example, Citix Metaframe, which enablesaccess to Windows applications in Hebrew by allowing multiple concurrent users to runseparate secure Windows 2000 sessions on one server.

The Home Page of the Computing Center is: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/CC/

Division of Information Systems 317

The Libraries Ilana Pollack, Chief Librarian

The Libraries are responsible for acquiring, collecting, processing, distributing and storing allprinted materials (books, journals, patents articles, etc.) needed by the Institute faculty andstaff, as well as the licensing, implementing and ensuring of online access to digital sourcessuch as electronic journals, databases, etc.

The Library Information Unit implements and maintains access to remote and locallynetworked databases, electronic journals and other electronic resources. It assists patrons, bothas a help desk and by weekly workshops, to use electronic information sophisticatedly.Professional online searches, on behalf of the scientists, are conducted here as well.

The Libraries comprise some 250,000 books and bound volumes of periodicals, some 1300current periodical subscriptions in printed form, several electronic and aggregated databases,and a constantly growing number of a few thousand electronic journals. Part of the electronicjournals and databases collection is a result of the MALMAD* consortium agreements.

(*MALMAD, the Israel Center for Digital Information Services, serves as a joint frameworkfor the acquisition, licensing and operation of information services to all Israeli universities.They can be reached at http://libnet.ac.il/~libnet/malmad.htm).

The Institute's Archives, housed in the Wix Library building, document the history of theWeizmann Institute and its scientific, educational, and cultural contributions from itsbeginnings to the present day.

The ordering of articles and external book loans was significantly improved in January 2001,when a new system, utilizing the internal campus Intranet, was introduced. One of the mainobjectives of this change was to enable direct debiting of the orderer's budget. Accessed fromInternal Services, or from "Request Forms" on the Libraries' homepage, the new system allowsorders to be sent more quickly and efficiently. The request forms were changed to HTML inJuly, thus making the operation even faster.

In the area of electronic journals, the library is successfully coping with a tremendous growthin the number of electronic journals being made available by the publishers and continues toarrange access to as many titles as possible, obviously within budgetary constraints. The taskis not a simple one, as there is no standard configuration for identification and registration forthe online titles of different publishers. This requires the Library staff to be conversant with themany different and often convoluted legal and technical procedures involved in arrangingaccess to these journals for the benefit of the Weizmann Institute scientists and students.

As the result of a library survey performed this summer, it has been found that neither theexisting technology nor our readership are ready as yet for cancellation of the printed versionof the journals.


Inventories of all six Faculty Libraries have now been completed and barcodes have beenattached to all titles. Two of the outcomes of this four-year project are:

• that we now know that "loss" of titles is relatively negligible

• that the contents of the libraries' shelves have been reorganized and the library catalogsare updated

Continuing our policy of moving away from locally networked databases to web-based ones,we have cancelled the REACCS database and are in the process of a trial of evaluating the webversion of the Crossfire-Beilstein database, essential to our chemists, with a view topurchasing it later on.

The home page of The Libraries is http://www.weizmann.ac.il/WIS-library/home.htm

The Data Processing Department Rachel Kazmirsky, Head

The Department of Data Processing is responsible for the development and maintenance ofdata systems for the use of Institute scientists and administrators. All systems have been, andare currently being, developed according to the newest Client/Server Internet/Intranettechnology, in which a client-user is connected to an Internet web server via multi-platform-compatible web browser software. In such an environment the client is not bound by anyspecific desktop platform, and can communicate freely with any international Internet or localIntranet site. Within this structure, Oracle Development Tools serves as the department'svehicle for all current and new systems.

The extremely successful Internal Services project, which has been running smoothly inproduction for over three years, is constantly being upgraded and expanded. This web-enabledsystem, which monitors all in-house transfer of goods and services, has had a campus-wideimpact on internal campus communication. It provides an on-line catalogue of items availablefrom various Institute departments (providers), and a user-friendly interface for placing,processing, and tracking internal orders. Most importantly, the system automatically debits andcredits the department budgets or projects for these transactions. Many services have beenadded to the system in the past year:

Service Group Service

Chemical Services High Resolution NMR reservation systemLaboratory Computer ProgrammingOrganic Synthesis

Computer Services Moving Computers (Communications)

Library Services Articles/External Book Loans

Animal Breeding Pathology, Histology & Embryology

Physics Services Sub Micron Items


Other recent enhancements: • Graphs representing each service usage have been added.

• Travel reports that were previously available only on the mainframe can now be viewedvia Internal Services as well.

• The Feinberg Graduate School system, which has been in production for almost a year,can now be linked to from Internal Services.

The Oracle ERP Applications-based Human Resources software package has been inproduction for two years, and the system has been instrumental in centralizing all of the humanresources information and activities of the Institute, as well as providing, at long last, a singleupdated source of tabular information to be accessed by the entire campus. Additionalmodules, which help to systematize the Institute's organizational structure, are added regularlyaccording to requests by the Division of Human Resources. Most recently, a link between theHR data base and the Internal Services system was developed to enable individual staffmembers to access and update his or her own personal details (for viewing in the supremelysuccessful on-line Electronic Directory) via the already familiar Internal Services screens.

The department is moving steadily toward its goal of a completely web-enabled environment.Numerous smaller projects, all accessible via the campus intranet, include:

• The Feinberg Graduate School system, which has successfully been in production foralmost a year, enables students to register for laboratory time according to availability,and to view their grade scores on-line via the web. Recent enhancements includeinstructors' now being able to enter student grades via the system, and the addition ofpictures to the students' files.

• The integration of many small applications in the office of the Academic Secretariat intoone larger Oracle data base application. This system is ready to go into production.

• A new system to monitor the working hours of the private Security Service the Institutehas employed.

• A new transportation system, which is in development. This system, which currentlyexists on the mainframe, will enable the ordering of transportation services andmovement of goods via the campus Intranet.

In addition, the department maintains important systems whose development is complete.These include:

• The system for the Department of Visiting Scientists, which monitors the many detailsassociated with visitor housing and tenure.

• The system for the Department of Donor Relations, which monitors all financial andsocial contacts with donors and Institute support committees, in Israel and abroad.


• A touch-screen system for the Levinson Visitors' Center that funnels informationautomatically to the Department of Donor Relations.

• The Telephones Financial Management system.

• The Youth Activities system, which monitors after-school science activities offered bythe Institute to Rehovot children.

Work is progressing on the department's next major project, which is to develop a newintegrated software package for the Finance/Supply/Inventory system, which is the onlyremaining major system to be housed on the Institute's mainframe computer. The RFPoutlining all the specifications has been completed and distributed to the relevant users, andprogramming is about to begin. When this is accomplished, the department will have achievedits goal of complete integration of its various systems with the modern operational proceduresof computer networking on campus.

The Home Page of the Department of Data Processing is: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/DP/

The Internet Unit Malka Cymbalista, Head

Since its inception in 1999, the Internet Services unit has played an integral role in theDivision's principal goal of improved communications and the dissemination of information.

While the Internet Services unit maintains the Institute's central web servers, its primaryfunction is the creation of departmental web sites, as well as individually customizedapplications, such as the new Weizmann Publications Search. As the focus of web sites hasshifted from static web pages to dynamic interactive ones, the unit has made great progress inthis area. Together with the Division's Data Processing department, Internet Services isconcentrating on integrating the recently installed Human Resources database with thedynamic resources of the web, making even the smallest change in data immediately visibleand retrievable via the internet. The first step in this process, the introduction of the Institute'son-line electronic directory, has proven to be one of the most successful and widely used webapplications on campus since its completion last year.

Because the Weizmann web site is often the initial contact between the Institute and theoutside world, the Internet Services unit has an important role to play in terms of publicrelations as well. By managing a continually evolving web site, ensuring the rapid flow ofupdate information via a professional and efficient interface, the unit helps the Institute put itsbest face forward at all times.

The home page of the Internet Services Unit is: http://www.weizmann.ac.il/IU/


Research Staff

Professor

Yigal Burstein1, Ph.D., The Weizmann Institute of Science The Maynard I. and Elaine Wishner Professor of Bio-Organic Chemistry and Malignant Diseases Research

Senior Staff Scientist Morton F. Taragin, Ph.D., George Washington University, Washington, United States

Engineers

Aviva Greenman, M.Sc., The Weizmann Institute of ScienceShlomit Afgin, B.Sc., Ben-Gurion University of the NegevCamille Botaz, M.Sc., University of Bucharest, RomaniaYehezkel Bialik, B.Sc., Yeshiva University Stephen Druck, B.A., Cornell UniversityLawrence Israel, Chem. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyIssak Kopp, M.Sc., Novocherkassk Polytechnic Institute Boris Lourie, Ph.D., The Weizmann Institute of ScienceIris Mersel, M.Sc., Tomsk University, Tomsk, and M.Sc., Moscow University, MoscowJerry Mersel, B.Sc., Hunter College, NYNava Shaya, B.Sc., Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Sara Yasur, B.A., Tel Aviv University

Consultant

Edna Shechtman, Ph.D., Ben- Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva (left March 2001)

1Department of Organic Chemistry

Division of Logistics and Research Services

Daniel Tamari, Head

The division consists of 90 highly skilled technicians and engineers, grouped into professionalworking units. The division provides support to the Weizmann Institute's research program,based on an interdepartmental charging system. The division is also in charge of the Securityand Fire Department of the Institute. Instruments Design and Drawing Unit Benjamin Pasmantirer, Head Design of custom made instruments, according to the researchers needs, using up to date solidcomputer aided design systems which are later implemented at the instruments workshops tocreate high precision lab instruments.

Rothberg Precision Instrument and Engineering Workshop Avraham Einhoren, Head Creation of custom made lab instruments of various metals and plastic materials as required bythe Institute's research staff in the central part of the campus.

Instruments Workshop, Physics Aharon Bar-On, Head Creation of custom made lab instruments of various metals as specified by the scientists in theeastern part of the campus, mainly serving the Faculty of Physics.

Scientific Instruments MaintenanceOded Sharabi, Head Repairs and maintenance of lab instruments, including a large number of centrifuges.

Graphics Haya Yoskovitch, Head Preparation of materials for scientific publication, presentation and conferences as well asinternet design, building and upkeep using powerful computers and multimedia technology.

Photography Laboratories Shmuel Engelstein, Head Documentation of experiments, often live, at the Institute's laboratories, using computerizedand digital equipment based on state of the art technologies, including a still photo and video

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324 Division of Logistics and Research Services

studios as well as a black and white plus color photo laboratory. In addition, the New AnalogDigital Photography Lab is now in use, enabling the Photography Unit to cut costs drastically.All the photo jobs are being directly transferred via the network and vice-versa from theScientists computers to the photo-lab for processing.

PublishingNatan Kronenberg, Head Printing, duplication and publishing most of the work produced at the Institute, assisting in thepreparation of materials for various forms as well as large format posters of scientificpublication and presentation using new digital duplicating machines for color prints.

Scientific Glassblowing UnitYossi Novema, Head Provide services for the scientific research of the campus including advice and design ofglassware. Creation and modification of pyrex glass laboratory instruments including quartzwork.

Plastics and Polymers LaboratoryBaruch Itah, Head Support for development and research related to chemistry and technology of polymers andplastics.

• Development of specific polymeric matrices, gels, films, membranes, coatings, etc. • Identification of plastic materials. • Advice and preparation of adhesives for specific uses. • Preparation of plastic parts by casting, thermoforming, injection, vacuum forming, etc. • Preparation of prototypes and structures using composites, foams, elastomers, etc.

Chemical WarehouseMordechai Cohen, Head Supplying various chemicals and biological materials to the Institute's labs from a stock whichis updated regularly and providing daily transportation of the sensitive materials to thecustomer's doorstep. Additional materials for Life Science research have been made available.

General WarehouseSaadia Vadai, Head Providing supplies from a varied stock of lab instruments mainly for Life Sciences, as well astechnical, office and other supplies from a varied range of items.

Transportation UnitEhud Idan, Head Delivery of the Warehouse supplies to the doorsteps of the labs and offices plus transporting ofinstruments between the labs on campus. Also involved in assisting social events at theInstitute.

Division of Logistics and Research Services 325

Security and Fire DeparmtentMoshe Gat, HeadIn the Security and Fire Department there are fifteen Weizmann Institute personnel plus anexternal Security Team who are in charge of all internal security, including fire alarm systems,fire-extinguishing equipment and security alarm systems. The department is also involved inassisting social events at the Institute.

New Developments

1. In the Instruments Workshops new machines which can process large parts in great precision are now active and special equipment was created for:

• Thin Film Detector for Atlas Project in CERN, Switzerland.

• New components for Solar Thermal Power Station including the Solar Receptorsand alterations to the Turbine Combustor.

2. The Photography Laboratories started to process and scan photos plus documents from different archives in the Institute in order to build a computerized archive linked to the world-wide network.

Engineers and Laboratories Staff

Mordechai Cohen, B.Sc., Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, IsraelMordechai Gabbay, Ph.D., Royal University of Lund, SwedenLilia Goffer, M.Sc., Polytechnic Institute, ChelabinskBaruch Itah, M.Sc., Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, IsraelRafael Michaeli, B.Sc., Open University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelBenjamin Pasmantirer, B.Sc., Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, IsraelGedalia Perlman, M.Sc., Polytechnical University, Leningrad

326 Division of Logistics and Research Services

Academic Secretariat

Boaz Avron, Academic Secretary

Appointments

To the Rank of Professor

Ilan Chet - Biological Chemistry Lucio Frydman - Chemical Physics

To the Rank of Associate Professor

Eduard Bayer - Biological Chemistry

To the Rank of Senior Scientist

Tal Alexander - Condensed Matter PhysicsRoy Bar-Ziv - Materials and Interfaces Micha Berkooz - Particle PhysicsYuval Eshed - Plant Sciences Maria Gorelik - Mathematics Ernesto Joselevich - Materials and Interfaces Dan S. Tawfik - Biological Chemistry

To the Rank of Scientist

Yael Shadmi - Particle Physics

To the Rank of Senior Staff Scientist

Ahuva Knyszynski - Veterinary Resources Talia Miron - Biological Chemistry Bilha Schechter - Immunology

To the Rank of Associate Staff Scientist Rivka Adar* - Biological Chemistry

*from December 2000

327

328 Academic Secretariat

Vladimir Bernshtam - Particle Physics Eduard Korkotian - Neurobiology Rachel Mamlok - Science Teaching

To the Rank of Assistant Staff Scientist

Elena Appel - Biological ChemistryGilat Brill - Science Teaching Sara W. Feigelson - Immunology Veronica Frydman - Chemical ServicesShirley Horn-Saban - Biological Services Adva Michaly-Zmora - Molecular Genetics Igal Nevo - Neurobiology Eyal Seidmann - Neurobiology Shifra Teitz-Ben-Dor - Biological Services

To the Rank of Junior Staff Scientist

Tamar Ben-Yedidia - Molecular Cell BiologyMarat Gorivodsky - Molecular GeneticsMaggie Kessler - Structural BiologyOrit Kollet - Immunology Haim Rozenberg - Chemical Services Eyal Shimoni - Chemical Services Alexander Starobinets - Particle Phyiscs Michal Vechoropoulos - Physics of Complex Systems

Promotions

To the Rank of Professor

Jacob Anglister - Structural Biology Gad Galili - Plant Sciences Mordechai Liscovitch - Biological Regulation David Peleg - Computer Science and Applied Mathematics Yosef Shaul - Molecular Genetics Eli Zeldov - Condensed Matter Physics

To the Rank of Associate Professor

Ehud Ahissar - Neurobiology Avraham Arcavi - Science Teaching Zvulun Elazar - Biological ChemistryRony Granek - Materials and InterfacesAbraham Kribus - Environmental Sciences and Energy Research Tsvee Lapidot - Immunology Ofer Lider - Immunology

Academic Secretariat 329

Gershom J. Martin - Organic Chemistry Adi Stern - Condensed Matter Physics

To the Rank of Senior Staff Scientist

Amos Arieli - Neurobiology Tatyana Burakova - Veterinary Resources Hagai Cohen - Chemical Services Aharon Rabinkov - Biological Services Akiba Segal - Solar Research Facilities Ester Yoles - Neurobiology

To the Rank of Associate Staff Scientist

Ilana Agmon - Structural Biology Janna Blechman - Molecular Cell Biology

To the Rank of Assistant Staff Scientists

Alexander Brandis - Plant Sciences Olga Davydov - Plant Sciences Naama Kessler - Structural Biology

Awards

The Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Memorial Prize is awarded by the Gerhard M.J. Schmidt MemorialFund, established in 1976, for an outstanding Ph.D. thesis in chemistry. The award for 2001was awarded to Dr. Claudio Rottman, Department of Organic Chemistry, The HebrewUniversity of Jerusalem, for his work on Investigation of Molecules Entrapped in Sol-GelMatrices. The Sir Charles Clore Prize for Outstanding Appointment as Senior Scientist in theExperimental Sciences was established in 1981 by Mrs. Vivien Clore Duffield, Geneva. The2001 prize was awarded to Dr. Yuval Eshed, Department of Plant Sciences.

The Morris L. Levinson Prizes were established in 1982 by Mr. Morris L. Levinson, NewYork. The Physics Prize for 2001 was awarded to Dr. Nir Davidson, Department of Physics ofComplex Systems, for his contributions in the Area of Physical and Atomic Optics. TheMathematics Prize in 2001 was awarded to Prof. Ronen Basri, Department of ComputerScience and Applied Mathematics, for his work on the Theoretical Foundations of VisualObject Recognition. The Biology Prize in 2001 was awarded to Dr. Michael Elbaum,Department of Materials and Interfaces, for his accomplishments in Studies of Actin NetworkDynamics and the Unusual Physics of DNA Uptake into the Nucleus.

The Maxine Singer Prize for Outstanding Research Associate was established in 1991 by theScientific Council of the Weizmann Institute. In 2001, the Prize was awarded to Dr. DanielLellouch, Department of Particle Physics, in recognition of his contributions to the field ofData Acquisition and Data-bases for Experimental High Energy Physics and to Dr. Ditsa


Levanon, Department of Molecular Genetics, in recognition of her contributions to theresearch of Genes Associated with Human Diseases.

The Scientific Council Prize for Chemistry. In 2001, the Prize was awarded to Prof. G. JanM.L. Martin, Department of Organic Chemistry, for his contributions to the Theory andPractice of Accurate Computational Chemistry.

Allon Fellowships

The Allon Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to outstanding young scientists bythe Council for Higher Education. The current incumbents are:

Einat Aharonov Environmental Science and Energy ResearchOfer Haim Aharony Particle PhysicsUri Alon Molecular Cell BiologyRoy Bar-Ziv Materials and InterfacesYuval Eshed Plant SciencesMaria Gorelik MathematicsMichal Irani Computer Science and Applied MathematicsErnesto Joselevich Materials and InterfacesZiv Reich Biological ChemistryDan S. Tawfik Biological ChemistryEli Waxman Condensed Matter Physics

Guastalla Fellows

The Guastalla Fellowships are awarded to new immigrant by the Rashi Foundation and theCouncil of Higher Education:

Lucio Frydman Biological Chemistry

Guastalla Fellowships for the Advancement of Science Teaching and Technology

The Guastalla Fellowships are awarded by the Sacta-Rashi Foundation and the Council ofHigher Education. The current incumbents are:

Gilat Brill Science TeachingRachel Mamluk Science Teaching

Fellowships for Senior Immigrant Scientists

The fellowships for Senior Immigrant Scientists are awarded to Senior new immigrants fromthe former Eastern Bloc by the Council of Higher Education. Anatoly Burshtein Chemical PhysicsYehoshua Levinson Condensed Matter Physics


Emma and Oscar Getz Summer Science Program for Israeli Students The Emma and Oscar Getz Summer Science Program for Israeli Students was established in2001 and is supported by patrons of the Chicago Committee for the Weizmann Institute ofScience. Throughout their lifetimes, Chicago industrialist Oscar Getz and his wife Emma,were well-known for their dedication to the arts at home, in Washington, D.C. and in London.Although Oscar Getz died in 1983 and Emma in 1966, they are linked in perpetuity to researchand education at the Weizmann Institute of Science through a Professorial Chair, a summerprogram scholarship, and the Wix Auditorium loudspeaker system, projects endowed in theirnames by the Getz Foundation. Approximately 35 undergraduate students are accepted eachyear.

Participants designate the research preferences of their choice from a list of current projects.These choices are then matched, by a scientific coordinator, with ongoing research teams atthe Institute. The students work under the supervision of a staff scientist and spend between 10weeks to 4 months, during their summer holidays, working on the research project to whichthey have been assigned.

Karyn Kupcinet International Science School

The Karyn Kupcinet International Science School was established in 1971 in memory ofKaryn Kupcinet by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Irving Kupcinet of Chicago, Illinois, USA. TheAcademic Secretary's office organizes and runs the program. Approximately 35 undergraduatestudents are accepted each year.

Participants designate the research preferences of their choice from a list of current projects.These choices are then matched, by a scientific coordinator, with ongoing research teams atthe Institute. The students work under the guidance of a staff scientist and spend between 10weeks to 4 months, during their summer holidays, working on the research project to whichthey have been assigned. A few students from the Southern Hemisphere attend during thewinter months, coinciding with these students' university holidays.

The overseas participants are given opportunities to tour Israel, to participate in various socialactivities and, of course, to interact with the other summer students and graduate students andstaff from the Institute.

Formal Collaboration and Exchange Agreements

In 2001 the Weizmann Institute had formal agreements on scientific collaboration andexchange of personnel with the following foreign institutions:

Argentine National Council for Science and Technology (CONICIT) Argentine National Institute for Industrial Technology Center of Innovative Technology (CIT), Virginia El Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnias (CONICYT) de Uruguay


The Costa Rica Council for Research (CONICIT) Czech Academy of Sciences Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH), Zurich El Fondo Colombiano de Investigaciones Cientificas y Proyectos Especiales "Francisco Jose

de Caldas-Colciencias" Fundacion Campomar, Buenos Aires Georgia Tech Research Corporation Gifu International Institute of Biotechnology, Japan Hungarian Academy of Science-Biological Research Center Cooperation Agreement in the field of Biomedical Research between the Institut National de la

Sante et de la Recherche Medicale and the Weizmann Institute of Science The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore Joint Center for Theoretical Physics of the Landau Institute, Moscow National Laboratory for High Energy Physics (KEK), Tsukuba, Japan Secretariat of Science and Technology (SECYT), Argentina Slovak Academy of Sciences Technische Universität, Berlin Université René Descartes, Paris University of Cambridge University of Tokyo University of Trieste Yale University, New Haven, CT

Honors

Prof. Ruth Arnon - Israel Prize for Medicine Prof. Ruth Arnon - Scientific award on the Occasion of the Third Annual Musical Moments

for Multiple Sclerosis Prof. Ruth Arnon - Appointed as a member of the European Research Advisory Board Prof. Shafrira Goldwasser and Prof. Uriel Feige - The Godel Prize for outstanding papers in

the area of theoretical computer science Prof. Amiram Grinvald - Elected as an external member of the Max Planck Society and as an

external scientific member of the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research atHeidelberg

Prof. Haim Harari - Awarded the Harnack Medal from the Max Planck Society Prof. Meir Lahav and Prof. Leslie Leiserowitz - Awarded the Gregori Aminoff Prize for

Crystallography of the Royal Academy of Sweedn Prof. Michal Neeman - Elected to the Board of Trustees of the ISMRM (International Society

of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine). Prof. Amir Pnueli - Elected as a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities Prof. Leo Sacks - Awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership of the International Cytokine

Society Prof. Michal Schwartz - Association for Research in Vision and Ophthaomology Award Prof. Michal Schwartz - Presented the Twenty-second Peter and Eva Safar Annual Lectureship

in Medical Sciences and Humanities. University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine


Prof. Michal Schwartz - Appointed as the G. Heiner Sell Memorial Lectureship forOutstnading Achievement in the Field of Spinal Injury, awarded by the American SpinalInjury Association.

Prof. Michael Sela - Awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Prof. Moshe Shapiro - Awarded the 2001 Outstanding Chemist Prize by the Israel Chemical

Society Prof. Nathan Sharon - Elected as an Honorary Member of the American Society for

Microbiology, Washington Prof. Nathan Sharon - Awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Council of the Open

University of Israel Prof. Shmuel Shtrikman and Prof. Yoseph Imry - Israel Prize for Physics Prof. Itzhak Tserruya - Elected to the Executive Council of the PHENDIX experiment Prof. Daniel Zajfman - Appointed as an External Scientific Member of the Max Planck

Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg

Honorary Fellows of the Weizmann Institute

1952David Sarnoff

1953Niels Bohr Linus C. PaulingSir Ernst B. Chain Francis Peyton-RousHerman F. Mark Sir Robert Robinson

1954Patrick M. S. Blackett Adlai Stevenson

1955Pierre Mendes-France Rebecca D. SieffLord (Israel) Sieff of Brimpton

1956Louis Lipsky Arthur Stoll

1957Isidor I. Rabi

1958Felix Bloch J. Robert OppenheimerSir Christopher Ingold Harold C. Urey

1959Jean L. A. Brachet Jonas SalkLord Marks of Broughton Sir Isaac Wolfson, Bart.Giulio Racah


1960Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar Dewey David StoneBernard A. Houssay Hugo A. T. TheorellTheodor von Karman Axel Wenner-Gren

1961Max F. Perutz Edgar SalinTadeus Reichstein Jerome B. Wiesner

1962Saul Adler Lord RothschildCarl J. Burckhardt Harry SacherNahum Goldmann Victor WeisskopfJames G. McDonald Vera WeizmannHeinrich G. Ritzel

1963Herbert H. Lehman John F. Kennedy

1964Richard Kronstein

1965Walter J. Bär Arthur KornbergWolfgang Gentner Richard Meinhertzhagen

1966Konrad Adenauer Abraham FeinbergAbba Eban Harry Levine

1967Shmuel Joseph Agnon Leopold RusickaLudwig Erhard Lord (Marcus) Sieff of BrimptonDavid Rittenberg

1968Lester B. Pearson Harry S. Truman

1969Christian B. Anfinsen Theodore R. RacoosinWalworth Barbour Abram L. SacharErnst D. Bergmann Philip D. SangSir Charles Clore Gershom ScholemManfred Eigen Zalman ShazarJohn C. Kendrew Axel C. SpringerGerhard Herzberg Robert B. Woodward

1970William Benton Hubert H. HumphreyLeonard Bernstein Miriam Sacher


1971Golda Meir Otto E. PassmanSydney Goldstein

1972David Ginsburg David NachmansohnSir Hans A. Krebs Harold WeillAndré M. Lwoff

1974Harold L. Perlman

Doctors of Philosophy Honoris Causa

1964Meyer W. Weisgal

1973Willy Brandt

1975Arnold R. Meyer

1976Maurice Boukstein Murray B. KofflerPaul J. Flory Artur RubinsteinGerhard Herzberg Ada SereniEphraim Katzir Simone Veil

1977Marc Chagall Harold WilsonHenry Kissinger

1978Hans A. Bethe Rita Levi-MontalciniAage Bohr Abraham LevinAdolpho Bloch Marshall W. Nirenberg

1979Sir Derek Barton Derrick KleemanMenachem Begin Hermann MayerJosef Cohn Joseph MeyerhoffAryeh Dvoretzky Sol SpiegelmanSir Bernard Katz

1980Rudolf M. Bloch Ephraim UrbachJimmy Carter Veit WylerMorris L. Levinson


1981Angel Faivovich

1982Yehuda Assia Elvin A. KabatHaim Cohen Alfred KastlerRegina Feigl Severo OchoaFrancois Jacob Shmuel Sambursky

1983Mordecai Ardon Zubin MehtaRaymond Aron Francis H. RuddleEzra Danin Andrei Dimitrievich SakharovErnest I. Japhet

1984Abraham Harman Frank PressLudwig Jesselson John RossDaniel Koshland Heinz StaabYitzhak Navon Lewis Thomas

1985Ayala Zacks Abramov Samuel W. LewisVivien Clore Duffield Charles LubinFrancois Gros Benjamin MazarHans Hilger Haunschild Vladimir PrelogChaim Herzog Ronald ReaganNiels K. Jerne Steven WeinbergJames F. Kay Richard von Weizsacker

1986Teddy Kollek Moshe PorathLeo Picard Bernard Pullman

1987Victor Brailovsky Sir James LighthillIlona Feher George P. SchultzMartin D. Kamen Meir ShamgarHelen Kimmelman (Kimmel) Frank H. Westheimer

1988Mildred Cohn Israel PollakPierre-Gilles de Gennes Earl R. StadmanChaim Gvati Lord WolfsonFrancois Mitterand

1989Aharon Barak John PolyaniBaruj Benacerraf Heinz F. RiesenhuberRobert W. Kasten


1990Lester Crown Maurice GoldschlegerAdolf Ebner N. Avrion MitchisonHenry Gestetner Sir David C. PhillipsAbraham Ginzburg Yizhar Smilanski

1991Azaria Alon Uzia GalilH. Thomas Beck Lilian HertzbergHurbert Curien Dan MayerJean Dausset Hans A. Weidenmüller

1992Norman D. Cohen Alexander RichJack D. Dinitz Harry Zvi TaborMartha Laub The Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven

1993George S. Hammond Charles MérieuxJames Heineman Shalom RosenfeldIlse Katz The Hon. David Sieff

1994Y. Leon Benoziyo Rowland SchaeferSamy Cohn Ezer WeizmanEli Hurvitz Alejandro ZaffaroniSimone Mallah

1995Gershon Kekst Maxine SingerMelvin Schwartz S. Donald Sussman

1996Ted Arison Orna PoratBerthold Beitz Hans ZacherSir Aaron Klug

1997Josef Burg Walter KohnShoshana Damari Sara MayerMartin S. Kimmel Robert Neter

1998David D. Baltimore Manfred D. MorossEdith Cresson Alexandra Poljakoff-MayberJean-Marie Lehn Albert Willner

1999Shulamit Aloni Helmut KohlAkito Arima Riccardo Muti


Nella Benoziyo Bert SakmannMaks Birnbach Leon SchidlowStuart Eizenstat Naomi Shemer

2000Yehuda Amichai Raoul de PicciottoErica Drake Mayer Wolf Bernhard ServatiusLea Nikel

2001Robert H. Asher Rabbi Abraham E. FirerLawrence S. Blumberg Arnold J. LevineWilliam M. Davidson Maxime SchwartzSidney D. Drell Alice ShalviMaurizio M. Dwek Evelyn Tenenbaum

Weizmann Awards in the Sciences and Humanities

1966David Sarnoff Rebecca D. SieffLord (Israel) Sieff of Brimpton

1967Joseph Brainin Miriam SacherBernard A. Houssay

1968Walter P. Reuther Robert I. Wishnick

1969Josef Cohn

1970Max Candiotty Anne StoneLee Levine

1971Theodore R. Racoosin

1979Danny Kaye

1983Henry Jackson

1984Harold Hill

1985Bram Goldsmith Alain PoherCharles Mérieux Margaret ThatcherRobert Parienti


1987Jacques Chirac Hermann MayerGottlieb Hammer

1989Heinz A. Staab

1990Carlos Salinas de Gortari Brian Mulroney

1991Kirk Douglas

1992Ezer Weizmann Mostafa Khalil

1994Erhard Busek

1995Veit Wyler Reimer Lüst

1997Abba Eban Lord RothschildDavid Ginsburg

1999Helen Asher


Chairs and Fellowships

Professorial Chairs

The Lee and William Abramowitz Chair of Macromolecular Biophysics Established in 1978 through the bequest of Mr. Abramowitz, Leominster, MA Incumbent Professor Mark Safro, Department of Structural Biology

The Annenberg Chair of High Energy Physics Established in 1967 by Mrs. Enid A. Haupt, New York, in memory of her mother, Mrs. Moses L. Annenberg Incumbent Professor Haim Harari, Department of Particle Physics

The Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Chair Established in 1995 by Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Applebaum, Troy, Michigan Incumbent Professor Avraham Ben-Nun, Department of Immunology

The Helen Norman Asher Chair in Brain Research Established in 1993 by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Asher, Chicago Incumbent Professor Amiram Grinvald, Department of Neurobiology

The Norman and Helen Asher Chair of Cancer Rsearch Established in 1986 by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Asher, Chicago Incumbent Professor Varda Rotter, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Chair of Biochemistry Established in 1982 by the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Foundation, Stamford, CT Incumbent Professor Amnon Horovitz, Department of Structural Biology

The Henry and Bertha Benson Chair Established in 1970 by Mr. and Mrs. Benson, Montreal Incumbent Professor Karol A. Muszkat, Department of Structural Biology

The Bernstein-Mason Chair of Neurochemistr Established in 1985 by Stuart A. Bernstein and John J. Mason, Washington, DC Incumbent Professor Israel Silman, Department of Neurobiology

The Dr. Barnet Berris Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1981 by the Physicians' Committee, Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science Incumbent Professor Yoram Groner, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Besen-Brender Chair of Microbiology and Parasitology Established in 1981 by Marc Besen, Melbourne, and Joseph Brender, Sydney Incumbent Professor David Mirelman, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Patricia Elman Bildner Chair of Solid State Chemistry Established in 1973 by Albert C. Bildner, New York Incumbent Professor Leslie Leiserowitz, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Paul and Marlene Borman Chair of Applied Mathematics Established in 1984 by Mr. and Mrs. Borman, Detroit, and their friends and associates Incumbent Professor Adi Shamir, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Dr. Walter and Dr. Trude Brochardt Professor of Structural Biology Established in 2001 by bqquest of Dr. Trude Borchardt, New York Incumbent Professor Stephen Weiner, Department of Structural Biology


The Gilbert de Botton Chair of Plant Sciences Established in 1981 by Mr. de Botton and friends, Zurich and New York Incumbent Professor Jonathan Gressel, Department of Plant Sciences

The Isaac and Elsa Bourla Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1979 by bequest of Mr. and Mrs. Bourla, Paris Incumbent Professor Gideon Berke, Department of Immunology

The Harold S. and Harriet B. Brady Chair of Cancer Rrsearch Established in 1982 by Mrs. Brady and the late Mr. Brady, Chicago Incumbent Professor Yechiel Shai, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Bronfman Chair of Plant Science Established in 1979 by Joseph E. Seagram and Sons, Inc., New York Incumbent Professor Gad Galili, Department of Plant Sciences

The Rudy Bruner Chair of Science Teaching Established in 1970 by Mrs. Martha Bruner, New York, and Zelon Ltd., Israel Incumbent Professor Uri Ganiel, Department of Science Teaching

The Professor Sir Ernst B. Chain Chair of Neuroimmunology Established in 1980 by his friends, London Incumbent Professor Sara Fuchs, Department of Immunology

The Norman D. Cohen Chair of Computer Sciences Established in 1971 by Mr. Cohen, New York Incumbent Professor David Peleg, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Ruth and Samy Cohn Chair of Computer Sciences Established in 1984 by close Israeli friends of Mr. and Mrs. Cohn, Rio de Janeiro Incumbent Professor Shimon Ullman, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Jack Cotton Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1969 by the Jack Cotton Foundation, London

The Marvin Myer and Jenny Cyker Chair of Diabetes Research Established in 1971 by Mr. Cyker, Boston Incumbent Professor Michael Walker, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Sadie and Joseph Danciger Chair of Molecular Biology Established in 1967 by the Sadie Danciger Trust, Kansas City

The Lady Davis Chair of Experimental Physics Established in 1972 by the Eldee Foundation, Montreal, through Bernard M. Bloomfield and Major Louis M. Bloomfield, Q.C. Incumbent Professor Giora Mikenberg, Department of Particle Physics

The Harry de Jur Chair of Applied Physics Established in 1982 by the Harry de Jur Foundation, New York Incumbent Professor Victor Steinberg, Department of Physics of Complex Systems

The Amos de Shalit Chair of Theoretical Physics Established in 1976 Incumbent Professor Yitzhak Frishman, Department of Particle Physics

The Helen and Sanford Diller Family Chair of Neurobiology Established in 2001 by Helen and Sanford Diller, San Francisco, CA Incumbent Professor Henry Markram, Department of Neurobiology


The Jack and Simon Djanogly Chair of Biochemistry Established in 1980 by Sir Harry Djanogly, CBE, London Incumbent Professor Michael Eisenbach, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Henry H. Drake Chair of Immunology Established in 1998 by Mrs. Erica Drake, New York Incumbent Professor Yair Reisner, Department of Immunology

The Georg F. Duckwitz Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1975 by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany Incumbent Professor Lea Eisenbach, Department of Immunology

The George W. Dunne Chair of Chemical Physics Established in 1971 by his friends and associates, Chicago Incumbent Professor Gershon Kurizki, Department of Chemical Physics

The Paul Ehrlich Chair of Immunology Established in 1979 by the European Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science Incumbent Professor Ruth Arnon, Department of Immunology

The Joyce and Ben B. Eisenberg Chair of Molecular Endocrinology and Cancer Research Established in 1984 by the Ben B. Eisenberg Charitable Fund, Los Angeles Incumbent Professor Abraham Amsterdam, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Maxwell Ellis Chair of Biomedical Research Established in 1997 through the bequest of Mr. Ellis, London Incumbent Professor Zvi Livneh, Department of Biological Chemistry

The E. Stanley Enlund Chair of Membrane Research Established in 1982 by his friends and associates, Chicago Incumbent Professor Carlos Gitler, Department of Biological Chemistry

Estrin Family Chair of Computer Science Established in 2000 by Judith Estrin and William Carrico, Profs. Thelma and Gerald Estrin, California Incumbent Professor Amir Pnueli, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Marshall and Renette Ezralow Chair of Chemical and Cellular Immunology Established in 1984 by Mr. and Mrs. Ezralow, Beverly Hills Incumbent Professor Zelig Eshhar, Department of Immunology

Fred and Andrea Fallek Chair of Breast Cancer Research Established in 2000 by Mrs. Andrea Klepetar Fallek, New York Incumbent Professor Hadassa Degani, Department of Biological Regulation

The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Chair Established in 1992 by the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation, Chicago Incumbent Professor Michael W. Kirson, Department of Particle Physics

The Donald Frey Chair Established in 1988 by his friends and associates, Chicago Incumbent Professor Anthony Joseph, Department of Mathematics

The Isabelle and Samuel Friedman Chair of Theoretical Physics Established in 1979 by the bequests of Mr. and Mrs. Friedman, San Francisco Incumbent Professor Moshe Kugler, Department of Particle Physics

The Charles and Louise Gartner Chair Established in 1993 br Mrs. Louise Gartner, Dallas Incumbent Professor Uri Pick, Department of Biological Chemistry


The Wolfgang Gentner Chair of Nuclear Physics Established in 1982 by the European Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science in honor of the late Professor Gentner, Heidelberg Incumbent Professor Uzy Smilansky, Department of Physics of Complex Systems

The Oscar and Emma Getz Chair Established in 1993 by Mrs. Emma Getz, Chicago Incumbent Professor Yosef Shaul, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Harold and Zelda Goldenberg Chair of Molecular Cell Biology Established in 2001 by the Jacob E. Goldenberg Foundation, Minneapolis, MN Incumbent Professor Yosef Yarden, Department of Biological Regulation

The Elaine and Bram Goldsmith Chair of Applied Mathematics Established in 1982 by Mr. amd Mrs. Goldsmith, Los Angeles Incumbent Professor Achi Brandt, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Marte R. Gomez Chair of Photosynthesis Established in 1985 by the Mexican Committee of the Weizmann Institute of Science Incumbent Professor Yehiel Zick, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Dorothy and Patrick Gorman Chair Established in 1966 by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Washington, DC Incumbent Professor Lia Addadi, Department of Structural Biology

The William B. Graham Chair of Pharmacology Established in 1978 by his friends and associates, Chicago Incumbent Professor Uriel Zor, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Harold J. and Marion F. Green Chair Established in 1991 by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Green, Chicago Incumbent Professor David Mukamel, Department of Physics of Complex Systems

The Marc R. Gutwirth Chair of Molecular Biology Established in 1967 in memory of Professor Gutwirth by his mother, Mrs. Regina Gutwirth, New York, and his wife, Gloria Incumbent Professor Meir Wilchek, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Nicki and J. Ira Harris Chair Established in 1988 by Mr. Harris and his friends and associates, Chicago Incumbent Professor Steve Gelbart, Department of Mathematics

The Hettie H. Heineman Chair of Mathematics Established in 1989 by James Heineman, Heineman Foundation, New York Incumbent Professor Zvi Artstein, Department of Mathematics

The Charles H. Hollenberg Chair of Diabetes and Metabolic Research Established in 1985 by his friends and associates, Toronto Incumbent Professor Yoram Shechter, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Lawrence G. Horowitz Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1985 by Mr. Horowitz and his family, Philadelphia Incumbent Professor Ruth Miskin, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Erica and Ludwig Jesselson Chair of Theoretical Mathematics Established in 1985 be Erica and Ludwig Jesselson, New York Incumbent Professor Yakar Kannai, Department of Mathematics


The Maurice and Ilse Katz Chair of Neuroimmunology Established in 1990 by Mrs. Ilse Katz, Geneva Incumbent Professor Michal Schwartz, Department of Neurobiology

The Louis and Florence Katz-Cohen Chair of Neuropharmacology Established in 1984 Incumbent Professor Vivian I. Teichberg, Department of Neurobiology

The Aryeh and Mintzi Katzman Chair Established in 1992 by The Carylon Foundation, Chicago Incumbent Professor Ron Naaman, Department of Chemical Physics

The Harry Kay Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1985 by the Harry Kay Foundation, Minneapolis Incumbent Professor Eli Canaani, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Martin S. Kimmel Chair Established in 1987 by Mr. Kimmel, New York Incumbent Professor Ada E. Yonath, Department of Structural Biology

The Hella and Derrick Kleeman Chair of Biochemistry Established in 1979 by Mr. Derrick Kleeman, London Incumbent Professor Shmuel Shaltiel, Department of Biological Regulation

The Judith Kleeman Chair of Molecular Biophysics Established in 1981 by Mr. Derrick Kleeman, London Incumbent Professor Edward Trifonov, Department of Structural Biology

The Peter and Carola Kleeman Chair of Optical Sciences Established in 1980 by Mr. Derrick Kleeman, London Incumbent Professor Asher A. Friesem, Department of Physics of Complex Systems

The Dr. Morton and Anne Kleiman Chair Established in 1993 by Dr. and Mrs. Morton Kleiman, Chicago Incumbent Professor Israel Pecht, Department of Immunology

The Philip M. Klutznick Chair of Developmental Biology Established in 1967 by their friends and associates, Chicago Incumbent Professor Nava Dekel, Department of Biological Regulation

The Murray B. Koffler Chair Established in 1993 in honor of Mr. Murray Koffler by The Weizmann Institute of Science Incumbent Professor Michael Hass, Department of Particle Physics

The Harold L. Korda Chair of Biology Established in 1974 by the Harold L. Korda Foundation, Inc., New York Incumbent Professor Mordechai Liscovitch, Department of Biological Regulation

The Marshall and Edith Korshak Chair of Plant Cytogenetics Established in 1976 by their friends and associates, Chicago Incumbent Professor Moshe Feldman, Department of Plant Sciences (until March 2001)

The Richard Kronstein Chair of Theoretical Magnetism Established in 1977 by the European Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Zurich

The Charles and Charlotte Krown Chair of Medicinal Chemistry Established in 1985 by Mr. Charles Krown, Los Angeles Incumbent Professor Mario D. Bachi, Department of Organic Chemistry


The Samuel Lunenfeld-Reuben Kunin Chair of Genetics Established in 1973 by Mr. Lunenfeld, Lausanne, and Mr. Kunin, Blonay, Switzerland Incumbent Professor Avri Ben-Ze'ev, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Harry Kweller and Kathleen Kweller Chair of Condensed Matter Physics Established in 1984 by the estate of the late Mr. Kweller, London Incumbent Professor Shimon Levit, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Chief Justice Bora Laskin Chair of Science Teaching Established in 1984 in honor of the late Canadian Chief Justice by his friends and associates in Canada Incumbent Professor Bat Sheva Eylon, Department of Science Teaching

The Herbert H. Lehman Chair of Theoretical Physics Established in 1965 by the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science Incumbent Professor Harry J. Lipkin, Department of Particle Physics (until June 2001)

The Henry J. Leir Chair Established in 1999 by the estate of Henry J. Leir of New York Incumbent Professor Eytan Domany, Department of Physics of Complex Systems

The Harry and Leona Levine Chair of Neurosciences Established in 1986 by Mrs. Harry Levine, Cambridge, MA Incumbent Professor Menahem Segal, Department of Neurobiology

The Barbara and Morris L. Levinson Chair of Chemical Physics Established in 1982 by Mr. and Mrs. Levinson, New York Incumbent Professor Itamar Procaccia, Department of Chemical Physics

The Hilda and Cecil Lewis Chair of Molecular Genetics Established in 2001 by Cecil Lewis, England and Switzerland Incumbent Professor Ben-Zion Shilo, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Charles W. and Tillie K. Lubin Chair of Hormone Research Established in 1982 by Mr. Lubin, Chicago Incumbent Professor Yoram Salomon, Department of Biological Regulation

The Andre Lwoff Chair of Neurogenetics Established in 1984 by his friends through the French Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science Incumbent Professor Rabi Simantov, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Ephraim Katzir-Rao Makineni Chair of Chemistry Established in 2001 by Rao Makineni, Los Angeles, CA Incumbent Professor Mordechai Sheves, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Jules J. Mallon Chair of Biochemistry Established in 1972 by the Malakoff Foundation, Minneapolis Incumbent Professor Chaim Kahana, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Hermann Mark Chair of Polymer Physics Established in 1986 by the American, Austrian, European and German Committees for the Weizmann Institute of Science, in honor of Prof. Mark Incumbent Professor Jacob Klein, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Israel Matz Chair of Organic Chemistry Established in 1966 by the Alice Matz Goodman Endowment Fund, New York Incumbent Professor David Milstein, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Helen and Morris Mauerberger Chair of Immunology Established in 1982 by the Mauerberger Foundation Fund, Capetown Incumbent Professor Irun R. Cohen, Department of Immunology


The Hermann Mayer Chair of Physical Chemistry Established in 1980 by Mr. Mayer, Paris

The Stephen and Mary Meadow Chair of Laser Photochemistry Established in 1982 by Mr. and Mrs. Meadow, Los Angeles Incumbent Professor Amnon Yogev, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The Otto Meyerhof Chair of Molecular Biology Established in 1968 by the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk, Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany, in memory of the founder of molecular biology born in Hannover Incumbent Professor Leo Sachs, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Joseph Meyerhoff Chair of Biochemistry Established in 1971 by Mr. Meyerhoff, Baltimore Incumbent Professor Shmuel Malkin, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Jacques Mimran Chair Established in 1980 by Jean-Claude Mimran, Paris Incumbent Professor Moshe Shapiro, Department of Chemical Physics

The Jane and Otto Morningstar Chair of Physics Established in 2000 by Mrs. Jane Morningstar, Boca Raton Incumbent Professor Israel Bar-Joseph, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Dr. Hymie Moross Chair of Molecular Immunology Established in 1981 by Manfred D. Moross, London, in memory of his father Incumbent Professor Israel Schechter, Department of Immunology

The Joseph Moss Chair of Molecular Endocrinology Established in 1981 in memory of his parents, Jacob and Molly Moskowitz, Chicago Incumbent Professor Alexander D. Bershadsky, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The David and Inez Myers Chair Established in 2000 by Mrs. Inez P. Myers, Cleveland Incumbent Professor Eli Zeldov, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Professor Erwin Neter Chair of Cell and Tumor Biology Established in 1986 by Robert and Idi Neter Incumbent Professor Benjamin Geiger, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Livio Norzi Chair Established in 2000 by the late Livio Norzi of Italy Incumbent Professor Daniel Hanoch Wagner, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Olin-Sang Chair of Leukemia Research Established in 1969 in memory of Ida K. and Louis B. Olin and Etta and Jacob Sang by their families and friends, Chicago Incumbent Professor Meir Shinitzky, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Joseph and Ruth Owades Chair of Chemistry Established in 1999 by Joseph Owades of Sonoma, California Incumbent Professor Jacob Anglister, Department of Structural Biology

The Lester B. Pearson Chair of Protein Research Established in 1968 by the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science Incumbent Professor Mati Fridkin, Department of Organic Chemistry

The William Petschek Chair of Mathematics Established in 1985 by his family, Scarsdale, NY Incumbent Professor Gideon Schechtman, Department of Mathematics


The Max Planck Chair of Quantum Physics Established in 1988 by the Weizmann Institute of Science Incumbent Professor Yoseph Imry, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Israel Pollak Chair of Biophysics Established in 1981 by the Edit and Israel Pollak Foundation, Israel Incumbent Professor Zvi Kam, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Hilda Pomeraniec Memorial Chair of Organic Chemistry Established in 1961 by Dr. J. Pomeraniec, Vence, France, in memory of his wife Incumbent Professor Joseph Sperling, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Moshe Porath Chair of Mathematics Established in 1990 by The Weizmann Institute of Science in honour of Moshe Porath, Tel-Aviv Incumbent Professor Yosef Yomdin, Department of Mathematics

The Isidor I. Rabi Chair of Physics Established in 1988 by an anonymous donor Incumbent Professor Mordechai Milgrom, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Theodore R. Racoosin Chair of Biophysics Established in 1962 by Mr. Racoosin, New York Incumbent Professor Ephraim Katchalski-Katzir, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Ruth Epstein Recu Chair of Theoretical Physics Established in 1981 through the estate of Mrs. Epstein Recu, Chicago Incumbent Professor Adam Schwimmer, Department of Physics of Complex Systems

The Professor T. Reichstein Chair Established in 1989, by the Swiss Friends of the Weizmann Institute of Science

The Robert W. Reneker Chair of Industrial Chemistry Established in 1976 by his friends and associates, Chicago Incumbent Professor Shimon Reich, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Walter P. Reuther Chair of Research in the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy Established in 1968 by the United Automobile Workers of America Incumbent Professor Amos Breskin, Department of Particle Physics

The Sophie and Richard S. Richards Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1997 through the bequest of Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Richards, New York and Paris Incumbent Professor Irith Ginzburg, Department of Neurobiology

The Heinrich G. Ritzel Chair of Immunology Established in 1976 by the European Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Zurich Incumbent Professor Edna Mozes, Department of Immunology

The Joseph and Marian Robbins Chair Established in 1980 by Mr. Robbins, the Robbins family and friends, Chicago Incumbent Professor Shimon Vega, Department of Chemical Physics

The John Roberts Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1978 by the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science Incumbent Professor Peter Lonai, Department of Molecular Genetics (until September 2001)


The Matthew B. Rosenhaus Chair of Biophysics Established in 1984 by the Sarah and Matthew Rosenhaus Peace Foundation, Inc., Morristown, NJ Incumbent Professor Vladimir Berkovich, Department of Mathematics

The Helena Rubinstein Chair in Cancer Research Established in 1994 by the Helena Rubinstein Foundation, New York Incumbent Professor Adi Kimchi, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Helena Rubinstein Chair of Structural Biology Established in 1985 by the Helena Rubinstein Foundation, New York Incumbent Professor Zippora Shakked, Department of Structural Biology

The Barry Rymer Family Chair Established in 1987 by the Barry Rymer Charitable Trust, Chicago Incumbent Professor Eli Tziperman, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The Herman and Lily Schilling Foundation Chair Established in 1993 by the Herman and Lily Schilling Foundation for Medicine, Germany Incumbent Professor Alexander Tsafriri, Department of Biological Regulation

The Irene and David Schwartz Chair of Plant Genetics Established in 1973 by Mr. Schwartz, New York

The Samuel Sebba Chair of Pure and Applied Physics Established in 1972 br Mr. Sebba, London Incumbent Professor Itzhak Tserruya, Department of Particle Physics

The Sara and Michael Sela Chair of Neurobiology Established in 1982 by their friends in Belgium, Canada, France, Israel, The United Kingdom and the United States Incumbent Professor Yadin Dudai, Department of Neurobiology

The Sherman Chair of Physical Chemistry Established in 1966 by the trustees of the Sherman Charitable Foundation in memory of Harry and Abe Sherman of South Wales Incumbent Professor Yehiam Prior, Department of Chemical Physics

The Ruth and Sylvia Shogam Chair Established in 1998 in memory of Benjamin, Sarah and Dr. Isador Shogam Incumbent Professor Victor Katsnelson, Department of Mathematics

The Rebecca and Israel Sieff Chair of Organic Chemistry Established in 1960 in honor of the founders of the Daniel Sieff Institute Incumbent Professor Abraham Warshawsky, Department of Organic Chemistry (until November 2001)

The Ruth and Jerome A. Siegel and Freda and Edward M. Siegel Chair of Virology Established in 1979 by the Titan Industrial Corp., New York Incumbent Professor Michel Revel, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Ralph D. and Lois R. Silver Chair of Human Genomics Established in 1998 by Ralph and Lois Silver, Chicago, Illinois Incumbent Professor Doron Lancet, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Ruth and Leonard Simon Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1983 by Mr. and Mrs. Simon, Chicago Incumbent Professor Zvi Vogel, Department of Neurobiology


The William D. Smithburg Chair of Biochemistry Established in 1986 by his friends and associates, Chicago Incumbent Professor Steven J.D. Karlish, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Elias Sourasky Chair Established in 1992 by Dr. Jaime P. Constantiner, Mexico Incumbent Professor Uri Nudel, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Agnes Spencer Chair of Physical Chemistry Established in 1965 by the Agnes Spencer Trust, London Incumbent Professor Israel Dostrovsky, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Chair Established in 1992 by Mr. Manfred Steinfeld, Chicago Incumbent Professor Samuel Safran, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Adlai E. Stevenson III Chair of Endocrinology and Reproductive Biology Established in 1972 by his friends and associates, Chicago Incumbent Professor Yitzhak Koch, Department of Neurobiology

Alex and Ida Sussman Chair of Submicron Electronics Established in 2000 by S. Donald Sussman, New York Incumbent Professor Mordehai Heiblum, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The William Sussman Chair of Mathematics Established in 1992 by S. Donald Sussman, New York Incumbent Professor David Harel, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Max and Anne Tanenbaum Chair of Nuclear Physics Established in 1976 by Mr. and Mrs. Tanenbaum, Toronto Incumbent Professor Uri Karshon, Department of Particle Physics

The Herman P. Taubman Chair of Mathematics Established in 1961 in memory of the late Mr. Taubman, Tulsa, by his family Incumbent Professor Amitai Regev, Department of Mathematics

The Margaret Thatcher Chair of Chemistry Established in 1985 by the Weizmann Institute Foundation of the United Kingdom Incumbent Professor Meir Lahav, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Siegfried and Irman Ullmann Chair Established in 1991 by Mrs. Irma Ullmann, New York Incumbent Professor Abraham Shanzer, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Sir Siegmund Warburg Chair of Agricultural Molecular Biology Established in 1983 by a special fund of the Stifterverband fuer die Deutsche Wissenschaft Incumbent Professor Marvin Edelman, Department of Plant Sciences

The Joe and Celia Weinstein Chair Established in 1993 by Major and Mrs. Max Shulman, New York Incumbent Professor Dov Zipori, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

Simon Weinstock Chair of Astrophysics Established in 2000 by Lord Weinstock, London Incumbent Professor Daniel Zajfman, Department of Particle Physics


The Meyer W. Weisgal Chair Established in 1979 by Arthur B. Krim, William S. Paley, Raphael Recanati, George Sagan, and Robert I. Wishnick, New York Incumbent Professor Oded Goldreich, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

The Edna and Mickey Weiss Chair of Cytokines Research Established in 1983 by Mr. and Mrs. Weiss, Los Angeles Incumbent Professor Menachem Rubinstein, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Renee and Jay Weiss Chair Established in 1987 by Mr. Weiss, Miami Incumbent Professor Harry Dym, Department of Mathematics

The W. Garfield Weston Chair of Immunology Established in 1966 by the Garfield Weston Foundation Israeli Trust, London Incumbent Professor Michael Sela, Department of Immunology

The Bee Wiggs Chair of Molecular Biology Established in 1983 by Mr. Irving Wiggs, San Marino, CA Incumbent Professor Ephraim Yavin, Department of Neurobiology

The Maynard I. and Elaine Wishner Chair of Bio-Organic Chemistry and Malignant Diseases Research Established in 1985 by his friends and associates, Chicago Incumbent Professor Yigal Burstein, Department of Organic Chemistry

The Charles and David Wolfson Chair of Theoretical Physics Established in 1965 by the Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust, London Incumbent Professor Alexander Finkelstein, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Sam and Ayala Zacks Chair Established in 1970 by Mr. and Mrs. Zacks, Toronto Incumbent Professor Oded Schramm, Department of Mathematics

The George Zlotowski Chair Established in 2001 by Gertrude Zlotowski Incumbent Professor Dov Sagi, Department of Neurobiology

Career Development Chairs

The Armour Family Career Development Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1989 by Mr. Robert N. Armour, Greenwich, Connecticut Incumbent Dr. Atan Gross, Department of Biological Regulation

The Graham and Rhona Beck Career Development Chair Established in 1980 by Mr. and Mrs. Beck, South Africa

The Beracha Foundation Career Development Chair Established in 1978 by the Beracha Foundation, Geneva Incumbent Professor Eli Waxman, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Elaine Blond Career Development Chair Established in 1981 by Mrs. Blond, London Incumbent Professor Ran Raz, Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics


The Adolfo and Evelyn Blum Career Development Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1979 by bequest of Mr. Blum, New York Incumbent Dr. Ari Elson, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Anna and Maurice Boukstein Career Development Chair Established in 1981 by family and friends of the late Mr. Boukstein, New York Incumbent Dr. Einat Aharonov, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The Delta Career Development Chair Established in 1981 by Delta Textiles, Tel-Aviv Incumbent Dr. Michael Elbaum, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Arye Dissentshik Career Development Chair Established in 1978 by the Association of Friends of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel

The Dr. Victor L. Erlich Career Development Chair Established in 1981 by bequest of Dr. Erlich, New York Incumbent Professor Ady Stern, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Abraham and Jennie Fialkow Career Development Chair Established in 1990 by Lawrence Fialkov, New York Incumbent Dr. Ziv Reich, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Judith and Martin Freedman Career Development Chair Established in 1988 by Mrs. Judy and Gary Freedman, Beverly Hills, California Incumbent Dr. Avihai Danon, Department of Plant Sciences

The Morris and Rose Goldman Career Development Chair Established in 1994 by Mrs. Rose Goldman, Chicago Incumbent Professor Rony Granek, Department of Materials and Interfaces

The Jack and Florence Goodman Career Development Chair Established in 1989 by Jack Goodman, Winnetka, Illinois

The Walter and Elise Haas Career Development Chair Established in 1984 by the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, San Francisco Incumbent Professor Abraham Arcavi, Department of Science Teaching

The Henry Kaplan Career Development Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1987 by Mrs. Henry S. Kaplan, Stanford, California

The Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Career Development Chair Established in 1984 by Mr. and Mrs. Kimmelman, New York Incumbent Professor Gershom (Jan) Martin, Department of Organic Chemistry (until November 2001)

The Carl and Frances Korn Career Development Chair in the Life Sciences Established in 1983 by Mr. and Mrs. Korn, Chicago Incumbent Dr. Opher Gileadi, Department of Molecular Genetics (until September 2001)

The Corinne S. Koshland Career Development Chair Established in 1978 by Dr. Dan E. Koshland, Jr. and Mr. Dan E. Koshland, Sr., Berkeley, California Incumbent Dr. Dan Shahar, Department of Condensed Matter Physics

The Daniel E. Koshland Sr. Career Development Chair Established in 1996 by Professor Daniel E. Koshland Jr. of, Berkeley, California Incumbent Dr. Michael Fainzilber, Department of Biological Chemistry


The Jacob and Alphonse Laniado Career Development Chair of Industrial and Energy Research Established in 1983 by the estate of Jacob Laniado, Montreal Incumbent Dr. Gad Haase, Department of Chemical Physics

The Alvin and Gertrude Levine Career Development Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1994 by Alvin and Gertrude Levine, Los Angeles, California Incumbent Dr. Idit Shachar, Department of Immunology

The Dewey David Stone and Harry Levine Career Development Chair Established in 1984 by the Stone Charitable Foundation, Inc., Shoreham, Massachusetts, Max Coffman, Brockton, Massachusetts and Friends of M Incumbent Dr. Gideon Schreiber, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Lilian and George Lyttle Career Development Chair Established in 1985 by Mrs. Helen Kimmelman, New York Incumbent Dr. Deborah Fass, Department of Structural Biology

The Robert Edward and Roselyn Rich Manson Career Development Chair Established in 1982 in their memory, by Norman and Sandra Rich, West Liberty, IA, and Martin and Barbara Rich, Davenport, Iowa Incumbent Dr. Irit Sagi, Department of Structural Biology

The Gertrude and Philip Nollman Career Development Chair Established in 1992 by Debra Gallagher, Irvine, California

The William Z. and Eda Bess Novick Career Development Chair Established in 1993 by the American Committee in honor of Eda Bess and William Z. Novick, Chicago Incumbent Dr. Yinon Rudich, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research

The Pauline Recanati Career Development Chair of Immunology Established in 1980 by the Ralli Foundation, Geneva Incumbent Professor Tsvee Lapidot, Department of Immunology (until November 2001)

The Recanati Career Development Chair of Cancer Research Established in 1978 by the Recanati Family, Israel Incumbent Dr. Doron Ginsberg, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Recanati Career Development Chair of Energy Research Established in 1978 by the Recanati Family, Israel Incumbent Dr. Abraham Kribus, Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research (until October 2001)

The Ruth Epstein Recu Career Development Chair Established in 1981 by bequest of Mrs. Recu, Chicago Incumbent Dr. Daniel Kandel, Department of Physics of Complex Systems

The Reiter Family Career Development Chair Established in 1984 by the Reiter Family Foundation, Chicago Incumbent Dr. Ruhama Even, Department of Science Teaching

The Joseph and Celia Reskin Career Development Chair Established in 1989 by Charles Reskin, Chicago Incumbent Dr. Ofer Aharony, Department of Particle Physics

The Louis and Ida Rich Career Development Chair Established in 1982 by Norman Rich, Martin Rich and Roselyn Rich Manson, West Liberty and Davenport, Iowa Incumbent Professor Itai Benjamini, Department of Mathematics


The Philip Harris and Gerald Ronson Career Development Chair Established in 1986 by Mr. Harris and Mr. Ronson, London Incumbent Dr. Shmuel Pietrokovski, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Aser Rothstein Career Development Chair of Genetic Diseases Established in 1987 by the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Toronto and the Dysautonomia Fund of Canada Incumbent Dr. Orly Reiner, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Helena Rubinstein Career Development Chair Established in 1981 by the Helena Rubinstein Foundation, New York Incumbent Dr. Sima Lev, Department of Neurobiology

The Madeleine Haas Russell Career Development Chair Established in 1989 by Mrs. Madeleine Haas Russell, San Francisco Incumbent Dr. Elior Peles, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

The Martha S. Sagon Career Development Chair Established in 1992 by Martha Sagon, Washington DC Incumbent Dr. Rivka Dikstein, Department of Biological Chemistry

The Rowland and Sylvia Schaefer Career Development Chair Established in 1989 by Rowland Schaefer, Miami, Florida Incumbent Dr. Nir Davidson, Department of Physics of Complex Systems

The Soretta and Henry Shapiro Career Development Chair Established in 1992 by Mr. Henry Shapiro, Chicago Incumbent Dr. Naama Barkai, Department of Molecular Genetics

The Tauro Career Development Chair in Biomedical Research Established in 1986 by the Tauro Stiftung, Switzerland Incumbent Dr. Ronen Alon, Department of Immunology

The Shloimo and Michla Tomarin Career Development Chair of Membrane Physiology Established in 1985 by Mr. Harry Tomarin, St. Catherines, Canada and his sister Mrs. Adele Alexandroff, Toronto Incumbent Professor Zvulun Elazar, Department of Biological Chemistry (until November 2001)

The Benjamin H. Swig and Jack D. Weiler Career Development Chair Established in 1988 by Mr. Melvin M. Swig, San Francisco, and Mr. Jack D. Weiler, New-York Incumbent Dr. Gilad Haran, Department of Chemical Physics

The Weizmann League Career Development Chair in Children's Diseases Established in 1987 by the Canadian Society of the Weizmann Institute

The Morris and Ida Wolf Career Development Chair Established in 1984 in memory of their parents by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin L. Fishman, Mr. and Mrs. Howard M. Wolf and Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Mills, Highland Park and Northbrook, Illinois Incumbent Dr. Zeev Olami, Department of Chemical Physics

Staff Fellowships

The Ludo Altenhaus Memorial Fellowship Established in 1976 by bequest of Dr. George Altenhaus, Worcester, Massachusetts


The Joseph C. and Esther Foster Research Fellowship Established by the Joseph C. and Esther Foster Foundation, Inc., Boston

The Peter R. Friedman Research Fellowship for Physicians Eestablished in memory of Dr. Leon A. Friedman, New York

The Meir and Jeanette Friedman Research Fellowship Established by bequest of Mr. Friedman, Forest City, Iowa

The Samuel A. Goldsmith Research Fellowship Established in 1968 by the Chicago Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science

The Hettie Heineman Research Fellowships Established in 1975 by the Heineman Foundation, New York

The Fanny and Samuel Kay Research Fellowship Established in 1972 by James F. Kay and Irving, Jack and Wilfred Posluns, Toronto

The Abraham and Sarah Krumbein Fellowship Established in 1971 by Mr. Krumbein, New York

The Ann Landers Research Fellowship Established in 1981 by the Chicago Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science

The Michael and Audrey Sacher Research Fellowship Established in 1961 by Mr and Mrs. Sacher, London

The Dr. Leopold J. Schwarz and Margarete Schwarz Memorial Cancer Research Fellowship Established in 1961 by bequest of Dr. Schwarz, San Francisco

The C.P. Scott Research Fellowship Established in 1959 by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sacher, London, in memory of C.P. Scott, editor of the Manchester Guardian

The Herbert Sidebotham Research Fellowship Established by the late Harry Sacher, London, in memory of Herbert Sidebotham

Visiting Fellowships

The Joseph Brainin Fellowship Established in 1967 by the Meier Segals Foundation, Montreal

The Morris Belkin Visiting Professorship Established in 1995 by Mrs. Helen Belkin, Canada

The Charpak/Vered Visiting Fellowship Established in 1996 in honor of Dr. Georges Charpak by Sara and Zeev Vered and their friends, Ottawa, for the exchange of Israeli and Canadian Scientists

The Federal Republic of Germany Through the Minerva Gesellschaft für die Forschung m.b.H., awards annually a number of fellowships for the exchange of Israeli and German scientists

The Heineman Exchange Fellowship Established in 1972 by the Minna James Heineman Stiftung, Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany, in memory of Dr. Konrad Adenauer

The Institute of Biochemical Research-Fundacion Campomar (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Exchange Fellowships Established in 1985

The Joseph Meyerhoff Visiting Professorship Established in 1979 by the Joseph Meyerhoff Fund, Baltimore

The Erna and Jakob Michael Visiting Professorship at the Weizmann Institute of Science Established by Mr. and Mrs. Michael, New York


The Michael Sela Exchange Program in Immunology Established by the Mount Sinai Hospital in association with the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Toronto

The Dr. Gordon M. Shrum Fund Exchange Fellowship Established in 1981 by the Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science

The Sieff Research Fellowships Program for Physicians Established in 1986 in honor of Lord Sieff of Brimpton by the American Committee of the Weizmann Institute of Science

The Rosie and Max Varon Visiting Professorships Established in 1986 by an anonymous U.S. donor and the estate of Dorothy Greif-Valsecchi, Paris

The Garfield Weston Visiting Scholar Program Established in 1999 by Mr. Garry H. Weston , London

The Weizmann Institute-Evanston Hospital Exchange Fellowships Established in 1980 by Harold L. Perlman, Chicago, and the Ambrose and Gladys Bowyer Foundation, Chicago

The Weizmann Institute-Imperial College of Science and Technology Exchange Fellowship Established in 1981 by Marks and Spencer, London

The Weizmann Institute-Johns Hopkins University Exchange Fellowships Established in 1982

The Sir Siegmund Warburg Visiting Professorship Established by the Sir Siegmund Warburg-Weizmann Trust, London

The Weizmann Institute-University of Wisconsin Exchange Fellowships Established in 1979 by Harold L. Perlman, Chicago. Various Committees for the Weizmann Institute abroad also provide fellowships from time to time.


Department of Visiting Scientists

Edna Agmon, Head

This department deals with the non-scientific aspects of a scientist's visit to the Institute,especially when the visits last for a prolonged period. Prior to arrival, an informative guide issent to the future visitor; accommodations, when available, are reserved. Electronic mail isbeing maintained all along. Upon arrival, visitors are briefed and advised on matters such asvisa, schooling, purchasing or importing of a vehicle, customs, health insurance, publictransportation and more. Help is extended to enable visitors to concentrate on research asmuch as possible, unhindered by administrative matters. While on campus, visitors are keptinformed about social and cultural events at the Institute, Jewish Holidays, changes inregulations and so forth. The department founded the International Friendship Club forSpouses of Visiting Scientists, which is quite active and meets every two weeks. Annualparties are organized.

In 2001, the Institute hosted 595 visiting scientists who came from 32 different countries.

Academic Secretariat

Conference Section

Janet Kiesari, Head

The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger Conference Foundation was established in 1981through the generosity of the late Mr. and Mrs Goldschleger of France. The aim of theFoundation is to support international scientific conferences held under the auspices of theWeizmann Institute of Science.

During the year 2001 The Weizmann Institute Conference Section coordinated 27 internationalconferences and workshops in various fields. Participants came from all over the world.

The Conference Section keeps in close contact with the scientific departments, and extends itsassistance to conference organizers at all stages of planning and execution, from the initialpreparation of a budget, to choice of venue, scheduling, social events, transportation andconference tours.

The following scientific conferences were held in 2001:

January 15-19 * Nuclear Physics in Astrophysics International Divisional Conference of the European Physics SocietyOrganized by: Prof. M. Hass & Prof. M. KirsonDepartment: Particle PhysicsLocation: Eilat

February 5-6 * 66th Annual Meeting of the Israel Chemical SocietyOrganized by: Prof. Moshe LevyDepartment: Materials and InterfacesLocation: Tel Aviv

February 24-March 3 * 7th Gentner-Symposium on Physics "QuantumChaos"Organized by: Prof. U. SmilanskyDepartment: Physics of Complex SystemsLocation: Ein Gedi

357

358 Conference Section

February 28-March 1 * 30th Annual Meeting of the Israel ImmunologicalSocietyOrganized by: Prof. L. EisenbachDepartment: ImmunologyLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

March 18-23 * Langlands Program: Analytic and Geometric Aspects

Organized by: Prof. S. GelbartDepartment: MathematicsLocation: Tel Aviv University & Weizmann Institute ofScience

March 19-22 * Workshop on the upgrade of the PHENIX detector

at RHICOrganized by: Prof. Itzhak TserruyaDepartment: Particle PhysicsLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

April 2-4 * Molecular, Interfacial and Biological Aspects

of MesostructuresOrganized by: Prof. D. CahenDepartment: Materials and InterfacesLocation: Weizmann Institute & Mashabei Sade

April 16-20 KRIBB

Organized by: Dr. Boaz AvronDepartment: Academic SecretaryLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

April 30-May 3 XII International Workshop on the Development and

Function of the Reproductive OrgansOrganized by: Prof.A. TsafririDepartment: Biological RegulationLocation: Ma'ale Hachamisha

May 6-11 * Neuropeptides 2001

Organized by: Prof. Y. YardenDepartment: Biological RegulationLocation: Maale Hachmisha & Tel Aviv University

May 10 * The IVth Avron-Minerva Meeting:

Photosynthesis: A Multidimensional ApproachOrganized by: Prof. Avigdor Scherz & Dr. Avihai DanonDepartment: Plant SciencesLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

Conference Section 359

May 15 * Symposium Celebrating the 2001 Wolf Prize Awardsin Chemistry - Asymmetric Catalysis & ChiralityOrganized by: Prof. D. MilsteinDepartment: Organic ChemistyLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

May 16 * Symposium on Modern Methods in Optics

Organized by: Prof. Y. Silberberg & Dr. N. DavidsonDepartment: Complex SystemsLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

May 22-25 * Water Flow and Contaminant Transport in Fractured

AquitardsOrganized by: Prof. B. BerkowitzDepartment: Environmental SciencesLocation: Jerusalem

June 7 The IMU Applied Mathematics Sectional Meeting

Organized by: Prof. Vered Rom-KedarDepartment: Computer Science and AppliedMathematicsLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

June 14 * CARESS (Conference on Active Research by

Environmental Sciences Students)Organized by: Hagit AffekDepartment: Environmental Sciences and EnergyResearchLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

June 17 * 20th Annual Meeting of Israel Vacuum Society

Organized by: Yossi RosenwaksDepartment: Physical Electronics, Tel Aviv UniversityLocation: Tel Aviv University

July 10-11 Weizmann Institute of Science Bioinfomatics Get

Together 2001Organized by: Eitan RubinDepartment: Biological ServicesLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

August 19-24 * ISMAR 2001 14th Conference of the International

Society of Magnetic ResonanceOrganized by: Co-Chair Prof. D. GoldfarbDepartment: Chemical PhysicsLocation: Jerusalem

360 Conference Section

September 2-7 * Polymers for Advance TechnologiesOrganized by: Prof. J. KleinDepartment: Materials and InterfacesLocation: Jerusalem

September 3 * New Perspectives in Neuro/Endocrine Research.

Symposium in honor of Prof. Y. Koch on the occasionof his 65th birthdayOrganized by: Prof. Nava DekelDepartment: Biological RegulationLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

September 9 * New Frontiers in Teaching & Learning Science: a

symposium on the occasion of the retirement of Prof.Uri GanielOrganized by: Prof. B. EylonDepartment: Science TeachingLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

October 14-15 * New Trends in Photoelectrochemistry -5

Organized by: Prof. R. TenneDepartment: Materials and InterfacesLocation: Ben Gurion University

October 14-15 * The 1st Israeli CombiTech Symposium. Advances and

Applications in Drug DiscoveryOrganized by: Prof. Avraham WarshawskyDepartment: Organic ChemistryLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

October 21-23 * Heavy Quark Physics at the Upgraded HERA Collider

Organized by: Prof. U. KarshonDepartment: Particle PhysicsLocation: Weizmann Institute of Science

October 21-26 * Xith International Symposium on Cholinergic

Mechanisms - Function and DisfunctionOrganized by: Prof. Israel SilmanDepartment: NeurobiologyLocation: Eilat

December 5 * Mini-Symposium in Magnetic Resonance

Organized by: Prof. Shimon VegaDepartment: Chemical PhysicsLocation: Schmidt Auditorium

* Sponsored by the Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger Conference Foundation at TheWeizmann Institute of Science

The Amos de-Shalit Foundation

Haim Harari, Chairman The Annenberg Professor of High Energy Physics

The Foundation bearing the name of Amos de-Shalit was formally established in 1974 on thefifth anniversary of his death. A living memorial to the founder and first head of the WeizmannInstitute's Department of Nuclear Physics, and later of its Department of Science Teaching, theFoundation's main goal is to foster an increased awareness of the role of science among youngIsraelis.

This year's activities included:

The Annual Amos de-Shalit Science Workshop - This intensive on-campus residential two-week summer program is for the best, most outstanding Israeli high-school students.Participants work in actual research laboratories, two or three in a laboratory with a mentor.The Foundation contributed to the running of the school and granted scholarships to 5 of the 30students who participated in the program.

Adventures in Science - The Foundation contributed towards the operation of this programrun by the Youth Activities Section of the Institute.

Tehuda - The Foundation contributed towards the publication of the journal of the Israeliteachers issued by the Department of Science Teaching, presenting the teachers withcontemporary topics in physics and advising them on the latest teaching methods - two issueswere published during 2000.

Fellowships for Mathematics Teachers - Five Fellowships were granted to new mathematicsteachers. The purpose of these fellowships is to enable worthy new teachers to have directcontact with the Mathematics Group of the Science Teaching Department, to receive counseland advice and, in time, be leaders in their schools in the teaching of innovative and updatedcurricula.

The Amos de-Shalit Prize for Excellence in the Teaching of Physics - To motivate teachers,a prize in physics was established in the name of Amos de-Shalit. The 2000 prize was awardedto Francis Dreksler, teacher at the Ort Kiryat Bialik School. Haifa. The prize also includes aspecial contribution to the school's physics laboratory.

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362 The Amos de-Shalit Foundation

The Annual Amos de-Shalit Summer School in Physics, Chemistry, and Life Sciences -The Institute's Amos de-Shalit Foundation offers annual summer schools in physics,chemistry, and the life sciences for outstanding undergraduate students studying at Israeliuniversities. This year, two programs were held in each of the disciplines: a one-week programfor students having completed their first academic year, and a two-week program for studentsentering their third year. As in previous years, several outstanding participants were selected toreceive foundation scholarships for advanced studies.

Forty two second-year students and thirty-one first year students participated in the program.

Yeda Research and Development Company Ltd.

Zvi Artstein, Chairman

Isaac Shariv, CEO

Yeda Research and Development Company Ltd. functions as the commercial arm of theWeizmann Institute of Science. Yeda initiates and promotes the transfer of research findingsand innovative technologies developed by Institute scientists to the global marketplace.

Yeda holds an exclusive agreement with the Weizmann Institute to market and commercializeits intellectual property and generate income to support further research and education.

Yeda performs the following activities:

• Identifies and assesses research projects with commercial potential

• Protects the intellectual property of the Institute and its scientists

• Licenses the Institute's inventions and technologies to industry

• Channels funding from industry to research projects

Additional information on the business opportunities offered by Yeda, can be found at:

http://yeda.weizmann.ac.ilTel: (08) 947 0617 Fax: (08) 947 0739 e-mail: [email protected]

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364 Yeda Research and Development Company Ltd.

Scientific Activities on the Internet

The full text of this publication may be found on the Internet (the World Wide Web) at the following URL:

http://www.weizmann.ac.il/acadsec/Scientific_Activities

You may search for any word or phrase, by using the online SEARCH option.

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Current Research Projects on the Internet

The full text of this publication may be found on the Internet (the World Wide Web) at the following URL:

http://www.weizmann.ac.il/acadsec/Current_Research

You may search for any word or phrase, by using the online SEARCH option.

Scientific Activities 2001

Documents

Transcript of Scientific Activities 2001