The Krill Prize Winners

Nir Shlezinger

Affiliation at the time of the award:

Ben-Gurion University

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Award Citation:

“for his groundbreaking work in the fields of machine learning, signal processing, communication, and information theory.”

Dr. Shlezinger’s research encompasses diverse topics including machine learning, signal processing, communication, and information theory. His work in model-based machine learning has revolutionized the field, offering hybrid solutions that combine classical inference with deep learning techniques. These methodologies have advanced critical tasks in wireless communication and tracking dynamic systems and established his status as a thought leader in signal processing.

Dr. Schlesinger’s work has led to practical applications with far-reaching consequences. For example, his research in the fields of massive MIMO networks, joint radar communication systems, and dynamic massive antennas, such as Dynamic Metasurface Antenna (DMA), has been particularly influential. Additionally, he developed elegant methods for designing signal acquisition systems that enable the use of a smaller number of bits, resulting in savings in memory, power, and costs.

Dr. Shlezinger’s research productivity and dedication are exceptional. He serves as an editor for several important scientific journals, has played key roles in organizing workshops and meetings at prestigious conferences, and has demonstrated his commitment to fostering innovation and discourse within the scientific community. His dedication to teaching and mentorship is commendable. Despite his obligations in military reserve service, he continues to inspire and mentor students and has received awards for teaching excellence. In doing so, he sets an example of how to cultivate intellectual growth, professional development, and social responsibility. Through his multifaceted contributions, Dr. Shlezinger serves as an inspiration to his colleagues and fellow academics.

Dr. Shlezinger completed bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in electrical and computer engineering at Ben-Gurion University. He pursued post-doctoral studies in electrical engineering at the Technion and in mathematics and computer science at the Weizmann Institute. Currently, he serves as a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Ben-Gurion University.

Chaya Keller

Affiliation at the time of the award:

Ariel University

Computer Science Department 

Award Citation:

“for significant contributions in the field of discrete and computational geometry”.

Dr. Chaya Keller’s research focuses on discrete and computational geometry. Her achievements in research are broad and impressive, recognized worldwide. Her work provides mathematical insights from geometry to engineer solutions for various applied problems, particularly in technology fields. For example, her research in frequency distribution for cellular antennas aims to optimize cellular reception across multiple frequencies at any given point. Another study by Dr. Keller involved using geometric tools to locate coronavirus patients, ensuring privacy protection by preventing the disclosure of personal information.

Dr. Keller was part of an international team that successfully solved the “Ringle problem” – a mathematical challenge in graph coloring that had remained unsolved for 60 years. The researchers demonstrated that no finite number of colors would be sufficient to color any set of circles in a plane such that every two tangent circles would be painted in different colors. Among her other achievements, we can mention her contributions to Krasnoselskii numbers, Helly-type theorems, and the theory of geometric graphs.

Dr. Keller earned her bachelor’s degree from Bait Vagan College in Jerusalem, followed by master’s and doctoral degrees from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She completed her post-doctoral studies at Ben Gurion University, after which she served as a research fellow at the Technion. Currently, she is a faculty member at the School of Computer Science at Ariel University. Throughout her career, Dr. Keller has been actively involved in initiatives to promote and enrich girls’ participation in mathematical studies. She has developed courses for training mathematics teachers, created teaching systems, and worked to make advanced mathematical content accessible.

Raya Sorkin

Affiliation at the time of the award:

Tel Aviv University

Raymond & Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences

School of Chemistry

Award Citation:

“for her significant contributions to the understanding of mechanisms and roles of proteins in the cell membrane”

Many physiological processes are characterized by dramatic changes in cell membranes. Dr. Sorkin’s work focuses on the effect of cell membrane curvature and surface tension on the activity of proteins involved in fertilization, cell-to-cell communication, and viral infection. Understanding the role of these proteins and how to control their activity will contribute in the long term to the development of new fertility treatments, non-hormonal contraceptives, and antiviral drugs.

Dr. Sorkin and her lab team have deciphered the process of creating microsomes, recently discovered cellular organelles formed due to local swelling of membrane fibers during cell migration. Microsomes store intracellular biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and even intact organelles like mitochondria within them. Later, they are released into the environment as membrane bubbles used for information transfer and intercellular communication. Once released, microsomes can assess the neighboring cell’s condition. Understanding this mechanism contributes to a deeper understanding of various diseases, including different types of cancer, caused by defective communication processes between cells. This paves the way for designing innovative treatments for these diseases and producing targeted biological drugs based on microsomes.

Dr. Raya Sorkin received her bachelor’s degree in biochemical engineering from the Technion, a master’s degree in materials engineering from Tel Aviv University, and a doctorate in chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science. She completed post-doctoral research in biophysics at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam and additional post-doctoral research in physical chemistry at Tel Aviv University. Currently, she serves as a senior lecturer at the School of Chemistry at Tel Aviv University.

Hila Peleg

Affiliation at the time of the award:

Technion

Computer Science Department

Award Citation:

“for significant contributions to the development of tools that increase productivity and reliability in code writing by programmers”

Dr. Hila Peleg’s research focuses on programming languages, software engineering, and human-machine interfaces. She specializes in developing tools and programs that enhance productivity and reliability in code writing by programmers, particularly in the synthesis of software and programming tools. Software synthesis enables programmers to concentrate on the fundamental aspects of their work, such as problem-solving. However, it often requires programmers to define code requirements in advance, which can be challenging when many aspects, such as application details and task division, are unknown. Dr. Peleg’s studies on this topic highlight the gaps between the available programmer knowledge and software requirements. Dr. Peleg is working on the development of “Exploratory Program Synthesis”, which will assist programmers in understanding initial requirements even when information is lacking. This approach introduces new tools and enables programmers to produce code aligned with the project’s goals and workflow.

Dr. Hila Peleg holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tel Aviv University, a doctorate from the Technion, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Diego. She currently serves as a senior researcher and lecturer in the Faculty of Computer Science at the Technion. In addition to her scientific work, she also holds a bachelor’s degree in literature and organizes conferences for the Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Itamar Harel

Affiliation at the time of the award:

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science

Award Citation:

“for his groundbreaking work in developing a unique model and identifying the activity of proteins associated with the aging process”.

Life expectancy increased significantly during the 20th century, leading to a rise in the prevalence of age-related diseases. As individuals age, various physical phenomena develop, including cell degeneration, DNA damage, weakening of the immune system, and protein folding malfunctions that damage their structure. These factors contribute to diseases and impairments in physical and mental health.

Dr. Itamar Harel studies the biology of aging in vertebrates, investigating why males and females are sometimes predisposed to different age-related diseases and how aging rates vary among different animal species. He has focused his research on the African turquoise killifish and developed an innovative model that allows for the study of organismal aging and the genetics behind age-related diseases in an efficient, rapid, and cost-effective manner. The killifish serves as a convenient model for studying aging because, on the one hand, it is a vertebrate with all the organs and genes found in humans, and, on the other hand, it is small and has the shortest lifespan of all vertebrates that can be cultivated in the laboratory. Using this model, Dr. Harel examines manipulations that may affect the rate of aging and postpone age-related diseases.

Many diseases associated with old age, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, result from malfunctions in protein folding. Dr. Harel has identified several proteins whose folding is damaged with age, leading to increased aggregation and prion-like behavior, which can infect other proteins and disrupt their normal folding process. Additionally, Dr. Harel has identified new mechanisms that affect the rate of aging differently between males and females. For example, he recently discovered an intricate connection between the reproductive system and life expectancy, finding that certain changes in sex cells (sperm and eggs) can affect the entire organism, leading to longer lifespan in males and increased DNA repair in females. These studies contribute to the development of new strategies to halt or delay the aging process.

Dr. Itamar Harel earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Ben-Gurion University, a doctorate from the Weizmann Institute of Science, and completed a post-doctorate at Stanford University. He currently serves as a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Yaniv Romano

Affiliation at the time of the award:

The Technion

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Award Citation:

“for his groundbreaking contributions in the fields of data science, machine learning, and signal processing”.

The combination of information-gathering capabilities and machine learning enables various applications, including computer vision for autonomous vehicles, credit fraud detection, evaluating the effectiveness of medical treatments, and more. Modern learning algorithms are particularly complex, and there is difficulty in identifying the causes of their failure. Dr. Romano’s research focuses on data science and machine learning, with an emphasis on developing statistical technology that ‘wraps around’ learning systems to ensure their credibility, reliability, and stability. The unique technology developed by Romano combines statistics and learning methods, empowering each field separately. His recognized contributions include innovative methods that ensure the reliability of advanced learning systems, a unique theory explaining key aspects of deep learning, and the development of technologies that significantly enhance the ability to reproduce visual information from low-quality images. The tools developed by Dr. Romano for estimating uncertainty (prediction intervals) were even used by The Washington Post to predict the results of the US elections in 2020.

Dr. Romano completed all his degrees at the Technion. Following post-doctoral training at Stanford University, he returned to the Technion, where he currently serves as a senior lecturer in the Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Taub Faculty of Computer Science.

Renana Gershoni-Poranne

Affiliation at the time of the award:

Technion – Israel Institute of Technology 

Schulich Faculty of Chemistry

Award Citation:

“for her contributions to the field of organic-physical chemistry and artificial intelligence, particularly in designing new organic molecules for integration into organic electronic technologies”

Dr. Gershoni-Poranne’s work focuses on the polycyclic aromatic system (multiple rings) of various molecules, which have a significant impact on everyday life and play important roles in a variety of materials. Among other things, these molecules are known for their ability to transport charge and are used as semiconductors in various organic electronics technologies. They are also found in useful chemicals, such as ligands for catalysts and drugs. However, they can be pollutants and carcinogenic, highlighting the need to understand their decomposition processes in nature.

Dr. Gershoni-Poranne’s research focuses on understanding the properties, behavior, and processes of these special molecules. She endeavors to identify structural motifs that dictate properties and reactivity, and to define rules that will enable the intelligent design of new molecules with desired properties. Throughout her work, Dr. Gershoni-Poranne develops intuitive, easy-to-use models and tools that bridge the world of abstract concepts with applied synthetic strategies. Her research combines organic-physical chemistry with computational methods and artificial intelligence to design new organic molecules for integration into carbon-based organic electronics technologies. Due to their structure and electronic properties, these molecules facilitate innovative developments such as flexible OLED screens, transparent solar cells capable of turning glass windows into energy producers, and sensors that can be implanted in biological environments. Another advantage is that such molecules are abundant in nature and pollute less than the electronic components commonly used today.

Dr. Renana Gershoni-Poranne completed her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees at the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry at the Technion, and then completed her post-doctorate at the Zurich Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich). Currently, she serves as a researcher and senior lecturer at the Technion. In addition to her academic work, she studied classical singing for many years and performed as a soloist in the IDF orchestra.

Neta Shlezinger

Affiliation at the time of the award:

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Koret School of Veterinary Medicine

Award Citation:

“for significant contributions in the study of pathogenic fungi, understanding the mechanisms that allow them to overcome the body’s immune system, and developing innovative methods to defend against them”

More than 1.6 million people die each year due to fungal infections. Every year, increasingly deadly fungal diseases are discovered, yet there remains a paucity of knowledge on how to combat them. Worldwide, about five million species of fungi are known, several hundred of which are pathogenic to humans. Some of these fungi are drug-resistant and are classified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a ‘serious global health threat.’ Fungi constitute a distinct kingdom in nature, alongside animals and plants. Despite their significance, some properties of fungi remain unknown, complicating the development of drugs to treat the infections they cause.

The increase in fungal diseases is linked to several factors: the climate crisis, which causes more species of fungi to adapt to high temperatures and survive in the human body; Smart fungi developed resistance against most types of drugs; and the use of new drugs that weaken the immune system, making it easier for fungi to thrive in the human body. Fungi have learned to thrive in environments where we are most vulnerable, such as hospitals, especially in intensive care units. During the COVID-19 pandemic, about 30 percent of those hospitalized in intensive care units developed fatal fungal infections, and approximately sixty percent of them died after treatment.

Dr. Neta Shlezinger employs a multidisciplinary approach to understand the mechanisms enabling fungi to evade the immune system, comprehend the host body’s immune response against fungal pathogens, and develop innovative methods to combat fungi. One method she has demonstrated is inducing apoptosis – “programmed cell death” in fungi, essentially causing them to self-destruct. Another approach involves harnessing mycoviruses—viruses that infect fungi—to fight against them. The outcomes of her research are expected to lead to the development of novel antifungal drugs and diagnostic tools relevant to public health, agriculture, and wildlife.

Dr. Neta Shlezinger completed her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Research Center. She currently serves as a senior lecturer at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Mor Nitzan 

Affiliation at the time of the award:

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering

Award Citation:

“for her research, which promotes the understanding and control of the collective behavior of tissues and uncovers different aspects of cellular activity in health and disease”

Dr. Nitzan’s research focuses on deciphering complex collective behavior in biological systems by combining tools and ideas from computer science and physics. She develops theoretical and computational tools based on machine learning and dynamic systems to decode layers of hidden information encoded by cells and related to the structure of body tissues and dynamic biological processes. The goal of her research is to better define the basic principles that shape multicellular biological systems, thereby enhancing our understanding and ability to control collective biological behavior.

Dr. Nitzan studies, among other things, how cells encode information and communicate with each other, and how such processes can be deciphered with the help of multidimensional biological data. Her research focuses on turning complex, exponentially growing data into insights and principles of multicellular biological systems. Her work promotes the understanding and control of the collective behavior of tissues and reveals various aspects of cellular identity in health and disease. This research is of great value for both basic and applied sciences and can be used to improve overall health.

Dr. Mor Nitzan has a bachelor’s degree in physics, mathematics, and cognitive sciences, as well as a master’s degree and a doctorate in physics, all from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She completed a combined post-doctorate at the Hebrew University, Harvard University, and the Broad Institute of MIT. She is currently a senior lecturer at the School of Computer Science and Engineering and collaborates with the Racah Institute of Physics and the Faculty of Medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Yoav Livneh 

Affiliation at the time of the award:

Weizmann Institute of Science

Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Biology 

Award Citation:

“for significant contributions to the understanding of the cellular mechanisms and neural circuits that underlie the activity of the Insula and the effects of damage to these mechanisms on the development of mental illnesses, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression”

The body and the brain maintain a continuous dialogue based on internal sensing of the body’s states. Dr. Yoav Livneh studies how the brain perceives different physical signals—such as heart rate, temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and arousal—and how disruptions in this communication can lead to poor health functioning.

The insular lobe (the Insula) extends over both hemispheres of the brain and plays a central role in interpreting and processing sensory signals originating in the body. The insula serves as a center for mediating behaviors related to the way the brain senses the states of the body—a process known as ‘interoception.’ Through interoception, the insula allows us to feel fatigue and alertness, hunger and satiety, heat or cold, and relate these sensations to emotions. It may even help with consciousness and self-awareness. The insula helps motivate us to eat, sleep, engage, escape, hide, or relax.

Dr. Livneh studies the cellular mechanisms and neural circuits underlying the activity of the Insula. His discoveries have helped us understand how malfunctions in the insula and interoception contribute to mental illnesses, ranging from eating disorders to anxiety and depression. Understanding these mechanisms may lead to the development of future medical treatments. Livneh’s pre-clinical research in animal disease models focuses on basic research at the cellular and neural circuit levels, using innovative optical and optogenetic tools. This research, among other things, reveals the neural circuits of hunger and thirst that increase the cerebral cortex’s response to food and water signals, such as those in television commercials.

Dr. Livneh was born in San Francisco, USA, completed his doctoral studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and conducted his post-doctoral studies at the Harvard Medical School (BIDMC) in Boston. He currently serves as a researcher at the Weizmann Institute of Science.