Menahem (Hemi) Rotenberg, PhD- PI
| Hemi Rotenberg received his BSc (2010), MSc (2011) and PhD (2015) in Biotechnology Engineering from Ben Gurion University, Israel. During his MSc with Prof. Smadar Cohen, he designed a perfusion bioreactor that allowed simultaneous shear stress optimization on 3D cellular constructs. In his PhD, with prof. Smadar Cohen and prof. Yoram Etzion, he worked on a new modality for noninvasive temporary heart pacing using magnetic microparticles. He then worked with prof. Bozhi Tian as a postdoctoral scholar in the field of bioelectronics, developing new methodologies for non-genetic optical modulation of cells and tissues. In 2020, he joined the BME faculty in the Technion as an assistant professor. He is developing new nanomaterial-based technologies for bioelectrical and biomechanical stimulation of cells, tissues, and organs. These technologies are then employed for answering fundamental biomedical questions or for new approaches for therapeutic and translational application. |  |
Shiri Karni Ashkenazi, PhD- Lab Manager
| Shiri completed her BA (2002) in molecular biochemistry, MA (2004) in biology, and Ph.D (2010) in Technion’s faculty of medicine. Shiri has established and managed several labs at the Technion’s faculty of medicine in the cancer department. Few of her projects included characterizing mechanisms underlying chemotherapy-induced vascular toxicity, radiation-induced gonadal toxicity, and the effect of in-utero exposure to chemotherapy on the placenta and fetal sequel. |
 |
Ayub Boulos, PhD- Postdoctoral Scholar
| Ayub received his BSc (2016) in life science from Tel Aviv University, and his MSc (2018) in Genetics from the Hebrew university of Jerusalem. He completed his Ph.D. in Prof. Noam Ziv’s lab, in the Faculty of Medicine at the Technion. In his PhD, he focused on cellular aspects of huntingtin biology, using long term cellular imaging, proteomics, biochemistry, and electron microscopy. In 2023, he joined the lab of Prof. Clotilde Lagier-Tourenne at the MGH and Harvard medical school as a post-doctoral fellow. His research project focused on the role of Stathmin-2 in axonal health and disease in ALS. Here in the lab, he focuses on establishing a new tool for biophysical modulation and generate new fundamental knowledge about the role of bioelectrical, biomechanical, and their synergistic effect on neuronal growth and regeneration in 3D models. |  |
Ravi-Raj Singh, PhD- Postdoctoral Scholar
| Ravi completed his B.Tech (2015) and M.Tech (2018) in Biotechnology with distinction from Maharishi Markandeshwar in India. He recently defended his joint PhD in February 2026 under the supervision of Prof. Amirali Popat at The University of Queensland, Australia, and Prof. Ritu Kulshreshtha at The IIT Delhi. His PhD work was interdisciplinary in nature, titled “Nanomedicine and Gene Therapy to Treat Glioblastoma,” where he focused on developing Polyethyleneimine (PEI) modified ultra-small mesoporous silica nanoparticles for the co-delivery of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO’s) targeting oncogenic microRNA’s. Before joining his PhD, Ravi had worked in different academic institutions in India, including IIT Bombay with late Prof. Rinti Banerjee, IIT Indore with Prof. Debasis Nayak, and the Animal Biotechnology Center, NDVSU with Prof Ajit Pratap Singh, where the majority of his work was focused on stem cells, tissue engineering, and nanomaterials. Here in the lab, he will be working on developing piezoelectric nanomaterials for magnetostrictive non-invasive modulation of neuronal cell constructs and applications of silicon nanomaterials for electrotherapy in solid tumors. |  |
Shirley-Liat Yitzhak-David, PhD student
| Shirley received her BSc (2018) in Materials Engineering and Biology, and MSc (2022) in Biomedical Engineering, both from the Technion. In her MSc, under the supervision of Prof. Daphne Weihs, she studied the effects of mechanical and biochemical cues from the tumor microenvironment on macrophages functionality and morphology. In her PhD, she will focus on developing Si-based materials for non-genetic optical modulation at the cellular and organ levels. |
 |
Piotr Kucia, PhD student
| Piotr obtained his BEng in Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham (class of 2018) and consecutively studied for Master’s degrees in Nanomaterials (Imperial College) and Biochemical Engineering (University College London). his current interests focus on developing novel experimental tools for basic life sciences research. In particular, he is developing a new soft bioelectrode with the goal of elucidating the mechanism by which electrical stimulation enhances the regeneration of damaged peripheral nerves. In his second project, he is designing a magnetic scaffold that would allow us to investigate the influence of controlled substrate deformation on neuronal growth. His non-academic interests include herpetology and obscure experimental movies. |  |
Tania Assaf- PhD Student
| Tania received her BSc (2021) in Biomedical Engineering from the Technion and started her MSc at the same year. Her study focuses on identifying the mechanism underlying optically induced intracellular calcium transients in Oligodendrocytes in vitro to demonstrate the role of local calcium transients in myelination. |  |
Layan Habib- PhD Student
|
Layan obtained her BSc (2018) in Biotechnology and Food Engineering, and MSc (2021) in Biotechnology, department of nanoscience & nanotechnology, both from the Technion. |
 |
Nitzan Dabush- PhD Student
| Nitzan obtained her BSc in Chemical Engineering from Ariel University in 2015, and her MSc in Chemical Engineering from the Technion in 2018. During her MSc, under the supervision of Prof. Rafael Semiat in the Desalination and Membrane Technology Lab, she studied the removal of water contaminants and developed continuous systems for water purification. Following her MSc, she worked as a researcher in the cannabis industry for four years. For her PhD, she will focus on developing a new type of living electrode using conductive living cells. |  |
Alexander Borodetsky- PhD Student
| Alex obtained his BSc in Biotechnology Engineering from ORT Braude College (2018) and MSc in Materials Science and Engineering from Tel Aviv University (2024). During his undergraduate studies, he worked with Dr. Iris Weitz, focusing on metal nanoparticles for biomedical applications in collaboration with Prof. Haim Azari from the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the Technion. His master’s thesis research investigated the atomistic-scale kinking mechanism of cleaved silicon surfaces using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) under the supervision of Prof. Ilan Goldfarb and Prof. Dov Sherman. His PhD focuses on developing a silicon-based artificial axon model that mimics the action potential dynamics of real axons in the central nervous system. This platform provides a novel in vitro environment for studying demyelination and remyelination processes and offers a foundation for preclinical testing of therapies targeting myelin-related conditions. In addition to his academic pursuits, Alex volunteers with the National Student Rescue and Relief Team. |  |
Noa Cohen – MSc Student
| Noa completed her BScs (2023) in Biomedical Engineering and Biology with a focus on Neuroscience at Tel Aviv University and started her MSc the same year at the Technion. Her study will focus on developing new nanomaterial-based technologies for magneto-electric and magneto-mechanical stimulation of cells. Specifically, synthesis and characterization of magnetically responsive scaffolds for nerve regeneration. |  |
Dana Nir – MSc Student
| Dana completed her BSc in Biomedical Engineering at the Technion in 2024 and began her MSc studies the same year. Her research, in collaboration with Yosi Shamay’s lab, focuses on enhancing the penetration of drugs and nanoparticles into solid cancer tumors by leveraging the electroporation effect, utilizing the advantages of optoelectronic modulation as a non-invasive and biocompatible approach. |  |
Lana Furman – MSc Student
| Lana received her BSc (2025) in Materials Science and Engineering and Biology. Her research focuses on developing a new class of optoelectronic materials via thermal oxidation. |
Alumni
Luba Akselrod – MSc Student
| Luba studied how neuronal bioelectrical activity affects myelin formation, retraction, and elongation. |  |
Nadi Hathot- MSc Student
| Nadi developed a new nanomaterial-based technologies for intracellular bioelectrical stimulation of Neuroglia cells in 3D Constructs
|
 |
Assaf Eltzur- MSc Student
| Assaf developed a new magnetic scaffold for magneto-electric and magneto-mechanical stimulation of cells for nerve regeneration. |  |