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. |
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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. |
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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
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Layan obtained her BSc (2018) in Biotechnology and Food Engineering, and MSc (2021) in Biotechnology, department of nanoscience & nanotechnology, both from the Technion. |
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Nitzan Dabush- PhD Student
Luba Akselrod – MSc Student
| Luba completed her BSc (2021) in Biomedical Engineering in Technion and started her MSc a year after. In her MSc, she will study electrical activity effect on oligodendrocytes’ myelination processes. She will focus on in-vitro research of neuronal bioelectrical activity and its relation to myelin formation, retraction, and elongation. |  |
Noa Cohen – MSc Student
Nadi Hathot- MSc Student
| Nadi completed his BSc (2021) in Biomedical Engineering in Technion and started his MSc the same year. His study focuses on developing new nanomaterial-based technologies for bioelectrical stimulation of cells. More specifically, Cell-Silicon Intracellular Bioelectric Interfaces in 3D Neuroglia Cell Constructs. |  |
Assaf Eltzur- MSc Student
| Assaf completed his BSc (2021) in Biomedical Engineering at Afeka College of Engineering and started his MSc the same year at the Technion. His study focuses on developing new nanomaterial-based technologies for magneto-electric and magneto-mechanical stimulation of cells. More specifically, synthesis and characterization of magnetically responsive scaffolds for nerve regeneration. |  |