Prof. Roy Beck
School of Physics and Astronomy
Office: Shenkar Physics 418
Tel: 8477
Email: roy@post.tau.ac.il
Webpage: www6.tau.ac.il/beck
Our research focus is self-assembled structures within the nervous system, which includes the Myelin sheaths, Myelin basic protein, and neuronal intermediate filaments. In those systems alteration in subunit compositions (proteins and/or lipids) has devastative effects commonly expressed in neurodegenerative diseases. A common denominator between those scientific efforts is non-specific interactions and forces that drive order and disorder. In particular, the proteins involve in those supramolecular complexation have large intrinsically disordered domains that lack secondary structure, thus, behaving as a multifaceted polymer.
We couple theoretical and experimental efforts inspired from soft-condensed matter and polymer physics in order to gain physical insights into those complexes where oder and disorder play a key role. This research holds huge potential both for fundamental understating of biological functionality as well as in future biomimetic applications.
Prof. Yair Shokef
School of Mechanical Engineering
Office: Wolfson Mech. Eng. 334
Tel: 8393
Email: shokef@tau.ac.il
Webpage: shokef.tau.ac.il
Current research in the group covers two main directions in the non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of soft matter systems: 1) Stuck Matter: Geometric frustration, jamming, and slow dynamics in granular matter, colloids, foam, glass-forming liquids and mechanical metamaterials, and 2) Live Matter: Nonlinear elasticity and active fluctuations in biological systems.
Prof. Haim Diamant
School of Chemistry
Office: Ornstein 404A
Tel: 6967
Email: hdiamant@tau.ac.il
Webpage: www.tau.ac.il/~hdiamant
Our group attempts to understand the structure and dynamic response of soft materials and complex fluids using analytical models. Recent projects include instabilities in fluid-supported thin sheets, response of actin networks, dynamics of membrane inclusions, correlations in confined colloid suspensions, and osmotic swelling of vesicles.
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Engineering
Prof. Roy Beck
School of Physics and Astronomy
Office: Shenkar Physics 418
Tel: 8477
Email: roy@post.tau.ac.il
Webpage: www6.tau.ac.il/beck
Our research focus is self-assembled structures within the nervous system, which includes the Myelin sheaths, Myelin basic protein, and neuronal intermediate filaments. In those systems alteration in subunit compositions (proteins and/or lipids) has devastative effects commonly expressed in neurodegenerative diseases. A common denominator between those scientific efforts is non-specific interactions and forces that drive order and disorder. In particular, the proteins involve in those supramolecular complexation have large intrinsically disordered domains that lack secondary structure, thus, behaving as a multifaceted polymer.
We couple theoretical and experimental efforts inspired from soft-condensed matter and polymer physics in order to gain physical insights into those complexes where oder and disorder play a key role. This research holds huge potential both for fundamental understating of biological functionality as well as in future biomimetic applications.
Prof. Haim Diamant
School of Chemistry
Office: Ornstein 404A
Tel: 6967
Email: hdiamant@tau.ac.il
Webpage: www.tau.ac.il/~hdiamant
Our group attempts to understand the structure and dynamic response of soft materials and complex fluids using analytical models. Recent projects include instabilities in fluid-supported thin sheets, response of actin networks, dynamics of membrane inclusions, correlations in confined colloid suspensions, and osmotic swelling of vesicles.
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Prof. Michael Urbakh
School of Chemistry
Office: Ornstein 208
Tel: 8324
Email: urbakh@post.tau.ac.il
Webpage: www.tau.ac.il/~urbakh1
The group of Michael Urbakh focuses on theoretical studies of single molecule mechanical unbinding and unfolding of biological molecules, and on friction and molecular transport in nano systems. A number of significant developments that have emerged from this group include novel mechanisms of unbinding of bio-molecules, direct reconstruction of energy landscape from the force measurements, understanding mechanisms of protein diffusion in membranes, and force-induced manipulation of enzymatic activity. Furthermore, new approaches to the construction of nano-scale engines that move either translationally or rotationally and can perform useful functions have been developed.
Dr. Yasmine Meroz
Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Office:
Tel:
Email: jazz@tauex.tau.ac.il
Webpage: www.merozlab.com
Our research focuses on stochastic processes in complex systems, ranging from protein dynamics and transport processes, to granular media and dynamics of tectonic plates. Particularly, we aim at understanding the role of stochasticity in behavioural responses of organisms to external stimuli, e.g. decision-making, adaptation, learning and collective behavior. We adopt plants as a model system; multicellular organisms stripped of neurophysiology, exhibiting a variety of growth-diriven responses to multiple stimuli. Our lab combines experimental and theoretical efforts, adopting tools from statistical physics and applied math.
Prof. Michael Kozlov
Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology
Office: Sackler (Medicine) 624
Tel: 7863
Email: michk@post.tau.ac.il
Webpage: medicine.mytau.org/kozlov
We work in the field of Cell Mechano-biology which encompasses mechanics and dynamics of cell membranes and cytoskeleton. To describe and analyze the intracellular mechanical processes we use the tools of soft-matter physics and thermodynamics.
Prof. Yael Hanein
School of Electrical Engineering
Office: Wolfson Elec. Eng. 229
Tel: +972-3-640-7698
Email: yaelha@tauex.tau.ac.il
Webpage: nano.tau.ac.il/hanein
Exploration towards better neuron-electrode interfaces including: Understaning the neuron-electrode interface, mechanisms affecting neuronal stimulation, neuronal adhesion to surfaces and how surface topography affects adhesion.
Prof. Natan Shaked
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
Office: Multidisciplinary 410
Tel: +972-3-640-7100
Email: nshaked@tau.ac.il
Webpage: www.eng.tau.ac.il/~omni
We develop novel biomedical microscopy, nanoscopy and interferometry optical systems for imaging of biological cells. For example, we can image live cells' thickness prifiles with sub-nanometric accuracy, in ambient conditions, and without using contrast agents.
Prof. Yair Shokef
School of Mechanical Engineering
Core member
Office: Wolfson Mech. Eng. 334
Tel: +972-3-640-8393
Email: shokef@tau.ac.il
Webpage: shokef.tau.ac.il
Our current research covers two main directions in the non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of soft matter systems: 1) Stuck Matter: Geometric frustration, jamming, and slow dynamics in granular matter, colloids, foam, glass-forming liquids and mechanical metamaterials, and 2) Live Matter: Nonlinear elasticity and active fluctuations in biological systems.
Dr. Uri Nevo
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
Office: Interdisciplinary 411
Tel: +972-3-640-7542
Email: nevouri@tau.ac.il
Webpage: www.eng.tau.ac.il/~nevouri
We search for simple biophysical and mathematical laws that define the behavior of cells, and specifically of neurons. Our primary biophysical goal is to understand and measure the relation between cellular events and water displacement. We wish to employ this knowledge for the development of MRI techniques for characterization of cellular microstructures and cellular events.
Our hypothesis is that beyond diffusion, a significant component of water displacement in cells is the micro-streaming of the cytoplasmic fluid due to active cellular mechanisms.
We combine the use of MRI, fluorescent microscopy and theoretical biophysical modeling. All these allow quantification of water displacement in tissues, and specifically in the brain.
We develop methods in Diffusion Weighted NMR and in microscopy to quantify water displacement and to discriminate between diffusion and the active mechanisms of micro-streaming within cells. We use reference measurements to relate these mechanisms of water displacement to cellular events. We develop another method to characterize and quantify tissue microstructure as a porous medium.
In a separate study we test the use of an inhomogeneous, low-field NMR scanner for characterization of tissues in order to facilitate the future use of such devices for biomedical diagnosis and research.
Dr. Ayelet Lesman
School of Mechanical Engineering
Core member
Office: Wolfson Mech. Eng. 331
Tel: +972-3-640-8233
Email: ayeletlesman@tauex.tau.ac.il
Webpage: www.lesmanlab.com
Our research is at the interface between the world of mechanics and the world of biology. In particular, we investigate how mechanical forces influence biological functions such as cell division and motion, organization to form tissues, differentiation of stem cells and communication between cells. Particular emphasis is placed on the study of the interaction of cells with nonlinear elastic environments that mimics conditions of tissues in the body.