Prof. Alon Chen

Principal investigator

Alon is the current President of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel (since December 2019) and the former Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Germany. Alon did his PhD at the Weizmann Institute, and his postdoctoral studies at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, California, US. Alon’s research and scientific interests focus on the neurobiology of stress, particularly the mechanisms by which the brain regulates the response to stressful challenges, and how this response is linked to psychiatric disorders. Alon’s lab is affiliated with the Department of Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular Neuroscience.

Dr. Yair Shemesh

Associate Staff Scientist

Yair is a neurobiologist interested in modeling stress induced psychopathologies in mice.  Yair develops semi-natural setups and paradigms that combine continues and automatic monitoring of complex behavior together with brain manipulations in mice.

Dr. Yair Shemesh

Associate Staff Scientist

Yair is a neurobiologist interested in modeling stress induced psychopathologies in mice.  Yair develops semi-natural setups and paradigms that combine continues and automatic monitoring of complex behavior together with brain manipulations in mice.

Adi Azulay

Lab manager

Adi obtained her MSc in Molecular Biology from Ben-Gurion University. She is in charge of the day-to-day maintenance and management of the lab.

Adi Azulay

Lab manager

Adi obtained her MSc in Molecular Biology from Ben-Gurion University. She is in charge of the day-to-day maintenance and management of the lab.

Linor Bengal

PhD student

Linor is a neuroscientist interested in the molecular and cellular effects of PTSD.

Linor Bengal

PhD student

Linor is a neuroscientist interested in the molecular and cellular effects of PTSD.

Dr. Yair Ben-Efraim

Postdoctoral fellow

Yair received his PhD at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. He uses systems neuroscience approaches to dissect behavioral roles of the CRF system, and the role of early postnatal experience in priming adulthood stress responses.

Dr. Yair Ben-Efraim

Postdoctoral fellow

Yair received his PhD at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. He uses systems neuroscience approaches to dissect behavioral roles of the CRF system, and the role of early postnatal experience in priming adulthood stress responses.

Asaf Benjamin

PhD student

Asaf uses methods from machine learning, data science and AI to study the neural underpinnings of complex social behavior and stress-related psychiatric disorders. 
He completed his BSc in computer science and philosophy, and his MSc in neuroscience, jointly with Prof. Ofer Yizhar.

Asaf Benjamin

PhD student

Asaf uses methods from machine learning, data science and AI to study the neural underpinnings of complex social behavior and stress-related psychiatric disorders. 
He completed his BSc in computer science and philosophy, and his MSc in neuroscience, jointly with Prof. Ofer Yizhar.

Tommaso Biagini

PhD student

Tommaso is a neuroscientist who is deeply interested in improving the understanding of psychiatric disorders like PTSD, ADHD and mood disorders.

Mr. Tommaso Biagini

PhD student

Tommaso is a neuroscientist who is deeply interested in improving the understanding of psychiatric disorders like PTSD, ADHD and mood disorders.

Dr. Maya Sharon Lebow

Consultant

Maya obtained her PhD at the Weizmann Institute. She is a neuroscientist interested in biomarkers in post-traumtic stress disorder and other psychopathologies. She also really likes the BNST.

Dr. Maya Sharon Lebow

Consultant

Maya obtained her PhD at the Weizmann Institute. She is a neuroscientist interested in biomarkers in post-traumtic stress disorder and other psychopathologies. She also really likes the BNST.

Dr. Erez Romi

Postdoctoral fellow

Erez is a molecular neurobiologist investigating the role of alternative polyadenylation in the regulation of stress.

Dr. Erez Romi

Postdoctoral fellow

Erez is a molecular neurobiologist investigating the role of alternative polyadenylation in the regulation of stress.

Keren Shoshani-Haye

PhD student

Keren is a neuroscientist interested in the epigenetic mechanisms mediating the effects of early life stress on behavior and stress resiliency.

Keren Shoshani-Haye

PhD student

Keren is a neuroscientist interested in the epigenetic mechanisms mediating the effects of early life stress on behavior and stress resiliency.

Dr. Daniil Umanski

Data specialist

Daniil develops elaborate data analysis, visualization, and real-time activation methods for neuroscience experiments, using machine learning models to predict animal behavior from video analysis.

Dr. Daniil Umanski

Data specialist

Daniil develops elaborate data analysis, visualization, and real-time activation methods for neuroscience experiments, using machine learning models to predict animal behavior from video analysis.

Yehonatan Zur

PhD student

Yehonatan is passionate about exploring the interplay between metabolism and stress-induced psychopathologies and behaviors. He earned his BSc in biochemical engineering, followed by his MSc in tissue engineering at the Technion.

Yehonatan Zur

PhD student

Yehonatan is passionate about exploring the interplay between metabolism and stress-induced psychopathologies and behaviors. He earned his BSc in biochemical engineering, followed by his MSc in tissue engineering at the Technion.

Eve Sheffer

Research assistant

Eve Sheffer

Research assistant

Former Lab Members