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June 01, 2018
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Date:11WednesdayFebruary 2026Lecture
Building Bridges through Cell Death
More information Time 09:30 - 17:30Location Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Building for Biomedical Research
Botnar AuditoriumContact -
Date:12ThursdayFebruary 2026Lecture
Innovation in AgTech: Challenges & Opportunities
More information Time 08:45 - 11:30Title A Bina Gathering for Weizmann Scientific CommunityLocation Schmidt HallLecturer Sarai Kemp, Climate Tech & AgriFood VC, BARD & Ziv Kohav, Open Innovation, ICL Contact -
Date:12ThursdayFebruary 2026Lecture
Representational maps in the auditory cortex
More information Time 12:30 - 13:30Location Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Lecture HallLecturer Prof. Simon Rumpel Organizer Department of Brain SciencesContact Abstract Show full text abstract about Understanding how cortical circuits give rise to perception-...» Understanding how cortical circuits give rise to perception-allowing us, for example, to hear and see the world-remains a central challenge in neuroscience. The application of concepts from cognitive science, such as Representational Similarity Analysis, has proven valuable for interpreting large-scale neuronal recordings, including in rodent models. In this work, I present recent efforts from our laboratory to characterize the structure of auditory representations in the mouse cortex and demonstrate how these representations can be used to predict behavioral phenomena such as stimulus generalization and perceptual choice biases. Moreover, leveraging neuronal activity recordings at single-cell resolution, I describe our findings on the circuit mechanisms that organize sound-evoked activity into structured representational maps and maintain their integrity in the face of perturbations, including synaptic volatility and neuronal loss. -
Date:12ThursdayFebruary 2026Lecture
PES Department Seminar – Dr. Shdema Hayut
More information Time 12:57 - 13:57Title Beyond the Linear Genome: Chromatin Loops and Plant Gene RegulationLocation Nella and Leon Benoziyo Building for Plant and Environmental Sciences -
Date:15SundayFebruary 2026Lecture
Static Green’s functions for subduction zone settings in the era of seafloor geodesy
More information Time 11:00 - 12:00Location Stone Administration Building
Zacks HallLecturer Leah Langer Organizer Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesAbstract Show full text abstract about After an earthquake occurs, slip models of the event may be ...» After an earthquake occurs, slip models of the event may be estimated from geodetic observations. This process generally requires static coseismic Green's functions, which must be calculated via a forward model which includes an approximation of the material properties, topography, and fault geometry in the region of interest. Until recently, the lack of seafloor geodetic instrumentation and the use of unrealistically simple forward models have resulted in poor resolution of near-trench slip in subduction zone settings. In this talk, I will present an investigation into the effects of 3D structure, particularly topography, on forward models of earthquake deformation and on earthquake static slip estimates. I will show that models which neglect 3D structure yield inaccurate estimates of near-trench slip, particularly when seafloor geodetic data are utilized in the inversion. -
Date:15SundayFebruary 2026Lecture
The Clore Center for Biological Physics
More information Time 13:15 - 14:30Title Tiny wings, big feat: instability and control in flying insectsLocation Nella and Leon Benoziyo Physics LibraryLecturer Prof. Tsevi Beatus
Lunch at 12:45Contact Abstract Show full text abstract about A flapping insect is a nonlinear dynamical system, strongly ...» A flapping insect is a nonlinear dynamical system, strongly coupled to unsteady and complex fluid flows. Furthermore, flying insects are subject to fast-growing mechanical instabilities that must be controlled to enable flight. Hence, similar to balancing a stick on one's fingertip, insect flight is a delicate balancing act made possible only by continuous, fast sensory integration and corrective actions.We focus on open questions in insect flight research that are associated with flight control mechanisms, aerodynamics and stability, sensory integration and energetic optimality. For example, combining mid-air perturbation experiments, 3D tracking methods, and inverse-dynamics simulation, we revealed a new flight control mechanism in mosquitoes, where they use the inertia of their legs for rapid aerial steering based on the conservation of angular momentum. Additionally, we use computational fluid dynamics to understand the inherent flight instability of fruit flies, present theoretical results on the energetic optimality of flapping flight and oscillating systems in general, and demonstrate how insects can fly in total darkness. These findings reveal the intricate interplay of aerodynamics, biomechanics, and sensory feedback that enables the maneuverability and grace of flying insects.FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND CONTENT ON SOFT MATTER AND BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS AT THE WEIZMANN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.bio -
Date:15SundayFebruary 2026Lecture
PhD Defense seminar by Chen Weller (Prof. Yardena Samuels Lab
More information Time 13:30 - 15:30Title Studying the Cancer Immunopeptidome: From Translation Aberrations to Immune EvasionLocation Candiotty auditorium -
Date:17TuesdayFebruary 2026Lecture
Making synapses with psychedelics
More information Time 12:30 - 13:30Location Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Lecture HallLecturer Prof. Alex Kwan Organizer Department of Brain SciencesContact Abstract Show full text abstract about Numerous drugs have the ability to alter our perception, cog...» Numerous drugs have the ability to alter our perception, cognition, and mood. Some of these compounds, such as ketamine and serotonergic psychedelics, have also shown promise as treatment for mental illnesses. The behavioral effects are often long-lasting, presumably because the drugs act on synapses and dendrites to induce plasticity in the brain. In this talk, I will describe a series of studies from my lab aimed at understanding the mechanism of action of psilocybin, using subcellular-resolution two-photon imaging, in vivo electrophysiology, rabies viral tracing, and other molecular and behavioral approaches in mice. The results provide insights into the drug action of psychedelics on neural circuits. -
Date:17TuesdayFebruary 2026Lecture
Presentation of PSIFAS - The Israeli National Genomic Medicine Initiative
More information Time 15:00 - 16:00Location Schmidt HallLecturer Prof. Gabi Barabah -
Date:18WednesdayFebruary 2026Lecture
Developmental Club
More information Time 10:00 - 11:00Title Prof. Benjamin PodbilewiczLocation Botnar auditorium -
Date:18WednesdayFebruary 2026Lecture
Life Science Luncheon-Prof. Rotem Sorek
More information Time 12:30 - 14:00Location Benoziyo Auditorium -
Date:18WednesdayFebruary 2026Lecture
PKC-eta promotes breast cancer metastasis by regulating the Hippo–YAP signaling pathway
More information Time 14:00 - 15:00Location Max and Lillian Candiotty Building
AuditoriumLecturer Liju Vijaya Steltar Organizer Dwek Institute for Cancer Therapy Research -
Date:18WednesdayFebruary 2026Lecture
Machine Learning and Statistics Seminar
More information Time 14:15 - 15:15Title New Perspectives on High-Dimensional Estimation: Maximum Likelihood, Minimum-Norm Interpolation, and Test-Time TrainingLocation Jacob Ziskind Building
Room 1 - 1 חדרLecturer Gil Kur
ETHOrganizer Department of Computer Science and Applied MathematicsContact Abstract Show full text abstract about In the theory part of the talk, we study the statistical per...» In the theory part of the talk, we study the statistical performance of maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) and, more generally, empirical risk minimization (ERM). While MLE is known to be minimax-optimal for low-complexity models, classical work showed that it can be suboptimal over “large” function classes, though the canonical examples are somewhat pathological. First, we develop a technique for detecting and quantifying the suboptimality of ERM in regression over high-dimensional nonparametric classes. Second, we show that the variance term of ERM procedures is always upper-bounded by the minimax rate, implying that any minimax suboptimality must arise from bias. Third, we present the first minimax-optimal estimator for convex regression in all dimensions with a polynomial runtime in the sample size. If time permits, we also discuss connections between the local theory of Banach spaces and minimum-norm interpolators, building on an approach initiated by Maurey and Pisier. In the applied part of the talk, we propose an explanation for the empirical success of test-time training (TTT) in foundation models, which we primarily validate through experiments with sparse autoencoders (SAEs). TTT identifies the training points most similar to a given evaluation point and improves predictions by locally adapting the model to this selected neighborhood. Although TTT has been studied previously, only recently has it been shown to deliver substantial gains in foundation models across domains such as image generation, control, and language modeling. -
Date:19ThursdayFebruary 2026Academic Events
Seminar for PhD thesis defense with Erez Yirmiya
More information Time 11:30 - 12:30Location Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Building for Biomedical Research
Botnar AuditoriumLecturer Erez Yirmiya -
Date:19ThursdayFebruary 2026Lecture
Systems Immunology's I3 Club Meeting - Prof. Aude Bernheim
More information Time 13:30 - 14:30Title What bacteria reveal about immunity across the tree of lifeLocation Benoziyo AuditoriumLecturer Prof. Aude Bernheim -
Date:19ThursdayFebruary 2026Lecture
Chemical Protein Synthesis and Modification: Excellent Tools for Therapeutic Applications
More information Time 14:00 - 15:00Location Candiotty
AuditoriumLecturer Prof. Norman Metanis Organizer Dwek Institute for Cancer Therapy Research -
Date:19ThursdayFebruary 2026Lecture
Development of an oligonucleotide therapy for a severe neurodevelopmental disease: A new treatment for Schinzel-Giedion Syndrome
More information Time 14:00 - 15:00Location Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Building for Biomedical Research
Botnar AuditoriumLecturer Prof. Carl Ernst -
Date:22SundayFebruary 2026Lecture
Honors Lecture by Prof. Michelle Monje
More information Time 10:00 - 11:00Title Azrieli Institute for Brain and Neural Sciences center and MICCLocation Ebner -
Date:22SundayFebruary 2026Lecture
17Oexcess in speleothems as a paleo hydrology indicator
More information Time 11:00 - 12:00Location Stone Administration Building
Zacks HallLecturer Hagit Affek Organizer Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesAbstract Show full text abstract about 17Oexcess is the deviation of d17O from the generally accept...» 17Oexcess is the deviation of d17O from the generally accepted 17O-18O mass dependent reference line. In rainfall, 17Oexcess depends mainly on relative humidity at the moisture source region, with lower relative humidity corresponding to higher 17Oexcess. In some cases, however, rainfall 17Oexcess is influenced by atmospheric processes like partial re-evaporation of the raindrops or moisture recycling. We examine how does 17Oexcess in CaCO3 record 17Oexcess of its parent water and apply it to paleo hydrology in Soreq Cave (Israel) and in Devils Hole (Nevada, USA). In Soreq Cave, 17Oexcess of 50 per meg was obtained in the weighted mean modern rainfall, consistent with the low relative humidity at the moisture source region of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. 17Oexcess of paleo water were reconstructed from Soreq Cave speleothems, at an age range of 0 - 160 ka. In most of the record values are similar to that in modern cave water, but a few events suggest higher relative humidity, consistent with a more marine storm trajectory. The values at the Last Glacial Maximum suggest low relative humidity and likely indicate the penetration of very cold air. In Devils Hole, 17Oexcess in modern and interglacial reconstructed water is higher than expected by relative humidity, suggesting significant moisture recycling in this continental site. In glacial periods, however, 17Oexcess suggest much less evaporation of water from land surfaces. -
Date:22SundayFebruary 2026Lecture
The Clore Center for Biological Physics
More information Time 13:15 - 14:30Title Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking and the Emergence of Chirality in Soft MatterLocation Nella and Leon Benoziyo Physics LibraryLecturer Prof. Robin L. B. Selinger
Lunch at 12:45Contact Abstract Show full text abstract about Chirality or handedness is one of the deepest and most persi...» Chirality or handedness is one of the deepest and most persistent mysteries in the sciences, from the molecular asymmetry of life’s building blocks to the emergence of homochirality in early prebiotic systems. Why is chirality “contagious, ” as when a tiny fraction of chiral dopant induces cholesteric twist in an achiral nematic? What mechanisms can spontaneously break mirror symmetry in systems composed entirely of achiral molecules? These questions lie at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and the origins of life. Using the tools of statistical physics, we explore a mechanism that focuses on the role of intramolecular degrees of freedom, in which achiral molecules switch between degenerate configurations of opposite handedness. Theoretical analysis predicts a phase diagram featuring a spatially segregated cholesteric phase with alternating domains of left- and right-handed chiral twist, alongside racemic nematic and isotropic phases. Our model also demonstrates how chiral molecular fluctuations influence the helical twisting power of dopants in the nematic phase. Monte Carlo simulations validate the predicted phase diagram and reveal pattern formation and coarsening in the segregated cholesteric phase. These results suggest that molecular fluctuations between degenerate chiral configurations may be a common mechanism driving cooperative chiral order in soft materials composed of achiral molecules.FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND CONTENT ON SOFT MATTER AND BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS AT THE WEIZMANN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.bio