I was born in Siberia in the former Soviet Union, to a family of World War II refugees from Lithuania and Ukraine. The Lithuanian branch of my family was associated with the Jewish Congress and had aspired to immigrate to Israel for many years. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, my family finally received approval to move to Israel when I was two years old.

From childhood, I was always very curious - my favorite thing was to read encyclopedias and learn new things. Growing up, I watched a lot of true crime TV series, and I was particularly fascinated by the forensic science aspect. After completing my military service, I came to realize that science and research are the things that truly excite me. My interest in the environment and sustainability has its roots in my high school years when I became aware of climate change and its profound implications. This realization motivated me to adopt eco-friendly habits at home. Throughout my university studies, I cultivated a strong interest in scientific solutions to address the impact of climate change. This interest seamlessly transitioned into my Ph.D. research, where I sought to integrate these solutions into my academic endeavors.

The Weizmann Institute has always been the beacon of science for me – a place where top scientists conduct world class research. After taking NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) classes during my master’s at Bar-Ilan University, I developed a passion for this field and knew I wanted to delve deeper and pursue a PhD. Prof. Sharon Ruthstein, who taught the EPR course, encouraged me to apply to Prof. Leskes’ lab at Weizmann. When I met Prof. Leskes, I was immediately captivated, and it was an exciting opportunity to do research in NMR while integrating sustainability as a principal component of my investigation.

In my postdoctoral position, I am interested in understanding how chemical modifications impact electrochemical performance in lithium and beyond lithium-ion battery systems. I am using novel operando-NMR spectroscopy to unravel the chemical mechanisms contributing to degradation during (dis)charging in commercial grade batteries.

I first learned about SAERI/IES from Dr. Shira Haber, a friend and fellow Ph.D. student in Prof. Leskes' group, who was also a fellow. I was excited to become a part of a community of researchers who share the same enthusiasm and commitment to sustainability.

I greatly enjoyed participating in the monthly meetings where I had the opportunity to share and discuss environmental topics with excellent students from various areas of expertise. This experience allowed me to learn a tremendous amount and connect with diverse colleagues, providing me with insights into different aspects of sustainability research. Consequently, I felt motivated to pursue a postdoctoral position abroad in a multidisciplinary sustainability-oriented environment. I recently received a Columbia Climate School Postdoctoral Fellowship, and I see it as a direct continuation of my path as a SAERI fellow at Weizmann.

I aspire to lead a research team in academia in the field of climate science and renewable energy. I envision myself leading impactful projects, mentoring the next generation of scientists, and contributing substantially to innovative solutions that address climate change. I also remain committed to contributing to outreach efforts aligned with my core beliefs, particularly promoting the participation of women and underrepresented students in STEM fields.

At WIS and SAERI, the open communication culture allows for easy scientific discussions with professors and peers in ‘corridor conversations’. The community spirit fosters collaboration on research projects and creates a supportive environment.

Postdoctoral Fellow, Columbia University, US
Department of Chemical Engineering and Columbia Climate School. Advisor: Prof. Lauren Marbella. 

Ph.D. Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science. Advisor: Prof. Michal Leskes 
Thesis: “Pushing the envelope of high field DNP-NMR methodology towards functional materials”

M.Sc. Chemistry, Bar Ilan University, Israel
Department of Materials Chemistry. Advisor: Prof. Aharon Gedanken.  
Thesis: “Imparting multi-function properties to substrates by the sonochemical method”

B.Sc. Chemistry, Bar Ilan University, Israel
Department of Materials Chemistry

During my PhD, I pioneered surface-sensitive NMR techniques, specifically Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP)-NMR, in conductors and semiconductors. This allowed me to study interfaces in energy systems with molecular-scale precision, addressing a previous lack of understanding in applying DNP-NMR to energy materials. Overcoming challenges related to the reactivity and conductivity of battery electrode materials, I developed innovative DNP approaches, extracting molecular-scale information on battery interfaces. Additionally, I introduced novel DNP-NMR protocols to investigate 2D semiconductor surface chemistry, revealing structural defects in MoSe2 with implications for catalysis and quantum computing. This work is expected to apply to many other systems and the information can be used to tune the design of novel materials for enhanced performance and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. During my time at WIS, I also served as a chair in the Women in Chemistry forum and was a member of the organizing committee for two conferences.