I was born in Jerusalem, Israel. Both of my parents have PhDs - one in Hebrew Language and one in Jewish History. When I was 5, my family moved to the US for my mom’s postdoctoral studies; after 5 years, we returned to Israel.

I attended Pelech High School for Girls in Jerusalem, majoring in Chemistry and Arabic. I simply adored my high school chemistry teacher, Mrs. Sara Perach. She was smart, down to earth, and a bit quirky. She made learning a lot of fun and taught me how to question what I see and dig deeper. She is the reason I chose to pursue an undergrad degree in Chemistry.

I have always loved nature, and preservation was always an important ideal for me. Growing up our family always recycled, and when we got married, my husband and I decided we would try to live a sustainable lifestyle. We don’t use disposable utensils or plates in our home, we try to limit our use of plastic bags, and we used cloth diapers for our children.

When I finished my M.Sc studies, I felt I needed a break from research and academia,  and I wanted to see what the industrial world was like. I started working as a quality control associate in a chemistry lab at Biotechnology General (BTG), a pharmaceutical company. After 4 years, I missed fundamental research and applied for graduate school at the Weizmann Institute.

My current research in my postdoctoral fellowship focuses on upcycling of plastic materials, and material and process investigation with magnetic resonance techniques. Two novel solutions to the world’s growing plastic waste problem have been proposed: (1). Formation of a circular polymer-waste system by chemically recycling plastic waste into reusable monomers, thus forming an efficient closed loop; and (2). Functionalization of polyethylenes, aka, plastic waste – enabling modification of the polymer’s bulk and surface properties for future use.

I have been developing a suitable protocol of advanced magnetic resonance methodology to explore structural changes, molecular dynamics, and intermolecular interactions occurring within polymers during degradation and the recycling process. The ability to understand polymer deconstruction and reaction kinetics will provide much needed clarity to these systems and allow further control and guidance in the design and production of future sustainable materials.

Sustainability and nature preservation have always been a part of who I am. The monthly meetings with the other Fellows to discuss problems, and especially solutions, for how to make our world a more sustainable and better place, were very important and meaningful for me. This was especially the case when we could facilitate initiatives and be active about what was important to us.

My choice of postdoc, geographically, as well as the specific group I joined, were greatly affected by different discussions throughout my years as an IES fellow. Berkeley has a very high awareness of sustainability and nature preservation. Children are taught to separate their trash from a very early age and they learn about composting, recycling, reuse, and landfill. Most disposable items  are compostable. It’s wonderful to have mutual goals for sustainability with our friends in the community here. In addition, my choice to research recycling of plastics originates from a deep fundamental need to move towards a more sustainable future, something that was embedded in me during my time as an IES fellow.

My career aspirations are deeply rooted in making a significant contribution to the advancement of sustainable material science. I hope to pursue a position as a scientist with the goal of developing and investigating chemically degradable materials and enabling the reduction of human produced waste. I envision pioneering methodologies that merge innovative NMR techniques with other interdisciplinary approaches, fostering a deeper understanding of material degradation phenomena. Ultimately, my goal is not only to expand the frontiers of knowledge in polymer and plastic degradation, but also to advance the field toward a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.

Shira obtained her BSc from Hebrew University in Chemistry and Talmud. She continued at Hebrew University for her master’s degree with Prof. Jochanan Blum (z”l) in Organic Chemistry. Her PhD in Material Science was done under the supervision of Dr. Michal Leskes at the Weizmann Institute. Thesis title: “The Cathode-Electrolyte Interphase: Structure and Functionality probed by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy”.

Short description of PhD research:

During her PhD, Shira studied how the structural and chemical processes at the cathode electrolyte interface (CEI) in lithium-ion batteries control ionic transport across interfaces. She employed solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to understand the evolution and functionality of different CEIs: (i) spontaneously formed during electrochemical cycling and (ii) artificially deposited, coating the cathode and controlling their interfacial properties. The chemical composition and structure of the spontaneously formed CEI on the cathode material LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO), was determined and found to be voltage dependent, specifically deposited lithium fluoride, which shows a tendency to accumulate at low potentials and to leave the surface at high potentials. This finding shows instability of the cathode interface leading to continuous interfacial reactions that need to be controlled (for instance, by coating the cathode).

Combination of two approaches (exogenous and endogenous) of magic angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization (MAS-DNP) were utilized to probe efficiently the surface layer of a lithium silicate coated cathode, revealing valuable chemical and structural information. [Energy Storage Mater. 2020, 33, 268]. This methodology provides us with a structural tool to further investigate thin films on an atomic scale and gain insight into the properties of future beneficial coating layers.
The development of isotope exchange techniques for following lithium-ion transport across interfaces enabled correlation of lithium-ion transport with the electrochemical performance of coated cathodes. We demonstrated that lithium-ions in lithium-silicate coatings take part in the transport system to the cathode, exhibiting enhanced rate performance [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 4964]. Finally, we showed that a lithium-less coating layer, aluminum fluoride deposited on LNMO, results in enhanced lithium dynamics. Characterization of this process concluded that it occurs in two steps: first, lithium ions intercalate into the coating forming a lithiated phase. Second, fast diffusion of lithium-ions to the cathode occurs, thus improving our overall understanding of lithium-ion transport systems through interfaces [J. Power Sources 2023, 560, 232693].  

Shira has been awarded a range of prizes, including best oral presentation award at the Israel Electrochemistry Society meeting (2021); best oral presentation award at the Conference on Catalysis, Energy, and Environmental Research (CACEE) Online Meet, India (2020), and best oral presentation award at the Israel National Research Center for Electrochemical Propulsion (INREP) Annual Conference (2020).

Shira served as a member of the organizing committee for the IVS-MRS Student conference (2021) and as a Board Member of the Chemistry Women Forum at the Weizmann Institute (2020-2021).