Bar-Ilan University

18/06/2026

Behind every degree in the exact sciences are years of consistent work: one more idea, one more experiment, one more proof, one more line of code. This is how knowledge is built, and this is how new ways of understanding the world begin to emerge.

The graduates of Bar-Ilan University’s Faculty of Exact Sciences are completing their studies in the Departments of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Computer Science, joining a community of researchers, developers, and professionals who will continue to help shape the scientific and technological future.

One of the most moving moments of the evening was the graduates’ address, delivered by Ofek Bribi, an honors graduate of the Department of Computer Science and a survivor of the Nova festival. Ofek shared his experience of returning to his studies after the events of October 7, at a time when nothing felt normal anymore, and spoke about the strength he drew from his family, friends, and the Department of Computer Science, who helped him keep moving forward.

“For me, this is not only an academic or professional achievement, it is a victory,” he said.

Warm congratulations to all the graduates of the Faculty of Exact Sciences. We are proud of you and wish you great success on the road ahead.

26/05/2026

Honored to announce that Dr. Yoli Shavit, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering Bar-Ilan University, has secured a major research win as part of an elite European consortium 🥇

Selected from a highly competitive field of international bids, the consortium has been awarded a prestigious €5.95 million Horizon Europe grant for a groundbreaking project, GENMAT (Generative Foundation Model for Multi-Scale Materials Discovery, Design and Deployment).

This ambitious initiative aims to deliver Europe’s first integrated Multi-Scale, Multi-Modal Materials-Science Foundation Model, designed to drastically accelerate lab-to-market timelines. Within this collaborative framework, Dr. Shavit’s group will focus on developing novel representation learning methods to connect data from multiple physical scales and modalities for downstream predictive and generative tasks.

Bar-Ilan University is proud to contribute to this landmark European partnership, which stands to redefine the future of AI-driven materials innovation and deployment 👏

19/05/2026

The most prestigious award presented by Israel’s high-tech industry, the Global Industry Leader Award, was awarded to Prof. Alex Fish of the Faculty of Engineering 🥇

The award, presented annually at the ChipEx2026 Executive Forum, is given to exceptional individuals whose vision and leadership have reshaped the semiconductor industry and who serve as a source of inspiration for generations of engineers 👏

According to the judging committee, the award was presented to Prof. Fish “in recognition of his significant contribution to the semiconductor industry, reflected in his groundbreaking research in energy-efficient memory technologies, biomedical circuits, and Cryogenic CMOS technology; for founding and leading the EnICS Labs Institute at Bar-Ilan University as a national hub for hardware innovation; and for his excellence in educating generations of students in the field of VLSI at Bar-Ilan University.”

It was also noted during the award ceremony that Prof. Fish has helped turn advanced technology into real-world impact by co-founding RAAAM Memory Technologies and introducing breakthrough solutions for the world’s smallest high-density embedded memory.

Prof. Fish expressed his gratitude to Bar-Ilan University’s leadership, to Prof. Zeev Zalevsky, Vice President for Academia-Industry Relations, to Prof. Orit Shefi, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and to the Israel Innovation Authority for its long-standing support of the EnICS Labs Institute. He also thanked his partners at the institute, as well as the students, “for their professionalism, initiative, innovation, determination, creativity, and attention to detail.” Prof. Fish emphasized that “the fact that the high-tech industry recognizes the value of Bar-Ilan University, and of EnICS Labs in particular, in developing talent is a major achievement.”

27/04/2026

We are thrilled to congratulate Prof. Shulamit Michaeli on receiving the Israel Prize, the highest and most prestigious honor awarded by the State of Israel.

Prof. Michaeli, a world-renowned researcher and former Vice President for Research at Bar-Ilan University, has dedicated her life to unlocking the secrets of the remarkable RNA molecule. Her groundbreaking research on gene silencing mechanisms and the fight against infectious diseases has not only advanced global science, but also laid the foundation for innovative, life-saving medical treatments.

Beyond her extraordinary scientific achievements, Prof. Michaeli is a role model for generations of young researchers. She embodies uncompromising academic excellence together with a genuine passion for making the world a better and healthier place 👏

20/04/2026

Bar-Ilan University today awarded an honorary doctorate to President of Argentina Javier Milei, in recognition of his long-standing partnership with the State of Israel and his public international fight against antisemitism.

The ceremony was held in the presence of the University President, Prof. Arie Zaban, BIU CEO Zohar Yinon, Rector amnon albeck, VP Rivka Tuval-Mashiach. The degree was awarded, among other reasons, in recognition of President Milei’s diplomatic support for the State of Israel, and especially for his firm stance in the international effort to secure the return of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Throughout his presidency, President Milei has expressed clear solidarity with Israel and its citizens, and has worked to strengthen ties between the two nations on the diplomatic and international stage.

Released hostages and members of their families from the Argentine-Israeli community, who were abducted to Gaza on October 7, and later freed from Hamas captivity, were invited as guests of honor of the University and the President of Argentina. Present at the ceremony were: Yair Horn, David Cunio, Sharon Cunio, Luis Har, Clara Marman, Dalia Kushnir, Silvia Cunio, Luis Cunio, and Yaakov Israel.

12/03/2026

Across Israel, students are studying while navigating uncertainty, fear, and disruption. Universities are not only places of learning in moments like these. They become anchors of stability, support, and community.

Today we’re opening a conversation about how Bar-Ilan University is responding to this reality and how academic institutions can support the emotional and psychological well-being of students during prolonged national crises.

Join us for a conversation about resilience, trauma support, and how universities can help students move forward even in the most challenging times.

You’ll hear directly from the people leading these efforts at Bar-Ilan:
Prof. Rivka Tuval-Mashiach, Vice President for International Affairs and community, Prof. Noa Vilchinsky, PhD, Dean of the Division for Designated Programs and Head of the Resiliency Center Steering Committee, Dr. Yael Shoval Zuckerman, Head of the BSW Program, Weisfeld School of Social Work, Prof. Danny Horesh, Head of the Trauma and Stress Research Lab, Department of Psychology and Co-Director of BIU’s new Interdisciplinary Trauma Research Center.

When? Today at 6:00 PM Israel time.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/57rryxbz

22/02/2026

Bar-Ilan University is establishing a Trauma Research Center for interdisciplinary study of the impact of the October 7 attacks and the “Iron Swords” war. The research will examine the effects of the war on diverse populations, including hostages and survivors of captivity, soldiers, evacuees from southern and northern Israel, and frontline professionals such as medical teams, emergency responders, and journalists.

The findings are expected to play a significant role in Israel’s healthcare, education, and welfare systems, and more broadly in the country’s rehabilitation efforts in the day after the war.

The center, the first of its kind in Israel, will be led by three leading researchers in the field: Prof. Rivka Tuval-Mashiach and Prof. Danny Horesh from the Department of Psychology, and Dr. Yael Shoval-Zuckerman from the School of Social Work. The research will also involve leading trauma researchers from around the world, alongside representatives of hostages, soldiers, and their families.

Read more in the article pinned below 👇

15/02/2026

There’s no day more exciting on campus than Open Day, and at Bar-Ilan, our open days outdo themselves every single time!

It’s a pure joy to see thousands of young Israelis weighing their next steps and making the decisions that will shape their future future 🥰

Thank you for coming, and we can’t wait to see you again 🥇🚀

12/02/2026

Jellyfish and sea anemones may seem simple, but their sleep looks surprisingly similar to our own. A study Led by BIU's Prof. Lior Appelbaum and Prof. Oren Levy, recently published on Nature Communications, finds that these ancient animals follow daily sleep cycles, snooze for about a third of the day, and even ‘make up’ for lost sleep. Just like humans.

The researchers tracked sleep in jellyfish and sea anemones in the lab and in the wild. They found that sleep was regulated by light, circadian rhythms and the body’s internal sleep drive. When these animals were kept awake, their neurons showed increased DNA damage, and sleeping helped repair it.

The findings suggest that sleep may have evolved very early in animal history as a way to protect cells from the stress of being awake. Cnidarians (among the oldest animal groups with neurons) could offer new clues to how and why sleep first emerged.

Springer Nature

Jellyfish and sea anemones may seem simple, but their sleep looks surprisingly similar to our own. A study in Nature Communications finds that these ancient ...

11/02/2026

Bar-Ilan University is proud to launch a new Excellence Program for Olympic Athletes, a strategic initiative developed in partnership with the Olympic Committee to enable elite athletes to pursue full academic degrees alongside international competition.

The program provides tuition support, personalized academic mentorship, and flexible academic frameworks tailored to the realities of world-class sport.

The first athlete selected for the pilot is world champion and Olympic windsurfer Shahar Tibi, who has begun her undergraduate studies in the Faculty of Engineering.

At Bar-Ilan, excellence is not limited to one arena. We are committed to empowering Israel’s leading athletes to build strong academic and professional futures, while continuing to represent the nation at the highest level 🤩