Growing up in Israel, I spent many weekends in the Mediterranean Sea where my love of the ocean begun. It was always clear to me that I would pursue a career in marine sciences. After serving in the Israeli Navy I completed my B.S. in Marine Biotechnology at the Ruppin Academic Center. During my undergrad I worked as a diving instructor at the Caesarea underwater archeological park as well as in the Red Sea. In addition, I worked at number of sailing clubs. After graduating, I worked as a research assistant for Dr. Tali Mass, at the University of Haifa as well as a teaching assistant in an oceanographic cruise course at the Ruppin Academic Center.
At Rutgers, I am currently starting my 5th year of the PhD program in Oceanography under the guidance of Dr. Paul Falkowski. My primary research interest is in biophysics of marine photosynthesis.
My PhD thesis focuses on characterizing the biophysical mechanisms and processes that control phytoplankton physiology and their photosynthetic efficiency. I am mostly interested in understanding how nutrients and light availability regulate this efficiency in the global ocean.
I aim to link fundamental mechanisms, based on laboratory studies, to ecologically relevant dynamics in the global ocean.
In my research I primarily use custom built fluorometers which I have taken on research cruises to the West Antarctic Peninsula as well as across the Equatorial Atlantic. The last component of my research links the physiology of phytoplankton which I measure on cruises to satellite observations, in an attempt to increase our spatial and temporal understating of these processes in the ocean.
In my “free time” I like to spend as much time as possible outdoors with my family (wife and 2-year-old son). We love to hike, go to the beach, swim and eat good food.