Meet our Students

Adir is a Ph.D. candidate who studies the emergence of basketball analytics in the NBA.

He is interested in two interrelated questions:

(1) What were the socio-material conditions that contributed to the rapid rise of NBA analytics

(2) How basketball analytics modified the basketball network and changed long lasting basketball strategies, adjusted coaches’ agency, effected viewers’ experience, and more.

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Adir holds Master of Laws from UC Berkeley, Master of Philosophy and Bachelor of Law from Tel-Aviv University.

Alma Maria Simon is a Ph.D. student in the STS program at BIU. Additionally, she possesses a diverse background as a dancer, choreographer, and movement teacher. she co-founded the NaNa School of Dance and Somatic Movement, in collaboration with Tel Hai Academic College, where she mainly teaches Dance and improvisation. During her practice-based M.A. at the Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem, she concentrated on the concept of "stopping" within dance and everyday movement. Currently, her research focuses on the intricate relationship between presence, embodiment, and technology, encompassing self and other perceptions, bodily awareness, the role of technology in therapeutic practices, and embodiment experience in VR/AR.

Anat Fanti is a Ph.D. candidate in Science, Technology and Society at Bar-Ilan University

Her research title – Happiness in Demand: The Co-production of Happy People, Happy Organizations and Happy States 

Formerly, Anat was a VP Human Resources, Organizational Consultant, Start up founder infrastructure consultant

Education:

M.A Columbia University, New York in Organizational Psychology – joint studies with the business school, focus on Change and Consultation and Group Dynamics

B.A Bar Ilan University in psychology and Comparative Literature

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Anat Koren is an MA student in the Program in Science, Technology and Society. She has 17 years of experience working as a manager in the field of human resources and organizational development in global high tech corporations.

As part of her role she is constantly occupied with the question of the impact of technologies in the workplace and the role of knowledge in shaping managing the challenges of technological change. She is interested in interrogating the types of capabilities which will need to appear in order to keep pace with shifting technological realities.

Academic background:

MA in  Sociology, Specializing in Organizational Behavior , Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

BA in Sociology  Anthropology and International Relations, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

PhD candidate in Science, Technology and Society at Bar-Ilan University.

Her main interests are Brain-Machine Interface and the formation of what she believe is about to be the next technological/social revolution (algorithms, AI and Deep Learning)

Avivit Dolev is a PhD student at the Science, Technology and Society program at Bar-Ilan. 

Avivit works with children and youth as a school psychologist in a private clinic. She specializes in depression and anxiety disorders. She has also worked as an economic counsellor for small

businesses and beforehand worked almost a decade as a computer programmer and

system analyst. 

Avivit received her Master of Science (MSc) from the Faculty of education in Science and Technology at the Technion. Her thesis focused on facilitating and deterring factors regarding integration of study and work among students.

She also holds an MA in Social-Occupational-Organizational psychology from Ariel university, BA in

Psychology from Haifa university, and a BA in Management and Economy from the Academic College of Tel Aviv Yaffo .

Awigail Mayer holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial Design from The Technical University of Delft.

The topic of her thesis was the  optimization of the production of a drainage tube using finite element method. Awigail holds a second Master’s degree in Art therapy from Haifa University. 

She has worked in several different fields ranging from interior design, illustrations and currently art therapy. She is interested in the meeting point of art, therapy and technology, intrigued by how they influence each other, how they  can be integrated and what the boundaries are of each discipline.

A B.Sc. in biology and MBA graduate from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Chen is interested in exploring new economic models that lead to a “sustainable prosperity” of life on earth by re-examining the concept of economical growth through an “ecosystem view” combined with a return to the philosophical origins of the economics profession. 

In his other life, Chen is a strategic consultant for healthcare and biotech startups, helping them mold their identity on the way to developing life changing innovation.

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Dan Bareket is a a researcher and data scientist at OMILAB - Open Media and Information Lab at the Open University of Israel. Dan does research on Hebrew Natural Language Programming at the ONLP Lab at BIU. Dan leads a volunteer group working on improving and challenging the discourse around Israel's public transit at the Public Knowledge Workshop. Dan's interests lay mostly in the crossroads of data, machine learning, statistics, consciousness, language, society and politics. Dan grows a sourdough, plays with Buddhist meditation, bakes bread and pickles pickles. ​

Danielle Zini is a Ph.D. student at BIU studying Science, Technology and Society. Furthermore, she is an artist, researcher, and curator of digital art and culture, and an entrepreneur of the Zero One digital art festival at the Tower of David Museum (2019-2023). Graduated with a Master's in Policy and Theory of the Arts at Bezalel Academy for Arts and Design (2020). She specializes in arts and culture criticism and research related to digital arts. The focus of her research currently revolves around the concept of randomness in a digital, computerized world. By looking at the random component that is used in artificial intelligence and big data art, she illustrates the relationship between man and machine in the age of artificial intelligence.

David Tobias earned his bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, and a master's degree in business administration from Tel-Aviv University. Also David had attended CIO Leadership program at Insead University.

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Publications:

• Meta Data Management – A System for Data Administration. June 1989, IEEE Computer Society.

• Network Management and Control in Banking Environment. October 1994, Guide & Share Europe.        

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Doron (Dori) Oryan is a MA/PhD Graduate Program. Science, Technology & Society in the multidisciplinary program at Bar-Ilan University. Doron is the head of Product Design program in the Kibbutzim College of Education and a lecturer in Bezalel” Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem.

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Also, Doron is expereinced in design projects, national and international, and his research interests include: Design and society, Data visualization and Design thinking.

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Eliav Gutman is a PhD student at Science Technology and Society at Bar-Ilan. He holds a BA in media studies from Sapir Academic College, and a MA in sociology and anthropology from Ben Gurion University.

Eran Peleg is a PhD Candidate at The Graduate Program in Science, Technology and Society

at Bar-Ilan University. Having been involved in global finance for many years, he is interested

in the political economy of money. In particular, he is looking at how digital technologies are

transforming money, and the political, economic, and social significance of this evolution.

Eran is a global financial advisor. He serves on the board of directors and investment

committee of several asset management firms and investment funds.

Eran received his BA Cum Laude in Economics and Philosophy from the Hebrew University of

Jerusalem and his MBA from Oxford University. He is also a CFA Charterholder (Chartered

Financial Analyst).

Gill Mertens is a PhD student at the graduate program in science, technology and

society in Bar Ilan University.

Gill started her journey with a Bsc. In Engineering and an M.Occ.H (Occupational

Health).

She is a lecturer in several colleges, teaching Digital Marketing, Content Marketing,

Digital Communities management and how digital and social media affect us.

Her private rituals include a yoga practice at 5 AM each morning, singing and reading

lots of books.

For more information, please visit her website: https://www.blocal.co.il/

Inbar Mimar is a PhD student with main interest in ICT in Education. Inbar is engaging in alternative education methods and have extensive experience in the field of special education.

Education:

M.A. from Bar-Ilan University - School of Education, Curriculum Development, with Honors.

B.A & Teaching Diploma from Tel-Aviv University - Special Education, Sociology and Anthropology

A PhD student at the graduate program in science, technology and society. Itamar fascinated with the simple – yet still not that common – idea that our society is not only "ours", i.e. – humans, but composed of human as well as non-human entities. Most notably Itamar is interested with the moments or incidents that this fact reveals: when the human and non-human clashes, collides, and change one another.

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Apart from my studies Itamar is also a political activist, and take part in struggles and campaigns for equality and workers rights, social justice, peace and LGBT rights.     

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Education:

MA in Cultural Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. My thesis

BA in Philosophy and in Sociology and Anthropology, Tel Aviv University

Limor is a PhD student at Bar Ilan University. She is interested in the interactions between the human and the natural world. 

Limor holds a MA from the Hebrew University in the discipline of environmental management and planning where her research topic revolved around about the environmental hydrological aspects during the settlement at the Mandatory period (hydrology ,naturality and human aspects). 

Limor holds another MA from Tel Aviv University in discipline of labor studies. She researched the relationship between the trade union and proletariat at the mandatory period in Israel’s history. 

Limor has more than 15 years experience in Business development and management consulting with special expertise in family corporate companies.

Linor Eliav is a Ph.D. student at the graduate program in science, technology, and society at Bar-Ilan University. Linor has recently ended a long career as an organizational consultant at IDF in a variety of units in the field and headquarters. She is an expert in leadership development, strategic consulting, organization development, and assessment. She is one of the leaders of She Shark – the program of leadership development of technological women in IDF and Israel.

Lior Chefetz is a film and television writer/director based in Tel Aviv. Among his works are SKY RAIDERS (הרפתקה בשחקים), a family-adventure feature film which he wrote and directed, and "LINE IN THE SAND" (השוטרים), a cop drama which he co-wrote for Keshet 12. Lior’s education includes a degree in graphic design and visual effects from Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design, and MFA in directing and screenwriting from the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts.

Meir Klein is a PhD candidate at BIU-STS, where he previously completed his M.A. thesis. His research examines issues of science and religion from a biographic perspective, focusing on how prominent rabbinic figures construct the discourse and meet philosophical and social challenges. Between 2013-2015 Meir has co-founded and coordinated alongside Dr. Rachel Pear (an STS alumnus) a young researchers' forum on science and religion at the Van Leer Jerusalem institute. Together with Dr. Dov Berger (another graduate of our program), Rachel and Meir run an initiative aimed to bring into awareness the multifaceted Jewish response to Darwinian Evolution. Meir lives in Tekoa, Gush Etzion with his wife Leah and their 6 kids. 

After spending more than 40 years in high-tech industry I decided to return to my first love – history and social science. My main interests include the intellectual history of cybernetics, cyberocracy projects and techno-utopianism (and utopianism in general), the historical, economic and social aspects of intellectual property.

I hold the bachelor degree in computer science, statistics and sociology from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and master degree in Philosophy from Tel Aviv University.

Michal is a graduate student in the Science, Technology and Society program. She holds a BA in Mathematics and Cognitive Studies from Tel Aviv University.  Michal has been involved in the software industry for many years, previously in the Israeli army and today in the financial sector. She lives in Shoham, is married to Sagi and is the mother of Gali, Omri and Shachar. Michal loves to learn and is especially interested in the complex relations between society and technology, especially in Israeli society

Michal Frenkel is a PhD student in the STS program and working on the ethnography of Big data.

Education:

• M.A  Organizational Sociology in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Haifa

• B.A Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Haifa

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Noa Turgeman is a PhD student at the graduate program in science, technology and society in Bar Ilan University. Noa is the Fulbright Israel's Deputy Director for Programs. She was a Program Director at the Israeli Green Building Council and before that held executive and development positions at the San Francisco Jewish Federation and at Lehrhaus Judaica in Berkeley California. Noa lives in Tel Aviv with her partner and three children, leading an urban life. She is an avid fan of Japanese culture and art, an amateur photographer, and rides her bicycle to work everyday.

Nofar Lupo is an academic development director at global university systems (GUS) and a PhD candidate in the STS program at BIU.

Nofar specializes in developing educational programs in IT-related fields, such as AI, Cybersecurity and Data Science, for academic institutes around the world.  

Nofar received her BSc in Psychology from the University of Derby and her M.A in Investigative Criminology from BIU. Her thesis focuses on malicious hackers'self-definition through their crimes.

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Omer Chomski is a PhD student at the STS program. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Economics from Ben-Gurion University. Omer has founded FANS-LEAGUE, a mobile sports-gaming company which reached 1M+ users-fans world-wide. Today he's advising startups in the gaming industry. Omer is interested in exploring how imagination, expectations, and predictions shape the emergence and course of technologies.

Omer Kidron is the head of Technical InfoSec Section at Government of Israel, also Omer is a technical project manager and team leader in the field of computer and information security. Specialties: projects management, system-wide view and analasys, software design​

Omer has working experience in the following fields: Security, Information Security, System Architecture, Software Design, Computer and Network Security

Education:

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Cyber/Electronic Operations and Warfare, 2016, Bar-Ilan University

M.A., History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas, 2004 - 2009, Tel Aviv University

B.Sc., Mathematics and Computer Science, 1999 - 2002, Bar Ilan University

Orly Halperin is a PhD student at the Science, Technology and Society program at Bar-Ilan. She holds an M.A. in Cultural Studies from the Open University, and a B.A. in Psychology from the Hebrew University. She is interested in the relationship between reproductive body technologies and the state, and intends to explore this topic through the analysis of the discourse of state-controlled/ state-monitored practices such as surrogacy, gender reassignment, and preimplantation gender selection. In her parallel life, Orly is a project coordinator in a big engineering management firm, and enjoys reading. Her favorite books are Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita (and it's old Hebrew translation, Hasatan Bemoskva), Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fford.

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Education:​

1. MA- Sociology

2. MBA 

3. MA - STS

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My hobby is wood carving

Tzipy Lazar-Shoef is a social-science researcher at OMILAB- The Open Media and Information Lab at the Open University of Israel, Where she take part in Big-Data Research and computational sociology in the subject of political discourse analysis. Tzipy also work at The Israeli Democracy Institute as a member of The Guttman Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research.

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Tzipy's research interests include Sociology of Knowledge, web archives, discourse analysis and computational methodologies.

Tzipy's a Sociology and Anthropology graduate from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and a Sociology, political science and international relationships undergraduate degree (summa cum laude) is from The Open University of Israel.

Yanay is consultant and expert in training, organizational learning, e-learning, knowledge management and performance improvement. He also focuses on innovation, learning, and groundbreaking learning technology. A recognized thought leader in his field, he speaks to audiences around the world.

Yanay holds an M.A. degree in social psychology from Tel Aviv University and a B.A. degree in psychology. His M.A. thesis studied psychology of deception and he has published additional articles on learning technologies.

With more than 18 years of experience, Yanay works in a number leading positions in the L&D industry, And is a faculty member in the HIT Learning Technology Department.

Yonatan Zelnik is interested and confused by how we measure, feel, and make time. A focal point of this curiosity is the intersection of digital media and rhythm.

Yonatan enjoy picking apart any sort of symbol. Yonatan also play jazz drums. 

Similar to his current academic interests, Yonatan applied his background in computer science across diverse and wide-ranging fields. Yonatan is currently working with the UC Davis Cramer Lab, running molecular dynamics simulations of nitrogenase, an enzyme crucial for biological nitrogen fixation, on NERSC supercomputers.