Led breakthrough research identifying 100+ novel viral families and their interactions with methane-consuming microbes, contributing to understanding of natural carbon cycling and climate-relevant processes in marine ecosystems.Developed innovative analytical methods combining Click-Chemistry and NanoSIMS for tracking viral impacts on carbon and nutrient cycles, demonstrating expertise in both molecular biology and advanced instrumentation.Conducted deep-sea sampling as Ship Board Scientist aboard R/V Falkor (Schmidt Ocean Institute), managing collection and analysis of biogeochemical, molecular, and microscopy samples across Costa Rica's Pacific methane seeps.Authored invited book chapter synthesizing findings on the daily cycles of cyanobacteria and their viruses and their role in global carbon cycling, establishing thought leadership in climate-relevant oceanographic research.Established track record in scientific leadership through peer review for high-impact journals focused on environmental microbiology, virology and and climate-relevant biogeochemistry.Served as Review Editor for Frontiers journals, evaluating cutting-edge research in environmental microbiology and virology, relevant to climate science.Demonstrated expertise in grant evaluation for major funding bodies including NSF and climate-focused venture capital (50Y VC), showing deep understanding of both scientific merit and commercial potential.

Pioneered advanced data analytics combining metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to reveal previously unknown patterns in marine photosynthetic communities and their viruses, directly contributing to understanding of ocean carbon capture dynamics and climate regulation.Developed and implemented novel bioinformatics pipeline enabling discovery of previously unknown marine viral groups, advancing understanding of biological factors influencing ocean carbon sequestration. Work established new standards for computational discovery in marine genomics.Successfully directed international oceanographic expeditions as chief scientist, managing complex logistics, operations, and diverse scientific teams while ensuring high-quality environmental data collection for climate-relevant research.Demonstrated research excellence through European Research Council (ERC) funding, resulting in two first-author publications in high-impact journals and three collaborative papers advancing understanding of marine carbon cycle dynamics.Mentored graduate and undergraduate scientists.

Doctoral Research:"A Day in the Life of The Red Sea: a Metatranscriptomic and Metagenomic Analysis of Four Time Points During a Single Day"Pioneered comprehensive multi-omics analysis of marine ecosystem dynamics, revealing critical patterns in ocean carbon cycling and marine productivity.Research output: Six peer-reviewed publications (three as first author) advancing understanding of marine microbial communities' role in climate-relevant biogeochemical cycles.Research Leadership:Led seven oceanographic expeditions as Chief Scientist in the Gulf of Aqaba studying marine microbiome dynamics and their impact on carbon cycling.Developed and implemented advanced sampling protocols for tracking microbial and viral contributions to marine ecosystem function and biogeochemical processes.Managed complex field operations including water-column sampling, molecular biology workflows, and environmental data collection.Academic Excellence & Recognition:European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Short Term Fellowship recipient.Multiple awards for research excellence from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, demonstrating exceptional analytical and scientific capabilities.Recognized teaching excellence in both theoretical and practical aspects of biological sciences.