Temporary replacement of the VP R&D, In addition to the role of VP of Products and Projects

Optogenetic methods developed over the past decade enable unprecedented optical activation and silencing of specific neuronal cell types. However, light scattering in neural tissue precludes illuminating areas deep within the brain via free-space optics; this has impeded employing optogenetics universally. The goal of my post-doctoral research project was to develop and prototype implantable devices that would be able to deliver complex visible-light illumination patterns deep into the brain. The technology we have developed combines methods from integrated nanophotonics and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), to yield ultranarrow, silicon-based photonic probes that are robust, scalable, and readily producible at large values. The immediate use of this technology is to permit optogenetic research at any part of the brain. It can, however, be applied to broader range of medical applications, such as local drug uncaging, photo-immunotherapy, and photoacoustic imaging. The development of this technology required truly multidisciplinary effort, which involved a cohort effort of several research groups. I lead the entire project, and with the help of grad students developed, fabricated, packaged, and tested the implanted devices in vitro. I was working closely with our collaborators to validate the functionality of the devices in vivo, and gained hand-on experience in device implantation and in vivo measurement techniques.

As a technological leader at Elbit Systems, I was responsible for the assimilation and integration of inertial tracking technology (rate gyroscopes and accelerometers), based on MEMS sensors, into the line-of-sight head-tracking systems used by pilots. My responsibility was two-fold: First, I was responsible for developing the calibration processes of the inertial sensors for experimental study of the sensors’ anomalies at extreme operational conditions and for identifying the long-term characteristics of the sensors. Second, I was responsible for integrating the inertial tracking technology with an optical tracking technology, towards the goal of creating a coherent tracking system. In this position, I gained system-level insight into MEMS technology and learned how to close the gap between bare technology and a fully operative system. In addition, I acquired the management skills for coordinating the work of several groups (my group of inertial sensors, the optical group, the hardware group, and the algorithm group, among others) in order to accomplish the mission of building an extremely accurate opto-inertial tracker. Finally, I learned how to meet deadlines and to deliver mature technological solutions for physical problems in the company’s products.

Ph.D. Dissertation Title: ‘Metastability and self-oscillations in superconducting microwave resonators integrated with a dc-SQUID’During my PhD studies I had explored the possibilities of exploiting strong nonlinear phenomena in superconducting microwave resonators in order to enhance the detection abilities of both single photon detectors and nanomechanical resonators. I had published 20 peer reviewed papers and received the prestigious Adams Fellowship of the Israeli Academy of Science and Humanities, granted annually to 10 Israeli students.My work included the design and fabrication of nano-devices, their low-temperature characterization and theoretical modeling of their response. In particular, I had designed and fabricated devices consisting of a superconducting stripline resonator integrated with a micromechanical resonator using a DC-SQUID as an intermediate element. Furthermore, I had built a cryogenic experimental setup, conducted complex experimental protocols, analyzed experimental results, and developed corresponding theoretical models.

Marvell Semiconductors develops silicon chips for ethernet communication. As a system validation engineer I was responsible for post-fabrication functional validation of some of the companies products. This was a multi-skill job, required deep understanding in both hardware and software engineering, high-speed digital circuits, signal integrity, power supply, and more.As part of this job I designed and was responsible for the manufacturing of PCB boards dedicated for laboratory tests of those chips. Further on, I assembled the testing procedures, build the embedded programs required to execute those procedures, and tested the chips in our electronic laboratory.