 Dr. Leeya Engel
Assistant Professor Leeya holds a B.Sc. in Physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a direct-track Ph.D. in Materials Science & Nanotechnologies from Tel Aviv University. Before starting her lab at the Technion, Leeya completed her postdoctoral studies at Stanford University. Her multidisciplinary research group develops bio-microsystems and new technologies for studying cellular mechanics. In her spare time (ha!), she enjoys coffee, cooking Mediterranean food, and hiking with her family. More on her research background here. twitter: @Leeya_Engel publications: Google Scholar |
Dr. Noa Ben-Asher Lab Manager Noa earned her Ph.D. in C. elegans genetics from the faculty of Biology in the Technion. She is excited to be working with Leeya on developing tools to better study cellular structures and mechanics, and finding her inner engineer. In her free time, she enjoys reading, sewing and spending time with her family. Email: noaba@me.technion.ac.il |
Orya Steinberg Administrative Assistant Orya arrived in our lab with extensive experience working with young children. Now she works with older children and the Technion bureaucracy to keep our lab afloat. Email: oryas@technion.ac.il
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Shani Tcherner Ph.D. Student Shani completed her M.Sc. in the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport faculty of Medicine at the Technion, studying and characterizing E.coli under starvation using microfluidic devices. She is now examining the influence of ECM nanotopography on the organization and stability of endothelial cell-cell junctions, using engineered nanofibrillar substrates. In her spare time, she enjoys Pilates reformer workouts, exploring different cooking cuisines, and playing music with her family.
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 Nadav Jacobsen
M.Sc. Student Nadav is part of the prestigious Brakim program of the IDF. His M.Sc. project focuses on characterizing the stability of anti-fouling coatings as a function of environmental conditions. In his spare time, Nadav plays percussion instruments in the Technion orchestra. Email: nadavj@campus.technion.ac.il
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 Amit Avrahami
M.Sc. Student Amit is part of the prestigious Brakim program of the IDF. His M.Sc. project focuses on the microfabrication and functionalization of gold electron microscopy grids. In his spare time, Amit likes to hike, play tennis, and play the guitar. |
 Hila Waizman M.Sc. Student Hila holds a B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from Ben Gurion University. She measures forces exerted by endothelial cells using a technique called traction force microscopy in collaboration with Prof. Shelly Tslil’s Cellular Biophysics and Biomechanics lab. |
Einav Zivion Undergraduate Researcher Einav’s undergraduate project focuses on endothelial cell dynamics as a function of morphological constraint. She will use time-lapse, live cell imaging and protein micropatterning to conduct her research. Outside of the lab, Einav enjoys baking, crochet, macrame, and oil painting. Email: einav.zivion@campus.technion.ac.il
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 Omer Orkabi
Undergraduate Researcher Omer is optimizing the size of micropatterns for studying forces across endothelial cell-cell junctions. He uses our PRIMO maskless photopatterning system, immunofluorescence, and quantitative analysis. When not working in the lab, Omer loves practicing Yoga, Pilates, swimming and sculpting. |
Tim Manor Undergraduate Researcher Tim prints high resolution structuers in 3D using the Nanoscribe in the GTIIT clean room. These surfaces will help us understand how cell sensitivity to surface topography. Tim loves to do handstands, cooking, hiking, singing and playing the guitar. |
Ester Konstantinov Undergraduate Researcher Ester comes to our lab from the Faculty of Biotechnology with much cell culture experience that she puts to good use in our lab. Ester micropatterns EM grids, that are later seeded with cardiomyocytes by our collaborators at the University of Michigan. Email: esterk@campus.technion.ac.il
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For a list of our alumni, see here: Engel lab alumni