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TAU Researchers Find Gene Mechanism Linked to Autism and Alzheimer’s

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Experimental drug has potential to treat rare syndromes that impair brain functions.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University, led by Prof. Illana Gozes from the Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine and the Sagol School of Neuroscience, have unraveled a mechanism shared by mutations in certain genes which cause autism, schizophrenia, and other conditions. The researchers also found that an experimental drug previously developed in Prof. Gozes’ lab is effective in lab models for these mutations, and believe the encouraging results may lead to effective treatments for a range of rare syndromes that impair brain functions and cause autism, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

“Some cases of autism are caused by mutations in various genes,” explains Gozes. “Today, we know of more than 100 genetic syndromes associated with autism, 10 of which are considered relatively common (though still extremely rare). In our lab, we focus mainly on one of these, the ADNP syndrome. The ADNP syndrome is caused by mutations in the ADNP gene, which disrupt the function of the ADNP protein, leading to structural defects in the skeleton of neurons in the brain. In the current study, we identified a specific mechanism that causes this damage in mutations in two different genes: ADNP and SHANK3 – a gene associated with autism and schizophrenia. According to estimates, these two mutations are responsible for thousands of cases of autism around the world.”

To start with, the researchers obtained cells from patients with ADNP syndrome. They discovered that when the ADNP protein is defective, neurons with faulty skeletons (microtubules) are formed, impairing brain functions. They also found, however, that ADNP mutations take different forms, some of which cause less damage.

Gozes explains that in some mutations, a section added to the protein protects it and reduces the damage by connecting to a control site of the neuron’s skeletal system and that this same control site is found on SHANK3 – a much studied protein, with mutations that are associated with autism and schizophrenia. “We concluded that the ability to bond with SHANK3 and other similar proteins provides some protection against the mutation’s damaging effects,” she says.

At the next stage of the study, the researchers found additional sites on the ADNP protein that can bond with SHANK3 and similar proteins. One of these sites is located on NAP, a section of ADNP which was developed into an experimental drug, called Davunetide, by Prof. Gozes’ lab.

Moreover, the researchers demonstrated that extended treatment with Davunetide significantly improved the behavior of lab animals with autism caused by SHANK3.

“In previous studies we showed that Davunetide is effective for treating ADNP syndrome models. The new study has led us to believe that it may also be effective in the case of Phelan McDermid syndrome, caused by a mutation in SHANK3, as well as other syndromes that cause autism through the same mechanism,” explains Gozes.

Participants in the study: Dr. Yanina Ivashko-Pachima, Maram Ganaiem, Inbar Ben-Horin-Hazak, Alexandra Lobyntseva, Naomi Bellaiche, Inbar Fischer, Gilad Levy, Dr. Shlomo Sragovich, Dr. Gidon Karmon, and Dr. Eliezer Giladi from the Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience at TAU, Dr. Boaz Barak from The School of Psychological Sciences, Gershon H. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences and the Sagol School of Neuroscience at TAU, and Dr. Shula Shazman from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the Open University. The paper was published in the scientific journal Molecular Psychiatry.

BOG 2022: Closner Family Chair for Next Generation Organ and Tissue Implants Inaugurated

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Endowment to support innovative research in transplant medicine.

TAU inaugurated the Closner Family Chair for Next Generation Organ and Tissue Implants on May 16 during its 2022 Board of Governors meeting. Headed by Prof. Tal Dvir, the Chair will boost TAU’s capacity to pioneer replacement organs and tissues that reduce the need for organ donations and the risk of transplant rejection.

Prof. Dan Peer, TAU Vice President for Research and Development, welcomed Dvir in his new capacity and thanked the Toronto-based Closner family for its support. “Our next-generation organ and tissue transplantation lab, headed by Prof. Dvir, will offer hope to millions of people waiting on transplant lists worldwide,” Peer said.

Dvir is also head of the Sagol Center for Regenerative Biotechnology and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at TAU.

The inauguration took place in the presence of Neil Closner, the Chair benefactor, Prof. Abdussalam Azem, Dean of the Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Stephen Adler, head of the Canadian Friends of TAU (Ontario and Western Canada), Peer, Dvir, and Governors and friends of the University.

“The Chair will advance TAU’s standing in the international scientific community,” said Closner, who experienced the complex field first-hand, when his mother underwent double-lung transplant surgery a few years ago. “And I hope to see great things coming from it.”

Following the ceremony, Closner toured the lab facilities accompanied by Dvir and other researchers, who showcased their latest experiments. The Dvir lab recently made international headlines with a breakthrough development of 3D spinal cord implants.

Featured image: From left: Stephen J. Adler, Neil Closner and Prof. Tal Dvir (Photo: Ofer Amram)

BOG 2022: Standout Students Win Michel Gelrubin Prize in Architecture

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Three international students and three TAU teams recognized for projects that redefine architecture.

The 2022 Michel Gelrubin Prize in Architecture (MIG Prize) was awarded to students—both from international institutions and from Tel Aviv University—on May 16, at a ceremony held during TAU’s Board of Governors meeting.

Now in its ninth year, the Prize is awarded annually to students from around the world whose work demonstrates a combination of vision and talent in architecture and interior design. This year’s theme was “Extending Architecture,” or concepts that take architecture to unfamiliar domains and thereby redefine the status, form and materiality of the discipline.

TAU Governors Leslie Gelrubin Benitah and Samuel Gelrubin established the Prize in honor of their late father, French philanthropist and real estate investor Michel Gelrubin, who was a dedicated supporter of Israel, education and TAU. Leslie, Samuel and their mother Lyne Gelrubin all attended the ceremony.

Winners were chosen by renowned architect Kobi Karp along with a jury of experts in the fields of design, business, construction, journalism, and architecture.

The international category recipients were:

  • 1st place—Shoya Ishiguro, Waseda University, Toyko
  • 2nd place—Zhuo-ming Shia, Delft Technical University, Netherlands
  • 3rd place—Ramona Scheffer, Delft Technical University, Netherlands

 

The recipients from TAU’s Azrieli School of Architecture were:

  • 1st place—Barak Weizman and Mai Whiteson
  • 2nd place—Gabriel Abboud and Noa Natanson
  • 3rd place—Raz Baran and Noa Shimoni

 

“Since 2013, my brother Samuel and I have had the privilege to award architecture students who are looking ahead and imagining the future—students who we hope will have the kinds of careers and opportunities that our jurors have had,” said Leslie Gelrubin Benitah, a member of TAU’s Global Campaign cabinet. “Our goal is to identify new architectural talent and give them the opportunity to get some international recognition.”

Also speaking at the event, TAU Vice President Amos Elad said: “Every year we see the growth of the talent, and we understand the need for this important Prize.”

Prof. Eran Neuman, Dean of the David and Yolanda Katz Faculty of Arts, moderated the event. This year’s selection process saw entries from top global institutions, including Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, McGill University, and Sapienza University of Rome.

For more information on the prize and past winners: https://migprize.com

Featured image: From left: Samuel Gelrubin, 2022 Michel Gelrubin Prize winner Mai Whiteson, and Leslie Gelrubin Benitah. (Photo: Chen Galili)

European Parliament President at TAU: “Where There’s Dialogue, There’s Hope”

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In first stop of Israel visit, Roberta Metsola pledges to work toward bolstered Israel-EU ties.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Sunday visited Tel Aviv University and discussed critical global and regional issues with students in her first stop on a three-day visit to Israel.  

Metsola told a packed hall at TAU’s Sourasky Central Library that she would advocate for strengthened ties between Israel and the EU throughout her visit and upon her return to Europe. 

A Message of Collaboration and Hope

“I think there is so much we can do together,” she said. “I will take this message with me and pass it on to Israeli and European leaders.” 

Metsola, 43, is recognized as part of an emerging generation of leaders in Europe and is the first woman president of the European Parliament in over 20 years. 

TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat and TAU Vice President of Research and Development Prof. Dan Peer greeted Metsola before a question-answer session with students. They underscored the significance of her visit considering the University’s centrality in EU-Israel relations. Recognized as one of the most successful institutions under the EU’s Horizon programs for research and innovation, TAU researchers have been awarded 183 grants and nearly 180 million euro in funding from the initiative.

The University also boasts a deep network of 236 partnerships in Europe. In addition, hundreds of students from Europe study at TAU International at any given time while the University is expanding its presence on the continent with programs such as its first slated extension overseas at a TAU campus in Florence, Italy. 

During the animated discussion with students, Metsola touched on a range of topics including academic freedom, rising antisemitism around world and Europe, climate change, regional geopolitics, immigration, and Russia’s war on Ukraine.  

“My position is the position of the European Parliament—we uphold that peace remains the objective,” she said in response to a question about the Middle East conflict. “Our message is one of peace and against violence.” 

The Best Weapon to Fight Prejudice

Addressing a student question about measures to combat antisemitism, Metsola acknowledged that the European Parliament has noted increasing antisemitic attacks and conveyed that it is committed to combating the growing phenomenon. She underlined that science and research cooperation is a pillar of EU-Israel relations, while education remains the best weapon to fight prejudice. 

Porat thanked Metsola for coming to the University, noting it was symbolic considering the shared values between the EU and TAU, including academic freedom, plurality, and diversity.

 

Israeli MK Prof. Yossi Shain, head of the Knesset delegation for relations with the European Parliament, initiated the visit and moderated the event. He is the former head of the School of Political Science, Government and International Affairs at TAU’s Gershon H. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences. 

A Word for Future Leaders

Metsola told the gathering at TAU that both her time in academia and professional training as a lawyer highly influenced her decision to enter politics. She first ran for office at age 24.  

“University was the hotbed of the big discussions of our time,” she recalled. In a note of advice to future leaders and those seeking to bridge gender gaps in higher education and the professional world, she added: “Never believe anyone who tells you something is impossible.” 

 

After the event, Metsola took to Twitter saying it’s “Always good to listen and discuss the future with young people – where there is dialogue there is hope.” 

Featured image: From front left: TAU Vice President of R&D Prof. Dan Peer, EP President Roberta Metsola, TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat, Knesset member Prof. Yossi Shain, and students at TAU. (Photo: Ofer Amram)

TAU Student Film “Kinship” to Compete at Cannes

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Steve Tisch School to grace the red carpet for the 17th time.

We are excited to share that the film “Kinship” by TAU student Orin Kadouri will be screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival on May 26, as part of the La Cinéf competition. The competition was established within the Cannes Film Festival in 1998 and aims to discover the next generation of leading filmmakers. The film will have its local premiere and compete at the International Student Film Festival taking place in Tel Aviv on June 12-18.

Orin Kadouri, 26, is a third-year student at The Steve Tisch School of Film and Television, The David and Yolanda Katz Faculty of the Arts. In the film, Kadouri’s first, a young girl explores new boundaries in her relationship with her widowed father following the entry of a new woman into his life. Spoiler: The daughter will do everything in her power to become the center of her father’s life again. The film was supervised by journalist and director Dalia Karpel and Head of the Tisch School, Prof. Yaron Bloch.

Red Carpet Return 

This is the 17th time that the School has been accepted to the official Cannes Student Competition. “Im Hukim” (With Rules), by director Dover Koshvili, was the first film to be accepted to the competition (in 1999), earning second place. In 2002, Aya Somekh won another second place with her film “Questions of a Dead Worker”, and in 2005 the director Mia Dreyfus won yet another second place with her film “Visiting Hours.” Other young TAU directors who have walked the red carpet over the years include: Hadar Morag, Haim Tabakman, Amit Skomsky, Yaniv Berman, Maayan Rif, Yuval Shani and others.

Eti Tsicko, Industry Relations Responsible of The Steve Tisch School says, “Although this is the 17th time the School is competing at Cannes, we’re still very excited for and with Orin and her thought-provoking film and wish her good luck!”

 

Orin Kadouri

Featured image: Scene from the movie “Kinship” (Photo: Eugene Grebenchuk) 

BOG 2022: TAU Inaugurates Pouran and Parviz Izak Nazarian Building

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Hundreds honor legacy of long-time University benefactors.

Tel Aviv University inaugurated the Pouran and Parviz Izak Nazarian Building on May 15 in honor of the distinguished TAU benefactors and long-time friends, as part of the 2022 Board of Governors meeting. The building provides world-class facilities for visitors to the University. It also houses the Citizen’s Empowerment Center in Israel (CECI), which Parviz Izak initiated, and TAU Online – Innovative Learning Center. 

“Today, we’re not just celebrating the inauguration of a building, but a dream come true—a hub, a center for new ideas, for creative plans and important strategies to forge new paths for the future of our country,” said Dora Nazarian, in recognition of her parents. “I know my father is looking down on us with satisfaction at this beautiful building.”  

The Los Angeles-based Nazarian family and TAU share a decades-long friendship. Parviz Izak, who passed away in 2017, was an Iranian-born American businessman, investor and philanthropist. His wife, Pouran, has held leadership roles at several organizations that advocate for education, Jewish causes and women’s rights in Iran and the US. The couple, both TAU Honorary Doctors, have a dedicated record of supporting Israel and higher education. Parviz Izak was a TAU Governor, and Pouran and Dora are both current TAU Governors. The Nazarian family’s contributions to TAU over the years include an endowment for the Parviz and Pouran Nazarian Chair for Modern Iranian Studies at the Entin Faculty of Humanities.  

“In an expression of their deep love for Israel, Pouran and her family are synonymous with supporting the rights of Israel’s citizens and preserving democracy and academic excellence,” said TAU Vice President Amos Elad. “What better way to support and recognize the importance of all these elements than to unite them under one roof!” 

In 2003, Parviz Izak founded the Citizen’s Empowerment Center in Israel, an NGO which aims to improve the performance of the country’s government and public sector by providing tools to make government operations more accessible to the public. It also produces academic studies, surveys and events, with the goal of boosting civic awareness and oversight of public systems. Dora Nazarian is president of the organization. 

The inauguration ceremony at TAU took place in the presence of Pouran Nazarian, her children, Dora, Dalia, Daphna, and Benjamin, and grandchildren Eliott, Ethan, Ryan, and Alexa.  

During the festivities, the family unveiled the plaque with the building’s name and a bust of Parviz Izak. They also held a mezuzah-hanging ceremony. Nearly 200 people attended the event, including TAU leadership and former prime minister Ehud Olmert, TAU Prof. Ronni Gamzu, head of Ichilov Hospital, and several former ministers.  

Prof. Gamzu, a Board Member of the Citizen’s Empowerment Center in Israel and TAU alumnus, said: “I only knew Parviz during his last years. But I understood the power of his and Pouran’s vision…which the Center is fulfilling to strengthen governance to make Israel a better place.” He added, “The legacy of Parviz, and your legacy Pouran, will prevail and continue to change the way we live in Israel.” 

Former minister Moshe Kahlon, who has held the communications, welfare & social services and finance portfolios, also spoke at the event: “I thank the Nazarian family for their great contributions to the State of Israel domestically and abroad.” He added that “Izak didn’t hesitate to use his connections to strengthen Israel,” noting the late industrialist’s support for matters ranging from Israeli industry to aliyah services. “He touched on every important aspect in Israel.”   

Featured image: The Nazarian family at the inauguration of the Pouran and Parviz Izak Nazarian Building. (Photo: Chen Galili)

BOG 2022: Arbib Entrance Plaza Named

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Canadian donors inaugurate hub of student and community activity.

In a festive ceremony held during Tel Aviv University’s 2022 Board of Governors meeting, the Arbib Family Entrance Plaza was dedicated at the Millie Phillips Student City complex by benefactor Stephen Arbib, Vice Chair of the Canadian Friends of TAU – Ontario & Western Canada, and his family. Also attending were TAU’s Vice President, International, Prof. Milette Shamir; members of the Canadian Friends; TAU Governors; students and guests.

The Arbib Plaza lies at the entrance to Student City, a 35,000 square meter student housing and commercial center with 11 dormitory buildings. Student City enables TAU to provide housing for thousands, in particular international students, undergraduates from Israel’s social and geographic periphery, and visiting scientists.

“It is through generous donations such as the one we are celebrating today, with the dedication of this plaza, that our university can continue to nurture amazing students as well as support promising research projects,” said Shamir. She stressed that “Tel Aviv University’s most important asset, and perhaps its most significant source of strength, is its amazing student body.

“Thank you, Stephen, for being a loyal friend of the University. Your contribution makes an impact where it matters the most to us,” Shamir said. 

Featured image: From left: Stephen Arbib, Prof. Milette Shamir, TAU’s VP International, Stephen Adler – Chief Executive Officer, Tel Aviv University Canada (Ontario & Western Canada) 

Big Brains Helped Large Animals Survive Extinction

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TAU researchers: more brain power helped animals adapt to changing conditions and increased chances of survival.

What do an elephant, a rhino and a hippopotamus all have in common? All three, along with other large animals, survived the mass extinction that took place for a period of about 120,000 years, starting from the time the last Ice Age began. In contrast, other huge animals, such as giant armadillos (weighing a ton), giant kangaroos and mammoths went extinct.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University and the University of Naples have examined the mass extinction of large animals over the past tens of thousands of years, and found that those species who survived extinction had, on average, much larger brains than those who did not. The researchers conclude that having a large brain (relative to body size) indicates relatively high intelligence and helped the surviving species adapt to changing conditions and cope with potential causes of extinction, such as human hunting.

The study was led by doctoral student Jacob Dembitzer of the University of Naples in Italy, Prof. Shai Meiri of Tel Aviv University’s School of Zoology and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, and Prof. Pasquale Raia and doctoral student Silvia Castiglione of the University of Naples. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Heavy Weight – No Guarantee

The researchers explain that the last Ice Age was characterized by the widespread extinction of large and giant animals on all continents on earth (except Antarctica). Among these:

  • America: Giant ground sloths weighing 4 tons, a giant armadillo weighing a ton, and mastodons
  • Australia: Marsupial diprotodon weighing a ton, giant kangaroos, and a marsupial ‘lion’
  • Eurasia: Giant deer, woolly rhinoceros, mammoth, and giant elephants weighing up to 11 tons

Other large animals, however, such as elephants, rhinos, and hippos, survived this extinction event and exist to this day.

The researchers also note that in some places, the extinction was particularly widespread:

  • Australia: The red and grey kangaroos are today the largest native animals
  • South America: The largest survivors are the guanaco and vicuña (similar to the llama, which is a domesticated animal) and the tapir, while many of the species weighing half a ton or more have become extinct

Brains over Body

Jacob Dembitzer: “We know that most of the extinctions were of large animals, and yet it is not clear what distinguishes the large extant species from those that went extinct. We hypothesized that behavioral flexibility, made possible by a large brain in relation to body size, gave the surviving species an evolutionary advantage – it has allowed them to adapt to the changes that have taken place over the last tens of thousands of years, including climate change and the appearance of humans. Previous studies have shown that many species, especially large species, went extinct due to over-hunting by humans that have entered their habitats. In this study, we tested our hypothesis for mammals over a period of about 120,000 years, from the time the last Ice Age began, and the time that modern man began to spread all over the world with lethal weapons, to 500 years before our time. This hypothesis even helps us explain the large number of extinctions in South America and Australia, since the large mammals living on these continents had relatively small brains.”

The researchers collected data from the paleontological literature on 50 extinct species of mammal from all continents, weighing from 11 kg (an extinct giant echidna) up to 11 tons (the straight-tusked elephant, which was also found in the Land of Israel), and compared the size of their cranial cavity to that of 291 evolutionarily close mammal species that survived and exist today, weighing from 1.4 kg (the platypus) up to 4 tons (the African elephant). They fed the data into statistical models that included the weighting of body size and phylogeny between different species.

Prof. Meiri: “We found that the surviving animals had brains 53% larger, on average than evolutionarily closely related, extinct species of a similar body size. We hypothesize that mammals with larger brains have been able to adapt their behavior and cope better with the changing conditions – mainly human hunting and possibly climate changes that occurred during that period – compared to mammals with relatively small brains.”

Helping Thousands of Students and Alumni Job-hunt

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More than 3000 job applications were submitted during TAU’s annual career fair.

el Aviv University this week held a massive employment fair on campus, after two years of being held online. Dozens of companies and organization took part in the event, meeting with thousands of students and alumni, informing them about open employment opportunities.  

Over 3,000 resumes were submitted during the event, and a number of immediate recruitments occurred. 

Students and alumni were treated to having professional photos taken for their LinkedIn profiles, courtesy of TAU’s Career Development Center. 

Meeting Again In Person

“Once again, we’ve successfully recruited dozens or companies for our Career Fair, which has for years been the largest employment fair of its kind. And we were able to bring together the students whom we serve, and potential employers,” says Sefi Benaim, Head of the Career Development Center at Tel Aviv University, adding that “The job market has changed a lot over the last two years, from the jobs offered through the recruitment process itself and the characteristics of the jobs. We, at the Career Development Center, have made sure to stay up to date with the changing trends in order to prepare our students for the changing world of employment.” 

Among the companies that participated were Taboola, Apple, Samsung, the Mossad, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Mobileye and more. The positions that were offered were diverse, and appealed to all studying disciplines. Participants could find jobs in hi-tech, project management, analysis, product management, marketing and the list goes on. 

Networking with a popsicle in hand. Students and potential employers in discussion at the annual employment fair 

All the jobs offered at the fair can be found on the Career Development Center’s website (Hebrew).  

Dozens of companies attended the fair, which took place all across the entire stretch of the central part of campus

Tel Aviv University Launches the International Graduate School for Social Sciences

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School manifests Israel’s leadership in many arenas related to the social sciences.

The Gershon H. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences at Tel Aviv University, under the leadership of its Dean, Prof. Itai Sened, is launching a new initiative that targets the global arena: The International Graduate School of Social Sciences. The School will offer a range of MA programs in the English language for students from all over the world, and host leading international experts, researchers, and lecturers. Full activities will commence in October 2022, at the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year.

Program Jump-Started by Nobel Laureate 

The School’s first guest, who arrived this week, is Prof. Paul Romer from NYU, 2018 Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics, and one of the world’s most inspiring thinkers in his field. Prof. Romer is a staunch supporter of the new initiative and has agreed to lead the School’s excellent cohort of visiting scholars. During his current visit he conducted workshops for outstanding students and young faculty, delivered a lecture to the Friends of TAU, and give an interview to well-known Israeli journalist Guy Rolnik.

Dr. Ro’ee Levy from The Eitan Berglas School of Economics, who researches political economy and social media, on his meeting with Romer: “I am excited to meet a Nobel Laureate in Economics and hear his thoughts on burning economic issues. Prof. Romer won the Nobel Prize together with William Nordhaus for his research on economic growth, and explored how innovation contributes to long-term growth. While economists have already realized that entrepreneurship and knowledge contribute to economic growth, Romer explored the conditions that encourage more entrepreneurship. Instead of assuming that technological developments occur on their own at random, he modeled these developments as dependent on economic conditions. The obvious conclusion is that economic policy can encourage entrepreneurship and technological advancement and thus influence economic growth.”

 

Prof. Paul Romer is a staunch supporter of TAU’s new initiative

Israel – Much More than The Hi-Tech Nation

The International Graduate School of Social Sciences serves as an umbrella for the Faculty’s five existing international MA programs – Developing Countries (sustainable development), Migration Studies, Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Security and Diplomacy, and Cyber Politics and Government – which are annually attended by about 150 students, both international and Israeli. Five more programs will be added in coming years, including Climate, Trauma, and Public Health, bringing the number of students to approximately 300 annually. Upon graduation, most alumni will join international organizations and Non-Profit Organizations active in their fields of study.

Sened believes that the new School, in its very essence, manifests Israel’s leadership in many arenas related to the social sciences. “Everyone talks about the hi-tech nation,” he says, “but we have a great deal more to offer. Israel has accumulated immense knowledge and experience in many non-technological areas, and Israeli expertise is in great demand all over the world. Our School’s programs will address many of these disciplines, making the vast knowledge amassed here at Tel Aviv University, and throughout the state of Israel, accessible to the entire world.”

This claim is corroborated by most of the School’s current and future programs: Public Health (in collaboration with TAU’s Medical School) – a field in which Israel’s critical edge was revealed during the recent pandemic; Sustainable Development (with an emphasis on developing nations) and Climate Change – where Israel’s  geographical location on the edge of the desert has generated considerable expertise; Trauma  (collaboration with  the Schools of Psychology and Social Work), Conflict Resolution and Security and Diplomacy – in which our country’s constant state of conflict has inevitably bred extensive experience; Migration Studies – whose complex issues are extensively explored in our multicultural nation of immigrants; Cyber Politics and Government (digital governance), relying on Israel’s technological prominence; and more.

International Hub for the Exchange of Ideas

The School’s wealth of MA programs will be complemented by a unique track to the PhD: 10 outstanding undergraduates, completing their BA at the Faculty of Social Sciences, will be admitted to an accelerated PhD program, which includes a scholarship for the entire period of studies, a co-supervisor from a leading university abroad, and a year of studies at the supervisor’s institution.

Academic faculty will benefit from the dynamic two-way flow of scholars generated by the School, with Israeli lecturers and researchers visiting top institutions all over the world, and their colleagues from other countries (20-30 every year, 2-3 at any given time), coming to TAU to conduct research and teach in the various international programs.

 

At present, the Faculty of Social Sciences is discussing a range of student exchange agreements with several world-leading academic institutions, including: the Johns Hopkins University branch in Bologna, Northwestern University in Illinois, Science-Po in Paris, and EUI (European University Institute) in Venice.

 

“The new International Graduate School of Social Science reflects the vision of the President of TAU,” notes Sened. “Namely, enhancing TAU’s visibility and leadership in the international arena. On the one hand, we attract students from all over the world, who wish to benefit from the knowledge accumulated here in Israel, and specifically at TAU, in the social sciences. On the other, we essentially ‘bring the world’ to Israeli students and faculty – in the form of world-class lecturers, researchers, and supervisors from around the globe. In this way, we reduce the regrettable ‘brain drain’ and encourage our excellent students and researchers to stay here with us. Ultimately, thanks to its dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, the School will become an international hub for the exchange of ideas and growth of knowledge in many areas of the social sciences that are at the heart of the human experience and critical challenges of our times.”

 

“Everyone talks about the hi-tech nation, but we have a great deal more to offer.” – Prof. Itai Sened, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences

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