What drove me to choose this lab?
Micha was one of my lecturers in the Immunology course and he talked about T-cells with such enthusiasm and a big smile that I thought to myself – that’s exactly the spirit I want to have in my academic life. Moreover, having a complex and intriguing system to work on is a wonderful advantage.
My research project is:
How can we harness stress (or the lack of it) to treat T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and learn more about T-cell quiescence.
A funny thing in our lab
There’s no dull moment in our lab, again – it’s hard to single only one event but it would probably be a moment someone made me laugh so hard I stopped breathing.
A first impression I had when I arrived
It was, and still is, the most loud and crazy lab with lots of laughter, and that was the first impression from the beginning.
A memorable event we had as a lab
Once a year (except for corona times) all of us go to have some fun – we picnic, we go to Escape Rooms, and just hang out together. It’s hard to choose only one event 
In five years I will be…
I’ll quote the psychologist Carl Rogers: “there is direction but there is no destination”… so I don’t know, yet.
What drove me to choose this lab?
I remember when I learned biology at school, I was most fascinated by the subject of immunology. Taking Micha’s course [Introduction to Immunology] as a young B.Sc. student, I realized that this is what I want to further focus on.
My research project is:
My research is about immunometabolism. Specifically, how limiting the transfer of mitochondrial ATP to the cytosol can enhance T-cell effector functions.
A funny thing in our lab
Everything everywhere all at once!
A first impression I had when I arrived
The lab members could switch modes very quickly from chilling & laughing to serious & intimidating science discussion.
A memorable event we had as a lab
We had quite a few. Micha BBQ (barbecue) for us in Ein-Lavan, Micha BBQ for us at Shani’s house, Micha BBQ for us at Leonor’s house. Yum-yum.
In five years I will be…
Post Doc somewhere around the globe!
What drove me to choose this lab?
In my Bachelors, I worked in the Berger Lab for a summer scholarship. This experience helped me understand how working in the lab looks like. Also, I discovered the love of the Immunology research field.
My research project
The role of SlFN2 gene (which is a quiescence factor in T cells and inflammatory monocytes) in protein trafficking.
The students here were very kind, helpful, and funny. They care about each other as a family.
In five years I will be…
I would like to keep improving myself and building up my experience. I also hope I will be finishing my PhD degree.
What drove me to choose this lab?
During my bachelors studies I really enjoyed immunology courses. I decided to continue in the field, and where could be better than in my teacher’s lab?
My research project is:
Improve T cells metabolism as an immunotherapy against solid tumors.
A funny thing in our lab
Every day we have a different thing! Now it’s a period of Israel’s Eurovision song
A first impression I had when I arrived
I immediately understood that everyone here is a little bit crazy, and I liked it.
A memorable event we had as a lab
We had a few, like a barbecue and doing an escape room together.
In five years I will be…
Hopefully in the end of the my phd :)
What drove me to choose this lab?
I studied computational biology and thought that immunometabolism is a fascinating field that can combine immunology with interesting analyses.
My research project is:
Metabolic adaptations of T cells to impaired activity of complex IV in the electron transport chain.
A funny thing in our lab
Because we are all a bit crazy, we can make a lot of situations hilarious when we work together.
A first impression I had when I arrived
Everybody has a good sense of humor.
A memorable event we had as a lab
The fun experience that we had at the escape room and also the barbecue we did at Ein Lavan.
In five years I will be…
A doctor of Immunology, hopefully :)
