Ehud Gazit
Encyclopedia
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
(TAU). He is also the TAU Vice President for Research and Development, Chair of Nano-Biology, Chairman of Ramot Ltd., and a former member of the managing board of the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
of Tel Aviv University.
Academic Background
Gazit received his B.Sc. (summa cum laude) after completing his studies at the Special Program for Outstanding Students of Tel Aviv University, and his Ph.D. (with highest distinction) from the Weizmann Institute of ScienceWeizmann Institute of Science
The Weizmann Institute of Science , known as Machon Weizmann, is a university and research institute in Rehovot, Israel. It differs from other Israeli universities in that it offers only graduate and post-graduate studies in the sciences....
in 1997. For his Ph.D. work, he received the John F. Kennedy Award in 1996. He has been a faculty member at Tel Aviv University since 2000, after completing his postdoctoral studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
(MIT) where he also held a visiting appointment (2002-2011).
Research
Gazit's research focused on the study of biomolecular self-assembly. His work resulted in the identification of minimal recognition elements that facilitate the assembly of amyloid fibrilsAmyloid
Amyloids are insoluble fibrous protein aggregates sharing specific structural traits. Abnormal accumulation of amyloid in organs may lead to amyloidosis, and may play a role in various neurodegenerative diseases.-Definition:...
and identified novel ways to inhibit this process. His laboratory was the first to identified aromatic dipeptides that form nanotubes and nanospheres of unique mechanical and chemical properties. The applications of these nano-assemblies for ultra-sensitive biosensor
Biosensor
A biosensor is an analytical device for the detection of an analyte that combines a biological component with a physicochemical detector component.It consists of 3 parts:* the sensitive biological element A biosensor is an analytical device for the detection of an analyte that combines a biological...
s applications, energy-storage devices, and the fabrication of metallic nanowires were demonstrated. His work was published in some of the most prestigious academic journals including Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, Nature Nanotechnology
Nature Nanotechnology
Nature Nanotechnology is a monthly, peer-reviewed, scientific journal, which is published by Nature Publishing Group. It was established in October 2006. The editor in chief is Peter Rodgers, a full-time professional editor who is employed by Nature Publishing Group...
,, Nature Chemistry, Cell
Cell (journal)
Cell is a peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing research papers across a broad range of disciplines within the life sciences. Areas covered include molecular biology, cell biology, systems biology, stem cells, developmental biology, genetics and genomics, proteomics, cancer research,...
, the Proceedings of the US National Academy of Science, and many more.
Honors
Gazit had received numerous awards and honors including Landau Research Award, Dan David Scholarship Award and Prize for excellence in research from the Research Council of Tel Aviv university. Ehud’s technology transfer achievements were acknowledged by inclusion in the 40/40 list of the The Marker journal in 2007 and the 2008 list of 100 Innovations from academic Research to Real-World Application by the Association of University Technology ManagersAssociation of University Technology Managers
The Association of University Technology Managers is an organization devoted to promoting technology transfer between universities and colleges and private enterprise and/or the government. Membership consists primarily of technology transfer professionals that work for universities. The...
(AUTM). In 2009 he received the Herstin Award for a leading scientist under the age of 45.
Gazit serves as one of Strategic Research Program (SRP) Leaders of the EC Nano2Life Network of Excellence, an expert of the European Observatory of Nanobiotechnology (EoN), and a resident expert in the field of NanoBiology of Science At Stake. He is on the editorial board of several journals including Journal of Bionanoscience, Nanomedicine, PLoS ONE
PLoS ONE
PLoS ONE is an open access peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Public Library of Science since 2006. It covers primary research from any discipline within science and medicine. All submissions go through an internal and external pre-publication peer review but are not excluded on the...
, Amyloid and Current Chemical Biology.
Books
- Gazit E. (2007) Plenty of Room for Biology at the Bottom: Introduction to Bionanotechnolog. Imperial College Press, London, UK. ISBN 1-86094-677-1.
- Gazit, E., and R. Nussinov (Eds.) (2008) Nanostructure Design Protocols: Methods in Molecular Biology. Humana Press, Totowa NJ, USA. ISBN 1-93411-535-5