Yael Hanein is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Tel Aviv University. In the past she conducted research at the Weizmann Institute (MSc and PhD in Physics), Princeton University (visiting student at the lab of Nobel Prize Laureate Prof. Dan Tsui), and at the University of Washington (Postdoc in Electrical Engineering and Physics). Her research field is neuro-engineering, focusing on developing wearable electronic and bionic vision.

Her research group has pioneered the use of nanomaterials for neuro applications. She co-authored over 55 scientific publications, and delivered numerous scientific talks and popular presentations at schools, bars, and kindergartens, as well as at events such as Science Foo Camp, the WEF meetings, Falling Walls in Berlin, and Solve for X (by Google).

Her activity received extensive media attention. In 2006 she was named in the list of the 40 most promising Israelis under 40 (The Marker), in 2012 she was included in the list of the 50 most influential women in Israel (Lady Globes), and in 2013 she was included in the list of the most innovative people in Israel (The Marker).

In 2009 she was among a group of young researchers who founded the Global Young Academy and served on its first EC. In 2012 she was appointed to the Israel Young Academy by the Israel Academy and served for two years as the first head of its EC.

She has extensive connections with the industry, conducting sponsored research and joint projects. In 2009 she joined Rainbow Medical to help establish NanoRetina, a startup company developing artificial vision.

She is the co-founder of TAU Micro and Nano Central Facilities. Since 2012 she is the head of TAU Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, steering activities in Nanoscience and Nanotechnlogy. Since 2013 she is also co-directing XIN, a joint research center with Tsinghua Tsinghua University, focusing on young researchers and research projects geared towards benefiting society.

Experience

• Professor (2013 - present)

  Neuro-Engineering Lab

  Tel Aviv University

• VP of Scientific Affairs (2010 - 2023)

  Nano Retina

• Research Associate (2000 - 2003)

  University of Washington

Education

• PhD, Physics (1996 - 1999)

  Weizmann Institute of Science