Tel Aviv University Researchers Secure Major European Grants

Five researchers from Tel Aviv University have been awarded prestigious ERC Starting Grants from the European Research Council for 2026, marking a significant achievement for the institution. The grants, aimed at promising early-career academics, will fund groundbreaking research across diverse fields including quantum computing, biomedicine, neuroscience, mathematics, and computer science.

Dr. Ran Finkelstein from Physics and Astronomy will develop a novel quantum processor using trapped atoms, potentially advancing next-generation computing and measurement systems. Dr. Sharon Fleischer in Biomedicine and Cancer Research is creating an innovative human heart-on-a-chip model with an active biological clock to study the impact of circadian rhythms on heart function and disease, aiming to reduce animal testing.

Dr. Amit Vinograd, a neuroscientist, will investigate how neural networks in the brain generate, shape, and regulate emotional and behavioral states like fear and motivation, employing advanced microscopy and precise neuron activation. Dr. Michael Chapman from Mathematics will utilize findings from quantum information theory and theoretical computer science to tackle open problems in pure mathematics, including group stability and undecidable results.

Lastly, Dr. Or Zamir in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence will focus on deciphering the precise runtime and theoretical limits of complex computational problems, exploring how to accelerate algorithms for difficult issues and enhance the reliability and safety of AI systems. These grants provide substantial resources to advance these projects, which are expected to have a significant impact on computing, medicine, artificial intelligence, and pure science.