Scholar and Soldier: From Military Reserve Duty in Gaza to Winning the Krill Prize for Excellence in Scientific Research
Groundbreaking work in machine learning, signal processing, communications, and information theory earns Dr. Nir Shlezinger of the BGU School of Electrical and Computer Engineering the prestigious Krill Prize for 2024.
A prestigious Krill Prize for 2024 was awarded to Dr. Nir Shlezinger from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Ben-Gurion University "for his groundbreaking work in the fields of machine learning, signal processing, communications, and information theory," as noted by the judging committee of the Wolf Foundation, who award the prize.
Dr. Shlezinger's research spans diverse topics at the intersection of signal processing, machine learning, digital communications, and information theory. His model-based machine learning work has revolutionized the field, offering innovative solutions. The research methods he developed have advanced critical tasks in wireless communications and established him as a leader in signal processing.
His dedication to academic teaching is admirable. Shlezinger, an IDF reserve armored corps officer, was called to extended reserve duty during Operation Iron Swords, yet over the past few months he has continued preparing his lectures and returns to the University during short breaks from operational activities to teach and support his students, many of whom were also serving in the reserves. Dr. Shlezinger's care for his students and the research community make him an inspiration to his colleagues and other academics.
He earned all three degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Ben-Gurion University, began his postdoctoral work at the Technion, and after a year and a half, moved to the Weizmann Institute of Science. He is currently a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering Sciences at BGU.
The Krill Prize, funded by the Krill family, is awarded annually to ten researchers from higher education institutions in Israel who excel in the exact sciences, life sciences, medicine, engineering, and agriculture. The recipients are not only recognized for their past achievements but are also anticipated to play pivotal roles in leading Israeli research and academia in the future. The winners, chosen by the Wolf Foundation's judging committee, are distinguished by their determination, initiative, and creativity, attributes that have contributed to significant breakthroughs in scientific research.
