From Physics Research Labs to a Prestigious National Science Foundation Grant

Prof. Yigal Meir of the Department of Physics has been awarded a two-million-shekel grant from the Israel Science Foundation (ISF). This highly regarded award aligns with the foundation's goals under its Pioneering Research Program (known by its Hebrew acronym “Mapatz”), which supports a select group of researchers who have made significant scientific contributions and demonstrated exceptional leadership and scientific ability over the past decade. Professor Meir is the first researcher from Ben-Gurion University to receive this distinguished grant.

Supported by “Mapatz”, Prof. Meir’s research focuses on quantum theory, particularly the foundational principle that mere observation of a system alters it. Uniquely, his work explores the inverse question: how does observing a system affect the observer? a question particularly relevant in the context of quantum computing.  A previous study by Prof. Meir earned him a two-million-euro grant from the European Research Council (ERC) approximately three years ago.

Yigal Meir is a Professor in the Department of Physics and one of the founders of the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology. He served as President of the Israel Physical Society from 2011 to 2014 and was elected as a Fellow last year. His achievements, which include being a Fellow of the American Physical Society and a visiting scientist at Princeton University, reflect his significant contributions to developing theories of interacting and disordered electron systems, particularly in mesoscopic systems, with implications for quantum computing and information.

In recent years, Prof. Meir has broadened his research to include biophysics and biology. His impressive body of work includes over 150 scientific publications, many of which have been cited thousands of times by other researchers worldwide.