About me
My main research interests include optimal foraging, species interactions, evolution of virulence and host specificity, life history trade-offs, and species diversity effects. Weaving these subjects together is the question of which ecological and evolutionary factors shape species interactions –especially host-parasite associations – in wild populations and communities.
My research projects, although diverse, follow the same principles:
1) a focus on the organisms in natural settings;
2) a strong emphasis on an experimental approach;
3) interdisciplinary research integrating ecological and evolutionary theory, behavioral ecology, physiology, population dynamics, and molecular tools; and
4) simultaneous examination of species interactions from the perspectives of the different “players” involved, with a consideration of the broader community.
Study systems:
Snakes, birds, rodents, fleas, ticks, vector-borne bacteria, endosymbiotic bacteria of insects.
Hobbies:
Hiking, running, listening to music, craft and art, reading, playing basketball, playing with my kids and their friends.
Education
1. B.Sc.–1997-2000 – Ben-Gurion University – Life Sciences. Summa cum laude
2. M.Sc.–2000-2002 – Ben-Gurion University – Life Sciences. Summa cum laude
Name of advisors: Professor Zvika Abramsky and Doctor Boris Krasnov
Transferred to Ph.D. program
3. Ph.D. –2002-2006– Ben-Gurion University – Life Sciences
Title of thesis: The interrelated nature of host-parasite interactions: role of ecological factors
4. Post Doctorial Associate –2006. Host-parasite Interactions. Ben-Gurion University – Life Sciences
5. Post Doctorial Associate –2007-2009. Microbial Interactions. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA – Biology
6. Post Doctorial Associate –2009-2010. Tick-borne diseases. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA – Biology
Employment History
2011-current – Senior Lecturer, Ben Gurion University– Life Sciences
2010 – Lecturer, Ben Gurion University– Life Sciences
Professional activities
(a) Positions in academic administration
2011-current – A member in the departmental teaching committee
(b) Member of editorial board of scientific journal and a reviewer
2011-current – Editor or member of editorial board of scientific or professional journal
Frontiers in Microbiology
2005-current – Reviews in scientific journals: Israel Journal of Zoology; Functional Ecology; Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology; Behavioural Ecology, Mammalian Biology, Behaviour, Oikos, Journal of Animal Ecology
(c) Membership in professional/scientific societies
1. 2000-current- The Zoological Society of Israel
2. 2005- Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society
3. 2006- Animal Behaviour Society
4. 2011- The Entomological Society of Israel
Educational activities
(a) Courses taught
1. “Introductory to Ecology”, 2st year undergraduate course, Life Sciences, BGU (compulsory course, jointly with Dr. Yaron Ziv)
2. “Workshop in Ecology and Environmental Sciences”, graduate student seminar organizer, Life Sciences, BGU
3. “Community Ecology”, graduate student course, Life Sciences, BGU
(b) Research students
Ph.D. students – Tali Reiner Brodetzki (co-supervised by Dr. Yuval Gottlieb-Dror, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
M.Sc. students – Irit Messika and Carmit Cohen
Undergraduate students – Hadar Kedem, Roy Shatzki, Netta Landa
Awards, Citations, Honors, Fellowships
(a) Honors, Citation Awards
1. 1999 – Faculty of Natural Science, BGU, special distinction for academic achievements in 1998
2. 2000 – Department of Life Sciences, BGU, award for excellent research project
3. 2001 – Department of Life Sciences, BGU, award for academic excellence in 2000
4. 2001 – Zoological Society of Israel, honorary mention for a poster
5. 2002 – BGU, award for academic excellence in M.Sc. from the Rector
6. 2002 – Ministry of Education, award for academic excellence in M.Sc.
7. 2002 – Zoological Society of Israel, honorary mention for a presentation
8. 2006- Merav Ziv Award for academic excellence in Ph.D in Ecology
(b) Fellowships
1. 2001 – The International Arid Lands Consortium, peace fellowship, $5000 to participate in field research in Las Cruces, New Mexico
2. 2003 – 2006- Kreitman Fellowship for excellence, $667 per month for 4 years of Ph.D.
3. 2006 – Fulbright postdoctoral fellowship for Israeli students in America, $20,000 for a year
4. 2007-BIKURA, a postdoctoral fellowship from the Israel Science Foundation, $34,000 per year for two years
5. 2007-Sara Lee Schupf post doctoral award for advancing women in science funded by the Clore foundation and S. Donald Sussman, $20,000 per year for two years
6. 2009- Post doctoral fellowship from Indiana University, $32,000 for one year
7. 2011-Rich Fund for Women in Academy, $5000 for one year
Research Grants
2011-2015, Marie Curie Career Integration Grant (CIG), Hawlena, H. (IP), Effects of ecological factors on bacterial communities of fleas, €100,000 for 4 years
