Dr. Ayal Taitler
Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Faculty of Engineering Sciences
My Life Before BGU:
I was born in Haifa, where I grew up and graduated from the Hebrew Reali High School. I completed all my degrees at the Technion — bachelor’s and master’s in electrical engineering, and a PhD in autonomous systems and robotics. I did my postdoctoral research at the University of Toronto, focusing on artificial intelligence and decision-making.
Why BGU?
I interviewed at several universities in Israel and abroad, but the recruitment experience at Ben-Gurion University was the warmest and most welcoming. This resonated with what friends who studied and work at BGU had shared with me. A supportive atmosphere and faculty who collaborate closely are crucial factors in any workplace, fostering academic excellence as well.
My research:
I study how autonomous systems (such as self-driving vehicles, robots) make decisions in complex environments by integrating adaptive learning tools with existing knowledge and "classic" algorithms. The goal is to develop systems that are flexible and capable of learning from their surroundings, while leveraging prior knowledge to speed up decision-making and steer toward optimal outcomes, ensuring that results are safe and reliable in the real world.
An insight from my research:
The solutions to the challenges we face today don’t lie in just one approach or another, but in combining different disciplines and methods.
Something that doesn't appear on my CV:
I cook and bake, and even have an Instagram account dedicated to the dishes I make. I’ve also been practicing karate since a young age and am certified to coach by the Wingate Institute.
A source of inspiration:
My wife.
When I grow up:
I wanted to be a cowboy. Thankfully, that didn’t pan out.
If I weren’t a researcher, I would be…
working in high-tech and making loads of money.
In brief:
- MasterChef or Kupa Rashit (Checkout)? Kupa Rashit
- Pilates or spinning? Climbing
- Morning or night? Night, obviously.
- Summer or winter? Winter, preferably snowy. Like Beer-Sheva, right?
- Hapoel or Maccabi? Not really my thing.
- Noa Kirel or Netta Barzilai? Huh?
- Steak or tofu? Steaks, plural.
- Instant coffee or espresso? Cappuccino.
- Trekking or the Spa? With two little ones at home, asleep.
- Car or train? I’m not fond of driving, so if there’s a train, I’m on it.
- Classical Europe or India? I’ve never been to India, so purely objectively—Europe.
- Sea or pool? Pool.
- City or country? City, I need the hustle, and access to everything.
- A movie at the cinema or a Netflix binge? Netflix, in pajamas.
- Text or voice message? Text. Voice messages over a minute should be outlawed.
- Dog or cat? Cat. Or maybe a dog? No. cat, I think.
- Instagram or TikTok? Insta.
- Three things I’d take to a desert island: I haven’t had a real break in ages – coffee, good wine, and my wife.
