Dr. Chaim Baskin
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences
My life before BGU:
I was born in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. After immigrating to Israel, I grew up in Haifa, where I completed my education at the BOSMAT Technical High School. I earned my bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering at Braude Academic College of Engineering, and then continued to a master’s in the same field at the Technion, graduating with distinction in both degrees. I completed my PhD at the Faculty of Computer Science at the Technion and went on to do postdoctoral research there, collaborating with leading researchers from Israel and abroad.
Why BGU?
First and foremost, it was the connection I felt with the faculty and the head of the school, who recruited me. From the very first moment, I knew that if I received a job offer from Ben-Gurion University, I would turn down all the others, and that’s exactly what happened. I also strongly believe in the Zionist vision of settling the Negev and developing Israel’s periphery, which is why I plan to relocate my family to Beer-Sheva.
My research:
My research focuses on computational learning in general and representation learning in deep learning algorithms in particular. My goal is to develop tools and methods that allow deep learning algorithms to solve a wide range of real-world problems – from computer vision to complex challenges in the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) – in a way that is computationally efficient and requires the smallest possible amount of data.
An insight from my research:
The field I work in evolves at an incredibly fast pace. To remain relevant, I read dozens of research papers every day and, like in chess, I’m always thinking several steps ahead.
Something that doesn’t appear on my resume:
Any free time I have (which isn’t much) is spent with my family. I also enjoy smoking meats, and any involvement with this, even for a moment, allows me to disconnect from work a little.
A source of inspiration:
The education and support I’ve received at home over the years.
When I grow up…
I've never dreamed too far ahead, always reassessing my goals with each step in life.
If I weren’t a researcher, I would...
That’s a question I’ve considered many times, but no answer besides research ever seemed right. I’m glad I stuck with it.
In brief:
- MasterChef or Kupa Rashit (Checkout)? MasterChef
- Pilates or Spinning? Pilates
- Morning or Night? Morning
- Summer or Winter? Winter
- Hapoel or Maccabi? Maccabi, though my real answer is the NBA
- Noa Kirel or Netta Barzilai? With all due respect to Noa and Netta, no one beats Knesiyat Hasechel
- Steak or Tofu? Steak
- Instant coffee or Espresso? Foam-topped cappuccino
- Trekking or the Spa? Trekking
- Car or Train? I prefer car, but for long trips, I would choose the train because I can work while traveling
- Classical Europe or India? Classical Europe
- Sea or Pool? Pool
- City or Countrys? City
- A movie at the cinema or a Netflix binge? Movie at the cinema
- Text or Voice Message? Voice message
- Dog or Cat? Dog
- Instagram or TikTok? Instagram
- Three things I’d take to a desert island? I’d take my whole family
