Dr. Yoav Matia
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Sciences
My life before BGU:
I was born in Kfar Saba, grew up in Even Yehuda, and graduated from Ort Shapira High School. My journey to academia was quite unconventional. I started my career as an assembly line worker. It was during this time that I discovered my love for engineering and turning ideas into tangible products.While working full-time, I obtained a bachelor's degree from Afeka College of Engineering in Tel Aviv. However, I knew that this was just the beginning of a long path. Without missing a beat, I continued to work for various high-tech companies while completing my master's and doctoral degrees (Direct Track) at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. It was during this time that I discovered my passion for research.
Why BGU?
As I toured various universities in Israel and abroad, searching for the right university to pursue my academic goals, I couldn't help but feel that something was missing. It wasn't until I arrived at Ben-Gurion University that I realized what I had been searching for all along. It was the perfect combination of an academic staff dedicated to achieving research excellence, and a sense of camaraderie among the team, all working together towards the success of each individual. The atmosphere was one where the whole was greater than the sum of its parts, creating an environment that was both stimulating and enriching.
My research?
My research deals with the study of "smart" structures. I am exploring analogies between lines of code, structural, and material architecture. My research aims to make otherwise inert matter take an active role in complex logical processes and work on its own behalf. Specifically, I am working on implementing physical neuromorphic computing, which is computing based on architecture (topology) in matter. I am demonstrating how logic inspired by the mathematical principles of artificial neural networks (ANN) can be realized in inert components by adding multiscale sub-structures in the material space while preserving the original structural functionality. Through this neuromorphic architecture, the material routes the organic physical phenomenon it experiences and modulates it similarly to how an electric signal is processed in artificial neural networks (ANN). This processing is analogous to a sensing-calculation-response cycle, only built into the material without wiring, sensors, power sources, processors (CPU), and more.
An insight from my research:
There is no substitute for ambition and curiosity. These two indispensable traits can never be replaced. While analytical abilities and intelligence are crucial, the latter are an inseparable part of research and excellence. It is the combination of these skills that separates the wheat from the chaff.
Something that doesn't appear on my CV:
I am an avid fan of fantasy and science fiction and have been playing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) for 30 years. You won't catch me sitting idle for more than five minutes, and I am a sworn enthusiast of theme parks and roller coasters.
A source of inspiration:
My father was and still is the driving force in my life. From an early age, following his lead, he instilled in me the virtues of ambition, curiosity, perseverance, and the value of never losing sight of your focus. His teachings have been invaluable in shaping my character, both personally and professionally.
When I grow up...
As a child, I aspired to invent robotic suits like the ones you see in comic books. Today, I will "settle" (tongue-in-cheek) for making my mark in the world of science, in a way that makes the world a little different and better than before.
If I wasn't a researcher, I would...
For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed taking things apart, attempting to put them back together, and creating new things. If I were not a researcher, I would combine my passion for designing and making things with my love of high-adrenaline rides and develop animatronics for theme parks and special effects.
In Brief
- Fauda or Big Brother? The Big Bang Theory
- Yoga or CrossFit? Boxing
- Hapoel or Maccabi? God of War-style video games (3rd person action adventure games)
- Ravid Plotnik or Noa Kirel? Grunge and Industrial Metal
- Steak or tofu? Steak
- Trekking or the spa? Trekking
- Car or train? Car in the US, because of the wide expanses; train in Israel, because of traffic jams
- Classical Europe or India? Classical Europe
- Ocean or pool? Ocean
- Night or morning? Night
- Winter or summer? Winter
- City or country? Country
- Movie or play? Playing D&D
- Phone call or text message? Phone call
- Savory or Sweet? Savory
- Android or Iphone? Android
- Cat or Dog? Ferret...It’s a completely different experience
- Facebook or Twitter? LinkedIn
