Ido Shitrit

Doctoral student 

I am a doctoral student under the joint supervision of Prof. Rany Abend, and Prof. Tomer Shechner at Haifa University’s Developmental Psychopathology Laboratory.

My research focuses on understanding developmental differences in fear learning mechanisms and how they relate to anxiety disorders. Specifically, in collaboration with the Developmental Psychopathology Lab I examine variations in psychophysiological measures to uncover insights into how fear responses develop and manifest in different individuals, with the ultimate goal of informing targeted interventions for anxiety.

Ayelet Levinkron

Doctoral student 

I am a doctorate student, working under joint supervision of Prof. Rany Abend and Prof. Ruth Feldman. I have a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Psychology from the Sagol School of Neuroscience at Tel Aviv University. My research uses functional MRI to study the influence of different types of early life adversities on brain development, focusing on the neural mechanisms underlying social interaction. 

This research aims to better understand the relationship between chronic stress exposure and mental health outcomes in adulthood.

Omer Dayan

Experiment development lead ,  research assistant

I am a third year student in the computer science and cognitive sciences B.Sc program at Reichman University. I am passionate about designing and developing novel tasks to examine the neurobiological, cognitive and affective mechanisms which underpin anxiety, PTSD, and other forms of psychopathology, and their effects on decision making. 

I am interested in designing data pipelines interacting with physiological sensors, and analyzing data in order to collect psychological and physiological insights to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms which drive clinical conditions. 

Elisheva (Shevi) Parkoff

Research assistant, B.A Psychology Student Brain and Mind program

My passion lies in the intricate intersection of neuroscience and psychopathology, particularly in understanding the complex dynamics of pain, anxiety, and fear. 

Through my academic endeavors thus far, I have delved into the exploration of the physiological response to physical and emotional stimuli. I seek to unravel the complexities that underlie these fundamental aspects of the human experience, and to contribute to the collective understanding of the brain’s intricacies and mechanisms. 

Liron Elraviv

Research assistant, B.A Psychology Student Brain and Mind program

I am particularly interested in exploring novel treatment methods and protocols for PTSD, and stress-related mental health conditions. 

I am also passionate about the role of mirror neurons in empathy and learning, and harnessing neuroplasticity to explore new therapeutic options for chronic pain.

Brooke Newman

Research assistant, B.A Psychology Student Brain and Mind program

I am deeply interested in neurobiological research in psychopathology, with a particular focus on the discovery of novel biomarkers which may allow for early detection and risk prevention. 

My goal is to contribute to advancements that will make the diagnosis of psychological disorders more accurate, and more accessible in the future.

Chana Kolber

Research assistant, B.A Psychology Student Brain and Mind program

I am passionate about exploring the mechanisms underlying the pathology and neurobiology of PTSD and anxiety, with a focus on the specific neural circuits and biological processes contributing to these disorders. Additionally, I am interested in uncovering genetic factors that may predispose individuals to psychological vulnerabilities. 

I aim to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of these complex conditions, thereby advancing the field’s approach to early detection, prevention, and effective treatment.

Yuval Waiss

Research assistant, B.A Psychology Student Brain and Mind program

I am interested in research regarding the neurobiological and cognitive mechanisms underpinning anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders, as well as how these conditions impact various aspects of individuals' daily lives. 

My goal is to contribute to developing more efficacious therapeutic approaches that can bring relief and resilience to those affected by these mental health challenges. 

Galith Benzaquen

Research assistant, B.A Psychology Student Brain and Mind program

I am very interested in research related to pathological anxiety and PTSD, particularly following mass exposure to trauma. 

I am also passionate about utilizing clinical research to inform policy in order to facilitate large-scale improvements in psychological health and functioning across different demographics.

Tal Tsarfaty

Physiology analyst

I am a M.Sc. student in Biomedical Engineering at Tel Aviv University, with a B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from Afeka College of Engineering. My research focuses on the technical analysis of physiological signals, integrating my background in engineering with my interest in neuroscience and psychology.

I believe in the power of multidisciplinary research to approach complex problems from multiple perspectives and advance our understanding of brain function and behavior.

Shahar Kretsch Bourvine

Experiment developer, research assistant

I am currently studying psychology at The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, and previously studied statistics and data analysis. I am fascinated by the relationship between brain structure and function, and psychopathologies, particularly with respect to conditions that remain challenging to treat. 

I am passionate about unraveling the neural mechanisms underlying treatment-resistant mental health conditions, with the goal of developing more targeted therapeutic approaches based on our understanding of brain networks and connectivity patterns.

Aylin Shanti Flisser Ruzansky

Research assistant

I am a third-year psychology student with a passion for research related to how stress impacts behavior, focusing on the specific ways in which traumatic experiences can alter psychological and physiological responses. 

I am interested in understanding how individual differences impact long-term functioning following trauma exposure and what may predict resilience versus chronic psychological distress.

Roni Lippin

Research assistant, task developer

I am a third year student in the computer science and cognitive sciences B.Sc program at Reichman University. I am currently working with Noa to develop digitized versions of our laboratory-based paradigms.

I am focused on improving efforts to overcome the barriers faced by individuals and communities who are unable to participate in research or receive crucial interventions due to challenges in accessibility. 

Noa Bendet

Research assistant, task developer

I am a third year student in the computer science and cognitive sciences B.Sc program at Reichman University.  I am currently working with Roni to develop digitized versions of our laboratory-based paradigms to improve accessibility and facilitate increased generalizability. 

I am interested in utilizing technology to characterize specific patterns of facial expressions to identify  fear and anxiety-related reactions. 

Razy Lichtenstein

Research assistant, task developer

I am a third year student in the computer science and cognitive sciences B.Sc program at Reichman University.  I am currently working on developing a new fear conditioning paradigm, and I love working in the lab because it allows me to pursue my passion for coding while constantly learning and making a real impact. 

Contributing to discoveries that can improve lives is both fulfilling and motivating, blending what I enjoy with meaningful purpose.

Tamar Sassi

Guided Research Student

I am a third-year student in the Psychology and Business Administration double major program, specializing in marketing. I am deeply interested in understanding the brain mechanisms underlying depression and mental resilience, with the goal of exploring how these insights can contribute to developing improved therapeutic interventions.

I am particularly passionate about utilizing advanced neuroscience methods to enhance the efficacy of existing treatments for depression.

Shachar Yanovich

Guided Research Student

I am a third year student in the psychology and business administration double major (with a specialization in marketing). I am particularly interested in the connection between the body and mind, and in understanding the ways in which physiological symptoms of psychological disorders such as anxiety manifest in practice, and in individuals’ daily lives. 

In addition, I am fascinated by research exploring the brain mechanisms underpinning anxiety and fear.

Yahli Hoff

Guided Research Student

I am a third year student in the Psychology and Business Administration double major program, specializing in marketing. My research interests focus on understanding the brain mechanisms that lead to psychopathology and mental resilience, and combining them to develop new therapeutic interventions. 

I am interested in using advanced neuroscience methods  to improve the treatment of conditions such as anxiety, depression and PTSD.

Mariam Khutaba

Guided Research Student

I am a second-year student in the psychology BA, and deeply passionate about understanding how our emotions affect the brain and body and how these changes influence our responses to various situations. My main focus is exploring emotional perception and the physiological mechanisms which drive it. 

I plan to continue pursuing this passion as I work toward becoming a clinical psychologist.

Dar Gaton

Guided Research Student

I am a third-year student in the Psychology and Law double major program. I am interested in human behavior and decision-making, with a particular focus on the psychological mechanisms that drive us.

I am passionate about exploring human behavior, cognition, and their applications in real-world contexts, and I enjoy contributing to innovative research projects that expand our understanding of these dynamics.

Eilon Moshe

Guided Research Student

I am a third-year student in the Psychology and Law double major program. I am interested in human behavior and decision-making, with a particular focus on the psychological mechanisms that drive us.

I am passionate about exploring human behavior, cognition, and their applications in real-world contexts, and I enjoy contributing to innovative research projects that expand our understanding of these dynamics.

Yuval Yarom

Guided Research Student

I am a second year student in the Psychology and Business Administration double major. I am passionate about understanding the mechanisms underpinning  anxiety disorders and PTSD, and exploring how such conditions develop and shape human experiences.

I enjoy taking part in research at the Abend lab as it allows me to understand the complex dynamics between body, mind, and behavior, and help contribute to work which will enhance approaches to treatment and support for individuals affected by these disorders.