image: Ori Katz
Credit: Hebrew University
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem proudly congratulates two of its esteemed researchers on receiving the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant for 2025. Both awardees, who lead groundbreaking work in applied physics and international relations, were selected for one of Europe’s most competitive grants, awarded to researchers 7–12 years after their doctorates. These grants support the establishment of independent research groups, the development of new laboratories, and innovative projects across the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. This recognition continues the university’s strong tradition of excellence, adding to the distinguished cohort of Hebrew University ERC recipients in recent years.
“I congratulate Professors Ori Katz and Devorah Manekin on this remarkable achievement. ERC Consolidator Grants are awarded to researchers who push boundaries and open new scientific and societal horizons. Their success strengthens our mission to nurture world-class scholarship and to contribute knowledge that benefits communities in Israel and around the world.”
Prof. Oron Shagrir, Rector of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The recipients from Hebrew University are:
Prof. Ori Katz, Head of the Advanced Imaging Laboratory at the Institute of Applied Physics, has been awarded his third ERC grant for developing a new approach to optical imaging in complex and dynamic environments. Current imaging systems, from biomedical microscopes to smartphone cameras and autonomous vehicles, often struggle to see deep into living tissue or through heavy fog because light scattering in these environments shifts too quickly for existing correction methods to measure and overcome. Prof. Katz’s project proposes using this rapid variability as a source of information rather than a barrier, analyzing changes in the object or scattering medium to reveal details that conventional techniques cannot capture. This approach may enable clearer, higher-resolution imaging precisely in situations where current methods struggle, with potential implications for biomedical imaging, remote sensing, and radar applications.
Prof. Devorah Manekin, from the International Relations Department, was awarded a 2-million-euro grant for a research project examining how political polarization shapes trajectories of nonviolent resistance in an era of democratic backsliding. The project proposes a new explanation for data from the last decades which shows that nonviolent campaigns have become more frequent but less successful and analyzes how polarization between political camps affects the ability of movements to effect change. The project will draw on data from around the world, experiments, and analysis of nonviolent campaigns in six countries, and will test new strategies to promote democracy from below in a polarized political landscape.
Since 2007, the European Research Council has awarded ERC grants to outstanding researchers across Europe. Winners are selected from thousands of applicants based on proposals that demonstrate innovation, originality, and significant scientific potential. The achievement of the Hebrew University researchers is a testament to the institution’s research excellence and academic leadership on the international stage.