President Sivan joined the Israeli Air Force in 1973, where he served as a helicopter pilot before delving into academic career. He earned a B.Sc. in physics and mathematics as well as an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in physics, all with honors. Following three years at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., he joined the Department of Physics at the Technion in 1991, where he holds the Bertoldo Badler chair.
Initially focusing on quantum physics, President Sivan’s scientific interests evolved over time to encompass the intersection of nanotechnology, physics, and biology. His notable scientific contributions have earned him world recognition and prestigious prizes and honors.
President Sivan played a pivotal role as the founding director of the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute at the Technion, a groundbreaking initiative that spearheaded the nanotechnology revolution in Israel. In 2017, he was entrusted with establishing the Israeli national academic program in quantum science and technology, laying the foundation for the current nationwide program in this field.
In parallel to his academic endeavors, President Sivan’s studies have led to numerous patents and technology transfers to the industry. His most recent contribution involved a startup company dedicated to developing tools for the parallel analysis of individual cells collected from malignant tumors.
President Sivan is deeply interested in science education and led the development of “Science for All” – a three-year program designed for high school students with little background in science.
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