The Technion’s story has been intertwined with Israel’s for more than a century, from laying the foundations for a new nation to shaping its future.
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Learn MoreInspired by her parents’ courage in building a new life in Israel, Technion graduate student Ester Sonenzon is pursuing research that could advance the understanding and treatment of inherited heart disease.
As Ester Sonenzon pursues a master’s degree in the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, she looks to the example her parents provided. She recalls their courageous decision to immigrate from Russia to begin a new life in Israel.
“They left everything they knew and arrived with just one suitcase, big dreams, and a courage that still inspires me today,” she says. “In those first few years, they faced all the challenges of new immigrants — learning a foreign language, finding employment, and building a new home from scratch. From my parents, I learned that with enough determination and faith, any dream is achievable.”
Ester, who completed her undergraduate studies in the Technion’s Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, is pursuing her own dream as a graduate student: to advance human health by improving our understanding of the human heart. She and her Technion research mentor, Asst. Prof. Leeya Engel, use engineered heart cells, derived from stem cells, and advanced imaging techniques to visualize and measure the structures responsible for contraction and energy use in the heart.
The aim of the research is to better understand a condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common inherited form of heart disease, with the ultimate goal of informing treatment protocols.
As she pursues excellence in her schooling, Ester draws inspiration from her parents and from the culture of leadership that defines the Technion.
“My parents’ legacy — hard work and determination to build a life in Israel — combined with the excellent education and values I absorbed at the Technion, have shaped who I am today. The Technion doesn’t just train excellent engineers and scientists; it nurtures leaders who understand their social responsibility and commitment to the community.”
Even as she reflects on her upbringing, Ester is forging a family of her own. She and her husband, who was called up for extended reserve duty at the beginning of the war, decided to expedite their wedding and hold a spontaneous Jewish ceremony under a chuppah during the conflict.
Both Ester’s husband and his father graduated from the Technion’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Her hobbies include dancing, particularly jazz and modern styles, yoga, traveling, and spending time with family.