image: Nathan Linial
Credit: Idit Wagner
Prof. Asher Cohen, President of the Hebrew University congratulated the three saying “I am thrilled to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Professors Maren R. Niehoff, Nathan Linial, and David Kazhdan on their well-deserved recognition by the European Research Council. Professor Niehoff's inaugural grant, alongside Professor Linial's second-time acknowledgment and Professor Kazhdan's extraordinary third-time achievement, underscore the enduring dedication and continued groundbreaking contributions of our esteemed faculty. These repeat grants not only signify exceptional individual accomplishment but also affirm Hebrew University's enduring commitment to fostering pioneering research that shapes the future of academia and beyond.”
Professor Maren R. Niehoff, Max Cooper Chair of Jewish Thought in the Faculty of Humanities, at Hebrew University, has been awarded the grant for her research on the interface between Judaism and Greco-Roman culture, with a particular focus on the influence of Rome. Her work delves into how Judaism evolved within the Roman Empire from philosophical, legal, and literary perspectives, uncovering parallel transformations among the Greeks and Christians.
Professor Nathan (Nati) Linial, from the Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering, the Einstein Institute of Mathematics, and the Federman Center for the Study of Rationality at Hebrew University, has been awarded the grant for his research into error-correcting codes. Note that all communication, whether among humans or machines, is susceptible to external noise. In his research Linial and his students have developed mathematical methods employing analysis, optimization, and combinatorics to analyze the optimal balance between the rate of an error-correction code and how many errors it can correct.
Prof. David Kazhdan, from the Einstein Institute of Mathematics, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been honored with a grant for his research on uncovering hidden symmetries across various mathematical fields and exploring their applications. His work aims to illuminate unexpected connections between disparate mathematical theories and leverage these symmetries to solve intricate problems.
ERC Advanced grants, each approximately valued at 2.5 million euros, stand as among the most prestigious and competitive research grants offered by the European Union. These grants provide seasoned researchers with the opportunity to pursue ambitious projects capable of catalysing significant scientific breakthroughs. They are bestowed upon leading researchers with substantial achievements in their respective fields over the past decade.
Disclaimer: In these challenging times of war and crisis, Hebrew University of Jerusalem is resolute in its dedication to advancing research and education. We stand in full support of the brave individuals on the frontlines, safeguarding our nation and the well-being of all Israelis, and extend our deepest gratitude and unwavering solidarity to our community and fellow citizens. Together, we shall prevail against the challenges that confront us, and our shared commitment to the well-being of all Israelis and the pursuit of knowledge remains resolute.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel's premier academic and research institution. Serving over 23,000 students from 80 countries, the University produces nearly 40% of Israel’s civilian scientific research and has received over 11,000 patents. Faculty and alumni of the Hebrew University have won eight Nobel Prizes and a Fields Medal. For more information about the Hebrew University, please visit http://new.huji.ac.il/en.
The ERC, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. It funds creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based across Europe. The ERC offers four core grant schemes: Starting Grants, Consolidator Grants, Advanced Grants and Synergy Grants. With its additional Proof of Concept Grant scheme, the ERC helps grantees to bridge the gap between their pioneering research and early phases of its commercialisation. The ERC is led by an independent governing body, the Scientific Council. Since November 2021, Maria Leptin is the President of the ERC. The overall ERC budget from 2021 to 2027 is more than €16 billion, as part of the Horizon Europe programme, under the responsibility of European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Iliana Ivanova