334 New PhDs Join Bar-Ilan’s Academic Family
Marking the achievements of graduates whose research spans ten faculties and the challenges of our time
From Kiryat Shmona in the north to Israel’s southern communities, across ten faculties spanning the social sciences, medicine, engineering, exact sciences, Jewish studies, humanities, and education—this year 334 graduates will proudly receive their PhD degrees.
The ceremony, taking place on September 9, marks not only the culmination of years of study but also a celebration of resilience, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.
A Milestone Moment
Earning a doctorate is never simple. It takes years of research, countless experiments, late nights, and the courage to push through uncertainty and doubt. This year’s graduates remind us that every dissertation is more than an academic achievement, it is a contribution to humanity’s collective understanding, a piece of new knowledge carved out with dedication and persistence.
The 2025 cohort includes 188 women and 146 men. Their journeys demonstrate that achievement knows no age: the youngest graduate is 27, while the oldest is 83. Together, they show that it is never too early, or too late to reach remarkable academic heights.
Studying Through Crisis, Emerging Stronger
In recent years, PhD students have faced challenges beyond the academic norm: a global pandemic, ongoing conflict, and personal upheavals. Yet their achievements shine all the brighter against this backdrop. Here are a few stories that capture both the spirit of the graduates and the unique character of this moment in time.
From Tragedy to Groundbreaking Research
Yamit Asoulin, a teacher from the Gaza border communities, completed her doctorate in economics, researching the impact of financial and non-financial incentives on pro-social behavior. Her experiments were conducted in local schools, many of which were deeply affected by October 7. Yamit lost her nephew, Dan, who was killed defending his community, while her sons narrowly escaped the Nova festival. Despite the immense personal loss, she persevered, publishing two peer-reviewed articles dedicated to the memory of those who participated in her studies and were murdered. Today she continues her postdoctoral research at Ben-Gurion University.
From Evacuation to Excellence
Orly Weisberg, a mother of six from Kiryat Shmona, pursued her PhD in the neuroimmunological aspects of autism under the supervision of Prof. Evan Elliott. Even while evacuated from her home during the war and with a son serving in the IDF, Orly pressed forward. Her research earned her a prestigious Teva Excellence Fellowship and second place in the 2023 BioMix competition. She has since returned to Kiryat Shmona and begun her postdoctoral fellowship at the MIGAL Research Institute.
Bridging Disciplines, Fighting Boycotts
Irit Barzel-Rave, from the Interdisciplinary Program in Hermeneutics and Culture, devoted 11 years to a research project combining philosophy, psychology, and cultural theory under the guidance of Prof. Aner Govrin and Prof. Mark Solms. Beyond her scholarly contributions, she is active in countering academic boycotts against Israel, underscoring the vital link between academic research and global engagement.
A Global Journey in Quantum Physics
Dr. Polina Matveeva’s path began in Russia, where she studied physics in Yekaterinburg and St. Petersburg. A short-term visit to Bar-Ilan introduced her to Prof. Dmitri Gutman, who later became her doctoral advisor. Her PhD research, conducted with collaborators from Germany and the UK, explored one-dimensional topological phases with interactions—a key area in quantum physics with significant implications for future technologies.
Looking Ahead
The stories of these graduates, and of their 330 peers, highlight the breadth of research at Bar-Ilan University, from behavioral economics to theoretical physics, but also the personal determination behind each dissertation. They remind us that academic research does not exist in a vacuum; it continues even in times of personal and national trial.
As Bar-Ilan proudly confers these 334 doctorates, we also celebrate the promise they carry: new knowledge, new hope, and a future shaped by inquiry, innovation, and resilience.