Professor Dror Angel, Principal Investigator

I am a marine macro ecologist seeking to improve the flow of information from the sea to the screen. My research tackles some of the most challenging fields in human-ocean interactions: Fisheries and Invasive Species (PhD) are at the core of my research. I also have ongoing research interests in Jellyfish (hobby/obsession), Marine Ecosystem Services (Post Doc), development of technologies for submarine infrastructure risk assessment and Marine Spatial Planning (consulting). I have a solid publication record with >30 peer reviewed publications, considerable experience leading research projects and excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Shirra’s research spans economics, decision science, and risk assessment related to environmental health. She has worked in the areas of sustainable aquaculture, plastic pollution and chemical exposures and is especially interested in evidence-based policy and decision making.

Shirra Freeman leads the socio-economic research on the Israeli coastal protection case study in the Transeation Project. She is an economist specializing in environmental and environmental health and has worked extensively on issues related to marine and coastal ecosystems and their interaction with economic activities and human wellbeing and is a faculty member of Haifa University’s School of Public Health. 

Carmel is a researcher in the Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology and Ecology. She holds an undergraduate degree in Biotechnology and food engineering, and has worked in a number of managerial roles. Carmel is responsible for overseeing the execution of projects, both in the field and in the lab, and in addressing the logistical challenges in our research.

Over the years Carmel took part in projects of jellyfish research, citizen science,  monitoring and assessment of ecological effects of artificial reefs, carbon sequestration, field works in the sea including collecting and identifying microplastics and plankton.

Haim graduated with a bachelor's degree in marine biology from Rupin College (on the Mikhmorat campus) in Israel. He is  now pursuing an M.A. in the Department of Archeology and Marine Cultures, and is dedicating his thesis to testing the rate of decomposition of organic matter in aquatic anoxic conditions. 

My research at the Amber lab dealt with the abundance and possible effects of microplastic particles on marine species along the Israeli Mediterranean coastal waters. During my research, novel information was shared including microplastics concentration in the investigated region, the affinity of persistent organic pollutants to microplastic, and put light on the hazard of fish to consume them, intentionally, accidentally and along the food chain.

My prior studies included research on Sponge ecology in Caribbean coastal zones, and the recovery of a sea urchin species (Diadems antillarum) in the coastal waters of Curacao.

Zafrir Kuplik has been studying scyphozoans for the past 12 years, specializing on the ecology of the medusa Rhopilema nomadica in the Mediterranean coastal waters of Israel. His main interests are the drivers of jellyfish blooms, mainly the cryptic stages of their life cycle

Zafrir received his PhD from the Department of Maritime Civilizations at the University of Haifa and recently returned from a postdoc fellowship in Cape Town, South Africa. These days Zafrir is a researcher and the manager of the Coelenterates collection at the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv. 

Asael's research deals with the environmental and economic aspects of aquaponics – the combined culture of fish and plants. Aqauponics has the potential to play a bigger role in supplying humanities growing food demands in a sustainable way. He is interested in some of the economic aspects of commercial aquaponics including: consumers' acceptance, technology adoption by producers, as well as valuation of environmental benefits of using aquaponics by using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) models. 

Coming from the fields of Biology, Ecology and Marine Biodiversity, Ioannis clearly sees how our planet is threatened by a multitude of anthropogenic pressures. By recognizing the great need for marine nature preservation, conservation, and restoration of marine systems, Ioannis set out to unravel the true depth of the marine litter issue in Cyprus as part of his doctoral studies at the University of Haifa in Israel. Specifically, he is  looking at the densities, spatio-temporal distribution, accumulation zones, sources, and pathways of marine plastic debris (macro and micro) in various marine habitats, including the coastal fronts, seafloor, surface waters and semi-submerged sea caves.

I obtained my first degree at Kazan Federal University (Russia), where I studied the effects of dioxin intoxication on brain cells. Subsequently, I earned my master’s degree at Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia), studying the epithelial tissue of ctenophores. My current PhD research project, conducted at the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, is dedicated to examining gelatinous zooplankton – specifically jellyfish and ctenophores – and the factors that affect their populations. Especially I am interested in studying gelatinous zooplankton as hosts for other parasitic invertebrates. For my research I use various range of techniques including DNA barcoding, light and scanning electron microscopy, and underwater imaging. I am convinced of the importance of studying jellyfish populations near the shores of Israel. These fascinating creatures have a profound impact on various aspects of the environment and human activities.

Driven by my passion for marine ecology and advanced technology, I am a dedicated PhD student specializing in remote sensing and its application in understanding fish distribution and behavior. My research focuses on leveraging innovative techniques such as LiDAR, photogrammetry, and artificial intelligence to bridge the gap between underwater ecosystems and cutting-edge technology. Through this interdisciplinary approach, I am uncovering insights into the intricate relationships between fish habitats and their behavior, contributing to the conservation and sustainable management of our marine environments.

Our study deals with oil detection as an anomaly in the environment through the use of remote sensing and data from a variety of satellites, combined with methods of machine learning. Using this approach, the oil will be viewed as pollution compared to a known baseline of water parameters, in place of identifying the oil itself.

One of our goals is to create a designated application for this purpose, allowing users from around the world to detect and monitor oil spills. By these means, we hope that this study results with tools that may assist in early treatment of the risk factor, and therefore contribute to preventing future damage to the ecosystem and the environment due to oil spills.

Emily studies the interactions that occur between humans and jellyfish with an emphasis on how citizen science can affect the relationship. She is a participant in the EU's ILIAD Project, which aims to create a Digital Twin of the Ocean by integrating marine science and AI. Her BA is in Anthropology from the University of Wyoming where she focused on ancient indigenous peoples. 

Haim graduated with a bachelor's degree in marine biology from Rupin College (on the Mikhmorat campus) in Israel.

He is  now pursuing an M.A. in the Department of Archeology and Marine Cultures, and is dedicating his thesis to testing the rate of decomposition of organic matter in aquatic anoxic conditions.