Drori Lab - People

Principal investigator

Dr. Ran Drori

I found the interaction between ice and antifreeze proteins a fascinating subject, and decided to pursue my Ph.D while studying these proteins with Prof. Ido Braslavsky at the Hebrew University (Rehovot campus). I started my post-doc at NYU's Chemistry department in 2014, working with Profs. Michael Ward and Bart Kahr. In 2017, I joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Yeshiva University. I study the fascinating mechanism by which antifreeze proteins inhibit ice growth using fluorescence and light microscopy coupled to cold stages. I apply the knowledge gained in these studies in the quest to improve frozen food products, by using thermal imaging of freezing processes inside food.

Postdoctoral researcher

Dr. Heidi Busse

Heidi joined the lab in Fall 2025 as a postdoctoral researcher. Her work in the Drori lab focuses on the nucleation and growth of ice in beef. Heidi received her PhD in Chemistry from Dr. Miriam Freedman’s lab at Penn State in Summer 2025. Her PhD work focused on the atmospherically relevant ice nucleation of polymers and microplastics. Heidi has a BS in Chemistry from University of California San Diego where she studied marine ice nucleating particles in Dr. Vicki Grassian’s group and as a part of NSF CAICE.

Undergraduate students

Rivky Kolodny

Rivky Kolodny is a Research Assistant in the Drori Lab at Yeshiva University. She is in her senior year, studying biology on the pre-med track. She will be studying the freezing patterns of beef. She is especially interested in the environmental and clinical applications of her research. Beyond the lab, Rivky is passionate about health and fitness, learning about orthopedic surgery and working with the youth in her community.

Ava Goldberg

I am a second-year undergraduate student at Stern College for Women, majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Women’s Studies. I have research experience in a breast cancer laboratory, where I investigated potential alternatives to chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer. As a pre-med student, I plan to pursue medical school and a career in healthcare. In the fall of 2025, I joined Dr. Drori’s laboratory, where I am studying ice nucleation and ice growth in beef. This project marks my first experience with chemistry-focused research, and I am eager to expand my scientific expertise and contribute to advancing knowledge in this field.

Aliza Beer

I am an undergraduate student at Stern College majoring in biology. I am working towards a career in medicine, and next year, after I graduate, I plan on pursuing a Master’s in nutrition. This is my third semester working in the Drori Lab, and I am really looking forward to my research in the activities and mechanisms of different anti-freeze proteins. Previously in the Drori Lab, I have also researched the phenomenon of ice nucleation when freezing vegetables. I have learned so much about research methodology and biochemistry from my lab work, and I am excited to explore the diverse fields and opportunities within the world of biochemistry in the future.

Principal investigator

Dr. Ran Drori

Postdoctoral researcher

Dr. Heidi Busse

Undergraduate students

Rivky Kolodny

Ava Goldberg

Aliza Beer

Alumni

Undergraduate students

Rebecca Aduculesi

Elana Apfelbaum

Tehilla Berger

Nechama Dembitzer

Eliana Felder

Deborah Gottesman

Eliana Lebowitz

Tzivia Linfield

Elisheva Miller

Atara Meyers

Atara Neugroschl

Liat Polinsky

Yitzhar Shalom

Tara Shtern

Nicole Soussana

Sara Teitelman

Post-docs

Dr. Jinzi Deng

Dr. Martin Zalazar

Master students

Shriya Kalburge

Yining Zhang