Drori Lab - Team

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 of Jerusalem. 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

Tzipora Einbinder

Tzipora Einbinder is an undergraduate honors student at Stern College, majoring in biochemistry. She plans to continue in the field of research after her undergraduate studies. In the Drori lab, she is a Research Assistant studying ice nucleation in beef through physical and computer models. Tzipora is also a member of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University.

Elisheva Finkelstein

Elisheva Finkelstein is a second year biochemistry student at Stern College for Women. She joined The Drori Lab in Fall 2026, where she is currently studying freezing patterns in beef. She has previous experience in clinical trial research and enjoys learning about new areas of science and approaching problems with both analytical and creative thinking. She looks forward to developing as a researcher and strengthening her problem solving skills through her work in The Drori Lab. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in biochemical research or biotechnology, contributing to scientific advancements with practical applications.

Eliora Gissinger

Eliora is an undergraduate honors student at Stern College for Women, studying on the pre-med track. She is majoring in Biochemistry, minoring in English, and is a Straus Scholar. In January of 2026, Eliora joined the Drori lab, where her project focuses on characterizing the thermal hysteresis activity of antifreeze proteins. She is particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms responsible for the variant protein activity appearing in these experiments. Eliora is eager to develop her research skills and deepen her knowledge of biochemistry through her work in the Drori lab.

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.

Aleen Jaradeh

Aleen Jaradeh is a junior undergraduate student at Stern College for Women, majoring in chemistry with a minor in physics. She has previous research experience studying male infertility and spermatogenesis. Aleen joined the Drori Lab in the summer of 2026, where she conducts experiments involving antifreeze proteins and analyzes their interactions with ice surfaces using fluorescence microscopy. In the lab, Aleen is given the opportunity to apply her passion for chemistry in a research setting and is eager to further her knowledge while contributing to the lab’s ongoing research.

Mital Keypour

I am a second-year undergraduate student at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women, majoring in Biology on the pre-med track. I joined the Drori Lab in Fall 2026, where I study ice nucleation and ice growth in meat samples. Through my work in the lab, I am eager to expand my scientific knowledge, strengthen my research skills, and contribute to advancing our understanding of ice nucleation and its applications. In the future, I plan to attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician.

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.

Leah Margolin

Leah Margolin is an undergraduate student at Stern College for Women, majoring in physics with a minor in mathematics. She joined the Drori Lab in June 2026. In the lab, she studies antifreeze proteins using fluorescence microscopy to observe and analyze the proteins’ ice-binding mechanisms. Leah hopes to pursue a career applying physics and mathematics to scientific and technological challenges, particularly through research and development.

Efrat Ohayon

Efrat Ohayon is an undergraduate student at Yeshiva University's Stern College for Women, majoring in biochemistry. She joined the Drori Lab in January 2026, where she studies growth rates of ice crystals. She is eager to build her skills in laboratory research and deepen her understanding of biochemistry, she looks forward to contributing to the lab's ongoing work.

Principal investigator

Dr. Ran Drori

Postdoctoral researcher

Dr. Heidi Busse

Undergraduate students

Tzipora Einbinder

Elisheva Finkelstein

Eliora Gissinger

Ava Goldberg

Aleen Jaradeh

Mital Keypour

Rivky Kolodny

Leah Margolin

Efrat Ohayon

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