Ranked 208th globally and 29th worldwide in Citations per Faculty, TAU continues to lead Israeli academia and strengthen its position on the international stage.

Tel Aviv University has once again been ranked as Israel’s leading university in the prestigious QS World University Rankings 2027. One of the world’s most influential measures of academic excellence, the QS rankings evaluated more than 1,500 universities from around the globe this year.

According to the rankings, TAU placed 208th worldwide, ahead of all other Israeli universities. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ranked 218th, while the Technion ranked 334th. This year’s global top three are MIT, Stanford University, and the University of Oxford.

TAU’s performance was particularly impressive in the Citations per Faculty indicator, where it ranked 29th in the world. This measure, which accounts for 20% of the overall QS score, is considered one of the key indicators of research quality and international impact. It reflects the extent to which the university’s scientific publications influence the global academic community.

The QS World University Rankings are among the most respected and influential rankings in higher education. Each year, QS evaluates approximately 1,500 universities worldwide across a range of indicators, including research impact, academic reputation, graduate employability, and internationalization. The rankings are based on approximately 17.5 million academic papers and 240,000 interviews with academics and employers worldwide.

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TAU’s Vice President for Research and Development has been awarded the Founders Award in recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to drug delivery science.

The international Controlled Release Society (CRS) announced that Prof. Dan Peer, Vice President for Research and Development at Tel Aviv University, has been awarded the Society’s Founders Award. The Founders Award of the Controlled Release is the highest honor and recognition given to a scientist whose research made a groundbreaking, lasting impact on the field of drug delivery science.

A Pioneer in RNA Therapeutics

Prof. Dan Peer, Vice President for Research and Development, is one of the pioneers of mRNA drug development worldwide and Head of the Laboratory of Precision Nano-Medicine at the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research at TAU’s  Wise Faculty of Life Sciences. Prof. Peer is a trailblazer and among the pioneers in the use of RNA molecules as molecular therapeutics. His research focuses on the development of RNA-based molecular medicines for a wide range of diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, blood cancers, brain cancer, ovarian cancer, and rare genetic diseases. In addition, Prof. Peer studies the use of RNA molecules as vaccines for viral diseases, bacterial diseases, and cancer, and develops nanometric drug carriers with the ability to selectively target specific cells.

Breakthrough Achievements in Drug Delivery

Among his groundbreaking achievements, Prof. Peer and his laboratory were the first in the world to demonstrate that mRNA molecules can be delivered to produce therapeutic proteins in animals, to use short RNA molecules for gene silencing in immune system cells, and to perform gene editing using nanoparticles that home to their target cells when injected into the bloodstream. In addition, Prof. Peer and his team were the first in the world to develop an mRNA-based vaccine against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

In recognition of his achievements, Prof. Peer was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the U.S. National Academy of Inventors, and the Israeli Young Academy. He has also received numerous awards, including the Rappaport Prize, the Landau Prize, and the Litwin Prize for Breakthrough Research. The inventions to which he has contributed (more than 160 patent applications) have been commercialized by several companies. In addition, Prof. Peer has founded several startup companies in Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States, some of which are already in clinical trials.

Prof. Dan Peer: “The Founders Award of the Controlled Release Society is the highest recognition in the field of drug delivery and controlled release research, and I am excited by the recognition and honor given to the contribution of my laboratory and the team that works with me to the field.”

New funding will strengthen the Colton Consortium for Autoimmunity, a research network running across UPENN, NYU, Yale, and TAU

The Colton Consortium for Autoimmunity based at the University of Pennsylvania, last week announced a new $15 million, three-year investment from the Colton Foundation to strengthen scientific leadership, expand faculty expertise, and advance collaborative research to accelerate breakthroughs in autoimmune disease across its partner institutions at New York University, Tel Aviv University, and Yale University.

Autoimmune diseases affect millions worldwide and remain among the most complex conditions to diagnose, treat, and prevent. While advances in immunology have deepened our understanding of disease mechanisms, many conditions still lack effective therapies. At the same time, converging progress across academia, clinical research, and biopharma has created an ecosystem with transformative opportunities—one where coordinated investment and collaboration can translate discovery into meaningful advances for patients.

A Global Partnership for Autoimmune Research

The Colton Consortium for Autoimmunity is a global, multi-institutional research partnership uniting leading academic medical centers—including the University of Pennsylvania, New York University, Yale University, and Tel Aviv University—in a coordinated effort to transform the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of autoimmune diseases. Through sustained philanthropic investment and a highly integrated collaborative model, the Consortium advances high-impact science that spans discovery research, translational studies, and clinical application, with the shared goal of improving outcomes for patients worldwide. The Consortium is made possible through the generosity of the Colton Foundation, led by Judy and Stewart Colton.

Strengthening Collaboration Across Institutions

This investment strengthens the Consortium’s ability to operate as an integrated, high-performing research network—supporting work that no single institution could accomplish alone. This new investment supports three core pillars: advancing faculty recruitment across institutions, accelerating cross-consortium research collaboration and strengthening leadership and research infrastructure. As the Consortium enters its next phase with this new $15 million investment, Colton investigators are well positioned to capitalize on a strong foundation and lead new advances in autoimmune research.

Uri Nevo, PhD, Director of the Colton Center for Autoimmunity at Tel Aviv University: “This generous donation enables Tel Aviv University, together with its clinical partners in hospitals and healthcare organizations across Israel, to establish collaborative partnerships with Colton institutions in the United States. Together, we will lead innovative research initiatives aimed at advancing the understanding and treatment of autoimmune diseases. The approved projects will include not only clinical and biological research, but also data-driven studies and studies designed to build the engineering and computational infrastructure necessary for improved diagnosis and treatment”.

Tel Aviv University reaches a major sustainability milestone, with approximately 45% of campus electricity consumption powered by renewable energy

Tel Aviv University’s Green Council is proud to announce that, as part of the implementation of the strategic plan for climate change and sustainability, approximately 45% of the campus’ power consumption already comes from green energy sources. This means that nearly half of the power consumed on the TAU campus is no longer based on fossil fuels. This is another significant step that positions TAU at the forefront of sustainability among Israel’s institutions of higher education.

From Rooftop Solar Panels to Campus-Wide Transformation

Members of the Green Council explain that TAU annually consumes approximately 75 million kWh of electricity -about 4 million of which originate from 17,000 square meters of solar systems installed on the rooftops of various buildings across campus, including: the Dan David, Buchmann-Mehta, Mitchell, Sharett, De Botton, Goldschleger and Health Professions buildings, and lecture halls of the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. A vast solar roofing system will soon be installed on the Smolarz parking lot as well.

A Roadmap to 100% Renewable Energy

The remaining green power consumption, totaling about 29 million kWh, is supplied by off-campus solar energy sources. The Council emphasizes that its multiannual plan involves a shift to 100% green power within the next few years, including construction of a large energy storage center on campus.  According to the agreement signed with Shikun & Binui Energy, an advanced energy storage facility with a capacity of more than 30 MWh will be built on campus – one of the largest projects of its kind in central Israel and the first in an Israeli academic institution.

A Campus-Wide Sustainability Strategy

The ambitious strategic plan was launched about three years ago by TAU’s Green Council, led by President Prof. Ariel Porat and CEO Gadi Frank. Following extensive preparatory work, the Green Council set a series of additional goals, including: shifting to sustainable energy, saving energy and water, waste minimization and smart use of resources, sorting waste and reducing transportation emissions, fostering and preserving flora and fauna, and more. All this, alongside climate change adaptations such as shading and planting trees across campus.

Rooftop solar panels at the Law Library building

Turning Commitment into Action

Dr. Judi Lax, Head of Sustainability, Engineering and Maintenance at TAU: “Until recently, our use of renewable energy amounted to just a few percent. In a short time, we were able to make a dramatic change and reach 45% green power on campus. This is not just an environmental statement – it is a real operational revolution that significantly reduces TAU’s greenhouse gas emissions. We see the campus not only as a place for research and teaching, but also as a cradle for meaningful change. Our goal is clear: to turn TAU into a campus that leads the way in rapid, drastic emissions reduction. It is important to understand that these initiatives result from broad collaboration within the university – connecting science, data, operations and field personnel, consultants, management, students, and faculty – as well as a great deal of daily work on the campus itself. Change of this kind only happens when an entire system rallies and works together toward a shared goal.”

From Research to Real-World Impact

Prof. Marcelo Sternberg, a leader of the program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions on campus and a researcher at the Wise Faculty of Life Sciences: “Alongside research and teaching that address the climate-ecological crisis, TAU also sees great importance in the practical implementation of sustainability principles within the campus itself. As a center of knowledge, innovation, and public influence, we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to also lead environmental change through direct action. TAU’s rapid rise to 45% renewable energy demonstrates how science, vision, and good management can turn environmental commitment into reality on a significant scale. This is an important message to our students, to Israeli society, and to other institutions both in Israel and worldwide: meaningful action is both possible and necessary – and the time to act is now.”

“Space is no longer a distant destination; it is humanity’s next arena of activity, and we are proud to be among those shaping its future.”

A small step for humanity, a giant leap for Tel Aviv University.

The Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering this week inaugurated the Space Engineering Center (SEC), a new initiative that will bring together research, development, and training in the fields of space and satellite engineering, while serving as a focal point for collaboration between academia, industry, and the defense sector.

The launch comes amid rapid growth in Israel’s space industry and increasing demand for engineers and researchers in the field. According to the center’s director, Prof. Meir Ariel, its mission is “to make a significant contribution to Israel’s security, the Israeli space industry, and the advancement of human knowledge.”

Bringing Together Science, Engineering, and Technology

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Tel Aviv University President Prof. Ariel Porat; Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Prof. Noam Eliaz; and the Space Engineering Center research team, including Prof. Meir Ariel, Prof. Ofer Amrani, Prof. Viacheslav (Slava) Krylov, Dr. Lior Medina, and Prof. Ronen Verker.

In his remarks, Prof. Porat praised the Faculty of Engineering and its contributions to Israel’s security, emphasizing the importance of the new center to the university as a whole.

“There is no field on campus that cannot, in some interesting way, connect to space,” he said.

Alongside his remarks on the future of Israel’s space sector, Prof. Porat also reflected on a personal connection to the center’s founding. He spoke about Dan Ariel, the son of Prof. Meir Ariel, who was murdered at the Nova music festival on October 7.

“He loved space and was fascinated by it,” said Prof. Porat. “It is possible that he himself would have become a researcher in the field.”

In his address, Prof. Eliaz highlighted the center’s activities and ambitions.

“The common denominator of all this research is its potential to transform groundbreaking ideas and discoveries into actual space systems and satellites built here at the Faculty of Engineering,” he said.

Prof. Eliaz also noted that former NASA astronaut and current NASA Deputy Administrator Robert Cabana recently described the Faculty of Engineering as “among the leaders in the field in global academia.” He added that Uri Oron, Director General of the Israel Space Agency, has emphasized that many countries still lack technological capabilities that have already been developed in Israel.

“We do not conduct research for the sake of research alone,” Prof. Eliaz said. “The outcomes of our work ultimately find their way into operational systems.”

Prof. Meir Ariel, Head of the Space Engineering Center, and Prof. Noam Eliaz, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering

No Shortcuts in Space

According to Prof. Ariel, the new center, described as “a very important institution within Israel’s space sector”, includes advanced infrastructure that provides a complete academic and technological ecosystem, supporting projects from the earliest research concept all the way to operational space systems.

“The standards we, as an academic institution, must meet are no lower than those of a company like SpaceX, because in space there are no shortcuts.”

Some of the satellites and technologies developed by the Space Engineering Center

In addition to testing space systems and nanosatellites, the center enables researchers to carry out most stages of development and validation under one roof. Its capabilities include:

• Building satellites up to ten times larger than those previously constructed at Tel Aviv University.
• Simulating extreme space environments, including severe temperature and pressure fluctuations.
• Operating an independent ground station that communicates with satellites, sends commands, and receives scientific data.

The center emphasizes multidisciplinary research spanning electrical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, materials science, and related fields. Current research includes:

• Advanced communication and cybersecurity technologies, including encryption systems designed to withstand future computing capabilities.
• In-space manufacturing and large-scale 3D printing of structures directly in orbit—a unique area of expertise at Tel Aviv University.
• Smart sensor systems capable of processing data before transmission to central computing systems.
• Sensing technologies that capture and analyze the electromagnetic spectrum—including visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light—for applications ranging from pollution detection and precision agriculture to space exploration.

“The laboratory’s motto is: things are impossible, until they aren’t.”

From the Periphery to Mars

Beyond research, the Space Engineering Center plays a central role in education, supporting students from high schools across Israel through advanced academic training.

As part of the Faculty of Engineering’s mission to make science and technology more accessible, Tel Aviv University has established approximately 15 clean rooms and ground stations in communities across the country, including Sha’ar HaNegev, Ma’ale Adumim, Givat Shmuel, Tayibe, Kafr Qara, Ein Mahil, and Yarka.

At these centers, outstanding high school students build nanosatellites as part of the Israel Space Agency’s Tevel 2 initiative, developing systems for both scientific and operational purposes. As part of the project, students successfully built an observation satellite capable of capturing images of Earth from space.

On the international stage, students participating in the center’s TAUverIL program are currently competing in a global rover-design competition in Poland that simulates the terrain and challenges of Mars exploration.

Prof. Ariel and Prof. Amrani also announced the launch of a new Space Engineering specialization within an interdisciplinary research-based master’s degree program. The specialization will integrate studies in electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and materials engineering.

Students in the program will complete dedicated space-related coursework and conduct a research thesis in the field. Upon graduation, they will receive both their master’s degree and a certificate recognizing their specialization in space engineering.

Together, these initiatives position the Space Engineering Center not only as a platform for research and innovation, but also as a national center of excellence in science, engineering, and technology.

As Prof. Eliaz concluded:

“Space is no longer a distant destination. It is humanity’s next arena of activity, and we are proud to be among those shaping its future.”

Watch highlights from the Space Engineering Center over the years:

Prof. Judith Berman joins one of the world’s most prestigious scientific institutions, becoming the sixth Tel Aviv University researcher to receive the honor

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has announced the election of Prof. Judith Berman of Tel Aviv University as a member. The Academy currently comprises 2,750 American scientists and an additional 557 international members representing all scientific disciplines. Prof. Berman is the 47th Israeli researcher to be elected to the NAS, and the sixth from Tel Aviv University over the past 50 years. The Academy’s membership includes some of Israel’s most distinguished scientists, including approximately 200 Nobel Prize laureates.

Advancing Our Understanding of Drug Resistance

Prof. Judith Berman, of the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research at George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, is a leading scientist in the fields of microbiology and genetics. Her research focuses on cellular response mechanisms to drug treatment and the effects of genetic mutations on these mechanisms, which enable drug tolerance in the pathogen Candida albicans, a yeast that causes infections in humans. Prof. Berman has published extensively in leading international scientific journals. She also was elected to membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AmAcadA&S) this year and was elected a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) in 2019. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and has been a member of the American Society for Microbiology since 2007 and is an Emeritus Professor of the University of Minnesota in the US and an Honorary Professor at Exeter University in the UK.

One of Science’s Highest Honors

Established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences advises the American government and nation on matters of science, engineering, and medicine. Membership in the Academy is for life, and each year up to 120 new scientists from the United States and up to 30 foreign scientists from around the world are elected to its ranks. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences is also the publisher of the prestigious scientific journal PNAS.

Prof. Judith Berman said: “I am grateful for this recognition of the importance of my research and contributions.”

Prof. Dan Peer, Vice President for Research and Development at Tel Aviv University, said: “Prof. Judith Berman is an outstanding researcher in the fields of microbiology and genetics. Her election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences is a source of great pride for Tel Aviv University and a recognition of her achievements at the highest international level.”

Tel Aviv University brought together female alumni to connect, learn, and work toward gender equality

“If it weren’t for the brave women before us who fought for the right to study, choose, work, build careers, and have financial independence, we would not be where we are today. Therefore, we do not have the privilege to stop. We owe it to our daughters, and to all who will come after us.”  

So said Dafna Meitar-Nechmad, a key initiator of Tel Aviv University’s annual Feminist Leadership Conference, organized by TAU’s Alumni Organization. Last week, the third conference entitled “Functional Feminism” was held at ANU: Museum of the Jewish people on the TAU campus. Audience members heard from impactful speakers, most of them women and TAU alumni, who are advancing gender equality through research, political activism, industry and art. 

The Gender@TAU Initiative 

Ms. Meitar-Nechmad, TAU’s Board of Governors Chairwoman and an activist for women’s equality herself, opened the conference outlining the state of women in Israel and TAU’s efforts to improve it. She highlighted Gender@TAU, a new initiative for empowering women on and off campus with four goals:  

• Funding female-driven and gender studies research 

• Influencing discourse and activism in the public sector by connecting research and policy advocacy 

• Creating connections and joint programs with civil society organizations that support women and girls 

• Building feminist leadership among University graduates—including those sitting in the audience 

Who Calls Themselves a Feminist?  

The conference’s keynote speaker was Eti Abadi, CEO of the Israeli chapter of McCann, one of the top advertising agencies in the world, and an alumna of TAU’s Coller School of Management. Ms. Abadi, as an advertising expert, showed through a 7-year research project and extensive data how a change in branding could help advance feminism. Because of prejudice, “feminism” as a label has accrued negative associations; further, in recent decades the movement has splintered into many different groups with different goals, making it hard to pin down what the word really stands for. As a result, the number of people who call themselves feminists has actually declined in recent years. 

Eti Abadi, CEO of McCann Tel Aviv, asks a tough question: what’s wrong with feminism? (Photo: Yael Tzur)

To remedy the problem, Ms. Abadi suggests a cultural rebrand and an effort to unify feminism around the most impactful issues. She identified four that need special attention at this moment: 

• Establishing equal paternity and maternity leave for fathers and mothers: Ms. Abadi helped implement such a policy at McCann, creating the opportunity for fathers to establish a close relationship with their children just as mothers do. This change ripples outward: when men are involved in caretaking from the beginning, both parents are seen as primary caregivers—which also means both parents have equal opportunities to return to work. 

• Closing the wage gap: Even today, when women are on average more educated than men, and just as qualified and successful in their jobs, they are paid less for equal work. Financial equality is one of the most potent tools for empowering women in every facet of society. 

• Getting women into leadership positions: Inequality in centers of decision-making leads to policies that do not take into account the diverse needs and circumstances of the many groups whom the policies affect. Additionally, research shows that women’s leadership empowers not only women but everyone around them. 

• Breaking down gender roles: Gender should not determine one’s opportunities. When prejudice about how each gender is “supposed” to act is eliminated, people will be more free, happier, and better at whichever role they choose to play. 

Making Change on the Ground 

Participants were also treated to two panels: “Women Generating Change” featuring experts in industry and activism, and “Art Creating Social Change”, featuring successful women in creative fields. Speakers included Ester Barak Landes, a seasoned leader, investor and entrepreneur, president of women’s leadership organization PROWOMAN, and alumna of the Buchmann Faculty of Law; Hanan Alsanah, a Bedouin activist, attorney, and social entrepreneur who has made important and tangible strides towards bettering the lives of Arab women, also a TAU Law PhD candidate; and Sari Golan, alumna of the TAU Katz Faculty of Arts and the Chief Curator of the Ramat Gan Museum of Art, the only museum in Israel focusing on Israeli art.  

Ms. Golan and her co-panelists pointed out that while art has the power to create social change, in much of the art world men are at the forefront of the business side—even though many of the artists themselves are women. Because of this, men continue to control art’s potential for impact. 

Conference participants were treated to a tour of ANU’s exhibition, A Lens of Her Own. (Photo: Yael Tzur)

Helping fight this aspect of inequity, ANU is currently running the exhibition A Lens of Her Own, featuring the photography of 20 contemporary Jewish women photographers and 20 from the post-WW11 era. The exhibit honors the women who pioneered the field of photography, and restores credit to their contributions which were largely erased as men took over the field.  

Conference-goers were treated to a tour of the exhibition. The viewing, talks, panels and connections contributed to each alumna’s ability to continue empowering women and others in their lives, working toward an overall more equal society. 

Future students, high energy, and new opportunities for the academic year ahead

Tel Aviv University was buzzing with excitement on Friday, May 29, as it opened its gates to thousands of prospective students eager to explore its undergraduate and graduate programs. After weeks of anticipation and preparation, the campus filled with smiles, festive energy, and countless visitors who arrived with curiosity and ambition—ready to think big about their future and take the next step in their academic and professional journey.

“We were thrilled to see the halls packed, especially after the tense days we’ve all been through,” said Sharon Ariel, TAU’s Marketing Director. “It only proves that the desire of the next generation to look ahead and build their future is stronger than anything.”

Opening event at TAU’s Open Day

Not Just Using Technology—Understanding How It’s Built

One of the main attractions this year was the university’s new Computer Science program with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Lecture halls were filled to capacity with young people eager to learn about the technologies already shaping the future—from large language models and machine learning to computer vision and computational biology.

“Our new program was designed precisely for those driven by curiosity,” said Ariel. “People who don’t want to be mere end-users of new technologies, but who want to understand how they are built. We’re looking for those who want to ask questions that don’t yet have answers and develop technologies that don’t yet exist.”

A Warm Welcome for Reservists: The “Iron Swords” Center

One of the most moving and popular areas on campus was the dedicated center for recently discharged combat soldiers, reservists, career military personnel, and disabled veterans. Similar to previous open days, visitors could sit down for coffee, receive personalized academic guidance, and even complete their registration on site.

Throughout the day, a special session explained in detail the university’s support framework and academic accommodations, providing participants with practical tools and peace of mind as they prepare for their studies.

“It was important for us to deliver a very clear message,” Ariel added. “We are here with you, and we will do everything we can to make the transition between service and academic life as smooth and successful as possible.”

Personal advising at the ‘Iron Swords’ Center

What Else Happened on Open Day?

• Special lectures on choosing a field of study and on student exchange opportunities through TAU’s International School.
• Personal guidance and information booths from every faculty and department, offering one-on-one answers to visitors’ questions.
• Campus tours showcasing libraries, collaborative study spaces, and research laboratories.
• Open panels with current students and alumni, sharing honest insights about student life and balancing studies with everyday responsibilities.
• Fast-track registration stations, allowing many applicants to complete their enrollment during the event and receive a special gift—a pair of Saucony running shoes.

Registering for studies 🙂

The campus was full of future students

Despite the uncertainty leading up to the event, the tremendous success of Open Day officially launched the registration season for the coming academic year.

Now is the time to join the leading university in Israel.

Visit the admissions website >>