The Team
Dr. Lior Michaeli
Principal Investigator
Lior Michaeli is an Assistant Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Tel Aviv University, where he leads the Metaoptomechanics Lab. He received his PhD in Physics from Tel Aviv University and was later awarded a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellowship to conduct postdoctoral research at Caltech. His expertise spans nanophotonics and metasurfaces, nonlinear optics, optomechanics, and optical information processing.
His current research brings these areas together in dynamic photonic systems where light drives mechanical motion in micro- and nanoscale structures. His group studies the nonlinear and collective physics that emerges from these interactions and develops new capabilities for controlling and processing light, as well as new light-driven technologies. Representative contributions include collective and nonlinear phenomena in nanostructured optical systems, ultrafast all-optical beam steering, radiation-pressure measurements for laser-driven lightsails, nonlinear optomechanical dynamics, and diffractive optical computing.
Beyond his research, Lior is a co-founder and co-leader of the Israeli Physics Community within Science Abroad, connecting Israeli physicists worldwide and strengthening ties with the scientific community in Israel.
Email: liormic1@tauex.tau.ac.il
Office: Room 503, Software Engineering Building
Dr. Sreya Banerjee
Postdoctoral Fellow
Sreya is a physicist whose research combines theoretical and computational physics with precision experimentation to explore fundamental physics and develop emerging technologies. She earned her PhD in Physics from the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany, where she developed and extended functional integral methods for precision physics and beyond-the-Standard-Model studies. She is currently a Heynman Postdoctoral Fellow at Tel Aviv University, focusing on computational approaches for all-optical information processing. Her broader research interests include bound-state quantum electrodynamics, high-precision ion mass spectrometry, neuromorphic computing through light–matter interactions, and alternative low-power computing architectures. Outside research, Sreya enjoys coding, reading, and capturing everyday moments through street photography.
Office: Room 220, Wolfson Electrical Engineering Laboratories Building
Almog Sade
M.Sc. student
Almog Sade is currently completing his B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering at Tel Aviv University, with a focus on electro-optics, signal processing, and RF systems. His undergraduate final project focuses on hyperspectral image compression using compressive sensing techniques for remote-sensing applications. He will continue his studies toward an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering at Tel Aviv University, specializing in electro-optics. As a member of the Meta-Optomechanics group, he is involved in developing an experimental platform for testing and characterizing lightsails. His research interests include technologies related to space exploration and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). Outside of research, Almog enjoys working out, playing guitar, watching films, and reading science fiction.
Email: almogsade@mail.tau.ac.il
Office: Room 220, Wolfson Electrical Engineering Laboratories Building
Yehudit Makoro
M.Sc. student
Yehudit Makoro is an M.Sc. student in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Tel Aviv University, where she also completed her B.Sc. Her research focuses on computational imaging and the joint design of optical systems and machine-learning-based models, exploring how the physical and computational components can be optimized together to control how visual information is captured and processed. In her current work, she develops a learnable optical phase mask for privacy-preserving face recognition, aiming to preserve the information needed for recognition while suppressing identifiable visual details. Before beginning her graduate studies, Yehudit spent three years at Intel, gaining extensive laboratory experience in the experimental characterization of advanced hardware systems. She later pursued an M.Sc. with the aim of exploring a new research direction, leading her to the intersection of optics, imaging, and machine learning.
Office: Room 514b, Software Engineering Building
Amit Lanis
B.Sc. student
Amit Lanis is an undergraduate student in Physics and Mathematics at Tel Aviv University and a recipient of the Dean’s Award for academic excellence. He represented Israel in international science Olympiads, earning a gold medal at the International Scientific Physics Olympiad (ISPhO) and silver medals at both the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) and the European Physics Olympiad (EuPhO). His research focuses on optomechanical systems, including time crystals and laser-driven light sails. He utilizes a self-developed method that enables simulations of large-scale optomechanical phenomena. Amit also volunteers as a mentor for students preparing for international competitions, including personal mentorship of a student who won a silver medal at the IphO.
Amir Halfon
B.Sc. student
Amir is a third year B.Sc. student in the dual degree program in Electrical Engineering and Physics at Tel Aviv University. During his studies, he developed a strong interest in optics, photonics, electronic systems, and signal processing. His current research focuses on optomechanical systems and MEMS devices, with an emphasis on the interaction between light and mechanical structures. Amir is particularly interested in optical communications, high speed optical systems, sensing technologies, and the integration of hardware with data analysis and machine learning. Throughout his studies, he has participated in several laboratory and engineering projects that combined theoretical research with practical implementation. Outside of his academic work, Amir enjoys traveling, cooking, and exploring new technologies.