Senior lecturer, at Holon Institute of Technology, Israel.
Yuval Dorfan, Ph.D., is a researcher and educator specializing in electrical engineering and synthetic biology, with a strong background in signal processing, bio-convergence, and innovation. Currently a faculty member at the Holon Institute of Technology, he heads the Bio-convergence Excellence Center and actively leads interdisciplinary projects in biotechnology and synthetic biology. Yuval has a vast academic and professional history, including notable roles at MIT and Reichman University. His expertise in distributed signal processing has been instrumental in collaborations with industries worldwide, as well as in founding Israel’s first bio-foundry, Alagene. Throughout his career, Yuval has overseen innovative research efforts across sectors, combining insights from signal processing, molecular genetics, and communication systems. 🔬📡
Profile
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Education
Yuval Dorfan’s academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Ben-Gurion University, where he graduated summa cum laude. He then pursued an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, achieving magna cum laude honors. His studies continued with an MBA in Entrepreneurship at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, where he conceptualized Mediocheck, a novel acoustic sensing technology for pneumonia detection in infants. Finally, Yuval earned his Ph.D. in Signal Processing from Bar-Ilan University, specializing in distributed localization and acoustic source tracking. His mentors and collaborators included experts like Prof. Sharon Gannot, whose guidance greatly influenced Yuval’s doctoral research. 📘🎓
Professional Experience
Yuval’s career highlights include diverse roles in academia and industry. At the Technion, he served as a teaching assistant and supervised projects in signal and image processing. As a research scientist at MIT’s Voigt Laboratory, he managed DARPA’s SD2 project, focusing on bio-cybersecurity and synthetic biology. Yuval also contributed to Israel’s innovation ecosystem as Director of the Israeli SynBio Institute at Reichman University, leading research initiatives in environmental monitoring and biotechnology. His contributions extend to founding Alagene, Israel’s first bio-foundry, recognized as a national resource. Yuval’s industry experience includes leadership roles in companies like Comsys and Negevtech, where he advanced cellular communication and image processing projects. 🧑🏫🏢
Research Interests
Yuval’s research interests span signal processing, bio-convergence, and synthetic biology. His work in signal processing has led to innovative applications in acoustic source localization, tracking, and separation, collaborating with teams globally. Recently, his focus shifted towards bio-convergence, integrating biotechnology with engineering to address environmental and health challenges. Through his work at Holon Institute, he leads research in landmine detection and biochips for pollution monitoring. His synthetic biology initiatives, particularly at Alagene, are geared towards advancing bio-manufacturing and biotechnological solutions for agriculture and biosecurity. 🔍🌿
Awards
Yuval’s accomplishments are recognized with numerous awards, including the Best Paper Award at HSCMA 2014 for his groundbreaking algorithm in multiple acoustic source localization. In 2017, he received another Best Paper Award from Bar-Ilan University for his research on distributed localization in acoustic environments. Yuval’s innovation-driven leadership is further highlighted by grants such as the Israeli Department of Defense’s 400K NIS annual award for applied bio-convergence research and the Israeli Innovation Authority’s 40M NIS support for Alagene’s national bio-foundry. 🏆📜
Publications
- Dorfan, Y., & Gannot, S. (2014).
Title: Multiple Acoustic Sources Localization Using Distributed Expectation-Maximization Algorithm
Conference: Proceedings of the Hands-free Speech Communication and Microphone Arrays (HSCMA)
Year: 2014
Citations: 10This paper presents a distributed expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm for localizing multiple acoustic sources, which allows for efficient processing and improved localization accuracy in environments with multiple sources.
- Dorfan, Y., et al. (2017).
Title: Distributed Localization and Tracking of Acoustic Sources
Journal: IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing
Volume: 65, Issue 14
Pages: 3716-3731
Year: 2017
Citations: 15This research focuses on a novel method for distributed localization and tracking of acoustic sources, using a network of spatially distributed nodes. The algorithm improves real-time tracking accuracy, making it suitable for applications in dynamic environments.
- Dorfan, Y., et al. (2021).
Title: Synergistic Bioengineering and Cyber-Security
Journal: Synthetic Biology
Volume: 6, Issue 2
Pages: 1-11
Year: 2021
Citations: 8This paper explores the intersection of bioengineering and cybersecurity, discussing strategies for enhancing security in synthetic biology applications through cyber-physical system design. The authors address potential security threats in bioengineering technologies and propose solutions for mitigating these risks.
Conclusion
Dr. Yuval Dorfan’s career trajectory, marked by extensive research leadership, successful grant acquisition, and notable interdisciplinary contributions, makes him a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His research scope in bio-convergence and bio-cyber security, along with his leadership in synthetic biology innovations, represents significant progress in these fields. With further expansion of his professional presence and continuous scholarly contributions, he would remain an exemplary candidate for prestigious awards in research and innovation.