Press Releases

Rehovot, Israel - March 9, 2011 – Evogene (TASE:EVGN) announced today new appointments of six trait researchers, castor plant growth manager, image processing specialist, business development manager & director of operation & purchasing.

Ofer Haviv, Evogene's president and CEO stated: "As Evogene continues its growth, we are broadening and strengthening our plant genomics capabilities and partnerships. To achieve our targets, we are reinforcing our scientific teams' expertise and professional know-how, and maintain for a consecutive year an increase of our staff by over 30%.  I would like to welcome the new members to our team." 

The senior employees joining Evogene's team are: 

Dr. Avishag Levi-Barshalom – Trait Researcher

Prior to joining Evogene, Dr. Avishag Levi-Barshalom completed her Ph.D. studies at the Plant Sciences Department of the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  Her studies focused on characterizing drought-resistance in cotton for productivity and drought-related traits.  In the years 1999-2001, Dr. Levi-Barshalom was employed as a cotton breeder by Hazera Genetics R&D department. 

Dr. Levi-Barshalom holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Dr. Avital Adato – Trait Researcher

Prior to joining Evogene, during the years 2007-2010, Dr. Avital Adato was an associate researcher in the Plant Sciences Department of the Weizmann institute of Science, where she studied various aspects of plant surface. During the years 2002-2005 Dr. Adato was a post-doctorate fellow and associate researcher in the Pasteur Institute in Paris, where she studied the protein network underlying Usher syndrome (hereditary disease effecting both hearing and sight)  in human and mice.  Prior to joining the Pastuer Institute Dr. Adato was a post-doctorate fellow in the Molecular Genetics Department of the Weizmann Institute of Science where she combined bioinformatics and molecular approaches to study the genetics of Usher syndrom.

Dr. Adato holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the Faculty of Agriculture at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a Ph.D. from the Human Genetics Department of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at the Tel Aviv University.

Dr. Inbal Dangoor – Trait Researcher

Prior to joining Evogene, during the years 2002 – 2010, Dr. Dangoor completed her M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies at the Plant Sciences Department of the Weizmann institute of Science. Her studies focused on in vivo characterization of redox-regulated protein complexes in the chloroplast.

Dr. Dangoor holds a B.Sc. from the Faculty of Agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Cum Laude). 

Dr. Michal Shoresh – Trait Researcher

Prior to joining Evogene, during the years 2007-2011, Dr. Shoresh served as a Research Scientist studying plant responses to abiotic stress, in the Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcai Center. During the years 2005-2007, Dr. Shoresh was a post-doctoral research associate at Cornell University, studying plant response to microorganisms using 'Omics' methods. Dr. Shoresh was a post-doctoral research fellow in the field of plant response to microorganisms and biocontrol at The Otto Warburg Center for Biotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, during the years 1999-2001, and at the Dept. of Biological Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, during the years 2002-2005. 

Dr. Shoresh holds a Ph.D. degree from the faculty of Life Sciences, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Department in Tel Aviv University. 

Dr. Noa Matarasso – Trait Researcher

Prior to joining Evogene, during the years 2005-2006, Dr. Matarasso served as a Research Scientist in the department of Fruit Tree Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcai Institute. During the years 2006-2009, Dr. Matarasso was part of the founding group of Recogene Ltd., serving as a Senior Scientist & Project leader taking part in developing molecular tools for the company's technology platform. Prior to joining Recogene Ltd. Dr. Matarasso was a post doctorate fellow in the field of Prostate Cancer Genetics in the Genetic Institute of Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, The Human Genetics Departement of Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. 

Dr. Matarasso holds a M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the faculty of Life Sciences, Plant Sciences Department in Tel Aviv University. 

Dr. Ehud Katz – Trait Researcher 

Prior to joining Evogene, during the years 2005-2010, Dr. Ehud Katz was a post doctorate fellow in the Plant Sciences Department of the University of California at Davis where he studied molecular determinants affecting Citrus fruit quality by using high-throughput label-free LC-MS/MS based shot-gun proteomics. He also studied sugar transport into the vacuole and sugar homeostasis during Citrus fruit development. During the years 2003-2005 Dr. Katz was a post-doctorate fellow in the Faculty of agriculture at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he studied flowering induction and flower development of Passiflora edulis and the mechanism  by which CONSTANS, the photoperiodic flowering pathway regulator is regulating its' targets in Arabidopsis. 

Dr. Katz holds a B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the Faculty of Agriculture at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

Mr. Rafi Lotem - Castor Plant Growth Manager

Mr. Lotem has extensive experience as a professional manager in various agricultural fields in countries worldwide (Asia, Africa and Europe).

Prior to joining Evogene, during the years 2008-2010, Mr. Lotem served as the General Manager of Oryol - Rav Agro, a multinational company in Russia, which operates large scale wheat growth projects. Mr. Lotem was in charge of all agronomic aspects and management activities.

Mr. Lotem holds a B.A. degree in Business & Management from the Tel-Aviv School of Business & Management, and a Practical Engineer degree from the Ruppin Academic Center School of Agriculture. 

Ms. Ruth Sher– Image Processing Specialist  

Ms. Ruth Sher has extensive experience as a software developer, focusing on algorithms for image processing and computer vision. Prior to joining Evogene, she has worked at Elbit Systems - Elop (2003-2009), and at Image Navigation – DenX (1997-2003, 2010)

Ms. Sher holds a M.Sc. in Computer Science and a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Mathematics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Mr. Roy Livneh– Business Development Manager

Mr. Livneh has an extensive record of business development, marketing and sales, and account management positions, in NASDAQ traded and start-up companies, with vast experience in the international market.

Prior to joining Evogene, during the years 2000-2007, Mr. Livneh worked in Saifun Semiconductors (SFUN), serving in his last role as VP Business Development, and for the past years Mr. Livneh was an entrepreneur and a business consultant for a few high-tech companies.

Mr. Livneh holds a M.B.A. from Tel Aviv University and a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Technion (CUM LAUDA).

Yacov Wuhl – Director of Operation & purchasing

Prior to joining Evogene, Mr. Wuhl served as Director of Operation at Hazera Genetics R&D department (1997- 2006); in addition, he was responsible for construction and purchasing at Hazera Genetics (2006-2010).

Mr. Wuhl holds a Practical Engineer degree from the Ruppin Academic Center School of Agriculture.