Seven early-career scientists from Tel Aviv University and Bar-Ilan University have secured coveted European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants for 2026, it was announced Thursday.

The funding awards, considered among the most competitive in global science, provide up to NIS 5.25 million ($1.7 million) or more per recipient over five years.

The grant is intended for promising researchers at the beginning of their academic careers and enables them to advance groundbreaking research across diverse scientific fields, Tel Aviv University said in a statement announcing its five winners.

At Tel Aviv University, Dr. Ran Finkelstein from the School of Physics and Astronomy, Dr. Sharon Fleischer from the Shmonis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Dr. Amit Vinograd from the Grey School of Medicine, Dr. Or Zamir from the School of Computer Science, and Dr. Michael Chapman from the School of Mathematical Sciences received the grants.

At Bar-Ilan University, Prof. Reuma Gadassi-Polack from the Faculty of Education and Gonda Brain Research Center and Dr. Arnold Filtser from the Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence received the grants.

At Tel Aviv University, Finkelstein researches how to use lasers and electromagnetic fields to suspend........

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