Robert H. Smith Faculty Researcher Wins Krill Prize for Excellence

Robert H. Smith Faculty Researcher Wins Krill Prize for Excellence

Jerusalem – Dr. Masha Niv, a senior lecturer in the Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition at the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has been awarded a Krill Prize for Excellence in Scientific Research for 2010. The prize is worth $10,000.

Dr. Niv joined the university in 2007 after having led a team of researchers at Keryx Biopharmaceuticals and spending several years as a post-doctoral research fellow and Instructor at the Weill Medical College of Medicine at Cornell University.  Dr. Niv has established the first computational biology and structural bioinformatics laboratory at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Her research group is focused on application and development of simulation methods for the study of structure, interactions and dynamics of key signaling proteins. Recent accomplishments include rational design of anti-diabetic peptides and on computer-aided studies of the molecular basis for bitter taste perception.

Initiated in 2005 by the Krill family, the Krill Prizes are awarded annually in the fields of exact sciences, life sciences, medicine, agriculture and engineering. Prizes are awarded to young faculty members at Israeli universities who hold untenured positions. Recipients are selected by the Wolf Foundation Scholarships Committee.