Hagai Yosef Raanan Ph.D.

I received my Ph.D. from the Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, on June 2015. My thesis focused on the cyanobacteria that inhabit the biological soil crusts (BSC). The research examined the mechanisms whereby cyanobacteria of the desert BSC cope with extreme environmental conditions using innovative field and laboratory techniques. While studying the responses of cyanobacteria in desert crusts, I realized that we know very little about the actual proteins that are the drivers of these protective mechanisms. Thus, for my Post-Doctoral studies at the Dept. of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, NJ, I chose to learn more about the protein complexes that drive ecological processes. I focused primarily on the evolution of nanomachines that drive the global energy cycle via electron-transfer reactions. My project ‘Legos of Life’ aims to identify the ‘Lego bricks’ that developed, throughout evolution, to the wide array of extant electron transfer chains. The use of advanced structural and computational tools combined with an in-depth ecological and evolutionary perspective yielded a novel understanding of oxidoreductases.

At my current position, I’m a researcher at the Gilat Research Center for Arid & Semi-Arid Agricultural Research (GCASAR), Plant Pathology dept. ARO. My primary interest is in the interactions of soil microorganisms with their biotic and abiotic environment and their adaptation to harsh environmental conditions. I seek to understand the molecular processes that protect their core metabolism under extreme stress. My current research is focused on how environmental conditions affect the outbreak of plant diseases. Additionally, I seek to develop alternative sustainable pest control systems based on highly resilient microorganisms inhabiting extreme environments such as biological soil crusts. In my free time, I’m a passionate maker and love to see my ideas come to life.