Noam Alkan Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Institute of Postharvest and Food Sciences
Postharvest Science
Postharvest Sciences, Volcani Institute, 68 HaMaccabim Road ,P.O.B 15159 Rishon LeZion ,Israel
+972-506220566
+972-39683605

noamal@volcani.agri.gov.il

Biography

Noam Alkan is PI at ARO-Volcani Center. Since 2013, he is leading the postharvest fruit pathology lab. Since 2022 he is the director of the Postharvest Sciences Department. On 2019 our lab was selected for ARO outstanding team, on 2022 Noam was selected as the researcher of the year of Volcani Institute.

Education

1999-2002
B.Sc. In plant protection (Agroecology) at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Rehovot, Hebrew University.
2002-2004
M.Sc. Studies in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, and Volcani Institute; Supervised by Prof. Yoram Kapulnik.
2005-2010
Ph.D. Studies at the Postharvest Sciences Department, Volcani Institute, in collaboration with the Weizmann Institute of Science. Under the supervision of Prof. Dov Prosky.
2010-2013
Post-doctorate fellowship at the Weizmann Institute of Science under the supervision of Prof. Robert Fluhr.

Research Interests

Alkan`s Lab for physiology and pathology of subtropical fruits was established in 2013. The research in our laboratories deals with the development and integration of preharvest and postharvest treatments for preserving and improving fruit quality. The laboratory specializes in the study of fruit-fungal interaction, induced defense responses, and the search for substitutes for chemical fungicides, such as: phenylalanine treatment to induce resistance and improve fruit quality, double-stranded RNA treatment to control fungal pathogens. Based on the knowledge and patents from our lab two companies were established (PostBoost, and HarvestR).