Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences

Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences is a leading academic division within Tel Aviv University, dedicated to fundamental research and education in the core scientific disciplines. Established in the mid-1960s, it has grown into a major center for scientific innovation and scholarship in Israel and internationally. The faculty is named for philanthropists Raymond Sackler and Beverly Sackler, whose support has significantly advanced its mission.

History

The faculty was formally established in 1964, a foundational period for Tel Aviv University as it expanded from the Tel Aviv Law School into a comprehensive institution. Its creation was part of a national effort to build Israel's scientific infrastructure and intellectual capital. A pivotal moment in its development came with the substantial philanthropic support from Raymond Sackler and Beverly Sackler, prominent figures in the Purdue Pharma family, which led to the renaming in their honor. This patronage enabled significant growth in facilities, endowed professorships, and research programs, aligning with the university's ascent in global rankings like the Academic Ranking of World Universities.

Academic structure

The faculty is organized into several core academic schools and departments that cover the breadth of the exact sciences. These include the School of Physics and Astronomy, the School of Chemistry, the School of Mathematics, and the School of Computer Science. Each school oversees undergraduate programs, Master of Science degrees, and Doctor of Philosophy tracks. The faculty also houses interdisciplinary programs in areas such as biophysics, computational biology, and data science, fostering collaboration across traditional boundaries. Governance is led by a dean, currently Taly Reich, with department chairs overseeing specific academic and research directions.

Research and institutes

Research is conducted through a network of specialized institutes and centers that often collaborate with entities like the Weizmann Institute of Science and Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Key research hubs include the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, the Institute for Theoretical Physics, and the Adams Institute for Condensed Matter Physics. The faculty is a partner in major international projects, such as the ATLAS experiment at CERN, and receives competitive grants from the European Research Council and the Israel Science Foundation. Its work spans from pure mathematics and astrophysics to applied computer science and materials science.

Notable faculty and alumni

The faculty has been associated with numerous distinguished scientists. Notable faculty have included Fields Medalist mathematician Michael Harris, physicist David J. Bergman known for the Bergman effective medium theory, and computer scientist David Harel, a recipient of the Israel Prize. Alumni have achieved prominence in academia, industry, and public service, such as Avi Wigderson, winner of the Abel Prize, and Mira Marcus-Kalish, a leading figure in bioinformatics. Many graduates hold positions at institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and Google.

Campus and facilities

The faculty is primarily located on the Tel Aviv University campus in the Ramat Aviv neighborhood of Tel Aviv. Its facilities include the Sackler Building for physics and the Schreiber Building for mathematics and computer science. Key infrastructure features advanced laboratories, the Wise Observatory in the Negev desert for astronomical research, and high-performance computing clusters. The campus is also home to the Smolarz Auditorium and the Younes & Soraya Nazarian Library, which serve the wider university community.