The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is a multidisciplinary institution of higher learning and research and the largest university in Israel. For over 80 years, Hebrew University researchers have not only carried out outstanding basic research, but have also responded to the needs of society. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been ranked among the top universities in the world.

Prof. Joseph Hirschberg has more than 28 years’ experience of academic research in the fields of plant molecular biology and plant biochemistry. He is an expert in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Prof. Hirschberg has published extensively in the carotenoid field in high impact journals and holds a family of patents relating to tools for engineering isoprenoid/carotenoid formation. His group (10 members) has been studying the regulation of the pathway in fruits and flowers and utilised metabolic engineering to alter carotenoids in these organs in tomato.

The team of Prof. Hirschberg will contribute its expertise in the fields of plant genetics, metabolic engineering, molecular breeding and plant breeding as well as Solanaceae diversity collections to the DISCO Project.