Students on the frontlines | 32 | 2024 Annual Report Shai Ben-Ami’s journey toward his PhD has been marked not only by his cutting-edge research but also by his commitment to Israel's defense forces. As a member of the Israeli tank brigade in reserve duty, Shai found creative ways to make the most of his time during his service, blending his scientific pursuits with his military responsibilities. Shai’s research focuses on Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), a complex interaction between light and sound waves, pursued for its potential applications in quantum circuitry, lasers, and sensing technologies. His work seeks to overcome significant challenges related to the limitations of the widely used silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology. He is investigating surface acoustic waves as a way to guide and overlap optical and acoustic fields in the same medium, a breakthrough that could become a landmark in the field. Despite the demanding nature of this research, Shai has managed to keep it moving forward—even while serving in the field. His commitment paid off when he later won the prestigious Azrieli Fellowship to support his research. "It wasn’t like they did me a favor. I studied well for the defense, and I think I did just as I wanted," Shai reflects. During a recent stint of reserve duty on Israel’s northern border, Shai was able to use his time strategically, focusing on preparing for his PhD defense and continuing to read scientific papers. "The defense date was just a week and a half after I got released from this round of miluim (reserve duty),” Shai recalls. Despite the challenging conditions, he successfully defended his PhD proposal. His commitment paid off when he later won the prestigious Azrieli Fellowship to support his research. "It wasn’t like they did me a Between a Tank and a Thesis Shai Ben-Ami Makes the Most of his Reserve Duty
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