Tribology & Biotribology Research Center and Laboratories
Azrieli College of Engineering, Jerusalem
Research Team
Prof. Haytam Kasem
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Head of the Tribology Research Center
He is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He currently serves as the Dean of the Engineering School at the Azrieli College of Engineering in Jerusalem, where he established and leads the Tribology and Biotribology Research Center (TBRC).
He received his engineering education in France, earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Haute Alsace in Mulhouse, followed by Master’s and Research master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and engineering Processes of Textile Materials. He completed his Ph.D. in Tribology of Composite Materials at the University of Orléans and INSA Lyon, France, in 2008, and subsequently pursued postdoctoral research in France, Belgium, and at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.
His research focuses on tribology, biotribology, surface engineering, lubrication, wear mechanisms, biomimetic materials, and biomedical applications, particularly orthopedic implants. Through interdisciplinary research integrating mechanical engineering, materials science, and biomechanics, he has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, supervised graduate students, and led innovative research projects aimed at advancing both healthcare technologies and industrial engineering solutions.
Eng. Zain Eldin Qatmera
Research Engineer
He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem, Israel. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Tel Aviv University, Israel.
He has been working as a Research Engineer at the Tribology and Microstructure Laboratory, Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem, where he is involved in the design and execution of experimental research, prototype development, materials characterization, and data analysis.
He is the co-author of a peer-reviewed scientific publication on the tribological performance of rigid gas permeable contact lenses. and the first author of the research article “Frictional Properties of Biomimetic Micro-Hexagonal-Textured Surfaces Interacting with Soft Counterfaces under Dry and Wet Conditions.
Prof. Aiman Abu Ammar
Department of Biotechnology engineering
He is an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Engineering at the Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem.
His research lies at the intersection of pharmaceutical engineering, materials science, and biomedical engineering, with a focus on advanced drug delivery systems, biodegradable polymers, biomimetic materials, and nanotechnology-based biomedical applications. His work centers on the development of innovative therapeutic platforms, including polymeric microneedles, controlled and sustained drug delivery systems, implantable devices, and other minimally invasive technologies designed to improve the precision and effectiveness of medical treatments.
Prof. Abu Ammar has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and is an inventor on several patents, reflecting the translational and innovation-driven nature of his research. He is actively involved in interdisciplinary research and collaborative projects aimed at translating advances in biomaterials and drug delivery into practical healthcare solutions and next-generation medical technologies.
Dr. Ruthy Sfez
Department of Material Engineering
She is a senior lecturer in the Department of Materials Engineering at Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem.
Her research focuses on surface and interface science, hybrid nanomaterials, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), and nanoscale tribology. A central theme of her work is the design and investigation of functional interfaces, with particular emphasis on controlling friction, adhesion, and interfacial interactions through surface chemistry, nanotechnology, and external stimuli.
Her research combines experimental surface modification with advanced characterization to establish structure-property relationships in functional materials.
Dr. Shai Feldfogel
Department of Civil Engineering
He is a faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem and serves as the Deputy Head of the department.
His research focuses on structural mechanics, interface-driven structures, adhesive bonding, debonding failure mechanisms, layered materials, and topologically interlocked structures. His work investigates the role of contact, friction, and adhesion in governing the mechanical behavior and failure of advanced structural systems, combining experimental and computational approaches.
Through his research, Dr. Feldfogel contributes to the development of innovative architected materials and sustainable structural concepts with enhanced strength, toughness, and damage resistance. He has authored scientific publications in the field of computational and structural mechanics and actively contributes to engineering research and education.
Dr. Mahmoud Safadi
Department of Mechanical Engineering
He is a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem.
His research focuses on computational contact mechanics, solid mechanics, and the mechanical behavior of complex biological and engineering systems. His work combines analytical modeling, numerical simulations, and continuum mechanics approaches to investigate stress, deformation, and contact interactions in advanced materials and structures.
Through his interdisciplinary research, Dr. Safadi contributes to the understanding of mechanical phenomena across engineering and biomedical applications. He has been involved in academic research and engineering education, supporting the development of innovative approaches in mechanical engineering.
Dr. Tali Tavor Re’em
Department of Biotechnology engineering
She is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering at the Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem.
Her research focuses on tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, biomaterials, biomimetic cellular microenvironments, bioprinting, bioinks, scaffolds, hydrogels, and stem cell-based technologies.
Her work combines biotechnology, materials science, and biomedical engineering to develop advanced engineered tissues and innovative platforms for applications such as cartilage regeneration, embryo implantation models, cancer research, and regenerative therapies.
Through her interdisciplinary research, Dr. Tavor Re’em has contributed to the development of novel biomaterials and tissue-engineered systems and has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications in the fields of biomedical engineering and regenerative medicine.