Itamar Willner

Itamar Willner was born in 1947 in Bucharest

Itamar Willner was born on January 27, 1947, in Bucharest, Romania, to Albert and Johanna. His family moved to Israel in 1950. He grew up in Ness Ziona and attended De Shalit High School in Rehovot.

He studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics in 1968 and a master's degree in chemistry in 1973. In 1978 he completed his PhD in physical organic chemistry.

Willner joined the Artillery Corps in 1968 and holds the rank of major in the reserves.

He has been a professor at the Hebrew University since 1986 and is now professor emeritus. His research focuses on molecular electronics and bioelectronics, including the electrical and optical activation of enzymes, antibodies and DNA. His work led to new biosensors, sensors for explosives, molecular machines and artificial photosynthetic systems.

He advised the United States Department of Energy and represented Israel in scientific bodies abroad. In 2015 he became chair of the natural sciences division of the Israel Academy of Sciences. He is married to Bilha and has 2 daughters.