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Academy An Academic Dialogue appropriate character and traits: also conducted considerable should be equipped with a
A constant, uncompromising independent searchers in the basic knowledge of the core
drive to advance the research, world’s leading universities subjects, but it is equally
a competitive entrepreneurial and research institutes. I had to important that they have
spirit, dedicated advocacy meet the candidates myself or extensive interdisciplinary
of new ideas, and academic have them visit the Technion, knowledge and education, as
leadership and teamwork skills well as engineering and physics
combined with teaching and Shilo: insights.
mentoring capabilities. Faculty members Shilo: The boundaries of
Shilo: It is pivotal for a should be individualists, what interests the faculty is a
good faculty member to be groundbreaking and delicate subject in my view.
independent in research, independent, but they also There needs to be a connection
especially because up till the need to know how to lead to mechanics, even in its
appointment, he or she always and foster their students broadest sense, and also some
had a mentor’s guidance and and collaborate in the kind of applied context to the
research funds, obtained by the faculty and in teaching, as research. Furthermore, to be
mentor’s securing competitive well as have a good grasp able to provide the students
research grants. But I think of the system’s needs. with training that would enable
that balance is essential here— them to be relevant in the job
faculty members should be building a personal and market even 20 years from now,
individualists, groundbreaking, committed relationship with a new faculty member must also
independent, go against the them. Candidates should feel introduce an innovative and
flow; but they also need to sought after. contemporary field of research
know how to lead and foster Shilo: Sounds like it takes a lot that will keep the faculty
their students and collaborate of effort and initiative. Why did relevant and attractive. The
in research, in the faculty, in you note that there is no reason research field needs to be wide
management, and in teaching, not to take our graduates, is this enough and interesting enough
as well as have a good grasp of a controversial issue? to stay attractive for many years.
the system’s needs. Bar-Yoseph: Certainly, there is Bar-Yoseph: You are a good
Bar-Yoseph: That is correct, and a fear of academic inbreeding. example: Your background
it is an issue to which we give Researchers who grew up is in physics and materials
consideration. It is not enough here will have the patterns engineering; you did not grow in
just to excel in research—one of thinking and insight of mechanical engineering, yet you
should also know how to be a their alma mater. That’s why have fully settled in, and today
team player, and show good it is important to maintain there is no difference between
citizenship. a balance between our own you and researchers who grew
Shilo: Where did you locate the alumni and ‘outsiders.’ In up here, because you were
researchers whom you recruited terms of new faculty members’ willing to adapt.
to the faculty? research interests, they Shilo: That’s true. From the
Bar-Yoseph: Some candidates moment I started, it was clear to
come forward themselves. me that I had to adjust myself
I identified some among to the faculty, and I needed to
our outstanding graduates, direct my research interests so
since, of course, there is no that mechanical engineering
reason not to take them, and students could find interest in
26 | MEgazine | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
