I am a professor of political psychology specializing in the micro-foundations of terrorism, political conflicts, and the human dimension of cybersecurity. My research examines how individual experiences of terrorism connect with broader geopolitical trends, offering essential insights for policymakers in a cyber-driven world where conventional and emerging threats converge to shape public attitudes and behaviors. I study how exposure to terrorism, political violence, and cyber threats influences beliefs about war, peace, and democratic values. Central to my work is the exploration of psycho-political responses to violence, focusing on civilian resilience and vulnerability in conflict zones. Using experimental methods, I investigate how cyber and other technological threats impact political behaviors, with a particular emphasis on factors such as public trust, perceived harm, and estimated effectiveness that shape support for AI and cyber technologies in national and international security.
 

With over $3 million in research funding, my projects are supported by institutions including the Israel Science Foundation, the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation, Yale’s MacMillan Center and Institution for Social and Policy Studies, the Israel Ministry of Science, Technology, and Space, and the National Institutes of Health. My research has been widely published in leading journals, including American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Political Behavior, Political Psychology, Psychiatry – Interpersonal and Biological Processes, Political Studies, Political Research Quarterly, Armed Forces & Society, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Electoral Studies, Journal of Peace Research, Journal of Cybersecurity, and Terrorism & Political Violence. Extending beyond academia, the transformative nature of my research is highlighted in media appearances on NPR, Jerusalem Post, and platforms like The Conversation and Psychology Today, bridging science and public discourse to amplify the real-world implications of my work.
 

I also serve as the Dean of the Herta and Paul Amir Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Haifa. Additionally, I am on the editorial boards of leading journals, including The Journal of Peace Research and Journal of Conflict Resolution, and have held prestigious fellowships, including a Fulbright Fellowship, a Visiting Fellowship at the Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies at Notre Dame, and the Rice Family Foundation Visiting Professorship at Yale University’s MacMillan Center and Department of Political Science. My work has been honored with awards such as the Erik Erikson Early Career Award and Roberta Sigel Award from the International Society of Political Psychology, along with the American Political Science Association’s Best Paper Award.
 

When I’m not navigating war zones or field experiment sites to chase down missing dry blood or cortisol samples, I enjoy cycling, running, and shepherding my dogs