Dr. Israel Kellersztein
Materials in nature often outperform synthetic alternatives by integrating structure and composition across scales—from molecular arrangements to macroscopic form. This raises fundamental questions: How does multiscale architecture govern the mechanical performance of biological materials? And how can these principles be abstracted and applied to design the next generation of synthetic materials?
Israel Kellersztein’s lab at Ben-Gurion University’s Department of Materials Engineering investigates these questions through the lens of biological materials science. His group studies how structure and composition determine material behavior across scales, with a focus on natural exoskeletons, bio-based composites, and 3D-printed systems. By combining multiscale mechanical testing, advanced imaging, and additive manufacturing, the lab seeks to uncover how nature achieves toughness, adaptability, and multifunctionality—and how those mechanisms can be engineered into robust and sustainable synthetic materials.
Kellersztein’s interest in hierarchical materials began during his PhD at the Weizmann Institute of Science, where he studied the pincers of scorpions. His work led to the discovery of a previously unreported helicoidal architecture—characterized by off-axis twisting and out-of-plane tilting—which contributed to a deeper understanding of how natural materials achieve a balance of often conflicting mechanical properties through structural complexity. During his doctoral training, he also served as scientific advisor for the “Inspired by Nature” exhibition at the Clore Garden of Science at the Weizmann Institute of Science.
As a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow at Caltech, Kellersztein joined the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, where he developed 3D-printed hierarchical biocomposites derived from microalgae. His research integrated material formulation, structural optimization, and process development to create sustainable composites with mechanical and thermal properties comparable to conventional plastics and engineering wood product. This work demonstrated how biological principles can inform additive manufacturing and opened new directions in bio-based design for scalable fabrication.
Dr. Kellersztein’s multidisciplinary background—spanning experimental mechanics, biological systems, and materials processing—enables him to approach research questions from both scientific and engineering perspectives. His work bridges fundamental biological insight and applied material innovation, drawing from multiple fields to design materials that are robust, adaptive, and sustainable.