Biography

Professor Ashraf Brik completed his undergraduate studies in Chemistry in 1996 at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Brik attended the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology for his M.Sc. degree and became interested in organic synthesis of natural products. Under the guidance of Dr. Nizar Haddad, Brik worked on the total chemical synthesis of Borrelidin, a natural antibiotic macrolide. In 1998, he moved to The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) where he worked under the guidance of Professor Ehud Keinan and Professor Philip E. Dawson on a joint program between the Technion and TSRI, in the area of chemical synthesis of proteins. He used the developed chemical tools to study the mechanism of 4-Oxalocrotonate tautomerase and alter its activity from tautomerase to decarboxylase through chemical point mutations. He completed his Ph.D. in 2001, thereafter started his postdoctoral position with Professor Chi-Huey Wong (TSRI). During this time, Brik developed methods to facilitate the discovery of inhibitors against various enzymes. Specifically, Brik developed an approach named microtiter plate-based chemistry and

in situ screening for the discovery of potent inhibitors against HIV protease, beta-aryl sulfotransferase, and SARS human corona virus protease. In 2004, he was promoted to a Sr. Research Associate in the Wong Laboratory and became involved in the synthesis of glycopeptides and glycoproteins applying his knowledge and skills in protein chemistry. In 2007, Brik returned to his Alma Mater as an Assistant Professor at the Chemistry Department in BGU and was promoted to an Associate Professor in 2011 and to a Full Professor in 2012. In 2015, Brik moved to the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry at Technion where he where he holds the Jordan and Irene Tark Academic Chair. His research involves the development of novel chemistries and approaches for the chemical synthesis and semisynthesis of posttranslationally modified proteins (e.g. ubiquitinated, glycosylated and phosphorylated proteins) for biochemical, biophysical and biological studies. His group is also interested in the design and synthesis of modulators based on small molecules, peptides and peptidomimetics for enzymes which are involved in various diseases.

Born on June 29, 1973, Israel.

Education

1998-2001
Ph.D. Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, Haifa, Israel. Advisor: Professor Ehud Keinan, jointly with The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California. Advisor: Professor Phillip Dawson.
1996-1998
M.Sc. Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, Haifa, Israel.
1993-1996
B.Sc. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Department of Chemistry, Beer Sheva, Israel.

Positions

2015
Full Professor, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Schulich Faculty of Chemistry, Israel.
2012
Full Professor, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Department of Chemistry, Beer Sheva, Israel.
2011-2012
Associate Professor, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Department of Chemistry, Beer Sheva, Israel.
2007-2011
Senior Lecturer (Assistant Professor), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Department of Chemistry, Beer Sheva, Israel.
2004-2006
Senior Research Associate, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, (with Professor Chi-Huey Wong).
2002-2004
Postdoctoral Associate, The Scripps Research Institute La Jolla, California, (with Professor Chi-Huey Wong).

Awards and Honors

2023
The Hershel Rich Technion Innovation Awards
2023
The RTICC Research Award 2022- 2023 For a Seminal Study In Cancer Research
2020
The Israel Chemical Society Prize of Excellence 2019
2019
The 2018 ERC advanced grant
2018
Member of the Israel Young Academy.
2017
The Michael Bruno Award in Bioorganic and Medical Chemistry.
2017
The Henry Taub Prize for Academic Excellence.
2105
The 11th Hirata Award
2015
The Friedrich Bessel Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
2013
Teva Award for Excellence in Memory of Eli Horovitz.
2013
The Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award in Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry for 2013.
2012
Ben-Gurion University -Toronto prize for excellence in research.
2011
The 2011 Israel Chemical Society prize for Outstanding Young Chemist.
2011
JSP Fellowship, the 46th Bürgenstock Conference, May 1-6, 2011 at Brunnen, Switzerland.
2009
Dean’s Honors for Excellent Researcher (Faculty of Natural Sciences Ben-Gurion University).
2006-2009
Ma’of Fellowship: The fellowship covers the university salary for the first three years of my position as a Sr. Lecturer at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in addition to a research budget).
2002-2004
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Israel Science Foundation (ISF).
1998-2001
Eshkol Scholarship for Graduate Students: Israel Ministry of Science.
1995-1996
B.Sc. Dean’s Honors for Excellency (Ben-Gurion University).

Professional Activities

2012-2020
Member of the International Advisory Board of Asian Journal of Organic Chemistry.
2001-present
Member of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
2012-2018
Member of the Editorial Board of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry.
2009-present
Member of the American Peptide Society (APS).
2009-2014
Elected member of the executive board of the Israel Chemical Society.
2007-present
Member of the Israel Chemical Society (ICS).
2020-present
A board Member of the Israel journal of chemistry
2021-present
Elected member of the Technion Council and board of governors
2022-present
Editorial Advisory Board of The Journal of Peptide Science