MICHAL BENTAL ROOF, Ph.D.
EDUCATION
2000
Wharton Management Program Certificate in Business Administration, The Wharton School,
University of Pennsylvania
1990
Ph.D. in the Life Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
1983
M.Sc. in the Life Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
1980
B.Sc. in Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
(with distinction)
1990
1990
1987
1983
Chaim Weizmann Fellowship for postdoctoral studies
Feinberg Graduate School distinction award for Ph.D. students
Wolf Foundation Scholarship for Ph.D. students
Feinberg Graduate School special distinction award for M.Sc. students
AWARDS
EXPERIENCE
Academic and Research Program Officer
Cardiopulmonary Research Program
Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
9/2002-present
Associate Director - Scientific Development Administrator
Institute for Medicine and Engineering (IME), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
1996 – 2002
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Initiate and promote principal interactions with University offices and the Schools of Medicine and
Engineering; assist the Director in establishing Executive and Advisory Committees, and in building and
facilitation of the IME membership
Develop strategies to create proposals for unique funding opportunities from federal agencies, private
foundations, and commercial sources; evaluate the appropriateness of funding sources for specific
scientific projects. Organize multiple-investigator and program project grants and training grants within
and outside of the IME
Design and implement the high-profile IME seminar series, conferences and research symposia to
facilitate the integration of medical sciences and engineering technologies for faculty, post-doctoral fellows
and residents, and graduate students
Write summary reports of the research activities of IME members and IME projects. Interact with faculty
and senior administrators at Penn and elsewhere to coordinate the analysis and preparation of data for
reports and special projects
Act as a liaison between IME faculty and Penn’s Center for Technology Transfer
Develop materials to enhance understanding and knowledge of the Institute, its research infrastructure,
and scientific activities at Penn and outside. Plan, edit, and produce the IME Newsletter. Implement and
oversee the IME web site at www.med.upenn.edu/ime, and the Biological Engineering Network (BEN @
PENN) web site at www.upenn.edu/ben-penn
During the IME startup, developed and implemented Institute procedures and guidelines. Supervised the
move of the IME research laboratories and the IME administrative offices to the new IME space in 1997.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dept. of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
1990 - 1996
Project: T Lymphocyte activation and pH regulation studied by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. (Advisor:
Prof. Carol Deutsch)
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Implemented and characterized the agarose bead preparation and perfusion system developed during my
Ph.D. for T-lymphocyte studies
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Trained investigators from other laboratories in using this setup for other cell types (myocytes; -cells).
Supervised an undergraduate student
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Wrote (first author) two journal articles, one (invited) review and one (invited) book chapter. Co-authored
an additional journal article. Wrote, with Prof. Deutsch, several grant proposals (including data
presentation, research plan, and allocation of funds)
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Presented at international scientific conferences. Won travel awards to international scientific conferences
in San Francisco (1991), Berlin, Germany (1992), Warwick, England (1990) and Jerusalem, Israel (1992)
Graduate Student (Ph.D.)
Isotopes Research and Biochemistry Departments, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
1985 - 1990
MICHAL BENTAL ROOF - PAGE 2
Thesis Project: Osmoregulation in the unicellular, halotolerant alga Dunaliella, studied by in-vivo magnetic
resonance spectroscopy. (Advisors: Profs. Hadassa Degani and Uri Pick)
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Developed a system for spectroscopic studies of viable, anchorage-independent cells under physiological
conditions, at the very high cell densities required for the NMR experiment. This was achieved by trapping
the cells inside agarose beads, and perfusing them with fresh media
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Based on my findings, formulated a hypothesis for the role of inorganic phosphate in osmoregulation in
Dunaliella
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Authored five journal articles and one (invited) book chapter (1st author of all)
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Participated in related research projects in addition to my thesis project, resulting in co-authorship of three
journal articles and one book chapter
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Supervised two graduate student rotation projects
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Wrote, with Prof. Degani, a grant proposal to the Israeli-German Minerva foundation, for the next phase of
the project. Presented the proposal to the local Minerva committee, resulting in the award of the grant.
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Presented at six international scientific meetings. Won student travel awards to international conferences
in Todtmoos, Germany (1986) and Madison, WI (1988).
Teaching Assistant
The Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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1988 - 1990
Undergraduate inorganic and organic chemistry laboratory and tutorial sessions.
Fellow, Netherlands-Israel Foreign Ministry Student Exchange Program
Laboratory of Physiological Chemistry, University of Groningen, The Netherlands,
Research Assistant, the Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
1984 - 1985
Project: Liposome-liposome and liposome-membrane fusion (Drs. S. Nir and A. Gad)
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Learned techniques for the preparation of reconstituted membrane vesicles, and expanded my repertoire
of liposome fusion assays. Set up liposome fusion assays, and trained laboratory personnel in performing
the experiments
Graduate Student (M.Sc.)
Membrane Research Department, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
1981 - 1983
Thesis Project: The interaction of chromaffin granules with natural and model membranes (Advisor: Dr. Peter
I. Lelkes)
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Adapted an assay of membrane lipid mixing for use in my thesis project, and wrote (1st author) one journal
article
Support Staff for Travel Agencies and Convention Organizers, Israel
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Coordinated transportation, spouse programs and tours, and provided on-site assistance to individuals
attending the events
Military Service, the Israeli Defense Force (Lieutenant)
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1977 - 1980
1975 - 1977
An instructor in the Women’s Officers Training Course. Functioned as an intermediary between the cadets
and the Course Commanding Officer. Personal mentor/advisor for 10-15 trainees. Instructor in general
military subjects and in specialized military office management procedures
Headed a large reserve personnel pool, placed these reserve soldiers according to the military
requirements and with consideration of the individuals’ requests. Managed an office with staff of seven
INTERNATIONAL ADVANCED COURSES
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FEBS-CNRS Advanced Course on the Dynamics of Membrane Proteins and Cellular Energetics, Grenoble
and Besancon, France, 1987
Enrico Fermi International School of Physics: The Physics of NMR Spectroscopy in Biology and Medicine,
Varenna, Italy, 1986
FEBS Advanced Course on the Structure and Dynamics of Membrane Lipids, Utrecht, The Netherlands,
1984
PUBLICATIONS
1.
2.
1997 – 2001: Issues 1-5 of the IME Newsletter (Editor in Chief, writer)
1984 – 1995: Research publications of my M.Sc., Ph.D., and post-doctoral studies; (List attached)
15 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals
MICHAL BENTAL ROOF - PAGE 3
4 book chapters and review articles
13 presentations at national and international meetings
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS:
(M.Sc., Ph.D., and post-doctoral studies)
Published Journal Articles
1.
M. Bental and C. Deutsch (1994) 19F-NMR study of primary human T lymphocyte activation: effects of mitogen on
intracellular pH. American Journal of Physiology 266 (Cell Physiol. 35): C541-C551.
2.
F.A. Davis, G.V. Reddy, M. Bental and C. Deutsch (1994) Synthesis of methyl 2-(fluoromethyl)-3-fluoroalanine. Synthesis,
1994: 701-702.
3.
M. Bental and C. Deutsch (1993) Metabolic changes in activated T cells: An NMR study of human peripheral blood
lymphocytes. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 29: 317-326.
4.
M. Weiss, M. Bental and U. Pick (1991) Hydrolysis of polyphosphates and permeability changes in response to osmotic
shocks in cells of the halotolerant alga Dunaliella. Plant Physiology 97: 1241-1248.
5.
Katz, M. Bental, H. Degani and M. Avron (1991) In-vivo pH regulation by a Na+/H+ antiporter in the halotolerant alga
Dunaliella salina. Plant Physiology 96: 110-115.
6.
M. Bental, U. Pick, M. Avron and H. Degani (1991) Polyphosphate metabolism in the alga Dunaliella studied by
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1092: 21-28.
7.
U. Pick, M. Bental, E. Chitlaru and M. Weiss (1990) Polyphosphate hydrolysis - a protective mechanism against alkaline
stress. FEBS Letters 274: 15-18.
8.
M. Bental, U. Pick, M. Avron and H. Degani (1990) The role of intracellular orthophosphate in triggering osmoregulation in
the alga Dunaliella salina. The European Journal of Biochemistry 188: 117-122.
9.
M. Bental, U. Pick, M. Avron and H. Degani (1990) Metabolic studies with NMR spectroscopy of the alga Dunaliella salina
trapped within agarose beads. The European Journal of Biochemistry 188: 111-116.
31P
NMR.
10. M. Bental, H. Degani and M. Avron (1988) 23Na NMR studies of the intracellular sodium ion concentration in the
halotolerant alga Dunaliella salina. Plant Physiology 87: 813-817.
11. M. Bental, M. Oren-Shamir, M. Avron and H. Degani (1988) 31P NMR and 13C NMR studies of the phosphorus and carbon
metabolites in the halotolerant alga Dunaliella salina. Plant Physiology 87: 320-324.
12. Bental, J. Wilschut, J. Scholma and S. Nir (1987) Calcium-induced fusion of large unilamellar phosphatidyl
serine/cholesterol vesicles. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 898: 239-247.
13. J. Wilschut, J. Scholma, M. Bental, D. Hoekstra and S. Nir (1985) Calcium-induced fusion of phosphatidylserine vesicles:
mass action kinetic analysis of membrane lipid mixing and aqueous contents mixing. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 821:
45-55.
14. A.E. Gad, M. Bental, G. Elyashiv, H. Weinberg and S. Nir (1985) Promotion and inhibition of vesicle fusion by polylysine.
Biochemistry 24: 6297-6282.
15. M.Bental, P.I. Lelkes, J. Scholma, D. Hoekstra and J. Wilschut (1984) Ca-independent, protein-mediated fusion of
chromaffin granule ghosts with liposomes. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 774: 296-300.
Book Chapters and Review Articles
1.
M. Bental and C. Deutsch, An NMR view of primary T-lymphocyte activation. In: NMR in Physiology and Medicine (R.J.
Gillies, ed.) Academic Press, NY, Chapter 18, 1994.
2.
M. Bental and C. Deutsch (1994) On-line studies of activation events in primary human T lymphocytes. ImmunoMethods
4: 148-162.
3.
M. Bental and H. Degani, NMR studies of Dunaliella. In: Dunaliella: Physiology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology. (A. Ben
Amotz and M. Avron, eds.) CRC Press, Chapter 7, 1992.
4.
Gimmler, M. Bental, H. Degani, M. Avron and U. Pick, The H+-export capacity of Dunaliella acidophila and the permeability
of the plasma membrane for H+ and weak acids. In: Current Research in Photosynthesis, (M. Baltscheffsky, ed.) Kluwer
Academic Publishers, Vol. IV, pp 773-776, 1990.