Prof. Moshe Lewenstein stepped down from his role as Deputy President of Bar-Ilan University in September 2024, concluding a transformative seven-year tenure that began in October 2017. During his time in this position, Prof. Lewenstein successfully achieved many of the ambitious goals he set out to accomplish, significantly advancing the university’s internationalization with the support of a dedicated and determined team across various divisions.
Before being appointed Deputy President, Prof. Lewenstein served as the Dean of the Faculty of Exact Sciences and the Department of Computer Science Chair. He is currently a professor in the Department of Computer Science within the Faculty of Exact Sciences, where he continues to contribute to the academic community.
Prof. Lewenstein’s academic journey began at Bar-Ilan University, where he completed both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. His exceptional talent earned him the prestigious Herman Goldstine Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center. He spent two years at the highly competitive fellowship, conducting research at the IBM Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York, from 2001 to 2002. Additionally, he has held visiting positions at esteemed institutions, including the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at NYU and the University of Waterloo in Canada.
His research focuses on algorithms, particularly in the areas of pattern matching and data structure design. Prof. Lewenstein and his team have developed innovative data structures for fast text indexing, indexing with errors, and online indexing. His research group at Bar-Ilan University has nurtured numerous PhD and MSc students, contributing to the academic growth of the next generation of scholars. With more than 70 published papers to his name, he has also edited several books and has actively participated in numerous program committees, serving as an editor for academic journals. His contributions to the field have been recognized with several accolades, including a Google faculty award, an IBM faculty award, and the distinction of being a Gambrinus Fellow.
Prof. Lewenstein’s leadership and vision have left, and will continue to leave, an indelible mark on Bar-Ilan University, fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration that will continue to benefit the institution and its community for years to come.
