Professor Eitan Manor, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chair of the Department of Advanced Materials Engineering received his Ph.D. from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in 1986.
In fact, he received all three degrees from Ben-Gurion University, where he later lectured in the Department of Materials Engineering. After receiving his Ph.D., Professor Manor spent two years researching at the University of California, Santa-Barbara in the Materials Department, as a Postdoctoral Fellow.
Prof. Manor joined JCE in 1997 as part of its founding team – prior to the College’s establishment in 1999. He established the Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, and has been the Department’s Chair ever since; he additionally lectures in the materials and processes fields and supervises students’ final engineering projects in this field.
In 2005, Professor Manor was appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs at JCE in addition to remaining Chair of his department. He is additionally the Chair of the College Academic Council, Chair of the College Disciplinary Committee, Member of the College Nominating Committee, Member of the College Committee for Academic Affairs and Member of the College Library Committee. Prof. Manor also previously served as Dean of Students for five consecutive years.
When he was a student, Professor Manor chose to study Materials Engineering at a time when it was considered a new field in Israel. “I was always drawn to understanding the world from its most basic elements and felt curiosity and the will to inquire further about basic elements,” says Professor Manor. “Materials Engineering, which is based on the foundation of materials on an atomic and molecular level, was exactly what I wanted to study.”
Most of his professors at Ben-Gurion University were physics majors, and they taught the field with an emphasis on the physical properties of materials. However, the industry today demands a wide base of knowledge in chemistry as well. Therefore, Prof. Manor explains, “based on recommendations from leaders in the industry, the Jerusalem College of Engineering developed a unique study program based on providing in depth knowledge on both chemistry and physics.”
The Department of Advanced Materials Engineering at the Jerusalem College of Engineering is one of only three institutions in Israel that grants recognized B.Sc. degrees in materials engineering (the only one in Jerusalem ; the other two being the Technion and Ben-Gurion University).
The College’s Department of Advanced Materials Engineering trains its students in classical materials engineering and additionally provides specialization in materials and processes for the microelectronics industry. The curriculum includes theoretical studies in the relevant science and technology disciplines, as well as specialized studies such as materials used in microelectronics and electro-optical devices, nanostructured materials, and materials processing using novel methods. Due to the College’s close ties to Israel’s high-tech industry, several advanced classes are taught by industry leaders and students are exposed to laboratories at leading companies that house the latest, cutting-edge technology.
The curriculum, along with the hands-on training that the students receive, provide the Department’s graduates with a wide range of employment options both in traditional technological industries and in high-tech and knowledge-based industries, in addition to the opportunity to continue materials research in Masters and Ph.D. programs.
According to Prof. Manor, “the fields which materials engineering encompasses are fascinating, integrating science with engineering – and by doing so, one gains an understanding of the wide range of substances that surround us – whether it’s the material that constructs a space shuttle or the materials and processes for the manufacturing of the computer processor that allows it to launch.”
Until he joined JCE, Prof. Manor dedicated most of his time to research at Ben-Gurion University in the field of hydrogen embrittlement, meaning, the interaction between hydrogen and metals. During Prof. Manor’s post-doc in California, he researched ceramic-metal composites used in the military for fortification.
The research tools Prof. Manor has worked with include electronic microscopes (SEM and TEM), X-Ray analysis and other tools that determine mechanical properties. Prof. Manor has authored and edited numerous publications, including books, articles, text books and teachers’ guides, and has presented papers at national and international conferences throughout the years.
“There is much satisfaction in working at the College,” explains Prof. Manor, “and in helping younger generations acquire professional knowledge – and a career that will allow them to be self-sufficient and earn a good living in the field they chose to study. Often times we educate students that are the first in their family to receive a degree – and seeing these students graduate is extremely rewarding.”
“In my role as Vice President for Academic Affairs and as Chair of the Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, I have firsthand experience in the close partnerships the College has formed with the high-tech industry. I am always proud to see graduates of ours hired as engineers at the same workplace in which they completed their final engineering project as part of the College’s final requirements. In some cases, these graduates end up supervising other JCE students that fulfill their project there, years later. It’s amazing to watch these instances come full circle.”
Although he never took music lessons, and never learned to read notes, Prof. Manor’s natural talent for music allowed him to finance his own college tuition by playing the accordion. “I basically play by ear. When I was an undergraduate student, I played at kindergartens and schools during holidays and end-of-the-year celebrations. During my Masters and Doctorate, I was the accordion player for the dance troupe Omarim. I even travelled with them to performances throughout Europe.” Today, in his limited free time, Prof. Manor enjoys playing the organ; he hopes that one day, when he’ll have more leisure time, he’ll be able to further develop his musical skills.
Professor Eitan Manor is married to Rachel, who holds a Masters in Theatre Arts from Tel Aviv University and works in theatre for special education. Rachel and Eitan have two children: Noam, who is a soldier in the IDF, and Sheery, a high school senior.