Dr. Maor Farid
Fulbright and ISEF Fellow at MIT
Founder and CEO of Learn to Succeed
Since I was a child, science and technology were my passion and hope for a better future. I was fascinated by understanding nature while predicting and shaping the future around us. During my work at the Israeli Prime
Minister’s Office and my Ph.D. I was leading research on predicting and preventing irreversible earthquake effects on Israel’s nuclear facilities, using energy absorption technologies. During my military service as a Captain at the Data Science team of Unit 8200, I developed algorithms that leverage raw data and machine learning techniques to predict future terror attacks, and enable real-time warning of significant events.
Currently, I am an AI researcher and Fulbright and ISEF fellow at MIT University, in which I combine machine learning algorithms with deep scientific principles to create earthquake prediction algorithms, aiming to prevent the unfortunate loss of thousands of lives and vast environmental damage, taking place
every year.
But above all, I chose to faithfully serve the society in each of my paths. I am the founder and CEO of Learn to Succeed– a non-profit for empowering thousands of youths at risk, both Jews and Arabs, every year. I’m the author of the top seller Learn to Succeed in which I share the practical and mental tools that I have used during my journey from being a problematic youth to becoming the youngest Ph.D. graduate at the Technion. I also serve as the director of the Science-Abroad center at MIT, aiming to strengthen the connections between Israeli researchers in the institute and the Israeli academy and Industry. Moreover, I serve as a volunteer in the American Technion Society.
About My Research
During my PhD, that was motivated and funded by the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) and Pazy foundation, I developed methods for prediction and mitigation of catastrophic damages in Israeli nuclear facilities with major hazardous potential and national interest.
During my current research at MIT, I focus on prediction and prevention of catastrophic events in complex and chaotic physical systems, such
as earthquakes, sadden failure in critical systems, and extreme climate changes. This, by utilizing profound scientific theories such as nonlinear dynamics and Chaos Theory, with advanced machine-learning algorithms, while the main motivation is preventing the loss of millions of lives and vast environmental damages worldwide. This work is funded by Fulbright program, ISEF foundation, and MISTI- the MIT international science and technology initiative. Those works were published in various journals and presented in multiple international conferences. I serve as a journal reviewer in multiple international journals, such as Nonlinear Dynamics – the International Journal of Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos, JVC, NodyCon and more.
Honors and Awards
Emerging Leaders Program- Harvard Kennedy School, Executive Education, full schoarship.
One of the most prestigious leadership programs in the US. Designed for rising U.S. and international leaders with 10–15 years of professional experience. The program trainees include rising political leaders, policymakers, government managers, military officers, professionals from nonprofit organizations, public interest groups, and the corporate sector.
Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities postdoctoral scholarship for academic excellence (among 10 winners from all disciplines. The only awardee from the Technion).
Fulbright Scholarship for postdoctoral studies. Given by the US State Department for distinguished scientific excellence and leadership skills (among 8 winners from all disciplines, 2019).
Israel Scholarship Education Foundation (ISEF) postdoctoral fellowship for academic and personal excellence (among 2 winners from all disciplines, 2019).
Excellent commander award of Unit 8200 given by unit’s commander, for excellence, leadership and distinguished contribution (2019).
Moskowitz Prize for Social entrepreneurship for establishment of Learn to Succeed association for empowering of youth at risk from the socio-economic and geographic periphery, and gap mitigation of social gaps in the Israeli society (among 2 winners, 2019).
Elected on the Forbes list of 30 under 30, which aims to consist the most promising researchers, activists, entrepreneurs and innovators under the age of 30. The list members are considered as game-changers in their field, and expected to be key figures in the future (among 30 winners from all disciplines, 2019).
Elected as one of the best studies presented in ICOVIS 2018 conference, and invited to submit a full-length paper for the special issue of the Journal of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (2018).
Elected as IDF “Excellent Scientist” (award given to the top four academics in the IDF, 2017)
Elected as “Brakim Excellent Officer”. Annual award given to the top officer in the program for academic achievements, personal excellence and leadership (2014).
B.Sc. and M.Sc. graduation Cum Laude (2013, 2015). Graudated as the youngest Ph.D. Graduate at the Technion at the age of 24 (2017).
Selected from Public Media
Major Research Grants
Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities postdoctoral scholarship for academic excellence, 2020.
For collaboration with the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology about in the study of prediction of nonlinear complex systems undergoing multi-scale energy propagation.
MIT Internaltional Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2020.
For collaboration with the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology about prediction of extreme events in complex and stochastic systems.
Fulbright program, Post-Doctoral Scholarship, 2019.
For distinguished academic excellence
The Israel Scholarship Education Foundation (ISEF), Post-Doctoral Scholarship, 2019.
For academic excellence, contribution to the community, social activism and leadership, and socio-economic background.
Pazy Foundation, Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC), 2018.
For advanced research with a major national interest, in collaboration with academia and industry. This funding was received after leading the application process, resulting an inter-organizational collaboration between the Technion and the IAEC.
Teaching
Analytic and machine learning-based modeling of dynamical systems, Technion, 2020.
Lecturer and developer of a unique and original course for undergraduates and graduates. The course was developed based on a thorough academic and expertise and practical experience that combines deep theoretical background with practical tools in nonlinear dynamics, chaos theory, and machine learning algorithms. The course includes various realistic demonstrations, a Python programming workshop, and assignments taken from real-life engineering problems.
Modeling, and Analysis of Dynamical Systems, Faculty of Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 2017.
External Lecturer, grade: 4.91/5.
Original course for undergraduates. Held weekly office hours, provided homework solutions, developed unique practical workshops, gave several guest lectures, served as instructor for final projects, presented all lectures and was solely responsible for the development of the course syllabus, lecture notes, and homework assignments.
Programming and Computer Science course, Unit 8200, 2019.
Commander of MAMAS elite course of Unit 8200 for teaching advances programming skills and chosen topics in computer science for excellent soldiers and officers of the Unit.
MIT Microteaching Workshop, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2020.