Academic Education:

B.Sc. – Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center (2013–2016)
M.Sc. – Marine Biotechnology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (2016–2018)
Ph.D. – Marine Biotechnology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (2018–2023)

Background:

Matan is Head of the Institutional R&D Infrastructure Unit at the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station. He holds a Ph.D. in marine biotechnology from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. His research focused on microbial communities, algal polysaccharide degradation, and sustainable aquaculture. Before joining the AquaConvergens team, Matan worked in the aquaculture technology sector, where he led the development of advanced systems for water treatment and sustainable aquaculture. He has experience in both academic and industrial settings, managing research infrastructure and mentoring students.

• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Matan-MasasaTop of Form
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/matan-masasa-ph-d-14a849164/?originalSubdomain=ilBottom of Form

List of publications

• Visser, A. N., Zhang, F., Guttman, L., Masasa, M., Wang, S., Koedooder, C., & Shaked, Y. (2025). Unveiling the P-solubilizing potential of bacteria enriched from natural colonies of Red Sea Trichodesmium spp. Science of the Total Environment, 963, 178446.
• Ben Natan, M., Masasa, M., Shashar, N. and Guttman, L., 2024. Antibiotic Resistance in Vibrio Bacteria Associated with Red Spotting Disease in Sea Urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Echinodermata). Microorganisms, 12(12), p.2460.
• Masasa M., Kushmaro A., Nguyen D., Chernova H., Shashar N., Guttman L., 2023. Spatial Succession Underlies Microbial Contribution to Food Digestion in the Gut of an Algivorous Sea Urchin. Microbiology Spectrum, 25:e00514-23.
• Nguyen, D., Masasa, M., Ovadia, O. and Guttman, L., 2022. Ecological insights into the resilience of marine plastisphere throughout a storm disturbance. Science of The Total Environment, p.159775.
• Masasa, M., Kushmaro, A., Chernova, H., Shashar, N., and Guttman, L., 2022. Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes of a Novel Halotolerant Alkalihalobacillus Species for Hydrolysis of Starch and Other Algal Polysaccharides. Microbiology spectrum, 11;e0107822.
• Masasa, M., Kushmaro, A., Kramarsky-Winter, E., Shpigel, M., Barkan, R., Golberg, A., Kribus, A., Shashar, N. and Guttman, L., 2021. Mono-specific algal diets shape microbial networking in the gut of the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla elatensis. Animal microbiome, 3(1), pp.1-21.
• Shahar, B., Shpigel, M., Barkan, R., Masasa, M., Neori, A., Chernov, H., Guttman, L., 2020. Changes in metabolism, growth, and nutrient uptake of Ulva fasciata (Chlorophyta) in response to nitrogen source. Algal Research, 46, 101781.