Reuven Babai (PhD)
Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, The Constantiner School of Education and The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University
Email: reuvenb@post.tau.ac.il
Telephone & WhatsApp 
: +972-3-6408841
Room: Sharet building (Education), room 305
Webpage (School of Education): http://english.tau.ac.il/profile/reuvenb
ORCID ID
: orcid.org/0000-0003-2231-4644
1991 - 1994
B.Sc. in Biology (Cum Laude)
Program for Excellent Students, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University
1995 - 2001
Ph.D. in Microbiology (direct course Ph.D)
Thesis under the supervision of Prof. Eliora Ron, titled: Regulatory aspects of the cellular response to cadmium in Escherichia coli. Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University
2001 – 2002
Post-Doctorate in Science Education
Department of Science Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
1997 - 1998
Development and updating of the ‘Advanced Molecular Biology’ laboratory course, Department of Natural Sciences, The Open University
2001 - 2004
Academic coordinator of the ‘Israeli Young Scientists Competition’, Bloomfield Science Museum, Jerusalem
2002 – 2006
Guest lecturer, Department of Science Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2005 - 2011
Head of the Life Sciences Education Program, Department of Science Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2006 – 2008
Lecturer, Department of Science Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2007 – 2009
Head of the Continuing Education Program, Department of Science Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2008 – present
Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2008 – present
Head of the Science Education Lab, Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2010 - 2019
Head of the High School Science Education Program, Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2012 – present
Head of the Biology Teaching Certificate Program, Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2013 – present
Faculty Member, The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University
2016 – 2025
Academic Head of the Center for Professional Education Development, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2019 – present
Head of the Science and Technology Education Program, Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2020 – 2024
Head of the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2021 – present
Head of the Continuing Education Program, Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2021 - present
Head of the Physics Teaching Certificate Program, Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2025 - present
Head of the Chemistry and Computer Science Teaching Certificate Programs, Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
1995 - 2002
Instructor at the Unit for Science Oriented Youth, The Constantiner School of Education, Tel Aviv University
2001 - 2004
Academic coordinator of the ‘Israeli Young Scientists Competition’, Bloomfield Science Museum, Jerusalem
2020 – 2022
Member of the Quality Assessment Committee in the Field of Science Education, Israel Council for Higher Education
2021 – present
Member of the High School Biology Education Committee, Pedagogical Secretariat/ Administration for Innovation and Technology, Israel Ministry of Education
2022 – 2024
Member of the Subcommittee for the Development of the “From Genes to Biodiversity” Strand of the New High School Biology Curriculum, Pedagogical Secretariat, Israel Ministry of Education
2023 – 2025
Member of the Steering Committee of the Initiative “From High-Tech to Teaching", The Mofet Institute
2023 – 2025
Member of the Monitoring Committee for the Implementation of the Council for Higher Education Decisions in the Field of Science Education, Israel Council for Higher Education
2003
Development of mathematical and scientific thinking-skills of junior high-school students. Awarded by: The Pedagogical Secretariat, Ministry of Education, Israel. 41,000 NIS for one year. (PI; additional PI: Ruth Stavy).
2004
Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) population. Awarded by: Chief Scientist Office, Ministry of Health, Israel. 160,000 NIS for two years. (CI; PI: Ariela Gigi).
2007
Intuitive Interference in Proportional Reasoning. Awarded by: The Israel Science Foundation, Israel. 400,000 NIS for four years. (PI; additional PI: Ruth Stavy).
2009
Development of a course for pre-service teachers that focus on advancement of thinking-skills of junior-high school and high school students. Awarded by: The Pedagogical Secretariat, Ministry of Education, Israel. 8,000 NIS for one year. (PI)
2018
A Clinical Teacher Residency Program with the ORT-Israel School Network to Train 40 New High School Physics Teachers. Awarded by: The Trump Foundation, Israel. 1,400,000 NIS for five years. (PI)
2022
Proportional reasoning from the viewpoint of intuitive interference. Awarded by: The Israel Science Foundation, Israel. 650,000 NIS for three years. (PI)
2024
Promoting Data-Informed Decision-Making at the Municipal Level for Improving Scientific and Mathematical Literacy among Arab Students. Awarded by: The Bloomberg Sagol Center for City Leadership at Tel Aviv University. 70,000 NIS for three years. (PI)
2025
From High-Tech to Teaching: Teacher Certification Programs in Mathematics and Science for Academics and Former High-Tech Professionals. Awarded by: The Ministry of Education, Israel. 912,000 NIS for one year. (PI)
2026
Overcoming the Intuitive Trap: The Interplay of Representation and Instruction in Proportional Reasoning. Awarded by: Minducate - Science of Learning Research and Innovation Center, Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University. 20,000 NIS for one year. (PI)
2026
From High-Tech to Teaching: Teacher Certification Programs in Mathematics and Science for Academics and Former High-Tech Professionals. Awarded by: The Ministry of Education, Israel. 1,800,000 NIS for one year. (PI)
One of the questions that has motivated my research throughout the years is why students often struggle to apply scientific knowledge even after they have learned it. This question has led me to investigate intuitive thinking, conceptual understanding, and higher-order reasoning, and more recently to develop targeted educational interventions that translate findings from cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience into classroom practice. My research seeks to connect basic research on learning with practical approaches that improve conceptual understanding, reasoning, and academic achievement in science education.
1. Babai, R., Blum-Oehler, G., Stern, B. E., Hacker, J., & Ron, E. Z. (1997). Virulence patterns from septicemic Escherichia coli O78 strains. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 149(1), 99-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1097(97)00062-1
2. Babai, R., & Ron, E. Z. (1998). An Escherichia coli gene responsive to heavy metals. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 167(2), 107-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1097(98)00369-3
3. Biran, I., Babai, R., Levcov, K., Rishpon, J., & Ron, E. Z. (2000). Online and in situ monitoring of environmental pollutants: Electrochemical biosensing of cadmium. Environmental Microbiology, 2(3), 285-290. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1462-2920.2000.00103.x
4. Babai, R., Stern, B. E., Hacker, J., & Ron, E. Z. (2000). New fimbrial gene cluster of S-fimbrial adhesin family. Infection and Immunity, 68(10), 5901-5907. https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.68.10.5901-5907.2000
5. Babai, R., Hacker, J., & Ron, E. Z. (2001). Function and genetic organization of avian septicemic Escherichia coli O78 fimbriae. Infectious Disease Review, Supp.3, 70-77.
6. Paitan, Y., Biran, D., Biran, I., Shechter, N., Babai, R., Rishpon, J., & Ron, E. Z. (2003). On-line and in situ biosensors for monitoring environmental pollution. Biotechnology Advances, 22(1-2), 27-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2003.08.014
7. Babai, R., Brecher, T., Stavy, R., & Tirosh, D. (2006). Intuitive interference in probabilistic reasoning. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 4(4), 627-639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-006-9031-1
8. Babai, R., Levyadun, T., Stavy, R., & Tirosh, D. (2006). Intuitive rules in science and mathematics: A reaction time study. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 37(8), 913-924. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207390600794958
9. Stavy, R., Babai, R., Tsamir, P., Tirosh, D., Lin, F. L., & McRobbie, C. (2006). Are intuitive rules universal? International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 4(3), 417-436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-005-9012-9
10. Gigi, A., Babai, R., Katzav, E., Atkins, S., & Hendler, T. (2007). Prefrontal and parietal regions are involved in naming of objects seen from unusual viewpoints. Behavioral Neuroscience, 121(5), 836-844. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7044.121.5.836
11. Babai, R., & Amsterdamer, A. (2008). The persistence of solid and liquid naive conceptions: A reaction time study. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 17(6), 553-559. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-008-9122-6
12. Stavy, R., & Babai, R. (2008). Complexity of shapes and quantitative reasoning in geometry. Mind, Brain, and Education, 2(4), 170-176. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-228X.2008.00051.x
13. Habiballah, H., & Babai, R. (2008). Effect of acceleration of the probability cognitive scheme on students' ability to answer problems in genetics. Biology Teachers Journal, 177, 18-28 (in Hebrew).
14. Babai, R., & Levit-Dori, T. (2009). Several CASE lessons can improve students' control of variables reasoning scheme ability. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 18(5), 439-446. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-009-9161-7
15. Gigi, A., Babai, R., Penker, A., Hendler, T., & Korczyn, A. D. (2010). Prefrontal compensatory mechanism may enable normal semantic memory performance in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Journal of Neuroimaging, 20(2), 163-168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6569.2009.00386.x
16. Babai, R., Zilber, H., Stavy, R., & Tirosh, D. (2010). The effect of intervention on accuracy of students' responses and reaction times to geometry problems. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 8(1), 185-201. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-009-9169-8
17. Babai, R., Sekal, R., & Stavy, R. (2010). Persistence of the intuitive conception of living things in adolescence. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 19(1), 20-26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-009-9174-2
18. Babai, R. (2010). Piagetian cognitive level and the tendency to use intuitive rules when solving comparison tasks. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 8(2), 203-221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-009-9170-2
19. Babai, R., & Stavy, R. (2009). Brain in science education. Head Ha-Chinuch, 84(3), 118-121 (in Hebrew).
20. Stavy, R., & Babai, R. (2010). Overcoming intuitive interference in mathematics: Insights from behavioral, brain imaging and intervention studies. ZDM - International Journal on Mathematics Education, 42(6), 621-633. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-010-0251-z
21. Babai, R., Eidelman, R. R., & Stavy, R. (2012). Preactivation of inhibitory control mechanisms hinders intuitive reasoning. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 10(4), 763-775. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-011-9287-y
22. Babai, R., Stavy, R., & Younis, N. (2014). Involvement of inhibitory control mechanisms in overcoming intuitive interference. Neuroeducation, 3, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.24046/neuroed.20140301.1
23. Babai, R., Shalev, E., & Stavy, R. (2015). A warning intervention improves students’ ability to overcome intuitive interference. ZDM - International Journal on Mathematics Education, 47(5), 735-745. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-015-0670-y
24. Stavy, R., & Babai, R. (2015). Problem-solving in science and mathematics: A reaction-time and brain imaging study. Megamot, 50(3), 24-52. (in Hebrew)
25. Babai, R., Nattiv, L., & Stavy, R. (2016). Comparison of perimeters: improving students’ performance by increasing the salience of the relevant variable. ZDM - International Journal on Mathematics Education, 48(3), 367-378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-016-0766-z
26. Stavy, R., Babai, R., & Kallai, A. Y. (2016). Proportional reasoning: The role of congruity and salience in behavioral and imaging research. Zeitschrift fur Psychologie / Journal of Psychology, 224(4), 266-276. https://doi.org/10.1027/2151-2604/a000262
27. Lahav, O., & Babai, R. (2018). Comparison of perimeters: Intuitive interference in people who are blind. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 112(3), 287-298. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482x1811200307
28. Babai, R., Stavy, R., & Cohen, E. (2018). Proportional reasoning: Reducing the interference of natural numbers through an intervention based on the problem-solving framework of executive functions. Neuroeducation, 5(2), 109-118. https://doi.org/10.24046/neuroed.20180502.109
29. Allaire-Duquette, G., Babai, R., & Stavy, R. (2019). Interventions aimed at overcoming intuitive interference: insights from brain-imaging and behavioral studies. Cognitive Processing, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-018-0893-2
30. Babai, R., & Lahav, O. (2020). Interference in geometry among people who are blind. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 96, Article 103517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2019.103517
31. Galili, H., Babai, R., & Stavy, R. (2020). Intuitive Interference in Geometry: An Eye-Tracking Study. Mind, Brain, and Education, 14(2), 155-166. https://doi.org/10.1111/mbe.12231
32. Klein, E., Babai, R., Ischebeck, A., & Moeller, K. (2021). Neuro-cognitive Architecture of Numerical Cognition and Its Development. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 15, Article 670460. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.670460
33. Babai, R., & Allaire-Duquette, G. (2025). Exploring the Impact of a Task-specific Warning to Overcome Intuitive Interference: Humble Lesson on How to Teach in the Context of Representational Plurality. Science and Education, 34(4), 2031-2049. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-024-00610-3
1. Babai, R. (2006). The tendency to use intuitive rules among students with different Piagetian cognitive levels. Proceedings of the 30th Annual Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education.
2. Gigi, A., & Babai, R. (2007). Familial CJD - what triggers the disease onset? In M. J. Stones (Ed.) Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: New research. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers.
3. Stavy, R., & Babai, R. (2009). The fallacy of intuitive thinking in science. In A. Henik (Ed.), Neuroscience, Cognition and Education - final report, The Neuroscience Cognition and Education interdisciplinary think tank under the supervision of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Education, Israel (in Hebrew).
4. Babai, R., & Stavy, R. (2015). Intuitive interference in science and mathematics education. In Z. Smyrnaiou, M. Riopel, & M. Sotiriou (Eds.) Recent advances in science and technology education, ranging from modern pedagogies to neuroeducation and assessment. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
5. Stavy, R., & Babai, R. (2016). Discrete and continuous presentation of quantities in science and mathematics education. In A. Henik (Ed.) Continuous issues in numerical cognition: How many or how much, London: Academic Press.
6. Babai, R. (2018). Cognitive level implications for teaching and learning. In D. Chen & J. Kohan-Mass (Eds.) Learning, intelligence and education: lectures and studies, The Henrietta Szold Institute Publishing (in Hebrew).
7. Bishara, W., & Babai, R. (2023). Improving achievement in science of students belonging to the Arab society - an intervention to advance the abstract thinking scheme and its impact on students’ achievement in particle theory of matter. In A Jamal (Ed) On hospitality and compliance: Trends in existing conditions of Palestinian citizens in Israel. The Walter-Lebach Institute for Jewish-Arab Coexistence (in Hebrew).
1. Babai, R., & Tsamir, P. (2002). Studies in science and mathematics education, volume II. Tel Aviv: Ramot, Tel Aviv University (in Hebrew).
1. Ron, E. Z., Rishpon, J., Babai, R., & Biran, I. Patent date - 5/2002. Monitoring of gene expression. Patent number - US 6,391,549 B1.
