Weizmann Institute of Science June 22, 2023

Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,

I am writing to highly recommend Vadim A. Shabelnikov for the Theoretical and Computational
Neuroscience PhD Program at the Weizmann Institute of Science. I am currently a professor Emeritus at
Boston University and was the chairman of the Boston University Administrative Sciences Department
for two decades. This department offered an undergraduate and five graduate management degrees. As
a professor at Boston University in international marketing and global business for thirty years I had the
opportunity to teach over a period of eight years at our Masters of Management program in both the
Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba and Tel Aviv Locations. As such I know the Weizmann Institute of
Science well and believe that Vadim is an excellent fit having had the pleasure of teaching and
mentoring Vadim during his graduate studies.

From the onset, Vadim distinguished himself as a hardworking, dedicated, and innovative student. He
has an extraordinary ability to leverage his broad knowledge base, particularly in the areas of
technology, management, and innovation, which allowed him to contribute invaluably to our course
discussions and projects. His work was consistently of high quality, showcasing his capacity for critical
thinking, problem-solving, and thorough understanding of e-commerce. He has a rare talent to be both a
fine professor in the classroom as well as a strong administrator. His students which were a broad mix of
American and foreign (from fifteen different countries) sought him out for advice outside the classroom
and spoke highly of his teaching skills. He brings to the Hebrew University a combined background of
professional knowledge with decades of working experience as well as a proven academic
administrative and teaching record.

What impressed me most about Vadim was his passion for harnessing technology to improve education.
He demonstrated a keen interest in exploring how data analytics and artificial intelligence can be used
to enrich and personalize the educational experience. His course co-development in Innovation and his
experience in knowledge management software development bear testimony to his capacity to turn
these ideas into reality.

I believe his plan to develop an AI system for Neuroscience aligns perfectly with the Weizmann Institute
of Science program. His technical expertise, coupled with his enthusiasm for Brain Science, makes him
an ideal candidate.
In conclusion, Vadim is a remarkably talented individual whose intellectual curiosity, dedication, and
innovation make him a strong asset to any institution. I am confident that he will contribute significantly
to your program and continue to excel in his academic and professional pursuits. Therefore, I
wholeheartedly recommend Vadim A. Shabelnikov for the Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience
PhD Program at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Should I be able to offer additional information in his
support please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Kip Becker, PhD

Boston University
Associate Professor Emeritus
Chief Editor: Journal of Transnational Management
Technology and Ecommerce Editor: Journal Euromarketing
Phone (617) 470 2212