Rhea Carmi

Rhea Carmi is an Israeli physicist and academic administrator. She served as the President of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) from 2006 to 2018.

Carmi received her B.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, her M.Sc. in Nuclear Physics, and her Ph.D. in Physics from the Weizmann Institute of Science. Her research focuses on the physics of complex systems, specifically the application of statistical mechanics to the study of networks and the spread of epidemics.

Prior to her presidency at BGU, Carmi held various academic positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences. During her tenure as president, BGU experienced significant growth in its research activities, student enrollment, and international collaborations. She also emphasized the university's role in regional development, particularly in the Negev region of Israel. Carmi actively promoted initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the university and the surrounding community. She has also been a strong advocate for gender equality in academia.

Following her presidency, Carmi has remained active in research and has served on various boards and committees related to higher education and science policy.