Dr. Tigst Levi | Medical Laboratory Sciences, 2011

From the brink of dropping out to leading a lab that powers over 1,000 research projects — JMC alumna Dr. Tigst Levi has turned every obstacle into the next step forward.

Tigst was born in Ethiopia and immigrated to Israel at age 7. She grew up in Kiryat Yam, the eldest daughter in a family of eight, with parents who arrived with deep faith, few resources, and enormous hope. When she moved to Jerusalem, she found work right away, in a bakery, a shoe store, and later as a night security guard, and enrolled in JMC’s Medical Laboratory Sciences program, driven by a lifelong love of biology and science.

But the path was far from easy. By her second year, working full-time while studying had taken its toll, and her grades began to slip. Exhausted and under constant financial pressure, Tigst walked into the department head’s office and announced she was dropping out.

The faculty at JMC refused to let her go. Her professors saw her potential, encouraged her to stay, and helped her find scholarships that made it possible to continue. She completed her degree with honors. “Sometimes all you need is one person who believes in you,” she says, “so that you don’t give up on yourself.” She remains in close contact with her professors and friends from her classes to this day, and still considers JMC her home.

At JMC, Tigst discovered something she never expected: a love of research. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Pharmaco-Immunology and a PhD in Developmental Biology and Cancer Research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where her doctoral work explored the genetic factors behind ovarian development. 

Today, Tigst is Head of the NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) Laboratory at Syntezza Bioscience in Jerusalem, a role she reached within two and a half years of joining the private sector. Her lab provides the infrastructure that other researchers rely on, supporting more than 1,000 projects, from archaeological samples to ocean research. She is also a contributor to the book Women and Roots, which tells the stories of 48 women of Ethiopian descent who have broken through in a range of fields. Tigst lives in Jerusalem with her husband and two sons.

Looking back, Tigst is most proud of how far she has come. At 20, she says, she never would have believed it. Her advice to students considering advanced studies: don’t pursue a degree simply because it seems like the next step. Ask yourself what truly interests you, and remember that a professional journey doesn’t have to follow a straight line.

We are proud to spotlight Dr. Tigst Levi — a member of the JMC alumni community whose journey reflects perseverance, resilience, and real-world impact.