May 13, 2025 – Prof. Netta Barak-Corren of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Faculty of Law and the Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality has been selected to join the European Research Council’s (ERC) prestigious “Ambassadors for the ERC” program. Professor Barak-Corren recently won an ERC Starting Grant to launch EmpiriCon, a pioneering research project that addresses the lack of empirical grounding in constitutional law.

Prof. Barak-Corren, a leading international expert at the intersection of law, norms, and cognition, will join a network of outstanding scholars working to promote the value of basic research, strengthen the ERC’s vision, and engage with policymakers, academic communities, and the wider public.

“I am honored to join the ERC Ambassadors program and to contribute to a global community that values fundamental research,” said Prof. Barak-Corren. “The support of the ERC enables scholars like myself to explore complex human questions—how we reason, how we form judgements, and how we live together—through rigorous, empirical work that bridges law and the behavioral sciences.”

Her ERC-funded project, EmpiriCon, tackles what she terms the “empirical deficit” in constitutional law. While many areas of law have embraced evidence-based approaches, constitutional courts continue to rely heavily on abstract principles and assumptions—often without factual grounding. This can result in unconvincing rulings, diminished public trust, and harmful real-world consequences.

Spanning five years (2024–2029), EmpiriCon will combine theoretical, empirical, and methodological research to investigate how empirical insights can improve constitutional decision-making. It also critically examines the limits and risks of applying empirical tools in legal contexts. The project aims to offer a practical framework for courts, legislators, and scholars to better integrate evidence into constitutional reasoning.

Prof. Tamir Sheaffer, Rector of Hebrew University, said, “We are immensely proud of Prof. Netta Barak-Corren for her selection as an ERC Ambassador and for receiving the prestigious ERC Starting Grant. Her interdisciplinary research not only strengthens the Hebrew University’s reputation as a global leader in legal scholarship but also exemplifies the kind of innovative thinking that drives positive societal change. Prof. Barak-Corren’s work will undoubtedly shape the future of constitutional law and inspire the next generation of scholars and policymakers.”

Prof. Barak-Corren holds the Haim H. Cohn Chair in Human Rights at the Hebrew University Law School and is a member of the University’s Federmann Center for the Study of  Rationality. She is also a Religion and Religious Freedom Fellow at Pepperdine University. She has taught at the law schools of the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania, and held research fellowships at Harvard and Princeton. She is a graduate of the Hebrew University (LLB and Cognitive Science; valedictorian) and earned her doctorate from Harvard. She also clerked for Chief Justice Dorit Beinisch at Israel’s Supreme Court.

Her research has been supported by the Israel Science Foundation, the Israel Democracy Institute, the Minerva, Cherick, and Barak Centers, as well as by Harvard, Cornell, and Princeton. Among her many accolades are the Heshin Prize for Outstanding Young Legal Scholar, the Gorny Prize for Public Law, the Birk Prize for Excellence in Legal Research, and several best paper awards from leading institutions.

Prof. Barak-Corren’s selection as both ERC Ambassador and Starting Grant recipient further affirms the Hebrew University’s role as a global hub for cutting-edge research and legal thought.