Dr. Omer Eldadi was awarded a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellowship to conduct research with Professor Abraham Loeb at Harvard University’s Center for Astrophysics. His project brings the tools and knowledge of social and performance psychology to the scientific study of anomalous phenomena, examining how research teams reason, communicate, and make decisions under uncertainty, and how scientific communities respond to evidence that challenges prevailing paradigms.

Omer completed his PhD at Reichman University. His research spans team cognition, communication analysis, and the psychology of scientific paradigm resistance, drawing on data that ranges from aviation, sports, esports, and spaceflight crews to large international surveys of public belief. At Harvard, he aims to bridge the methods of psychology and astrophysics, strengthening how interdisciplinary teams pursue some of science’s most fundamental open questions.

Omer is a founding member of the UAP Science Advisory Council, chaired by Professor Loeb, which provides scientific guidance to the White House, ODNI, FBI, and AARO on the study of unidentified anomalous phenomena. Before his academic career, Omer graduated from the Israeli Naval Academy and served for seven years as an operational naval officer, including as executive officer (second-in-command) of a missile ship, experience that continues to shape his interest in performance and coordination within high-stakes teams.

Selected Publications:

1. Eldadi, O., & Tenenbaum, G. (2025). Team cognition (TC) in sport: Foundations, development, and performance implications. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 80, Article 102927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102927

2. Eldadi, O., Fitoussi, S. J., & Tenenbaum, G. (2025). Verbal communication, coordinated effort, and performance in esports teams: An expert–nonexpert paradigm study. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 47(5), 320-332. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2024-0343

3. Eldadi, O., Sharon-David, H., & Tenenbaum, G. (2023). Interpersonal emotions in team sports: Effects of emotional contagion on emotional, social, and performance outcomes of a team. Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance, 2, 473-491. https://doi.org/10.55860/KCDX3917