Communications science graduate of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Eitan Yaakobi will be one of five students in the world to receive a top award in Bologna, Italy this week from the New York-based Marconi Society.

Yaakobi is receiving the award on October 9 for his work on error correcting coding in flash memories, which has contributed to reduced costs and increased capacity.

Flash memory (or computer memory that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed) is used mostly in memory cards and USB flash drives for general storage and transfer of data between computers and other digital devices.

Yaakobi is a graduate student at the University of California at San Diego studying engineering. Born in Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel, he received two BA degrees from the Technion four years ago, both summa cum laude, in computer science and mathematics. He also completed his M.Sc. degree with highest honors in computer science at the Technion in 2007.

The Marconi Prize annually recognizes a living scientist whose work in the field of communications and information technology brings social, economic and cultural advancement to all of humanity.