Linda Gerstl grew up in New York City & came to Israel at age 18 (1968) - to study at Bar Ilan University. She has a BSc in Microbiology & Biochemistry (1972). She also studied nutrition at the Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot and has a license as a clinical nutritionist (1981). In the 1990's, she worked at BioTechnology General, a pharmaceutical company. The clinical trials she managed involved two products, one which is used during cataract surgery and a Hepatitis B vaccine; both of these are approved and in use today. From 2001-2010 she worked at Mediwound, also a pharmaceutical company, on a product being developed for use in the treatment of burns. She plans to spend her new status as a retiree - relaxing, doing some courses, looking after her 5 grandchildren, doing volunteer work and travelling .