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Rabat – Moroccan prominent nuclear physicist Rajaa Cherkaoui El Moursli was featured this year on the list of Forbes 50 Over 50 for the Middle East and Africa (MENA) in recognition of her outstanding scientific contributions.
El Moursli’s research has helped prove the existence of the Higgs Boson, which is the particle responsible for the creation of mass.
“While her almost 30-year-long career in science has been filled with achievements, it’s a career that would not have existed had she not convinced her father to let her seek out a graduate degree in France in the early 1980s,” Forbes wrote. This was a time when Moroccan women were “expected to leave home to marry and not pursue a vocation.”
After earning her Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from the University of Joseph Fourier in Grenoble, France, El Moursli returned to Morocco in 1982. There, she joined the Faculty of Sciences at the University Mohammed V in Rabat.
Early in her career, she took the helm as the head of the Laboratory of Nuclear Physics in Rabat. El Moursli’s research focuses on the applications of nuclear physics, medical physics, and high-energy physics.
A pivotal moment in her career occurred in 1996 when she became an integral part of Morocco’s participation in the international ATLAS collaboration at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The event marked her entry into one of the world’s most prestigious scientific research centers, located in Geneva.
El Moursli’s contributions have extended beyond the laboratory giving her membership with international organizations such ATLAS, KM3NET, and ANTARES.
Within these roles, she has been vital in creating and implementing master’s degree programs at her university, notably creating Morocco’s first master’s program in medical physics. Currently, over thirty graduates from her program hold crucial positions as radio physicists in Moroccan hospitals.
Throughout her career, she has supervised numerous doctoral and master’s students and has played a crucial role in building and strengthening academic programs.
In 2015, she became the first Moroccan to receive the L’Oreal-UNESCO award for Women in Science, representing Africa and the Arab States.
El Moursli served as VP of Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and Partnership at Mohammed V University. She also chaired the competition program “My Thesis in 180 Seconds.”
Her accolades include being a fellow of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and serving on the “For Women in Science” international jury.
In 2017, she was honored by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for her outstanding contributions to science and technology in the Islamic world.
Now in 2024, El Moursli continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the global scientific landscape and showcasing Moroccan achievements to the world.
Read Also: Seven Moroccans Feature on Forbes MENA ‘30 Under 30’ List 2023
