I’m Egyptian, born and raised in a small, underserved city in southern Egypt. As a child, I used to analyze people’s behavior and try to understand why they think and act the way they do. My dad told me it all originates from this organ inside the head, so I used to stare at people’s foreheads and imagine the processes happening inside.
In middle and high school, I didn’t know what career I wanted. I only knew I wanted to stand out and create a meaningful life. That vision became clearer when I discovered that education could take me abroad and let me do something bigger than myself.
When my dad passed away, my curiosity about the brain turned into a purpose—to understand the human mind and help others heal from invisible struggles. That journey brought me to UCSF, where I’m now pursuing a PhD in Bioengineering. My work in brain imaging and stimulation is driven by one belief: behind every neuron we study, there’s a human story worth healing and connecting with.