I was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt. In 2008, I moved to Cairo for my undergraduate studies and closely witnessed Egypt’s political transformations. After my graduation, I worked as a market research analyst at IPSOS-MENA and managed various field surveys. I then moved to Istanbul and Budapest for my graduate studies before starting my PhD at Columbia University.

In my free time, I enjoy writing short stories and poetry in Arabic, which resulted in a published short-story collection. I also enjoy cooking and experimenting with my own recipes, and often invite friends and strangers to try my homemade Egyptian dishes. My time in New York has contributed to my passion for trying new foods and incorporating new elements into my own cooking.