Basic background information on yourself, perhaps where you came from, former education, etc.

I was born and raised in Fez, Morocco. Growing up, I was passionate about mathematics and problem-solving, but I did not have a proper outlet for my passion beyond some online forums. Although I was ambitious, studying in the US was inconceivable where I came from at that time. Everything changed when I discovered mathematical Olympiad. I competed with enthusiasm and earned a spot on my country’s International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) team. I took my first ever plane ride to attend the competition in South Africa that year. My IMO experience, where I met some of the brightest mathematical minds, opened my eyes to a whole new range of possibilities. It earned me a place at the prestigious Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris for my undergraduate studies. Fast-forward, I got into Ecole Polytechnique to study applied mathematics.

When considering what to do after Polytechnique, two dimensions were important to me. First, I wanted to work on something mathematical and intellectually challenging, which I enjoyed. Second, I wanted to have a positive impact, which I deeply cared about. Talking to several alums from my undergrad, I learned about Operations Research, a discipline that solves important real-life problems using rigorous mathematical foundations. It was the perfect fit for me!

Talking to some ORC grads made me quickly realized it would be an ideal place for me. I crossed my fingers and hoped to be given a chance. Then, one day in February 2019, the email came, and the journey began!

What degree you received from MIT and when?

Ph.D. in Operations Research, in 2024.

Who your advisor was at MIT?

Professor Bart Van Parys.

What was the research you performed while at MIT?

My research at the ORC was on data-driven decision-making and machine learning. From theorical studies of these problems we designed machine learning algorithms that satisfy important properties for decision-making, namely interpretability and robustness. From a technical perspective, my research developed novel technics in distributionally robust optimization and reinforcement learning. 

Where are you currently working?

I will be starting as an assistant professor of Operations at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.

Advice/guidance to students coming to the ORC – why the ORC from your perspective?

One of the major and most important benefits of the ORC is its close-knit student community. The large student body size and the open-space structure of the center offer immense advantages. It allows students to run into each other all the time, have lunch together every day, organize countless outings, and within five years, these interactions evolve into deep friendships.

This is, of course, in addition to having some of the leading professors in the field, covering a broad spectrum of expertise, and some of the most talented PhD students. Beyond the ORC, the MIT environment is also quite unique with an incredible concentration of world-leading scientists (it is not rare to hold the door at Sloan for a Nobel laureate). MIT’s structure gives you the opportunity to interact with other departments and centers, such as LIDS, IDSS, and CSAIL, as boundaries are very fluid.

How did the ORC contribute to your development as a scientist and as a person?

I learned a lot at the ORC by being surrounded by talented and bright researchers. Professors and my peer PhD students made me a better scientist by learning from how they approach problems and think about research. Their talent and drive were contagious and boosted my motivation to continuously aim higher.

What is one memory about the ORC you carried with you? 

The fall retreats, hanging out after long conference days, the many dinner parties at each other’s houses, the countless times we get tired of work and go chat at other’s desks…