Harvard Medical School (2023-2025). Instructor in Medicine / Research faculty

Brigham and Women’s Hospital (2017-2023). Postdoctoral fellow Neuroendocrinology

University of Strasbourg (2011-2017). Ph. D in Neurosciences Neurobiology of rhythms

University of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah - Joint PhD (2011-2017). Ph. D in Neurosciences Neurobiology of rhythms

University of Ibn Tofail (2009-2011). M.S in Neurosciences, Pharmacology and Genetics Neuroscience Major

University of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (2009). B.S in Biology

I’m a neuroscientist fascinated by how the brain integrates signals from our metabolic and reproductive systems. This question has driven my research from the beginning.

I grew up in the beautiful Fez, Morocco, where I earned my B.S in Biology and M.S in Neuroscience before moving to Europe for my Ph. D in Neuroscience at the University of Strasbourg, France. Under the mentorship of Drs. Seloua El Ouezzani and Valerie Simoneaux, I investigated how reproductive neuropeptides, Kiss1 and RFRP-3, regulate seasonal feeding and fertility in hibernating rodents. This work sparked my fascination with the bidirectional dialogue between reproduction and metabolism. I then moved to Boston, in the United States, for my postdoctoral training at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School to further deepen this focus, where I worked with Dr. Victor Navarro to explore the interactions between Kiss1 and melanocortin neurons, the central regulators of reproduction and energy balance. We uncovered novel pathways at the interface of these two critical systems, revealing how they coordinate to control both fertility and energy expenditure.

My research explores how the brain integrates metabolic and reproductive signals to maintain physiological balance. I investigate how disruptions in energy balance, ranging from undernutrition and anorexia nervosa to obesity, compromise reproductive function, and how reproductive signals such as neuropeptides and sex hormones, in turn, shape metabolic outcomes.

Moreover, as a female scientist, I am deeply committed to advancing women’s health by uncovering the brain pathways linking reproductive dysfunction to metabolic disturbances in conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothalamic amenorrhea and menopause.

• The IBRO Rising Stars Award (2025)

• The Endocrine Society Mara E. Lieberman Award. Endocrine society (2025)

• The Shore Faculty Career Development Award. Harvard Medical School (2024)

• The Women in Medicine and Science recognition. Brigham and Women’s Hospital (2023)

• The Trainee Professional Development Award. Society for Neuroscience, SFN (2023)

• The Charles A. King Trust Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award . Charles King Trust (2022)

• The Robert J. Handa Young Investigator Award (2022)

• The ROSA Center Pilot Award. Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School (2021)

• The Obesity Research Incubator Award. The Brigham and Women's Hospital (2021)

• The Women’s Brain Initiative Fellowship Award. The Brigham and Women's Hospital. (2020)

• The Women in Endocrinology Young Investigator Award (2019)         

• The Lalor Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (2019)

• The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) and International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) Research Fellowship Award (2017)

• The Best PhD thesis Award. University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (2017)

• GDRI Neurosciences (2013 - 2014)

• N€uromed (2012)

• Institut Courtois d’innovation biomédicale (CI²B) - Axis: Neurobiology and systems neuroscience

• Research Group on Neural Signaling and Circuits (SNC)- Université de Montréal

• Center for Research in Reproduction and Fertility (CRRF)- Université de Montréal

• Réseau Québécois en Reproduction (RQR)

• Alba network - Equity and diversity in brain sciences

• Society for Neuroscience (SFN)

• Endocrine society (ENDO)

• Women in Endocrinology (WIN)

• Pan American Neuroendocrine Society (PANS)

• International Brain Research organization (IBRO)

• British Society for Neuroendocrinology (BSN)

• Société de Neuroendocrinologie (SNE)

Science : Brain, hormones, neural pathways, sex differences, behavior, metabolism, reproduction, biological rhythms, obesity, women’s health.

Life : Cook (and eat!), run, rock climb, hike, swim, hang glide, dance, snorkel, stargaze.