USTHB English Speakers Magazine USTHB English Speakers Magazine 1st Edition | Page 9

easy. In my humble experience, we
may think that we can leave our
roots but in fact they never leaveus.
After an English immersion course, I
enrolled into the graduate program
at the University of Sussex in England.
The first year was not easy. I had to
get used to a new culture, a new way
of doing things, a new language, a
new environment while at the same
time show that I was worthy of the
attention and dedication of my
professors and in particular that of
my research advisor. I had to write
my own story as a researcher. I knew
that I had one shot at the opportunity
to start with a good chapter. This said
what was true for me was also true
for students from all over the world
who were also starting to write their
own stories as young researchers.
Despite the challenges that I just
talked about, my transition from the
USTHB to the University of Sussex was
enriching in many aspects. I grew
as a physicist and learned through
face-to-face interactions with some
of the leading physicists about the
logic of scientific discovery, the value
of asking t he right questions so that
we get and remain on the right track
for a discovery, and the importance
of self-confidence. I embraced the
change. I enhanced my knowledge
by working hard in the laboratory. I
realized that the education I had
received in Algeria in science was,
in essence, not much different than
that of the students who were with
me in class and who came from all
over the world. This speaks about the
wonderful job that the professors I
had in Algeria had done.
2-From an assistant professor of
Physics in 1995 to the Dean of Kennedy
College of sciences in 2016, how do
you define your passage?
Upon graduation from Sussex, I
came back home to do my national
service. For the first two months of
my national service, I was in Djelfa.
There, I witnessed, first hand, the
efforts that were made to stop the
desert from acquiring new lands and
met people from all parts of Algeria
who became excellent friends.I am
thankful to have had the opportunity
to experience and contribute, even
for a short time, in such a gigantic and
noble effort. Following this, I joined
USTHB as a young assistant professor
for the remainder of my national
service. I was eager to contribute
in educating a new generation
of students. I was happy to join
my colleagues who were working
hard to build modern science
and technology educational and
research programs at USTHB.
Unfortunately, the security situation
prevalent in Algeria at that time,
and in particular in my region,
was not conducive to creating an
environment where the pursuit of
knowledge was possible. I remember
not being able to focus to finish a
paper I had started prior to coming
back home. Doing science seemed
at that time irrelevant to me when
the general situation in Algeria was
troubling. I left Algeria for the United
States with the hope to come back
and continue my work at USTHB.
However, events dictated the next
steps of my professional career.
Almost immediately upon arriving
to the United States, I was offered a
postdoctoral position to work in the
laboratory of Professor Edward E.
Eyler. Professor Eyler was one of the
foremost leaders in high precision
optical measurements in atoms
and small molecules. I am forever
indebted to him for giving me an
opportunity to join his research
group. Professor Eyler passed away
this year, but He will always be alive
through his wonderful discoveries and
contributions to physics. In parallel,
the situation in Algeria got worse in
the early 90’s.
Then I had the opportunity to be an
Assistant Professor at Delaware State
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