Dr. Shaimaa Abou Zeid, an experimental particle physicist and faculty member at the Faculty of Girls, Ain Shams University, has been awarded the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics—the most prestigious honor in the field, often referred to as the “Oscars of Science.”
Dr. Abou Zeid’s award comes as part of a historic collective recognition for more than 13,500 scientists from over 70 countries involved in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments at CERN, including ATLAS, CMS, ALICE, and LHCb. This marks the largest group award in the history of physics, honoring their work analyzing proton collision data gathered between 2015 and mid-2024—research that has significantly advanced our understanding of the universe’s fundamental forces.
A Career at the Cutting Edge of Physics
Dr. Shaimaa Abou Zeid is no stranger to global research excellence. She earned her PhD in Experimental Particle Physics from Ain Shams University in collaboration with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium (2018), and currently holds a postdoctoral research position at the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN).
Her most prominent role is as Deputy Technical Coordinator of the CMS-GEM Detector Group at CERN, where she leads the development and operation of state-of-the-art Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors for the CMS experiment—a critical component of the LHC’s detection infrastructure. These advanced detectors play a vital role in identifying elusive particles, including dark matter candidates and Higgs boson signatures, with unprecedented precision.
An Influential Scientific Voice
Dr. Abou Zeid is among the most prolific contributors to modern physics. With over 500 peer-reviewed scientific publications, her work spans detector engineering, data analysis, and theoretical applications in high-energy physics. .
Her leadership at CERN and INFN reflects the growing impact of Egyptian scientists in elite global research environments, breaking new ground for representation and excellence.
A National Symbol of Scientific Achievement
The announcement of Dr. Abou Zeid’s award was made at a formal ceremony in the United States on April 5, 2025, where top scientists from around the world gathered to celebrate this historic achievement. Her recognition stands as a milestone for Egyptian higher education, and especially for Ain Shams University, which continues to emerge as a center for world-class research.
University President Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen and Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research Prof. Amani Osama Kamel expressed deep pride in Dr. Abou Zeid’s achievement. In a joint statement, they described her as a “trailblazer who embodies the future of Egyptian science” and praised her role in elevating Ain Shams University on the global research stage.
Raising Egypt’s Scientific Profile
Dr. Shaimaa Abou Zeid’s award highlights not only her individual brilliance but also the growing capacity of Egyptian institutions to contribute meaningfully to global scientific progress. Her success sends a strong message about the power of international collaboration, sustained research investment, and the importance of empowering women in science.
