Jehane Ragai

Dr. Ragai, a surface scientist who studied for her PhD in London, is an emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the American University in Cairo.

She has lectured extensively in the US, Europe and the Middle East to university and museum audiences on the scientific detection of forgery in paintings and on topics related to Ancient Egyptian Science.

Owing to her additional interest in archaeological chemistry she became a consultant to the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) Sphinx project. She has served on the National Committee for the Study of the Sphinx, and from 2001–2008 was a member of the Board of Governors of the ARCE.


Since 2008 Dr. Ragai has been a jury member for the l’Oreal-UNE-SCO, Women in Science award, founded by the Nobel laureates Christian de Duve and Pierre-Gilles de Gennes.

The recipient of several AUC Trustees merit awards, Dr. Ragai also received the School of Sciences and Engineering award for her role as chair of the Department of Chemistry and in 2013 she was awarded the university-wide best teacher award.

She has recently been elected as a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenburg A research academy established in 1778).

She is happy to indulge in reading (scientific as well as non science books) and to have more time for other hobbies which include listening to music, reading poetry and designing jewelry.

Her philosophy in life is summarized in those lines by Robert Frost

“My object in living is to unite.

My avocation and my vocation.

As my two eyes make one in sight.

Only where love and need are one,

And the work is play for mortal stakes,

Is the deed ever really done

For Heaven and the future's sakes.”

She livesmostly in Cambridge, UK (with her husband) and partly in Cairo.