Dr Ragai obtained a B.Sc. in Chemistry (magna cum laude) and an M.Sc. in Solid State Science both from the American University in Cairo. In 1976 she received her doctoral degree from Brunel, the University of West London in the UK. Since then Dr. Ragai has been a faculty member in the Chemistry Department of the American University . She has chaired the AUC University Senate, the AUC Chemistry Department, was the director of the AUC Chemistry Graduate program and is the recipient of several AUC Trustees merit awards as well as the the SSE award for her role as chair of the chemistry department and the 2013 university wide best teacher award. Given her additional interest in Archaeological Chemistry she was a consultant to the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) Sphinx project, has served on the National Committee for the Study of the Sphinx, and for seven years (2001-2008) was member of the Board of Governors of the ARCE. Dr.Ragai was for several years a jury member for the l’Oreal-UNESCO, Women in Science award founded by Nobel laureate Christian de Duve and chaired by Nobel laureate Ahmed Zewail. She has lectured extensively around the world to university and museum audiences on the scientific detection of forgery in paintings.

Chemistry