JOUMANA EL-RIFAI, PH.D.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS
THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO
EDUCATION
PhD in Engineering,
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL), Belgium
Graduation date: November 2012
Dissertation: Poly-SiGe for MEMS applications at temperatures below 250ᵒC
Promotors: Prof. Chris Van Hoof and Prof. Robert Puers
Supervisors: Prof. Sherif Sedky and Dr. Ann Witvrouw
Assessors: Prof. Amr Shaarawi and Prof. Ingrid De Wolf
M.Sc. in Physics,
The American University in Cairo (AUC), Egypt
Graduation date: February 2006
GPA: 4.0/4.0
Dissertation: An Experimental Study of Single-mode Fiber Optic Sensors
Advisor: Prof. Amr Shaarawi
B.Sc. in Physics,
Minor: Art
The American University in Cairo (AUC), Egypt
Graduation date: June 2003
GPA: 3.724/4.000 (Magna cum Laude, highest class GPA)
Dissertation: Coherent Optical-Fiber Communications
Advisor: Prof. Amr Shaarawi
American High School Diploma,
The International School of Prague (ISP), Czech Republic
Graduation date: June 1999
GPA: 3.0/4.0
RESEARCH & TEACHING EXPERIENCE
09/2012 – present, Assistant Professor
Department of Physics, American University in Cairo, AUC, Egypt
Courses:
PHYS111 – Classical Mechanics Sound and Heat, PHYS215 – Introduction to Electronics, PHYS221L –
Electronics Laboratory, PHYS222L – Electronics Lab for Computer Scientists and Computer Engineers.
Academic Advising:
Academic year – 2012/2013
Number of students – 32
Graduate Student Supervision:
Excimer laser annealing of low temperature p-type SiC film – Huda Al-Gharagooli (PhD candidate)
Water quality measurements using fiber optic sensors – Shadi Azer Ishaq (MSc candidate)
Department Service Activities:
09/2012 – present: Graduate Admission Committee (member)
09/2012 – present: Undergraduate Advising Committee (member)
01/2013: Participated and represented the Physics Department at the Spring 2013 First Year Experience
(FYE) Majors’ Fair
Research Grants:
Laser Annealed Poly-SiGe for Flexible MEMS Applications – AUC Faculty Research Grant (July 2013 – present)
02/2008 – 11/2012, Doctoral Fellow/PhD Researcher
IMEC, Leuven, Belgium
Yousef Jameel Science and Technology Research Center, AUC, Egypt
Poly-SiGe for MEMS applications at temperatures below 250ᵒC
The main aim of the research is to develop a deposition process for poly-Si(Ge) that will be suitable for
MEMS applications at a maximum temperature budget of 250ᵒC. The developed process will be used to
fabricate reliable MEMS on temperature sensitive substrates. A post-deposition laser annealing process is
used to crystallize an initially amorphous Si(Ge) layers. Layers have been realized with desired electrical and
mechanical properties, a simulation of the laser annealing process for blanket SiGe layers was prepared
and device tests on capacitive switches were performed. Work on this project is conducted jointly between
YJ-STRC and IMEC and requires skills in simulations (COMSOL and Matlab), cleanroom microfabrication and testing techniques.
02/2006 – 01/2008, Research Assistant
Yousef Jameel Science and Technology Research Center, AUC, Egypt
Design, Fabrication and Characterization of Micro-Lens Arrays used for Generation of Diffraction-limited
Beams
This research project was conducted in the Yousef Jameel Science and Technology Research Center facility
at AUC under the supervision of faculty advisors Prof. Amr Shaarawi and Prof. Sherif Sedky. The project
involved work on the characterization, design and fabrication of micro-lens arrays for use in the generation
of diffraction limited beams. It required optics simulations using both RSoft and Matlab and fabrication
work in the cleanroom.
09/2003 – 12/2005, Teaching Assistant
Physics Department, AUC
Assisted professors in number of courses including: Scientific Thinking; General Physics Laboratory;
Optics Laboratory; Waves, Optics and Atomic Physics; Optical Systems and Instruments; Solid State
Physics Laboratory; Introduction to Solid State Physics; Photonics and Optics Communications
Laboratory; Photonics.
FACULTY/TEACHING DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
22/04/2013, Workshop – Blended Learning: How do I transition my course to a hybrid format?
The Center for Learning and Teaching, AUC, Egypt
18/04/2013 – 21/04/2013, Symposium – Innovative Pedagogies and Technologies for 21st Century
Learning
The Center for Learning and Teaching, AUC, Egypt
14/03/2013, Workshop – Understanding and Utilizing Cooperative Learning in the Classroom
The Center for Learning and Teaching, AUC, Egypt
28/10/2011, Session – How to Supervise a Master Thesis Educational Support Program, Faculty of
Engineering Science, KUL, Belgium
14/10/2011, Session – Supervising Exercise sessions at K. U. Leuven
Educational Support Program, Faculty of Engineering Science, KUL, Belgium
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
05/2013 – present, The Optical Society (OSA)
01/2011 – 12/2011, Materials Research Society (MRS)
PUBLICATIONS
Patents
Title
Method for manufacturing a micromachined device and the micromachined device
made thereof
Inventors
Joumana El Rifai, Ann Witvrouw, Ahmed Kamal Abdel Aziz and Sherif Sedky
European Patent
US Patent
EP 2 347 993 A2
US 2011/0180886 A1
(27/07/2011)
(28/07/2011)
Journal Articles
A. Abdel Aziz, M. Elsayed, H. Abu Bakr, J. El-Rifai, T. Van der Donck, J.P. Celis, V. Leonov, P. Fiorini
and S. Sedky, “Pulsed laser deposition of bismuth telluride thin films for MEMS thermoelectric energy
harvesters,” Journal of Electronic Materials, Vol. 39, No. 9, pp. 1920-1925, 2010.
J. El-Rifai, S. Sedky, R. Van Hoof, S. Severi, D. Lin, S. Sangameswaran, R. Puers, C. Van Hoof and A.
Witvrouw, “SiGe MEMS at processing temperatures below 250ᵒC,” Sensors and Actuators, 2012, DOI:
10.1016/j.sna.2012.01.035.
Conference Papers
J. El-Rifai, S. Sedky, R. Wasfi, C. Van Hoof and A. Witvrouw, “Laser-induced crystallization of SiGe
MEMS structural layers deposited at temperatures below 250ᵒC,” Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 1153,
2009.
J. El-Rifai, A. Witvrouw, A. Abdel Aziz, R. Puers, C. Van Hoof and S. Sedky, “Harsh laser annealing
techniques for improved crystallization of a-Si(Ge) layers deposited at 210ᵒC,” SAFE Proc., pp. 63-66,
November 2009.
J. El-Rifai, A. Witvrouw, A. Abdel Aziz, R. Puers, C. Van Hoof and S. Sedky, “Selective Laser Annealing
for Improved SiGe MEMS Structural Layers at 210ᵒC”, Proc. IEEE Micro Electro Mechanical Systems –
MEMS, 16 (2010), pp. 324-327.
J. El-Rifai*, A. Witvrouw, A. Abdel Aziz, R. Puers, C. Van Hoof and S. Sedky, “Contact resistivity of laser
annealed SiGe for MEMS structural layers deposited at 210ᵒC,” Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 1299, pp.
73-78, 2011.
J. El-Rifai, S. Sedky, R. Van Hoof, S. Severi, D. Lin, R. Puers, C. Van Hoof and A. Witvrouw, “Laser
annealed SiGe devices for MEMS applications at temperatures below 250ᵒC,” IEEE Transducers Proc.,
pp. 1336-1339, 2011.
*
Indicates presentation by J. El-Rifai
SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS AND NON-CREDIT INSTRUCTION
04/11/2012
Fabrication of poly-SiGe MEMS structures with a substrate temperature budget
of 250ᵒC
Presented by: Joumana El-Rifai
Department of Physics, AUC, Egypt
04/11/2009
Laser annealing for SiGe MEMS applications
Presented by: Joumana El-Rifai
Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), KUL, Belgium
02/12/2011
Laser Annealing for MEMS Applications at a Controlled Thermal Budget
Presented by: Joumana El-Rifai
Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), KUL, Belgium
28/04/2007
AUC Annual Research Conference
Presentation on recent advances in design of micro-lens arrays used for the generation
of diffraction limited beams
AUC, Cairo, Egypt, 28th-30th April 2007
RESEARCH GRANTS, HONORS AND AWARDS
2013 – present
2008 – 2012
2008 – 2012
2006 – 2008
2003 – 2005
2003
2003
2001 – 2003
2001 and 2003
1998 – 1999
Faculty Research Grant, AUC, Cairo, Egypt
KUL PhD Scholarship, KUL and IMEC, Leuven, Belgium
Doctoral Fellowship, YJ Science and Technology Research Center, AUC
Research Fellowship, YJ Science and Technology Research Center, AUC
University Fellowship, American University in Cairo
Magna cum Laude (highest class GPA upon graduation), American University in Cairo
Exemplary Student, School of Sciences and Engineering, Physics Department, AUC
Awarded Honors, School of Sciences and Engineering, Physics Department, AUC
Highest Class GPA, School of Sciences and Engineering, Physics Department, AUC
National Honors Society member, International School of Prague, Czech Republic
GRADUATE COURSEWORK
Ph.D.: Material Characterization Techniques 1, Material Characterization Techniques 2, Reliability and
Yield in Micro and Nanoelectronic Components, Technology of Integrated Systems
M.Sc.: Advanced Quantum Mechanics, Classical Electrodynamics, Computational Physics, Graduate
Seminars 1 & 2, Advanced Materials and Techniques, Theory of Solids, Mathematical Physics,
Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
LANGUAGES
•
•
•
Fluency in written/spoken English and Arabic.
Good knowledge of written/spoken Greek.
Basic knowledge of written/spoken French and German.
COMPUTER AND OTHER SKILLS
•
•
•
•
Excellent operating knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Access.
Excellent operating knowledge of Matlab and COMSOL
Good operating knowledge of RSoft (optical kit).
Experienced in general clean-room operations. Able to operate spinner, aligner, wet bench,
critical point dryer, excimer laser, optical profiler, SEM, AFM and PECVD tool.
ACTIVITIES
Society of Physics Students, AUC, 2001-2006
Secretary (2004)
Vice President (2002-2003)
• Contributed/Assisted in organizing lectures by experts in various fields of applied physics.
• Organized a Wireless Communication Workshop in collaboration with the Electronics
Engineering Association at AUC, where four specialized speakers gave various presentations
concerning mobile communications.
• Designed and participated in the department’s monthly newsletter and magazine.
The Environmental Awareness Association, AUC, 2000-2001
President (2001)
• Participated in a clean up trip to Wadi Degla.
• Organized an environmental awareness week at university.
The National Honor Society, ISP, 1998-1999
• Participated in community service activities such as: The Mother Theresa Soup Kitchen for
the Homeless and Habitat for Humanity.
• Contributed to the peer tutoring program tutoring students in French, English, Math and
Science.
The Environmental Awareness Association, ISP, 1997-1999
President (1999)
• Operated a recycling program for cans, plastic and paper.
• Participated in various clean up trips.
• Coordinated an environmental awareness campaign, where students attended various lectures
and seminars.
PERSONAL DATA
Date of Birth: 4th September, 1981
Nationality: Egyptian
Place of Birth: Alexandria, Egypt