Rhali Attar

Hi! My name is Rhali Salim Attar and I am currently a PhD student in the APS department at CU Boulder. My life trajectory to get here has been quite unique to say the least! I am originally from Morocco and spent most of my life living in the Middle East before attending Minerva University to Major in Computer Science (with a Concentration in Mathematics and Modeling) and Minor in the Arts and Literature. My undergraduate program followed a global rotation where each cohort studied in a new country every semester so during my four year bachelor's degree, I got to live in San Francisco, Seoul, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Hyderabad, Taipei, and London.

Learning about our world through so many cultural and academic lenses reignited my childhood curiosity about the other worlds in our Solar System. So, throughout my Junior and Senior year, I worked on three separate research projects about Titan meteorology, Martian dune dynamics, and Io's atmospheric chemistry. Now my interest lies in the geophysics and geochemistry of the icy satellites of the solar system; particularly Europa and Enceladus due to their astrobiology potential. I am currently working with Dr. Paul Hayne on a project regarding cryovolcanism on Europa.

On a less scientific note, having explored different cultural perspectives on academics also ignited my passion for inclusivity and accessibility in STEM. I strive to highlight these important ideas in my research and teaching career to build a safe environment for my peers, students, and the general public interested in Planetary Science.

Please reach out if you resonate with my profile, I'm looking forward to growing my network and learning from you all during my time in Boulder!