Each year, the L’Oréal Foundation, in partnership with the French National Commission for UNESCO and the Academy of Sciences, honors 35 talented women scientists at the doctoral and post-doctoral levels. Since its creation in 2007, this program has recognized 440 scientists. On October 8, 2025, Leila Bessila, an astrophysicist at the Astrophysics Department of IRFU, received this award in physics. Specializing in the study of waves in stars, she defended her thesis in late September and will continue her research with a post-doctoral position at Northwestern University in Chicago starting in early 2026.
Leila Bessila began her PhD in 2022 at the Astrophysics Department (DAP) of CEA-IRFU, under the supervision of Stéphane Mathis. Passionate about mathematics and physics, her work involves developing models to better understand the phenomena inside stars.
“I study acoustic waves, which are sound waves linked to pressure fluctuations within stars. By integrating the effects of rotation and magnetism, I have proposed a new understanding of the excitation of stellar acoustic waves, helping to optimize the observation strategy for the PLATO mission, set to launch in December 2026.“
Leila is also committed to sharing science with as many people as possible, especially young people from underprivileged backgrounds and girls. “I am dedicated to promoting science through outreach and education, aiming to inspire curiosity and raise awareness about careers in science and technology.“
Alongside two other astrophysicists, she is the co-founder and president of Projet Matilda, an association that seeks to highlight women scientists and promote science for all. In March 2025, the three of them published a book, “Audacieuses ! 10 femmes qui ont marqué les sciences“
Contact Irfu/Dap : Leila BESSILA
