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FIGURE: HERO_01
REF: SYSTEM_ROOT
LOC: RABAT, MA
2026

Ilias

Mahboub

Student, researcher, storyteller, and builder.

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Journey.

Moments that shaped how I think and build.

01Early Years

Errachidia, Rabat, Morocco

// Discovering curiosity

I was born in a very small rural town in Morocco. Those early years didn’t give me much, but they gave me something better: hunger for knowledge and progress.

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022023-Current

Duke Kunshan University/ Duke University

// College, labs, and a new mindset

Leaving Morocco for China reshaped everything. This is where I fell in love with science for the second time, learned how to run real experiments, and started building systems to push my academic and personal limits. It’s also where I gave my first TEDx talk and realized the power of sharing ideas.

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03Present

Research and Talks

// Building at the intersection of brain and tech

From research to communication

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04Present and Forever

Scratching my own itch

// Building tools that solve real problems

When research stopped being enough, I started building systems to solve my own problems.

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StartNow

Works.

Things I've built.

01
Live
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For knowledge workers and students

CORTEX

Discipline, Quantified

A neuroscience-backed tool that tracks and optimizes your deep work sessions. See when you're most focused, identify distractions, and build better work habits.

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Live
02
In Progress
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For ambitious students around the globe

The Jword

Real opportunities for students who want more.

Swipe through internships, scholarships, and programs. Get match scores, prep smarter with AI, and apply without the chaos.

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In Development
03
Live
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Built for founders, students, and teams who value clarity, speed, and execution.

Mazilia studios

Web, Automations & Internal Tools

Mazilia is where I design and build clean websites, automations, and internal tools. It started as a way to ship my own ideas faster, creating landing pages, workflows, dashboards, and systems that didn’t exist or felt overcomplicated. Today, Mazilia exists as a small, focused studio for building digital infrastructure that values clarity, speed, and execution for clients. The work ranges from personal and product websites to internal workflows, automations, and lightweight tools designed to remove friction rather than add complexity. If you’re interested in something similar, you can explore Mazilia below.

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Live
04
Live
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For non-technical students and researchers working with data

Plugraph

Publication grade graphing tool for non technical researchers/students.

PluGraph is a simple, no-code tool designed for students and researchers. It helps you generate publication-quality figures and run correct statistical tests without needing to learn R, Python, or complex statistical software. It is free and open source and uses local storage only. Preferably use on desktop.

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Talks & Media.

01
Recorded
NOVEMBER 23, 2024

Out-Brain Your Brain

My first TEDx talk was born from a simple truth I learned the hard way: the brain we wake up with is not the brain we’re stuck with. I spoke about neuroplasticity not as a theory, but as something I lived, reshaping my habits, my identity, and my path one small action at a time. In that talk, I shared how discipline saved me. How focus isn’t a gift but a skill. And how every repeated decision rewires the mind toward the person you’re trying to become. It was the beginning of my journey into understanding the brain’s potential, and in many ways, it marked the moment I realized I could rebuild myself from the inside out.

02
Recorded
FEBRUARY 26, 2025

How to get more things done

My second TED Talk explored how small, consistent actions can create a chain reaction that reshapes your entire life. I shared the systems I built for focus, productivity, and identity, drawing from neuroscience, personal discipline, and the lessons I learned rebuilding myself in college. This talk was an attempt to show that transformation doesn’t come from motivation, but from structure. From the tiny decisions you repeat until they become who you are. Note: The post-production quality of this talk was unfortunately not the best, so the recording isn’t as high-quality as I had hoped. But the message, the intention, and the story remain strong.

Work With Me.

About.

The backstory.