
REF: SYSTEM_ROOT
2026
Journey.
Moments that shaped how I think and build.
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.
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.
Research and Talks
// Building at the intersection of brain and tech
From research to communication
Scratching my own itch
// Building tools that solve real problems
When research stopped being enough, I started building systems to solve my own problems.
Works.
Things I've built.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Blog.
Talks & Media.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Press & Mentions
Featured In
Millenium Fellowship
Millennium Fellowship Project: CORTEX: Discipline, Quantified
Read feature
DKU Remy Neuro Lab
Ilias Mahboub: Duke Kunshan University Remy Neuro Lab Member, Led by Dr. Pedro Rada Rincon
Read feature
KWOK Lab
Ilias Mahboub: Member of KWOK Lab led by Dr. Sze Chai Kwok
Read feature
DKU Varsity Football Team
Ilias Mahboub: Player for Duke Kunshan University Football Varsity Football Team
Read feature
Tedx Conferences
Ilias Mahboub: Speaker at TedxSASPD, Chain Reaction
Read feature
Zenodo
Ilias Mahboub: Contributor to NiiVue v0.68.2 — Open Source Neuroscience Visualization Tool
Read feature
Work With Me.
About.
The backstory.