Head of Research Laboratory | National Institute for Research and Physico-Chemical Analysis | Tunisia
Prof. Radhia Sassi-Souissi is exceptionally well suited for a Research Excellence Award. Prof. Sassi-Souissi is a full professor and senior geochemist with more than 30 years of distinguished experience in environmental geochemistry, coastal morphodynamics, advanced inorganic materials, and the valorization of mining and industrial waste, all of which are highly relevant to global sustainability and environmental protection priorities. Her academic formation includes advanced doctoral training in France and a university habilitation in geochemistry and environmental sciences, reflecting the highest level of scholarly qualification. Her professional progression from assistant professor to full professor at INRAP demonstrates consistent academic excellence and institutional trust. She has played key leadership roles as Head of the Laboratory of Useful Materials, member of strategic management committees, and coordinator and co-coordinator of major international research programs, including Horizon 2020 and international joint laboratory initiatives. Prof. Sassi-Souissi has participated in and led over 20 national and international research projects, many of which address critical challenges such as groundwater sustainability, coastal pollution, microplastics, mining waste recovery, isotopic tracing, and environmental risk assessment. Her scientific productivity is outstanding, with more than 65 publications and reports and a strong series of high-impact peer-reviewed articles published in recent years in internationally reputed journals. Her work demonstrates both methodological rigor and applied societal value. In addition to her research contributions, she has supervised 14 postgraduate theses, reflecting a strong commitment to scientific training and capacity building. Her profile combines academic excellence, sustained innovation, interdisciplinary expertise, research leadership, international visibility, and tangible environmental impact, fully meeting and exceeding the core criteria expected for a prestigious Research Excellence Award.
Profiles: Google Scholar | ResearchGate
Featured Publications
Nasr, E. G., Epova, E. N., Barre, J., Sebilo, M., De Diego, A., Souissi, R., Abderrazak, H., & Donard, O. F. X. (2023). Combined use of 87Sr/86Sr and carbon isotopes with multielemental analysis for the geographical authentication of Tunisian and European olive oils. Food Chemistry, 426, 136487.
Ben Saad, E., Ben Alaya, M., Taupin, J.-D., Patris, N., Chaabane, N., & Souissi, R. (2023). A hydrogeological conceptual model refines the behavior of a Mediterranean coastal aquifer system: A key to sustainable groundwater management (Grombalia, NE Tunisia). Hydrology, 10(9), 180.
Marzougui Salem, Souissi, R., Jebali, K., Trabelsi, W., Abderrazak, H., & Souissi, F. (2024). Cadmium recovery from acid leachates of Tunisian phosphoric acid purification residues. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31, 60587–60600.
Somrani, C., Souissi, F., Souissi, R., De Giudici, G., Ferreira da Silva, E., Fancello, D., Podda, F., Santos, J. F., Abu-Alam, T., Ribeiro, S., & Rocha, F. (2025). The geochemical characteristics of ore-forming fluids in the Jebel Stah fluorite deposit in northeast Tunisia: Insights from LA-ICP-MS and Sr isotope analyses. Minerals, 15, 331.
Nasr, E. G., Epova, E., Souissi, R., Abderrazak, H., Sebilo, M., & Donard, O. F. X. (2025). Conservative behavior of 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios from soil to olive oil in Tunisia: A tool for geographical traceability. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 73, 6151–6157.
Prof. Radhia Sassi-Souissi’s research advances global environmental sustainability through innovative geochemical, isotopic, and materials-based solutions to pollution, groundwater protection, and waste valorization. Her work directly supports industry and public policy by transforming mining and industrial residues into valuable resources while safeguarding coastal and water systems.