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GCC AI Research

Ph.D. student Anna Fruehstueck wins 2020 Facebook Fellowship Award

KAUST · · Notable

Summary

KAUST Ph.D. student Anna Fruehstueck won a 2020 Facebook Fellowship award, a two-year fellowship from Facebook Research, focusing on computer graphics. She was selected as one of 36 recipients from over 1,800 applicants and is the University's first recipient of the scholarship. Her research explores the intersection of computer graphics, geometry processing, and visual arts using machine learning. Why it matters: This award highlights the growing prominence of KAUST in computer science research and its ability to attract and foster top talent in the field.

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KAUST Ph.D. student wins L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship

KAUST ·

KAUST Ph.D. student Asma Al-Amoodi received the 2019 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Fellowship for her work on stem cell treatments for hematological diseases. Her research focuses on improving the migration of hematopoietic stem cells to the bone marrow after transplantation. Al-Amoodi was granted €8,000 to support her doctoral research at KAUST under the supervision of Associate Professor Jasmeen Merzaban. Why it matters: The fellowship highlights the increasing role of women in STEM in Saudi Arabia and supports research with potential therapeutic impact.

Pinnau named 2020 NAMS fellow

KAUST ·

KAUST Professor Ingo Pinnau has been named a 2020 Fellow of the North American Membrane Society (NAMS). Pinnau's research focuses on high-performance membranes for energy-intensive gas and liquid separations. He has published over 170 peer-reviewed papers and holds 46 granted U.S. patents. Why it matters: Recognition of KAUST faculty in this area highlights the university's contribution to advanced materials research, which is crucial for energy and sustainability initiatives in Saudi Arabia and globally.

Flattening the sentimental curve

KAUST ·

KAUST Associate Professor Xiangliang Zhang is using machine learning to analyze social media posts on Twitter related to COVID-19. Her team at KAUST's Computational Bioscience Research Center is analyzing sentiment in tweets using hashtags like #coronavirus and #covid19. Zhang aims to use this data to help predict localized outbreaks and provide an early warning system for governments and organizations. Why it matters: This research demonstrates the potential of AI-powered sentiment analysis to support public health efforts and inform decision-making during pandemics in the Middle East and globally.

Professor Mérouane Debbah, co-authors receive 2022 IEEE TAOS TC Best GCSN Paper Award

TII ·

Professor Mérouane Debbah, Chief Researcher at AIDRC, and his co-authors received the 2022 IEEE TAOS TC Best GCSN Paper Award for their work on federated quantized neural networks. The paper, presented at IEEE ICC 2022, explores the tradeoff between energy, precision, and accuracy in these networks. The research proposes an optimal quantization level to minimize energy consumption during training, making it less prohibitive for mobile devices. Why it matters: The award recognizes work that reduces the carbon footprint of large-scale AI systems, a key challenge for sustainable AI deployment in the region and globally.