KAUST alumnus Dr. Abdulilah Mayet was named a Fulbright fellow and will pursue nanotechnology work at UC Irvine from September 2023 to June 2024. Mayet, who earned his master's and Ph.D. from KAUST, is now an associate professor at King Khalid University and has started several companies. He aims to develop new NEMS technologies at Irvine with lower cost and higher performance, with plans to start a company for commercial production. Why it matters: This fellowship highlights the impact of KAUST in fostering research and innovation and building international collaborations in nanotechnology, contributing to the growth of advanced technology sectors in Saudi Arabia.
KAUST has launched the Fulbright-KAUST Graduate Award in partnership with the U.S. Department of State's Fulbright Program. This initiative marks the first Fulbright award for a degree-seeking program in Saudi Arabia, hosting two American students. The program aims to advance collaboration through research and exchange, supporting Saudi Vision 2030 goals. Why it matters: This partnership strengthens U.S.-Saudi academic ties and KAUST's role as a hub for talent development and collaborative research in the region.
KAUST founding alumnus Ahmad Showail has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct IoT research at UC Irvine with Dr. Faisal Nawab. Showail, who earned master's and Ph.D. degrees from KAUST, submitted a proposal on secure and private Internet-of-Things using SGX cloud architecture. He credits KAUST with shaping him as a researcher and helping him develop skills in writing journal papers and pursuing impactful issues. Why it matters: This award highlights the quality of KAUST graduates and the potential for KAUST alumni to contribute to solving challenges in Saudi Arabia, such as managing crowd movements during Hajj and Umrah.
KAUST Associate Professor Andrea Fratalocchi was elected a Fellow of the Optical Society (OSA) in September for his innovations in complex optical systems. His research at KAUST focuses on clean energy harvesting, bio-imaging, and advanced optical materials. Fratalocchi heads the Primalight Lab research group and studies applied complexity, aiming to transform complex physical systems into sustainable technologies. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's growing prominence in optics and photonics research and its contributions to developing sustainable technologies.
Iain McCulloch, director of the KAUST Solar Center, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society. McCulloch's research focuses on high-performance organic semiconductor materials for applications such as transparent solar cells and sensors. The Royal Society, founded in 1660, is the UK's national science academy and a fellowship of eminent scientists. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's contributions to advanced materials research and its role in fostering scientific talent in the region.
KAUST Professor of Electrical Engineering, Boon Ooi, has been elected as a Fellow of the Optical Society of America (OSA). Ooi is a professor in the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division at KAUST. The fellowship recognizes his contributions to the field of optical engineering. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's growing prominence in optics and photonics research and boosts its reputation as a leading STEM institution in the Middle East.
KAUST Professor of Electrical Engineering Kazuhiro Ohkawa has been elected as a Fellow of the Japan Society of Applied Physics (JSAP). JSAP recognized Ohkawa for his contributions to the development of wide bandgap semiconductor epitaxial growth and optical devices. Ohkawa's research at KAUST focuses on energy-conversion phenomena for sustainability, including doping technologies, MOCVD for nitride semiconductors, and nitride photocatalysts. Why it matters: Recognition of KAUST faculty in international societies raises the university's profile and highlights its contributions to applied physics and sustainable energy research.
Michael Hickner, an Associate Professor from Penn State University, visited KAUST as part of the CRDF-KAUST-OSR Visiting Scholar Fellowship Program. Hickner specializes in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering. The visit was documented with photos by Meres J. Weche. Why it matters: Such programs foster international collaboration and knowledge exchange in science and engineering between KAUST and other leading institutions.