MBZUAI faculty member Ekaterina Kochmar and postdoctoral researcher Kaushal Kumar Maurya won a Google Academic Research Award for their research on an intelligent tutoring system. The project, "2σ-ITS," aims to develop an educational foundation model for personalized learning and to support tutors in reaching students with limited access to mainstream education. The Google award provides funding and collaboration opportunities for researchers, with Kochmar and Maurya being the only team from the Middle East to win. Why it matters: This award highlights the growing recognition of AI's potential to improve educational equity and access in the region and beyond.
KAUST has announced the latest recipients of the Ibn Rushd Fellowship Program, which supports early-career Saudi scientists for up to three years of postdoctoral research at international institutions. Fellows Abdullah Alghamdi and Abdulrahman M. Alfaraidi will conduct research at UC San Diego and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, respectively. Their research aligns with Saudi Arabia’s health, wellness, and energy priorities while maintaining ties with KAUST. Why it matters: This fellowship program helps develop talent in priority fields and elevates the profile of Saudi academia, contributing to Saudi Vision 2030.
KAUST has announced the 2024 Ibn Rushd Fellowship recipients: Abrar Aljahani, Abdulrahman Aljurbua, Ahmed Alahmed, and Yara Alshwairikh. The fellowship provides a stipend for early-career researchers to pursue postdoctoral research overseas for up to three years. The fellows' research spans areas like gene regulation, radar systems, electrical grids, and climate change adaptation, with Alahmed and Alshwairikh focusing their work on the Saudi context. Why it matters: The Ibn Rushd Fellowship supports Saudi scientific talent and advances research aligned with the Kingdom's development goals in key areas like sustainable energy and environmental monitoring.
KAUST alumna Wedyan Babatain was named a 2022 MENA Innovator Under 35 by MIT Technology Review Arabia. Babatain was recognized for her research developing a soft multifunctional wearable platform using graphene and liquid metal-based electronics. She is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at MIT Media Lab, developing soft tangible interfaces and robotics platforms. Why it matters: This award highlights the increasing recognition of young Saudi researchers and KAUST's role in fostering innovative research in advanced materials and wearable technology.
KAUST alumna Dr. Dalal Alezi has been awarded the Ibn Khaldun Fellowship for Saudi Women at MIT to pursue postdoctoral research in energy storage and water capture materials. She completed her Ph.D. at KAUST under Professor Mohamed Eddaoudi, focusing on metal-organic materials for gas separation, storage, catalysis, and drug delivery. Alezi credits KAUST and KAU for supporting her career and shaping her role as a mentor for incoming science students at KAU. Why it matters: The fellowship recognizes and supports talented Saudi women in STEM, promoting advancements in materials science and inspiring future generations of Saudi scientists.
KAUST welcomed 12 Saudi academics for orientation as part of the Ibn Rushd Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. The program funds Saudi doctoral graduates to pursue postdoctoral research at top international universities like MIT and University of Toronto. Fellows receive mentorship and access to KAUST facilities and programs. Why it matters: This program aims to develop Saudi talent and increase the number of Saudi scholars at KAUST, contributing to the Kingdom's future leadership in research and innovation.
Clarivate Web of Science Group recognized fifteen KAUST faculty members and one postdoctoral researcher among the 2020 Highly Cited Researchers. These individuals rank in the top 1% of research cited worldwide across diverse fields. They are leaders in health, environment, communications, and food security. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's commitment to pioneering research and its growing influence in addressing globally relevant challenges.
KAUST alumna Dina Bashir Abusamra, who received her master's degree in 2010 and Ph.D. in 2016 from KAUST, is now a postdoctoral research fellow at the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Her early research at KAUST focused on understanding the mechanisms by which transplanted hematopoietic stem cells home back to bone marrow, specifically studying glycan-binding proteins like selectin. She now studies the role of glycan-binding proteins and galectins in microenvironment modulation. Why it matters: This highlights the impact of KAUST in fostering scientific talent and contributing to research in biomedical engineering and bioscience, with alumni now making contributions at leading international research institutions.