Ahmed Abdulmajeed Alabdulkarim, a KAUST alumnus (M.S. '11), pursued a Ph.D. at MIT and now leads a research lab at KACST and MIT. His research interests include big data, AI, and machine learning. He credits KAUST as a starting point for his growth as a scientist, providing a perfect research environment and interactions with distinguished scientists. Why it matters: The success of KAUST alumni in leading research roles at prominent institutions like KACST and MIT highlights the university's contribution to developing Saudi Arabia's AI research capacity.
Ahmad Alabdulghani, a KAUST master's student in Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering, is studying fluid flow mechanisms in heterogeneous media under the supervision of Professor Hussein Hoteit. Alabdulghani is a member of the Advanced Reservoir Modeling and Simulation (ARMS) research group at ANPERC. He previously worked at Saudi Aramco's EXPEC Advanced Research Center and aims to pursue a doctorate at KAUST. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in developing Saudi talent for the energy sector and fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
Ahmed Al Saleh, a 2017 KAUST material science and engineering graduate, is now a business development manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific. He is the first Saudi to work for the company, representing them in Saudi Arabia from their KAUST campus office. Al Saleh advises KAUST students to experiment and develop their social skills, embracing failure as part of the learning process. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in developing local talent for key science and technology sectors in Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrahman Alkhateeb, a KAUST alumnus with a master's in mechanical engineering, is pursuing his Ph.D. at KAUST's Clean Combustion Research Center under William Roberts, focusing on hydrogen-based fuel combustion for gas turbines. He previously worked at Saudi Aramco, which supported his studies at the University of Birmingham and KAUST. Alkhateeb chose KAUST for its shared vision with Aramco and its high academic standards and research facilities. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in developing Saudi talent in critical energy research areas aligned with national priorities.
Muhammed Sameed, a KAUST alumnus with a master's degree in material science and engineering, is working as a research scientist at CERN. He specializes in creating and studying antimatter particles as part of CERN's ALPHA experiment, with publications in Nature. Sameed advises students to be fearless and create new paths to maximize opportunities. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in training scientists who contribute to cutting-edge international research, potentially inspiring further collaboration between KAUST and CERN.