KAUST Ph.D. student Khalil Moussi won two awards at the IEEE International Conference on Nano/Micro Engineered and Molecular Systems for his research on a miniaturized drug delivery system. The system, developed in collaboration with KAIMRC, uses 3D printing and wireless power to deliver drugs for coronary artery disease treatment. The device features an electrochemical micro-pump, a 3D printed reservoir with microneedles, and a wireless powering unit, allowing customization for various in vivo drug delivery applications. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's contributions to biomedical engineering and its potential to develop innovative solutions for critical healthcare challenges in the region and beyond.
KAUST Ph.D. student Mohamed Bahloul received a best paper award at the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC ‘18) for the Africa and Middle East region. Bahloul's paper presented a three-element fractional-order viscoelastic Windkessel model developed in the EMAN group at KAUST. The model incorporates a fractional-order capacitor, potentially enabling earlier prediction of cardiovascular diseases. Why it matters: The award recognizes impactful research in biomedical engineering at KAUST and highlights the potential for advanced modeling techniques to improve healthcare in the region.
KAUST Ph.D. student Amira Alazmi won the Nanoscale poster prize at the Royal Society of Chemistry Symposium 2018 in London for her work on cobalt ferrite/reduced graphene oxide composites as a T2 contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging. Her research focuses on understanding the synthesis of graphite oxide and reduced graphene oxide. Alazmi's work demonstrates the importance of selecting graphene oxide synthesis methods based on the intended application. Why it matters: This award recognizes the high-impact research being conducted at KAUST and highlights the importance of materials science in advancing medical imaging technologies.
KAUST Ph.D. student Abdullah Almansouri won a best poster award at the 2019 Joint MMM-INTERMAG Conference for his work on a super-flexible composite magnet, or "magnetic skin". The research, carried out by the Sensing, Magnetism and Microsystems (SMM) group, developed a stretchable and biocompatible wearable magnet. The device's flexible properties make it comfortable and imperceptible when worn. Why it matters: This research contributes to the growing field of wearable technology and biomedical monitoring, with potential applications in eye-movement tracking and touchless gesture control.
KAUST Ph.D. student Gaurav Agarwal won the best student paper award at the International Indian Statistical Association's 2019 Student Paper Competition for his work on the joint distribution of wind speed and direction. Agarwal's research involved developing a visualization tool for bivariate functional data, which can be used in climate and weather prediction models. He also received a scholarship based on his contributions using R. Why it matters: This award recognizes innovative work in environmental statistics at KAUST, highlighting the university's contributions to data science and statistical learning with applications to climate modeling.