Faris Almalik, an MBZUAI alumnus, discusses his journey from mechanical engineering to becoming a senior data scientist at the Department of Government Enablement – TAMM in Abu Dhabi. Almalik emphasizes his passion for continuous learning and knowledge sharing, which has driven his career across defense, education, finance, and government sectors. He published his first paper on adversarial attacks on medical imaging at MICCAI during his time at MBZUAI. Why it matters: This highlights the success of MBZUAI in producing impactful AI professionals who contribute to both research and practical applications in key sectors within the UAE.
KAUST is promoting its alumni who are contributing to computer science and engineering. Alumni Ahmad Showail, Muna Khushaim, Dinorath Olvera Ramos and Jenna Lloyd-Randolfi spoke at the 2017 Winter Enrichment Program Alumni Lecture Series. They discussed topics like the internet of things and their career paths after graduating from KAUST. Why it matters: Showcasing alumni successes can help attract future talent to KAUST and highlight the university's impact on regional development.
Maram Al-Malki, a KAUST alumna (M.S. '17) in chemistry from the Clean Combustion Research Center, is now pursuing a Ph.D. at KAUST's Advanced Membranes & Porous Materials Center. Her Ph.D. focuses on developing energy consumption strategies for intelligent use of energy sources. Al-Malki advises current students to learn from mistakes and connect with diverse peers. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in fostering local talent and research in sustainable energy solutions, contributing to Saudi Arabia's vision for a diversified and sustainable economy.
KAUST alumna Mona AlSaydlani (M.S. '13) is a founding class member who researched water desalination techniques under Professor Ingo Pinnau. She now works as a lead engineer in business communications at the Dow Middle East Innovation Center (MEIC) located on the KAUST campus, focusing on media, stakeholder relations, sustainability, and R&D. AlSaydlani also designs roadmaps for Dow Business activities and supports the Women's Innovation Network (WIN) at Dow Saudi Arabia. Why it matters: This highlights the career paths and contributions of KAUST alumni in industry, particularly in linking academic research with industrial applications and supporting women in STEM.
KAUST alumnus Kareem Khalil, who graduated in 2012 with a master's in mechanical engineering, is now a senior engineer at the Yanbu National Petrochemical Company (Yansab), a SABIC affiliate. Khalil credits KAUST's strong reputation for giving him an edge over colleagues. He advises students to fully enjoy KAUST's environment and research opportunities. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in supplying skilled professionals to key industries in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the petrochemical sector, and its importance in Saudi Arabia's economic diversification.