This is an announcement about Muna Khushaim, a KAUST alumna from the Material Science and Engineering program who graduated in 2015. The announcement is on the KAUST website. Why it matters: Alumni profiles can highlight the success of KAUST programs, but this particular announcement lacks details about the alumnus's accomplishments.
KAUST alumnus Chuan Xia (M.S. '14, Ph.D. '18) is now a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard, researching CO2 capture and conversion into valuable chemicals using renewable electricity. His Ph.D. research at KAUST, under Professor Husam Alshareef, focused on ternary metal sulfides and selenides for energy storage. Xia credits KAUST with providing training in communication, teamwork, and leadership that facilitated his transition to Harvard. Why it matters: The success of KAUST alumni in fields like sustainable energy highlights the university's growing role in addressing global challenges and fostering international research collaboration.
Noura Shehab, a KAUST environmental engineering Ph.D. graduate (2014), now works as a material science researcher at RPD Innovations. Her research focuses on microbial electrochemical technologies and sustainable solutions for water scarcity. Shehab led a KAUST team in the Hult Prize in 2013 and is the incoming KAUST Saudi Arabian alumni chapter president. Why it matters: The profile highlights KAUST's role in developing scientific talent and fostering innovation in sustainable technologies relevant to Saudi Arabia.
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.
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.