KAUST alumna Hessa Al-Quwaiee (M.S. '13, Ph.D. '16) works at Huawei as the company's first and only female engineer in Saudi Arabia, designing and implementing projects in Mobily network. She also serves as the vice president of programs for the KAUST Saudi Arabia Alumni Chapter. Al-Quwaiee hasn't ruled out the possibility of returning to academia to empower women in engineering. Why it matters: This highlights the growing role of women in Saudi Arabia's tech sector and KAUST's contribution to developing local talent.
Joanna Nassar, a KAUST alumna (Ph.D. '17, M.S. '13) in electrical engineering, is now a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech in the Department of Medical Engineering. Nassar credits KAUST's facilities and research opportunities for helping her achieve her goals and grow academically. Her research focuses on developing affordable and accessible wearable and implantable electronics for preventive disease detection. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in training researchers who are contributing to advancements in healthcare technology.
Jhonathan Prieto Rojas completed his master's (2010) and Ph.D. (2014) in electrical engineering at KAUST under Professor Muhammad Mustafa Hussain. After six years at KAUST, he joined King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) as an assistant professor in electrical engineering. His research at KAUST focused on micro and nanofabrication techniques, including micro-sized microbial fuel cells and flexible electronics. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in developing talent and contributing to Saudi Arabia's STEM capabilities through its alumni network in other institutions.
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.
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.