DERC's Aysha Al Neyadi won the Young Scientists Competition at the 14th International Conference Interaction of Radiation with Solids in Minsk, Belarus. Aysha co-authored a paper with researchers from Belarus State University and TII on the structure and phase composition stability of amorphous zirconium irradiated with helium ions. The paper examined amorphous alloy samples based on zirconium irradiated with Helium ions at 40 keV. Why it matters: This award recognizes contributions to materials science and highlights international research collaborations involving UAE institutions.
MBZUAI valedictorian Shahd AlShamsi is using AI and ML to develop personalized cognitive healthcare, shifting treatment from reaction to prevention. Her master's research involves a digital twin framework that integrates representations of a person’s cognitive experience using deep learning models and EEG data. She hopes to develop a mobile application to extend her work to personalized mental health. Why it matters: This research highlights the potential of AI to improve personalized healthcare in the UAE and beyond, and demonstrates the contributions of Emirati researchers.
Najwa Aaraj, Chief Researcher at the Cryptography Research Centre at TII, has joined MBZUAI as the first female faculty member in the Machine Learning Department. Aaraj leads R&D of cryptographic technologies, including post-quantum cryptography and lightweight cryptographic libraries. Her research will focus on the intersection of cryptography, cybersecurity, and machine learning, including using ML for cryptanalysis and protecting ML models with cryptography. Why it matters: This appointment strengthens MBZUAI's expertise in a critical area of AI security and cryptography, fostering cross-disciplinary research and innovation in the UAE.
MBZUAI highlighted five Emirati women making contributions in AI, entrepreneurship, and leadership, coinciding with Emirati Women’s Day. Fatima AlKhoori is pursuing a Ph.D. at MBZUAI, researching transformer models for autonomous vehicle traffic sign recognition using UAE and German datasets. Dr. Hanan Aldarmaki, an MBZUAI assistant professor, specializes in Arabic speech and language processing. Why it matters: Showcasing Emirati women in AI underscores the UAE's commitment to gender diversity and national talent development in advanced technology fields.
MBZUAI's inaugural class included eight Emirati master's graduates in computer vision and machine learning, making up 15% of the Class of 2022. All eight have secured employment or will pursue Ph.D. studies at MBZUAI, contributing to healthcare, technology, energy, transport, and government sectors in the UAE. Fatima Albreiki and Wafa Al Ghallabi will continue at MBZUAI for Ph.D. studies in Computer Vision. Why it matters: MBZUAI is nurturing local AI talent to support the UAE's national strategy and address global challenges in key sectors.
Juveiriah Ashraf from the Advanced Materials Research Center (AMRC) graduated from Masdar's Women in Sustainability, Environment, and Renewable Energy (WiSER) program. The program focuses on positioning women as drivers of change across the sustainability debate, covering topics like green hydrogen and food security. Ashraf emphasized the need for a holistic approach involving government, corporate leaders, and financial boards to accelerate sustainability impact through incentives and circular economy adoption. Why it matters: This highlights the UAE's focus on empowering women in STEM and sustainability, aligning with national goals for a sustainable future.
An article highlights the role of AI in promoting female empowerment, particularly in the UAE, where Emirati women entrepreneurs constitute a significant portion of business owners. MBZUAI is playing a key role by equipping women with AI skills, as exemplified by alumna Farha Albreiki, who is applying her ML expertise at Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company (TRANSCO). Albreiki is also involved in initiatives like the TRANSCO Women Working Group to foster gender diversity in the tech sector. Why it matters: This underscores the importance of AI education and initiatives within the GCC to support women's participation and leadership in technology and engineering.