Four researchers from TII's AI and Digital Science Research Center (AIDRC) and Autonomous Robotics Research Center (ARRC) have been named among the world's top 2% of scientists by Elsevier BV and Stanford University. Prof. Mérouane Debbah, Dr. Daniel Benevides da Costa, Prof. Dr. George C. Alexandroupoulos, and Prof. Enrico Natalizio were recognized based on career-long achievements and data for 2021. The list considers citations, h-index, and other metrics to identify leading scientists across various fields. Why it matters: This recognition highlights the UAE's growing prominence in AI research and the caliber of talent attracted to institutions like TII, reinforcing its position as a hub for technological innovation.
Prof. Mérouane Debbah, Chief Researcher at the AI Cross-Center Unit and DSRC, has been ranked No. 1 in France and 180th globally in Electronics and Electrical Engineering by Research.com. He has an H-index of 98 and over 47000 citations. Debbah was also recognized as a 2022 AI 2000 Most Influential Scholar in Internet of Things for contributions between 2012 and 2021. Why it matters: This recognition highlights the growing AI research talent within the GCC region, particularly in areas related to communication technologies and IoT.
Lawrence Carin, former VP for Research at Duke University, has been appointed Provost of KAUST. Carin's background includes a professorship at Duke, and research and administrative roles. He is a researcher in AI/ML, with over 450 papers and an H-index of 86. Why it matters: The appointment signals KAUST's continued focus on attracting global AI talent and advancing its digital thematic priorities.
KAUST has appointed Dr. Donal Bradley, currently the dean for science and engineering at the University of Oxford, as its new vice president for research. Bradley, a fellow of the Royal Society, has over 630 publications and a Google Scholar h-index of 125. He previously served as VP for research at Imperial College London and brings experience in technology development, including co-founding Cambridge Display Technology Ltd. Why it matters: This appointment signals KAUST's continued commitment to attracting top international talent to drive its research and development efforts in science and engineering.