KAUST and NESMA Holding Co. have signed an agreement to open an embroidery center in Thuwal. The center will include sewing, electronic embroidery, design, and thermal printing departments. The center aims to create job opportunities for Saudi women and people with disabilities, with a capacity to employ up to 60 women. Why it matters: This initiative highlights KAUST's commitment to social responsibility and to raising the standard of living in its host community, reflecting a broader trend of universities contributing to local development.
Dr. Nesma Aboulkhair, Additive Manufacturing Lead Researcher at TII, has been ranked among Stanford's top 2% of scientists for single-year citations for the second consecutive year. Dr. Aboulkhair joined TII in April 2021 and also holds a visiting academic position at the University of Nottingham in the UK. Her research focuses on metal additive manufacturing processes, including powder-based and droplet-on-demand methods, and she has secured over GBP2 million in funding. Why it matters: This recognition highlights the growing expertise in advanced manufacturing within UAE research institutions and TII's ability to attract and foster high-impact researchers in critical fields.
KAUST alumna Dina Bashir Abusamra, who received her master's degree in 2010 and Ph.D. in 2016 from KAUST, is now a postdoctoral research fellow at the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Her early research at KAUST focused on understanding the mechanisms by which transplanted hematopoietic stem cells home back to bone marrow, specifically studying glycan-binding proteins like selectin. She now studies the role of glycan-binding proteins and galectins in microenvironment modulation. Why it matters: This highlights the impact of KAUST in fostering scientific talent and contributing to research in biomedical engineering and bioscience, with alumni now making contributions at leading international research institutions.
KAUST and Nesma Holding inaugurated the Thuwal Embroidery Center on April 18, under the patronage of HRH Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz. The center is a strategic partnership aiming to create job opportunities for women in Thuwal and neighboring villages. 50 women from the area will benefit from employment at the center. Why it matters: The center exemplifies KAUST's goals of finding job opportunities for the people of Thuwal and creating prosperity in the community.
Two KAUST researchers, Leena Ibrahim and Taiba Alamoudi, were named L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Middle East Young Talents. Leena Ibrahim, an Assistant Professor in Bioscience, leads the Neural Circuits Lab and researches how sensory experiences shape the brain's ability to process information. Taiba Alamoudi is a Ph.D. candidate in Marine Science. Why it matters: This recognition highlights the growing contributions of women in STEM fields in the Middle East and KAUST's role in supporting female researchers.
Ghada Ahmed, a fourth-year Ph.D. student at KAUST's Solar Center, researches semiconductor nanocrystals under the supervision of Assistant Professor Omar Mohammed. Her work focuses on the colloidal synthesis of quantum dots and nanocrystals with controlled sizes and shapes. She aims to understand photogenerated charge carrier dynamics and reaction mechanisms to optimize energy-efficient devices. Why it matters: This research contributes to advancements in materials science and renewable energy technologies within the Kingdom.
KAUST Ph.D. student Amal Mohammed Alamri was a finalist in the July 2018 IEEE nanoArt Competition, part of the 18th IEEE International Conference on Nanotechnology in Cork, Ireland. Her work, displayed at University College Cork and Crawford/CIT Gallery, involved stacking n-type MoS2 single crystal with p-type perovskite CH3NH3PbBr3 single crystal. Alamri's IEEE Nano paper entitled "Photonic Single Crystal Heterostructures based on Perovskites/Molybdenum disulfide" was also presented at the conference. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's contribution to nanotechnology research and its students' participation in international scientific events.
KAUST professor Niveen Khashab was named the first Great Arab Mind in natural sciences. The Great Arab Minds award was conceived by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum to recognize Arabs for achievements in science, architecture, engineering, economics, literature, and medicine. Khashab, an organic chemist, was selected for contributions to nanomaterials development, synthesis, and application in medicine, industry, and agriculture. Why it matters: The award highlights KAUST's role in fostering scientific talent and contributing to advancements in nanotechnology and related fields within the Arab world.