MBZUAI has launched the Ruwwad AI Scholars (RAIS) program, a fully funded two-year postdoctoral fellowship for Emirati Ph.D. graduates to conduct research at leading global institutions. The fellowship covers a competitive stipend, research funds, insurance, relocation support, and conference travel, with no cost to host institutions. Completion aims to strengthen eligibility for tenure-track faculty positions at MBZUAI. Why it matters: This program represents a strategic investment in developing Emirati AI talent and building a globally competitive, homegrown AI faculty to drive the UAE's research ambitions.
Google.org is providing $1 million to MBZUAI to fund a research initiative led by Professor Thamar Solorio focused on addressing the “data divide” in AI for underrepresented languages, especially those in the MENA region. The project aims to create resource-lean AI models tailored to the sociocultural and linguistic realities of MENA, requiring less data and computational power. This initiative will also support the training of postdoctoral and early-career researchers at MBZUAI. Why it matters: The funding will help create AI technologies grounded in the linguistic nuances of the MENA region, rather than adapting Western models, while also democratizing AI development by lowering resource requirements.
MBZUAI faculty member Ekaterina Kochmar and postdoctoral researcher Kaushal Kumar Maurya won a Google Academic Research Award for their research on an intelligent tutoring system. The project, "2σ-ITS," aims to develop an educational foundation model for personalized learning and to support tutors in reaching students with limited access to mainstream education. The Google award provides funding and collaboration opportunities for researchers, with Kochmar and Maurya being the only team from the Middle East to win. Why it matters: This award highlights the growing recognition of AI's potential to improve educational equity and access in the region and beyond.
MBZUAI has launched the Ruwwad AI Scholars (RAIS) program, a postdoctoral fellowship for Emirati Ph.D. graduates to undertake two-year, fully-funded research positions at leading global institutions. The program aims to cultivate local talent in AI and computational research, with the goal of strengthening participants' eligibility for faculty positions at MBZUAI. The fellowship covers a stipend, research funds, insurance, relocation support, and conference travel.
KAUST has announced the latest recipients of the Ibn Rushd Fellowship Program, which supports early-career Saudi scientists for up to three years of postdoctoral research at international institutions. Fellows Abdullah Alghamdi and Abdulrahman M. Alfaraidi will conduct research at UC San Diego and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, respectively. Their research aligns with Saudi Arabia’s health, wellness, and energy priorities while maintaining ties with KAUST. Why it matters: This fellowship program helps develop talent in priority fields and elevates the profile of Saudi academia, contributing to Saudi Vision 2030.
KAUST alumna Dr. Hanin Ahmed has been awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship to research the biological traits, ancestry, and symbolic roles of horses used in ancient rituals. She will analyze DNA samples from 97 sites across France, linking biology with ritual behavior. Ahmed previously held an Ibn Rushd Fellowship from KAUST, which supported her move to the University of Toulouse. Why it matters: This prestigious fellowship highlights the quality of research and training at KAUST while enabling exploration of the co-evolution of humans and animals through genomics and archaeology.
Hanin Ahmed, a KAUST Ph.D. graduate in plant science, is now an Ibn-Rushd Postdoctoral Fellow at The Centre for Anthropology and Genomics of Toulouse, France. Her Ph.D. research at KAUST focused on the population genomics and evolutionary history of fonio millet and einkorn wheat. One key finding was the influence of ethnic groups on the genetic diversity of fonio millet, and insights into wheat adaptation during early agriculture from einkorn wheat research published in Nature. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in training researchers who are contributing to advancements in genomics and agriculture, with implications for crop improvement and understanding the impact of social factors on plant genetics.
KAUST has announced the 2025 cohort of Ibn Rushd Postdoctoral Fellows, a program designed to strengthen Saudi Arabia's research ecosystem. The fellows, including Abdullah Hassan Bukhamsin and Akram Alwithenani, will pursue postdoctoral work at institutions like Caltech and Harvard. Bukhamsin's research focuses on minimally invasive sensors for environmental and agricultural applications, while Alwithenani specializes in cancer gene and immunotherapy. Why it matters: This program is crucial for developing Saudi research talent and aligning with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals in science and technology.