KAUST alumna Yuan Yan received an honorable mention from the American Statistical Association (ASA) for her paper on "Vector Autoregressive Models with Spatially Structured Coefficients for Time Series on a Spatial Grid." Yan, who graduated from KAUST in 2018, was part of Professor Marc Genton's Spatio-Temporal Statistics & Data Science group. She is now a postdoctoral fellow at Dalhousie University, researching fisheries science using spatial statistical models. Why it matters: This recognition highlights the quality of research and education at KAUST, especially in the field of spatio-temporal statistics, and its impact on addressing real-world sustainability challenges.
KAUST alumnus Jian Pan (M.S. '11) is working as general manager of Hangzhou Bertzer Catalyst, a water/wastewater treatment and pollution control technology company in China. Prior to this role, he worked at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center and the Environmental Technology Innovation Center of Jiande. He also developed 12 technologies/products, including catalysts for advanced wastewater treatment and a portable water guarantee system. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in nurturing talent that contributes to environmental solutions globally, specifically in water treatment and pollution control.
MBZUAI Visiting Professor Haiyan Huang is working on bridging biology and AI by incorporating domain knowledge into modeling frameworks. She combines statistical principles, AI tools, and domain expertise to develop scientifically informed and statistically grounded methods. Her work addresses the challenge of extracting meaningful signals from complex biological data. Why it matters: This interdisciplinary approach can lead to more accurate and useful AI models for biological research and healthcare applications in the region.
MBZUAI Visiting Professor Haiyan Huang is working on bridging biology and AI by incorporating domain knowledge into modeling frameworks. She combines statistical principles, AI tools, and domain expertise to develop scientifically informed and statistically grounded methods. Her work addresses the challenge of extracting meaningful signals from complex biological data.
This article summarizes a talk by Erci Xu on doing computer systems research, focusing on idea generation and paper writing. Xu shares experiences on developing research ideas and provides a tutorial on academic writing principles. He has published 20 papers in venues like OSDI, FAST, ATC, and Eurosys and received awards including two FAST Best Paper Awards. Why it matters: The talk and summary offer valuable guidance for researchers in the Middle East, particularly those at institutions like MBZUAI, on how to conduct impactful computer systems research and effectively communicate their findings in top-tier academic publications.
MBZUAI Assistant Professor Yuanzhi Li has been awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship in computer science by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The fellowship recognizes early-career researchers for creativity, innovation, and research accomplishments. Li's research focuses on deep learning theory, including hierarchical feature learning in neural networks and optimization algorithms. Why it matters: This prestigious fellowship highlights MBZUAI's ability to attract and support high-caliber AI researchers, enhancing the institution's reputation and contributing to the growth of AI expertise in the UAE.
KAUST has appointed Dr. Chak Chan as the new dean of its Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) division, commencing in May 2023. Dr. Chan previously served as the Dean of the School of Energy and Environment at the City University of Hong Kong and brings over 14 years of administrative experience. His research focuses on the physical chemistry of the atmosphere, aligning with KAUST's focus on climate, livability, and sustainability. Why it matters: This appointment strengthens KAUST's leadership in physical science and engineering, particularly in areas related to environmental sustainability and interdisciplinary research, aligning with Saudi Arabia's priorities.
Professor Ling Shao, Executive Vice President and Provost of MBZUAI, has been elected an IEEE Fellow. This honor recognizes his contributions to computer vision and representation learning. The IEEE Fellowship is a prestigious distinction given to select IEEE members. Why it matters: This recognition highlights the growing prominence of MBZUAI and its faculty in the international AI research community.