With the right support to kick off her journey, this entrepreneur took her research to market.

Salwa Alzahmi is the founder of the tech startup SPL Co. Ltd, award-winning research scientist and multiple patents holder. Having received her Master’s Degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering from Khalifa University in 2014, she is leading the software engineering research group at the Emirates ICT Innovation Center (EBTIC, established by Etisalat, British Telecom, and Khalifa University, and supported by the ICT Fund). Here, she shares her story of making the jump from researcher to entrepreneur and the challenges in taking her research work to the market.

There is a fire inside that is fuelled by passion and a willingness to solve problems

I have always been passionate about building my own products and addressing new trending market segments in technology, particularly software governance techniques, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing.  I participated in a number of research projects during my studies and even won the UAE IT Challenge Award for Best Educational Application, the Best Master Student Award at Khalifa University and the Khalifa University Research Excellency Award.

After my studies, I joined the workforce, starting as a software engineer for a start-up company, managing enterprise software. Working with smaller private companies that actually develop and deliver projects and with government companies leading the modernization agenda equipped me with vast and relevant hands-on experience.

The journey often starts with unique insights acquired during the early career and an inspiration that keeps you motivated

I had exposure to the struggle and limitations in IT processes and technologies when maintaining outsourced and legacy software systems. This gave me a unique advantage in understanding the gaps and opportunities in current IT systems. Hence, I was confident in my skills and the business opportunity for my research (SPL project). Based on this, I leveraged the output from my research at Khalifa University’s Emirates ICT Innovation Center (EBTIC) to build a successful product that became the foundation for my business.

I was curious about business when I was a researcher because it aligns very well with my goal of supporting the UAE’s growing knowledge economy. The UAE’s futuristic vision of championing the creation of smart government services, artificial intelligence solutions, cutting-edge data analytics, and other futuristic technologies has inspired me to put great effort into building my company. Such home-grown innovation entrenched in technology is exactly aligned with the government’s economic development priorities.

The mindset shift that was needed to move into entrepreneurship

I faced a number of challenges as I entered the entrepreneur space. As a scientist, I used to make decisions based on complete data or information. In contrast, an entrepreneur must have the ability to make decisions—such as starting a company—on incomplete data, and that means taking a risk, particularly when introducing a new technology like SPL that essentially creates a new market segment.

I had to get a basic understanding of the elementary financial aspects involved in business and legal topics such as contracts, liability and intellectual property. However, being a scientist, my research and learning skills helped me navigate the entrepreneurial pathway much faster. Coming from an engineering technology background, learning to put my thoughts into a business-oriented context was one of the most challenging parts. This was critical for enabling me to learn how to explain my business to customers and investors, as well as learn how to define my product’s unique selling points and to position my product in the market.

Global challenges addressed through local technological and business leadership

The UAE is a global leader in digitalization. A huge part of this is related to supporting local corporations to move to the cloud, integrating new forms of technologies that speed up, automate, and improve business. Since these technologies require heavy computational power and storage space, cloud computing is the optimal solution. My start-up, SPL Co., was founded to speed up the process of migrating software systems to the cloud, as this can take a long time and require a lot of resources with the traditional manual approach. Upgrading company-wide software was a challenge due to a lack of documentation and expert guidance. Adding to the complexity, the companies I worked with often lacked the resources and skills to modernize enterprise applications. SPL’s solution can reduce the cost of migration to the cloud by up to 30 percent. It is one of the first tools of its kind that provides an AI model for automatically identifying and composing the part of the system code that should be lifted to the cloud, and assists with micro-service implementation. SPL solution maps out the entire architecture of the software code within hours through the runtime and static code analysis powered by cutting edge artificial intelligence and automation technologies. It reduces the cost of re-architecting the monolithic application by up to 30% and transforms it into a cloud-native architecture.

Getting the right local support to kick-off the journey

Khalifa University, EBTIC and the Khalifa Innovation Center (KIC) helped me along the way. Khalifa University management realized at an early stage the importance of bringing industry and academia together at the research level to realize and accelerate innovation in the UAE. A great example of this is EBTIC, where the SPL project was born. SPLCo is a product of this system, which has provided me with the right platform and infrastructure to build the research foundation of SPL, prototype my solution and productize it with leading industrial partners. After a successful trial with BT in the UK, and the great recognition we got from the local and international communities, I received further support from EBTIC to fund the SPL product development. Through this, I was able to form my great team, Dr. Corrado Mio, Ahmed Sulaiman, Dr. Sid Shakya, and Dr. Ivan Boyd, who have supported me in this journey, along with the support received from EBTIC management, especially Dr. Nawaf Almoosa. EBTIC helped tremendously in developing my entrepreneurial skills, giving me the opportunity to work very closely for three months with an international consultancy firm to build the SPL business case.

Getting the right local support to accelerate the startup journey

The Khalifa Innovation Center (KIC) is a one-of-a-kind center in the UAE, focusing on deep tech start-ups derived from successful research projects conducted in local universities and research centers. The center supports innovation and the knowledge economy of the country, and the incubation program clearly outlined the key steps to develop my business from different perspectives. Coming from an engineering background, learning to put my thoughts in a business-oriented context was a huge benefit. Early intervention by industry professionals through a mentoring program was also vital in supporting the initial development of my start-up.

Digital transformation is a reality that a corporation cannot escape. SPL Co. is here to help overcome the challenges involved in upgrading legacy software and moving companies to the cloud. 

Jade Sterling
Science Writer
29 April 2021

The post Meet the KU Alumna Helping Businesses Modernize appeared first on Khalifa University.

New council members to focus on creating a platform where KU alumni can stay connected with their alma mater

Khalifa University has established the KU Alumni Association, which is being led by a council of five highly accomplished KU alumni.

The alumni leaders represent all Khalifa University legacy institutes (KUSTAR, MI and PI), and a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

The council hopes to nurture a platform where KU alumni are supported, given growth and networking opportunities, and importantly, stay connected to one another. 

Here we introduce the new Council Members with some Q&As that reveal who they are, why they joined the council, and what their plans are for the KU Alumni Association.

Meera Al Mehairi, President, KU Alumni Association

Class of 2015, BSc in Mechanical Engineering

• What is your current position? 

I work as a Senior Inspection Engineer in the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, where my main task is to inspect nuclear power plants. In addition, I was recently given a more strategic role by being appointed as a board member for the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood. KU taught me how to manage time, work under pressure, and get things done no matter what, which are skills that have been essential to my professional development and growth.  

• Why is a KU Alumni Association important? 

It will help facilitate and sustain a mutually advantageous network for KU Alumni and KU community as a whole.

• Why did you want to be a member in the KU Alumni Association Council? 

To give back and enable Alumni to benefit from and contribute to the University community. 

• How will you help and encourage KU alumni to stay connected with their alma mater?

By creating specific initiatives for them, consulting them in our upcoming projects, and engaging them more in the KU community.

Hamad Alaydaroos, Vice President, KU Alumni Association

Class of 2016, BSc in Mechanical Engineering

• What is your profession?

Reactor Operator – Not Licensed / Barakah Youth Council Member in Nawah Energy Company. My job will enable me to be part of achieving the UAE 2021 Vision, Abu Dhabi 2030 Vision. 

• How did KU help you be prepared for this position?

Through taking a minor in Nuclear Engineering, it was a great foundation to prepare me to start my career in the nuclear industry. 

• How will you help and encourage KU alumni to stay connected with their alma mater?

Through developing online and on-campus services that meet the alumni needs. 

Shefaa Mansour, Secretary/Treasurer, KU Alumni Association

Class of 2016, MSc in Water and Environmental

• What do you do for a living?

​I am currently working as a climate change & sustainability consultant at Ernst & Young (EY). Being a consultant is very exciting. My day at the office is never standard. I am constantly working on sustainability projects across different fields and sectors. This includes but is not limited to strategy planning and support, due diligence and scoring of prestigious UAE Awards, sustainability reporting and assurance, and social and environmental impact assessments. 

• Why did you want to be a member of the KU Alumni Association Council? ​

To give back to KU as an institute, demonstrate change and support the students & Alumni by creating a safe space that they can always come back to and guarantee they will be supported. 

• Why is a KU Alumni Association important? 

​It’s important to establish a designated committee that will carry on the legacy of our three institutes, maintaining continuity and building a strong global network. 

• What kind of social events or activities do you have planned for KU Alumni? ​

My focus will be on the social impact of KU, Alumni trainings, networking events, and connecting minds so as to build a global network with all our Alumni everywhere. 

Amna AlHosani, Special Interest Chair, KU Alumni Association

Class of 2014, BSc in Electrical Engineering

• What is your occupation?

I work in ADNOC Onshore as a Reservoir Engineer. It is a branch of petroleum engineering. Basically what I do is to monitor the fluid flow of the hydrocarbon (Oil/ Gas) in our reservoirs during the development and production, in order to obtain the highest economic recovery. 

• Why did you want to be a member in the KU Alumni Association Council?

I consider this as an opportunity to create a platform that rejoins our big family. I wanted to be part of that. As a member of the council, I would like to make that platform reachable for our fellow alumni to seek any help or service, or just to make it simple to rejoin them with their fellow alumni.   

• How will you help and encourage KU alumni to stay connected with their alma mater?

Being in a big family, the alumni association is here to make sure that our fellow alumni who seek help, get the right help and support. We are here to increase their sense of belonging and to provide a digital platform where they can check all our services (technical support, professional support, mentoring support, etc.), social events and annual gatherings. 

• What kind of events or activities do you have planned for KU Alumni?

As we are here to reconnect our fellow alumni, the KU Alumni Association Council has considered options which are applicable with the current situation of Covid-19. We are pleased to work on a couple of initiatives that place KU alumni at the forefront of the local and global community focusing on facilitating a robust and collaborative network. 

Mohamed Al Ghalani, Special Interest Chair, KU Alumni Association

Class of 2017, MSc in Chemical Engineering

• What is your current position at your company and how would you describe what you do?

I currently work as a Sustainability Strategy Specialist for Boeing. My work focuses on achieving the long term goals set by the aviation industry to make aviation more sustainable. This includes sustainable aviation fuels, carbon offsets, operational efficiency and improvise the fuel efficiency of the aircraft through design.  

• How did KU help you be prepared for this position?

My master’s thesis in KU focused on sustainable aviation fuels produced in the UAE from salt tolerant plants that grow in non-arable land. This paved the way for me to make connections with Boeing and eventually land my dream job. 

• Why did you want to be a member in the KU Alumni Association Council?

This is a great opportunity for me to give back my alma mater. KU has provided me with so many opportunities as a student and also as a graduate and I am thankful for that. During my time as a student I also served on the student council as president. 

• Why is a KU Alumni Association important and what are your plans for the Association?

It’s crucial for alumni to stay connected with their colleagues and university after graduation. The alumni association aims to make the voice of alumni heard and to keep them engaged. We have already come up with many plans on what we would like to achieve during our time as council members. Personally I’m looking forward to organizing an alumni dinner event in the near future once circumstances allow. 

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Awarded Paper Demonstrates Key Role of Data Mining to Uncover Job Market Trends in the Region 

A paper written by two Khalifa University graduates, Dr. Abdulla Al Shimmari, PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering, and Dr. Armin Alibasic, PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering, was recognized by the Federal Authority of Human Resources (FAHR) with the H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Award for Best Research in Human Resources – 2019. The award is given to academic research papers related to human resource capital in the UAE that provide innovative suggestions and initiatives that can be adopted and applied in the country.

Dr. Al Shimmari and Dr. Alibasic’s paper, titled “Analyzing the UAE and GCC Job Market Reliability for a Transition from an Oil/Gas-based Energy Economy toward a Renewable Energy Economy,” aims to provide guidance for decision makers, employers, managers, and firms to utilize a standardized dataset of skills and attributes of different occupations to help them access information related to requirements and needs of emerging job markets. The paper was based on the research project “The Economic Impact of Advanced Technology and Automation on the Oil and Gas Sector”, which was conducted collaboratively with MIT.

 “This paper’s findings demonstrate the general usefulness and applicability of data mining methods through the utilization of Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques to uncover job market trends in UAE and GCC energy industries, identifying occupational gaps in terms of supply (syllabuses provided by universities) and demand (jobs available in the market measured through the online job postings),” Dr. Al Shimmari explained.

Although the UAE is setting clear renewable energy-related visions, policies, and regulations to ensure that the country’s transition away from a hydrocarbon-based energy system is smooth, readiness of the UAE’s labor force for the transition is an open question.

“This research contributes toward the enrichment of HR strategy, specifically here in the UAE, through the application of data science methods that enable decisions to be driven from data insights rather than assumptions,” commented Dr. Alibasic.

Both former Khalifa University students are honored to receive such a prestigious award and are proud of what they have achieved.

“It is proof of the high-quality work that is conducted at Khalifa University under the supervision of our valuable professors,” Dr. Alibasic said.  

“I would like to acknowledge the incredible efforts and guidance provided by our research team, especially Dr. Mohammed Atif Omar, Department Head of Engineering Systems and Management. I would also like to acknowledge the great collaboration work which has been done with the research team at MIT,” noted Dr. Al Shimmari.

Dr. Al Shimmari and Dr. Alibasic are continuing their work in data science and machine learning models. They are also working closely with authorities to ensure that the benefits of the research will be applied in the UAE’s human capital development.

Ara Cruz
Creative Writer
24 September 2020

The post PhD Graduates Receive Best Research Recognition from the Federal Authority of Human Resources appeared first on Khalifa University.

When asked what she wants to do in the future, Amna Nasser Abdullah Ali Ahli said she wants to focus on helping to improve the country’s medical sector. 
Amna graduated with a Biomedical Engineering degree with honors at Khalifa University and is currently a medical student at KU, pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. Even during her undergrad days, she has always been interested in medicine. In fact, Amna, together with her teammates Fatima Yousif Alshamsi, Sarah Ismail Alali, and Tamader Omar Alhouqani, under the guidance of Dr. Habiba Alsafar, Associate Professor of Genetics and Molecular Biology and Director of the Center for Biotechnology (BTC), developed the Thyroid-on-a-ChiP device to help people make decisions that can prevent and/or treat thyroid cancer. This innovative device was one of the projects that secured funding and support from the Expo 2020 University Innovation Program (UIP) of Expo Live. 
Thyroid cancer is the third most common cancer type prevalent in the UAE. Amna and her groupmates saw that there is a need for advanced diagnostic tools that will help screen the population and in turn reduce the risk factors that can result in thyroid cancer for patients that are susceptible to this disease. 
“Thyroid-on-a-Chip is a project that I worked on and am still working on with my colleagues at KU. After assessing the need in the UAE and by knowing that thyroid cancer can be caused by environmental factors, we developed a personalized diagnostic tool designed to look for biomedical markers in the human body that indicate if a person is susceptible to developing thyroid cancer. This diagnostic tool is specific to the Emirati/Arab population as we are studying biomarkers in Emirati patients only,” explained Amna. 
“I am so proud of what we have established, and so honored that our project was chosen as one of the top projects presented. And I am very glad that Dubai Expo Live2020 funded our project, because the UAE is developing rapidly, and developing the medical sector is essential to provide a better healthcare for the patients,” she said. 
“I have a biomedical engineering background and I am now studying medicine. This has made health and patient care important to me. If I will work on future projects, it will always combine both my biomedical engineering and medical backgrounds toward finding solutions to help patients and improve the medical sector of the UAE,” Amna revealed. 
Amna admits that KU has been an integral part in helping her achieve her dream. “In my long journey at KU, I can describe it as a place where I can explore all my possible potential and move forward with them. It has made it possible for me to study medicine and make my lifelong dream come true. Also, as KU is ranked as the #1 university in the UAE, it makes me so proud that I get to study here.”
“I am also very lucky to be part of the first batch of the MD program at KU, it is unique and the only one in the country. This program has made it possible for me to continue my journey in medicine.”
Khalifa University’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences offers a four-year Medical Doctor (MD) program that incorporates an innovative curricular design and employs a variety of education strategies that blends problem-based learning and clinical experiences to enable students gain the competencies expected of all physicians. KU’s MD graduates will be fully prepared to enter residency training in any specialty anywhere in the world, with the ultimate goal of being able to seamlessly integrate technology into the delivery of personalized, preventative healthcare.
“I believe KU is very successful in establishing this unique program and it will create physicians who are at the same level of competency with the best and most prestigious medical programs worldwide. I highly appreciate the support our leaders have given this program to make it possible and successful.”
Ara Cruz
Creative Writer
17 August 2020

The post Student Spotlight: Amna Nasser Ahli, Future Doctor Helping Advance the UAE’s Health Sector appeared first on Khalifa University.

Khalifa University’s distinguished world-renowned professors, and its deep commitment to supporting research with real-world applications, drew Dr. Nguyen Van Viet to Khalifa University in 2015.
After completing his BCs degree from Vietnam and his MSc degree from Taiwan, Dr. Viet came completed KU’s PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering with a focus in Mechanical Engineering in 2019. A few months later he took up a postdoctoral position at the University, so he could continue his research in smart materials and energy harvesting. 
He says his decision to continue at KU post-graduation in a postdoctoral appointment was a no-brainer. 
“Being able to continue the research work I did as a PhD student, but at a deeper level, while further developing my research skills, accruing additional publications, and working with KU’s world-class faculty, is a unique opportunity that I didn’t want to pass up,” Dr. Viet shared.
The Vietnam native credits his professors at KU for providing him with the necessary guidelines, motivation, and engineering skills needed to overcome complex challenges and successfully complete his PhD work.
“The research environment at Khalifa University is like nothing else in the country. Researchers here collaborate with one another, and have access to state-of-the-art research facilities that make running large-scale experiments possible,” he said.
Currently, under the supervision of Associate Professor Dr. Wael Zaki, Dr. Viet develops constitutive models — which are mathematical models that describe the mechanical properties of a material — for 3D printed shape memory alloys (SMAs). A shape-memory alloy is a special kind of material that can “remember” its shape, so it can be deformed when cold, but will then return to its pre-deformed shape when heated.  SMAs have numerous applications, including in medical devices like surgical tools, in aerospace components like rockets, in robotics like robot fingers, and more. 
Dr. Viet studies the mechanical structure of 3D printed SMAs in order to identify and analyze the influence of microscopically tiny ‘voids,’ or holes, that appear on the structure during service. These voids can pose challenges to the structural integrity of the SMAs, as the volume of the voids evolve when loads are applied on the structures. Thus finding a way to be able to model behavior of 3D printed SMAs, including void evolution, is a key aim of Dr. Viet’s research. 
“During my PhD studies, I focused my research in the area of solid mechanics. Initially, I worked on mathematical modeling of nanomaterials, and the design of and mathematical modeling for sustainable energy harvesters from wind and ocean waves based on piezoelectric effect. This research was supervised by Dr. Quan Wang. Afterwards, I worked on the development of mathematical models for energy harvesting based on smart materials, such as shape memory alloy and piezoelectric materials. This research was supervised by Dr. Wael Zaki and Dr. Rehan Umer.”
Dr. Viet’s research resulted in 17 original research papers in non-open access journals in the mechanical engineering field, in which he was the first author. All were published in Q1 journals, which represent the top 25% of journals in his field.  He also presented his research at international conferences in the US numerous times. 
“To get these works published in Q1-journals, we created novel and innovative research ideas that could be applied practically and developed into novel solutions capable of overcoming the challenges that emerged from such ideas.”
While conducting his own research is his current focus, Dr. Viet is eager to encourage the next generation of scientists to pursue their research interests. He believes that it is students who will shape the world’s future, which is why he hopes to take the skills and knowledge he’s gained at KU and become a professor one day, so he can pass on the knowledge, and help nurture the learning and development of future scientists.
To the current students of Khalifa University, and his own future students, he shares some words of wisdom:
“Humans, especially our brains, are much more powerful than we can imagine. Our potential is unlimited. Therefore, stay motivated, hardworking, and collaborative. Push yourself to the limit, and keep asking yourself for solutions while your body is being energized – for example, while you are walking – every day. If you do, you are going to receive wonderful answers from your powerful brain.” 
Erica Solomon
Senior Editor
14 June 2020

The post ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: From PhD to Postdoc: Why a Khalifa University Alumnus Chose to Continue his Groundbreaking Research at the Country’s Top University appeared first on Khalifa University.

Alumna Shefaa Mansour, Class of 2017 MSc in Water and Environmental Engineering graduate, is applying the skills and knowledge she gained as a student at Masdar Institute at Khalifa University at her dream job at Ernst & Young (EY) as a Climate Change & Sustainability Consultant. 

“Working at EY is an opportunity of a lifetime. I owe where I am today to Masdar Institute at Khalifa University. They put so much effort into forging strategic partnerships and relationships with organizations like EY, to give their students real-world, hands-on experiences,” Shefaa shared. 

For the past three years, Shefaa has worked as a consultant with EY MENA’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services Team. She helps companies understand the risks and opportunities arising from climate change and sustainability issues. Her work is especially important in light of recent climate change reports that reveal how climate change is accelerating at a faster rate than previously thought, and how critical it is to take urgent action to avert dangerous global temperature increases.

“Many of the skills I gained at Masdar Institute have supported me in my career at EY. This includes research and communication skills as well as learning to work in a multi-cultural environment in a comfortable and respectable manner.

“EY is truly an exceptional organization, especially in terms of how they are protecting their employees and their wellbeing during the coronavirus crisis,” she said.

In 2018, EY sent Mansour and her colleagues on a hike to Mount Kilimanjaro. She described it as an “absolute dream and an experience of a lifetime.” This was part of a personal leadership and development exercise organized by EY in order to promote and install team building as a core principle within its people. 

Among her most notable experiences at EY, is the time she visited a school for people of determination. EY provided the community of low-income students with computers to support their education. 

“I considered this experience as one of my biggest accomplishments.”

Erica Solomon
Senior Editor
10 June 2020

The post Alumni Spotlight: Advising on Sustainability at Dream Job appeared first on Khalifa University.

KU Postdoc and 2017 Masdar Institute PhD graduate, Dr. Aamna Al Shehhi, has spent the last two years pursuing her postdoctoral fellowship at MIT, where she is applying data analytics for drug repositioning and early detection of serious diseases.

She is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning to screen drugs that can delay dementia and spot early-stage tumors in two separate research projects with leading researchers at MIT, Harvard, Imperial College London, and Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research.

Dr. Al Shehhi is an Emirati PhD graduate who was accepted into KU’s new postdoctoral study abroad program, which funds qualified PhD graduates to pursue their postdoctoral fellowships abroad. The aim of the program is to prepare and equip Emirati PhDs with the skills and know-how to become highly qualified faculty at Khalifa University.

In the first project, Dr. Al Shehhi is screening a range of drugs to identify those that could potentially be used to delay the onset of dementia in patients with diabetes.

“Dementia is an insidious, progressive, and degenerative neurodegenerative diseases. It destroys normal brain functionality, such as memory access and decision making, because of the overabundance of tau neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid-beta plaques in the brain,” Dr. Al Shehhi explained.

Patients with diabetes are particularly prone to developing dementia since diabetes is associated with increased dementia risk by 60 percent. Unfortunately, there is a high rate of failure in dementia drug development, with drug candidates having a 99 percent failure rate.

This high failure rate has motivated researchers like Dr. Al Shehhi to use a data-driven approach to investigate the potential of repurposing ‘old’ drugs that show promise as medicines that could delay the onset of cognitive impairment in the diabetic population.

She is using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) – an electronic health records database in the UK – to screen different drugs to identify the ones that can be repurposed to delay dementia’s risk and its progression in the patients with diabetes.

In her second project, Dr. AlShehhi is working with researchers from the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research to build models programmed with Machine Learning and Deep Learning algorithms that can detect early-stage cancer.

“Because no single biomarker, or layer of genomic data, can provide the whole information necessary to detect and predict the behavior of tumors, our model uses multi-level genomic information obtained from sequencing of plasma samples,” Dr. Al Shehhi explained.

The model is programmed to identify the presence of cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), which is DNA that is released from cancerous cells and tumors into the blood when they die. “ctDNA can provide a general portrait of the tumor, monitor tumor response to therapy and discover early resistance mutations,” Dr. Al Shehhi said.

For the early-stage cancer, it is challenging to distinguish tumor mutations (ctDNA) from a healthy individual’s own DNA mutations. For this reason, the team is focusing on increasing model sensitivity and specificity at this stage. “Being able to distinguish between the ctDNA produced by early-stage tumors, and the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) produced by white blood cells is critical to be able to develop interventions, and improve cancer management and patient treatment.”

Dr. Al Shehhi says that her experience as a PhD student at Masdar Institute prepared her for a postdoctoral fellowship at one of the world’s leading universities.

Her MIT fellowship has enriched her academic and research capabilities and increased her self-confidence. She served as a teaching assistant for a graduate-level course at MIT and delivered several lectures about Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. She hopes to get the opportunity to make pedagogical changes in existing courses at KU, to reflect MIT’s methods.

She also learned first-hand the importance of collaboration in research.

“Being a part of a multi-disciplinary team of medical doctors, bioinformatics, statisticians, and computer scientists helps me to recognize the value of tackling the problems from various perspectives,” Dr. AlShehhi shared.

“I am proud to be the first Emirati postdoctoral accepted at MIT for two years. The experience has enhanced my academic capabilities and has greatly enriched and expanded my current knowledge. I hope to put the knowledge and skills I’ve gained over the years to use and give back to the UAE by contributing to the development of new innovations and the next generation of highly qualified engineers and researchers.”

Erica Solomon
Senior Editor
4 March 2020

The post Data for Good: A KU Postdoctoral Fellow’s journey at MIT to impact the healthcare sector through data analytics appeared first on Khalifa University.

Dr Nazek El Atab’s Work on Nanomaterials-Based Memory Devices Selected to be Among Portraits of 23 Significant Women Contributors

The research works of Dr Nazek El-Atab, an alumni of Khalifa University’s Masdar Institute, is being featured at the 2019 UNESCO Remarkable Women in Technology Exhibition along with 22 other leading women contributors and innovators.

From quantum physicists to artificial intelligence experts, the exhibition celebrates 23 women in a wide range of technological fields, divided into three groups – pioneers, leaders and influencers. The portrait of Dr El-Atab’s work on nanomaterials-based memory devices was selected in the ‘Leaders’ group, and is being showcased in Paris until 31 March.

In its citation, UNESCO said the exhibition presents the portraits of 23 women who “have made significant contributions to one of the most impactful sectors of our time and made their mark in a field in which women are typically under-represented. Their career paths are an inspiration to women and girls all over the world to take the leap into impactful technology careers and use their skills for sustainable development.”

Dr El-Atab said she felt extremely honored to have been selected for the 2019 UNESCO ‘Remarkable Women in Technology Exhibition. She said: “It is absolutely delightful to receive recognition for my work. Also, by shedding more light on my research and profile in this exhibition, I hope that more women and girls will be motivated to work in STEM fields in which women are usually under-represented.”

She added: “Khalifa University’s Masdar Institute paved the way for my success by providing me with access to state-of-the-art laboratories and cleanroom facilities in addition to a  providing me with a strong technical background. Also, this would not have been possible without the support and guidance from my PhD advisor, Dr. Ammar Nayfeh.

Dr El-Atab’s faculty advisor Dr Ammar Nayfeh, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said: “I would like to congratulate Dr Nazek El-Atab on being selected for the UNESCO Remarkable Women in Technology Exhibition. She did remarkable research as a PhD student at Masdar Institute, now part of Khalifa University.  She has distinguished herself with scientific research and publication, and is a great ambassador for women in science. We are all proud of Dr El-Atab’s achievements.”

International honor is not new to Dr El-Atab, who was selected for the 2017 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science (FWIS) Rising Talent Award for the African and Arab region. She was among 15 international female researchers to have won the award, when she received €15,000 (AED58,700) for her research that focused on fabricating non-volatile, low-power memory devices with enhanced performance. The women were awarded for their contribution to quantum physics, physical sciences and astrophysics.

That year, His Excellency Michel Aoun, President of Lebanon, and His Excellency Saad Hariri, Prime Minister of Lebanon, honored Dr. El-Atab, for winning the 2017 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science (FWIS) Rising Talent Award for the African and Arab region.

Earlier Dr El-Atab was also one of the four recipients of the 2015 L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science (FWIS) Middle East Fellowships, which included a €20,000 (AED78,500) grant towards her research. She had used part of the fellowship money to present her research at the IEEE Nanotechnology Conference in Japan in 2016. Dr El-Atab also used the monetary award to conduct research at Stanford University, US.

Dr El-Atab is looking forward to become a successful faculty, working on impactful research projects related to futuristic electronics, contributing to the society, while inspiring and encouraging more women to pursue careers in STEM areas.

News Writer

18 March 2019

The post UNESCO Selects Alumni’s Research for ‘2019 Remarkable Women in Technology Exhibition’ in Paris appeared first on Khalifa University.

Set to Graduate in Fall 2019, Tawaddod Alkindi Weathers Icy Conditions to be Part of First Solar Panel System Installation near Antarctic Circle

A Khalifa University Material Science and Engineering Graduate, Tawaddod Alkindi, has become the first student to complete her internship at the Casey research station that is part of the Australian Antarctic station, located on Vincennes Bay in the Windmill Islands, just outside the Antarctic Circle.

Alkindi had the opportunity to participate in the installation of 105 solar panels and three inverters that is expected to provide 30 KiloWatts of power to the Casey research station’s power grid, which is the first solar power array at an Australian Antarctic research station. The array will help reduce the consumption and storage costs of diesel fuel during the summer month when the location receives nearly eight hours sunshine per day. The Casey research station opened in 1988 to support scientific programs in Antarctica.

A large number of scientific programs are supported in and around Casey, including an international collaboration project studying the bedrock geology and overlying East Antarctic ice sheet. The project partners include Khalifa University of Science and Technology, the Australian government and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar). The project aims to enhance scientific understanding of the effects of global warming and climate change on the polar continent.

Alkindi said: “It was great to see the team at the station actively implementing solutions to address global climate change and environmental issues, and more importantly they are working in remote and not-so-remote locations to implement innovative solutions.”

Her internship days were filled with visits to various sections of the research station. She added: “On some days, I would visit mechanical workshops, maintenance facilities, water purification facility, remediation site, powerhouse, survival tools store, and the solar power system. But during inclement weather conditions, I would tour inside the accommodation building, where I learned about the heating/cooling systems.”

Alkindi believes it was an enriching experience as one could always meet someone from a different culture, especially during the meals. She found this time very good for sharing with others the culture of the UAE and the government’s commitment to empower Emirati youth and support women in all fields.

She said: “Meal time was my favorite because I had the pleasure to talk to different people from other cultures. It was also inspiring to hear the dreams and experience of each person I met, and get myself transported to a different part of the world.”

Her learning about the Antarctic weather continued when she participated in an outdoor survival training and learned navigation skills including the use of map, compass, and GPS, to reach the survival camp. During the training, she had to wear three layers of clothes and thermals provided by the Australian Antarctic division in addition to special types of boots, socks, and gloves.

She added: “We hiked for 10km carrying a backpack weighing 10kg with boots weighing another 2.5 kg, in harsh weather conditions and wind speeds of 42 knots under heavy snow fall.”

It was during those hikes with her Casey colleagues that she was able to watch the penguins. But more importantly, waking up at 2:30am, she could view the Aurora Australis, the incredibly captivating atmospheric lightshow, which is the Southern cousin to the Northern Lights.

Associate Professor Dr. Daniel Choi said: “As Tawaddod AlKindi’s former academic advisor, I am very proud that she has completed her internship at the Casey research station on Vincennes Bay in the Antarctic. Tawaddod has been always interested in global issue of sustainability in energy and challenging herself to resolve the issues while she was studying MSc at Khalifa University. Her achievements from this internship are sure to be a good example for other Emirati young leaders.”

As a Khalifa University Material Science and Engineering student, set to graduate in Fall 2019, Alkindi wanted to give due consideration to environmental and sustainable aspects before taking up any project. For her Master’s thesis, her main target was to reduce materials waste and costs and search for alternative solutions, preserve more of the materials in the environment and stick to environment-friendly materials.

Moreover, her syllabus at Khalifa University included courses related to sustainability, renewable energy, and advanced technologies, which provided a solid foundation and helped her to better understand the various projects in Antarctica and their objectives. She added: “This indeed has increased my awareness and made me want to contribute even more towards any project or activity that would positively impact any part of the world.”

Through her Master’s thesis, Alkindi has introduced a new cell architecture for Li ion batteries to help solve the challenges related to battery weight. Her laboratory results have proved that macro-porous cathode electrodes are promising for battery light-weighting. She has presented her work at the Materials Research Society (MRS) Conference – Fall 2018 meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, and has submitted a research paper to Springer’s Electronic Materials Letters.

News Writer
04 April 2019

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Mechanical Engineering Graduate Sara Almahri and Aerospace Engineering Graduate Hind Amin Prove Industry-Ready Skills at Boeing

Two Khalifa University alumni have successfully contributed to three patents each in collaboration with others at The Boeing Company, where they interned for more than 18 weeks as part of an internship program sponsored by Mubadala Development Company.

BSc in Mechanical Engineering graduate Sara Almahri and BSc in Aerospace Engineering graduate Hind Saeed Ahmad Mohd Amin were among 12 students selected by Boeing from a group of 30 shortlisted by Mubadala. They had to go through a two-stage interview process to ensure their place in the final list.

Almahri spent Fall 2016 at the Colorado School of Mines and graduated from Khalifa University in July 2018. After her graduation, she spent four weeks at Boeing Everett preparing and training on different programs such as computer-aided three-dimensional interactive application (CATIA) and ENOVIA – a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software with a broad portfolio of technical and business applications. These first four weeks prepared Al Amahri for the two rotations she underwent at Boeing’s Design Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering departments, where she completed her 18-week internship.

Amin, who was also part of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the Colorado School of Mines, completed her engineering internship at Boeing’s South Carolina facility, where she worked to support the production of the 787 aircraft program.

Amin said: “All of the projects are tools that we have designed upon the request of mechanics who build the aircraft. The tools make it easier for the mechanics to perform a certain operation, which in turn reduces the manufacturing time and results in substantial savings for the company.”

Almahri described the internship at Boeing as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She said: “I learned about the different aircraft programs that Boeing operates and designs. I worked specifically on the 787 program, a new aircraft that is made mostly of composite material unlike other aircraft in the world that are made out of aluminum.”

She has submitted three patents, which include Fuel Tank Pressure Test, Fastener Support Tool, and Caliper Protective Cover. These patents have also resulted in substantial savings for Boeing.

Almahri said: “I was placed for seven weeks in Design Engineering and the rest of the seven weeks in Manufacturing Engineering. I worked on design changes that reduce the time and cost at the first department. Later, I spent most of my time in the factory talking to mechanics and technicians to improve specific processes which will improve the manufacturing process.”

Both alumni are deeply grateful to Khalifa University for laying the foundation that enabled them to intern with an international industrial leader.

Amin said: “My studies at Khalifa University gave me the essential basics in Aerospace Engineering. However, I believe that in order to enhance our knowledge in a particular area, it is important to put the theories into practice. This is where programs such as the Boeing internship and the REU internship allowed me to gain a better understanding of my field of study, while Khalifa University provided me the basic knowledge to build upon.”

Almahri agreed, adding: “The four years I spent at Khalifa University were very productive, as I learnt all the technical skills needed to become a mechanical engineer. Khalifa University supports students and makes sure that enough opportunities are provided to students to support them in hands-on as well as extra-curricular activities. Those activities help develop our communication skills which also enable us to become successful engineers.”

Clarence Michael
News Writer
10 January 2019

The post Alumni File Patents through Mubadala-Boeing Internship Program appeared first on Khalifa University.

Mohamed Al Harbi First Emirati to Join FANR with Nuclear Engineering Master’s Degree

Khalifa University (KU) alumnus and Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) Specialist in Resident Inspection Mohamed Al Harbi has won the fifth cycle of the Mohamed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award.

He was among the first batch of Master’s graduates in Nuclear Engineering from the Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR) in 2013, which merged with two other universities to become KU in 2017, and went on to become the first Emirati with a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering to join FANR.

“The Mohamed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award would not have been possible for me without the kind of quality education I received from Khalifa University. During my studies, I gained knowledge, skills and the right attitude that have helped me to become the man I am today. For this, I thank my beloved Khalifa University,” Al Harbi proudly shared.

Having won the FANR Director-General Medal for the ‘Best Field Employee’ in 2018, Al Harbi was nominated from FANR for the fifth cycle of Mohamed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award. After a rigorous process of selection, assessments and interviews, he was selected for the award from among 40 other competitors across various UAE federal entities.

He said: “Reaching the final stage of nomination and winning the medal required courage, huge effort, creativity, passion and agility, and you only succeed if you sustain till the last moment. By winning this award I have achieved a significant milestone in my personal and career life, and I am sure I still have more to achieve and contribute to the UAE’s vision to become among the best countries in the world.”

Al Harbi joined FANR in 2012 as Nuclear Security Engineer and was promoted in 2017 to Specialist Resident Inspector at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. He has successfully played his role in the implementation of nuclear safety-related inspections including construction inspection and test plan (CITP), serving as subject matter expert in special inspections, and implementing FANR’s Emergency Response Organization (FERO) Nuclear Assessment Team procedures and processes.

As a Master’s student, Al Harbi has published three scientific papers in respected scientific journals on his thesis ‘Quantitative Evaluation of Operator’s Situation Awareness during Nuclear Power Plant Transients using Eye Tracking System’. He also presented his study results to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, during his visit to the Khalifa University Campus.

Al Harbi wants to pursue his PhD in Nuclear Engineering, probably by 2020, but only after gaining practical and hands-on experience from his residency at Barakah.

He added: “My research area is related to the human factor in a nuclear power plant’s main control room. Clearly, research in this area will help the UAE project and the country in the advanced main control room research areas, similar to advanced nuclear countries.”

Al Harbi completed the Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GENII) course at Khalifa University back in 2013, and was invited as a speaker at the University for the NUCE614 and IICS691 classes.

From a personal perspective, he would like to join the ‘UAE National Experts Program. “This will help me achieve all of my future goals by developing a new set of leadership skills which in return would enable FANR to achieve its core values, vision and mission,” remarked Al Harbi.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
21 January 2019

The post Alumnus Wins Mohamed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award appeared first on Khalifa University.

Local and International Companies Attend to Recruit Upcoming Khalifa University Graduates, Attract Interns, and Explore Research Collaborations

The Khalifa University Main Campus attracted some 50 leading government organizations and international corporate majors who were on a talent-hunt to recruit the best students with diverse skill sets during the annual Career Fair 2019 on 23 January.

Local organizations including the Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC), Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Etisalat, du, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC), the UAE Ministry of Education, Etihad Airways, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, DP World, and Raytheon Emirates, participated in the fair, which was organized by the KU Career Services department.

Major international companies that were part of the event included Schlumberger, Diehl Group CISCO, Samsung Engineering, Siemens, SNC-Lavalin, and ABB Industries. The annual event aims to establish links between upcoming graduates and potential employers.

These local and international companies and governmental organizations were attracted to KU’s annual Career Fair due to its top international ranking and the caliber of its graduates. At present, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Subject Rankings for Engineering & Technology, has placed KU among the top 200, out of a total of 900 institutions assessed across more than 70 countries. KU shares the top spot with 11 other select international institutions in the ‘industry income’ pillar, which signifies knowledge transfer, according to the 2019 THE World University Rankings.

The Career Services department organizes this event each year to give KU students the opportunity to identify appropriate placements for future internships and raise their awareness about various career opportunities in today’s competitive job market. At the same time, the event also opens opportunities for organizations and companies to contribute to the Emiratization efforts by giving them access to top-class Emirati students, while seeking the right candidates who have the potential to become future leaders. The Career Fair also offers KU faculty an opportunity to interact with organizations for collaborative research and scholarship prospects.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
23 January 2019

The post KU Career Fair 2019 Attracts Leading Government and Corporate Recruiters appeared first on Khalifa University.