Meet KAUST prospective student: Matheus Vinícius Medeiros de Souza

About

-By Taruna Rapaka

Matheus Vinícius Medeiros de Souza is a 24-year-old electrical engineering graduate from the city of Natal, Brazil. Matheus first came to KAUST as a visiting student in 2019 and was instantly impressed by the university’s research facilities. His outstanding internship experience was the catalyst in his decision to choose KAUST as the next step in his academic career. Matheus will join KAUST in the fall of 2020, as an M.S./Ph.D. candidate in the KAUST Computational Imaging Group under the supervision of Professor Wolfgang Heidrich.

Let’s learn more about him in his own words.

What was your main subject during your undergraduate degree? Why did you choose it?

The main subject during my undergraduate degree was electrical engineering. I chose it so I could understand how electrical machines, communications systems, and electronic devices work; and to develop (these) things I have always been curious about.

Why have you chosen to study an M.S./Ph.D. at KAUST?

Because I had an amazing experience here as a visiting student. The facilities at KAUST are awe-inspiring, and the university provides the perfect environment for research.

When did your interest in computer science arise? What are your research interests?

Since I was 15 years old, I have been curious about coding and how powerful it could be. While studying electrical engineering, I realized I would like to go deeper into computer vision and a master’s/Ph.D. in computer science would give me the tools to reach this goal. My research interests are computer vision, machine learning, and developing hardware for these purposes.

What are your hobbies? What are you passionate about?

I enjoy reading, watching TV and movies, chatting with my friends and family, and playing video games. Since I was a child, I enjoyed playing video games. I am enthusiastic about the possibility of being in a completely different reality, and all the technology applied to make the games more realistic. I also love watching documentaries and reading about geography: how the countries arose, how the borders were established, and the history behind these things.

What is your future outlook? Who will be your supervisor at KAUST?

I want to help develop technology capable of changing my environment and impacting people’s lives. My supervisor will be Wolfgang Heidrich.

Can you give a piece of advice to students who plan to pursue a Master's/Ph.D. at KAUST?

Read about KAUST; search for a research group that will fit you; talk with current students about their experience; and apply!