Meet KAUST prospective student: Waleed Abu Laban

About

-By Taruna Rapaka

Waleed Abu Laban is an electrical engineering graduate who will join KAUST this fall as a M.S./Ph.D. candidate and member of the KAUST Communication and Computing Systems Lab under the supervision of Professor Ahmed Eltawil.

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

My main subject was electrical engineering; I chose it because it’s a vast subject that influences every aspect of our modern lives. Furthermore, I am passionate about topics that transform theoretical science from “paper and ink work” into reality.

Why have you chosen to pursue a M.S./Ph.D. at KAUST?

I chose KAUST because I see my future there, and I could not resist the levels of professionalism present within the University. More importantly, I decided to pursue the M.S./Ph.D. program at KAUST because science does not stop at a certain degree; there are always new concepts to explore.

When did your interest in electrical engineering begin? What are your research interests?

My interest in electrical engineering began in high school.  In high school, I found myself interested in mathematics, physics and programming. So, I started looking for a program that covers and combines these subjects. 

After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I found myself captivated by signal processing and machine learning, which are my research interests.

What do you do in your spare time? What are you passionate about?

I enjoy reading about history, and how people behave as groups. I also enjoy using my programming skills in C++ to simulate experiments, and I like playing video games. 

I am passionate about merging creativity into all aspects of life.

What is your future outlook?

I plan to make unique research achievements that create new fields of interests while solving problems that were thought impossible to solve beforehand.

Can you give a piece of advice to students who plan to pursue a M.S./Ph.D. at KAUST?

I advise all students to be organized and make use of every second they have.