KAUST alumnus Dr. Abdul-Lateef Haji-Ali receives prestigious Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers
KAUST alumnus Abdul-Lateef Haji-Ali receives Humboldt Fellowship for advances in stochastic modeling
About
Dr. Abdul-Lateef Haji-Ali, a distinguished graduate of KAUST’s Applied Mathematics and Computational Science (AMCS) program, has been awarded the Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers. It marks the first time a KAUST alumnus has received the prestigious honor from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
The fellowship supports internationally recognized postdoctoral fellows and experienced researchers in conducting long-term research in Germany and fosters global collaboration through its alumni network.
Haji-Ali, now an associate professor at the Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences and the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt University in the United Kingdom, believes his expertise in developing efficient sampling methods for stochastic models was a key factor in the award. He has pioneered methods that significantly reduce computation time while maintaining accuracy, leaving a lasting impact on both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of uncertainty quantification.
He began his fellowship on July 1, 2025, and is currently collaborating with Professor Raúl Tempone, Chair for Uncertainty Quantification at RWTH Aachen University, to develop new techniques for simulating large particle systems.
Together, the researchers are advancing sampling methods for interacting particle systems modelled by McKean-Vlasov stochastic differential equations, which have applications in diverse fields, including molecular dynamics, crowd modelling, and machine learning.
A solid foundation for future success
Haji-Ali’s time at KAUST laid the foundation for a prolific research career that bridges applied mathematics, computational statistics, and numerical analysis. His work continues to shape international collaborations, including joint projects with KAUST in rare-event simulation, stochastic optimal control, and high-dimensional uncertainty quantification.
The 2016 Ph.D. graduate completed his doctoral research in applied mathematics under the supervision of Professor Tempone, founder of KAUST’s Stochastic Numerics Research Group.
“My years at KAUST were foundational for my career,” he said. “The vibrant research culture, the support of my supervisor Professor Tempone, and the collaborative environment gave me the tools and confidence to push the boundaries of uncertainty quantification. The friendships and collaborations I built there continue to inspire and shape my research today.”
Haji-Ali views his latest accolade as both a personal achievement and a recognition of the high-quality training and opportunities provided by KAUST.
“I am honored to be the first KAUST alumnus to receive the Humboldt Fellowship for Experienced Researchers. The fellowship marks an exciting new chapter in my journey, giving me the unique opportunity to build on the strong foundation in uncertainty quantification I developed at KAUST and to take my research to new levels.
“I hope my fellowship will open the door for more collaborations between KAUST, Germany, and the U.K., and will inspire young researchers from the region to pursue ambitious international research paths.”
Professor Tempone added, “Abdul-Lateef’s recognition by the Humboldt Foundation is a proud moment for KAUST. His success illustrates the world-class caliber of our graduates and the lasting impact of the research environment we strive to cultivate here.”
