News

April 2023

• 

  Simulating a secure future

  1 min read · Mon, Apr 3 2023

  News

  Next-generation silicon chips based on spintronics could improve global cybersecurity.

March 2023

• 

  Guidelines for Cellular Deconvolution in Spatial Transcriptomics

  1 min read · Thu, Mar 30 2023

  News

  A recent Nature paper titled "A comprehensive benchmarking with practical guidelines for cellular deconvolution of spatial transcriptomics" by Haoyang Li, Juexiao Zhou, Zhongxiao Li, Siyuan Chen, Xingyu Liao, Bin Zhang, Ruochi Zhang, Yu Wang, Shiwei Sun, and Prof. Xin Gao evaluates 18 existing cellular deconvolution methods used in spatial transcriptomics using 50 real-world and simulated datasets. To measure accuracy, robustness, and usefulness, the authors compare the approaches using various metrics, resolutions, spatial transcriptomics technologies, spot numbers, and gene numbers. The
• 

  Professor Marc Genton receives the Royal Statistical Society’s Barnett Award for 2023

  1 min read · Wed, Mar 29 2023

  Spotlight News

  KAUST Distinguished Professor of Statistics Marc Genton has received the Royal Statistical Society’s (RSS) 2023 Barnett Award.
• 

  KAUST Ph.D. student’s paper recognized by the American Statistical Association

  1 min read · Mon, Mar 27 2023

  News Spotlight

  KAUST Ph.D. statistics student Paolo Victor Redondo was selected as a runner-up in the American Statistical Association’s (ASA) Statistics in Imaging Section 2023 Distinguished Student Paper Award Competition
• 

  Reduced speckle on the horizon

  1 min read · Mon, Mar 20 2023

  News

  A simple modification of a semiconductor laser's shape can improve the quality of its beam. Mar 19, 2023
• 

  Resident population density-inspired aerial network deployment

  1 min read · Mon, Mar 20 2023

  News

  Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to enhance network coverage has proven a variety of benefits compared to terrestrial counterparts. One of the commonly used mathematical tools to model the locations of UAVs is stochastic geometry (SG). CTL researchers considered an inhomogeneous Poisson point process (PPP)-based model for the locations of the users that captures the degradation in the density of active users as users move away from the town center. The deployment of aerial vehicles following the same inhomogeneity of the users was proposed to maximize the performance. In addition, a multi
• 

  Detecting Tiny Tremors For Big Impact

  1 min read · Wed, Mar 8 2023

  News

  Islam Ashry recently undertook a field trial in north-western Saudi Arabia that is likely to have implications for the Kingdom’s date industry. Ashry, a research scientist at KAUST, spent a week collecting data from an optical fiber wrapped around many date palms at TADCO farm in Tabuk. The aim was to detect what one Saudi official called a hidden and deadly enemy. The red palm weevil ( Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) arrived in Saudi Arabia from tropical Asia in the 1980s, most likely on a cargo ship. This tiny beetle has had a long reach, spreading to Europe, North Africa, the Caribbean and
• 

  Double treatment stores salmon and strawberries for later

  1 min read · Tue, Mar 7 2023

  News

  Combining UV sterilization with vacuum sealing significantly extends the shelf-life of a variety of foods.
• 

  A little competition improves statistics

  1 min read · Mon, Mar 6 2023

  News

  A competition on spatial statistics showcases the global state of the art in analyzing vast spatial datasets.
• 

  The KAUST Microelectronics Winter Camp: Inspiring a passion for research

  1 min read · Mon, Mar 6 2023

  News

  The KAUST Microelectronics Winter Camp (MEWC) research program for 2023 has recently concluded, offering technical workshops to undergraduate and master's students worldwide to participate in microelectronics research. Hands-on experience was provided with state-of-the-art on-campus tools, giving participants insights into the exciting world of microelectronics research.
• 

  Professor Elhoseiny elected as a Senior Member of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence

  1 min read · Wed, Mar 1 2023

  News

  KAUST Assistant Professor of Computer Science Mohamed H. Elhoseiny has been elected as a senior member of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI). Elhoseiny was recognized for his longstanding contributions to the field of artificial intelligence and long-term membership in the AAAI.

February 2023

• 

  Alumni in focus: Abdullah AlGziwi

  1 min read · Sun, Feb 26 2023

  News

  Computer science

  Abdullah AlGziwi, a visiting student under Professor Xin Gao's supervision, was recently awarded the “Second Place Grand Award” at the Saudi National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity. He presented his research project on “A Novel exosome-encapsulated-miRNA-based machine learning model for multiple cancer prediction and prognosis”.
• 

  KAUST alumna Wedyan Babatain named MENA Innovator Under 35

  1 min read · Tue, Feb 21 2023

  News

  Portrait of KAUST alumna and Saudi native Weydan Babatain (Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, '22), recipient of the MIT Technology Review Arabia's "MENA Innovators Under 35 (IU35)" for 2022. Photo: KAUST
• 

  Dr. Islam Ashry named a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors

  1 min read · Thu, Feb 16 2023

  News

  Dr. Islam Ashry, a research scientist based in the KAUST Photonics Laboratory, has been named to the National Academy of Inventors’ 2023 class of Senior Members. Ashry will be officially inducted as a Senior Member at the 12th NAI Annual Meeting, which will take place from June 26-27, 2023, in Washington D.C., U.S.
• 

  A machine that learns to learn

  1 min read · Thu, Feb 2 2023

  News

  A neural network that can learn its own learning algorithm opens the door to self-improving artificial intelligence.

January 2023

• 

  Professor Markowich elected Fellow of the Institute of Physics

  1 min read · Wed, Jan 18 2023

  News

  By David Murphy KAUST Distinguished Professor of Applied Mathematics and Computational Science Dr. Peter Markowich has been elected as a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP). FInstP is the highest membership level attainable within the Institute of Physics (IOP). According to the IOP, the honor is reserved for those “ with a degree in physics or related subject (or equivalent knowledge gained in the workplace) and who have made a significant impact on their sector. ” The IOP is an international society that fosters the advancement of knowledge, community, career development, and
• 

  KAUST researchers win 2022 International Date Palm Innovative Technology Excellence Prize

  1 min read · Tue, Jan 17 2023

  Awards News

  KAUST researchers Dr. Islam Ashry, Dr. Chun Hong Kang and Professor Boon S. Ooi were part of a team that recently won the 2022 International Date Palm Innovative Technology Excellence Prize from the National Center for Palm and Dates (NCPD).
• 

  Professor Al-Naffouri receives the 2022 Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation Arab Researchers Award

  1 min read · Wed, Jan 4 2023

  Awards News

  KAUST Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Tareq Al-Naffouri, has been awarded the 2022 Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation Arab Researchers Award in the Agriculture and Technology field. The award honors research that significantly contributes to solving local, regional, and global problems.
• 

  KAUST Ph.D. student Rawan Alghamdi wins second prize in IEEE Competition on NTN 

  1 min read · Sun, Jan 1 2023

  Awards News

  By David Murphy The research work of KAUST Ph.D. student Rawan Alghamdi was announced as the runner-up prize winner in the IEEE Competition on Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) Beyond 5G and 6G, as part of the "Connecting the World from the Skies" Forum. The hybrid three-day forum took place simultaneously in Riyadh and online from November 8-10. The event was hosted by the International Telecommunication Union and the Communications, Space & Technology Commission of Saudi Arabia and organized by the IEEE Future Networks Initiative. The forum covered airborne and space-borne communication

December 2022

• 

  KAUST ECE researcher Asmaa Abdallah named 'Innovator Under 35' by MIT Technology Review Arabia

  1 min read · Mon, Dec 26 2022

  News

  Asmaa Abdallah, a postdoctoral research fellow at KAUST Communication and Computing Systems Lab (CCSL), has been named a Leading Innovator under 35 in the MENA region by MIT Technology Review Arabia.
• 

  Streamlining AI to enable DIY models

  1 min read · Thu, Dec 22 2022

  News

  Using artificial intelligence for scientific research across a number of disciplines has led to a new startup based on a powerful online tool, where users automatically generate their own machine-learning models.
• 

  KAUST Commencement 2022 looks to a bright future

  1 min read · Sun, Dec 18 2022

  News

  King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) celebrated its 13th Commencement on a cool, breezy evening, December 16, 2022, among approximately 380 graduating students and a full audience of supportive families, university community members and distinguished guests. This year CBRC saw many student candidates complete their Postdoctoral and Masters Degrees. CBRC congratulates all students on this great achievement and wishes you even more success in the future.
• 

  Gene detectives solve disease mysteries

  1 min read · Sun, Dec 18 2022

  News

  Prof. Arold and Gao presented their research at two high-profile conferences in Riyadh in November 2022; the International Conference on Genomic Medicine and the HIMSS22 Middle East Health Conference & Exhibition. Both researchers underline the importance of such events for discussions with clinicians, healthcare providers and policymakers to help connect their research with the healthcare needs of the country.
• 

  A catalyst for innovation and discovery  

  1 min read · Wed, Dec 14 2022

  News

  The KAUST ECCS workshop brought together a host of international, in-Kingdom and University experts to exchange their expertise. Workshop speakers covered future challenges in designing embedded and cyber-connected systems that can scale efficiently and operate securely and resiliently.
• 

  A new spin on bouncing sound waves

  1 min read · Tue, Dec 13 2022

  News

  Insight into the spinning-induced scattering of sound could help create next-generation acoustic devices using new phonon modes.
• 

  KAUST ECE students win IEEE ComSoc Student Competition prize

  1 min read · Sun, Dec 11 2022

  News

  Research work by KAUST electrical and computer engineering students Abeer Alamoudi and Qi Huang has been selected as the second-prize winner of the 2022 IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) Student Competition "Communications Technology Changing the World."
• 

  KAUST Professor Boon S. Ooi named Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow

  1 min read · Wed, Dec 7 2022

  News

  KAUST Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Boon S. Ooi was recently named as an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow, effective January 1, 2023. Professor Ooi was elected for his "contributions to broadband light emitters and visible light communications," the IEEE stated.
• 

  Simple hardware to defend microgrid attacks

  1 min read · Mon, Dec 5 2022

  News

  cybersecurity hardware security

  An inexpensive piece of hardware integrated with solar panel controllers can protect isolated power networks from cyberattacks.
• 

  KAUST postdoctoral fellow receives Best Poster Award at the Abu Dhabi 6G Summit

  1 min read · Thu, Dec 1 2022

  Awards News

  Nour Kouzayha, a postdoctoral research fellow based in the KAUST Information Science Lab (ISL), recently won the Best Poster Award at the Technology Innovation Institute’s (TII) Abu Dhabi 6G Summit 2022. Dr. Kouzayha received the award for her poster titled "Coverage and Mobility Analysis of Aerial Users in Integrated HAPS-Ground Wireless Networks."

November 2022

• 

  Illuminating the twisting pathway to efficient wireless communications based on light

  1 min read · Wed, Nov 30 2022

  News

  Illuminating the twisting pathway to efficient wireless communications based on light.
• 

  Professor Kazuhiro Ohkawa receives JSAP Outstanding Paper Award

  1 min read · Mon, Nov 28 2022

  News

  KAUST Professor of Electrical Engineering Kazuhiro Ohkawa recently received the Japan Society of Applied Physics (JSAP) Outstanding Paper Award 2022. He will officially receive his award at the JSAP’s annual Spring Meeting in Tokyo in March 2023.
• 

  Professor Huser receives the Abdel El-Shaarawi Early Investigator Award 2022

  1 min read · Sun, Nov 20 2022

  Awards News

  KAUST Associate Professor of Statistics Raphaël Huser has been awarded the Abdel El-Shaarawi Early Investigator (AEEI) Award 2022 from The International Environmetrics Society (TIES), an association of the International Statistical Institute (ISI).
• 

  KAUST SENTRY team wins prestigious CSAW'22 embedded system hacking competition

  1 min read · Sun, Nov 20 2022

  Awards News

  KAUST Ph.D. students from the KAUST Secure Next Generation Resilient Systems (SENTRY) Lab recently won the CSAW Cybersecurity Games & Conference’s (CSAW'22) "Hack My Robot Challenge (HMR)."
• 

  Decision Trees with Hypotheses

  1 min read · Sun, Nov 20 2022

  News

  New book Decision Trees with Hypotheses by Mohammad Azad, Igor Chikalov, Shahid Hussain, Mikhail Moshkov, and Beata Zielosko has been published online.
• 

  Professor Gianluca Setti appointed as the new Dean of the CEMSE Division

  1 min read · Sun, Nov 13 2022

  News Spotlight

  Professor Gianluca Setti, the internationally recognized scientist and Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), has been appointed as the new Dean of the Computer, Electrical, Mathematical Science and Engineering (CEMSE) Division.
• 

  Dedicating cellular infrastructure for aerial users

  1 min read · Thu, Nov 10 2022

  News

  In recent years, aerial transportation has seen unprecedented advances since the terrestrial traffic congestion and the constraints of public transportation infrastructure. To become a reality, it is important to provide a strong and reliable connection for aerial users. However, the current cellular infrastructure is primarily designed to serve ground users with down-tilted antennas. CTL researchers proposed to convert a part of the down-tilted BSs into up-tilted BSs to ensure the coverage of aerial users. The analysis and simulation results evaluated the effectiveness of this novel proposal
• 

  A skewed model for imbalanced health data

  1 min read · Thu, Nov 10 2022

  News

  An asymmetric statistical model provides a better fit for imbalanced data with rare "positives," such as longitudinal health datasets.
• 

  Deep neural networks that “get” spatial dependence

  1 min read · Mon, Nov 7 2022

  News

  A deep-learning technique could offer accurate large-scale predictions in the field of geospatial statistics.
• 

  Professor Wan receives 2022 Rising Stars of Light Award

  1 min read · Sun, Nov 6 2022

  Awards News

  KAUST Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Yating Wan recently received the 2022 Rising Stars of Light Faculty & Postdoc Track - Popescu Winner Award from Light: Science & Applications (LSA).
• 

  Enlightened route to wireless communications

  1 min read · Thu, Nov 3 2022

  Spotlight News

  Smart windows that can polarize sunlight could offer a low energy alternative to Wi-Fi.

October 2022

• 

  KAUST student Zhiyuan Liu wins best poster award at IWN 2022

  1 min read · Mon, Oct 31 2022

  Awards News

  Zhiyuan Liu, a M.S./Ph.D. candidate in the KAUST Advanced Semiconductor Laboratory (ASL) under the supervision of Professor Xiaohang Li, was named a best poster award winner at last month’s International Workshop on Nitride Semiconductors (IWN) 2022.
• 

  Metalens offers superior off-axis focus

  1 min read · Sun, Oct 30 2022

  News

  A flat all-dielectric reflector metalens design could benefit optical imaging, manipulation and communications.
• 

  Becoming a powerhouse of semiconductor expertise

  1 min read · Tue, Oct 25 2022

  News

  advanced semiconductors

  KAUST Compound Semiconductor Weekend brought together a diverse group of experts to discuss the most important research areas of semiconductor technology and the substantial compound semiconductor work done in Saudi Arabia and India.
• 

  A predictive eye on the prize

  1 min read · Sun, Oct 16 2022

  Awards News

  A global weather prediction model built by KAUST researchers has been nominated for the Gordon Bell Prize for outstanding achievements in high-performance computing. The award honors innovative computing in science, engineering and large-scale data analytics, which is used in environmental modeling. “Climate prediction models require the fastest computers in the world,” says Rabab Alomairy, a specialist in optimizing computer models for scientific applications. As part of her Ph.D. at KAUST, she joined a multidisciplinary team led by KAUST faculty David Keyes, which has built ExoGeoStat, a
• 

  BORG team win at the KAUST-NVIDIA GPU Hackathon 2022

  1 min read · Sun, Oct 16 2022

  News

  machine learning ontology artificial intelligence GPU

  Congratulations to Senay Kafkas, Maxat Kulmanov and Fernando Zhapa Camacho of the Bio-Ontology Research Group (BORG) on winning at the KAUST-NVIDIA GPU Hackathon 2022. The 8th edition of the Hackathon on Accelerating Scientific Applications using Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) was held at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), twelve teams of students and researchers enjoyed the opportunity to accelerate their codes in GPU’s under the guidance of expert mentors of NVIDIA, Codee, KAUST Supercomputing Lab (KSL) and KAUST core labs.
• 

  Professor Feron receives two best paper awards at DASC 2022

  1 min read · Tue, Oct 11 2022

  Awards News

  KAUST Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Eric Feron received two best paper awards at this year’s 41st American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)/Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC 2022).
• 

  Appointment of Prof. Xin Gao as Interim Director and Prof. Robert Hoehndorf as Interim Associate Director of CBRC

  1 min read · Mon, Oct 3 2022

  News

  The Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC) is pleased to announce that Professor Xin Gao has assumed the position of Interim Director and Professor Robert Hoehndorf as Interim Associate Director of the CBRC. Both professors assumed their roles on September 15, 2022.
• 

  KAUST M.S./Ph.D. student receives the IEEE Communications Society’s 2022 Andrea Goldsmith Young Scholars Award

  1 min read · Sun, Oct 2 2022

  Awards News Spotlight

  Jia Ye, a M.S./Ph.D. student in the KAUST Communication Theory Lab (CTL) receives the 2022 Andrea Goldsmith Young Scholars Award from the IEEE Communications Society in recognition of her high level of research aptitude in communication theory and engagement in the professional community.

September 2022

• 

  Steering Customized AI Architectures for HPC Scientific Workloads: A Bird of Feather at SC22!

  1 min read · Thu, Sep 15 2022

  News

  machine learning HPC numerical linear algebra artificial intelligence

  Abstract: We explore the possibilities of a hybrid system capable of solving both HPC and AI scientific problems. Such a hybrid architecture combines the synergism between classical HPC platforms and dedicated AI chip systems, which is important due to the computational challenges brought to the fore by massively parallel Exascale systems. We discuss the system functionality, the algorithmic software adaptations, and performance considerations. We present efforts in supporting AI/ML applications in addition to seismic imaging, climate/weather prediction, and computational astronomy on hybrid
• 

  Mixed Feelings About Mixed Precisions: Birds of a Feather at SC22!

  1 min read · Tue, Sep 13 2022

  News

  Mixed Precisions HPC GPU Computing

  Abstract: Come and share your experiences with the state-of-the-art of mixed-precision techniques! By wisely trading off accuracy, we can mitigate data movement overheads and increase performance of applications, including real-time adaptive optics simulations on ground-based telescopes and genome-wide association study for agricultural genomics. No free lunch, however: these optimizations require support from the software/hardware ecosystem and strong numerical validation. For instance, the tile Cholesky factorization is a fundamental matrix algorithm in solving covariance problems that