Hommood Alrowais is a Ph.D. student based in the department of electrical and computer engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

Alrowais graduated from KAUST in 2010 as part of the University's first graduating class with a master's degree in electrical engineering. His current research is focused on bio-inspired sensors.

"The sensor I am developing is based on the semicircular canal in the inner ear. This tiny organ is responsible for sensing angular rotation in three axes, and it also stabilizes gaze and allows for a smoother reading experience. I envisage my sensor to be integrated into an implantable balance sensor for those who suffer from balance loss in both inner ears," he said.

His most salient piece of advice for current students is to take full advantage of all the opportunities and resources on campus—both academic and personal.

"There are many people on campus who are willing to maximize your potential as a student and as an individual," he noted.

In 2008, Alrowais' father encouraged his son to apply to KAUST. Alrowais was grateful to be accepted, as the University aligned with his hopes for more world-class research opportunities within the Kingdom.

"My time at KAUST led to an immense amount of personal growth and I also switched directions academically," he said. "The University gave me the opportunities to excel at a high level. My research in collaboration with the University of Michigan in the summer of 2010 solidified my love for cross-disciplinary work, physical experimentation and working with my hands. The project also boosted my academic self confidence, and the friendships I developed at KAUST will last me a lifetime. I take pride in the rising academic reputation of KAUST across the globe."