David Murphy

July 2026

• 

  Hang Lu receives 2026 SPIE Optics and Photonics Scholarship

  2 min read · Mon, Jul 13 2026

  Awards News

  Electromagnetics and optoelectronics photonic integrated circuits semiconductor laser VCSEL

  Awarded while Lu was pursuing her Ph.D. at KAUST, the scholarship recognizes her research advancing photonic technologies for communications, imaging and hardware security.
• 

  CEMSE SRSI intern Safeer Ahmad earns second place at Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab Hackathon

  3 min read · Sun, Jul 5 2026

  Awards News

  Biostatistics data science AI digital health

  Safeer Ahmad's AI-powered NeuroDrive, developed through CEMSE research mentorship, earned second place among 2,040 participants from 41 countries at the Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab Hackathon.
• 

  Rabab Alomairy becomes the University’s first Saudi female faculty member in computer science

  4 min read · Wed, Jul 1 2026

  News

  Performance optimization dense linear algebra High Performance Computing

  After earning her M.S. and Ph.D. at KAUST and conducting postdoctoral research at MIT, Rabab Alomairy returns to the University as its first Saudi faculty member in Computer Science, where she will establish the Tuwaiq Intelligent Computing Lab.

June 2026

• 

  KAUST alumna Professor Jing Ren receives the Eurographics Young Researcher Award

  2 min read · Tue, Jun 16 2026

  Awards News

  computer graphics geometry processing

  The award highlights contributions spanning geometry processing, digital fabrication and computer vision.

May 2026

• 

  Dr. Samar Aseeri named among Scientific Computing World’s top computing leaders

  3 min read · Tue, May 26 2026

  Awards News

  scientific computing computational science HPC supercomputing

  Scientific Computing World recognized Aseeri among 75 leaders advancing scientific computing through research, innovation and community engagement.
• 

  Professor Ying Sun receives the 2026 ENVR Distinguished Achievement Award

  3 min read · Sun, May 17 2026

  Awards News

  spatio-temporal statistics environmental applications computational statistics

  Professor Ying Sun has received the 2026 ENVR Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Statistical Association’s Section on Statistics and the Environment.
• 

  How data is transforming transplantation in Saudi Arabia

  3 min read · Thu, May 14 2026

  News

  organ transplantation data science AI for healthcare smart health bioinformatics big data analytics

  Every organ transplant is a race against time. The outcome often hinges on finding a biologically compatible donor at the right time. Success depends on a complex combination of factors: organ quality, timing, patient readiness, logistics, clinical practices and long-term risks. Transplantation medicine relies on care coordination among multidisciplinary providers across institutions and on long-term patient monitoring. Improving data systems plays a crucial role in assessing key performance indicators, ensuring timely transplants and determining which patients benefit most from the organ

April 2026

• 

  KAUST student Saverio Pasqualoni receives ISC Hans Meuer Best Paper Award for leading research on an open-source framework

  3 min read · Sun, Apr 26 2026

  Awards News

  HPC computer networking and systems

  Improving how supercomputers communicate can significantly reduce the time required to train artificial intelligence models. Research led by KAUST M.S./Ph.D. student Saverio Pasqualoni shows that optimizing communication across large-scale systems can cut training time by up to 44%. The research introduces PICO (Performance Insights for Collective Operations), an open-source framework that analyzes and improves communication across large-scale computing systems. The system’s fine-grained profiling, rich metadata collection and automated orchestration break down complex internal algorithmic
• 

  Protecting the systems that power modern life

  4 min read · Tue, Apr 14 2026

  News Research in Focus

  cybersecurity Critical Infrastructure Protection Distributed Systems Security AI machine learning

  The modern world runs on interconnected cyber-physical and distributed digital systems. When cyber-physical systems are compromised, the consequences can extend into the physical world. A cyberattack on a maritime system can disrupt supply chains. A breach in financial infrastructure can destabilize economies. An autonomous system exploit can paralyze transportation networks. These scenarios raise a fundamental question: how can digital and cyber-physical systems be designed to remain secure and resilient in increasingly complex environments? For three decades, KAUST Professor Roberto Di

March 2026

• 

  KAUST's Asmaa Abdallah and Rawan Alghamdi included in the “100 Brilliant and Inspiring Women in 6G” List for 2026

  4 min read · Sun, Mar 8 2026

  Awards News

  6G 6g wireless systems artificial intelligence for wireless communication wireless communication

  CEMSE researchers Dr. Asmaa Abdallah and Rawan Alghamdi recognized among exceptional women shaping the future of 6G communications.
• 

  Alessandro Astolfi joins KAUST as professor of applied mathematics and computational science

  3 min read · Wed, Mar 4 2026

  News

  Alessandro Astolfi arrives at KAUST with a body of work that has reshaped how engineers approach the analysis and control of nonlinear systems.

February 2026

• 

  The invisible architect

  4 min read · Sun, Feb 8 2026

  Spotlight News Research in Focus

  free boundary problems nonlinear PDEs regularity theory

  Most people never see the mathematics running beneath modern life. CEMSE Professor Miguel Urbano is making sure it works when it matters most.
• 

  Professor Wolfgang Heidrich named an ACM Fellow

  3 min read · Wed, Feb 4 2026

  Computational Photography computer graphics optics

  KAUST Professor of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering Wolfgang Heidrich has been named a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), one of the highest honors in the field of computing.

January 2026

• 

  Building bridges between mathematical statistics and real-world impact

  4 min read · Tue, Jan 6 2026

  Spotlight News Research in Focus

  mathematical statistics random fields stochastic partial differential equations computational statistics

  A research journey that connects statistical theory with the complexity of real-world systems.
• 

  Professor Hakan Bagci named an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow

  2 min read · Thu, Jan 1 2026

  Awards News

  IEEE

  KAUST Professor Hakan Bagci has been named an IEEE Fellow, the organization’s highest distinction, in recognition of his contributions to computational electromagnetics.

December 2025

• 

  KAUST alumnus Zhiyuan Liu receives top honor in solid-state lighting

  2 min read · Wed, Dec 17 2025

  Awards News

  Micro-LEDs optical communication

  KAUST alumnus Zhiyuan Liu (Ph.D. '25) has received the International Solid State Lighting Alliance’s Global SSL Award of Innovations for developing a new fabrication method that makes it easier to produce small, bright and energy-efficient micro-LED pixels.
• 

  Professor Shamim appointed Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics, RF and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology

  3 min read · Mon, Dec 15 2025

  News

  Radio frequency devices IEEE electromagnetics microwaves

  Professor Shamim assumes Editor-in-Chief role at IEEE J-ERM

November 2025

• 

  KAUST Ph.D. candidate Mara Sherlin Talento wins International Statistics Institute (ISI) Services Award

  3 min read · Tue, Nov 25 2025

  Awards News

  Biostatistics

  KAUST Ph.D. candidate Mara Sherlin Talento has received the International Statistics Institute (ISI) Services Award in recognition of her leadership, global outreach, and contributions to the development of young statisticians.
• 

  Innovative research earns Islam Ashry election as Fellow of the Institute of Physics

  3 min read · Thu, Nov 20 2025

  Awards News

  Optical sensors Fiber-optic sensors optical communication machine learning

  Dr. Islam Ashry has been elected Fellow of the Institute of Physics in recognition of his impactful photonics-based research.
• 

  Innovative silver-ink formulation from KAUST IMPACT Lab wins Best Technical Paper Award at IEEE IMAS 2025

  3 min read · Wed, Nov 19 2025

  Awards News

  KAUST IMPACT Lab wins Best Technical Paper at IEEE-IMAS 2025 for sustainable, material-efficient 3D printing using custom silver ink.

October 2025

• 

  KAUST alumna Dr. Rabab Alomairy wins prestigious IEEE CS TCHPC Early Career Researchers Award

  3 min read · Wed, Oct 22 2025

  Awards News

  HPC

  KAUST alumna and Ibn Rushd Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Rabab Alomairy received the IEEE CS Early Career Researchers Award in HPC, becoming the first Middle Eastern and one of the youngest recipients professionally to earn this distinction in the award’s decade-long history.
• 

  CEMSE new faculty: Tao Ni, assistant professor of Computer Science

  3 min read · Tue, Oct 7 2025

  News

  Cyber Resilience Cyber Security

  Guided by curiosity and purpose, Tao Ni joins KAUST to advance cybersecurity and energy-efficient mobile computing research.

September 2025

• 

  KAUST alumnus Dr. Abdul-Lateef Haji-Ali receives prestigious Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers

  2 min read · Mon, Sep 29 2025

  Awards News

  uncertainty quantification stochastic differential equations Stochastic Optimal Control

  KAUST alumnus Abdul-Lateef Haji-Ali receives Humboldt Fellowship for advances in stochastic modeling

August 2025

• 

  CEMSE New Faculty: Abdulrahman Alhamed, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering

  2 min read · Mon, Aug 11 2025

  Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits wireless transceivers system on chip phased-arrays Satellite Communications

  CEMSE Professor Abdulrahman Alhamed’s research path was formed by a deep recognition of the pivotal role integrated circuits play in shaping the modern world. “While there was no single 'eureka' moment, my progression into academia was deliberate and purpose-driven,” he noted. “I was fortunate to have mentors who challenged me early on and environments that cultivated intellectual rigor.” Dr. Alhamed is an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, specializing in RF integrated circuits and systems. His research spans transceivers, phased arrays, radar systems and creating

May 2025

• 

  Professor Setti receives the 2025 IEEE Circuits and Systems Society Mac Van Valkenburg Award

  3 min read · Wed, May 28 2025

  Awards News

  IEEE IoT semiconductors advanced semiconductors

  Dean of the KAUST CEMSE Division Professor Gianluca Setti has received the 2025 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Circuits and Systems (CAS) Society Mac Van Valkenburg Award.

April 2025

• 

  Professor Ying Sun elected as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association

  3 min read · Tue, Apr 22 2025

  News

  spatio-temporal statistics Environmental Statistics computational statistics

  Ying Sun joins the elite ranks of ASA Fellows in 2025 for her contributions to spatial statistics, mentoring and global outreach.
• 

  KAUST climate research named finalist for ADIA Lab Climate Data Sciences Award

  3 min read · Sun, Apr 20 2025

  News

  climate data stochastic computational science climate change

  KAUST team develops breakthrough method for wind data generation, earning finalist spot for ADIA Lab’s climate science award.

February 2025

• 

  Professor Wolfgang Heidrich elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and named a 2025 Optica Fellow

  5 min read · Wed, Feb 26 2025

  Awards News

  computational imaging computer graphics optics artificial intelligence generative ai

  KAUST Professor Wolfgang Heidrich has been named a Fellow of both the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and Optica, recognizing his pioneering contributions to computational imaging, display systems and AI-driven optical technologies.
• 

  Double honors for Professor Yating Wan

  3 min read · Thu, Feb 13 2025

  News

  photonic silicon-based photodetectors silicon IEEE

  KAUST Professor Yating Wan receives the 2025 Sony Women in Technology and IEEE Young Investigator Awards.
• 

  Professor Tareq Al-Naffouri named Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow

  2 min read · Sun, Feb 2 2025

  News

  IEEE Wireless Communications

  KAUST Professor Tareq Al-Naffouri has been named an IEEE Fellow, the organization’s highest distinction, in recognition of his contributions to adaptive signal processing and its applications in wireless communications.

January 2025

• 

  From the warm shores of the Red Sea to Antarctica’s icebergs

  4 min read · Tue, Jan 28 2025

  News

  KAUST Professor Paula Moraga is among a trailblazing selection of the emerging science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) researchers selected to participate in Homeward Bound Transform Voyage 2025 to Antarctica.
• 

  Professor Mohamed-Slim Alouini named a Fellow of SPIE and a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Photonics Society

  4 min read · Sun, Jan 26 2025

  Awards News

  IEEE SPIE photonics Optical wireless communications radio frequency communication connectivity Free-space optical communications

  Professor Mohamed-Slim Alouini earns SPIE Fellow and IEEE Distinguished Lecturer titles, highlighting his influential contributions to optical wireless communications.
• 

  KAUST ECE students achieve high honors in Competition on Non-Terrestrial Networks for 6G (NTNYS'24)

  4 min read · Tue, Jan 21 2025

  News

  6g wireless systems connectivity NTN Communication Non-Terrestrial Networks IoT

  KAUST Ph.D. candidate Omar Khalifa earned an impressive second place in the global Competition on Non-Terrestrial Networks for 6G (NTNYS'24). The IEEE Future Networks Initiative organized the competition as part of the "Connecting the World from the Skies Global Forum," which took place last November in Riyadh. Second place, and a prize of $10,000, was awarded to Khalifa based on his work titled "Supplying Data for Digital Twins in Green Smart Cities: A Non-Invasive NTN-IoT Approach." The international forum, which focused on the theme “Shaping the Future of Converged Connectivity,” was hosted
• 

  CEMSE New Faculty: Ali Hassan, Instructional Professor of Cybersecurity

  2 min read · Tue, Jan 7 2025

  News

  cybersecurity

  KAUST welcomes Professor Ali Hassan as an instructional faculty of Cybersecurity.

December 2024

• 

  International recognition for KAUST Ph.D. candidate Olga Krestinskaya

  3 min read · Tue, Dec 10 2024

  AI sensors In-memory computing

  Olga Krestinskaya, a KAUST Ph.D. student, wins Best Poster at the 2024 Nature Neuromorphic Computing Conference for her work on energy-efficient AI hardware.
• 

  CEMSE New Faculty: Katerina Nik, Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences

  2 min read · Sun, Dec 8 2024

  News

  New KAUST faculty, Katerina Nik, applies advanced mathematics to study partial differential equations, exploring phenomena in biology, mechanics and fluid dynamics.
• 

  KAUST-Engineered tool drives sustainable solutions in water conservation

  3 min read · Sun, Dec 1 2024

  IoT devices IoT AI Smart sensors Signal processing

  KAUST’s startup EcoStream cuts water waste by 50% while promoting affordability and sustainability, winning the 2024 StartSmart prize.

November 2024

• 

  A voice to the voiceless: Montserrat Ramirez De Angel takes “Best Pitch” award at IEEE 2024 Sensors Conference

  3 min read · Tue, Nov 19 2024

  Awards News

  Biosensors IEEE Awards wearable sensors Biomedical Engineering Biomedical Signal Processing nanoelectronics IoT in Healthcare IoT

  Montserrat Ramirez de Angel wins the Best Pitch Award at IEEE 2024 Sensors Conference for her innovative work in biosensors and sensor technology.

October 2024

• 

  Professor Boon Ooi elected Fellow of the American Physical Society

  3 min read · Mon, Oct 28 2024

  biophotonics semiconductor laser

  KAUST Professor Boon S. Ooi has been elected an APS Fellow for pioneering work in semiconductor photonics integration and laser technology.

September 2024

• 

  Professor Esteves-Veríssimo awarded the IEEE SMC TCHS Outstanding Leadership Award

  3 min read · Tue, Sep 24 2024

  Awards News

  KAUST Professor Paulo Esteves-Veríssimo has been awarded the prestigious IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC) Technical Committee on Homeland Security (TCHS) Outstanding Leadership Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the fields of cybersecurity and resilience.

July 2024

• 

  KAUST team selected as ACM Gordon Bell Prize for Climate Modelling finalists

  4 min read · Tue, Jul 23 2024

  News

  A new exascale climate emulator marks a significant advancement as the first to generate, display and evaluate hourly emulations. This breakthrough secured an interdisciplinary research team from KAUST, working alongside the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research in the U.S. and other partner institutions, a spot as a finalist for the prestigious Gordon Bell Prize in Climate Modelling.

May 2024

• 

  Professor Marc Genton receives the prestigious 2024 Don Owen Award

  2 min read · Sun, May 12 2024

  Awards News

  Environmental Statistics wind energy

  KAUST Professor Marc Genton, a pioneer in environmental statistics, was awarded the prestigious 2024 Don Owen Award for his outstanding contributions to research, consultation, and service to the statistical community.

April 2024

• 

  CEMSE New Faculty: Professor Rolf Krause

  3 min read · Wed, Apr 24 2024

  Spotlight News

  machine learning

  Professor Rolf Krause, our new faculty member at KAUST, drives sustainable progress across various domains, from medicine to geology, with his pioneering research in applied mathematics and efficient algorithms.
• 

  CEMSE New Faculty: Maurizio Filippone, Associate Professor, Statistics

  3 min read · Wed, Apr 3 2024

  Spotlight News

  Newly appointed to KAUST, Professor Filippone drives innovation in statistical modeling to advance sustainable solutions and address societal challenges.

January 2024

• 

  CEMSE New Faculty: Jian Weng, Assistant Professor of Computer Science

  2 min read · Tue, Jan 23 2024

  News

  Jian Weng’s journey to becoming a researcher began two decades ago when his family acquired their first computer. KAUST’s newest assistant professor of computer science was instantly fascinated by this seemingly “magical device” and quickly became driven by a desire to understand its inner workings.
• 

  The KAUST SENTRY team cracks the code of success at CSAW'23

  4 min read · Thu, Jan 18 2024

  Awards News

  KAUST SENTRY team dominate CSAW'23 with back-to-back wins in hardware security and robotics challenges.