Profiles

Students

Biography

Cheng Luo is a Ph.D. student in the Image and Video Understanding Laboratory (IVUL) at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), specializing in generative AI and human-computer interaction. His research focuses on interactive video generation, multimodal understanding, and real-time generation, with applications in the field of mental health. He earned his Master's degree in Computer Science from Shenzhen University, China, in 2023.

Research Interests

His research interests include real-time and interactive video generation, generative models, affective computing, multimodal large language models, human-computer interaction, and psychosis intervention.

Education
Master of Science (M.S.)
Computer Science, Shenzhen University, China, 2023
Biography

Dhanu Chettri is a Ph.D. candidate at the Advanced Semiconductor Laboratory (ASL) at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), under the mentorship of Prof. Xiaohang Li. His research focuses on ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors, particularly Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3) and Aluminum Nitride (AlN). Before joining KAUST, he served as a Senior Project Fellow at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CSIR–CEERI).

Chettri’s research primarily involves material growth, device design, fabrication, and circuit implementation of advanced semiconductor devices such as MOSFETs and bidirectional switches. He has made significant contributions to the field, as evidenced by his publications. Notably, he achieved the first demonstration of a normally OFF β-Ga2O3 bidirectional switch, featured in Applied Physics Letters, AIP along with the first demonstration of an AlN MOSFET, published in the Journal of Physics D, IOP.

His research is particularly relevant for developing technologies suited to high-temperature and extreme environment applications, demonstrating the critical role and potential of ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors in modern electronics.

Research Interests

Dhanu's research interests include ultrawide bandgap semiconductor materials, specifically Ga2O3 and AlN. His work focuses on the fabrication and characterization of devices such as MOSFETs and FinFETs.

Biography

Divyanshu is a Ph.D. candidate in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at KAUST. He received his M.Tech degree in VLSI from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, India. He has worked as a visiting student at the Innovative Technologies Lab and the Integrated Circuits and System Group at KAUST. 

Research Interests

His research interests include Spintronics devices and circuits, VLSI design for beyond CMOS devices, and Hardware security primitives.

Education
Master of Engineering (MEng)
VLSI, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi, India, 2021
Bachelor of Technology (BTech)
Electronics System Engineering, National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Aurangabad, India, 2018
Research Interests

Bayesian and computational Statistics.

Education
Master of Science (M.S.)
Computer Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), China, 2021
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Applied Mathematics, Dalian University of Technology (DUT), China, 2017
Biography

Elham is currently a PhD student in Electrical and Computer Engineering program (ECE) at KAUST. She holds an MSc in Software Systems Engineering from UCL, London. She has experience in academia working as teaching assistant, then lecturer and department coordinator. She also worked in industry as a system analyst.

Research Interests

Elham's research interest lies under the field of smart mobility by addressing the current challenges faced by traffic control systems. Her current research focuses on design a sustainable AI-based models to mitigate the limitations of the current smart mobility solutions.

Education
Master of Science (M.S.)
Software Systems Engineering, University College London, United Kingdom, 2017
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Computer Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal Univesity, Saudi Arabia, 2012
Biography

Elsiddig Awadelkarim Elsiddig is a Ph.D. candidate at Applied Mathematics and Computer Science  Research Group under the supervision of Professor Raul Tempone at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). 

Research Interests

Monte Carlo algorithms in Bayesian Statistics, Stochastic Control, Machine Learning.

Education
Master of Science (M.S.)
Applied Mathematics, Paris Dauphine University - PSL, France, 2019
Postgraduate Diploma​ (PGDip)
Mathematics, Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy, 2018
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Mathematics, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, 2016
Biography

Eman Kabbas earned a Bachelor of Science and Education in Mathematics from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University and a Master’s in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her academic journey, marked by deep curiosity and dedication, led her to become a lecturer at Jubail Industrial College (JIC). Now, as a Ph.D. candidate in Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences under the mentorship of Professor Håvard Rue, Eman delves into Bayesian and computational statistics, striving to bridge theoretical concepts with practical applications. Eman is dedicated to fostering a new way of teaching statistics and data science through her research experience.

Research Interests

Eman Kabbas's research interests focus on developing and applying spline models in non-parametric regression. She addresses the limitations of splines in prediction tasks with insufficient data by proposing a spline model suitable for both regular and irregular observations, leverages Bayesian techniques to ensure efficient modeling and reliable predictions.

Biography

Eman Kabbas earned a Bachelor of Science and Education in Mathematics from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University and a Master’s in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her academic journey, marked by deep curiosity and dedication, led her to become a lecturer at Jubail Industrial College (JIC). Now, as a Ph.D. candidate in Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences under the mentorship of Professor Håvard Rue, Eman delves into Bayesian and computational statistics, striving to bridge theoretical concepts with practical applications. Eman is dedicated to fostering a new way of teaching statistics and data science through her research experience.

Research Interests

Eman's research interests include: Bayesian Statistics Computational Statistics Applied Statistics Data Science Her work focuses on advancing the understanding and application of these areas, aiming to contribute significant insights and innovations.

Biography

Fahad Aljehani is a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), where he is supervised by Professors Taous‑Meriem Laleg‑Kirati and Eric Feron. His research integrates classical control theory with modern AI and machine‑learning techniques to create advanced control and estimation frameworks for complex process systems, particularly optimal feeding in aquaculture and bacteria monitoring in wastewater treatment plants.

Aljehani earned his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from KAUST (2019), developing control strategies for distributed solar collectors and a virtual sensor for solar‑irradiance estimation. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from University of Dayton (2016).

Research Interests

Fahad's research focuses on designing advanced control algorithms and estimation techniques to optimize process control systems, specifically in aquaculture and wastewater treatment. He utilizes a multidisciplinary approach that combines classical control theory with cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning methodologies to develop adaptive, efficient, and scalable models that enhance system performance, improve sustainability, and reduce operational costs. 
Area of interests: 

  • Optimal control for a class of nonlinear systems
  • Estimation and observer design methods in nonlinear systems 
  • Reinforcement learning and dynamics programming
  • Computer vision
  • Machine learning
Education
Master of Science (M.S.)
Electrical Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia, 2019
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Electrical Engineering, Dayton University, United States, 2016
Biography

Fahad S. Alqurashi is a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), under the supervision of Professor Mohamed-Slim Alouini. His research focuses on advanced wireless communication technologies for connecting underserved and remote regions, emphasizing cost-effective and high-capacity solutions. His work explores Free Space Optics (FSO), TV White Space (TVWS), and hybrid RF/mmWave systems to achieve point-to-point data rates exceeding 10 Gbps, with a particular interest in maritime and rural connectivity.

Fahad holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from KAUST, where his thesis focused on modeling FSO communication channels for next-generation deployment scenarios. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (Electronics and Communication track) at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Fahad has led strategic connectivity projects in collaboration with global technology leaders such as Google Taara, Meta, Cambium, and national operators like Zain and STC. He is currently spearheading national-scale initiatives with the Communication, Space and Technology Commission (CST), Red Sea Global, and Neom to deliver resilient, sustainable, and scalable wireless infrastructure—including projects connecting offshore islands and rural villages using hybrid FSO/RF links powered by solar systems.

His research has been presented at major international venues including IEEE ICC and the Optical Wireless Communication Conference, and he is an active member of IEEE and the Optical Wireless Communication community. Fahad’s interdisciplinary work supports Saudi Vision 2030 and reflects a strong commitment to impactful digital transformation through cutting-edge wireless innovation.

Research Interests

Alongside the Saudi Vision 2030, Fahad’s interest lies in supporting the future of 5G and 6G. Because of this, he focuses on wireless communication systems, especially in free space optical communication (FSO).

Education
Master of Science (M.S.)
Electrical and Computer Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, 2021
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Electrical Engineering, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia, 2018