Riyadh: American universities host many highly qualified Saudis in leading faculty and research positions across fields like bioengineering, computer science, acoustics, law, and media, highlighting the Kingdom's investment in human capital and its growing global scientific presence.
According to Saudi Press Agency, one notable example is Huda Asiri, a prominent Saudi researcher and a key figure in the new generation of Saudi women academics in the US. Awarded a scholarship to pursue her doctorate, she now serves as an assistant professor and research assistant at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her PhD research focuses on the contributions and representation of Saudi women in local and international media. As a teaching assistant, she leads courses on journalism principles, media coverage of diverse populations, and the intersection of media, women, and sports, blending her research expertise with hands-on teaching.
In the field of acoustics, Dr. Alaa Al-Qarqoush blends art, technology, and design in innovative ways. Recognized in MIT Technology Review's "Innovators Under 35" list, she has received multiple awards in innovation, sustainability, and the arts. Her research focuses on creating acoustic solutions that improve well-being, using machine learning and computational techniques to design environments that enhance the cognitive and social aspects of the listening experience.
Dr. Reem Khoja is an assistant professor in bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego, and a postdoctoral researcher at UC Irvine since January 2021. She led a team developing microengines at the scale of human cells, advancing bioengineering research. She holds a PhD in bioengineering from UCLA (2019), an MSc from KAUST (2012), and a BSc from King Abdulaziz University (2008).
Dr. Faisal Nawab has been an associate professor at UC Irvine since December 2020 and a principal software engineer at AnyLog. He previously held faculty positions at UC Santa Cruz (2018-2020), worked as a research associate at Hewlett Packard Labs (2014-2016), and taught at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in 2011.
Dr. Bandar Al-Muhammadi is a faculty member at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. He teaches two courses on the US legal system, focusing on its structure, principles, and practical skills for legal practice in the US. Al-Muhammadi has published legal studies in the US and UK, including a comparative analysis of corporate liability under Islamic and American law, and research on international law at the World Trade Organization and on climate change.
These examples of Saudi academics excelling at top US universities highlight the growing global presence of Saudi talent and the role of scholarship programs and academic partnerships in enhancing Saudi Arabia's position in research and knowledge sharing.