MBZUAI fellowship puts Emiratis at forefront of AI research

The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has initiated a fellowship program for Emirati postdoctoral researchers and academic leaders who integrate artificial intelligence into their work. Dr Mohamed Almarei has been chosen as the first recipient of the Ruwwad AI Scholars (RAIS) Fellowship. The two-year research placement will take place at the University of Oxford, where Dr Almarei will focus on applying AI to synthetic biology.

AI is playing an increasingly significant role in scientific research, particularly in fields like biology, where complexity often hinders the ability to predict outcomes. Dr Almarei, who received his doctorate in bioengineering from Imperial College London, encountered the research of Prof Jean-Baptiste Lugagne at the University of Oxford and was inspired by its potential to address his own research questions.

He has chosen Prof Lugagne's lab for his fellowship placement, hoping to build on his experimental bioengineering background and investigate how AI can help predict and control living systems.

The UAE has been heavily investing in AI technology and infrastructure. Recently, the Abu Dhabi Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council reviewed AI progress, with plans for a joint UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi and the government aiming to become fully AI-native by 2027, a world first. Dr Almarei hopes to contribute to this future and play a role in the UAE's development in AI.

Fellows may be considered for faculty positions at MBZUAI upon their return. The Emirati researcher emphasizes the importance of contributing to the UAE's future and hopes his work will have both economic and societal impact, resulting in high-impact publications and mentoring the next generation of researchers in scientific rigour and integrity for the betterment of humanity.