8/19/2024

This fall term, over 70 KGSP graduates from the class of 2024 will be joining the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) as graduate students. This group of students, a 20 percent increase from last year’s admits, will be part of the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE), and the Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) divisions at KAUST, all working towards their academic and professional goals with master’s programs ranging from Computer Science, Environmental Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, to Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

^{Image 1: Osama Dabbousi (second from left), Boston University, B.S. Data Science.}

Osama Dabbousi graduated from Boston University (BU) with a bachelor's degree in Data Science and will pursue a master’s in KAUST’s Computer Science (CS) program. “My decision to go into CS began my junior year of high school, where I was fortunate enough to spend the summer doing research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory,” Osama said. “While there, I worked on a project involving computer vision for self-driving cars and was hooked by the fascinating concepts, and the potential for real-world applications. I decided that [Machine Learning] was the career path for me and have been grateful for that choice ever since.” In the summer of 2022, Osama interned at Aramco Houston, where he was exposed to real-world applications of the materials he learned in college. “It was great working on a meaningful project and shaped my course choice for the remainder of my college experience.” Looking back on his time in the KGSP, Osama added that the support from the Program ensured that he always made informed decisions about his courses and research work. “The best thing KGSP did for me was keep me organized and ready for the future… Summer enrichment requirements and the monthly enrichment digest meant that I also had lots of opportunities I was aware of, and able to benefit from.” Osama was given the award for academic excellence among his graduating class at BU.

^{Image 2: Yousef Rajeh, Emory University, B.S. Computer Science.}

Like Osama, Yousef Rajeh, a graduate from Emory University with a B.S. in Computer Science, also intends to pursue a master’s in CS at KAUST. Yousef joined the KGSP in 2019 as a Foundation Year (FY) student at the University of California, Berkeley. As an undergraduate student at Emory, Yousef was involved in a neuroscience research project where he and his lab partners developed virtual reality tasks to aid memory recall in epilepsy patients. “Witnessing patients use our VR tool and hearing how it helped them remember significant life events was incredibly fulfilling,” Yousef said. “I aim to pursue a career that allows me to continue my work in visual computing, both to enhance my skills and to contribute meaningfully to the field's advancement.”

Both Osama and Yousef, as well as the other KGSP alumni continuing their academic careers at KAUST will be surrounded and supported by world-renowned faculty and staff, all dedicated to their development as changemakers. To current students, Osama and Yousef implore the importance of taking full advantage of the opportunities that the KGSP provides. “Take advantage of the resources available to you, stay on top of your requirements, and besides that don’t let stress and work distract you from the beauty of the journey you’re going through,” Osama said, with Yousef adding, “Engage fully with your major, participate in school clubs, and seize diverse opportunities.”

The KGSP is proud to witness the growth and achievements of its alumni, and eagerly looks forward to their continued development at KAUST.