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Awards and Successes

NYUAD iGEM Team Wins Gold & Best Integrated Human Practices

The NYU Abu Dhabi iGEM team achieved outstanding success at the 2025 International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition in Paris, earning a Gold Medal and winning the prestigious Best Integrated Human Practices Award—selected from 421 teams worldwide. This is the first special-prize win for NYUAD at iGEM. Guided by mentors across the Division of Science and the Division of Engineering, the team worked closely with faculty, clinicians, scientists, and CDG (Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation) families to ensure their project addressed real community needs, exemplifying NYUAD’s interdisciplinary and impact-driven approach to problem solving. Congratulations to our students, mentors, and partners on this exceptional milestone advancing synthetic biology in the UAE and beyond.

- Novemeber 2025

2025 Successes: UAE secures key leadership roles in international organisations

The World Economic Forum selected Dr. Tuka Waddah Alhanai, Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering at NYU Abu Dhabi, to join the Young Global Leaders Council 2025, recognizing her as one of the emerging global voices shaping the future of innovation and policy. This achievement reflects both NYUAD’s leadership in advancing impactful research and the UAE’s growing influence in global thought leadership.

- Novemeber 2025

Brian Quartey - Best Oral Presentation Award at European Society for Biomaterials (ESB)

From Nervous Intern to Award Winner

Brian first joined the LIBRA Lab with a strong desire to learn and contribute, even though his early semesters were marked by nerves and uncertainty. What stood out, however, was his curiosity, perseverance, and steady improvement, which quickly earned him the confidence and respect of the team. Through dedication and independent initiative, he pursued an honors research project that culminated in a peer-reviewed publication—an impressive achievement at the undergraduate level. His trajectory since has been remarkable:

Brian is now among the select few NYUAD graduates awarded the prestigious NYUAD Global PhD Fellowship. As part of his doctoral work, he recently presented at the 2026 European Society for Biomaterials meeting, where his efforts were recognized with the Best Oral Presentation award. We are proud to have witnessed his growth from a tentative undergraduate into a confident, accomplished young researcher making meaningful contributions to the field.

- September 2025

LANTRN Lab | Merck Innovation Cup 2025 Victory

In a truly remarkable achievement, Yusheng (Jason) Zhang was a key member of the winning team at the Merck Innovation Cup 2025 in Darmstadt, Germany. The highly competitive annual program brings together top young professionals and students from around the world to tackle real-world challenges in pharmaceuticals and chemicals.

As part of Team Smart Facturing, Jason's team was recognized for its winning "smart agent" proposal. This victory is a testament to the exceptional talent and innovative spirit of our students, bringing significant international recognition to our institution.

Merck Group has highlighted the achievement on their official social media channels.

- August 2025

NYUAD swept the Science & Technology category of NYU’s 2025 Outstanding Dissertation Awards

On April 30, 2025, NYUAD engineers achieved a significant win at the NYU University-Wide Outstanding Dissertation Awards. Nouran ElMesalami from Civil Engineering and Yazan Ibrahim from Chemical Engineering were both honored for their exceptional doctoral research.

Nouran's award-winning dissertation focused on developing Reactive Magnesium Oxide Cements, a crucial low-carbon alternative to traditional cement. Her work offers vital advancements for sustainable infrastructure. Yazan's recognized research centered on designing innovative surface-patterned membranes to achieve improved filtration performance. These accolades highlight the impactful contributions of NYUAD's engineering doctoral alumni to cutting-edge research and demonstrate their commitment to addressing global challenges.

- April 2025

Marwa Chafii's 2024 Milestone: Triple Accolades Spark Global Recognition

In 2024, Marwa Chafii has celebrated a year of remarkable achievements that underscore her influence in science and technology. Recently ranked among Stanford’s Top 2% Scientists, her innovative contributions have cemented her reputation in the global research community. Additionally, she was honored with the IEEE ComSoc Young Professional Award for Best Practitioner, a testament to her practical impact and forward-thinking approach in the industry. Further elevating her status, Marwa received the prestigious French “Prix Glavieux 2024,” jointly awarded by IEEE and SEE, recognizing her commitment to excellence and leadership in advancing technology. These accolades highlight her diverse expertise and inspire future generations in the field. Learn more about her journey and the individual recognitions here: Stanford Ranking, IEEE Award, Prix Glavieux.

- January 2025

Firas Darwish, Rhodes Scholar, Pursues Dual Oxford Master's for AI Governance Leadership

Firas Darwish, an NYU Abu Dhabi student from Jordan, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 UAE Rhodes Scholarship, becoming one of the university's 24 scholars. Selected for his academic excellence and leadership, Firas will pursue an MSc in Advanced Computer Science and a Master’s in Public Policy at the University of Oxford starting October 2025. His studies will focus on shaping global AI governance and addressing critical issues such as data privacy and bias in artificial intelligence.

- December 2024

Innovators Under 35 MENA: NYUAD Scholars Recognized for Impactful Innovations

Safiya Khalil Alhashmi, an Assistant Professor Emerging Scholar of Mechanical Engineering at NYU Abu Dhabi, and Kamil ElKhoury, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow also at NYU Abu Dhabi, have been recognized as "Innovators Under 35 MENA." Alhashmi developed light-powered photoreactor technology to destroy PFAS chemicals without secondary pollutants. ElKhoury invented "MeniscoGel," a 3D-printed gel mimicking natural meniscal cartilage, promoting tissue regeneration with enhanced mechanical properties. Their innovations highlight the region's diverse contributions to technology and medicine.

- December 2024

NYU Abu Dhabi iGEM Team Wins Gold for Impactful Coral Conservation

The NYU Abu Dhabi iGEM team earned a gold medal and a nomination for Best Conservation Project at iGEM 2024 in Paris for their project, "Reeform — Engineering the Coral Microbiome." Their innovative approach enhances coral resilience to rising ocean temperatures and diseases, contributing to global coral conservation efforts.

The project is led by Principal Investigators: Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering Yong-Ak (Rafael) Song, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and Electrical Engineering Andras Gygory, Instructor of Biology Ibrahim Chehade, and instructor of Bioengineering Shafiya Sabah. The team’s student leaders include Fatma Alrebh, Afomia Mengistu, and Sevinch Rakhmon-Zoda, supported by members Sanshika Garg, Abdullah Salman, Diana Alibekova, Mandy Liao, Heesung Tae, Jheel Thanki, Milena Bisenic, and Aknur Kassym.

This year’s iGEM competition brought together over 400 teams from more than 45 countries, each presenting synthetic biology solutions to critical challenges in healthcare, environmental protection, and technology.

- November 2024

Congratulations to Our Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 Innovators

Congratulations to NYU Abu Dhabi Postdoctoral Associates Wael Othman, Asmaa Jrad, and Kamil Elkhoury for their inclusion in Forbes Middle East's prestigious 30 Under 30 list in Science & Technology for 2024!

Wael is enhancing minimally invasive surgery with LaparoSense, a sensory system providing crucial tactile feedback. Jrad is developing advanced water filtration systems that remove harmful contaminants, vital for global water security. ElKhoury is pioneering organ bioprinting, creating living tissues to address critical organ shortages. Their groundbreaking contributions in science and technology are demonstrating significant impact, shaping the region's future.

- November 2024

Nidal Hilal named Best Engineering and Technology Scientist in the UAE

We are proud to announce that Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of the NYUAD Water Research Center Nidal Hilal has been recognized as the Best Engineering and Technology Scientist in the UAE. Nidal has won this award for three consecutive years: 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Professor Hilal is an internationally recognized leader in membrane separation, nanofiltration, and water process engineering. His groundbreaking work has significantly advanced global water research, with over 600 publications, 11 books, and numerous patents to his name. Under his visionary leadership, the WRC has become a hub of interdisciplinary innovation, tackling critical global water challenges through cutting-edge research in desalination, wastewater treatment, and sustainability.

This recognition is a testament to Professor Hilal's extraordinary contributions to science and his unwavering commitment to advancing water security and sustainability worldwide.

- September 2024

Ikigai Makerthon for Assistive Devices 

The Ikigai Makerthon for Assistive Devices highlighted the power of creativity and purpose-driven engineering at NYU Abu Dhabi. Over the course of two days, students explored real-world accessibility challenges and prototyped 3D-printed assistive tools, documenting their designs to be shared openly with the wider community. With hundredes of participants engaging in the event, this makerthon showcased how innovation, empathy, and collaboration can come together to create meaningful social change.

- November 2025

GCSP Scholar Presentations

GCSP Scholars at NYU Abu Dhabi showcased their research, study-away experiences, and community outreach projects during this year’s poster presentation event. These presentations provided a platform for scholars to learn from one another and highlight the meaningful impact of their multidisciplinary work. Two scholars, Maram Abdelfattah and Airin Haque, have been selected to represent NYUAD at the 2026 GCSP Annual Meeting in Rome, Italy, recognizing their commitment to integrating cultural awareness and societal benefit into their fields of study.

- October 2025

Progress in cardiovascular bioprinting

Dr. Sanjairaj Vijayavenkataraman, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at NYU Abu Dhabi, published new research advancing the field of cardiovascular Bioprinting His work explores innovative 3D-printing approaches for creating functional cardiovascular tissues, contributing to global progress in regenerative medicine and future patient-specific treatment solutions.

- October 2025

Bioengineering Challenge Tackled through a Partnership between Switzerland and UAE

Jeremy Teo is co-leading a groundbreaking partnership with the AO Research Institute Davos in Switzerland. Supported by two Swiss Leading House MENA grants, their team is developing a structuring hydrogel with self-assembling peptides to tackle the bioengineering challenge of healing wounds in microgravity.

- July 2025


Soha Yousuf selected as ASLMS August 2025 Editor’s Choice

Congratulations to Soha Yousuf on being selected as August 2025 Editor’s Choice for the Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (LSM), the official journal of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS)

- July 2025

Clinical AI Lab secured a USD 750k Meem Foundation grant

Farah Shamout secured a three-year, USD 750,000 grant from the Meem Foundation to advance NYUAD’s Clinical AI Lab research in medical imaging and predictive diagnostics.

- May 2025

Juan Castaño Named Finalist at URIC 2025 

Research project titled "Real-Time Indoor PM2.5 Prediction: A Deep Learning and Digital Twin-Based Approach" was selected as a finalist in the 12th Undergraduate Research & Innovation Competition (URIC). Representing the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning category, the project was presented by student Juan Diego Castaño Molina who worked on this research project under the mentorship of Prof. Borja García de Soto Garcia de Soto and Dr. Zihao Zheng for the SHORES Research Center at NYUAD. URIC took place on May 29, 2025, at Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi Campus.

- May 2025

Devjoy Dev receives NYUAD’s 2025 Graduate Student Leadership Award 

Biomedical Engineering PhD graduate, Dr Devjoy Dev was honoured for three years of campus service—captaining the Dragonboat team to MENA & Euro-Cup medals and leading Graduate Student Council programmes in equity, inclusivity and well-being.

- May 2025

Farah Ahmed: ScholarGPS's Top 0.05% in Desalination Research 

Farah Ahmed, a 2024 ScholarGPS Highly Ranked Scholar, is in the top 0.05% worldwide. She notably ranks #9 globally in Desalination (last 5 years), the sole woman in the top 10. Her work drives crucial innovation for global water scarcity and sustainability amidst climate stress.

- May 2025

Roshan Philip Saji won 2nd place in ASCE’s EMI Computational Mechanics Student Paper Competition 

Civil & Urban Engineering PhD student Roshan Philip Saji took second place — and a $200 prize — in the 2025 ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute Computational-Mechanics Student Paper Competition.

- May 2025

NYUAD Ranked #2 Globally in Desalination Research 

NYUAD has been ranked #2 in the world for Desalination Research over the past five years, according to ScholarGPS. This global ranking reflects NYUAD’s growing impact in water sustainability and cutting-edge innovation, led by the groundbreaking work conducted at the NYUAD Water Research Center.

As the world faces increasing water scarcity challenges, NYUAD remains committed to driving forward transformative research and technological advancements in desalination to help secure a sustainable future.

- December 2024

Hanan Mohamed wins first prize at the Additive Manufacturing the Future (AmtF) Conference 

Hanan Mohammed won first prize in the 3-minute presentation competition at the AmtF Conference for her work on Cellular Plastics for Interfacing the Gut, highlighting the challenge and reward of concise scientific communication.

- December 2024

Sohmyung Ha received the Best Paper Award in the BioCAS Track at the ISCAS 2024

Sohmyung Ha is leading an innovative project focused on developing a cutting-edge wearable device  for monitoring sleep status using AI and multi-modal sensors.
- December 2024

AqlCare and ARIA-AI Teams Excel at Innovation Health Challenge

The AqlCare and ARIA-AI teams achieved remarkable success in the Innovation Health Challenge organized by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, securing first place with an AED 50,000 prize and third place with an AED 20,000 prize, respectively. These accomplishments underscore the power of collaboration in driving healthcare innovation. Special appreciation goes to the NYUAD teams, key collaborators, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society UAE for their invaluable support throughout this journey.
- December 2024

The City of Vienna Dissertation Prize 2024

Prof. Shafique's PhD student from TU Wien (Austria), Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Hanif has won The City of Vienna Dissertation Prize 2024, which is an extremely competitive and prestigious award. He has been invited to Vienna to receive this award and prize money in-person in January 2025.

Dr. Hanif is currently working as a post-doc researcher at the eBRAIN Lab, under prof. Shafique's supervision on energy-efficient and robust EdgeAI systems, ML Security, and cross-layer optimizations for ML/Generative-AI.
- November 2024

Congratulations Team Libra on receiving the Distinction Award at the 17th International Space Challenge!

Team LIBRA consisting of Engineering Researcher (Kawader RA) Aliyaa Alzaabi, PhD Student Brian Quartey, Undergrad Aman Assali (Class of 2024) and Mentored by Research Associate Mei ElGindi, received the Distinction Award at the recent 17th International Space Challenge (5000 participants; 150 Institutions; 40 countries). This year's theme was Living in Space.
- November 2024

The S.M.A.R.T. Construction Research Group Platinum Certified by the NYU Office of Sustainability

The S.M.A.R.T. Construction Research Group at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is now officially Green Workplace Certified by the NYU Office of Sustainability. This recognition highlights our commitment to enhancing sustainability in our workspace and contributing to a greener NYU.
- November 2024

Dr. Alberto Marchisio Wins INNS Best Dissertation Runners-Up Award

Dr. Alberto Marchisio, a PhD graduate from TU Wien, received the 2024 INNS Best Dissertation Runners-Up Award at the IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence in Japan. Now a postdoctoral researcher at the eBRAIN Lab, he focuses on advanced AI, including neuromorphic computing and quantum machine learning.
- November 2024

The Annual NYUAD GradSlam Winners

2024 Grand Prize Winner - 2nd Year PhD Candidate Yusheng (Jason) Zhang for his talk "Magic Pill".

2024 Runner-Up - Postdoctoral Associate Soha Yousuf, PhD for her talk "A Drop of Blood, a Beam of Light, and AI".

2024 People's Choice - 2nd Year PhD Candidate Rawan Abu Alwan for her talk "From Ocean to Oasis: Unlocking the Potential of Desalination."
- October 2024

2nd Term Funding approved for 'CalMag ReThink Brine Challenge'

Associate Professor of Civil and Urban Engineering and WRC Co-investigator Kemal Celik's project, "CalMag ReThink Brine Challenge," awarded on 06/16/2021, has been approved for funding until 04/30/2025 under Sandooq Al Watan.

Professor Nidal Hilal, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of the NYUAD Water Research Center, is a Co-Principal Investigator on this project.
- September 2024

Azhar Zam and partner Amalia Suzianti secured funding from the University of Indonesia

Azhar Zam, Associate Professor of Bioengineering at NYUAD, and Amalia Suzianti, Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Indonesia, have secured funding for exchange visits and development project ideas related to prototyping optical-based medical devices. One of the possible outcomes from this collaboration will be joint publication at the Q1 journal.
- September 2024

NYU Awards $2 Million in Inaugural Research Grants

In its inaugural year, the NYU Discovery Research Fund for Human Health has invested nearly $2 million across 24 projects. Yi Fang, alongside JR Rizzo from NYU Medical School, has received support for a project aimed at developing an AI-based mental and emotional support model for the visually impaired and blind. The initiative seeks to explore new AI-driven approaches to enhance mental well-being for individuals with visual impairments.
- September 2024