Dr Mohamed Almarei Named Inaugural Recipient of MBZUAI's Ruwwad AI Scholars Fellowship for Oxford Placement

A new fellowship programme designed for Emirati postdoctoral researchers and academic leaders integrating artificial intelligence into their studies has officially selected its first recipient. Dr Mohamed Almarei has been named the inaugural recipient of the Ruwwad AI Scholars (RAIS) Fellowship, established by the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). He will embark on a two-year research placement at the University of Oxford to further apply AI techniques to synthetic biology.

Fully funded by the initiative, fellows are placed at leading international institutions to cultivate their talents. Reflecting on the evolving landscape of science, Dr Almarei told The National that AI is becoming increasingly vital to research approaches, particularly in complex fields like biology where predicting outcomes has historically been limited.

Dr Almarei previously earned his doctorate in bioengineering from Imperial College London, focusing on engineering biological systems for sustainable bioproduction. Earlier this year, he encountered the work of Prof Jean-Baptiste Lugagne at the University of Oxford during a conference, a meeting he described as a turning point. Recognizing that the methodology aligned with questions raised by his own research, he selected Prof Lugagne's lab for his fellowship.

Detailing his upcoming work, Dr Almarei explained that machine learning can assist in predicting cellular behavior without requiring a complete understanding of every underlying process. By combining his experimental bioengineering background with data-driven AI models, he aims to better predict and control living systems at Oxford, ultimately reducing reliance on costly wet-lab experiments and designing sustainable biological production.

As the UAE continues heavy investments in AI technology and infrastructure—recently highlighted by Abu Dhabi's Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council reviewing progress, plans for a joint UAE-US AI Campus, and the government's goal to become fully AI-native by 2027—Dr Almarei hopes to contribute to his nation's ambitions. Upon returning, fellows are considered for faculty positions at MBZUAI. Dr Almarei emphasized his desire to gain expertise that advances his research while strengthening domestic capabilities, aiming for both economic and societal impact alongside the mentorship of future researchers.