The College of Science and Engineering (CSE), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, recently announced its most successful cycle of the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) Graduate Student Research Award (GSRA) program yet, with 17 students receiving a scholarship.

The program, now in its seventh cycle, was launched to promote the most deserving students QNRF believe will go on to promote a world-class research culture in Qatar, and who will contribute to the nation’s research and development (R&D) mission.

We spoke to some of the award recipients about what the scholarship means to them, their experience of studying at HBKU and their aspirations to be part of that mission.

What does this recognition mean to you?
To be chosen in the seventh cycle of the GRSA program for a full scholarship to complete my PhD in Computer Science and Engineering is a great honor.

Can you tell us about your research projects that led to you receiving the scholarship?
I am a member of the team led by Dr. Mohamed Abdallah and Dr. Noureddine Alaslaa in the ICT Division, and we have been awarded a Rapid Response Call grant from QNRF to address COVID-19. The project is to create a prototype deployment of a blockchain-based transparent rewarding system to incentivize people to commit to confinement using wireless location as a monitoring service.

Can you tell us about your background, and why research is important to you?
I completed my bachelor’s degree in Computer Networks and recently earned my master’s in Cybersecurity at HBKU. My interest in technology began at a young age when I was deciding what steps to take academically for the benefit of my career. 

What are your long-term aspirations in terms of contributing to Qatar’s R&D mission?
This is important for me as a Qatari citizen, and it is an honor to become an active participant in achieving Qatar National Vision 2030. Part of the vision is building a knowledgeable society, and from this point, as a PhD candidate and a researcher, I can participate in accomplishing something that is innovative and would be counted towards my country's vision, on behalf of my nation.

Can you tell us about your experience of studying at HBKU?
I had a terrific experience at HBKU, despite the circumstances we all faced from COVID-19. It affected us as students but HBKU’s management of these circumstances was very impressive. The university showed the capability to accomplish high-quality learning remotely and the researchers found solutions to many problems caused by COVID-19.