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 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 Qatar’s R&D mission.

What does this recognition mean to you?

I am absolutely honored to be the recipient of a GSRA scholarship. It showed me that hard work will pay off in the long run and I am confident that I will be a great exemplar to my peers and an asset to HBKU and the community. I am keen to contribute towards the development of Qatar through cutting edge research with potential for impact.

Can you tell us about your research projects that led to you receiving the scholarship?

The objective of my research project is to develop a unique ‘resource atlas’ for Qatar, based on the concept EWF Nexus Node to represent the decentralization of integrated EWF Nexus systems, and ideally provide a unique opportunity to support policymakers in making efficient decisions. This is significant for Qatar as it suffers from water scarcity and faces multiple environmental and food security challenges due to its highly arid climate.

Can you tell us about your background, and why research is important to you?

I completed my undergraduate studies at Qatar University and earned my bachelor’s degree in Industrial and System Engineering. In April 2020, I completed my master’s research in Sustainability at HBKU and achieved a GPA of 3.83. My research interests were mostly focused on supporting decision-making for resource management using geospatial analysis with a focus on the energy, water and food nexus and how it relates to food security. 

What are your long-term aspirations in terms of contributing to Qatar’s R&D mission?

I am eager to be a contributor rather than just a learner and I hope to be of significant value in helping the country achieve Qatar National Vision 2030. Upon completion of my PhD, I am confident that I will be able to engage with key stakeholders within sustainable development through multiple angles and channels, and interact with like-minded people to develop innovative solutions to address key challenges facing the nation.

Can you tell us about your experience of studying at HBKU?

I had a truly wonderful experience and the international reputation of HBKU, such as the diversity of the student body, is a very motivating environment for undertaking higher studies. The external guest speaker events were always a good opportunity to learn more from the expertise of leaders in the field and I am confident that pursuing my PhD studies at HBKU will prove an excellent investment for my career.