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ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has placed the first fellow under its Ruwwad AI Scholars Fellowship at the University of Oxford and opened applications for the programme’s second cohort, the university said in a statement.
The fellowship supports Emirati postdoctoral researchers and academic leaders working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and other disciplines. It aims to prepare fellows for future faculty careers and strengthen the UAE’s research and teaching capacity in AI.
Dr Mohamed Almarei, the programme’s inaugural fellow, will undertake a two-year research placement at the University of Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science.
His research will focus on applying AI to synthetic biology and controlling living systems. He will work with Professor Jean-Baptiste Lugagne on research using machine learning to improve the prediction and control of cellular behaviour.
The fellowship will combine Almarei’s background in experimental bioengineering with computational approaches, helping him develop expertise spanning AI, engineering and biology.
Almarei holds a doctorate in bioengineering from Imperial College London, where his research focused on engineering biological systems for more sustainable bioproduction. This included work to improve the performance of microorganisms under industrial conditions.
“I chose to pursue research at the intersection of AI and biology because I believe it has the potential to ultimately benefit humanity,” Almarei said.
“Through the RAIS programme and my time at Oxford, I hope to deepen my expertise, advance research with meaningful real-world impact, and bring that knowledge and experience back to contribute to the UAE’s ambitions in the field,” he added.
Applications are now open for the second cohort of the Ruwwad AI Scholars Fellowship. The programme is open to eligible Emirati postdoctoral researchers working in AI-related and interdisciplinary fields.
MBZUAI will hold information sessions for prospective applicants during autumn and winter 2026, according to the release.
Founded in Abu Dhabi in 2019, MBZUAI enrolled its first graduate students in 2021 and opened its undergraduate programme in 2025. The university has nearly 1,000 students from more than 70 countries.
