Profiles

Dr. Nikita Kondratyev is a Research Specialist at the Integrated Photonics Laboratory (IPL) under the supervision of Prof. Yating Wan at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). He earned PhD in Physics from the M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, where he specialized in nonlinear optics and numerical modeling. 

Before joining KAUST in 2025 Dr. Kondratyev worked at the Russian Quantum Center in the Laboratory of Coherent Microoptics and Radiophotonics covering a wide range of topics, including electro-optic effects, thermal noise and thermal effects, self-injection locking, laser stabilization, and Kerr frequency combs. A unified theoretical framework and simulation scripts for modeling frequency comb generation and self-injection locking were developed there. Since 2022, Dr. Kondratyev has worked as a Senior Photonic Integrated Circuit Designer at the Technology Innovation Institute in Abu Dhabi, he was involved in chip design and testing automation. A novel phased-array pattern to minimize sidelobe levels was proposed, for which a patent was provisionally submitted in November 2024.

Dr. Kondratyev has published over 80 research papers in leading international journals, including Nature Communications, Optics Letters, Physical Review (A and Applied) having WOS h-index 18. 

Dr. Kondratyev’s research focuses on nonlinear optics, integrated photonics, self-injection locking, photonic phased arrays and numerical modeling.

Sebastian Celis Sierra received the B.Eng. degrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, in 2018, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, in 2020 and 2026, respectively. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at KAUST under the supervision of Hakan Bagci. His research interests include computational electromagnetics, specifically time-domain integral equation solvers, bianisotropic structures, and the characterization of 2D materials like graphene.

Sebastian's research focuses on formulating and implementing surface and volume integral-equation methods in both the time and frequency domains to capture complex electromagnetic behavior in arbitrarily shaped metasurfaces. By coupling these formulations with generalized sheet transition conditions (GSTCs), he aims to achieve both numerical efficiency and physical fidelity. His work advances the theoretical foundations and practical computational tools necessary for the next generation of communication systems.

Sofiane Ben Mbarek received his B.S. degree in Electronic Signals and Systems from Toulon University, Toulon, France, in 2006 and his M.S. degree in Telecommunications and Microelectronics from Nice-Sophia-Antipolis University, Nice, France, in 2007. He obtained his Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences and Microsystems from Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France, in 2011. Before joining KAUST, he was a postdoc at the Centre for Quantum Materials and Technologies, Queen’s University, Belfast, UK. He has research and teaching experience in various universities and companies. His research and interests include magnetic sensors, electromagnetic compatibility, multiphysics modeling, and nanofabrication.

• Magnetic Sensors 
• Electromagnetic Compatibility
• Multiphysics Modeling
• Micro and Nanofabrication

Wahyu Hendra Gunawan currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Photonics Laboratory in the Division of Computer Electrical and Mathematical Sciences & Engineering (CEMSE) at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). He earned his B.S. and M.S in Physics at Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Indonesia, in 2012 and 2014, respectively. In December 2022, he earned his P.hD. from Department of Photonics at National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan, with research focus on Enabling Techniques for Optical Wireless Communication and Optical Fiber Communication Systems. He has over 15 authored/co-authored publication in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. He also serving the scientific community as reviewers for several international journals, such as: Drones, Applied Sciences, Sensors, IEEE System Journal, IEEE Access and Photonics.

Optical Systems and Communications, Wireless Optical Sensing

Dr. Weiping Li is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Integrated Photonics Laboratory (IPL) under the supervision of Prof. Yating Wan at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Before joining KAUST, he received his B. S. degree in National University of Defense and Technology, in 2016, and Ph. D. degree in Fudan University, in 2024. 
Prior to joining IPL, Dr. Li was a postdoctoral scholar at Institute of Advanced Chips and Systems, Fudan University. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles , with more than 30 as first and corresponding authors, including Optical Fiber Communications Conference (Post deadline paper), Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Journal of Lightwave Technology, Science China Information Sciences, Optics Letters, etc. Dr. Li won the 2024 Shanghai Outstanding Graduate. In addition, he was selected into the list of top 2% scientists in the world in 2025.
 

Dr. Li’s research interests include integrated photonics-aided LIDAR, Quantum dot lasers, broadband photonics-aided terahertz communication and sensing, etc.

Dr. Teng's primary research interests lie in the field of antenna theory and technology, with a specific focus on the design of millimeter-wave high-gain antennas, phased array antennas, and endfire antennas. Her designed antennas can be applied in various advanced systems, including 5G phased array communication systems, 77GHz automotive radar systems, and shipborne communication systems.

• GNSS Localization.
• Attitude Determination.

Dr. Ying is a Postdoc Fellow at the Integrated Photonics Laboratory under the supervision of Prof. Yating Wan at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Before joining KAUST, he received his B.E. degree in Communication Engineering from Lanzhou University in 2017 with some honors such as the First Price Scholarship, School Outstanding Graduates Awards. He received the Ph.D. degree from the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Optical Communication Systems and Networks at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2022. His Ph.D. doctoral research focuses on polymer waveguide technology for high-speed optical circuit board application. He previously published 16 journals and conference papers, including the first author's 3 OE, 1 OL, OFC, OECC, etc. He now pivots himself towards the silicon photonics integrated circuit platform and its applications.

Dr. Ying’s research interests are optical interconnects, silicon photonics.

• Localization.
• Autonomous Navigation.  
• Sensor Fusion.

Abdelrahman Fatouh is an electrical and computer engineering master’s student at KAUST started in 2025, specializing in embedded systems, AI, and IoT. He holds a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from King Saud University (2024) and has industry experience developing robotics and intelligent systems at multiple technology start-ups. His recent work includes EEG-based humanoid robot control for disabled people.

• Embedded systems
• AI
• TinyMl,
• IoT
• Digital hardware design

Abdullah Alquwayzani is a Ph.D. student at the Photonics Lab in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST.) He received his M.S. degree from KAUST in 2022 with a thesis in characterizing the power consumption of a flexible system-on-chip. He recieved his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2020.

Optoelectronics

Abdullah Alshehri is a Ph.D. candidate in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department at the Integrated Circuit and System (ICS) Research Group at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). 

Alshehri received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Brighton in the United Kingdom in 2014. In 2016, he earned his master's degree in Electrical Engineering (Electro-physics) from KAUST in Saudi Arabia.

Alshehri's research focuses on designing low-power, high-speed CMOS interface circuits for sensors. He has published over 10 papers and obtained a patent. Throughout his academic and professional journey, Alshehri has gained valuable experience from positions at companies such as STC, Digital Network, ARAMCO, SEMC, Umm Al Qura University, and KAUST.

Abdullah's research interests focus on the design of low-power, high-performance interface circuits for advanced applications. Specific areas of focus include:

1. Low-power, high-speed CMOS interface circuit design:
   • Developing energy-efficient amplifiers, filters, and other analog building blocks
   • Optimizing circuit topologies and techniques to improve power, speed, and linearity
2. High-performance analog comparators:
   • Designing low-offset, low-noise comparator circuits
   • Enhancing comparator speed and resolution for precision applications
3. Energy-efficient digital logic circuits:
   • Implementing compact, low-power digital logic blocks and controllers
   • Exploring circuit techniques to minimize dynamic and static power consumption
4. High-speed, low-power analog-to-digital converters (ADCs):
   • Advancing ADC architectures and circuit designs to improve power consumption and conversion rates
   • Reducing the design complexity of high-performance ADC

• Developing Biosensors to detect biomarkers for cancer and other ailments.
• Studying electrochemical characteristics of various materials, polymers and films.
• Designing wearable, point-of-care, biotech medical devices.
• Utilizing machine learning to aid in sensing and data interpretation.

Abeer Alamoudi received the B.Sc. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Effat University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2019. She received the M.Sc. degree from KAUST in 2021 and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. with the Communications and Computing Systems Laboratory (CCSL).

Abeer’s research focuses on Human Body Communication (HBC) and energy-efficient Internet of Bodies (IoB) networks, including capacitive access schemes and deep reinforcement learning enabled networks.

Ahmed Hussain received his B.E. degree in Avionics Engineering from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2014. He earned his M.S. degree in Avionics Engineering from the Aerospace and Aviation Campus, Kamra, Pakistan. During his undergraduate studies, he was awarded the President’s Gold Medal for achieving the highest GPA and the Rector’s Gold Medal for the best project. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia.

His research interests include deep learning-enabled near-field communication, digital array signal processing, and wireless communications.

Amin Almozel is a PhD candidate whose research focuses on simulation, optimization, and autonomous mobility systems. His work includes developing a city-scale drone-traffic simulator and an unmanned traffic management framework that integrates logistics applications such as autonomous food delivery. Throughout his doctoral studies, Amin has been dedicated to advancing safe, efficient, and scalable air-traffic solutions for urban environments. His broader interests include intelligent transportation systems, real-time planning, and high-fidelity modeling of autonomous agents.

• Autonomous and Intelligent Systems​ Robotics
• Drones
• Air Traffic Control

Amr N. Abdelrahman received his B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Nanotechnology and Nanoelectronics Engineering from the University of Science and Technology, Zewail City, Egypt, in 2021, and his M.Sc. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, in 2023. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at KAUST. In 2024, he was a visiting scholar at Polytechnique Montréal, Canada.

His research focuses on the development of ultra-low-power transceivers for next-generation wearable devices using human body communication (HBC). His work aims to enable wire-free connectivity between low-power wearable sensor nodes without relying on traditional RF or wired links.

Amr's research interests include human body communication, analog and mixed-signal circuit design, and low-power electronics for biomedical applications.

• Robotics
• Self-Assembly
• Control
• 3D Printing
• Modeling

Aoun’s research focuses on improving how power systems operate and plan under high shares of variable renewables. At KAUST he is developing advanced unit commitment methods that explicitly consider renewable uncertainty and system stability while searching for algorithmic speed-ups and new formulations using quantum computation. Earlier work includes stochastic AC optimal power flow solved with machine learning surrogates, and course projects on grid-following and grid-forming inverter modeling for wind farms plus HVDC design for bulk power transfer.

During his master’s degree (fully funded) at Skoltech, Moscow (2022-2024), Aoun worked on a modified frequency control strategy for solar PV inverters using a virtual synchronous generator approach. His bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (COMSATS University Islamabad, 2017-2021) included an ERASMUS+ semester at Sehir University Istanbul, in 2019. For his final-year project he developed an AI-based automatic meter reading framework that used deep neural networks for digit detection and recognition. He graduated as the silver medalist of his class.

Aoun has industrial experience from internships with LESCO in Pakistan and Shakarganj Mills Limited, and he worked as a Management Trainee Engineer at Shakarganj Mills Limited from 2021 to 2022. He programs primarily in MATLAB and Python and is actively developing skills in quantum software stacks such as PennyLane and Qiskit to apply quantum techniques to optimization problems in power systems.

• Unit commitment and scheduling for systems with high renewable penetration
• Quantum and hybrid quantum-classical algorithms for power-system optimization
• Stochastic AC optimal power flow and machine-learning-based surrogates
• Grid-forming and grid-following inverter modeling and control for wind farms
• HVDC system design and power transfer studies

Arturo is a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering (CEMSE) Division of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Following his participation in the KAUST's 2017 Photonics Summer Camp, he started his graduate studies at KAUST in August 2018. Prior to his graduate studies he earned B.Sc. in Engineering Physics from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Mexico) in 2017, and conducted a research intership in the Nuclear Sciences Institute (ICN) of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in 2016.

Arturo is the co-founder of Pixeltra Inc., a startup company specializing in multidimensional imaging solutions through metasurfaces. He actively serves as a reviewer for Nature Communications, and has authored ten publications in high-impact factor journals during his Ph.D. He received the Academic Excellence award from KAUST in 2022 and 2023, and was awarded 2nd place at the 2019 Falling Walls international pitching competition.

Arturo's research focuses on the design and fabrication of optical metasurfaces, emphasizing practical applications in remote sensing and hyperspectral imaging.