Tag: United Arab Emirates

American University of Sharjah (AUS) is launching a new doctoral program in biosciences and bioengineering (PhD-BSBE), which will be available for students starting Fall 2023.

This is the fourth PhD program in the university’s portfolio, expanding AUS’ position as a provider of outstanding graduate education and leader in novel research. The multidisciplinary program is delivered by the College of Engineering in collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences. Graduates of this program will be prepared to combat current and future healthcare challenges nationally and globally and be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to become future researchers, academics and entrepreneurs.

“Developments in the UAE and wider Middle East have contributed to the decision of the university to launch this program. The MENA region saw exponential population growth in the latter part of the 20th century and into the 21st century. With this population growth has come increased demand for essential services such as healthcare, food, security, water and energy. Professionals who are highly skilled in the fields of bioscience and bioengineering are essential to the development and universal provision of such services. Those completing the new PhD-BSBE will be well-placed to assist governments and private providers in the region and around the world ensure that populations are adequately catered for across these services, both now and into the future. They will apply their knowledge in biology, engineering and technology to address today’s medical needs and produce innovative solutions that enhance healthcare services,” said Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of CEN.

PhD-BSBE students will be advised and taught by qualified faculty at the forefront of their fields, and who are currently engaged in several research projects in biosensors and implantable devices, biomechanics, cardiovascular disease, cancer, cellular physiology, drug delivery, healthcare management, infectious diseases, inflammation, medical imaging and bioinformatics, microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip, neuroscience, and neuroengineering.

“The interdisciplinary nature of the program stimulates an academic environment that promotes excellence in teaching and research, helping students to become competent, innovative and responsible professionals. The PhD-BSBE program will directly serve to realize the UAE agenda by providing high-quality biosciences and bioengineering education to support the healthcare services, biotechnology and life sciences sectors,” said Dr. Mahmoud Anabtawi, Dean of CAS.

The program admits part-time and full-time students, with full-time students offered the opportunity to be considered for a competitive full graduate assistantship for the duration of the program. Program admission is based on applicants’ academic history, research capabilities and proficiency in specialized skills demanded by their area of research.

For more information about the program and admission requirements, visit www.aus.edu/cen/phd-in-biosciences-and-bioengineering.

Urbanization, population growth and environmental factors have necessitated the design and implementation of sustainable and efficient infrastructure solutions around the world. As researchers have been looking into alternative materials for sustainable infrastructures, Dr. Farid Abed, Professor in Civil Engineering at American University of Sharjah (AUS), has been leading research teams to examine the usage and durability of innovative and sustainable reinforcement and repair construction materials in the UAE.

With more than 10 years of experience in sustainable reinforced concrete structures and structural mechanics of polymers and composites, Dr. Abed is researching the use of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) and Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites in concrete structures. FRPs and FRCM are environmentally friendly, nontoxic and magnetic insulators of low density and high strength- to-weight ratio. These characteristics make them easy to handle and cost effective. Commonly used types include Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) and Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (BFRP).

“Products such as GFRP, BFRP and many others are relatively new and are yet to be researched thoroughly in the UAE. Many of these products require testing on full-scale structural elements, which means detailed research is needed to accurately predict the performance of concrete structures using these new products. My research on reinforcing concrete structures aims to identify the areas that require further study while working with governmental agencies and private companies to develop and implement tests that will ensure the successful use of these new products and reduction of maintenance costs,” said Dr. Abed.

He added: “Reinforcement of concrete structures with innovative and sustainable materials, including the use of advanced composites, is of increasing interest to the industry and governments. Research in the field is important because it will inform the development of the existing construction codes and standards.”

Dr. Abed has outlined his findings in two studies that are pertinent to developments in construction in the UAE: “Structural Performance and Durability of Carbon-, Glass- and Basalt-Fiber Reinforced Polymer Reinforcing Bars under the GCC Harsh Environment” and “Innovative Retrofitting Technique of Corrosion-Damaged and Seismically-Deficient Reinforced Concrete Structures using FRCM composites.”

In his research, Dr. Abed collaborated with scholars from the US, Canada, France, Malaysia and the UAE. These included Dr. Ahmed El Refai from Laval University in Canada, Dr. Tamer El Maaddawy from UAE University, Dr. George Voyiadjis from Louisiana State University in the US and Dr. Mohammad Abdul Mannan from Sarawak University in Malaysia. His research also involved collaborations with the industry.

Looking ahead, Dr. Abed aims to investigate fire performance of reinforced concrete that consists of FRP and FRCM composites. He will be conducting his research in collaboration with Laval University in Canada and carry out the testing phase at the Thomas Bell-Wright fire facility in the UAE.

“This is a new research area where I will focus on studying the thermal and structural response of FRCM versus FRP systems in a fire, which is an area that has not been investigated sufficiently,” said Dr. Abed.

Dr. Abed believes in involving his students in research work to enable them to develop independent critical thinking along with oral and written communication skills. Graduate and undergraduate students have been heavily involved in Dr. Abed’s research and have co-authored many of his publications.

“Undergraduate students played an important role in experimentation and practical areas, while graduate students have been involved in the design and implementation of experiments as well as writing manuscripts. I have also supervised jointly and individually more than 30 graduate students, some of whom are currently pursuing their PhD studies in the US and Canada,” he said.

Dr. Abed has published more than 80 articles and more than 50 book chapters and conference proceedings. His work was published in prestigious top peer-reviewed journals such as the ASCE Journal of Composites for Construction, ASCE Journal of Engineering Mechanics, ACI Structural Journal, Composite Structures and Construction and Building Materials.

“AUS is very supportive of my research and very generous in funding my projects. My work has received several AUS faculty research grants including the funding of graduate students. I have also received external research grants from Bee’h and the Sharjah Research Academy,” said Dr. Abed.

AUS is ranked number one in the UAE and among the top ​150 universities globally for civil and structural engineering, according to QS World University Subject Rankings (202​2​). According to the same ranking, College of Engineering graduates are also the top choice for employers in the UAE. The Department of Civil Engineering is recognized throughout the region for the exceptional education it offers through its undergraduate and graduate programs.

For more information about what the civil engineering program offers, visit www.aus.edu/cen/department-of-civil-engineering.

The Stevens Initiative announced that the American University of Sharjah (AUS) is one its newest grantees to receive funding for virtual exchanges between young people in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa. AUS’ Transformative Sustainability Project (TSP) and Virtual Language Exchange (VLE) Project are two of four new Stevens Initiative-funded exchanges, awarded funding to institutions based in the UAE that will give young people experiential learning opportunities to explore topics impacting their local and global communities.

The Stevens Initiative is an international leader in virtual exchange, which brings young people from diverse places together to collaborate and connect through everyday technology. Created in 2015 as a lasting tribute to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the Initiative invests in virtual exchange programs between the U.S. and the Middle East and North Africa; shares research, resources, and promising practices to improve impact; and advocates for broader adoption.

AUS’ TSP gives undergraduate college students in the United Arab Emirates and the United States the tools to transform their local and global contexts into more sustainable communities in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. TSP helps participants shift their perspectives by asking them to grapple with some of the largest global problems and how people from different regions can work together to solve them. Through international collaboration, participants get hands on experience tackling issues that they otherwise would not engage with in their day to day lives. TSP empowers the leaders of tomorrow with tools to address interconnected global challenges and grow in sustainable ways.

AUS’ VLE provides participants in the United Arab Emirates and the United States a unique cross-cultural experience by examining diverse worldviews, languages, and cultures while critically thinking about media representations that shape their world knowledge. This program examines linguistics, culture in both historical and geographical contexts, and the use and interpretation of signs and symbols in participating communities. The VLE builds meaningful relationships among a diverse group of participants through collaborations on visual projects and open dialogues that strengthen multi-cultural understandings.

“We are excited to add these new programs to a long list of unique virtual exchanges that contribute to our vision of providing an opportunity to empower young people to drive positive change for our future. Each grantee works to create the next generation of globally-minded leaders, using virtual exchange as a tool to teach young people about the world around them,” said Christine Shiau, Director of the Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute.

Virtual exchange prepares young people for their future lives and careers by exposing them to global, collaborative environments where they can develop friendships, build skills, and take on new perspectives. Together, these new virtual exchange programs will immerse young people in topics such as linguistics and the study of symbols, storytelling, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and some of the world’s most pressing global concerns.

With the addition of AUS, the Initiative will expand its total reach by summer 2023 to nearly 75,000 young people in 17 MENA countries and in 49 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, five tribal communities, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C. Overall, 91 grantees have partnered with the Initiative between 2016 and today.

“Virtual exchange can be very effective in creating immersive experiences that leave a lasting and meaningful impression and we are very thankful to the Stevens Initiative for enabling us to harness its transformative power. With the TSP grant, we are looking forward to engaging, challenging, and enriching bright young minds across the world on all aspects of Sustainable Development”, said Kristina Katsos, Program Manager of the TSP and Instructor in the Department of International Studies of the American University of Sharjah.

Speaking about the VLE project, Dr. Susan Smith, Associate Professor in Mass Communication at AUS, said: “The Virtual Language Exchange program builds significant relationships with diverse student participants by creating collaborations through projects and dialogue that strengthen cross-cultural understandings.”

The Transformative Sustainability Project and the Virtual Language Exchange are funded by the Stevens Initiative, with support from the government of the United Arab Emirates. Learn more about the Stevens Initiative, which receives support from additional funders and is administered by the Aspen Institute, at https://www.stevensinitiative.org/.