Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence has placed Dr. Mohamed Almarei as its inaugural Ruwwad AI Scholars fellow at the University of Oxford, according to the Emirates News Agency. Almarei will undertake a two-year research placement in the Department of Engineering Science, where his work will focus on the application of artificial intelligence to synthetic biology and the control of living systems. He earned a Ph.D. in bioengineering from Imperial College London, with research centered on engineering biological systems for sustainable bioproduction and improving microorganism performance under industrial conditions. The Emirates News Agency reported that this placement brings together Almarei’s experimental background with computational approaches at the intersection of AI, engineering and biology.
MBZUAI announced that Almarei will collaborate with Professor Jean-Baptiste Lugagne at Oxford, employing machine learning to better predict and control cellular behavior. The Ruwwad AI Scholars Fellowship, known as RAIS, fully funds the selected Emirati postdoctoral researchers with stipends, research support, insurance, relocation and conference travel while imposing no costs on the host institution. This first placement coincides with the opening of applications for the program’s second cohort, which remains open to eligible UAE nationals working in AI-related and interdisciplinary fields.
The fellowship program aims to prepare participants for tenure-track faculty positions and to strengthen the UAE’s domestic capacity in AI research and teaching, MBZUAI stated in its announcement. Information sessions for prospective applicants will take place during the autumn and winter of 2026 to support the next round of selections. University officials described the initiative as a pathway for Emirati scholars to gain experience at leading global institutions before returning to contribute to national academic development.
Since its establishment in 2019, MBZUAI has grown into a specialized graduate university focused exclusively on artificial intelligence, according to institutional records. The university welcomed its first cohort of 78 students from 29 countries in 2021, enrolling them primarily in machine learning and computer vision programs. Central Statistical Bureau data for the UAE places emphasis on building human capital in advanced technologies to support economic diversification, a goal that aligns with MBZUAI’s fellowship offerings.
Applications for the second RAIS cohort prioritize candidates with recent Ph.D. completions across fields including machine learning, data science, computational biology and related disciplines. MBZUAI’s launch of the program in April 2026 underscored its role in creating a pipeline of homegrown AI faculty equipped for both research and instruction. The selection process evaluates research potential, independence and alignment with the UAE’s long-term scientific objectives.
Dr. Mohamed Almarei’s appointment as the first RAIS fellow highlights the program’s focus on interdisciplinary innovation, a MBZUAI statement noted. His prior research at Imperial College London provides a foundation for the Oxford project, which seeks to advance understanding of living systems through AI tools. The university continues to expand such international placements to elevate national expertise in emerging technological domains.
