Dr. Rabih Roufayel is an Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology in the Department of Chemistry at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology/ Genetics from the University of Guelph, Canada.
His current research interests focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying human cancer cell survival and metastasis, with a particular emphasis on stress induced cell death regulation and the role of oncogenic microRNAs activated in tumors. He also explores therapeutic targets and antiviral drug candidates in cancer and infectious diseases, contributing to the development of model systems for pharmaceutical evaluation.
He is an active peer reviewer for scientific journals including the Journal of Chemotherapy and The Open Medicinal Journal. In addition to teaching and curriculum development, he contributes to departmental and college service initiatives.
Dr. Rakan Naboulsi is an assistant professor at the American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait, specializing in genomics, bioinformatics, and translational molecular biology. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from Uppsala University, Sweden, and completed postdoctoral fellowships at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and the Karolinska Institute, where he led multidisciplinary projects on animal genomics and cancer biology.
Dr. Naboulsi’s research integrates comparative and translational genomics, focusing on gene regulation, adaptation, and resistance mechanisms across species. His studies have contributed to understanding livestock genetics, equine performance biology, and chemoresistance in leukemia and colon cancer, resulting in publications in high-impact, Scopus-indexed journals, including Nature Communications, BMC Genomics, and PLoS Genetics.
He also serves as a Reviewing Editor for Springer Nature and regularly reviews manuscripts for leading journals such as PLOS ONE, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, and Equine Veterinary Journal. Dr. Naboulsi is committed to teaching and mentoring students, advancing interdisciplinary research, and fostering innovation at the interface of molecular genetics, biotechnology, and precision medicine.
Dr. Rami Al-Hajj is a professor in the Department of Mathematics at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He holds a Ph.D. in Signal and Image Processing from Télécom ParisTech, France (2007), following a DEA in Mathematical Modeling and Intensive Computation and a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from the Lebanese University. His research interests include machine learning, data mining, pattern recognition, optimization, and evolutionary computation. He previously worked at Business Machines Corporation and Lebanese International University. Dr. Al-Hajj was part of the winning team at the Arabic Handwritten Word Recognition Competition at ICDAR 2005 in Seoul. He is a member of the IEEE Intelligent Computation Community and an active member of the ENST-ParisTech alumni network.
Dr. Rami Alhasan is an assistant professor of chemical engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait, specializing in transport phenomena, phase separation, and polymer physics. He integrates Aspen HYSYS and Python into undergraduate courses, guiding students in real-world design projects with several recognized in regional competitions. Dr. Alhasan serves as Head of the Lab Committee, spearheading the modernization of department facilities. He further shapes academic excellence through his active roles on the Curriculum and Accreditation Committees His research interests include process optimization, material separation, and data-driven industrial modeling. Dr. Alhasan promotes a teaching philosophy that blends rigor with creativity, clarity, and engagement.
Dr. Rami Halloush is an Associate Professor of Computer Engineering at AUM. He received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University, USA. His research interests include stochastic modeling, optimization, wireless communications, cognitive radio, reinforcement learning, and cybersecurity.
Dr. Rani Taher is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait, with over 15 years of experience specializing in thermofluids, renewable energy systems, and smart building technologies. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanics from the University of Aix-Marseille, France. His expertise includes heat transfer optimization, thermoacoustic cooling, and energy-efficient HVAC design, and he holds a patent for a thermoacoustic cooler prototype. Dr. Rani has authored over 40 publications and collaborated with institutions such as McGill University and the National Research Council Canada. At AUM, he teaches ABET-accredited courses, mentors engineering students, and leads projects aligned with Kuwait’s sustainability goals. He has received the Best Ph.D. Award (France) and NIH grants and is a member of ASHRAE and the Lebanese Engineers Syndicate. His work bridges academia and industry, contributing to sustainable urban development across the GCC.
Rasha Shawish is a senior laboratory instructor in the Department of Computer Engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. She is dedicated to fostering active student engagement, promoting lifelong learning, and contributing to a collaborative and inclusive academic environment.
In addition to delivering hands-on technical instruction, she plays an active role in institutional development through participation in departmental meetings, interdisciplinary workshops, and collaborative projects. Her involvement in curricular enhancements and university-wide events reflects her commitment to enriching the student experience and advancing academic excellence.
Rasha continuously engages in professional development by attending conferences, participating in faculty development programs, and collaborating with peers to stay current with developments in engineering education. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in ethical conduct, mutual respect, and inclusivity, and she strives to create a supportive learning environment that encourages academic integrity and student success.
Dr. Raymond Ghandour is an associate professor of electrical engineering and the research and faculty development coordinator at the American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He received a B.Eng. in Computer and Communication Engineering with a focus on Industrial Computing and Robotics from Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Lebanon. He holds two M.S. degrees: one in Industrial Control from the Lebanese University, and another in Information Technology and Systems from the University of Technology of Compiègne, France. He earned his Ph.D. in Automatic Control from the same French institution.
Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Ghandour held postdoctoral research positions at the Polytechnic University – Hauts-de-France and CETIM, in partnership with the University of Technology of Compiègne. In 2013, he joined the ALTRAN Group (now CAPGEMINI) in Lille, France, as Director of Research and Development. In parallel, he pursued an additional Master's in Innovative Project and Startup Development at IAE Business School, Lille and subsequently founded the Innovation Universe consulting company in 2016 to support technology entrepreneurship.
Dr. Ghandour’s research spans a broad range of fields including thermodynamic system control, HVAC systems, photonics, signal processing, driving assistance systems, modeling and control of nonlinear systems, sustainable energy, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
Dr. Recep Kizilaslan is an assistant professor of industrial engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He earned his Ph.D. in Management Engineering from Istanbul Technical University, and holds M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Industrial Engineering. His research focuses on supply chain and logistics management, warehouse operations, statistical modeling, machine learning, and big data analytics. He has published extensively in top-tier journals and presented at international conferences. He has led industry-supported projects in aviation, apparel, and energy, and integrates advanced analytical methods into his teaching and consulting.
Rehman Shahzad is a senior laboratory instructor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering, with a focus on electrical power and energy systems.
With over eight years of teaching experience and a professional background in the power industry, his academic and research interests include power systems, renewable energy, control systems, generation and transmission expansion planning, fault analysis, wind energy, and the cybersecurity of the electrical grid. He is particularly interested in the impact of Artificial Intelligence on both the power industry and academia, and in addressing the challenges posed by the growing integration of distributed energy systems.