Salah Abu-Ghalyon is a lab instructor at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He holds a B.A. in Computer Engineering from the Hashemite University and an M.Sc. in Embedded Systems from Yarmouk University, Jordan.
With 11 years of experience as a lab instructor, he has taught laboratory courses in computer networks, wireless networks, embedded systems, digital logic, and Python-based applications. Before moving into academia, he worked as a software developer.
His research interests include cyber-physical security, risk assessment, smart grids, robotics, and generative AI. He worked as an assistant researcher on the CyberSSGridHU project, funded by Jordan’s Ministry of Higher Education, analyzing smart grid resilience under cyber-physical threats across voltage levels. He also contributed to the FPGA-based project “Design of Energy-Optimized Neural Networks”, funded by the Hashemite University. In that role, he evaluated the performance of large language models (LLMs) in retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) settings to identify the best candidates for FPGA deployment.
Dr. Saleem Abdel-Hady is an assistant professor of Linguistics at the American University of the Middle East in Kuwait. He holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, and M.A. and B.A. degrees in English Linguistics from Yarmouk University, Jordan. Dr. Abdelhady specializes in communication, English language teaching, and pragmatics, and syntax, with a particular focus on ostensible communication and grounding in interaction. He has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and serves as a reviewer and editor for leading academic publishers. His research advances understanding of how speakers use language strategically to convey meanings that go beyond literal expression. In addition to his academic roles, he is actively involved in professional development and promotes innovative practices in linguistic research and teaching.
Dr. Saleem Hamady is an associate professor and the interactive learning coordinator in the Department of Physics, at the College of Engineering & Technology at the American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He holds a Ph.D. in Micro & Nano Systems from Paul Sabatier University, France. His areas of expertise include computational electronics and educational technologies. Dr. Hamady holds two patents in electronic device design and has authored over ten papers published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. He has also held academic leadership roles, including Acting Dean of Engineering and Chairperson of the Mechatronics Department at the Arts, Sciences and Technology University in Lebanon.
Dr. Saleh Mahmoud is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Adelaide, Australia. His expertise includes renewable energy systems, energy efficiency, thermo-fluid sciences, and combustion. Dr. Mahmoud brings industry experience in consulting and construction engineering, which informs his applied teaching and research. His scholarly work focuses on sustainable energy technologies and experimental thermal-fluid systems. He has multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. At AUM, he contributes to curriculum development, ABET accreditation, and mentors student projects related to solar energy and sustainability.
Dr. Sally El-Afchal is an assistant professor of business law at the College of Business Administration, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. She holds a PhD in Law and a Master’s degree in Business Law from the Lebanese University, where she also earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Law. Her areas of specialization include business law, contract law, corporate governance, and oil and gas contract law. Dr. El-Afchal has taught various legal subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and previously served at the Lebanese University’s Faculty of Law and Political Sciences. Her research focuses on corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and the intersection of law and technology. She is the author of the book “Oil Contracts and Arbitration as a Means of Resolving their Disputes,” which was adopted as a teaching resource at the Lebanese University. She has also published Scopus-indexed articles on artificial intelligence in legal and academic contexts.
Dr. Salman Ghazal is an associate professor of mathematics at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He obtained his Ph.D. in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics in 2011 from Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, France, and the Lebanese University, Lebanon.
His research focuses on Graph Theory, including structural graph theory, chromatic number, tournaments, and Ramsey-type problems. He has co-supervised several Ph.D. and Master’s students and published in prestigious journals such as Journal of Graph Theory, Discrete Mathematics, Communication in Combinatorics and Optimization and Discrete Applied Mathematics. Dr. Ghazal has presented his work at international conferences including the 8th French Combinatorial Conference (2011) and Extremal Combinatorics at Illinois,USA (2016).
Dr. Samer Al Kork is a professor of electrical engineering and the director of the Robotics Research Center at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait.
He holds a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago, an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from the University of Balamand. With over 20 years of academic and research experience, Dr. Al Kork specializes in robotics, artificial intelligence, biomedical sensors, and biomechanics.
He has led several multi-million-euro European-funded research initiatives and has published extensively in international journals and conferences. At AUM, he established the Research and Innovation Center and led collaborations with institutions such as CMRA. He is the founder and organizer of Robotex Kuwait, a national robotics competition, and has contributed to ABET accreditation efforts and the enhancement of engineering education standards.
Dr. Samer El‑Zahab is an assistant professor of civil engineering at the College of Engineering & Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He earned his BSc in Civil Engineering from Rafik Hariri University, an MSc from the University of Balamand, Lebanon, and his PhD in Building Engineering from Concordia University, where his doctoral work focused on leak detection and localization in water distribution networks. He holds professional credentials including PMP, CXPL, and LSSGB. Samer specializes in intelligent infrastructure, machine‑learning applications in civil engineering, and optimization of municipal asset rehabilitation. His research has led to innovations such as acoustic and accelerometer‑based leak detection models and novel algorithms for repair prioritization. With over 36 publications and 500+ citations, Samer’s work continues to drive advancements in civil engineering, sustainable infrastructure and smart water systems.
Dr. Sami Tlais is an associate professor of chemistry and chair of the Chemistry Department at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He earned his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from Florida State University (FSU), USA, and his B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Lebanese University (LU). He completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he advanced his expertise in organic chemistry.
With academic experience spanning the United States, Lebanon, and Kuwait, Dr. Tlais has held several academic and leadership positions, including Associate Dean and Associate Chair at the Lebanese International University. His research interests lie at the intersection of organic synthesis, computational chemistry, catalysis, and the integration of artificial intelligence in STEM education.
Dr. Tlais has published extensively in high-impact journals such as ACS Omega, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal of Chemical Education, Molecules, and Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence. He remains active in academic service as a journal reviewer and workshop contributor in the areas of scientific communication, digital transformation, and AI in education.
Dr. Samira Dichari is an assistant professor in the Liberal Arts Department at the American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. She holds academic qualifications in English literature, TEFL, and education, and brings over 30 years of experience teaching writing skills, public speaking, research methodologies, and leadership—five of which have been at the university level.
Her research explores the intersection of communication and leadership, particularly in diverse and interdisciplinary settings. She has published nine peer-reviewed articles and presented at several Scopus-indexed conferences and journals on topics including emotional intelligence, artificial intelligence, leadership, communication theories, and constructivist pedagogy. Her specific research interests include social learning theories and language teaching methodologies. She is currently developing a teaching guide focused on Generation Z learners, examining their learning styles and the challenges educators face.