Dr. Zaher AlBarakeh is an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait.
He earned his engineering degree from the Lebanese University, a Master’s in Robotics from Blaise Pascal University in France, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from École des Mines de Saint-Étienne. A Senior Member of IEEE, Dr. Al Barakeh's research interests include robotics, environmental engineering, sensor design, environmental monitoring, smart buildings and cities, and AI applications.
Since 2017, he has served as Capstone Project Coordinator at AUM, aligning academic projects with accreditation standards and the university’s strategic goals. His teaching approach emphasizes innovation, applied research, and critical thinking, and he has published widely in international journals.
Zainab Dashti is a laboratory instructor in the Architectural Engineering Department at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. She holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from Temple University and a bachelor’s in Architectural Engineering from Drexel University. During her University studies she was awarded the AJ Drexel Scholarship and served as president of the Drexel Arab Intercultural Society.
Her teaching portfolio includes architectural design studios, AutoCAD drafting, and Mechanics of Materials labs. Zainab’s research interests focus on intelligent building envelopes, structural expression in architecture, and climate-adaptive infrastructure in the Gulf region. She aims to bridge design and engineering in addressing environmental, cultural, and user-centered challenges in architecture.
Dr. Zakwan Al-Arnaout is an associate professor in the Department of Information Systems and Technology at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, focusing on content replication and placement in wireless mesh networks (WMNs). He also holds an M.Sc. in Computer Science from Al al-Bayt University, Jordan, and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Jordan. His research interests span computer networks, cybersecurity, machine learning, and IoT, with publications in journals such as Elsevier Computer Networks, IEEE Access, and Sensors. He has presented at leading conferences like IEEE ICC, ACM MSWiM, IEEE LCN, and IEEE PIMRC. Dr. AlArnaout serves as a reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Multimedia, IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, and IEEE Access.
Dr. Zehra Ezgi Kara is a Turkish flutist, educator, and scholar, currently serving as assistant professor within the Liberal Arts Department at the American University of the Middle East (AUM) in Kuwait. She teaches World Music, Music Appreciation, and Fundamentals of Music, and coordinates the AUM Music Club.
She holds a Ph.D. in Music Performance from Istanbul Technical University, where she researched Sofia Gubaidulina’s flute works, and a Master’s in Music Education from Bursa Uludağ University. Her undergraduate studies include classical flute at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and music education at Marmara University.
Previously an Associate Professor at Bursa Uludağ University, Dr. Kara has performed with leading ensembles such as the National Student Orchestra and the Amsterdam Sweelinck Orchestra. She has also served as a Eurovision jury member for the Netherlands.
Her research focuses on music education, performance analysis, and 20th-century repertoire. Dr. Kara is known for blending academic rigor with practical musicianship in both her teaching and publications.
Dr. Zekeriya Uykan is a professor of electrical engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait.
He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees with honors in Electrical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Turkey. He earned his Licentiate of Technology (Lic.Tech.) and Doctor of Technology (Dr.Tech.) degrees, both with honors, from the Helsinki University of Technology (now Aalto University), Finland.
Dr. Uykan has held various academic and research roles internationally. He served as a Research Scientist at the Helsinki University of Technology, and held visiting positions at Stanford University, Harvard University, and Aalto University. He also served on the faculty of Dogus University, Turkey, and joined AUM in 2014.
His industry experience includes over a decade at Nokia Research Center and Nokia Siemens Networks, where he contributed to cutting-edge developments in radio communications.
Dr. Uykan’s academic contributions span signal processing, radio communications, and neural networks. He brings a global perspective shaped by his diverse experience across Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
Dr. Zeynep Gurkan is an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. She holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics with a major in computer science from Ege University, and both M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Mathematics from the Izmir Institute of Technology. She has pursued advanced studies in electrical engineering and quantum computation at the Henri Poincaré Institute in Paris, held a research post at the Center for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, and served as Vice Chair of the Industrial Engineering Department at Izmir Institute of Technology. At AUM, she teaches a range of mathematics courses, coordinates departmental activities, and supports research development. Her interests include quantum computing, differential equations, and interdisciplinary engineering. She is a reviewer for the AMS and recently completed a postgraduate certificate in AI and Machine Learning from the University of Texas, Austin.