A note from Prof. Arief

I care deeply about building a team that is curious, kind, and driven by purpose. I value people who see technology as a way to serve humanity equitably — not just publish papers. If that resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you.

Our research areas → About KFUPM → IRC Smart Mobility & Logistics → JRC-AI (KFUPM-SDAIA) →

About this section

Use your passport name exactly — KFUPM HR will use this for visa processing. A Google Scholar link helps me quickly see your work and saves us both time.

If you don't have a personal website, that's fine — your CV and pitch deck will tell me what I need to know.

What I look for

I'm less interested in perfect GPAs and more in your trajectory. Show me growth. If your GPA doesn't reflect your ability, the reflection essay is your chance to explain.

For English: IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 90+ is preferred, but strong research output can compensate. GPA scales vary — please include yours (e.g., 3.8/4.0).

Document tips

Your CV should be concise (2-3 pages). Focus on research output, not every course you took.

The pitch deck: 3 slides is intentional. Slide 1: What problem? Slide 2: Your approach. Slide 3: Expected impact. I care about clarity of thought, not slide design.

The reflection essay is where I get to know you as a person. What drives you? What do you genuinely want to build? Be honest — I can tell when someone is writing what they think I want to hear.

I review every application personally. AI tools are welcome, but if your essay reads like a generic prompt output, it signals you didn't invest the time. That matters to me.

Our research areas

My lab works at the intersection of AI safety, verification & validation, and optimization under uncertainty — applied to autonomous systems, energy transition, and supply chains.

Pick areas that genuinely excite you, not what you think I want. The best collaborations come from authentic interest. I'm especially keen on people who can bridge theory and real-world impact.

The AI question: I want to know how you'll actually use AI in your workflow — tools, methods, pipelines. Not philosophy.

Life at KFUPM

KFUPM is in Dhahran, Eastern Saudi Arabia. It's a self-contained campus with housing, recreation, and a strong international research community. Tax-free salary and benefits.

Visa processing typically takes 4-8 weeks. KFUPM handles all sponsorship. Housing is provided for researchers and families — the family status question helps us plan ahead.

Start dates are flexible. I'm happy to work around your timeline.

KFUPM campus & life → Saudi visa info →

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AI Verification & Validation Lab · KFUPM

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