Annual Report 2019-2020 P.O. Box 24866, Education City, Doha, Qatar Annual Report Phone: +974 4454 8400 www.qatar.cmu.edu 2019-2020 Annual Report 2019-2020 2 3 CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Annual Report IN QATAR 2019-2020 Acknowledgments In 2004, Carnegie Mellon and Qatar Foundation began a partnership to deliver select programs that will contribute to the long-term development of Qatar. For 15 years, we have shared a mission: to provide a world class education to students in Qatar. Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar thanks His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, for his leadership and commitment to progress and education. We also express our deep appreciation to His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, and Her Excellency Sheikha Hind Bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, for their vision and leadership. 4 5 CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Annual Report IN QATAR 2019-2020 Contents Introduction Community Engagement 06 We are Carnegie Mellon 52 The Dean’s Lecture Series 08 From the President 54 Our Strategic Partners 10 From the Dean 56 Collaborations with Qatar Foundation 58 QF Partners in Education 60 Carnegie Mellon Connections Our Alumni Student Experience 14 Class of 2020 64 A Strong, Connected Community 16 The Global Alumni Network 66 Peer-to-Peer Learning 18 A Year of Accomplishments 68 Leadership and Career Development 20 Class of 2019 One Year Later 22 Networking and Mentorship Our Students Research 26 Events for Pre-College Students 72 The Year in Faculty Research 28 The Admission Process 74 QNRF-funded Research Projects 30 Our Student Community 76 Student Research 78 Meeting of the Minds Academics Our Stories 34 Academics at CMU-Q 82 Public Relations 36 Our Faculty 84 The Year in the News 38 Biological Sciences 40 Business Administration Our Leadership, Our Faculty, 42 Computer Science 44 Information Systems Our Partners 46 Arts and Sciences 90 Advisors and Senior Leadership 48 Interdisciplinary Collaboration 92 Faculty 94 Community Partners 96 About Us 6 7 CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Annual Report IN QATAR 2019-2020 We are Carnegie Mellon Our Vision Carnegie Mellon University will have a transformative impact on society through continual innovation in education, research, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Our Mission To create a transformative educational experience for students focused on deep disciplinary knowledge; problem solving; leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills; and personal health and well-being. To cultivate a transformative university community committed to: a. attracting and retaining diverse, world-class talent; b. creating a collaborative environment open to the free exchange of ideas, where research, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship can flourish; and c. ensuring individuals can achieve their full potential. To impact society in a transformative way—regionally, nationally, and globally—by engaging with partners outside the traditional borders of the university campus. 8 9 CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Annual Report IN QATAR 2019-2020 Sixteen years after it was first established, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar continues to stand as a global beacon of educational opportunity. Today, the role of CMU-Q is more 15 new micro courses. Taught by important than it ever has been as professors from our main campus, they a result of humanity’s response to covered topics that typically lie outside the COVID-19 pandemic. The world CMU-Q offerings, including artificial is currently seeking solutions to the intelligence and society, blockchain, and challenges that we face in areas such computational medicine. as health care, education, policy and science. In these uncertain times, Our success to date would not be I am confident that CMU-Q students possible without the support of the and faculty will help build a brighter Qatar Foundation, and the founding tomorrow. vision of His Highness the Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa While the past year has certainly been Al Thani, Her Highness Sheikha Moza unique, I am proud of the way the bint Nasser, and Her Excellency CMU-Q community came together to Sheikha Hind Bint Hamad Al Thani. persevere and thrive. Thanks to these I continue to be deeply grateful for this collaborative efforts, 86 outstanding dynamic partnership. students graduated as part of the Class of 2020, bringing the total It has been a year unlike any other, number of CMU-Q alumni to and this Annual Report details many 935 Tartans. accomplishments in which we can all take pride. I invite you to explore its A focus on innovative learning has pages as we look ahead to what the always defined CMU-Q, and this year next year will bring. is no different. Not only did we shift 125 CMU-Q courses to remote learning Farnam Jahanian in only two days, we also introduced President, Carnegie Mellon University From the President 10 11 CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Annual Report IN QATAR 2019-2020 Welcome to the Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar Annual Report 2019-2020. I have been a faculty member at This report is also the story of how our Carnegie Mellon University for small community faced a challenge 30 years, and the dean of the Qatar that comes along once in a century, campus since 2017. Over the decades, and how we united around a single I have seen how higher education goal: to provide a quality education for adapts as the times change, and how our students. And our students have technology has challenged many of the likewise risen to the challenge. I am ways we deliver a university education. exceptionally proud of their creativity and determination. These challenges dwarf in comparison to the COVID-19 pandemic. I know As we reflect on the academic year that the pandemic has touched every of 2019-2020, it is clear that we are person on the planet in ways both big resilient because of our connections. and small, and those of us in higher We have risen to the challenges of education are no exception. My deep the pandemic because of hundreds gratitude goes out to those on the of dedicated and resourceful people: frontlines, and my heart goes out to our faculty, students, staff, alumni, all those who were afflicted or lost Qatar Foundation partners, Education From someone to the disease. City colleagues, the CMU faculty, staff and leadership, and our supportive The CMU-Q Annual Report 2019-2020 partners in Qatar’s academic, is the story of how our community government and industry sectors. the Dean contributed to an academic year full of Thank you. academic innovation, accomplishment and enthusiasm. There is much to celebrate, and I encourage you to learn Michael Trick more about our achievements this year. Dean, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar 12 13 CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Annual Report IN QATAR 2019-2020 Our Alumni Since our first class graduated in 2008, nearly 1000 men and women have completed their undergraduate education at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. As they build their careers, we follow their successes, connect them to one another, and encourage them to mentor the next generation of CMU-Q students. 14 15 CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Annual Report IN QATAR 2019-2020 86 5 19 47% graduates academic nationalities Qatari Class of 2020 programs citizens I have watched these 86 graduates grow into accomplished and confident young professionals. “ While the pandemic may change how we celebrate, it cannot dampen our enthusiasm, or how proud we are of their accomplishments. Michael” Trick The 86 graduates in CMU-Q’s Class of 2020 were scheduled to cross the stage at a formal ceremony, but the pandemic’s social distancing restrictions called for a creative solution. Instead, CMU-Q honored the class at a series of virtual events, which included a senior celebration and the formal conferral of degrees for Carnegie Mellon graduates worldwide. Right from our orientation we were present and ready to take adventures on. “ Today, we are present with each other, despite the circumstances. I’m excited Graduates by program Outstanding Academic Andrew Carnegie Society Achievement Awards Scholars to see a world where our Biological Sciences presence contributes to ▪ Maha Al-Tamimi ▪ Muhammad Nahin Khan 17 (Biological Sciences) ▪ Fatima Mustafawi positive change. Business Administration ▪ Fahad Salah Bahzad 36 (Business Administration) Qatar Campus Scholars Computational Biology ▪ Raghid Bsat ▪ Fahad Salah Bahzad (Computational Biology) Dona Ferdinando 01 ▪ Raghid Bsat Student Speaker Computer Science ▪ Mohammed Nurul Hoque ” ▪ Mohammed Nurul Hoque Biological Sciences | Class of 2020 (Computer Science) 16 ▪ Muhammad Nahin Khan ▪ Hassan Nadeem Information Systems 16 (Information Systems) ▪ Fatima Mustafawi 16 17 CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Annual Report IN QATAR 2019-2020 The Global 13 935 Alumni live on 55 graduating alumni 5 nationalities Alumni Network classes continents Alumni are working at top international organizations San Francisco Pittsburgh Dublin Munich Beijing ▪ Arn ▪ Root nttute ▪ aeoo ▪ nea ▪ anan ▪ Aaon u ▪ er Aane ▪ A onera ▪ oole enoloe roup London rate ut un ▪ root ▪ t nte no Budapest ▪ uare Boston ▪ ▪ oa Lahore ▪ ana-arer ▪ Arot Mountain View aner nttute Luxembourg ▪ ure ▪ oole ▪ Aaon Melbourne New York ▪ EY Singapore ▪ are Aoate Seattle Amsterdam ▪ neeo ▪ ▪ Aaon ▪ EY Adelaide ▪ ▪ otrepea ▪ elerate ▪ out Autralan Tokyo oran ▪ ret Aoaton ▪ elotte Redmond ▪ pot Zurich ▪ root ▪ oole Sydney Houston ▪ EY Toronto