This year’s theme of Food & Nutrition in the 21st Century: A Multidisciplinary Approach highlights the role of researchers in examining the often-complex interplay between nutrition and health. Nutrition research is notoriously difficult to conduct and interpret due to the complexity of the food environment, creating both challenges and great opportunities for researchers.
AUBH Research Day is an annual event that aims to bring together experienced researchers and experts as well as encourage promising young researchers and university students to share their most recent research and ideas.
The term “research” is a very broad term in this context and includes scholarly papers, student projects, or presentations given at a professional meeting or forum. University students in Bahrain are particularly encouraged to both present at and attend the Research Day.
Research Day is a full-day event that is delivered in a hybrid mode to facilitate the attendance of all those interested, including university faculty, students, employers, and members of the community
Consultant Endocrinologist and Obesity Specialist at The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain
Health and Obesity in 2024: A State-of-the-art Update
Dr. Khawla Fuad Ali is a Consultant Endocrinologist and Obesity Specialist in Bahrain. She is American Board certified in Internal Medicine, American Board certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, and American Board certified in Obesity Medicine. She is a fellow of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio, and Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. Her interests lie in the field of public health education on social media and raising health awareness on issues such as obesity and diabetes.
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Bahrain – Medical University of Bahrain
Full-day event on exchange of information and cross-fertilization of ideas from AUBH community and interested employers
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 09:00 - 09:30 | Registration |
| 09:30 – 09:45 |
Opening Speech Dr. Bradley J. Cook |
| 09:45 – 10:15 |
Keynote Speech Dr. Khawla Fuad Ali Title: Health and Obesity in 2024: A State-of-the-art Update |
| 10:15 – 10:45 |
Presentation 1 Dr. Hasan Kadhem Associate Professor of Computer Science, AUBH Title: A Survey of Artificial Intelligence Applications in the Food Industry |
| 10:45 – 11:15 |
Presentation 2 Dr. Maryam Almahdi Assistant Professor in Digital Marketing, AUBH Title: Customer Experiences Using Online Food Ordering and Delivery Platforms |
| 11:15 – 11:45 |
Presentation 3 Dr. Fatema Akbar Assistant Professor of Computer Science, AUBH Title: Studying Food Consumption Through Social Media |
| 11:45 – 12:15 | Coffee/Prayer Break |
| 12:15 – 13:30 | Food Experiments & Poster Sessions |
| 13:30 – 14:00 | Light Lunch |
| 14:00 – 14:30 |
Presentation 4 Dr. Mohamed Mukhtar Associate Professor of Multimedia, AUBH Title: An Islamic Framework for Animal Ethics: Widening the Conversation to Include Islamic Ethical Vegetarianism |
| 14:30-15:00 |
Presentation 5 Mr. Yousef Mostafa Waly Final Year Medical Student, RSCI Title: Protective Effect of Emodin Against Gut Microbiota-induced Oxidative Stress Pathogenesis in Rats |
| 15:00 – 15:30 |
Presentation 6 Ms. Shada Kodumayil Second Year Medical Student, RCSI Title: Impact of Sucralose Consumption on Insulin Response and Sensitivity: A Narrative Review |
| 15:30 – 15:45 | Awards |
| 15:45 – 16:00 | Closing Remarks & Group Photo |
A media and communications expert with over 20 years of experience in teaching, research, and professional work, Dr. Mohammed Mukhtar serves as an Associate Professor at AUBH.
He also served as Director of the AUBH Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence for the 2022/2023 academic year.
Dr. Mukhtar’s expertise extends beyond academia, as he has also been invited to serve as a jury member at various international film festivals. Notable events include the San Francisco International Film Festival, the Morocco International Film Festival of the South, the Bahrain Film Festival, the US Embassy Project Documentaries, and the Sultanate of Oman’s Media Excellence Awards. These opportunities allowed him to contribute his expertise and discerning eye to the world of cinema.
Before joining AUBH, he held esteemed academic positions at the University of Bahrain, California State University, Hayward, Texas A&M University, and California State University, Northridge.
During his time at the University of Bahrain, Dr. Mukhtar played a pivotal role as the founding director of the Bahrain Credit Media Center. Recognized by UNESCO as the first full-scale, multi-media center in the Middle East, the center boasts state-of-the-art TV, film, and radio studios. Driven by his vision, he designed, built, and managed these cutting-edge facilities.
Throughout his teaching career in both the United States and Bahrain, Dr. Mukhtar has received numerous accolades, including the ‘Most Inspirational and Best Teacher of the Year’ awards. These honors reflect his dedication to inspiring and nurturing his students’ growth.
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An academician, researcher, and trainer in the field of digital marketing, Dr. Maryam Almahdi serves as the BBA Program Coordinator for the BBA in Digital Marketing and Social Media, BBA in Human Resources Management, and BBA in Management Programs at AUBH. She also teaches marketing subjects (e.g., Online Marketing Channels, Integrated Marketing Communications in a Digital World, Consumer Behavior), and is responsible for developing new courses and contributing to events’ organization within the University.
Dr. Almahdi is especially interested in interactive technologies that enhance the online customer experience. This is reflected in her choice of research area, centring around the different manifestations of the user’s experience in the vast digital ecosystem. She won the best paper award, for her paper titled: “Social Commerce: A Concept Explication” at the EAMMIS conference (Istanbul, 2021). For her continuous efforts, she was awarded the Creative Teaching Competition at AUBH’s first research conference (2021).
Dr. Almahdi holds and conducts training for the Certified Digital Marketing Professional Certification (CDMP) from the Digital Marketing Institute in Ireland. She also provides digital marketing strategy consultation to businesses in Bahrain and the UK.
Prior to joining AUBH, Dr. Almahdi worked at Ahlia University as a faculty member in the Marketing and Management Department (2011-2023). While at Ahlia, she created and delivered a new digital and social media marketing course for undergraduate students in the College of Business and Finance. She has also delivered several professional talks about digital marketing to faculty, students, and international visitors.
Dr. Almahdi holds a Ph.D. from the University of Bath School of Management and a MSc. from the University of Leeds Business School.
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Associate Professor
With over 16 years of experience, Dr. Hasan Kadhem serves as the Program Lead of the College of Engineering and an Assistant Professor in Computer Science at AUBH. His vast experience in the IT industry includes academics, research, cybersecurity, software development, professional training, and consultation.
Dr. Kadhem’s research interests revolve around cybersecurity, cryptography, privacy-preserving, data science, web & mobile applications, and E-learning. He actively engages in research and has published numerous scientific research papers in international peer-reviewed journals and conferences. His contributions have been recognized with several awards, including Best Scientific Paper, Presentation, and Distinguished Research accolades.
Prior to joining AUBH, Dr. Kadhem served in various roles, including Assistant Professor, IT and Analytics Manager, Computer Specialist, Professional IT Trainer, and IT Consultant. He boasts certifications in CEH, COBIT5, MCSE, and MCSD, reflecting his expertise and commitment to professional development.
Dr. Kadhem obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from the University of Qatar in 2003. He went on to complete his Master of Arts in Information Technology and Computer Security from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) in 2007. In 2011, he earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Tsukuba in Japan, where his research in database encryption was honored with the Computer Science Chairman Award.
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A dedicated researcher and educator, Dr. Fatema Akbar serves as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at AUBH. Dr. Akbar specializes in informatics and human-computer interaction, with a strong focus on human factors in computing. Dr. Akbar has contributed significantly to the field through her publications in top journals and conferences.
Fatema’s commitment to mentoring the next generation of computer scientists is evident through her involvement as a judge in various local and international competitions, such as the Nasser Bin Hamad International Youth Creativity Award and the Telecommunications Regulation Authority Hackathon.
Dr. Akbar’s recent research projects involved the utilization of sensor technologies and computer activity logs to develop computational methods for identifying patterns and assessing the health effects of computer use in the workplace. This research gained significant attention and was featured in prominent U.S. media outlets, including the New Yorker and EHR Intelligence.
In addition to her research pursuits, Fatema is passionate about teaching and is actively involved in advancing computer science education. She is an Associate at the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) in the United States. In recognition of her teaching excellence, Dr. Akbar received a Certificate of Teaching Excellence from the University of California, Irvine.
Fatema holds a Ph.D. in Informatics from the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. While at the university, she also served as a teaching and research assistant for five years. Prior to that, Fatema earned her master’s degree from the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford, specializing in Information Systems. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems at Carnegie Mellon University.
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Shada Kodumayil is a medical student at RCSI- Bahrain and part of the research team led by Dr. Nitya Kumar, Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology at RCSI Bahrain.
Final Year Medical Student at RCSI – Bahrain
Final Year Medical Student at RCSI – Bahrain
Yousef Waly is a final-year medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Bahrain, where he also acts as the Chief Mentorship Officer and is an official TedX speaker. For years now, Yousef has been proactive through medical research, using it as a channel to educate many about prominent conditions in hopes of creating a more knowledgeable and aware society. Yousef dreams to one day help create a medical environment that provides equal accessibility and welcomes all free of prejudice.
First Year Medical Student at RCSI – Bahrain
Yahya Waly is a medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Bahrain. Yahya is passionately committed to conducting thorough research, driven by an insatiable curiosity and a relentless pursuit of knowledge. Whether delving into scientific inquiries or exploring the nuances of social phenomena, Yahya approaches each investigation with rigor, and a genuine enthusiasm for discovery.
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Bahrain – Medical University of Bahrain
Ms. Kawthar Ali is a fourth-year medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland- Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain). She is dedicated to lifelong learning and continuous improvement. Driven by a profound passion for healthcare and an unwavering commitment to excellence, she constantly seeks to deepen her understanding and expand her skillset in preparation for a fulfilling career in medicine. Beyond her academic pursuits, Ms. Kawthar Ali is actively engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities and initiatives aimed at broadening her horizons and enhancing her professional development. She is deeply committed to research and community outreach programs that help to enrich her medical education and allow her to make meaningful differences in her community.
First-year medical student at RCSI Bahrain
He participated in the 3rd Middle East Conference on Electron Microscopy as a poster presenter.
