Stanford University’s Annual ‘World’s Top 2% Scientists’ List (2024)
This award category recognizes Alfaisal University faculty whose research excellence has earned international distinction through inclusion in Stanford University’s Annual World’s Top 2% Scientists list.
Released by Stanford University and developed by Professor John P. A. Ioannidis and his team, the analysis draws on comprehensive citation data from the Scopus database to identify the most influential scientists worldwide. Since its inception, the list has become a global benchmark for research impact, celebrating scholars whose work demonstrably shapes their fields.
Each year, two complementary lists are produced: one assessing career-long impact, reflecting sustained scholarly influence, and another measuring annual impact, highlighting exceptional performance within a single year. Inclusion signifies not only prolific publication, but also meaningful contribution – research that is widely cited, methodologically rigorous, and influential across disciplines.
In the 2024 edition, 14 Alfaisal University faculty members were named among the world’s top 2% of scientists, an achievement that underscores the University’s growing global research footprint from its home in Riyadh.
This distinction reflects Alfaisal’s commitment to advancing high-impact scholarship, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and addressing complex local and global challenges. Honoring faculty in this category celebrates both individual excellence and the collective strength of Alfaisal University’s research community.
Alfaisal Faculty Honorees
Annual Impact 2024
- Demirboga, Ramazan
- Zourob, Mohammed
- Abu-Zaid, Ahmed
- Djellabi, Ridha
- Goumri-Said, Souraya
- Goosen, Mattheus
- Tasleem, Sehar
- Alsharaeh, Edreese
- Chinnappan, Raja
- Elamer, Ahmed
- Timming, Andrew
- Potts, Jason
Career Impact 2024
- Shibl, Atef
- Demirboga, Ramazan
- Zourob, Mohammed
- Goosen, Mattheus
- Nasser, Nidal
Medals at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (2025)
This award category recognizes Alfaisal University faculty whose patented innovations achieved international distinction at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2025, one of the world’s most prestigious platforms for applied research, invention, and technology transfer.
Held in April 2025, the exhibition brings together leading inventors, researchers, and industry experts from across the globe, with submissions evaluated for originality, scientific merit, and real-world impact.
At the invitation of the Ministry of Education, three Alfaisal University faculty members were selected to represent the university based on the strength and novelty of their patented work. All three received medals – an exceptional outcome that reflects the quality, relevance, and translational potential of Alfaisal’s research output.
The awarded inventions span critical domains, including innovative medical therapies, secure healthcare technologies, and human-centered design solutions. Collectively, these achievements highlight Alfaisal University’s commitment to research that extends beyond the laboratory, addressing pressing healthcare challenges, enhancing patient safety, and improving everyday technologies through thoughtful, user-focused engineering.
Recognition at the Geneva exhibition underscores Alfaisal University’s growing global presence in innovation and invention and affirms its role as a hub for impactful research that bridges academic excellence with practical application.
The award-winning innovations include:
- Professor Nidal Nasser, College of Engineering & Advanced Computing — Novel Molecular Signaling Method and System for Molecular Communication in the Human Body (Silver Medal)
- Dr. Ibrahim M. Salman, College of Pharmacy — Low-level Neurostimulation of the Renal Nerves as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Hypertension Treatment (Silver Medal)
- Dr. Farid Amalou, College of Science & General Studies — WO2021191658 – Computer Mouse (Bronze Medal)
Patent Awards (2025)
This award category recognizes Alfaisal University researchers and students whose work culminated in the successful granting of international patents in 2025, reflecting excellence in innovation, originality, and translational research.
The awarding of international patents represents a significant milestone in the research lifecycle, signaling that an invention meets rigorous global standards for novelty, applicability, and scientific merit.
Over the past year, patents were granted to three faculty members and one student, with all intellectual property formally assigned to Alfaisal University, thereby reinforcing the university’s commitment to knowledge creation, protection, and commercialization. The awarded patents span cutting-edge areas of scientific advancement, including microfluidic technologies for in-vitro human organ modeling and advanced nanocomposite materials for medical treatment applications.
These innovations demonstrate Alfaisal University’s strength in chemistry-driven, interdisciplinary research that bridges fundamental science with real-world medical and technological solutions. They also highlight the University’s emphasis on mentorship and student involvement in high-impact research, fostering a culture where emerging scholars contribute meaningfully to globally relevant innovation.
Celebrating these patent achievements underscores Alfaisal University’s growing role as a center for research excellence and intellectual property development, advancing solutions with the potential to improve healthcare outcomes and drive scientific progress internationally.
Winners of Patent Awards in 2025:
- Mohammed Zourob and Qasem Ramadan
- Edreese Alsharaeh and Anoud Abdulrahman
Alfaisal University Teaching Awards (2025)
This award category celebrates Alfaisal University faculty whose commitment to excellence in teaching has made a meaningful and lasting impact on student learning in 2025.
The Teaching Awards recognize educators who demonstrate outstanding pedagogical skills, academic rigor, and dedication to fostering engaging, inclusive, and intellectually challenging learning environments.
Recipients of this award exemplify innovation in curriculum design, clarity in instruction, and a student-centered approach that supports both academic achievement and personal development. Across colleges, these faculty members consistently go beyond course requirements: mentoring students, integrating real-world perspectives into the classroom, and adapting teaching methods to meet the evolving needs of a diverse student body.
The 2025 Teaching Awards span multiple colleges at Alfaisal University, reflecting a shared institutional commitment to high-quality education across disciplines. By honoring excellence in teaching, Alfaisal affirms that impactful instruction lies at the heart of its academic mission, complementing its research and innovation achievements.
Celebrating these educators highlights the vital role faculty play in shaping the next generation of leaders, professionals, and scholars, reinforcing Alfaisal University’s dedication to delivery of a transformative educational experience grounded in excellence, integrity, and student success.
Winners of the teaching awards:
- COM: Abdulrahman Ouban; Abduljabbar Rasool
- COE: Umair Khan; Abdulrahman Alyamani
- COB: Mario Ferrer; Abdel Monim Shaltoni
- COSGS: Laura Jo Kleinhans; Charles Hall
- COP: Mohammed Khanfar; Muthanna Al Baldawi
- COLIR: Cecile Abi Tayeh; Adel El-Adawy
Alfaisal University Service Awards (2025)
This award category recognizes Alfaisal University faculty whose exceptional service contributions in 2025 strengthened the University’s academic community and advanced its institutional mission.
The Service Awards honor individuals who dedicate time, expertise, and leadership to activities that extend beyond teaching and research, ensuring the effective functioning, growth, and cohesion of the university.
Award recipients have demonstrated sustained commitment through academic governance, committee leadership, program development, student support, accreditation efforts, and community engagement. Their service plays a critical role in shaping policy, enhancing academic quality, and fostering a collaborative environment across colleges.
The 2025 Service Awards span all colleges at Alfaisal University, reflecting the collective responsibility shared by faculty in supporting institutional excellence. By recognizing service across diverse academic units, Alfaisal affirms that meaningful contributions to university life are essential to long-term success and academic integrity.
Celebrating these faculty members underscores the importance of service as a pillar of academic leadership and collegiality and highlights the often-unseen work that enables Alfaisal University to thrive as a dynamic, student-centered, and forward-looking institution.
Winners of the service awards:
- COM: Akef Obeidat; Hana Hajeer
- COE: Aliaa Elabd; Hoda Alsayed
- COB: Hayat Khan; Haitham Al Zoubi
- COSGS: Elizabeth Marnell; Ali Hendaoui
- COP: Ibrahim Salman; Omar Al Adhami
- COLIR: Abeer Abdullah Alzahrani; Ahmed Kamel
Special Recognition for Outstanding Services
This category honors individuals whose exceptional leadership and sustained service have made a transformative impact on Alfaisal University and its broader innovation ecosystem.
The Special Recognition for Outstanding Services is reserved for contributions that extend beyond defined roles, reflecting vision, initiative, and long-term institutional value.
In 2025, this recognition acknowledges outstanding service marked by strategic leadership across research, innovation, and emerging technologies. Through the direction of key centers and programs, this work has strengthened Alfaisal’s position at the intersection of academia, healthcare, and technological advancement. Notably, these efforts have advanced innovation infrastructure, supported high-impact research translation, and fostered collaboration with national and clinical partners.
This recognition also reflects leadership in forward-looking initiatives such as biotechnology, digital health, and the metaverse, positioning Alfaisal University at the forefront of future-oriented research and education. By bridging academic research with real-world application, this service has contributed meaningfully to national research priorities and institutional excellence.
Honoring outstanding service in this category affirms Alfaisal University’s commitment to recognizing leadership that shapes direction, builds capacity, and creates lasting impact across the university and beyond.
Winner of the special recognition award:
Noor Alsaadoun
