Abdulilah Mayet | Neuroscience | Excellence in Innovation Award

Faculty at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia

Prof. Abdulilah Mohammad Mayet is a distinguished Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, with over 25 years of experience spanning academia, industry, and innovation. An alumnus of KAUST and KFUPM, he is a trailblazer in MEMS/NEMS devices, semiconductor fabrication, and AI-integrated sensor systems. As CTO and co-founder of commercial semiconductor ventures, and a Fulbright Scholar and visiting professor at UC Irvine, Dr. Mayet bridges cutting-edge research with real-world impact. He is a prolific inventor with multiple US patents and over 35 scholarly publications. His pioneering work in amorphous WNx metals, transient electronics, and nanoscale switching systems has pushed boundaries in sustainable and ultra-low-power electronics. An active member of leadership and innovation programs like MiSK 2030 and the Saudi Leadership Society, he is committed to transforming ideas into scalable innovations with national and global relevance.

Publication Profile

Orcid

Education

Dr. Mayet holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), completed in April 2016. His doctoral work focused on advanced NEMS switches using amorphous materials, culminating in innovations in transient electronics. He also earned an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from KAUST in 2011, where he began developing high-end microelectronic systems. His foundational training began with a B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, in June 1991. Dr. Mayet has further enriched his academic profile through prestigious executive programs in innovation and leadership from institutions such as MIT, Esade Business School, and Cornell University. These programs equipped him with deep interdisciplinary knowledge, allowing him to integrate business acumen with high-level research and technology transfer, particularly in nanofabrication, MEMS/NEMS, and AI-driven system design.

Experience

Prof. Mayet’s career spans academia, industry, and global research. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at King Khalid University, where he leads research in nanofabrication, teaches AI-integrated FPGA systems, and directs the college’s research center. He is also the CEO of Qimam Abha Company and a founding member of the Saudi Leadership Society. Notably, he served as CTO at SEMC, overseeing a 4,000 m² commercial nano-fabrication fab. He has held visiting appointments at the University of California, Irvine, and is a Fulbright Scholar. Over three decades, he has collaborated with institutions such as Cornell, Atmel, and KAUST, gaining extensive expertise in MEMS/NEMS, EBL, and semiconductor technologies. He’s also a Regeneron ISEF Grand Awards judge and advisor in national innovation programs like MiSK 2030 Leaders. His global career uniquely blends scientific innovation, technical execution, entrepreneurship, and academic mentorship.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Mayet’s excellence has been recognized through numerous national and international honors. He is a Fulbright Scholar Fellow (2023–2024), a prestigious title awarded to distinguished scholars for international academic exchange. He was selected as a Grand Awards Judge at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in 2024, honoring his scientific integrity and innovation. He’s also a recipient of more than SAR 26 million in competitive research grants for pioneering work in MEMS/NEMS, AI, and nanotechnology. His leadership in innovation has earned him roles in strategic national programs such as the MiSK 2030 Leaders Program and recognition through multiple invited roles and patents. He holds 8 intellectual properties and is the co-founder and CEO of a university-owned tech company. As a result, his career reflects not just scholarly excellence, but also high-impact leadership in shaping research-to-market ecosystems.

Research Focus

Dr. Mayet’s research lies at the intersection of MEMS/NEMS, nanoelectronics, AI-driven sensor systems, and advanced semiconductor fabrication. He is renowned for fabricating ultra-low voltage NEM switches with unprecedented endurance—over 8 trillion cycles—based on his innovation in amorphous WNx metals. His research has led to breakthroughs in transient electronics, AI-integrated capacitive sensors, and intelligent test compression methods. He’s deeply involved in the commercialization of MEMS devices for medical, industrial, and defense applications. He also actively integrates AI into hardware, using neural networks for flow detection, biosensing, and radiative sensing systems. His focus spans from fundamental material discovery and nanodevice design to applied engineering and real-world deployment. Through his leadership at King Khalid University’s research center and consulting at the Artificial Intelligence Center, he is initiating new fabs for research and commercial use, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s capacity in high-tech manufacturing and innovation.

Publication Top Notes