Oct 27, 2026

Professor Elected to Optica’s 2027 Fellow Class

Professor Ibraheem Al-Naib, a faculty member in the Bioengineering Department at KFUPM’s College of Chemicals and Materials, has been elected a Fellow of Optica, the global society for optics and photonics, as part of its 2027 Fellow Class.

Professor Al-Naib is one of 116 members from 23 countries elected to the 2027 Fellow Class and was recognized for pioneering contributions to microwave and terahertz metamaterials enabling ultrasensitive biosensing, biomedical diagnostics, and non-invasive bioinstrumentation. Optica Fellow elections are highly selective, with the number elected each year limited to approximately 0.5% of the current membership total.

Metamaterials are carefully engineered structures that control electromagnetic waves in ways that natural materials cannot. Professor Al-Naib’s research uses these structures to develop highly sensitive sensors capable of detecting very small amounts of substances, with potential applications in healthcare and biomedical monitoring.

His work has also led to several granted United States patents, particularly by translating high-quality-factor metasurfaces into practical sensing applications. These contributions have developed over more than 20 years through research conducted in Germany, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, with the support of students, mentors, and collaborators.

Since joining KFUPM in 2023, Professor Al-Naib’s research has focused on practical biomedical applications, including terahertz biosensors for label-free biomolecule detection, non-invasive glucose sensing, microwave sensing, energy harvesting for low-power wireless devices, and compact imaging for stroke detection.

Professor Al-Naib hopes that the honor will strengthen existing partnerships and encourage new collaborations in microwave and terahertz biosensing, biomedical monitoring, and medical imaging.

He also encourages young researchers to choose meaningful problems, build strong foundations, and work patiently. “Every problem is an opportunity,” he explains, emphasizing the importance of persistence, teamwork, and continuous learning in developing impactful research.