I am a PhD student in the Computer Science program at the Georgia Institute of Technology. My advisor is Gregory Abowd and I am a member of the Ubiquitous Computing Group. I received my BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2005, and my Masters in Computer and Information Technology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008.

My research interests lie in the area of Human Computer Interaction. For my thesis research, I am interested in harnessing the computing power and pervasiveness of mobile phone technology to make a positive impact on society. More specifically to design mobile applications for children with intellectual disabilities in Kuwait, where mobile phones are easily accessible, but services for children with special needs are not meeting demands.

I come from a mixed background; my father is Kuwaiti, and my mother is Cuban. I grew up in Kuwait. Located in the north-east corner of the Arabian Peninsula, Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world in terms of land area. Kuwait has a highly cosmopolitan and techno-savvy society with a diverse and vibrant culture. Kuwaiti's fascination with high-tech devices is supported by the government, which enables the easy flow of all types of tech gadgets into the country. Despite all this, the influence of Islamic and Arab culture on Kuwait's architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle is prominent.