Dr Nayef Alyafei, a Qatari national and a former student of Texas A&M University in Qatar (TAMUQ), a partner university of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), has joined the university as an assistant professor, making him the first TAMUQ graduate to return as a faculty member.

A student of petroleum engineering at TAMUQ, Dr Alyafei completed his master’s and PhD from Imperial College London and returned to Qatar to take up teaching.

Dr Alyafei credits QF for helping him achieve his goals. “I think Qatar Foundation has created a great education cycle that caters to students from as early as six months all the way up to doctoral candidate level. By engaging with individuals at every stage of their academic lives, QF is able to promote a culture of research and innovation from a young age.”

He added: “I am one of those people who took that knowledge and completed my postgraduate studies, and then came back to use what I have learned to help fulfil the potential of my students. I feel it is my duty to do this, so many of my students have huge potential.”

Dr Alyafei pointed out that he returned to Qatar because it was time to give back to his country. “Over the years Qatar has made tremendous progress with the infrastructure of research and teaching. Qatar Foundation, along with other national education institutions, has raised the academic bar for the nation, as well as helping to instil a culture of knowledge and innovation. It was this process of continued growth and achievement that I was keen to be involved in.”

He said that he came back to TAMUQ as he had thoroughly enjoyed his time as a student at the university. “Since joining the TAMUQ faculty, a lot of students look at me as a role model. It is extremely rewarding to inspire people and send out the message that everyone can achieve whatever they want with enough effort and hard work.”

As for choosing teaching as a career, Dr Alyafei said that he grew up teaching his siblings and friends. “I have always been someone that people come to for help with their homework. I think it is ingrained in me as my father is a university professor at Qatar University and my mother is a retired high school teacher.”

He also felt that research is an important aspect that every student must take care of and Qatar is very much on the right path in research.

“Research is about solving a puzzle and finding an unknown answer; and that really excites me. A culture of research is very important in Qatar. I think we have succeeded in it as we are focused on accuracy as opposed to speed. Qatar is showing its capabilities and producing high-performing students; setting high standards that others in the region, and globally, can follow,” he said.

Dr Alyafei feels that both TAMUQ and Imperial College London, trained him to work to extremely high standards and to deliver top-notch work. He noted that young people should pursue their goals and make use of all the facilities and support available to them. “If you are passionate about pursuing a career in science and research, then I strongly encourage it, I have no doubt you will be satisfied with your decision. I recommend that,” he concluded.