Salah Abdeljabar

Salah Abdeljabar

Ph.D. candidate in Wireless Communications at KAUST

About me

I’m Salah Abdeljabar, a PhD candidate in Wireless Communications and Networking at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). I work at the intersection of wireless communications, IoT, and network optimization, with hands-on deployments and collaborations bridging academic research and real-world impact.

Summary

PhD candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at KAUST specializing in wireless communications, Internet of Things systems, and network optimization. Research experience spans LoRa and low power wide area networks, delay-tolerant networking (DTN), hybrid RF and free space optical (FSO) systems, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces for visible light communications (VLC). Strong background in system modeling, stochastic analysis, and experimental prototyping, with publications in leading IEEE journals and collaborations with international research institutions and industry partners.

Research Interests

  • Wireless communications and IoT systems
  • Delay-tolerant networking (DTN) and global connectivity
  • Hybrid RF/FSO links for challenging environments
  • Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) for visible light communications
  • Network optimization and signal processing

Education

  • PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering, KAUST (May 2023 – Present) — Advisor: Prof. Mohamed-Slim Alouini
  • MS, Electrical and Computer Engineering, KAUST (Aug 2021 – May 2023) — Advisor: Prof. Mohamed-Slim Alouini
  • Erasmus Exchange, Lund University (Aug 2017 – Jan 2018)
  • BSc, Electrical Engineering, The University of Jordan — GPA 3.95/4.0 (ranked 1st)

Research Highlights

  • Designed and implemented a practical and energy-efficient off-grid wireless network based on LoRa Mesh.
  • Designed and implemented Super-LoRa, a practical technique to increase LoRa throughput via payload superposition.
  • Conducted LoRa transmission experiments over TV White Spaces in collaboration with Microsoft Research.
  • Developed a Delay-Tolerant Networking digital learning platform deployed for rural connectivity use cases.
  • Contributed to the design and deployment of hybrid Free-Space Optical (FSO) / Microwave (MW) links to connect remote areas and islands.
  • Investigated and optimized RIS-assisted VLC systems to improve data rates and fairness in mobile scenarios (indoor and outdoor setups).

Publications

See the Publications page for full details.

Teaching & Mentoring

Served as Teaching Assistant for graduate-level courses including Stochastic Processes, Numerical Optimization, Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning, and Linear Algebra. Lead TA and local organizer for TinyML Engineering for IoT Workshop (Jan 2025 & Jan 2024). Lead Instructor for High School AI Program (Summer 2025). Mentored 10+ students on research projects ranging from DTN-based educational platforms to LoRa mesh networking protocols. See the Teaching page for comprehensive details.

Awards & Recognition

Service & Outreach

  • Journal Reviewer: IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications
  • Conference Reviewer: IEEE PIMRC, IEEE WCNC
  • Community Engagement: KAUST Winter Enrichment Program Volunteer, Co-founder IEEE Power and Energy Society