معرفی
Dr. Kinda Khalaf serves as Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU) in Abu Dhabi. With a decade-long tenure at KU, she established and led the Department of Biomedical Engineering as its founding interim chair and associate chair, and spearheaded its accreditation. Prior academic appointments include faculty roles in Engineering and Medicine at the University of Miami, the American University of Beirut (where she held the first joint Engineering-Medicine appointment), and the American University of Sharjah.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Engineering, The Ohio State University
- M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University
Her research program centers on human movement science, specifically neuromusculoskeletal biomechanics, computational modeling, and biorobotics. Key areas include spinal biomechanics, quantitative movement assessment for rehabilitation, and the development of wearable sensors and robotic devices. Current projects encompass an AI-driven multisensory platform for physiological and psychological assessment, a compliant cable-driven exoskeleton for lower limb rehabilitation, and haptic interfaces for remote ultrasound imaging. Her work bridges engineering and clinical practice through partnerships with UAE healthcare providers.
Scientific Awards:
- LAMME Scholarship
- Woman of Engineering Award for outstanding Academic Achievement
- Presidential Fellowship Award
- University of Miami College of Engineering Teaching Award
- Khalifa University Faculty Excellence award
- Khalifa Innovation Center (KIC) Award (2022)
- Mohamad Bin Rashid AL Maktoum Innovation Award (2023)
Dr. Khalaf mentors several PhD students including Rateb Katmah, Abdul Aziz Hulleck, Doua Kosaji, and Nour AlRahmani. She directs the Gait and Rehabilitation Labs and co-founded AL MASHYAH, a startup developing smart gait assessment technology. Her research is supported by multiple national and international grants from UAE entities including Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and Mubadala Healthcare.
She leads the Rehabilitation arm of the Health Engineering Innovation Group (HEIG) and the Gait and Rehabilitation Labs at KU. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Trustees for Emirates College of Technology, Siemens Healthineers Innovation Think Tank, and the Abu Dhabi Council for Education review board. Her professional affiliations include IEEE EMBS UAE branch (founder and former chair), ASME, ASB, ASEE, BMES, and several honorary engineering societies.
