Alumni Focus: Suzan Katamoura
KAUST alumna Suzan Katamoura graduated from the University in 2013 with a master's degree in computer networks. She now works at King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy. Image courtesy of Suzan Katamoura.
By Abdullah Alhamdan, KAUST News
KAUST alumna Suzan Katamoura graduated from the University in 2013 with a master's degree in computer networks. She currently works at King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy as a researcher and a director of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Unit in the Atomic Energy Sector.
Katamoura's journey to KAUST was long. She first began studying chemistry at the Teachers College in Jeddah in 1994. However, in 1997, due to personal circumstances, she was unable to complete her studies and started looking for a job.
She then worked in a number of jobs, most of them related to teaching, with Katamoura teaching students ranging from kindergartners to high school students. She began working at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) in Jeddah in 2000, where she stayed until 2008.
At KFSHRC, Katamora moved between a number of different jobs ranging from translation, reporting and public relations to accounting and unit assistance. During that time, she also decided to finish her undergraduate studies.
Academic journey
Katamoura joined the Effat University scholarship program in 2003 and graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science in 2007.
A few months later, she moved to Canada to study English and other specialized courses. Next, she returned to Saudi Arabia and worked in academia as a faculty member of the computer science department at Jeddah Technical College for Girls.
Katamoura then decided it was time to pursue graduate studies. Encouraged by the vision of KAUST's founder the late King Abdullah and the University's excellent reputation, Katamoura joined KAUST.
Scientific research
From 2012 to 2016 at King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, Katamoura worked in the renewable energy sector. Her research focused on renewable energy data and particularly solar energy, resource estimation and quality assessment. In 2015, she co-published a paper in the journal Solar Energy with her team entitled "Assessment of Solar Radiation Resources in Saudi Arabia."
In 2017, Katamoura shifted her interest to atomic energy and the nuclear fuel cycle in order to contribute to the National Uranium Mining Program. She has given several presentations on the program at conferences around the world.
Life at KAUST
Katamoura advised current students at KAUST to believe in their abilities and utilize all the University's resources and opportunities to achieve their goals and make a difference.
"My children and I spent happy times at KAUST full of challenges, beautiful memories and valuable achievements on [a] personal and professional level," Katamoura said. "KAUST motivated us to succeed and enriched our [lives] with its diverse and unique community. It provided us with distinctive opportunities to grow and improve."
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