Dr. Jawaher Almutlaq is an Ibn Rushd assistant professor in the Materials Science and Applied Physics (MSAP) Program at KAUST, where she leads the Quantum Photonics Lab. After earning her Ph.D. from KAUST, she worked as an Ibn Khaldun Postdoctoral Fellow in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE) as part of a quantum photonics and artificial intelligence group. Her research in engineering novel platforms for quantum materials and technologies and advanced electron microscopy methods has been featured in top-tier journals such as Nature, Nature Nanotechnology, and Nature Communications, and her contributions have given rise to many prestigious scholarships and awards. Dr. Almutlaq is passionate about building national capacity in quantum technologies. She is particularly committed to establishing a robust quantum research and innovation ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, including laying the foundation for a future quantum communication network across the Kingdom.​