Portrait of Dr. Ali Abdullah S. AlQahtani

Ali Abdullah S.

Ali Abdullah S. AlQahtani, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Software Engineering Founding Director of the Defense Research Lab

At the Defense Research Lab at Prince Sultan University, we build cybersecurity and defense systems: hard for attackers to break, effortless for people to use.

Apply to join the lab Explore our research areas
Funded research as PI
$6.8M
Students supervised
30
Years in academia, industry and defense
15+

What the lab works on

We apply artificial intelligence to defense. Choose an area to see what we focus on.

Radar Systems

Using AI to detect and track targets more accurately in crowded and contested environments.

  • AI signal processing for sharper detection and fewer false alarms
  • Detecting low-probability-of-intercept radar signals
  • Passive radar that uses existing signals without transmitting
  • Machine learning for robust target recognition

Great research begins with the right questions.

Dr. AlQahtani

Outside the lab, I tinker with electronics, where many of my best research questions begin.

Career and education

Experience

  1. Prince Sultan University, Riyadh Present

    Assistant Professor of Software Engineering and founding director of the Defense Research Lab

  2. Advisory roles Present

    Cybersecurity and AI Advisor to Saudi confidential government entities

  3. Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Dependable and Secure Computing Present

  4. Associate Editor, IEEE Internet of Things Journal Present

  5. North Carolina A&T State University, USA

    Assistant Professor and founding director of the CyberNex Research Lab

  6. University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, USA

    Assistant Professor and Director of the Center for Cybersecurity Outreach and Education

  7. Royal Saudi Air Force

Education

All degrees earned in the United States.

  1. Harvard University, Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education, USA

    Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles

  2. Ph.D. in Cyberspace Engineering

  3. M.Eng. in Electrical Engineering

  4. M.S. in Computer and Information Science

    Concentration in Electronic Warfare

  5. B.S. in Computer Science

Cover of AI-Driven Security: Navigating Threats and Defenses in a New Era

My book · Wiley and IEEE Press

AI-Driven Security

Navigating Threats and Defenses in a New Era

Ali Abdullah S. AlQahtani, Muhammad Khurram Khan and Mohamed Hammad

How artificial intelligence is changing both sides of security, from the threats it enables to the defenses it makes possible.

Hardback · 288 pages · ISBN 978-1-394-37121-1

Supervised students

Sole supervisor of 5 Ph.D., 2 Master's and 23 undergraduate researchers, and thesis committee member for 12 graduate students.

  • Saif Al-Dean Qawasmeh

    Insider threat identification

    North Carolina A&T State University

  • Reem Alrawili

    Continuous authentication

    North Carolina A&T State University

  • Shadman Arnob

    Continuous authentication

    North Carolina A&T State University

  • Jennifer Eriagbondia

    Context-based authentication

    North Carolina A&T State University

  • Carl Wuaku

    Anti-cyberbullying

    North Carolina A&T State University

Join the Defense Research Lab

I am recruiting motivated people with a B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. and a strong interest in radar systems, electronic warfare, cybersecurity, computer forensics, autonomous unmanned systems, space communication and satellite systems, or critical systems.

Your highest degree

You would join as a

Research Assistant

Take ownership of a research thread and deepen your expertise in one of the lab’s areas.

Apply as a research assistant

Minimum qualifications

  • A degree in computer science, cybersecurity, electrical or computer engineering, AI or a related field
  • Programming in Python, Java or C++
  • Strong motivation for independent research

Preferred qualifications

  • Publications in a related field
  • Hands-on experience in AI, machine learning, radar, electronic warfare, cybersecurity, IoT, sensors or autonomous systems
  • Hands-on experience solving problems with AI
  • Experience with real-time or embedded systems

What we offer

  • Competitive salary
  • Housing allowance and accommodation support
  • Healthcare coverage

Questions? Email aaalqahtani [at] psu [dot] edu [dot] sa

Teaching

CYS 402: Secure Software Development

Teaching now

Video lectures, one per chapter

For my students

Share anonymous feedback

Tell me what works in class, how the workload feels and what you would like more of. It is anonymous, and I use it to adjust the course.

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Request a recommendation letter

For graduate or undergraduate admission, scholarships or jobs. Submit the form, then email me.

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Request a professional reference

Ask permission to list me as a reference on your CV or résumé. Submit the form, then email me.

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Writing a professional email

A skill rarely taught, and useful far beyond my classes:

  • Use a specific subject line, such as "CYS 402: Question about Assignment 2"
  • Address by <Proper Title>. <Name>
  • Introduce yourself with your name, course and section
  • Close formally with your full name and student ID

After submitting a letter or reference request, email me at alqahtani.aasa [at] gmail [dot] com.