Our Team

Maria Douglass, Senior Technology Portfolio Manager

Maria Douglass is a Senior Technology Portfolio Manager. She comes to KAUST with 15 years experience creating jobs by managing gap funds, building companies and commercializing technologies under Cooperative Treat Reduction programs in the former Soviet Union. She is a former executive at the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) in Moscow. Also, she has directed a contract research program aboard the Soviet space station "Mir" and managed microfinance investment funds for a prominent NGO. Maria holds a M.S. in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin. Email:

Sami M Bashir, Senior Technology Portfolio Manager

Sami M Bashir is a Senior Technology Portfolio Manager. He has more than 15 years' experience in academic and industrial scientific research. Sami has worked extensively in research and technology commercialization related to new materials, chemical processes and technology applications in coatings, catalysis and renewable energy. His expertise is in technology management and transfer from ideation to commercialization coupled with establishing and incorporating IP strategies in patent drafting and technology portfolio development. Previously, he has held senior research and technology management positions in academia and industry, working for UClan, University of Leeds, Rockwood Additives and Cristal Global. He holds a PhD in Materials Nanochemistry. Email:

Rebekah Kapfer, Marketing Manager

Rebekah Kapfer joined Technology Transfer & Innovation as Marketing Manager in April 2011. Rebekah is a marketing and communications professional and has considerable expertise in working with early stage high tech companies. Prior to joining KAUST, she managed her own marketing firm, which was located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Previously, she served as Director for Project Development and Business Assistance with Technology Ventures Corporation (TVC). In her role with TVC, Rebekah counseled entrepreneurs to accelerate the transition of technology into the marketplace and assisted with fundraising activities. Prior to joining TVC, Rebekah was Chief Operating Officer for TechVentures Network, the Bay Area's Regional Technology Alliance, which provided commercialization assistance to early stage high tech companies. She is the former Executive Director of San Francisco's East Bay Innovation Group, a non-profit membership organization dedicated to fostering economic opportunities and innovation. Rebekah graduated from Ball State University with a B.S. degree in Business - Marketing. Email:

Nisreen Mostareeh, Marketing Associate

Nisreen Mostareeh is a Marketing Associate in the Technology Transfer and Innovation department. She joined the TTI office in January 2011 under the Saudi Graduate Development Program. In her current role, she is being trained to assist both the licensing and marketing team to perform regular duties of a technology transfer professional with work consisting of IP assessment, patent searches, marketing material preparation, due diligence, project management for events and programs, market overview and analysis, and working with researchers and commercial partners. Previously Nisreen served as a Quality Assurance Analyst at Mobily Telecommunication Company. Prior to joining KAUST, Nisreen participated in a variety of business-related projects during her master's studies including Creating a feasible marketing research for Mercy Corps North West; Launching a marketing campaign for Portland Police Bureau Sunshine; Building a recruitment and hiring policy for Marion County Court Appointed Special Advocates; and Creating an on-boarding program for Oregon Commission of Children and Families. Nisreen has an MBA degree from Willamette University. Email:

Hiromi Habuchi (Tobata), Technology Transfer Associate

Hiromi Habuchi joined TTI in January 2012. She studied intellectual property law and Molecular Biology and has a master of Agriculture from Kyushu University in Japan. After graduation, she worked in a marketing division in the world's largest manufacturer and seller in the dental industry.
Email: Hiromi.Tobata@kaust.edu.sa

Haifa Al-Mayman, Business Development Specialist

Haifa Al-Mayman joined TTI in August 2010. In her current role, Haifa interfaces with companies in the MENA region to achieve industry collaboration by matching the best industry candidates with KAUST's technologies through in-depth market research and networking. Haifa has a solid background in banking and marketing. Prior to joining KAUST, she served in a number of Saudi companies as Electronic Banking Supervisor, Sales Manager, and Marketing Manager and Division Director. Haifa graduated from the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) as Executive Secretary and completed her undergraduate studies in Business Systems at the Arab Open University.
Email: Haifa.Mayman@kaust.edu.sa

Halah Dokhan, Administrative Assistant

Halah joined TTI in February 2012. She has worked in the Human Resources department at KAUST since 2011. She worked in the staffing services, benefits and compensation), and with the strategy team.
She has a Teaching Knowledge Test certificate from the British Council. Halah holds a BA in English Literature from the Dammam Collage of Arts.

A Note about Confidentiality and Academic Freedom

The principles of academic freedom ensure that faculty members and researchers may conduct research and publish the results without undue hindrance or control. As an international university with many partners, KAUST recognizes the importance of academic freedom and the challenges presented by taking account of the various intellectual property regimes in the home countries of KAUST partner institutions.

In order to secure the confidentiality of patentable materials while facilitating the flow of new knowledge through publication, TTi will work diligently with faculty members and researchers to minimize any inconvenience caused by publishing delays for patenting.

When KAUST inventors and authors contemplate dissemination of patentable research results outside the KAUST community, TTi can provide non-disclosure agreements (NDA) for the audience in a timely manner. To avoid risking patent rights and possibly hindering the opportunity to market your invention, contact TTi before holding discussions with anyone about your invention.

Knowing when publications or presentations are coming allows TTi to work with faculty members to update any patent applications in progress and ensure that appropriate applications are filed before the publication date. See KAUST Confidentiality Agreement.