Dr. Ahmed Gowdia

Dr. Ahmed Gowida is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the College of Petroleum and Geosciences (CPG), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia. He earned his PhD in Petroleum Engineering from KFUPM in 2024, graduating with distinction and achieving a perfect GPA of 4.00. Before joining KFUPM, Dr. Gowida served as a faculty member in the Petroleum Engineering Department at Suez University in Egypt from 2016 to 2018, where he taught Drilling Engineering courses to undergraduate students. At KFUPM, he has taught a range of courses, including Introduction to Petroleum Engineering and Drilling Engineering at the undergraduate level, as well as Advanced Well Control and Advanced Drilling Fluids for graduate students. As an IADC-certified instructor, he integrates hands-on training into his teaching, utilizing advanced drilling simulators to provide industry-aligned education that bridges theoretical knowledge with practical skills critical to the energy sector.

Dr. Gowida’s research expertise lies in drilling engineering, with a focus on the design and optimization of advanced drilling and well construction technologies for systems such as underbalanced drilling (UBD), managed pressure drilling (MPD), and geothermal drilling. These innovations aim to advance unconventional subsurface energy systems. His research also delves into the intersection of machine learning (ML) and petroleum engineering, where he develops advanced models to automate workflows and drive the Industry 4.0 transformation in the energy field.

With a prolific research portfolio, Dr. Gowida has authored over 35 papers in high-impact scientific journals and delivered multiple conference presentations. His contributions to the field earned him first place in the 2022 SPE International Paper Contest for the PhD division, making him the first Middle Eastern scholar to achieve this prestigious distinction. Additionally, he holds a granted U.S. patent and has filed several patents in areas such as drilling fluids, artificial intelligence applications, and the design of advanced tools and equipment, underscoring his dedication to practical innovation in the energy industry. Beyond his academic and research roles, Dr. Gowida is deeply involved in the professional community. He serves as a board member on the Student Development Committee of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) International and as an ambassador for the SPE Energy4Me Program, fostering global energy education and outreach. Furthermore, he co-founded the IADC Student Chapter, the first of its kind in the Middle East region, as well as the Dhahran Geoscience Society (DGS) Student Chapter at KFUPM.