Ahmed K. Zaher

PhD Candidate
HKUST
[email protected]


I am a PhD candidate in the ALPACAS research group at HKUST, where I am happy to be supervised by Amir Goharshady.

I am broadly interested in Algorithms, Complexity, Automata, Logic, and Games, as well as their applications in Formal Methods. One theme that I am actively working on is the use of Parameterized Algorithms and Complexity to solve problems in Program Analysis [5, 3] and Compiler Optimization [1, 2].

Before starting my PhD, I obtained an MPhil from HKUST in the same group. Prior to that, I received a BSc from Tanta University. From April to June 2025, I did a research visit at Aarhus University, hosted by Andreas Pavlogiannis.

My research is funded by the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme.

Publications

Teaching and Mentoring

  • Honors Design and Analysis of Algorithms
    Teaching AssistantHKUSTSpring 2026
  • Discrete Mathematical Tools for Computer Science
    Teaching AssistantHKUSTFall 2025
  • Undergraduate Project Supervision
    MentorHKUST2023, 2024
  • Discrete Mathematical Tools for Computer Science
    Teaching AssistantHKUSTSpring 2024
  • Formal Reasoning about Programs
    Teaching AssistantHKUSTSummer 2023
  • Introduction to Advanced Algorithmic Techniques
    Teaching AssistantHKUSTFall 2022
  • Competitive Programming Training
    InstructorTanta University2019, 2020

Last updated on: 12 October 2026