Dr Raneem Knaj is a Research Fellow in the James Watt School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow. Her research focuses on the application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and speech/audio signal processing to healthcare and human-centred intelligent systems.

Her work is particularly concerned with digital mental health, mood disorder detection, voice-based assessment, explainable AI in psychological and clinical decision support, and low-resource Arabic speech databases. She is interested in developing accessible, data-driven technologies that can support early detection, decision-making, and inclusive healthcare innovation.

Before joining the University of Glasgow, Dr Knaj held academic and leadership roles in Syria, including Head of the Computer and Electronic Systems Engineering Department at Tartous University. She received her PhD and MSc in Electronic Engineering from Tishreen University, where her doctoral research investigated automatic personality classification based on audio signal analysis.

Alongside her research, she has contributed to teaching, academic service, peer review, digital literacy, robotics education, and community-based technology initiatives.

My research interests include:

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning for healthcare

• Digital mental health and mood disorder detection

• Speech and audio signal processing

• Voice-based biomarkers and non-invasive assessment

• Explainable AI for psychological and clinical decision support

• Low-resource Arabic speech databases

• Deep learning for medical and behavioural applications

• Intelligent systems, robotics, and control

• Human-centred and accessible AI technologies

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Prior publications

• Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) Fellowship, United Kingdom, 2025.

• Conception X Venture Programme, founding team member, United Kingdom, 2025.

I am interested in supporting or co-supervising student projects in the following areas:

• AI and machine learning for healthcare applications

• Speech and audio signal processing for digital health

• Voice-based biomarkers for mood disorder detection and psychological assessment

• Explainable AI for clinical and behavioural decision support

• Multimodal AI systems for non-invasive health monitoring

• Low-resource Arabic speech databases and inclusive AI technologies

• Intelligent systems, robotics, and embedded AI for healthcare and assistive applications

Prospective students interested in interdisciplinary projects combining artificial intelligence, signal processing, healthcare, and human-centred intelligent systems are welcome to contact me to discuss possible project ideas.

During my previous academic appointments at Tartous University, I supervised MSc and PhD students in areas related to electronic engineering, intelligent systems, speech and audio signal processing, artificial intelligence, and healthcare-oriented applications.

Past supervision and research project themes include:

• Speech and audio signal processing for behavioural and health-related assessment

• Machine learning and deep learning for medical and psychological applications

• Voice-based analysis for personality, mood, and non-invasive health assessment

• Arabic speech databases and low-resource speech processing

• Intelligent systems, robotics, and control applications

• Applied AI projects in engineering and healthcare contexts

I have extensive teaching experience in electronic engineering, computer and automatic control engineering, intelligent systems, signal processing, programming, and applied artificial intelligence.

Before joining the University of Glasgow, I held academic teaching roles at Tartous University, Al Andalus University, Wadi International University, and Qasyoun Private University. My teaching and supervision experience includes undergraduate and postgraduate students, including MSc and PhD research supervision.

My teaching interests include:

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning

• Signal and speech processing

• Electronic and computer systems engineering

• Intelligent systems, robotics, and control

• Digital health and healthcare-oriented AI applications

• Research methods and academic skills for engineering students

Academic service and professional engagement:

• Peer reviewer in artificial intelligence, healthcare, intelligent systems, robotics, control, and embedded AI/IoT applications.

• Peer Reviewer for IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (JBHI), 2026.

• Reviewer for the 2026 International Telecommunications Conference (ITC-Egypt), IEEE-affiliated conference.

• Founder and Director of the Robotics Club, Syrian Scientific Society for Informatics, supporting robotics education, computational thinking, and STEM outreach for children.

• ICT Trainer / Instructor with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Syria, contributing to digital skills and workforce upskilling.

• Member of IEEE, IEEE Signal Processing Society, and IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

• Member of Women in AI and Women in Data Science Worldwide.

• Registered researcher with ORCID: 0009-0009-6458-9604.

• Active in community-based digital inclusion, carbon literacy, and humanitarian technology initiatives.