Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) Computer Science students Elana Mohamad Firdaus and Hind Jendara won the hackathon hosted by QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey. Over two days, this competition brought together participants from across the country to design and build artificial intelligence solutions under fast-paced, real-world constraints.
CMU-Q is a Qatar Foundation partner university.
The teams were randomized, placing the CMU-Q students with peers from CUQ Ulster University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and University of Doha Science and Technology. The team focused on the theme of healthcare, developing an AI system designed for doctor-patient consultations. The system automatically takes notes during a consultation, saving time for the doctor and reducing manual errors. The team presented the solution to a high-profile judging panel that included senior leaders from Dubai and Qatar.
Reflecting on the experience, FIrdaus shared how rewarding it was to apply theoretical concepts: “Experiencing this hackathon allowed me to apply what I have learned in classrooms to real-world applications. I enjoyed sketching out abstract ideas and implementing them into reality with the team. I am proud to represent CMU-Q with the win.”
For Jendara, the competition served as a powerful reminder of her passion for the field: “It reminded me why I love computer science. It gave me the opportunity to see firsthand how much my CMU-Q background has prepared me for challenges like this, while applying what I have learned in a fast-paced, practical setting.”
