Mohamed Youssef

Global Challenge: Bridging gaps in wireless communication worldwide.

Bio:

In his first year as a GLASS Scholar, Mohamed had the unique opportunity to visit five different countries: the UAE, Egypt, Thailand, Korea, and Japan. The visits to the UAE, Egypt, and Korea were directly tied to fulfilling his required GLASS windows, serving as structured checkpoints for his academic, cultural, and personal growth. Meanwhile, his travels to Thailand and Japan were incredible extra opportunities that came simply from being in the region through the GLASS program. Spending time across these distinct nations challenged him to navigate unfamiliar environments, connect with people from completely different backgrounds, and adapt to changing situations.

At NYU, Mohamed is an active member of HEOP, TRIO Scholars, SHPE, MSA, and the Tandon Honors GLASS program cohort, while contributing to the Wireless 6G project on both the RF simulation and manufacturing teams. Professionally, he serves as an NYU MakerSpace Teaching Assistant, leading hardware workshops and training peers on how to use various technical machines. Through these hands-on engineering, leadership, and study abroad experiences, he has developed strong technical skills in C++, Python, RF simulation software, and PCB fabrication, paired with cross-cultural communication and problem-solving abilities. Upon graduation, his short-term goal is to launch a career in hardware engineering, while his long-term ambition is to drive global infrastructure innovation (SDG 9) by leading cross-cultural engineering teams.

Through NYU and the GLASS program, Mohamed studied abroad at NYU Abu Dhabi and traveled to five different countries, including the UAE, Egypt, Thailand, Korea, and Japan. While his required program windows in the UAE, Egypt, and Korea provided structured academic and cultural growth, his regional visits to Thailand and Japan offered valuable extra opportunities to expand his horizons. Even though his time in Abu Dhabi was unexpectedly shortened to eight weeks due to regional conflict, these experiences had a lasting impact on his overall development. Professionally and academically, adapting to new university systems and navigating sudden schedule changes taught him how to remain resilient and adaptable in global environments. On a personal level, joining the campus volleyball team and engaging with local traditions helped him build meaningful connections across diverse cultures, ultimate helping him develop a truly global mindset.

Being part of the GLASS program means gaining the tools, mindset, and opportunities to navigate an increasingly interconnected world with empathy and purpose. Through his travels GLASS has shaped Mohamed's perspective by showing him that complex global challenges require local understanding and adaptable, cross-cultural collaboration. The challenge of sustainable growth along with UN Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) resonates most with him because he sees how modern, resilient infrastructure directly powers economic development and connects diverse communities in rapidly growing regions like the UAE. Moving forward, Mohamed hopes to apply his technical and problem-solving skills in international environments, using his global mindset to build innovative solutions and collaborate effectively across different cultures and borders.

In his day to day life, Mohamed is always moving around, whether that be playing soccer, hanging out with friends, or exploring a new food place. But, in the quieter moments, he enjoys binging shows and gaming.