Profile // Career narrative
Nikolaos Giakoumidis
Commercializing AI and robotics built on more than a decade of research infrastructure, experimental engineering, and field deployment.
Summary
Robotics, AI, and automation engineer with 15+ years of hands-on experience building advanced research infrastructure, developing autonomous systems, and delivering technology for real-world use across the UAE. Deep technical expertise in embodied and physical AI, multimodal perception, lab automation, and complex robotic systems, combined with a practical understanding of the operational, administrative, and stakeholder requirements needed to turn advanced technology into deployable projects. Currently focused on scalable multi-agent robotic systems for inspection and real-world deployment, combining technical depth with research translation, external engagement, and implementation across government, industry, and research environments.
Commercial Lead – AI and RoboticsNYUAD Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR)
Career trajectory
Four eras spanning early robotics research through commercialization leadership — with links into work and laboratory hubs.
2009–2012
Early robotics research & autonomous systems
Research internships, teaching robotics, and defense R&D on small UAS — culminating in NYUAD's first robotics laboratory and BSc thesis work on GPS-guided autonomous flight.
2012–2017
Electronics, instrumentation & laboratory creation
Established NYUAD's Electronics and Advanced Manufacturing workshops, co-built shared research platforms, and delivered scientific instrumentation across photonics, HTS, and robotics.
2017–2025
Research infrastructure & multidisciplinary enablement
Expanded and operated key NYUAD laboratories — Kinesis, photonics, HTS — supporting 100+ researchers while co-developing aerial robotics, construction automation, and perception systems.
2025–present
AI & robotics commercialization
Commercial Lead at CAIR — translating embodied AI and autonomous systems research into industry collaborations, proposals, and field deployments across transport, logistics, and infrastructure.
Experience & education
Full role history and education along the career spine.
New York University Abu Dhabi
2012–Present · 4 roles
2025–Present
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Commercial Lead – AI and Robotics
Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR)
- Lead commercialization and external engagement for CAIR, positioning NYUAD's AI, robotics, and autonomous systems research for industry-facing translation and strategic collaboration.
- Authored 15+ project proposals in the first year in role, spanning embodied and physical AI, industrial inspection, logistics, infrastructure, digital twins, and autonomous systems.
- Completed 5 NDAs with external stakeholders, advancing discussions toward next-stage collaboration.
- Represented NYUAD and CAIR at Dubai AI Festival, Make it in the Emirates, Global Rail, Future Digital Twin & AI, DriftX, and ADIPEC, and in meetings with stakeholders including AD Ports Group, Etihad Rail, GCAA, Kent, Mubadala, MGX, Analog, CycloTech, and Mimik.
- Built a structured engagement model averaging roughly two external visits per week in 2025, generating proposal requests, technical workshops, lab and site visits, pilot discussions, and executive follow-ups.
2017–2025
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Research Instrumentation Specialist – Robotics & Automation
Core Technology Platforms (CTP)
- Established, expanded, and ran key NYUAD laboratories across robotics, photonics, high-throughput screening, electronics, and advanced manufacturing.
- Owned end-to-end technical decision-making across multiple labs: equipment strategy, vendor selection, system architecture, workflow design, safety procedures, and repair-versus-replacement planning.
- Supported 100+ users — faculty, researchers, students, and technical staff — across multidisciplinary research communities.
- Influenced approximately $800K in annual purchasing, peaking near $3M, and generated major institutional savings through strategic procurement and in-house repair of high-value systems.
- Ran roughly four student workshops per semester and co-supervised about two capstone projects annually, while operating within demanding safety and regulatory environments involving drones, lasers, and RF systems.
2013–2017
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Electronics Engineer, Laboratories
- Fully established the Electronics Workshop and co-established the Advanced Manufacturing Workshop, expanding NYUAD's internal prototyping and scientific instrumentation capabilities.
- Played a key role in planning and relocating research laboratories from the Center for Science and Engineering to the Saadiyat campus.
- Supported faculty, researchers, and students across electronics, automation, robotics, and scientific instrumentation, including the High Throughput Screening Platform (HTS).
- Delivered in-house troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair of scientific equipment, improving operational continuity and cost efficiency.
- Conducted demonstrations for industry and government delegations to showcase research capabilities.
2012–2013
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Research Assistant
Interactive Robots and Media Laboratory (IRML)
- Supported the setup and early development of NYUAD's first robotics laboratory.
- Contributed to robotics research projects and day-to-day laboratory operations in IRML.
- Served as teaching assistant for engineering courses and supported international robotics workshop activities.
Hellenic Armed Forces
2011–2012
2011–2012
Greece
R&D Engineer
Dept. of Advanced Defense Systems
- Conducted R&D on small unmanned aerial systems, including fixed-wing and multirotor platforms.
- Completed during mandatory National Service in Greece.
Experimental Primary School of Athens
2010–2011
2010–2011
Athens, Greece
Teacher of Robotics
- Delivered robotics instruction to school students using LEGO Mindstorms.
- Supported early STEM engagement for young learners.
United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain
2009–2010
2009–2010
Al Ain, UAE
Research Intern
Interactive Robots and Media Lab
- Supported robotics research activities in the Interactive Robots and Media Lab.
- Contributed to project execution across lab research efforts.
G&D Goumas SA, Athens
2003–2009
2003–2009
Athens, Greece
Manager of Industrial and Automotive Equipment
- Managed technical support and training for industrial and automotive diagnostic equipment.
- Worked across Launch diagnostic tools and troubleshooting systems.
Education
2023–Present
PhD Candidate
University of the Aegean — Greece
PhD research focused on autonomous cooperative robotic systems, embodied AI, and deep reinforcement learning.
2012
BSc, Automation Engineering
University of West Attica — Greece
Thesis: automatic path finding and GPS navigation for a Parrot AR.Drone quadrotor — ArduPilot sensing payload and LabVIEW ground control station (ΤΕΙ Piraeus · Department of Automation).
Major awards
Exhibitions
23–24 April · 2025
Dubai AI Festival
NYUAD booth — Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
Dubai, UAE
8–9 December · 2025
Global AI Show 2025
Speaker — Commercial Lead for AI & Robotics, NYUAD CAIR
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Certifications
Professional RPAS Certificate
Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
Multirotor & Fixed Wing
2023
Deep Learning for Robotics
NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute
2019
KUKA LBR iiwa Commissioning and Programming
KUKA College
2019
Deep Reinforcement Learning Nanodegree
Udacity
2019