www.kaust.edu.sa
Discover a research university devoted to finding solutions for some of the world’s most pressing scientific and technological challenges. A destination where scientists collaborate across disciplines to nurture the great minds of tomorrow and promote innovation and economic development. Explore a community where people from more than 100 countries live, learn and thrive. Where people believe in doing science that matters, and that diversity of ideas and backgrounds can enrich research and change lives. We encourage you to learn more about what makes King Abdullah University of Science and Technology a destination like no other.
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Our VISION KAUST aspires to be a destination for scientific and technological education and research. By inspiring discoveries to address global challenges, we strive to serve as a beacon of knowledge that bridges people and cultures for the betterment of humanity.
Our MISSION KAUST advances science and technology through distinctive and collaborative research integrated with graduate education. We are a catalyst for innovation, economic development and social prosperity in Saudi Arabia and the world. We exist for the pursuit and advancement of scientific knowledge and its broad dissemination and benevolent application. We strive to enhance the welfare of society with a special focus on four areas of global significance – food, water, energy and the environment.
CONTENTS
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Vision and Mission 05
University President Dr. Tony Chan
07
Why KAUST? 09
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We Nurture & Develop 41
Postdoctoral Fellowships
43
The KAUST Fellowship
45
Visiting Student Research Program
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KAUST National Academic Talent Development
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KAUST Gifted Student Program
51
Saudi Research Science Institute
52
Science Competitions Training & Development
53
In-Kingdom Career Launch
KAUST in Numbers
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We Learn & Discover 13 Degree Programs 17 Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering 19 Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering 21 Physical Science and Engineering 23 Strategic Research 31 Research Centers 37 Core Laboratories
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We Innovate & Impact 59 Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed 61 KAUST Startups 67 Industry Engagement at KAUST 69 KAUST Research and Technology Park 71 Alumni
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We Connect & Grow 79
Social Responsibility
83
KAUST Volunteers
85
Enrichment Activities
87
Community Groups & Activities
89
The Arts @KAUST
91
The KAUST Museum
93
The KAUST School
95
Recreation
97
Join us
Established in 2009, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is a graduate research university located on the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia. KAUST is dedicated to advancing innovation through science, technology and engineering via our interdisciplinary research and education model. Our students, faculty, scientists and engineers conduct curiosity-driven and goal-oriented research in the strategic areas of food, water, energy and the environment. We bring together the best minds and ideas from around the world, with more than 100 nationalities working, living and innovating on our campus.
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University President Dr. Tony Chan Dr. Tony Chan became the third president of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology on September 1, 2018, and has been a member of the KAUST Board of Trustees since 2011. He joined KAUST following a 10 year tenure as President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). “My deep history with KAUST and in higher education has allowed me to see firsthand the significant way the university has influenced the global research agenda, and I believe we are only at the beginning of a bright future,” said Chan. Before joining HKUST, Chan was Assistant Director of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate at the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Dean of Physical Sciences at UCLA. Chan’s professional field is computational mathematics with interests including image processing and computer vision, physical circuit design and computational brain mapping. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of AAAS, IEEE, and SIAM. He has mentored over 35 Ph.D. students and 25 Postdocs. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering from Caltech and his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University. “Leading an institution like KAUST is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I look forward to playing a role in not only the next chapter of the university, but in the new era of innovation for Saudi Arabia.”
My deep history with KAUST and in higher education has allowed me to see firsthand the significant way the university has influenced the global research agenda, and I believe we are only at the beginning of a bright future"
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Why KAUST?
Unparalleled Support Our graduate students receive the KAUST Fellowship, which offers unmatched benefits to ensure they have what they need to excel. Our researchers, faculty and scientists are supported by an environment with the resources that allow them freedom to focus solely on their work. Our staff enjoys highly competitive packages and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Superior Research Facilities Our research facilities foster the ideal environment for experimental research. Strategically located research centers, core labs and major facilities ensure easy access to our cutting-edge equipment, which supports every aspect of our work.
Interdisciplinary Approach Research at KAUST combines science and engineering, and brings together perspectives from a variety of specializations to find solutions to fundamental problems. Our faculty, researchers and students are encouraged to be entrepreneurial and creative, while pursuing research that translates science into applications and new technologies.
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Support for Entrepreneurs Our Research & Technology Park hosts leading international corporations and offers a wide array of strategically connected innovation and economic development programs. Our Entrepreneurship Center supports the incubation and acceleration of new businesses.
World-Class Community KAUST brings together people from more than 100 countries to live, learn, innovate and thrive. We go above and beyond to offer a welcoming environment for the whole family. The university is a self-contained city that has all the comforts of home. Our community provides international baccalaureate schools, recreation and health facilities, international restaurants, a cinema, interest and activities groups, and much more.
KAUST in Numbers*
7,300
Community members
1,100
M.S. and Ph.D. students
159
Faculty members
476
Postdoctoral Fellows
337
Research scientists
*Fall 2019
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We Learn & Discover
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Degree Programs Guided by their advisors, students may choose courses and devise research projects that best suit their individual goals. Students can take full advantage of the interdisciplinary research opportunities that arise from across KAUST's fourteen academic programs, the three Divisions and our industrial partners. In all programs students are offered modules consisting of lectures, seminars and laboratory classes. Students are expected to conduct independent research.
Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE) Bioscience Bioengineering Environmental Science and Engineering Marine Science Plant Science
Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering Division (CEMSE) Applied Mathematics and Computational Science Computer Science Electrical Engineering Statistics
Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE) Applied Physics Chemical and Biological Engineering Chemical Science Earth Science and Engineering Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering Material Science and Engineering Mechanical Engineering
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Degree Options The M.S. comprises a significant research component and typically requires three semesters to complete. The M.S. with Thesis option requires students to complete a thesis under the supervision of a faculty member in addition to M.S. research and coursework requirements. The Ph.D. comprises original research that culminates in a dissertation, and typically takes three to four years to complete. The M.S./Ph.D. combines master’s and doctoral work in a single track, and typically requires four to five years to complete.
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Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering
Millet, a staple crop often afflicted by the Striga parasite, is being studied at KAUST with the aim of developing new defenses, thereby increasing global crop yields.
The Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which organisms sense, adapt and respond to the environment, and to the development of innovative technologies that provide support to this mission. At the more applied level, research projects center on how to intervene on the environment to respond to the increasing needs of food and water availability, how human activity affects environmental systems at an integrated level and how such interventions, in turn, affect living organisms. In addition to the Research Centers, specific initiatives focus on Neuroscience, Epigenetics, and Stem Cells & Regeneration, as well as the development of a bio-innovation cluster to centralize the competence and technologies needed to address the needs of the Kingdom, biomedical industry and life science community at KAUST.
Pierre Magistretti, Dean
BESE Degree Programs Bioscience Bioengineering Environmental Science and Engineering Marine Science Plant Science Research Centers Water desalination and Reuse Center Red Sea Research Center Research Initiatives Desert Agriculture Environmental Epigenetics WE LEARN & DISCOVER | www.kaust.edu.sa | 18
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Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering
The Cornea CAVE at KAUST is one of the highest resolution fully immersive virtual reality environments in the world.
The Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering (CEMSE) division focuses on research at the forefront of future technology development, with projects already making an impact in the fields of telecommunications, computer science, electronics, artificial intelligence, extreme computing and statistics. CEMSE researchers contribute to advancing knowledge in these fields through goal-oriented research, focusing on solving global and regional challenges, including those faced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. CEMSE teaching and research activities take advantage of cutting-edge core laboratories and computing facilities. The University’s Shaheen supercomputer (Cray XC40) is currently ranked among the top 30 supercomputers in the world, while the Ibex supercomputing system provides additional capability. The Cornea six-wall immersive CAVE delivers an unmatched tool for visual computing, while the Nanofabrication Core Lab allows for in-house prototyping of novel devices and microsystems.
Mootaz Elnozahy, Dean
CEMSE Degree Programs Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences Computer Science Electrical Engineering Statistics Research Centers Computational Bioscience Research Center Extreme Computing Research Center Visual Computing Center
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Physical Science and Engineering
High vacuum lines in the Surface Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory.
The Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) division explores the nature of matter at all scales and in all forms, as well as the interaction of matter with external stimuli, in order to design new materials and technologies to solve specific and practical problems. PSE focuses on challenges related to energy and the environment and, to a lesser extent, on the exploration and manipulation of the nanoworld and the development of devices with an applied physics perspective. In addition to superbly equipped laboratories, the PSE division offers students the opportunity to study with renowned scientists at the forefront of their field, including ACS award winners and five ISI Highly Cited Researchers.
Ravi Samtaney, Acting Dean PSE Degree Programs Applied Physics Chemical and Biological Engineering Chemical Science Earth Science and Engineering Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering Material Science and Engineering Mechanical Engineering Research Centers Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Center Clean Combustion Research Center KAUST Catalysis Center KAUST Solar Center Ali I.Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center WE LEARN & DISCOVER | www.kaust.edu.sa | 22
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Strategic Research Scientists and engineers at KAUST aim to address global challenges by conducting research in the broad strategic themes of water, food, energy and the environment. By offering expertise in 19 research areas related to these themes, KAUST has created a collaborative and interdisciplinary problem-solving environment. Strategic Research Themes Water Food Energy Environment Our academic divisions and research centers support KAUST’s research mission by bringing together faculty, researchers and students from across disciplines. Together, they leverage the interconnectedness of science and engineering and develop interdisciplinary approaches and solutions. Research is driven by both independent faculty labs as well as by research centers, with which faculty can perform applied, goal-oriented research. Our core labs staff partner with researchers to collaborate on projects, fulfill service requests and train users to operate independently.
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Research Areas • Applied Mathematics and Computational Science • Chemical and Biological Engineering • Chemical Science • Computational Bioscience • Computer Science • Earth Science and Engineering • Electrical Engineering • Epigenetics • Environmental Systems • Extreme Computing • Functional Biology • Genomics • Imaging/Structural Biology • Machine Learning • Marine Science • Material Science and Engineering • Mechanical Engineering • Statistics and Uncertainty Quantification • Petroleum Engineering • Visual Computing
12,500 Scholarly publications 2009-2018
Scientists at KAUST have sequenced the genome of a salt-tolerant tomato variety, and are now breeding the genes into domesticated tomatoes, allowing salty or brackish water to be used for agriculture.
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Research Spotlight
Solutions for Food Security Quinoa could hold the key to feeding the world’s growing population because it can thrive in harsh environments and grows well on poor-quality, marginal land. KAUST researchers performed the world’s first high-quality sequence of the Chenopodium quinoa genome and have begun to identify genes that could be manipulated to change the way the plant matures and produces food. Led by Prof. Mark Tester, the project brought together 33 researchers from four continents, including 20 people from seven research groups at KAUST.
More Efficient Wireless Networks KAUST researchers Doha Hamza and Jeff Shamma developed a way of maximizing network efficiency by using matching theory – a mathematical framework based on game theory, with applications ranging from labor markets to school choice to organ-exchange programs. Their algorithm develops a distributed approach to matching that enables better use of the available wireless spectrum while preserving network privacy.
New Ways of capturing CO2 Prof. Mohamed Eddaoudi is leading a team of KAUST researchers who are developing porous solids called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for the selective removal of various gases from gas mixtures. In 2016, they discovered a breakthrough material that can effectively take up carbon dioxide even when it is present at concentrations as low as 400 parts per million, opening up possibilities for capturing CO2 as it is generated.
A Clean and Green Approach to Polycarbonates From the transparent cockpit canopy of fighter jets, to everyday items like Blu-ray discs, polycarbonate plastics are valued for being light, strong and offering exceptional optical clarity. Current methods utilize complex organometallic catalysts, which are difficult to make and require extra purification steps to remove metal residues in the finished plastic. A more environmentally friendly way to make polycarbonates is to use carbon dioxide as one of the components, which is what KAUST has accomplished. A team of KAUST researchers, led by Profs. Nikos Hadjichristidis and Yves Gnanou, discovered a simple, clean, metal-free way to make polycarbonates from CO2. WE LEARN & DISCOVER | www.kaust.edu.sa | 28
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Research Spotlight
Modeling the Future The health of oceanic ecosystems relies on a delicately balanced supply of nutrients, such as nitrogen and carbon, distributed around the globe by oceanic, atmospheric and biological circulation. As the effects of global warming take hold, increased disruption of this precarious "nutrient cycle" is likely, which can have severe effects in the world’s oceans. Scientists at KAUST are trying to understand and model nutrient cycling in the Red Sea, and aim to potentially provide a model for future healthy oceans.
Getting More out of Wastewater Fresh water scarcity and energy security are two global challenges we face today. Profs. Pascal Saikaly, Suzana Nunes and Krishna Katuri have developed an advanced material that can address both problems simultaneously by producing clean water and hydrogen from wastewater. The material is full of tiny pores that prevent bacteria from getting through, allowing only clean water to pass. The outside of the material is coated with an ultrathin layer of platinum, which acts as an electrode to generate hydrogen energy.
Color-Changing Coatings The dazzling colors of morpho butterfly wings and peacock feathers arise from the physical interaction of light with biological nanostructures. Photonic technology can generate new forms of artificial structural colors that take advantage of the entire spectrum of visible light. But moving this technology out of the lab is challenging, because photonic nanostructures are often fragile and difficult to produce in practical quantities. With collaborators from Harvard University and ETH Zurich, KAUST Prof. Andrea Fratalocchi and colleagues have largely overcome the difficulties of scaling up photonic colors, developing a low-cost, large-scale printing technology that produces lightweight and ultra-resistant coatings in any color desirable.
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Research Centers KAUST’s research centers invest in major projects and provide thematic focus and critical mass to pursue goal-oriented research that addresses significant challenges for Saudi Arabia and the world. The centers empower education by fostering creative approaches in an interdisciplinary, teambased environment. They also serve as hubs for engagement with the corporate world.
The Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Center develops novel materials and process technologies that provide solutions to challenges related to industrial separations, particularly in the fields of natural gas and petrochemicals, carbon capture, and the production of potable as well as industrial water. The Ali I.Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center works to address energy geoengineering and science challenges, focusing on increasing hydrocarbon recovery around the world while reducing environmental and economic impact related to reservoir access and production. The KAUST Catalysis Center follows a multidisciplinary approach to catalytic technologies. The Center develops new catalytic processes across the chemical, petroleum and new energies industries with the aim of increasing resource and energy utilization while reducing waste and overall environmental footprints.
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The Clean Combustion Research Center seeks a knowledge-based understanding of combustion phenomena in order to address challenges arising from the combustion of fossil fuels, including climate change. The Center’s goal is to develop innovative technologies for clean and efficient combustion, producing sustainable energy solutions. The Computational Bioscience Research Center seeks to develop novel methods and technologies using artificial intelligence, big data analytics, computational biology and bioinformatics, with the aim of accelerating new biomedical discoveries. The Extreme Computing Research Center creates algorithms and software to both harness the exponentially increasing power of computer hardware for predictive simulation and to understand and exploit the deluge of digital scientific data produced at KAUST and beyond.
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The Red Sea Research Center works to develop an integrated understanding of coral reef ecosystems—particularly those located along the Red Sea—and their oceanographic context. With KAUST on the coast of the Red Sea, our marine biologists have all they need right at their fingertips. The KAUST Solar Center focuses on the generation, storage and conversion of solar energy, as well as on the innovation of efficient and low-cost photovoltaic (PV) technologies suitable for the hot and dusty climatic conditions of the Arabian Peninsula’s deserts. The Visual Computing Center develops algorithms and computational tools to sense, model, simulate, process, visualize and understand all forms of visual information, with a particular focus on applications in urban planning, remote sensing, scientific imaging and largescale visualization. The Water Desalination and Reuse Center is addressing the need for sustainable and energy-efficient methods of water desalination and reuse in order to increase global supplies of potable water, especially in regions deprived of sufficient fresh water supplies.
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Core Laboratories With more than 150 staff scientists, engineers, technicians and administrative staff, the Core Labs offer centralized state-of-the-art facilities, training and service to KAUST faculty, students, researchers and industrial partners. These centrally organized shared-user facilities provide direct access to specialized research equipment operated by expert staff. The Core Labs are strategically located throughout the academic campus enabling users to transition between labs in a matter of minutes.
Analytical Chemistry Advanced techniques for custom and routine chemical analysis Biosciences Next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics and proteomics Coastal and Marine Resources Marine operations, oceanographic instrumentation and wet lab experimentation Plant Growth Research-driven plant and seed facility dedicated to transgenic and non-transgenic research Imaging and Characterization A wide spectrum of capabilities in imaging, structure and spectroscopy characterization Nanofabrication Fabrication and characterization of micro- and nano-scale devices Research Computing A world class supercomputing facility for computationally-based scientific and engineering research Visualization Visualization, sonification and computational resources for high-performance computing Workshops Design and fabrication of customized experimental tools and equipment Animal Resources Animal research support dedicated to international standards in care
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We Nurture & Develop
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KAUST talent will go on to become future scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and thought leaders for Saudi Arabia and the world. We take this responsibility seriously – it is a major driver in all that we do. The University is committed to cultivating talent at all stages through a variety of support mechanisms and programs designed to provide the necessary tools to flourish and contribute to a new world of knowledge.
Postdoctoral Fellowships KAUST welcomes postdoctoral fellows from Saudi Arabia and around the globe for one to three years of training and research on campus. Postdocs support the University’s research mission while gaining essential skills and conducting groundbreaking research to enhance their experience and ability. They are given holistic development, including science communications training, networking opportunities through international conferences and workshops hosted at KAUST, and other support to enhance their professional prospects and impact following their time at KAUST.
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The KAUST Fellowship KAUST is a global merit-based coeducational university that welcomes students from around the world to apply for its graduate programs. We receive students from globally leading universities and support them in their research, academics, and professional development. All admitted students, whether directly through the University or as part of a sponsorship, receive the KAUST Fellowship, which supports them for the duration of their graduate studies. The KAUST Fellowship is one of the most competitive of its kind and includes: • Full tuition • Monthly living allowance • Housing • Medical and dental coverage • Relocation support
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Visiting Student Research Program Highly qualified students in baccalaureate or postgraduate studies have the opportunity to work with faculty mentors in basic and applied research. Direct collaborations may be arranged between faculty and external students or researchers. Most interns stay at KAUST for between three and six months, and are encouraged to apply to the University for further studies, including to pursue a master’s degree or Ph.D.
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KAUST National Academic Talent Development The KAUST National Academic Development Program (NATDP) nurtures future faculty and researchers for Saudi Arabian universities. The NATDP offers advanced degrees and professional and research training at KAUST for top Saudi candidates. Once they have earned their doctoral degrees or completed postdoctoral training, they return to their universities in a faculty track. We currently partner with more than 50 percent of the universities in Saudi Arabia, meaning that more than half of the universities in the Kingdom will soon have faculty members that have come directly from KAUST.
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The KAUST Gifted Student Program
The KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP) is the University’s flagship undergraduate scholarship, created to foster a pool of pioneering Saudi Arabian scholars by advancing opportunity for the Kingdom’s most talented youth. The KGSP supports students chosen from the top two percent of Saudi high school graduates in science and math as they earn STEM-based bachelor degrees at premiere U.S. universities, and in preparation for a future graduate degree at KAUST. With nearly 500 students currently studying in the U.S., KGSP has become the Kingdom’s premiere undergraduate STEM scholarship, also providing unmatched professional development opportunities and best-inclass advising services. Upon graduation, KGSP students return to Saudi Arabia equipped with new skills and perspectives, ready to add to the intellectual and cultural fabric of the University and the Kingdom.
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The Saudi Research Science Institute The Saudi Research Science Institute (SRSI) is an intensive six-week summer research immersion program in science, technology, engineering and math fields. Designed for highachieving eleventh-graders from throughout the Kingdom, SRSI provides an opportunity to conduct university-level research under world-class KAUST faculty mentors. Each summer, 40 to 45 top students join the SRSI, where they experience KAUST’s state-of-theart laboratories and facilities and become part of our rich community. The SRSI introduces students to the transformative power of science, and they leave KAUST with expanded horizons and insight into future academic and professional STEM careers in Saudi Arabia.
Science Competitions Training & Development KAUST Science Competitions Training & Development brings Saudi Arabia’s best students – from grades 6 to 12 – to KAUST’s campus for intensive training for international science competitions and targeted development activities. These students, trained at KAUST, are putting Saudi Arabia on the map for their superb performance in the International Science Olympiads (Math, Chemistry and Physics), as well as in other renowned competitions, such as the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition. In the past several years, we have trained the largest numbers of Saudi students who not only represent Saudi Arabia on the world stage, but win. Many of these students go on to join our other Saudi talent development programs and eventually matriculate to KAUST for their graduate study.
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In-Kingdom Career Launch Support for our national and international students, postdocs and researchers does not end at KAUST. For top candidates nearing the end of their time with us and who are seeking to continue their professional, academic, research or entrepreneurial quests in Saudi Arabia, we offer support to ensure that they have opportunities aligned with their ambitions and expertise. We work closely with leading international companies who have bases in Saudi Arabia, as well as top national institutions, to match our talented candidates to meaningful positions within their organizations. Recent placements have included Dow Chemical Company, General Electric, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, SABIC, Schlumberger, Saudi Electricity Company and more.
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KAUST startup FalconViz uses 3D mapping and unmanned aerial systems to deliver high accuracy aerial scans with unprecedented detail in a fraction of the time it would take with traditional approaches.
We Innovate & Impact
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KAUST is growing an innovation ecosystem committed to helping great ideas succeed. We support a thriving network of startups, entrepreneurs, inventors, investors and industry seeking to innovate and create impact. We recognize that starting a business requires more than just good ideas and help entrepreneurs at all stages of the process, from ideation to funding, to launch and beyond. We support entrepreneurs in planning, market research, getting funded and much more. We also help inventors protect their inventions and put them on track for commercialization—so their ideas can make the greatest possible impact. KAUST is particularly committed to supporting new ventures that are aligned with our research strategies and that will have local impact and create jobs. We are also an institution of enterprise and a gateway for industry in Saudi Arabia. Through sponsored research agreements, utilizing our laboratories, office spaces, or pilot testing and scaleup facilities, KAUST can help businesses problem solve and accomplish their goals for growth in the region.
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Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed One of the best ways to create a thriving innovation ecosystem is to give entrepreneurs the tools and knowledge they need to launch successful companies and make lasting impact in the world. KAUST does this with a variety of approaches, such as innovation training, startup accelerators and long-term mentoring for startup founders. We aim to grow an innovation and technology investment community and to attract international investors and venture capitalists to the emerging Saudi technology ecosystem. We also make venture capital investments in high-tech startups from seed (less than $200,000) to early-stage (up to $2 million) and become a long-term strategic partner of these ventures.
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KAUST Startups Our startups come from across the physical and biological sciences, as well as IT and digital technologies. Many came about through one of the KAUST startup accelerators or mentorship programs. The following are just a few of our startups.
The No-Water Mechanical Automated Dusting Device (NOMADD) is a robotic dust mitigation system for solar panel arrays, aiming to help make solar energy viable in the GCC region – one of the major global markets for solar energy – in the coming decades. The robotic system helps increase panel performance by up to 60 percent from dust buildup.
QD Solar develops nextgeneration, efficient and cost-effective photovoltaics using colloidal quantum dot technology. These solar cells are poised to bring significant economic benefits and drastically reduce the carbon footprint of Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world.
Falcon Viz provides aerial surveys, mapping and 3D modeling visualization in MENA. The nextgeneration drones deliver high accuracy aerial scans and unprecedented detail in a fraction of the time of traditional survey and mapping approaches.
Insyab designs wireless connectivity solutions to enable collaborative robotic applications with a missioncritical nature. Trademarked AirFabric technology provides ultra-low latency broadband.
Scimagine is an online catalog of 2D to 5D medical imaging scans, electronic and optical microscopy images, 2D and 3D-engineering objects, illustrations, infographics, schemes, graphs, spectra, vectors, maps and videos.
Medad is a silica-based adsorption desalination system driven by a low- temperature heat source. The hybrid desalination system could double or triple desalinated water production, and has already increased fresh water production by more than 50 percent at its pilot plant at KAUST, representing the highest water production ever reported for a desalination technique and earning a GEAramco Global Innovation Challenge Award.
Kyanos Technology uses superior performance micro-algae from the Red Sea to manufacture unique polysaccharides and pigments for the personal care and pharmaceutical markets.
Quantum Solutions is a nanotechnology manufacturer of quantum dots and metallic nanoparticles for applications in LCD displays, LEDs, solar cells and photodetectors.
PepPrint provides 3D/4D bioprinting for applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, diagnostics and drug screening for hospitals, pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies.
Sadeem specializes in high performance flood sensing systems for smart city applications. It is the world’s first multi-patented flood and traffic information system with active networks to save lives and money in real time.
Nanosferix produces ultralight highperformance composite materials using nano-particles for applications in defense, aerospace, sports, coatings, structures and more.
NoorDX provides genotyping and discovery services to physicians, hospitals and clinics in Saudi Arabia. The company is focused on prenatal genetic testing, genetic health risk profiling and drug discovery programs.
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Startup Spotlight: Sadeem In 2011, KAUST Ph.D. students Mustafa Mousa, Esteban Canepa and Ahmad Dehwah began working together on an ambitious project involving sensors for smart cities. They had been students at KAUST in 2009 when floods hit Jeddah, causing hundreds of casualties. Growing up in Mexico, Canepa had a firsthand experience of flood devastation in his own hometown. The students did not know that by the time they graduated in 2016, their research would be a KAUSTlicensed technology under their startup company Sadeem. Sadeem’s mission is to save money and lives in real time during floods. Its technology functions as a wireless sensing device that can be installed in urban areas and in drainage systems. It is powered by its own solar panel and does not interfere with the power grid or the cellular network, which are usually inoperative during floods. Sadeem launched after participating in a startup accelerator program at the KAUST Entrepreneurship Center, and having received investment from the KAUST Innovation Fund. Sadeem is now based at the KAUST Research Park, and their story has come full circle as they move forward with building their company.
Everything started as a Ph.D. project... we began realizing that this was something we could actually commercialize—it was bigger than just a research project." Esteban Canepa
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Startup Spotlight: Al Maha Systems In 2016, a team of four young engineers pursuing their master’s degree at KAUST, Suhaib Amer, Faisal Alhindi, Hamzah AlAhmadi and Albaraa Aseeri, joined efforts to build a startup aimed at serving the dairy industry in Saudi Arabia. They named it after the Arabian onyx, and called their new company Al-Maha Systems. The following year, this KAUST startup won first prize in a startup competition under the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority in Riyadh. Al-Maha Systems’ work intersects with the fields of the Internet of Things and animal healthcare. It provides services that monitor and analyze vital data for livestock in order to increase production and efficiency of farms. It utilizes the latest technologies in the fields of sensing and communication in order to guarantee continuous and effective monitoring of herds. Faisal Alhindi, co-founder and KAUST electrical engineering student, described how they use sensors to monitor livestock health. “We place sensors on cows to collect vitals data, from heart rate, to body temperature, to rumination. The sensors send the data to the cloud-based server.” The user then has access to the analyzed data, with the aim of detecting any health problems ahead of time, as well as detecting breeding time. The team credits the KAUST Entrepreneurship Center with helping them make their initial idea for the company a reality. “Once you have an idea, turn it into action,” said Hamzah AlAhmadi, co- founder and electrical engineering student. “You learn from experimenting.”
Al-Maha cofounders (left to right) Suhaib Amer, Faisal, Alhindi, Hamza Alahmadi and Albaraa Aseeri are also KGSP alumni, and current KAUST M.S. students.
We have scale-level solutions with export potential in addition to the significant economic return. As a technology company, we can also make a difference by creating jobs.� Subaib Amer
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Industry Engagement at KAUST The KAUST Industry Collaboration Program (KICP) promotes collaborations between KAUST and corporations worldwide. KICP members include some of the largest and most influential technology intensive corporations in the world. The program helps companies find tailored ways to transform business needs into innovative processes and technologies. Companies have access to customized research collaboration services in-line with their R&D needs, early access to KAUST technologies and IP, priority access to KAUST faculty and laboratories, and facilitated business development opportunities in the Kingdom.
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KAUST Research and Technology Park The KAUST Research and Technology Park provides an environment for technologybased businesses to access KAUST’s laboratories, faculty and student talent, and network of public spaces and facilities designed for creative collision and knowledge-sharing. The park fosters links between KAUST and industry—as well as among the network of tenants, startups and service providers located here. The park currently covers approximately 2.7 million square meters of space near the heart of KAUST’s campus. All buildings within the park have a minimum of LEED Silver certification as defined by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Saudi Arabia has a rapidly growing economy and has been ranked one of the easiest places to do business in the Middle East. KAUST is poised to become one of the Kingdom’s economic and innovation hubs.
Companies and startups in the Park DOW SABIC Saudi Aramco Nalco Boeing Cray Arabia Gulf Data Hub (GDH) Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) Research Products Development Company (RPDC) ThermoFisher Scientific/ FEI Beckman Saudi Arabia
Fugro SaudiVax NOMADD Falcon Viz Innovations Fields Ltd. Polman Co. SMDD Haala Energy Quantum Solutions Beacon Development Co. SADEEM ULTIM Sarahah SME Law Modern Arch. Contracting Co. (MACC) NAIZAK
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Alumni KAUST alumni form a global community of more than 1,500 individuals from 87 countries.
Our M.S. graduates have gone on to Ph.D. programs at KAUST as well as in institutions including: • Carnegie Mellon University • Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne • Georgia Institute of Technology • Harvard University • Imperial College London • Johns Hopkins University • Massachusetts Institute of Technology • Stanford University • Tufts University • University of Cambridge • University of Oxford
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Our alumni are contributing to industry and innovation around the globe. Some examples of companies they now work at include:
Energy • Baker Hughes • BP • Chesapeake Energy Corporation • CGG • Exelon Nuclear • Halliburton • SABIC • Saudi Aramco • Schlumberger • Sinopec
Industry and Transport • • • • • • •
Airbus Air Liquide Dow Chemical Company Outokumpu Rolls-Royce Siemens Tesla
Information Technology • • • • • • • • •
Facebook Google Huawei IBM Intel Oracle Microsoft Pinterest Texas Instruments
Business and Consulting • • • • • •
Accenture Bain & Company Ernst & Young Frost & Sullivan McKinsey & Company S&P Global Market Intelligence
Our alumni are faculty at: • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • •
Ain Shams University American University in Cairo American University of Beirut Bangladesh University Beijing University of Chemical Technology China University of Petroleum Beijing Damman University Dar Al-Hekma University Florida Institute of Technology Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology Habib University Hong Kong Polytechnic University Jeddah University Jubail Industrial College Kean University King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology King Abdulaziz University King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals King Saud University
An alumnus volunteers in Thuwal as part of an environmental awareness activity to clean up local spaces.
• Lawrence Technological University • Lebanese American University • Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education • National Polytechnic Institute • National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) • Nile University • Ningbo Institute of Industrial Technology • Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso • Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University • Prince Sultan University • Qassim University • Saudi Electronic University • Shenzhen University • Taibah University • The Petroleum Institute • University College of Alwajh, Tabuk • University of California Santa Clara • University of Liverpool • University of Management and Technology • University of Oaxaca • University of Prince Mugrin • University of Sardogha • Wuhan University of Technology • Xi'an Jiaotong University • Zagaig University
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We Connect & Grow
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KAUST is more than a university. We are a small city of almost 7,000 residents including 1,500 school children. With all the comforts of home, the community enjoys an international baccalaureate school, recreation and health facilities, international restaurants, a cinema, interest and activity groups, and much more. With more than 100 nationalities represented in our community, KAUST is a truly unique and diverse environment in which students, faculty, staff and families can thrive.
7,000 Residents
1,500
K-12 school students
110
Nationalities
Parade of Nations
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Social Responsibility KAUST is dedicated to being a good neighbor and responsible citizen, and works to enhance the quality of life for individuals and groups in our nearby villages and towns. As a true meeting place for the world’s greatest minds, KAUST is fortunate to have the ability to build on our vast intellectual and social capital to promote positive change and lasting wellbeing. We work hand-in-hand with local community leaders, groups and individuals to understand how we can best serve them. Our efforts are driven by KAUST community volunteers and focus on sustainable improvements in education, economic empowerment, environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Our small actions have a greater effect than we think on those around us. Being part of the reason a kid loved going to school and started dreaming of a better future is simply priceless.� Modar Alfadly, PhD candidate and KAUST Volunteer
Select Social Responsibility efforts benefiting our neighboring town of Thuwal include:
Young Learners Development We aim to improve learning environments and educational outcomes for students at all levels. Our approach is holistic and offers a suite of academic, technical and soft-skill building activities designed to improve math and English ability, enhance digital and technological literacy, promote environmental awareness, support health and wellbeing through sports and music and much more.
Teacher Development We equip local teachers with the knowledge and ability to improve impact in the classroom, enhancing their effectiveness through with new methods to keep their classrooms and curricula fresh, exciting, and highly educational. We also pair teachers from the KAUST schools with counterparts in Thuwal to promote new ways of teaching and learning.
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Capabilities Development We provide local adults with the skills they need to reach their full professional and personal potential, contribute to society, and raise their standards and abilities. Soft skills trainings empower people to make positive changes in their lives in order to reach goals, while technical and educational training in areas like computer and English literacy give people the edge they need to increase their employability, expand their horizons, and enhance their overall wellbeing.
KAUST-NESMA Embroidery Center In order to promote economic empowerment for individuals and families, we partnered with Nesma Holding Co. to create the KAUST-NESMA Embroidery Center in Thuwal. This falls within our larger efforts to create job opportunities, build a qualified local workforce and boost the Thuwal economy.
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KAUST Volunteers Our Social Responsibility efforts are powered by members of the KAUST community, who are a driving force in the success of our efforts. Community volunteers share their knowledge, skills and time to help improve lives and give back. Our committed volunteers use their expertise and backgrounds in education, science, health, athletics, arts and more, to provide essential support for our activities. Even KAUST schoolchildren get involved – in activities ranging from visits to local elementary and secondary schools to engage with peers, or a day of beach cleaning to raise environmental awareness and enhance public spaces.
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Enrichment Activities Several times a year, the Office of Enrichment Programs puts on festival-style events designed to enrich and inspire participants through lectures, workshops, entrepreneurial, cultural and recreational events that are not typically found in academic programs. The Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) has become a hallmark event at KAUST. Since 2010, the Office has produced a total of 1,430 events, invited 1,230 international and in-Kingdom speakers and attracted a cumulative audience of 100,450 attendees from the KAUST community and the Kingdom. The events can also be experienced online and the 2018 WEP reached 2.2 million people. A selection of past keynote speakers includes Abdullatif A. Al Othman, Governor and Chairman of the Board of the SAGIA, Dirk Ahlborn, CEO at Hyperloop, Carolyn Porco, Imaging Science Team Leader of the NASA Cassini Mission, artist Theo Jansen and Kip Thorne, Nobel Laureate in Physics, Caltech.
WEP 2018 keynote speaker Carolyn Porco, science team leader on NASA’s Cassini mission in orbit around Saturn.
Sci-Café KAUST Sci-Café is an interactive discussion between scientists and audience members who come from a variety of different backgrounds. Each event is focused on a topic that an interdisciplinary panel of experts are uniquely qualified to discuss. The casual setting of these events in the KAUST University Library Café area encourage the audience to engage and ask questions. All Sci-Café events are live streamed and recorded to be made available on the KAUST Discovery webpage and the KAUST Official YouTube channel. Recent examples of popular Sci-Cafés include: • City of the Future • Sensing the Environment • The Science of Sustainability • How can we engineer tomorrow through science and design? • Does our future look more like The Jetsons or Terminator? • Fascination of Plants Day • Visualizing Science
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Community Groups & Activities Whether it’s attending a music concert, checking out an art exhibition, picking up a new hobby or learning another language, there’s always something interesting to do at KAUST. KAUST community members can explore Saudi Arabia on one of our organized tours to places of interested within the Kingdom; sample cuisine from around the world at our annual International Food Festival; or relax and listen to live music at our weekly Thursday Night Live events.
Community Clubs KAUST community members independently run more than 20 special interest groups, clubs and associations. These community clubs encourage, promote and sponsor recreational and educational activities, special events and entertainment for the benefit of their members and the KAUST community. Current clubs include: Photography Club, Toastmasters Club, Cycle Club, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, as well as an Ultimate Frisbee Group and more. A biker from the Red Sea Cyclists SDG powers up a hill in the mountains east of KAUST. WE CONNECT & GROW | www.kaust.edu.sa | 88
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The Arts @KAUST The Office of the Arts provides year-round arts programming for the entire KAUST community, and seeks to connect people interested in joining or establishing performing arts groups. Arts @ KAUST activities, groups and programs include: • KAUST Orchestra • KAUST Chorus • Angklung Ensemble: Traditional Indonesian music • Sunset Concerts: Monthly concerts performed in the beautiful setting of the University Library • Talent Show: An evening of fun, family entertainment with a wide range of featured acts. Participants include musicians, actors, dancers, poets, fashion designers and storytellers. • Science to Watch: Sciencerelated movies, followed by a discussion on the subject. • Artists of KAUST: Paintings, photography, textiles, jewelry, sculpture and ceramics from the KAUST community showcased in a curated exhibition.
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The KAUST Museum The KAUST Museum supports the university’s mission to serve as a holistic intellectual leader in Saudi Arabia. The museum celebrates the historic work of regional scholars and innovators in science and technology, and tells the story of how their contributions helped shape the modern world. Stunning exhibitions integrate cutting-edge technology and interactive experiences, bringing to life the rich historical foundation and promising future on which KAUST was built. Each year the museum hosts thousands of national and international visitors, and is a favorite among community members of all ages.
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The KAUST School The KAUST School (TKS) is a globally minded IB World School, authorized in the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programs. Deeply committed to high-quality, personalized and challenging international education for children from K1 through Grade 12, the school is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The school's mission is to provide an exceptional International Baccalaureate education that empowers students to be resourceful and responsible global citizens. TKS is purpose built and designed to support a balanced curriculum with technology equipped classrooms, science laboratories, a design and technology hub, library media centers, two indoor gymnasiums, two performance theaters, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, two outdoor swimming pools and a soccer pitch. The school offers a state-of-the-art technology environment, incorporating a broad spectrum of educational solutions and maintains a 1:1 Apple computing environment.
1,500 Students
70
Nationalities
30
Sports teams
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Recreation KAUST community members enjoy a wide variety of sports, fitness and leisure activities. Our recreational facilities offer swimming pools, gyms, sports arenas, squash and tennis courts, a rock climbing wall, indoor children's soft play areas, bowling alley and outdoor football fields and tracks, a 9-hole golf course, as well as group fitness. Beautifully landscaped parks and playgrounds are ideal for leisurely walks, jogging, outdoor games and family outings. Children's facilities are widely available and equipped with safety concerns in mind. Numerous football and cricket fields are available, while cycling enthusiasts enjoy paths winding through the neighborhood. The Red Sea offers pristine reefs ideal for marine activities. KAUST’s seaside marina offers boat trips, snorkeling, cruising, diving and traditional fishing. Watersport activities include sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and paddle boarding.
The Safaa Golf Club features a nine-hole, professional-level grass course. All water used for irrigating the course is recycled wastewater.
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Join us At KAUST we offer the opportunity to join a diverse network of committed and forward-thinking individuals contributing to science and innovation for the 21st century. We believe that personal fulfillment is an integral aspect of a rewarding professional life, and KAUST makes it easy for students, faculty, researchers, postdocs and families to thrive. For information about joining KAUST, please visit www.kaust.edu.sa.
@KAUST (C) 2018 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved. www.kaust.edu.sa
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