King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
BEACON املنـارة at Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
July - August 2014 / Ramadan- Shawwal 1435 Volume 4, Issue No. 10
the
www.kaust.edu.sa
SIZE MAKES A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE IN TUNING ELECTRON INJECTION IN QUANTUM DOT SOLAR CELLS
Prof. Omar Mohammed and his research team work in the laser lab at KAUST’s Solar Center to align the femtosecond transient absorption setup to monitor electron injection between quantum dots (QDs) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) in real time.
OMAR F. MOHAMMED, KAUST Assistant Professor of
BILL GATES VISITS KAUST ON EXPLORATORY TOUR
بيل غيتس يستكشف فرص تعاون مع جامعة امللك عبداهلل للحد من مشاكل اجلوع وسوء التغذية وندرة املياه يف العامل
KAUST and the University of California at Berkeley recently
IN A COLLABORATIVE effort aimed at exploring ways to reduce
published a paper in the Journal of the American Chemical
the problems of hunger, malnutrition and water scarcity, Bill Gates,
Society (DOI: 10.1021/ja413254g) examining the properties
world-renowned technology pioneer, philanthropist and co-chair
essential for quantum dot (QD) solar cells.
of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, visited KAUST on Tuesday,
في مجهود تعاوني يهدف إلى استكشاف طرق مبتكرة للحد من مشاكل قام رجل األعمال بيل،الجوع وسوء التغذية وندرة المياه في العالم والرئيس، أحد أشهر رواد التقنية واألعمال الخيرية في العالم،غيتس بزيارة جامعة الملك،المشارك لمؤسسة بيل وميليندا غيتس الخيرية .ًعبداهلل مؤخرا "إنه لمن دواعي سروري أن أرحب بالسيد: لو شامو-وقال الرئيس جان غيتس وأن أدعوه لاللتقاء بأعضاء هيئة تدريسنا وطلبتنا الذين يبذلون مجهودات كبيرة للتصدي للتحديات العالمية الرئيسية متسلحين بسالح لقد تعرف السيد غيتس عبر هذه الزيارة على العلوم.االكتشافات العلمية المتطورة التي تنتجها جامعتنا واالبحاث المهمة التي يقوم بها طلبتنا ."والتميز الموهوبين ومرافقنا االستثنائية وثقافتنا التي تعزز االلهام ّ
Chemical Science and the principal investigator of the ultrafast laser spectroscopy and four-dimensional electron imaging laboratory at KAUST’s Solar and Photovoltaics Engineering Research Center, and a team of researchers from
QD solar cells are “emerging as promising low-cost
June 24, 2014.
alternatives to existing photovoltaic technologies,” the
KAUST’s long-term and sustained investments in four strategic
researchers state. They are advantageous for use in
research areas—water, food, energy and the environment, have
photovoltaics for several reasons, including strong above-
attracted some of the world’s leading faculty, scientists and
gap sunlight absorption, the possibility to tune the bandgap
researchers. As a result, KAUST’s research centers are at the
by controlling the QD size, solution processability and the
forefront of scientific efforts to address some of humanity’s
availability of a range of device architectures.
pressing challenges.
QUANTUM DOT SOLAR CELLS | Continued on p4
BILL GATES VISIT | Continued on p2
2 تتمه صفحة
حبث علمي يبني أن أمساك اللقيطة .هي من أمساك األعماق TAGS REVEAL CHILEAN DEVIL RAYS ARE AMONG OCEAN'S DEEPEST DIVERS MAINLY thought to be surface dwellers, Chilean devil rays (Mobula tarapacana) are most often seen gliding through shallow, warm waters. But a new study by KAUST scientists and international colleagues reveals that these large and majestic creatures are actually among the deepest-diving and fastest-diving ocean animals. "Very little is know about devil rays," said Michael Berumen, a biologist at KAUST and senior author of the paper, which was published July 1, 2014, in the journal Nature Communications. "We suspected that they travelled long distances horizontally, but we had no idea that they were diving so deep or so fast. That was truly a surprise." The researchers utilized pop-up satellite archival transmitting tags (PSATs) to record the movement
patterns of 15 Chilean devil rays in the central North DEVIL RAYS | Continued on p2
INSIDE:
News 1-3
أظهرت أجهزة التعقب أن أسماك اللقيطة التشيلية هي من بين أسماك المحيطات التي تغوص ألعماق كبيرة كان االعتقاد السائد سابقًا أن أسماك اللقيطة ) هي منMobula tarapacana( التشيلية الكائنات البحرية التي تعيش في المياه الضحلة ولكن كشفت دراسة جديدة.والدافئة فقط قام بها علماء من جامعة الملك عبداهلل للعلوم والتقنية في المملكة العربية السعودية بقيادة عالم األحياء الدكتور مايكل بيرومين وبعض الباحثين والزمالء الدوليين أن هذه المخلوقات الكبيرة هي في الواقع من ضمن األسماك التي وتم نشر.تغوص ألعماق كبيرة في المحيطات Nature( الدراسة في ورقة بحثية في مجلة .2014 يوليو1 ) بتاريخCommunications وقال الدكتور بيرومين "المعلومات المتوفرة عن أسماك اللقيطة محدودة للغاية وكنا
2 تتمه صفحة
Community 4
THE COMPUTATIONAL BIOSCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER INAUGURATION KAUST officially inaugurated the Computational
oversaw the graduation of over 30 master’s
Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), on June 8,
students. Moreover, out of the ten inaugural
2014. CBRC began operating in September 2009
KAUST Ph.D. graduates, three were CBRC
and since that time the center has achieved
students. “Overall, our measurable performance
many concrete milestones. In addition to having
has been reasonable, but we are striving to
published over 200 papers in peer-reviewed
improve it much further,” said Prof. Vladimir
journals based on research conducted at KAUST
Bajic, Director of the Computational Bioscience
with less than four faculty on average, the center
Research Center (CBRC).
developed more than 40 different bioinformatics
The official inauguration of the center
resources and tools, as well as 10 full patent
coincided with a two-day symposium featuring
and 13 provisional patent applications. CBRC
over 30 invited international speakers and KAUST
also graduated KAUST’s first Ph.D. student and
faculty. Under the theme of “Meeting Modern
CBRC INAUGURATION | Continued on p3
3 تتمه صفحة
2
News
July - August 2014
The Beacon
The Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 10, July - August 2014. Published by The Communications Department, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia. Contact Salah Sindi salah.sindi@kaust.edu.sa, or Nicholas Demille nicholas.demille@kaust.edu.sa © King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Printed on partially recycled paper.
:تتمة الصفحة األولى
BILL GATES VISIT | Continued from p1 “It was pleasure to welcome Mr. Gates to meet with faculty and students who are committed to addressing major world issues through scientific discoveries,” said President Jean-Lou Chameau. “Mr. Gates saw first-hand the novel science our talented people are undertaking, empowered with exceptional facilities and a culture that promotes excellence and impact.” Since agriculture stands as a major pillar in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s work in improving the lives of women, children and communities in the developing world, Mr. Gates took part in a roundtable discussion with KAUST faculty on the topic of agriculture research in arid and harsh conditions. The group focused on ideas and opportunities to align KAUST’s research pursuits with the Gates Foundation. Following the discussion, Mr. Gates had the opportunity to visit several KAUST laboratories and observed first-hand the innovative water-efficient and sustainable systems of food production being developed. Mr. Gates also met with faculty, postdocs, researchers and students advancing science to address global problems in water security and the
sources, especially in places like India and Africa.
the world’s poorest.” Mr. Gates also expressed
sustainability of water resources. During the visit,
Before departing, Mr. Gates shared his
how impressed he was in KAUST’s unique
faculty and students demonstrated their progress
confidence in KAUST’s progress stating,
facilities and the culture of collaboration
in pursing innovative research that shares the
“I’m optimistic that the research KAUST is
among faculty, students and postdocs inside
Gates Foundation focus on improving water
undertaking will help benefit the livelihoods of
the laboratory.
وشارك السيد غيتس في حلقة نقاش مع أعضاء هيئة التدريس في جامعة الملك عبداهلل لبحث طرق مبتكرة للزراعة في الظروف الجافة والقاسية والتباحث حول إمكانية تعاون بحثي مشترك بين جامعة الملك عبداهلل ومؤسسة غيتس الخيرية خصوصًا أن األخيرة تقوم بأعمال كبيرة في مجال الزراعة نظرًا ألهميتها الكبيرة وبعد.في التصدي لمشكلة الجوع في مجتمعات الدول النامية المناقشة قام السيد غيتس بزيارة العديد من مختبرات جامعة وتعرف عن قرب على االبحاث المتطورة التي تتم،الملك عبداهلل فيها خصوصًا تللك المعنية باألنظمة المستدامة والمبتكرة لإلنتاج .الغذائي وذات الكفاءة العالية في استهالك المياه كما زار السيد غيتس مركز أبحاث تحلية وإعادة استخدام المياه في جامعة الملك عبداهلل حيث قدم أعضاء هيئة التدريس والطالب عروضا حول تقنيات تحلية المياه والصرف الصحي والمجاالت ومن الجدير بالذكر أن مجال معالجة مياه.األخرى المرتبطة بها الصرف الصحي يتصدر قائمة اهتمامات مؤسسة جيتس خصوصًا في .األماكن التي تنشط فيها مثل الهند وأفريقيا وأعرب السيد غيتس في ختام زيارته لجامعة الملك عبداهلل عن إعجابه الكبير في الجامعة ومرافقها المتطورة وثقته الكبيرة في أبحاثها والثقافة التعاونية بين أعضاء هيئة التدريس والطلبة وزمالء " أنا متفائل بأن األبحاث: ما بعد الدكتوراه في المختبرات وقال التي تجريها جامعة الملك عبداهلل ستساهم في الرقي بمستوى ." معيشة أفقر النساء واألطفال واألسر في العالم
DEVIL RAYS | Continued from p1
Atlantic Ocean during 2011 and 2012. The tags, which stay on the animals for
cold water —two to three degrees Celsius (35.6 to 37.4 degrees Fahrenheit),"
up to nine months, also measure water temperature, depth and light levels of
Thorrold said.
the waters. Once the PSATs detach or “pop off” from the tagged animal, they float to the surface and transmit data via the ARGOs satellite system back to computers on shore.
QUESTIONS ABOUT RAYS CONTINUE While it's not certain what the rays are doing at these depths, the dive
"Data from the tags gives us a three-dimensional view of the movements of
profiles suggest that they're foraging on large numbers of fish that live in
these animals, and a window into how they're living in their ocean habitat—
deeper waters. Earlier this year, a KAUST-led team of scientists described this
where they go when and why," said Simon Thorrold, a first author to the
fish abundance in a report also published in Nature Communications.
paper and a biologist from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in the United States.
"There’s an enormous amount of biomass in the deep ocean that we’re only starting to understand the significance of," said Camrin Braun, a coauthor and a graduate from KAUST’s Marine Science program. "This paper suggests that
TRACKING THE RAYS IN THE OCEAN Devil rays, which can grow as large as four meters (13 feet) across, are nomads who travel large areas of the ocean. Dive data from the tags show
devil rays are aware of and regularly exploit this resource, which demonstrates an unexpected new link between the surface and deep ocean." Braun is currently a PhD student in the MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography.
that individuals are also routinely descending at speeds up to six meters per
"Ultimately, answering whether these animals depend on the deep layers
second (13.4 miles per hour) and to depths of almost 2,000 meters (1.24 miles)
of the ocean for their feeding and survival could have major implications
in water temperatures less than four degrees Celsius (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit).
for their management and that of oceanic habitats," added Pedro Afonso,
The deep dives generally followed two distinct patterns. The most common
a coauthor of the paper and researcher at the Institute of Marine Research
involved descent to the maximum depth followed by a slower, stepwise
(IMAR) at the University of the Azores and the Laboratory of Robotics and
return to the surface with a total dive time of 60 to 90 minutes. The tagged
Systems in Engineering and Science (LARSyS).
rays generally only made one such dive during a 24-hour period. In the
Devil rays are under increasing pressure from fishing, particularly in the
second dive pattern, individuals descended and then remained at depths of
Indian and Pacific Oceans. Manta gill rakers are targeted for use in Chinese
up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) for as long as 11 hours.
medicine and their cartilage is used as filler in shark fin soup.
During the day, the rays would spend time at the surface—presumably
Little is known about the life span of devil rays or at what age they
heating up—immediately before and then again after a deep dive. This may
reproduce. Like other large rays, devil rays are thought to birth just one pup
explain how these animals deal with the cold temperatures of the deep ocean.
per about every two years.
A previous study from the 1970s found that several species of devil
"With such low reproductive rates, any increase in natural mortality rates
ray possess a physiological adaptation associated with thermoregulatory
will have a big impact on the species," Berumen said. "We don’t know enough
capabilities—well-developed retia mirabilia (networks of blood vessels)
about devil rays to even know if we should be worried about their status. There
around the cranial cavity.
is evidence to suggest we should be worried, or at least that we should be
"They are basically heat exchange systems that allow animals to become
trying to learn more about the basic biology and ecology of these rays.
endothermic, or in some sense warm blooded," explained Berumen. "We see
Movement ecology studies can be challenging, but the results are crucial
them in other deep-diving elasmobranchs, such as mako and white sharks."
to inform conservation efforts. The more species we tag, the more we
Though it has been hypothesized that devil rays use this adaptation to
learn about their remarkable behaviors. Without such knowledge, it’s hard
cool down rather than warm up, Berumen and his colleagues show that the adaptation could facilitate dives into deep, cold waters, thus solving a decades-old puzzle.
:تتمة الصفحة األولى ولكننا،ًنشتبه في أنها تقطع مسافات طويلة أفقيا تفاجأنا أيضًا أنها من الكائنات البحرية التي تغوص ."في األعماق وبسرعة استخدم الباحثون أجهزة تعقب باألقمار الصناعية قابلة )PSATs( للفصل تثبت على جسم السمكة وتسمى من أسماك اللقيطة التشيلية15 لتسجيل أنماط حركة و2011 في وسط وشمال المحيط األطلسي خالل عامي وتبقى أجهزة التعقب مثبتة على جسم السمكة.2012 وتقوم خالل هذه الفترة برصد، أشهر9 لمدة تصل إلى وبمجرد فصل هذه.درجة حرارة الماء ومستوى العمق األجهزة من جسم السمكة تطفو على السطح و تبدأ بإرسال البيانات إلى أجهزة كمبيوتر موجودة على .) لألقمار الصناعيةARGOs( الشاطىء عبر نظام أرغوس عالم أحياء،ويضيف الكاتب األول للورقة سايمون ثورولد من معهد وودز هول لعلوم المحيطات في الواليات "نستطيع بواسطة هذه البيانات عرض تحركات:المتحدة ويمكننا أيضًا،هذه الحيوانات على خريطة ثالثية األبعاد التعرف على نمط حياتها في بيئتها في المحيط – أين وفي حين أننا ال نعرف ماذا تفعله."تذهب ومتى ولماذا إال أن بيانات الغوص،هذه األسماك في هذه األعماق تشير إلى أنها تقتات على أعداد كبيرة من األسماك التي .تعيش في المياه العميقة وساهم الباحثون من مصائد األسماك البحرية في والية ماساتشوستس في الواليات المتحدة أيضًا في هذه وجاء تمويل هذا البحث من المؤسسة الوطنية.الدراسة ، رودني وإليزابيث بيرينز، ومؤسسة هاريسون،للعلوم والمؤسسة البرتغالية للعلوم،جامعة الملك عبداهلل والمشروع، وزارة التربية والتعليم والعلوم/ والتقنية . ومعهد وودز هول،LARSyS االستراتيجي
to know even where to begin to protect a species." Researchers from Massachusetts Marine Fisheries in the United States also contributed to the study. Funding for this research came from the
"Rays were always seen in very warm water up at the surface, so why
National Science Foundation, The Harrison Foundation, Rodney and
would they need an adaptation for cold water? Once we looked at the dive
Elizabeth Berens, KAUST, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and
data from the tags, of course it made perfect sense that the rays have these
Technology/ Ministry of Education and Science, the LARSyS Strategic
systems. Sometimes they’re down diving for two or three hours in very
Project and WHOI.
Chilean Devil Ray
News
www.kaust.edu.sa
July - August 2014
3
research focuses on the study and preservation of archaeological sites in the Gulf region such as Petra in Jordan, or Mada’in Saleh in Saudi Arabia. The two make an unlikely duo. But in the few, short years they’ve worked together, they’ve designed and built a line of remote control helicopters, outfitted them with high-resolution cameras, written
3D MAPPING
a long time. Lidar scanners can
and debugged custom imaging software and
be used to generate a lot more
pitched their services to a range of high-profile
data, but they do not work well in
clients.
urban environments where they’re constantly interrupted.
With seed funding from KAUST, Smith and Passone run a small startup called FalconViz.
“A helicopter gives us the ability
It’s an apt name choice. The FalconViz team can
to cover huge areas in a short time,
give architects and planners access to a birdseye perspective they’ve never had before.
ON JUNE 21, the United Nations Educational,
make the argument for a UNESCO cultural heritage
generating a lot of useful data,”
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
site in Jeddah. Their contribution was to map
said Passone. “We think this will be helpful to
“Imagine the construction site of the future,”
named “Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah,” a
Al-Balad, Jeddah’s iconic, old city.
project managers whose only option is probably an
said Smith. “Autonomous helicopters, similar to
outdated Google map.”
our prototypes, will buzz around capturing realtime
World Heritage Site. It’s a designation that took
Using a remote control helicopter, the team
several decades to achieve, in part, because
rapidly surveyed large areas using a high-definition
Passone pilots the helicopters using goggles
data that can be used to check the accuracy of
capturing and communicating the significance
camera from about 50 meters above street level.
that enable him to sit inside a virtual cockpit. It’s
construction. That data will be overlayed with
of Jeddah’s unique historical landmarks proved
Even in areas such as Al-Balad, several passes
a hobby that he cultivated as a diversion from the
information from the original plans, data from
a daunting task.
over each city block were enough to create a rich,
demands of academic life. He’s currently finishing
surveyors and more. Everyone has a much more
interactive model.
a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences focused on earthquake
accurate look, much earlier in the process, to make
buildings may not be safe to enter for
“In an area like Al-Balad, some of the
“We can create three-dimensional renderings
simulation. His background is in high-performance
sure things are being built they way they should.”
surveyors,” said Neil Smith, a KAUST researcher.
of complicated urban environments accurate up
computing, which is what brought him to KAUST as
“And at the rate these buildings are decaying,
to several centimeters. And we can create them
a master’s student.
traditional methods of survey are infeasible. A
quickly, which allows us to show planners how
“I’ve been able to move around and work on
expensive, hot and even dangerous work given
building was lost to fire only two weeks before
buildings are shifting, what improvements have
projects that I’m passionate about,” said Passone. “I
the state of some of the structures. The FalconViz
we arrived. That’s historical information that is
been made and where potential problems are
never envisioned myself flying model helicopters
team offers the ability to capture an entire area in
simply gone.”
developing,” said Passone.
over important historical sites as a business
a day or two and prepare a range of printed plans,
enterprise, but here I am.”
video flyovers, interactive three-dimensional
Smith and his partner Luca Passone are part of a
A team of surveyors on the ground can collect
small team of researchers from KAUST that helped
a few, highly accurate data points, but this takes
CBRC INAUGURATION | Continued from p1 Life Science Challenges Through Computational
with collecting samples,
Bioscience,” the topics covered by the distinguished
processing them, and through
speakers included methods in bioinformatics,
various steps of experimental
genomics, bioengineering, microbial cell factories
and computational analyses
and big data management.
finally arrive at the suitably
“We are going to focus on covering domains
engineered microbial cells.
pertaining to the center’s research activities
In this process computational
as much as possible,” said Bajic prior to the
analysis has a critical role
inauguration. Speaking about the center’s
in suggesting optimized
research thrusts over the next few years, Prof.
solutions that could minimize
Takashi Gojobori, Distinguished Professor of
required experimental effort.
Bioscience and Associate Director of CBRC, said:
“In particular, we are
“ We understand that in life science, so-called
focused on the Red Sea,”
big data is coming out prominently. Whether
Gojobori confirms. The Red
it’s in genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics,
Sea represents a very rich
metabolomics or proteomics, big data approaches
source of microbiological and
are essential to analyze databases and establish
microorganismic diversity. “If
experimental procedures.”
we can find out what kind of
Combining diverse fields such as computer
Smith has a Ph.D. in Archeaology. His
In the case of areas like Al-Balad, surveying the space using traditional methods is prohibitively
models and more
microorganisms exist in the
science, mathematics, biology and chemistry,
Red Sea, such as bacteria, algae or sometimes
KAUST’s direct access to the Red Sea’s rich source
microbial cell factories. CBRC will receive a large
CBRC concentrates on computational biology
maybe even marine viruses, we can be in a very
of understudied microorganisms, Bajic explained
new computing cluster, which is expected to be
and bioinformatics as catalysts for life science
good position to identify genes which may be
that “we decided that the most rational way for
functional in September of this year. This resource
discoveries and technology development. The aim
useful for technological innovation,” he delineates.
us to go was to embark on something related to
is primarily aimed at supporting CBRC research.
is to integrate several disciplines to design novel
The Red Sea is a unique and still largely
the utilization of microbes for the production of
However, Bajic states that CBRC has strong intention
high-performance computational biology and
unexplored marine environment. By combining
useful chemicals.” This could be either though the
for establishing large-scale collaborative projects
bioinformatics methods, tools and models that will
bioinformatics with experimental procedures,
intermediate form of producing biomass, which
that will expand the existing collaboration with
lead to and speed up development of applications
particularly metagenomics and single cell genomics,
would then be converted into chemicals, or directly
other life-science groups in KAUST. This resource
in synthetic biology and biotechnology – as well
the CBRC scientists aim to further explore the
producing the chemicals of interest.
will enable large-scale studies that were previously
as validating these applications in engineered
microbial diversity of the Red Sea.
This hybrid approach, involving several
infeasible. In this way, they will be beneficial to the
cells. This process also helps to understand
From its inception, the Computational Bioscience
disciplines, is reflected in the diversity of the KAUST
data and practical problems related to data
Research Center's aim has been to develop
faculty working in and around CBRC. Currently, the
Through the leadership of Professors Bajic
storage, processing, database construction and
bioinformatics methods that will enable easier
center has seven faculty members; but there are an
and Gojobori, with the aid of Professors Victor
experimental activities.
biological discoveries, subsequent technology
additional six from different KAUST divisions and
Solovyev, Mikhail Moshkov, Stefan Arold, Xin
development and potential industrial use.
centers who are affiliated with CBRC.
Gao and Dr. John Archer, the Computational
As Bajic further explained: “Our center
broader KAUST life science research community.
combined bioinformatics research with
Considering the broader context of Saudi Arabia’s
The center has defined its flagship project for the
Bioscience Research Center is well positioned
experimental biology.” CBRC will develop the
new commitment to introducing an algal biomass
next six years, which relates to the development
to ensure successful developments in the
new hybrid pipeline where the process starts
production industry in the Kingdom, coupled with
of hybrid platforms for design of efficient
coming years.
4
Community
July - August 2014
The Beacon
YOU SEE THEM at night pounding the pavement.
Svensson and Houborg both have four children.
They swim past diligently as you lounge at the
Akhdar has three. All three have spouses. All
beach. They’re up at 5 a.m. turning the pedals
three have careers. And yet all three of them
over in the pursuit of something that, for many
dedicate several hours each day to training,
of us, is hard to understand: why do endurance
preparing healthy food and reading up on all of
athletes do what they do?
the knowledge required of triathletes.
“At some point I always ask myself: why am
“The mix of disciplines makes it more
I doing this?” said Michelle Houborg of her
challenging and more fun” said Svensson about
triathlon experiences. “I do it because I can, and
switching from cyclist to triathlete. “You’d be
that keeps me moving forward.”
surprised at how technical racing is. If you miss
Running, swimming and biking are
Svensson actually cites the Global Corporate
But for a select few, combining all three into
Challenge or GCC as having started her triathlon
one epic test of strength and determination
aspirations. “After doing the biking, swimming
has become a passion.
and running required as a participant in the 2013
KAUST is home to a number of triathletes,
KAUST TRIATHLETES TAKE ON ABU DHABI
one detail, it can ruin the whole race.”
popular pursuits among residents at KAUST.
GCC, I was physically ready to do a triathlon.”
three of which sat down with The Beacon
Akhdar placed sixth in the 2013 Abu Dhabi
to talk about a race they all share; the Abu
triathlon in the short distance. It’s something he
Dhabi triathlon.
takes on almost as though it were a second job. He
Vibeke Svensson, Mazen Akhdar, and Michelle
attended the 2013 race as a sponsored participant,
Houborg all know each other. They give an
thanks to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Association.
occasional wave as they pass on training runs.
Most recently he took third place in a Jeddah
They meet for coffee occasionally, but being on
triathlon, for which he took home a medal and a
the move is clearly what all three of them share.
shiny, new Galaxy S4.
QUANTUM DOT SOLAR CELLS | Continued from p1 In solar cells, the efficient generation of current requires charge
“We added a piece to the puzzle into how we can tune
steady-state and time-resolved data demonstrate that only
transfer (CT) at a donor-acceptor interface, but this must take place on
electron injection at the interface between QDs and PCBM,
small-sized QDs with a bandgap larger than one electron volt
a timescale much shorter than the lifetime of the excited state of the
which is a material commonly used in solar cells,” says
can transfer electrons to PCBM upon light absorption.”
absorber. It has recently been shown that smaller-sized QDs, or QDs
Mohammed. “The steady-state and femtosecond time-
“For QD solar cells, size makes all the difference,”
with increased bandgap energies, may promote, suppress, or rectify
resolved data clearly demonstrate that the charge transfer
Mohammed says. “Our results have clearly demonstrated
electron transfer to the accepting layer in the solar-cell. QD size is also
process at the QDs-PCBM interface can be tuned from zero to
for the first time the possibility of modulating the electron
important in optimizing both charge transfer and separation at QD/
very efficient and ultrafast injection by controlling the size
transfer rate between QDs and PCBM by tailoring the size
oxide interfaces, which allows for the use of QDs instead of dyes in
of the QDs.”
distribution of QDs via quantum confinement effects.”
producing QD-sensitized solar cells.
The researchers investigated charge separation and ultrafast
Mohammed hopes the team’s work will advance the
In their work, the team used QDs and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl
electron injection at the QD/PCBM interfaces for four different
understanding and design of QD interfaces for solar energy
ester (PCBM) as a unique model system to examine the interfacial
sizes of QDs, and also as a function of PCBM concentration.
conversion. “We hope our work enables other researchers
charge transfer and separation in real time using a combination of
They claim that the energy band alignment is one of the key
to understand that the size of QDs can make a dramatic
femtosecond (fs) broadband transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy
elements for efficient electron injection and charge separation
difference, and that it should be taken into consideration
and steady-state photoluminescence quenching measurements.
processes. “More specifically,” the researchers state, “the
before the fabrication of QD solar cell devices,” he says.
MY UNIVERSITY IMRAN SHAFIQUE ANSARI
Though hailing from Budaun, India, Imran spent his
When not battling with the issues of global
IN HIS time at KAUST, Ph.D. candidate
formative years in Saudi Arabia. Upon completing his
communications, Imran takes full advantage of all that
Imran Shafique Ansari has flourished both
bachelor’s degree at King Fahd University of Petroleum and
KAUST has to offer. His friends hail from all corners of the
personally and in his academic pursuits.
Minerals, Imran was recruited to join the founding class at
globe, and he appreciates how the international dynamic
Already the first author of 11 publications,
KAUST. The decision to accept was an easy one. “KAUST
drives the social scene, stating, “KAUST has a very diverse
Imran has found the research support of
provides resources similar to the world’s best universities
environment and a very multi-cultural social life. Saudis
KAUST to be impressive. “KAUST has been
in terms of faculty, research facilities and a competitive
have an excellent reputation for hospitality, and being part
amazing in achieving my objectives in terms of research for
research environment,” he says. “This environment leads to
of the KAUST family makes this hospitality even better.”
my Ph.D. I have been blessed with an amazing supervisor, who
the advancement and gaining of top-level knowledge.”
His full and active schedule is made all the more enjoyable
guides, teaches and shares knowledge beyond what is required.
Imran earned his master of science in Electrical
by his surroundings. “KAUST’s panoramic view speaks for
Additionally, the lab equipment at KAUST is very powerful for
Engineering from KAUST in December 2010, and is now
itself in terms of its rare beauty and for the innumerable
computational areas, and so are other research resources,” he says.
fully invested in his Ph.D. research. Studying under Dr.
recreational opportunities,” he says.
According to Imran, though, it is not only the top-tier academics
Mohamed-Slim Alouini, Imran is tackling issues regarding
From global communications to global friendships, Imran
and facilities that make KAUST unique: “Most importantly, the work
how to best adapt and apply the fixed and limited resources
seems to have the perfect perspective on what KAUST is:
style is quite dynamic here, and as a student, one works according
of wireless communications to the ever-expanding base of
“KAUST seems to be situated at the center of the globe,
to the rhythm of his or her supervisor.”
users and their growing needs.
making every place on the map easily accessible.”
MICHAEL GILMER
from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, and previously
not lost on him either. “Before I came to KAUST, I thought
HUMAN RESOURCES’ Senior Recruitment
worked for noted companies Xerox Corporation, Sony
the photos on the website were amazing. But now that I’ve
Specialist Michael Gilmer works hard at
Electronics and Delta Airlines, among others. “You need to be
seen KAUST in person, the photos pale in comparison to the
his job but likes to keep things light,
personable, social and a people person in my field,” says Mike.
reality,” he adds.
noting, “I’m a member of The Hair Club
“My job at KAUST is to locate and to hire the most qualified and
In his time away from the office, Mike likes to stay fit
for Men.” Seeing that Mike (as he prefers)
most dynamic candidates that best fit our career openings and
by taking in the full range of recreational opportunities at
is as bald as a marble floor, it’s clear he
our community.”
KAUST. “I like to go to the gym, and you can often see me out
doesn’t mind having a laugh at his own expense.
Mike doesn’t have difficulty selling KAUST to potential
cycling,” he says.
Born and raised in the friendly city of Pittsburgh,
candidates, stating, “One of the things I truly believe is
Being that he’s a recruiter, it might be easy to forget that
Pennsylvania (U.S.), Mike still maintains his roots, despite
that KAUST is a great place for families. We have a young,
Mike himself was recruited to join KAUST. On that point,
now calling Orlando, Florida his U.S. home. “I still love my
vibrant, growing community, and I get to work with and
he notes, “I came to KAUST because I wanted to do something
city and my Pittsburgh sports teams: the Steelers, the Pirates, and
break bread with some of the most talented people in their
different. I wanted to live and to work overseas. KAUST was
the Penguins,” he says. Mike earned two bachelor’s degrees
respective professions.” KAUST’s dreamscape scenery is
hands down the best opportunity to do that.”