KAUST's Office of Sponsored Research (OSR), created in March 2015, supports KAUST's research from the development of project ideas to evaluating research outcomes. OSR ensures KAUST's knowledge ecosystem is world-class and research is integrated with education and economic development. OSR recently held an international Sensor Innovation Workshop to catalyze strategic research collaborations. Why it matters: OSR's unique position enables KAUST to control its research destiny and strategically impact research funding portfolios in alignment with the university's missions.
KAUST researchers have made several advances, including a new computational model of the Red Sea's ocean circulation. They also synthesized new metal-organic frameworks for gas storage with applications in green and medical tech. Additionally, they presented a mathematical solution for microgrid cybersecurity. Why it matters: These diverse research projects highlight KAUST's contributions to environmental modeling, materials science, and critical infrastructure protection in the region.
KAUST and the King Salman Center for Disability Research (KSCDR) have signed an MoU to collaborate on the diagnosis, management, and treatment of disabilities affecting Saudi citizens and residents. The partnership will focus on neurodevelopmental conditions, learning disabilities, visual impairments, speech disorders, and mobility impairments. KAUST's Center of Excellence for Smart Health, launched on July 1, will be a key component, leveraging its supercomputing resources and genome sequencing capabilities. Why it matters: This partnership aims to address the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and disabilities in Saudi Arabia, aligning with national research priorities and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
KAUST has announced the 2025 cohort of Ibn Rushd Postdoctoral Fellows, a program designed to strengthen Saudi Arabia's research ecosystem. The fellows, including Abdullah Hassan Bukhamsin and Akram Alwithenani, will pursue postdoctoral work at institutions like Caltech and Harvard. Bukhamsin's research focuses on minimally invasive sensors for environmental and agricultural applications, while Alwithenani specializes in cancer gene and immunotherapy. Why it matters: This program is crucial for developing Saudi research talent and aligning with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals in science and technology.
KAUST welcomed 12 Saudi academics for orientation as part of the Ibn Rushd Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. The program funds Saudi doctoral graduates to pursue postdoctoral research at top international universities like MIT and University of Toronto. Fellows receive mentorship and access to KAUST facilities and programs. Why it matters: This program aims to develop Saudi talent and increase the number of Saudi scholars at KAUST, contributing to the Kingdom's future leadership in research and innovation.
The Oil Sustainability Program (OSP), in partnership with PIF, SIRC, NEOM, SIKA, and ClimateCrete, has launched the "NovusCrete" Consortium to innovate in sustainable concrete solutions. The initiative prioritizes localization using materials like seawater, recycled construction waste, and fine sand, supported by entities like the American Concrete Institute (ACI). ClimateCrete, a KAUST spin-off, uses patented technology to transform fine sand into high-quality concrete sand, reducing cement use and CO2 emissions by up to 60%. Why it matters: The consortium and ClimateCrete's technology represent significant steps towards sustainable construction practices in the region, aligning with Saudi Arabia's carbon neutrality goals and fostering a deep-tech startup ecosystem.
KAUST researchers found Y-series nonfullerene acceptors enhance the outdoor stability of organic solar cells, enabling energy-efficient windows. They also used satellite data to show managed vegetation can mitigate rising temperatures across Saudi Arabia's agricultural regions. Additionally, they developed DeepKriging, a deep neural network, to solve complex spatiotemporal datasets and tested it on air pollution. Why it matters: This research addresses critical challenges in renewable energy, climate change, and AI data privacy relevant to Saudi Arabia and the broader region.
KAUST's Visualization Core Lab (KVL) has released inshimtu, a pseudo in situ visualization system for scientists working with large datasets and supercomputer simulations. Inshimtu simplifies the implementation of in situ visualization by using existing simulation output files without requiring changes to the simulation code. It helps scientists determine if implementing a full in situ visualization into their code is worthwhile. Why it matters: This open-source tool can improve the efficiency of supercomputing research in the region by allowing researchers to assess the value of in situ visualization before fully committing to it.