King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) celebrates the achievements of its internationally recognized alumnae, including Dr. Fatimah Abdulhakim, who holds a Ph.D. in environmental science and engineering and is among this year’s L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Program honorees.

This week’s highlights span plant development, drought resilience, reef monitoring, microbiome dynamics, clinical biomarkers, membrane engineering, and more.

Please join us in welcoming Wayne Yang to KAUST as Assistant Professor of Bioengineering. His research develops single-molecule biosensing tools that reveal how biological systems function at the smallest scales. By creating innovative, label-free platforms to detect and study biomolecules and other complex biological processes, his work contributes to BESE’s focus on advancing discovery in bioscience and supporting progress in disease research and diagnostics.

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have discovered something new about a very old organism and used it to transform waste from a chocolate factory into C-phycocyanin, a valuable blue pigment that is estimated to have a global market value of over US$275 million by 2030.

Insights into how CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing leaves lasting epigenetic ‘scars’ may improve safety for patients, and could inform novel treatment options.

Biomedical breakthroughs are reshaping what is possible in precision medicine. Professor Yanda Meng joins King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) at a pivotal juncture for the mission-driven university, Saudi Arabia, and the world — as artificial intelligence accelerates the next frontier in medical science.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has been ranked No. 1 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Arab University Rankings 2025, marking its third consecutive year at the top. This global recognition reinforces KAUST’s position as the leading research university in the Arab world and reflects the Kingdom’s continued global leadership in science, technology, and innovation.

Through immunoengineering, Al Qureshah’s team at KAUST is developing bioengineered tools to improve the detection and treatment of immune disorders. Ultimately, the Saudi researcher aims to translate genetic discoveries into tangible advances in precision medicine while mentoring the next generation of immunology leaders.

Professor Jessica Zamborain-Mason sees the path forward in building reef fisheries and aquatic food systems that are sustainable, equitable, and climate resilient. As she joins KAUST, her goal is to enhance the sustainability of aquatic food systems in Saudi Arabia and around the world.

The 2025 list of Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers includes 16 researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), including 15 of its 185 faculty.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) hosted the November 2-3 forum to showcase the Center of Excellence (CoE) for Sustainable Food Security while providing a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing to accelerate in-Kingdom farming innovation and position Saudi Arabia as a model for sustainable agriculture.

BESE alumni startup Polymeron is transforming agricultural waste into high-performance biodegradable plastics, advancing the Kingdom’s national priorities in sustainability and innovation. By upcycling date byproducts — a hallmark of Saudi agriculture — and expanding into processing waste from the poultry sector, the company is helping shape a circular economy built on local resources.

When Rakan Alireza makes history next year as the first Saudi athlete to compete in cross-country skiing at the Winter Olympic Games, he hopes to do so with the support of Saudi-made, high-performance sensors developed in laboratories at KAUST.

KAUST has signed an MOU with the International Medical Center (IMC) to strengthen cooperation in scientific research related to wellness, quality of life, and population health management. The agreement supports Saudi Arabia’s efforts to advance the national healthcare ecosystem and foster medical innovation.

The Saudi Ministry of Health and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration in healthcare innovation and investment, and to develop a sustainable ecosystem that supports applied research and advanced technologies in the health sector.

KAUST is transforming Saudi Arabia's health and neuroscience expertise with the addition of pioneering leadership.

Saudi Arabia has pledged to divert 90% of its waste from landfills by 2040. New technology at KAUST is sustainably recycling spoiled dairy and fruit juices into valuable products. KAUST has launched a pilot study to demonstrate value of this technology across multiple Saudi industries.

A new study led by Professor Alexandre Rosado has revealed an unusual microbial world in the Hatiba Mons hydrothermal vent fields of the central Red Sea, a site first discovered by one of his co-authors and colleagues, Assistant Professor Froukje M. van der Zwan.

A simple mica-based method boosts the tracking precision and depth of single particles without the need for complex hardware.

At KAUST, Marhava will lead innovative projects investigating how plants cope with environmental challenges, particularly temperature extremes and drought stress.