My lab at KAUST is like a second home to me. Even when I am faced with challenges, the lab provides a supportive environment that makes me feel at ease.

I am a Ph.D. student in Kyle Lauersen’s research group. We engineer microalgae, converting them into little factories for producing valuable chemicals more sustainably. A key goal of my Ph.D. project is to engineer algae to produce isoprene, which industry uses to make products, including rubber.

Algae have many potential sustainability benefits for chemical production. They grow in a variety of environments, including wastewater. As photosynthetic microorganisms, they grow by harnessing energy from the sun while absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

I first joined KAUST in 2015 on an internship program in the Red Sea Research Center.  I really enjoyed it and I learned a lot. Nearly eight years later, I am still here pursuing my academic journey.

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