23 January, 2025
Countless paths lead to KAUST. For Dr. Kyle Lauersen, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, his journey began with the discipline of karate. Growing up in Ontario, Canada, Lauersen developed his skills in this martial art — a practice that instilled focus, perseverance and courage, now central to his work as a researcher and educator.
“The lessons and public-speaking confidence I gained as a martial arts instructor came together so that when I did scientific presentations, I was relatively comfortable and confident in my abilities, which helps because this is a key part of the career,” he said, adding that a scientist’s role is not only to investigate and experiment, but also to educate, communicate and acquire new abilities. “The physical act of research is an educational endeavor. We constantly learn and grow.”