CURRENT STUDENTS
STUDENT RESOURCES
CURRENT STUDENTS FAQs
For M.S. students, your advisor when you are admitted to KAUST is the Program Chair. For Ph.D. students, your advisor is your PI (supervisor) whose lab you have been accepted in to.
Yes, you can change your advisor. M.S. students are advised to do so if/when they begin their thesis or directed research. Ph.D. students do have the ability to change advisors, but the overall impact to the Ph.D. project, as well as the time left to finish the Ph.D., could be significant. This will have to be taken into account before approval.
M.S. students need 36 credits (combination of courses and research is specific to your program).
Ph.D. students need 6 credits of 300-level coursework and will earn dissertation research credit each semester until they defend (no minimum credits established, although there is a minimum residency requirement of 2.5 years).
M.S. students get all university holidays (Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, Spring break).
Ph.D. students get university holidays and three weeks of annual/vacation leave per calendar year to be taken in agreement with your PI.
Yes. Drop and Add deadlines are on the academic calendar.
Your GPC can help you request these from the Registrar’s Office, or you can contact them directly at RegistrarHelpDesk@KAUST.EDU.SA
Latest Events
Abstract:
Apicomplexans are one of the most successful parasitic lineages, with a profound impact on both human and animal health worldwide. This group includes some of the most widespread and dangerous eukaryotic parasites, such as Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, and Toxoplasma gondii, known for its potential to cause severe neurological damage, particularly in developing fetuses. Their adaptation to diverse and often hostile environments has driven substantial genetic innovation, resulting in novel proteins. However, predicting the functions of many of these proteins remains elusive, due to the lack of close homologs, leaving a significant portion of Plasmodium (~35%) and Toxoplasma (~50%) genes uncharacterized. This dissertation explored gene expression patterns in these parasites, with a focus on RNA-binding proteins (RAPs) and conserved, uncharacterized proteins. By applying co-expression analysis, we identified genes closely associated with invasion structures and mitochondrial functions. This allowed us to categorize a subset of previously uncharacterized genes as related to invasion processes or mitochondrial activity. Experimental validation further confirmed the localization of selected candidate proteins to rhoptries and mitochondria. This study also highlighted the essential roles of two RAP proteins in mitochondrial function. Downregulation of RAP proteins in T. gondii led to growth arrest and disrupted mitochondrial activity, emphasizing their potential as targets for therapeutic interventions.
Bio:
Olga Douvropoulou is a PhD candidate at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) under Prof. Arnab Pain’s supervision. Her research focuses on utilizing multi-omics approaches to explore pathogen biology and diversity, aiming to uncover the roles of previously uncharacterized genes that could serve as potential drug targets. Before pursuing her PhD at KAUST, she earned an MSc in Biosciences from the same institution, following her BSc in Biology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece.
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