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:
Microalgae, such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, offer a sustainable alternative to traditional fermentative microbes for the production of bio-chemicals. Unlike other processes, photosynthetic algae can directly convert inorganic carbon dioxide (CO₂) into bioproducts from its biomass and co-products using light energy. Isoprene, a volatile five-carbon hydrocarbon, is produced by many organisms as a metabolic biproduct and antioxidant. Isoprene has industrial applications as a bulk commodity hydrocarbon, including the production of synthetic rubber and fuels. However, current industrial isoprene production is reliant on petroleum. This dissertation explores the biotechnological potential of C. reinhardtii as a platform for isoprene production through metabolic engineering. Genetic modifications were implemented to explore the production of isoprene from the alga’s terpenoid biosynthesis pathway. Although not naturally producing meaningful isoprene titers, metabolic engineering led to significant yields of this co-product without effecting growth. Scalability and carbon sources were addressed by combining photobioreactor systems with online headspace analysis infrastructure. Wastewater was also investigated as a nutrient source to couple waste remediation with isoprene production, however, further experimentation is required to optimize this. The findings of this dissertation demonstrate the capacity of C. reinhardtii to be engineered into a platform for sustainable isoprene production. The integration of metabolic engineering, co-cultivation systems, and environmental sustainability strategies provides a foundation for future research and development in algal-based biofactories for industrial chemicals.
Bio:
Razan Yahya is a PhD candidate at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), conducting research under the supervision of Professor Kyle Lauersen. She completed her undergraduate studies in Genomics and Biotechnology at King Abdulaziz University and earned her Master’s degree in Bioscience at KAUST under the supervision of Professor Carlos Duarte. Her PhD research focuses on advancing sustainable production methods for industrially valuable biochemicals using microalgae, specifically Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, to produce isoprene as a renewable alternative to petrochemical sources.
LIFE AT KAUST