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Community
September 2014
The Beacon
KGSP STUDENTS CONDUCT INSPIRING SUMMER RESEARCH AT KAUST For Jawaher Almutlaq, Abdulmohsen AlBelushi,
are used in many applications, including solar
Shahd Bawarith, and Yousef Alowayed, conducting
cells and biosensors. “I previously worked with
research at KAUST this summer as part of the
metal alloys at my home university, Pennsylvania
KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP) has been
State University, so my research at KAUST was a
an unparalleled opportunity for academic and
good opportunity to explore a different class of
personal growth.
materials,” she said.
KGSP sponsors academically gifted Saudi
Jawaher will complete her bachelor’s degree in
students earning undergraduate degrees in science
Materials Science and Engineering next year, and
and engineering subjects at universities in the
plans to study Nanotechnology at KAUST for her
United States and prepares them for eventual
master’s degree.
matriculation at KAUST. A major component of the
Shahd, who studies Bioengineering at
made me interested in a new area, computational
program is the opportunity for students to conduct
George Mason University, has been working
fluid mechanics,” he explained. He will be a senior
research at KAUST during their undergraduate
with Professor Klaus-Viktor Peinemann in the
in the autumn at Johns Hopkins University, where
studies. This year, 43 students are carrying out
Advanced Membranes & Porous Materials Center
he is majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
summer research at KAUST.
(AMPM), where she has learned how to produce
“My summer has certainly been enjoyable,” said
composite membranes.
“I am definitely excited to return to KAUST for my master’s degree,” he said. “In the future, I hope
Yousef, who will be a junior at MIT in the coming
“I don’t think I could have done this kind
to go for a PhD so I can work in the research field.”
academic year, and who has been working with
of cutting-edge research with such amazing
“Knowledge gained from textbooks and in
Assistant Professor Osman Bakr on developing
professors and so much support anywhere else,”
classrooms is important,” noted Jawaher, “but it
solar cells. “It has been great to get a feel of the
said Shahd, who will be a sophomore in the next
is not enough. My summer research at KAUST
different kinds of research going on at KAUST
academic year. “I originally wanted to study law
has enabled me to understand my major better,
before coming back here for my master’s degree.
in university, but now I definitely feel a future in
and I feel that opportunities like this provided
And I have really learned a lot.”
science is worthwhile.”
through KGSP will make it easier to contribute
“KAUST is wonderful,” agreed Jawaher, who
Abdulmohsen says he discovered a new field to
to the advancement of science and technology
worked with Assistant Professor Iman Roqan
explore during his summer working with Associate
in the development of my country. That is my
Initiatives organization. Now in its fifth year, the
to study the optical properties and structure of
Professor Ravi Samtaney in the Fluid and Plasma
greatest motivation.”
program cultivates the next generation of Saudi
gadolinium (Gd)-doped zinc oxide thin films, which
Simulation Laboratory. “My research at KAUST has
KGSP is administered by KAUST’s Saudi
leaders in science, research, and innovation.
HIGHLY CITED RESEARCHERS | Continued from p1 Victor M. Calo, Dr. Mohamed Eddaoudi, and Dr. Heribert Hirt. “Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers 2014” is an authoritative listing of the world’s preeminent scientific minds and noteworthy intellects. Those who appear have passed a
rank among the top 1% of most cited researchers for their subject
Materials, Dr. Mohamed Eddaoudi, was also recognized in
field and year of publication.
Chemistry. His work with the Advanced Membranes and Porous
KAUST Vice President of Research, Dr. Jean M.J. Frechet was noted for his contributions in Chemistry.
Materials Center team was also honored in Thompson Reuters’ book, “The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds 2014.”
stringent set of criteria. Researchers who are considered and
Dr. Victor M. Calo, an Associate Professor of Earth Sciences and
Dr. Heribert Hirt, Professor of Bioscience and the Associate
evaluated have written the greatest number of reports found to
Engineering, was honored in the Computer Science classification.
Director of the Center for Desert Agriculture, was honored for his
be highly cited by their peers. Those who make the final listing
Associate Director of Advanced Membranes and Porous
work in the category of Plant and Animal Science.
MY UNIVERSITY MARÍA FERNANDA
to stay on to pursue her Ph.D., also in Bioscience. As she notes,
Engineering Lab of The University of California at Davis (U.S.),
Ph.D. candidate María Fernanda Contreras
“I did my bachelor’s thesis in biophysics and my bachelor’s
and at the Laboratory of Materials and Low Temperatures at
Gerenas has fully embraced all that KAUST
degree was in physics. I wanted to learn biology, which I did
the University of Campinas (Brazil). A recipient of the KAUST
has to offer in her five years here. Active
during my masters. Now during my Ph.D., I am combining the
Academic Excellence Award, Maria’s research is profound in both
in many pursuits, she is a former member
two disciplines in a potential biomedical application.” Working
complexity and in its potential.
of the KAUST female football club. “It was
under the guidance of Timothy Ravasi and Jürgen Kosel, Maria
“KAUST has been more than just a university to me. Here
a nice experience. I got to share with the girls, participate in a
now finds that she is often the mentor, affirming, “My Ph.D.
I have found life-long friendships, and I found the love of
tournament, and improve my football skills,” she notes. Maria
research topic has drawn the attention of master’s students who
my life - to whom I got married around year and a half ago.
hasn’t stopped with football, however. In addition to frequently
are doing their theses in topics related to it. I taught them the
Being at KAUST has also allowed me to travel to locations
playing tennis and swimming, she earned her PADI diver’s
basics of cell culture, and then they were able to be independent
that previously seemed unreachable, and that I have never
certification, and then completed the advanced diver’s course.
in their own lab work.”
thought I would visit at my young age. Last but not least,
“KAUST offers a pretty high life quality. In terms of recreational facilities and travel opportunities, it is a nice place to be.” Maria received her master’s in Bioscience, and then decided
Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, Maria earned her
KAUST has provided me with everything I need to fulfill my
bachelor’s degree in physics from the National University of
professional goals - nice research facilities, personnel, and
Colombia (Bogotá), and has done internships at the Membrane
working environment.”.
NATHANIEL ROBINSON
Nate (as he prefers), has lived across the United States from
education, engineering, business development, and management,
Alaska to Florida, and spent time in Peru, Mexico, and Oman –
it provides me a variety of angles to solve problems, establish
Texas-born Nathaniel Robinson has been
before making it to KAUST. “I enjoy being able to expand my
processes, and so on.”
around – including some ups and some
views, approaches to projects and challenges, and a diversity of
In his spare time, Nate enjoys all types of music and enjoys
downs, noting, “I’ve been fortunate to
experiences. KAUST offers the opportunity for each of those. I’d
reading. However, it doesn’t sound like he spends too much time
survive a series of events - from cancer to
like to see more of the world and learn more languages, which is
on the couch. As fit as any man half his age, Nate used to train in
sinking a kayak in the Artic Sea and then
also something KAUST can help to achieve,” he said.
mixed martial arts (MMA), and now works at boxing, plyometrics
swimming for my life to the shore. Interesting things seem to
With degrees in engineering, technology management,
and strength training. He loves competitive sports, adding, “I
happen to me. So if I’m on your snorkeling trip you may want
economics and finance, Nate brings his considerable resume and
used to play goalkeeper in football/soccer in college, then later
to think about rebooking; but on the positive side, I’ve made it
experience as manager of the Advanced Engagement and Support
in city leagues in the USA and Mexico.” At KAUST, Nate offers
through all of them with memories to hold.” And many stories to
Department, within Saudi Initiatives, asserting, “I like to think
his expertise to anyone up for the challenge, providing physical
tell, it sounds.
that I bring a nice diversity to any position. Having worked in
training, strength training and conditioning..