Three Saudi Arabian undergraduates, all alumni of KAUST's Young Talent Development programs, have been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes Trust selects only 100 international recipients annually. The students participated in programs such as the KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP) and the Saudi Research Science Institute (SRSI). Why it matters: This achievement highlights the impact of KAUST's educational initiatives in fostering Saudi talent and leadership in STEM fields.
Two of the three Saudi Arabian undergraduates selected as 2022 Rhodes Scholars are current or former participants in KAUST programs. Ahmed, a KGSP student, aims to research Red Sea super corals, while Mohammed Alghadeer, a KAUST summer intern, will study condensed matter physics at Oxford. The Rhodes Scholarship provides full funding for graduate studies at the University of Oxford. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in cultivating Saudi talent in STEM fields and fostering future leaders committed to global challenges.
KAUST master’s student Osama Dabbousi has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford in 2026. Dabbousi's research involves high-performance computing, specifically GPU-accelerated, large-scale acoustic simulation, and he is an alumnus of the KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP). He credits KAUST's computational science training, GPU resources, and mentorship from Professor Matteo Parsani for his success. Why it matters: Dabbousi's selection highlights KAUST's role in developing Saudi talent and contributing to the Kingdom's research ambitions in fields like high-performance computing.
KAUST has announced the latest recipients of the Ibn Rushd Fellowship Program, which supports early-career Saudi scientists for up to three years of postdoctoral research at international institutions. Fellows Abdullah Alghamdi and Abdulrahman M. Alfaraidi will conduct research at UC San Diego and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, respectively. Their research aligns with Saudi Arabia’s health, wellness, and energy priorities while maintaining ties with KAUST. Why it matters: This fellowship program helps develop talent in priority fields and elevates the profile of Saudi academia, contributing to Saudi Vision 2030.
KAUST has announced the 2025 cohort of Ibn Rushd Postdoctoral Fellows, a program designed to strengthen Saudi Arabia's research ecosystem. The fellows, including Abdullah Hassan Bukhamsin and Akram Alwithenani, will pursue postdoctoral work at institutions like Caltech and Harvard. Bukhamsin's research focuses on minimally invasive sensors for environmental and agricultural applications, while Alwithenani specializes in cancer gene and immunotherapy. Why it matters: This program is crucial for developing Saudi research talent and aligning with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals in science and technology.