Professor Gary Amy will become KAUST's first Emeritus Professor on July 1, 2014, after serving as a founding faculty member and director of the Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC). Professor TorOve Leiknes has been named Interim Director of the WDRC, effective June 15, 2014, bringing expertise in membrane technology and wastewater treatment. Leiknes's international network will support the WDRC's global presence in water research. Why it matters: This transition highlights KAUST's ongoing commitment to water research and leadership in sustainable technologies.
KAUST has appointed Professor TorOve Leiknes as the new director of the Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC). Leiknes, who joined KAUST in 2013, previously served as the center's interim director since June 2014. He brings expertise in wastewater treatment and reuse, including energy-saving membrane bioreactors, and has held leadership roles in the European Membrane Society. Why it matters: This appointment highlights KAUST's ongoing commitment to addressing water scarcity challenges through research and innovation in desalination and water reuse technologies.
Ten KAUST faculty members were promoted at a gala dinner ceremony on May 8, recognizing their accomplishments. KAUST President Jean-Lou Chameau honored the faculty, including Mohamed Eddaoudi, a leader in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and Marc Genton, focused on spatio-temporal data analysis. Eddaoudi's work includes innovations in battery-electrode separators, while Genton's research spans environmental science and renewable energies. Why it matters: Recognizing and promoting faculty talent at KAUST can help further boost the university's reputation as a leading destination for research and innovation in science and technology within the region.
KAUST postdoctoral fellows Eloise Bihar and Abdellatif Ait Lahcen won Young Scientist awards at the Euroanalysis XX Conference in Turkey. Ait Lahcen won for his work on sensors detecting toxic compounds using ultrasound probes. Bihar won for her research on inkjet-printed biosensors for glucose detection, a collaboration between the Salama, Inal, and Baran groups at KAUST. Why it matters: The awards recognize KAUST's strength in developing innovative sensor technologies with potential applications in environmental monitoring and healthcare.
KAUST Professors Jean Frechet and Charlotte Hauser were elected as Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Both professors were inducted into the NAI in 2015. The NAI held a ceremony on April 15 in Washington, D.C. where the professors received their NAI medals. Why it matters: Recognition of KAUST faculty by NAI highlights the university's increasing role in fostering impactful research and innovation.