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.
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 alumnus Dimitrios Kleftogiannis (Ph.D. '16) is now a cancer researcher at the University of Bergen, Norway, using bioinformatics to study liquid biopsies for cancer research. He transitioned from computer science to bioinformatics after his Ph.D. and was inspired by Prof. Mel Greaves at the Institute of Cancer Research in London. Why it matters: This highlights the impact of interdisciplinary training at KAUST and its alumni's contributions to applying AI and computational methods to advance healthcare research.
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is hosting a seminar by Dr. Matthias Troyer as part of its QRC Seminar Series. TII describes itself as a leading global research center focused on discovery science and transformative technologies. The institute's teams work in an open environment to deliver scientific breakthroughs. Why it matters: Such seminars contribute to the development of the AI ecosystem in the UAE by facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration.