Professor Michael Berumen's research focuses on coral reefs and movement ecology through integrated field observations, collections, and molecular techniques. Prior to joining KAUST in 2009, he held appointments at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, U.S., and the University of Arkansas, U.S. He has produced more than 350 publications, 4 patents, 4 start-up companies, 3 books, and 11 book chapters. He is an editorial board member for the journal Coral Reefs and is a Fellow of the International Coral Reef Society and a Distinguished Alumni from James Cook University, Australia. He has served on the Founding Board for NEOM’s Archipelago sector since 2022. 

Professor Berumen's work encompasses connectivity questions ranging from larval dispersal to large distance migrations of adult fishes. His team actively works to understand Red Sea biodiversity and has described several new species. The results of this work are critical for informing conservation plans for the marine environment.