Research

KAUST has developed a robust and diverse research capacity on campus which is closely linked both to the global-research community and its own graduate-education programs.

To support and drive KAUST’s research agenda, the University has identified four primary strategic research thrusts and several interdisciplinary Research Centers that will apply science and technology to problems of human need, social advancement, and economic development.

Strategic Research Thrusts

  1. Resources, Energy, and Environment
  2. Biosciences and Bioengineering
  3. Materials Science and Engineering
  4. Applied Mathematics and Computational Science

KAUST has establish 9 Research Centers for the start-up phase of the university in September 2009.

KAUST has selected these research thrusts and Centers for their importance in the following areas;

  • Ability to advance fundamental knowledge in science and engineering.
  • Relevence of research thrusts and centers to the existing industries in Saudi Arabia.
  • Development of future, knowledge based industries.
  • Social and econimic needs of Saudi Arabia.
  • The potential regional and international impact.

The research thrusts and the associated Research Centers are:

Resources, Energy and Environment

Interdisciplinary fundamental and problem-driven research and graduate education in energy sources, systems, and uses; environmental quality and improvement; and water and coastal zone resources.

Research Centers
  • Catalysis Research Center
  • Clean Combustion Research Center
  • Solar and Alternative Energy Science and Engineering Research Center
  • Water Desalination Research Center

Biosciences and Bioengineering

Fundamental and problem-driven research and graduate education in genomic and molecular biosciences important to regional and global agriculture, aquaculture, biodiversity, industrial bioprocesses, and human health.

Research Centers
  • Plant Stress Genomic and Technology Research Center
  • Red Sea Science and Engineering Research Center

Materials Science and Engineering

Fundamental and problem-driven research and graduate education in materials including molecular engineering of application-specific materials and developments in nanotechnology to improve environmental quality and industrial processes, and contribute to human welfare.

Research Centers
  • Membranes Research Center

Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences

Research and graduate education in applications of high-performance computing, new computer architectures, advanced computational techniques, and applied mathematics in areas of importance to Saudi Arabia, the region, and the global scientific and engineering research enterprise.

Research Centers
  • Geometric Modeling and Scientific Visualization Research Center
  • Computational Bioscience Research Center