Once again, KAUST faculty are strongly represented on the 2022 list of Highly Cited Researchers, published by Clarivate. A global leader of academic research analytics, Clarivate annually produces a list of individuals whose work accounts for the top 1% of research cited worldwide.

  This year’s list underscores KAUST researchers’ global prominence in their fields, with representation across a range of disciplines and categories, including computer science, materials science, chemistry, geosciences, and plant and animal science, and with several faculty appearing across more than one category.   

KAUST faculty are ably supported by the university’s research infrastructure and a network of support from colleagues, students, staff and external partners.

Highly Cited Researchers 2022 by division

Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE)

Highly Cited Researchers 2022, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE): Carlos Duarte; Pierre Magistretti; Matthew F. McCabe; Mark Tester. Graphic: KAUST

Carlos M. Duarte
Distinguished Professor, Marine Science; Tarek Ahmed Juffali Research Chair in Red Sea Ecology

Carlos Duarte is a thought leader and highly regarded researcher across multiple disciplines within biological oceanography and marine ecology, from the tropics to polar ecosystems, macrophytes to microbes, and coastal systems to open ocean gyres. He is a world-leading authority on blue carbon ecosystems, specifically the ecology of seagrass meadows, and is deeply involved in the global coral restoration effort. 

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Environment and Ecology and Plant and Animal Science

Pierre Magistretti
Vice President for Research; Distinguished Professor of Biology; Director, KAUST Smart-Health Initiative

Throughout his career, Pierre Magistretti has made notable research contributions to the field of brain energy metabolism. His research has advanced understanding of the origin of the signals detected with the current functional brain imaging techniques used in neurologic and psychiatric research. 

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Cross-Field

Matthew F. McCabe
Professor, Environmental Science and Engineering; Director of Climate and Livability Initiative

Matthew McCabe’s research deals with global issues of water and food security. Specifically, he studies climate change impacts, precision agriculture, water resources monitoring and modeling, and the novel use of remote surveillance technologies for enhanced Earth system observation.

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Geosciences

Mark Tester
Professor, Plant Science; Associate Director, Center for Desert Agriculture; Co-founder and CSO, RedSea

Much of Mark Tester’s research is dedicated to understanding molecular processes that allow plants to survive in suboptimal conditions, drawing on this knowledge to improve the resilience of crops to a changing environment. This research extends to the study and domestication of plants that are salt-tolerant, such as quinoa and Salicornia. 

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Cross-Field 

Computer Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division (CEMSE)

Highly Cited Researchers 2022, Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division: Mohamed-Slim Alouini. Graphic: KAUST

Mohamed-Slim Alouini
Distinguished Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Associate Vice President for Research

Mohamed-Slim Alouini has published several papers across an array of computer science categories. These include the design and performance analysis of diversity combining techniques, optical wireless communication systems, cognitive radio systems, and wireless communication systems and networks in extreme environments. 

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Computer Science 

Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE)

Highly Cited Researchers 2022, Physical Science and Engineering Division: Husam N. Alshareef; Thomas D Anthopoulos; Osman Bakr; Hylke Beck; Stefaan De Wolf; Mohamed Eddaoudi; Jorge Gascon; Yu Han; Omar F. Mohammed; Huabin Zhang. Graphic: KAUST

Husam N. Alshareef
Professor, Material Science and Engineering

With major research interests in developing nanoscale materials for electronics, energy storage and sensors, Husam Alshareef’s group is engaged in the synthesis of advanced nanomaterials, with an increasing focus on their applications for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Materials Science   

Thomas D Anthopoulos
Professor, Material Science and Engineering

The major aim of Professor Anthopoulos’s research is to facilitate the development of improved materials and devices for a wide range of applications in fields such as energy harvesting and generation, electronics, displays, lighting and sensors. His work also explores manufacturing technologies for large-area nano-electronics. 

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Cross-Field   

Osman Bakr
Professor, Material Science and Engineering; Vice Provost for Strategy

Osman Bakr’s research interests are in the world of hybrid materials. At KAUST, his research group studies the synthesis and assembly of organic–inorganic hybrid materials and nanomaterials of novel optical and electronic properties.

*Highly Cited Researcher in the fields of Chemistry and Materials Science 

Hylke Beck
Assistant Professor, Earth Science and Engineering

Professor Beck's main research interests center around the desire to recognize, understand and manage climate hazards such as floods, droughts and heat waves by leveraging the latest developments in machine learning, remote sensing and modeling. 

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Geosciences 

Stefaan De Wolf
Professor, Material Science and Engineering; Interim Associate Director, KAUST Solar Center; Chair, Material Science and Engineering Program

Much of Stefaan De Wolf’s research is dedicated to the science and technology of photovoltaics, with a focus on the fabrication of high-efficiency silicon-based solar cells. Specifically, this involves examining the interface structures and electrical contact formation relevant to solar cells and electronic devices. 

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Cross-Field

Mohamed Eddaoudi
Distinguished Professor, Chemistry; Director, Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Research Center

Professor Eddaoudi’s group at KAUST develops made-to-order metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that address some of the world’s most challenging and enduring societal needs;  these include clean energy alternatives, reducing greenhouse emissions and mediating biological and chemical threats to life.  

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Chemistry 

Jorge Gascon
Professor, Chemical Engineering; Director of the KAUST Catalysis Center; Lead of the KAUST Circular Carbon Initiative

Jorge Gascon’s research straddles the bounds of chemical engineering and materials science. Much of his work involves the development and demonstration of new nano-structured materials and composites across different applications, including multifunctional catalysis, Fischer Tropsch Synthesis, CO2 valorization, photo-catalysis and membrane and adsorbent development.

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Chemistry 

Yu Han
Professor, Chemistry

Nanoporous and nanostructured materials are the subject of Professor Han’s research. Specifically, he concentrates on the resolution of their complicated structures and the development of novel applications for these materials in catalysis, separation, adsorption, sensing and laser.

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Chemistry 

Omar F. Mohammed
Professor, Material Science and Engineering

Using cutting-edge nanotechnology, ultrafast laser spectroscopy and four-dimensional electron imaging, much of Professor Mohammed’s research is directed towards generating a fundamental understanding of carrier dynamics in a variety of solar cell systems. Such systems include semiconductor quantum dots, polymers and perovskite solar cells.

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Cross-Field 

Huabin Zhang
Assistant Professor, Chemistry

A major focus of Professor Zhang’s research is on the development of single-atom catalysts, with the particular configuration for sustainable energy conversion, including photocatalysis, electrocatalysis and thermal catalysis.

*Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Cross-Field