Professor Fernando T. Maestre has dedicated his career to understanding the ecology of global drylands and their responses to climate change, land degradation, and desertification. Prior to joining KAUST in 2024, he was a Professor at the University of Alicante, Spain. Professor Maestre is recognized among the world’s top 1% most cited researchers and has authored over 350 scientific articles, including landmark studies in Science, Nature, and PNAS. He has received numerous prestigious honors, including the ERC Advanced Grant, Spain’s National Research Award, and the Humboldt Research Award. He was elected a Fellow of the Ecological Society of America in 2020 and an Academician of the Royal Spanish Academy of Sciences in 2023. 

Professor Maestre's current research focuses on characterizing the biodiversity and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems in Saudi Arabia, and on addressing land degradation in arid and hyperarid environments. He is also developing innovative strategies to support ecological restoration efforts within the Kingdom and in drylands worldwide. A central pillar of his work is capacity building — training the next generation of scientists and practitioners through rigorous academic mentorship and by equipping students, government personnel, and other stakeholders with practical tools to monitor dryland ecosystems and assess human impacts. Through this integrated approach, Professor Maestre aims to advance terrestrial ecology, contribute to national sustainability goals, and support global efforts to combat desertification and mitigate climate change.