Professor of Marine Science Francesca Benzoni  explores the diversity, evolution, and ecology of corals and coral-dominated ecosystems across the tropical Indo-Pacific, with a particular focus on the seas around the Arabian Peninsula. Prior to joining KAUST in 2019, she held appointments in Marine Biology and Zoology at the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, New Caledonia, and the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy. She has led or participated in numerous research expeditions across the tropics leading to substantial discoveries in reef corals biodiversity and a rich international collaboration network. Her multidisciplinary approach, bridging fieldwork to the lab, has led to significant advancements in the integrated systematics and biogeography of corals, resulting in the identification and description of new species and the revision of existing taxonomic classifications. Her commitment to fundamental discovery and knowledge transfer extends to organizing international oceanographic expeditions, training, and workshops for local communities and stakeholders dedicated to understanding coral reef diversity throughout the Indo-Pacific. 

Professor Benzoni's fundamental research at KAUST centers on the direct exploration of the marine environment and its biological resources, particularly focusing on the diversity, composition, and evolution of benthic marine organisms and habitats around the Arabian Peninsula and in the wider Indo-Pacific. Since joining KAUST, she has pioneered the exploration of Saudi Arabia’s mesophotic and deep benthic habitats, discovering species and associations new to science and ultimately significantly expanding the understanding of Red Sea coral diversity from shallow to deep waters. The main goal of her ongoing integrated systematics research is to reassess the Red Sea endemism rate for reef-building corals and understand the spatial and temporal processes leading to the unique Red Sea reef biota. The outcomes of this line of research include the redefinition of management units in the Red Sea and provides a crucial scientific foundation for the coral reef restoration and management initiatives in the region.