EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT BESE

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FACULTY OPENINGS

The Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division invites applications for faculty positions at all ranks (Assistant, Associate and Full Professor). Active searches are listed below; please use the dropdown links to view further information and to navigate to the application page.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the high volume of applications that we receive, only applications submitted through the online form will be considered. Applications received by the advertised deadline will receive full consideration. However, positions will remain open until filled.​


Assistant Professor in Plant Biology

Description

The Plant Science Program in the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) invites applications for faculty positions in Plant Biology at the rank of Assistant Professor. We are particularly interested in exceptional candidates covering plant physiology/biotechnology and plant-soil-microbe interactions, including modeling aspects of each, which link into both basic research and the new KAUST Strategy Accelerating Impact. The Plant Science Program at KAUST is currently composed of 10 Faculty bridging developmental biology to plant breeding.

Successful candidates should have a Ph.D. and a strong publication record in top-tier journals. They are expected to excel in their research and to establish an internationally visible research program that demonstrates focus, independence, and potential for impact. A strong commitment towards postgraduate teaching in areas that are relevant to the Plant Science Program and student advising is expected.

About KAUST: KAUST is an international, graduate research university dedicated to advancing science and technology through interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation. KAUST attracts top international faculty, scientists, engineers and students to conduct curiosity-driven and goal-oriented research to address the world’s most pressing scientific and technological challenges. Located in Saudi Arabia, on the eastern shores of the Red Sea, KAUST provides an award-winning campus to live, work, study and play, and offers superb research facilities, with guaranteed baseline research funding, infrastructure support, entrepreneurship opportunities and internationally competitive salaries. For more information about KAUST, please visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa. More information about the BESE Division and the Plant Science Program is available at http://bese.kaust.edu.sa.

Application Instructions

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled, but applications will begin being reviewed by May 31st, 2024. Interested candidates should upload the following materials:

  • A cover letter
  • Up-to-date Curriculum Vitae, including a full publication list
  • Statement of research interests (5 pages maximum)
  • Statement of teaching interests (2 pages maximum), including teaching philosophy and an outline of 2 planned graduate teaching courses
  • Copies of most relevant publications (maximum of five)
  • Names and contact information of 3-5 referees. Referees must be acknowledged experts in the field and predominantly from academia

Please contact Prof. Simon Krattinger (simon.krattinger@kaust.edu.sa), Chair of the Plant Science Program, or Prof. Salim Al-Babili (salim.babili@kaust.edu.sa), Associate Dean of BESE, for any questions regarding these positions.

APPLY HERE

Description

The  Marine Science Program in the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) invites applications for an Assistant Professor position in Ecological Oceanography. We seek a high-caliber candidate with a strong background in biophysical interactions, particularly focusing on ecological oceanography and the understanding of marine ecosystems' dynamics under environmental and climate anomalies. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a cutting-edge research program, secure external funding, and contribute to graduate teaching and supervision.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Conduct innovative research in areas such as:
    • Drivers behind marine heatwaves and ecosystem responses to climate anomalies
    • Energy flow between open ocean and coastal habitats
    • Biogeochemical applications for tracing energy flow, establishing climate proxies, and reconstructing environmental conditions
    • Functional oceanography with a focus on Red Sea and global oceanographic processes important for reefs, upwelling dynamics, nutrient fluxes, water column dynamics, habitat connectivity, and the impacts of climate drivers such as El Nino, the Indian Ocean Dipole and other global phenomena on coral reefs
  • Utilize remote sensing, traditional oceanography methods (e.g., CTD casts, plankton tows), and state-of-the-art in situ observational techniques with a focus on interdisciplinary coastal oceanography
  • Secure funding from national and international funding agencies to support research activities
  • Publish high-impact papers in leading scientific journals
  • Teach and develop graduate courses related to marine science and oceanography
  • Supervise and mentor graduate students and postdoctoral researchers
  • Engage in service activities within the Division, University, Saudi institutions and broader scientific community

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Oceanography, Marine Science, Environmental Science, or a closely related field
  • A strong publication record in relevant scientific journals
  • Demonstrated ability to secure external research funding
  • Experience in conducting both traditional and interdisciplinary oceanographic research
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills
  • Teaching and supervisory experience at the graduate student level
  • (Preferred) Experience with Red Sea oceanographic processes

About KAUST

KAUST is an international, graduate research university dedicated to advancing science and technology through interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation. KAUST attracts top international faculty, scientists, engineers and students to conduct curiosity-driven and goal-oriented research to address the world’s most pressing scientific and technological challenges. Located in Saudi Arabia, on the eastern shores of the Red Sea, KAUST provides an award-winning campus to live, work, study and play, and offers superb research facilities, with guaranteed baseline research funding, infrastructure support, entrepreneurship opportunities and internationally competitive salaries. For more information about KAUST, please visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa. More information about the BESE Division and the Marine Science Program is available at http://bese.kaust.edu.sa.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should upload the following materials:

  • A cover letter
  • Up-to-date  Curriculum Vitae including a full publication list
  • Statement of research interests (5 pages maximum)
  • Statement of teaching philosophy and an outline of 1-2 graduate planned teaching course(s)
  • Names and contact information of 4 to 5 referees. Referees must be acknowledged experts in the field and predominantly from academia
  • Copies of most relevant publications (Maximum of five)

Applications will be considered as they are received. The position will remain open until filled.

 

APPLY HERE

Description

The Bioengineering (BioE) Program in the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) bridges the University’s  strengths in Engineering, Chemistry and Biology. The BioE Program seeks faculty candidates (at the rank of Assistant Professor, although compelling candidates will be considered at higher ranks) with multi-disciplinary expertise and activities in the following domain:

Computational methods for bioengineering

Topics of focus include (but are not limited to): 

  • Automation and robotics
  • Genomics
  • Biological imaging
  • Bioinformatics (generative protein design)
  • Methodology (machine learning, deep learning, and AI) for analysis and prediction of genotypic variation
  • Methodology (machine learning, deep learning, and AI) for analysis and prediction based on medical or biological imaging data
  • Bioinformatics: methodology for the analysis, integration, and prediction based on high-throughput molecular data
  • Biomolecular design: engineering proteins, enzymes, and other biomolecules with specific properties with AI or machine learning

We seek candidates with a Ph.D. in relevant areas of engineering and an outstanding research record with publications in the top-tier journals of their respective fields. The successful candidate is expected to establish research activities that contribute to the BioE Program’s research mission to integrate engineering tools and solutions for challenges and opportunities in biology. The candidate should have a strong commitment to excellence in teaching at the graduate level (Master's and PhD levels). The candidate will teach in the BioE curriculum and is expected to contribute to the current list of core courses and electives. The successful candidate is also expected to provide professional service at the Program, Division, and University levels.

While rooted in Bioengineering, the candidate is expected to engage with the other programs across divisions at KAUST, such as Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Materials Science and Engineering, to advance technologies for medicine and health. Candidates are expected to have a plan for attracting funding and consider how to integrate their research activities into the Kingdom’s economic growth strategy. 

The Program welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. We strongly encourage applications from members of all underrepresented groups. The position will remain open until filled.

 

About KAUST

KAUST is an international, graduate research university dedicated to advancing science and technology through interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation. KAUST attracts top international faculty, scientists, engineers and students to conduct curiosity-driven and goal-oriented research to address the world’s most pressing scientific and technological challenges. Located in Saudi Arabia, on the eastern shores of the Red Sea, KAUST provides an award-winning campus to live, work, study and play, and offers superb research facilities, with guaranteed baseline research funding, infrastructure support, entrepreneurship opportunities and internationally competitive salaries. For more information about KAUST, please visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa. More information about the BESE Division and the BioE Program is available at http://bese.kaust.edu.sa and https://bioe.kaust.edu.sa.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should upload the following materials:

  • A cover letter introducing your candidacy and explicitly stating both the position and the rank. The rank must be consistent with the candidate’s experience
  • Up-to-date Curriculum Vitae, including a full publication list
  • Statement of research interests (5 pages maximum)
  • Statement of teaching interests (2 pages maximum), including teaching philosophy and an outline of 1-2 graduate planned graduate teaching course(s)
  • Names and contact information of 4 to 5 referees. Referees should have positions in academic or industrial research laboratories. In the case of Associate and  Full Professor applications, the referees should be of a rank higher or equivalent to that of the proposed appointment
  • Copies of most relevant publications (Maximum of five)

 

APPLY HERE

Description

The Bioengineering (BioE) Program in the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division at King Abdullah University of  Science and Technology (KAUST) bridges the University’s strengths in Engineering, Chemistry and Biology. The BioE Program seeks faculty candidates (at the rank of Assistant Professor, although compelling candidates will be considered at higher ranks) with multi-disciplinary expertise and activities in the domain of:

 Bio-Devices and Biointerfaces for Diagnostics and Therapy

 Topics of focus include (but are not limited to):

  • Point of care biosensing, wearable and implanted systems, digital-assisted tools, and platforms for measuring biomolecular or physiological parameters (e.g., smartphone-based diagnostics)
  • Novel microscale or nanoscale technologies for biomolecular analysis (e.g., paper-based droplet systems)
  • Nanopore transport
  • Digital/droplet, analytical and reactor microfluidics
  • Organs on a chip for diagnostics and drug discovery
  • Methodology (machine learning, deep learning, and AI) for the analysis, biomarker discovery, and predictive models based on digital health data

We seek candidates with a Ph.D. in relevant areas of engineering and an outstanding research record with publications in the top-tier journals of their respective fields. The successful candidate is expected to establish research activities that contribute to the BioE Program’s research mission to integrate engineering tools and solutions for challenges and opportunities in biology. The candidate should have a strong commitment to excellence in teaching at the graduate level (Master's and PhD levels). The candidate will teach in the BioE curriculum and is expected to contribute to the current list of core courses and electives. The successful candidate is also expected to provide professional service at the Program, Division, and University levels.

While rooted in Bioengineering, the candidate is expected to engage with the other programs across divisions at KAUST, such as Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Materials Science and Engineering, to advance technologies for medicine and health. Candidates are expected to have a plan for attracting funding and consider how to integrate their research activities into the Kingdom’s economic growth strategy.

The Program welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. We strongly encourage applications from members of all underrepresented groups. The position will remain open until filled.

 

About KAUST

KAUST is an international, graduate research university dedicated to advancing science and technology through interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation. KAUST attracts top international faculty, scientists, engineers and students to conduct curiosity-driven and goal-oriented research to address the world’s most pressing scientific and technological challenges. Located in Saudi Arabia, on the eastern shores of the Red Sea, KAUST provides an award-winning campus to live, work, study and play, and offers superb research facilities, with guaranteed baseline research funding, infrastructure support, entrepreneurship opportunities and internationally competitive salaries. For more information about KAUST, please visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa. More information about the BESE Division and the BioE Program is available at http://bese.kaust.edu.sa and https://bioe.kaust.edu.sa.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should upload the following materials:

  • A cover letter introducing your candidacy and explicitly stating both the position and the rank. The rank must be consistent with the candidate’s experience
  • Up-to-date Curriculum Vitae, including a full publication list
  • Statement of research interests (5 pages maximum)
  • Statement of teaching interests (2 pages maximum), including teaching philosophy and an outline of 1-2 graduate planned graduate teaching course(s)
  • Names and contact information of 4 to 5 referees. Referees should have positions in academic or industrial research laboratories. In the case of Associate and Full Professor applications, the referees should be of a rank higher or equivalent to that of the proposed appointment
  • Copies of most relevant publications (Maximum of five)

 

APPLY HERE

Description

The Bioengineering (BioE) Program in the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) bridges the University’s strengths in Engineering, Chemistry and Biology. The BioE Program seeks faculty candidates (at the rank of Assistant Professor, although compelling candidates will be considered at higher ranks) with multi-disciplinary expertise and activities in the domain of:

Biology by Design (Biotech Metabolic Engineering) and Engineering Biology

Topics of focus include (but are not limited to):

  • Microbial genome redesign and synthetic genomics (plant, yeast, mammal agnostic)
  • Scalable expression systems and bioprocess engineering for alternative carbon source utilization, and process design for biosystem production
  • Bioprocess engineering and pharmaceutical grade cell expression processes (Car-T cells): optimizing and scaling up biomanufacturing processes
  • Metabolic engineering: redesigning metabolic pathways for specific product biosynthesis
  • Biomolecular design: engineering proteins, enzymes, and other biomolecules with specific properties with AI or machine learning
  • Cell-free expression systems: utilizing isolated cell components for metabolic reactions
  • Synthetic gene circuits: programming genetic circuits for complex cellular behaviors

We seek candidates with a Ph.D. in relevant areas of biology and engineering and an outstanding research record with publications in the top-tier journals of their respective fields. The successful candidate is expected to establish research activities that contribute to the BioE Program’s research mission to integrate engineering tools and solutions for challenges and opportunities in biology. The candidate should have a strong commitment to excellence in teaching at the graduate level (Master's and PhD levels). The candidate will teach in the BioE curriculum and is expected to contribute to the current list of core courses and electives. The successful candidate is also expected to provide professional service at the Program, Division, and University levels.

While rooted in Bioengineering, the candidate is expected to engage with the other programs across divisions at KAUST, such as Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Materials Science and Engineering, to advance technologies for medicine and health. Candidates are expected to have a plan for attracting funding and consider how to integrate their research activities into the Kingdom’s economic growth strategy.

The Program welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. We strongly encourage applications from members of all underrepresented groups. The position will remain open until filled.

 

About KAUST

KAUST is an international, graduate research university dedicated to advancing science and technology through interdisciplinary research, education, and innovation. KAUST attracts top international faculty, scientists, engineers and students to conduct curiosity-driven and goal-oriented research to address the world’s most pressing scientific and technological challenges. Located in Saudi Arabia, on the eastern shores of the Red Sea, KAUST provides an award-winning campus to live, work, study and play, and offers superb research facilities, with guaranteed baseline research funding, infrastructure support, entrepreneurship opportunities and internationally competitive salaries. For more information about KAUST, please visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa. More information about the BESE Division and the BioE Program is available at http://bese.kaust.edu.sa and https://bioe.kaust.edu.sa.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should upload the following materials:

  • A cover letter introducing your candidacy and explicitly stating both the position and the rank. The rank must be consistent with the candidate’s experience
  • Up-to-date Curriculum Vitae, including a full publication list
  • Statement of research interests (5 pages maximum)
  • Statement of teaching interests (2 pages maximum), including teaching philosophy and an outline of 1-2 graduate planned graduate teaching course(s)
  • Names and contact information of 4 to 5 referees. Referees should have positions in academic or industrial research laboratories. In the case of Associate and Full Professor applications, the referees should be of a rank higher or equivalent to that of the proposed appointment
  • Copies of most relevant publications (Maximum of five)

 

APPLY HERE


POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW & RESEARCH SCIENTIST OPENINGS​

For postdocs and research scientists, KAUST offers an excellent academic and social atmosphere. These researchers enjoy highly competitive salaries and benefits, along with a truly global experience with colleagues from over 100 nationalities. Join us for an adventure!

 

Project: Development and Field Trials of Soil Amendment Technologies and Best Practices for Desert Rehabilitation and Food Production in Sandy Soils of the KSA

Project: Development and Field Trials of Soil Amendment Technologies and Best Practices for Desert Rehabilitation and Food Production in Sandy Soils of the KSA

We solicit applications for multiple positions (PhD, MS, MS–PhD, Agronomist, Field Engineer, Field Technician, and PostdoctoralScholar) in Professor Himanshu Mishra’s research Group (Interfacial Lab) in King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia (https://interfaciallab.kaust.edu.sa). These positions are intended to investigate the effects of the soil amendment technologies developed in the group – Superhydrophobic Sand (USPTO #11,497,177 B2), Engineered Biochar (patent-pending), and slow-release fertilizers (patent pending) – on food crops and native plants. These technologies have been recognized with top prizes in international competitions, viz., the World Economic Forum’s Uplink Challenge (China), ITAS Arab Youth Competition (Qatar), InFlavors Expo (KSA), and Taqadam (KSA). The goal of this translational research is to sustainably realize KSA’s giga-scale projects in organic landfill diversion, desert rehabilitation for agriculture, landscaping, and nature conservation; success of these projects will contribute significantly to global food–water–climate security. These positions offer tremendous room for learning and growth across scientific and engineering disciplines as well as entrepreneurship.

Expectations:

Our goal is to sustainably grow plants in Saudi Arabia under the constraints of freshwater scarcity, intense heat, and high yield. To this end, we are investigating fundamental interactions at the water–soil–plant interfaces of food crops and native trees in alkaline sandy soils. We invite agronomists, soil specialists, irrigation specialists, and experts in drylands agriculture to apply to broaden and deepen our investigation into the effects of our soil amendment technologies for boosting water-use and nutrient-uptake efficiencies in deserts. We welcome recent graduates with BS or MS or PhD with concentration in biochar research, agricultural engineering, soil chemistry, soil physics, plant science, or a related field; we also value practical experience in growing trees/bushes/shrubs in deserts. Successful candidates will propel our translational research along one or more of the following avenues:

  1. Biochar as soil amendment for alkaline sandy soils.
  2. Soil physico-chemical characterization: elemental analysis, CEC, pH, particle size, surface area, moisture release curves, hydraulic conductivity, etc.
  3. Phenotype plant traits to pinpoint the effects of various factors/treatments: chlorophyll content, gas exchange, biomass accumulation, metabolomics, etc.
  4. Collaborate with microbiologists to understand and harness plant–soil–microbe synergies.
  5. Field trials to identify the limiting factor(s) for the growth and survivability of native plants under the harsh environmental conditions of the KSA.
  6. Experimental design for combinatorial treatments of soil-amendments, e.g., biochar, SHS, moisture absorbing polymers, etc.) and varying fertilizer and irrigation regimes. Experience in statistical methods is a huge plus.
  7. Ability to quickly test hypotheses via pot-scale studies (greenhouse and/or laboratory) and implement in the field.
  8. Understanding of irrigation systems suitable for afforestation in arid lands.
  9. Smart irrigation monitoring and control – precision agriculture.

We seek brilliant individuals who are critical thinkers, independent, creative, dedicated, enjoy field research, and believe in execution. Our translational research requires travel within Saudi Arabia (e.g., NEOM) to establish greening sites or fields, and building and managing relationships with stakeholders at multiple levels (e.g., field workers, scholars, government and non-government entities, and industry). An exceptional and multicultural team of engineers, plant scientists, technicians, and field workers will complement your skills in our joint quest for global food-water–climate security.

Please email your CV to Himanshu.Mishra@kaust.edu.sa

About KAUST:

KAUST is an international graduate-level, merit-based research university dedicated to advancing scientific and technological education and research, acting as a catalyst for innovation, economic development and social prosperity in the region and the world. Our research strives to enhance the welfare of society with a special focus on four areas of global significance – food, water, energy and the environment. Based near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, KAUST has attracted top-notch faculty and staff from all over the world, with more than 80 nations represented on campus. 

In addition to an unparalleled research infrastructure, KAUST also offers terrific opportunities to pursue innovation and economic development via startups. For further information about KAUST, postdoctoral life/benefits, Prof. Mishra’s lab, etc., please visit:

https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en

https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/live/community-life

https://interfaciallab.kaust.edu.sa/ 

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsagscitech.1c00148

At KAUST, we attract people from all around the world who want to create impact beyond their own achievements. Irrespective of their national origins, the people of KAUST are “people of the world” who uphold our values of achievement, passion, inspiration, citizenship, diversity, integrity, and openness. Located on the beautiful Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, KAUST sets exceptional standards in residences, recreational facilities and boasts a truly multicultural community environment which can be enjoyed by all, along with ample opportunities and time to keep work and life in harmony. Expats are very well looked after, with packages including tax-free salary, relocation, accommodation and various additional incentives. 

Join us for an adventure!

Apply for this position on Interfolio

 

​Prof. Suzana Nunes at KAUST has open positions for highly qualified postdoc candidates to work in polymeric membrane development from lab to semi-technical scale to start in April 2021.
Information on the research group is available at Nanostructured Polymeric Membranes https://npm.kaust.edu.sa
KAUST is a leading international research university in the Middle East (kaust.edu.sa) with unique facilities for chemical and morphological characterization.
The candidate should preferentially have a PhD in chemistry, polymer science, or membrane preparation and characterization. Besides the salary (contract of 2 years), KAUST will cover flight, health insurance and accommodation on campus.

 

STAFF & OTHER OPENINGS

Please visit the Live & Work section on the KAUST website to apply for non-faculty KAUST positions. 

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