The KAUST Visiting Student Research Program (VSRP) began in February 2014, and since then has attracted over 210 visiting research interns from all over the world to the University to experience the unique research environment KAUST offers. At KAUST, VSRP interns engage with world-class faculty, use top-notch research facilities and work in a truly international environment.

VSRP recruits highly motivated students in their baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate studies to carry out research with KAUST faculty members in specific research areas. Most interns stay at KAUST for between three and six months, but are encouraged to consider the University for further studies, including pursuing a KAUST master’s degree or Ph.D. program, as many do.

The research intern experience

Mariana Prazeres

Mariana Prazeres completed her undergraduate degree in applied mathematics and computation at the University of Lisbon, Instituto Superior Técnico in Portugal. Although she is from Lisbon, she was keen to experience a new country and different culture, as she had only lived in Portugal before coming to KAUST.

She applied to the VSRP program because her VSRP advisor Diogo Gomes, KAUST associate professor of applied mathematics and computational science, had previously worked at her university in Portugal.

Mariana’s VSRP research focused on using the Hamilton Jacobi equation to minimize periodic functions. She is currently a master’s degree student at KAUST, and is now studying mean field games under the supervision of Gomes.

“I decided to continue my studies in applied mathematics, and specifically partial differential equations, because of my experience in the VSRP program,” she said. “Before attending the program, I had little knowledge of what partial differential equations were, but I knew I enjoyed analysis, and I thought it was a good idea to conduct four months of research on the topic.”

Mariana feels that it her VSRP experience was essential to her education and to her future career pathway. “It was good to have research experience before beginning my master’s degree to ensure this was something I wanted to do in the future,” she noted. “The research experience itself gave me the chance to learn many new tools in mathematics that have given me a much deeper understanding of my field.”

Her experience in Saudi Arabia has also impacted her desire to have an international career. “After I finish my studies – which I hope also will include a Ph.D. – I would like to continue my multicultural experience and work in different countries,” she said. “My time at KAUST has been an enriching and challenging experience in research with a strong multicultural background.”

Renyuan Li

Renyuan Li was the first accepted research intern to the VSRP program. Hailing from China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, he completed his bachelor’s degree in engineering at Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) in 2014.

During his undergraduate studies, he focused on material science engineering “because of the rise of nanomaterials,” he explained. “The concept of nanomaterials filled my middle school and high school life, and I realized I wanted to learn about it in-depth.”

At KAUST, Li was supervised by Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering Peng Wang. “The VSRP program was exceptional,” said Li. “I was told: ‘KAUST is amazing – just take a trip there to discover it and work with outstanding faculty and staff.’ This is why I chose to apply to the program.”

Li focused on studying the design of nanomaterials for environmental protection and pollutant remediation during his time as a VSRP student. Under the supervision of Wang, he examined these materials in the context of microfluidics technology, clean energy generation and catalyst and solar-assisted materials for environmental protection.

“My experience in the VSRP program was very important and highly valuable,” Li said. “It certainly benefitted my education. After finishing the program, I was well-trained as a good researcher, and I mastered several critical skills, including how to use the University’s research facilities. For me, the program was colorful, meaningful and unforgettable.”

Li is currently a Ph.D. student working in Wang’s Environmental Nanotechnology Lab. He plans to continue in academia after he finishes his Ph.D. to further pursue his interests and passions in his field.

Melissa Pappas

Melissa Pappas came to KAUST from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S., but was born and raised in Arizona, and longed to escape her desert home to study marine biology. Ironically, after finishing her bachelor’s degree in marine science and biology, she came back to the desert – but this time the desert of Saudi Arabia – to progress in the field she loves.

“During my undergraduate degree, I found I wanted to continue studying coral reefs, which brought me to Saudi Arabia. I see the ocean as the most undiscovered yet tangible environment on Earth. The ocean connects human society, and only through studying the ocean will we solve the very relevant issue of climate change,” she said.

Melissa’s VSRP supervisor was KAUST Associate Professor of Marine Science Michael Berumen. Through the Reef Ecology Lab in the University’s Red Sea Research Center, Pappas worked with Berumen to design her own research project examining species of giant clams living in the Red Sea. She also studied the clams’ symbiotic algae and microbial communities.

“This research could give us insight into bleaching tolerances for giant clams, and if their symbiotic algae play an important role in these tolerances,” she explained. “Giant clams also have a limited range, and not many have been studied in the Red Sea or in general. It is important to determine the diversity of the clams here.”

Pappas notes that her VSRP experience has been essential to her education. “If I had not come to KAUST, I would still be struggling to decide what I wanted to study in graduate school,” she said. “Now I have a specific topic of interest and useful experience doing that research. VSRP has taken me out of my comfort zone and showed me what it is like to be a scientist, truly directing my passion for marine science in a way that will affect the rest of my professional life.”

For the next step in her educational career, Pappas plans to apply to KAUST for a master’s degree beginning in September 2016. “My research interests necessitate the accessibility of the Red Sea, and I would like to come back just to work in the KAUST labs,” Pappas said.

For more information, visit: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/internship/.

By Caitlin Clark, KAUST News