Professor Finkbeiner is an internationally recognized scholar in the field of rock and geo-mechanics. He started his career in 1998 with GeoMechanics International (GMI) andsubsequently held senior management and technical advisory roles with Baker Hughes (HQEastern Hemisphere, Dubai) and Österreichische Mineralölverwaltung Aktiengesellschaft (HQ,Vienna) before joining KAUST in 2016 in the (now former) Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum EngineeringResearch Center (ANPERC). His research at KAUST focuses on geo- and rock mechanics, rockphysics, CO2 and energy storage and geothermal development. Finkbeiner’s technical expertiseand keen understanding of the rapidly growing Middle East market draw on his years ofexperience living and consulting in the MENA region with major companies such as SaudiAramco. He has served on the student advisory committee for the European Association ofGeoscientists and Engineers since 2017, and is currently the Deputy Editor for Geological Societyof London’s Petroleum Geoscience - Lyell Collection.​

Professor Finkbeiner ​investigates how rocks respond mechanically to pore pressure changes in a field/reservoir (i.e., injection, stimulation, or depletion), and how this impacts flow (e.g., production) from the affected reservoirs. Monitoring, laboratory testing and numerical modeling provide an understanding and enhanced predictive capabilities for these phenomena for a variety of formation types such as fractured rocks, in particular carbonates; unconventional reservoirs. Additional focus areas include wellbore stability (i.e., mechanical integrity of boreholes both during drilling and production/injection), risk mitigation. Guaranteeing successful well construction is paramount for cost reduction and optimizing well delivery. He is also involved in circular carbon, geothermal energy development for Saudi Arabia, energy storage and Red Sea research.​