Persevering through hard work opens up opportunities. That philosophy has greatly benefited Dr. Yasmeen Najm, alumna of the KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP). When she chose to embark boldly on the academic adventure of a lifetime, which led to a KAUST Ph.D. in 2019, she could not have anticipated one day becoming a Strategic Partnerships and Engagement innovator at NEOM. 

“I didn’t see that coming. However, it’s because you push boundaries and you push hard that you’ll eventually be noticed. That happens,” Najm said, emphasizing that KGSP is an ideal platform to test this theory, as the unique STEM scholarship offers a variety of professional challenges for participants. “It gives you an opportunity to step out of the ‘norm’ and into different industries, exploring new places and getting involved.” 

Her KGSP journey began before KAUST physically existed — when she was recruited to the first cohort in 2008. Najm recalls NEOM’s current CEO, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, who was KAUST Executive Vice President of Administration and Finance 16 years ago, outlining KGSP to candidates at KAUST’s construction site. “It didn’t feel like just funding coming into my account, but rather a full journey and a unique opportunity built off community and a support system.” 

After a foundation year at the U.K.’s University of Warwick, Najm studied human genetics at University College London, obtaining her bachelor’s degree in 2012. Driven by a quest for new challenges, she chose a different path for her graduate studies, focusing on environmental science and engineering for her master's and Ph.D. at KAUST. “I got very excited about water chemistry, environmental engineering and process engineering.” 

Following her Ph.D., Najm excelled in corporate research at Halliburton, using her interdisciplinary background to push the boundaries of oil and gas sector innovation. NEOM noticed this, recruiting her in 2020, first to innovate with water, then to innovate with hydrogen and e-fuels, and eventually to innovate with the megaproject overall. She attributes her success at NEOM in large part to KAUST’s generous investment in her over the years, which began with KGSP. 

“To be honest, without KAUST supporting me, taking that risk and pushing my boundaries to learn something different, I wouldn’t be in the place I am today.” 

Najm was keynote speaker during the KGSP Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) — a three-day program in which some 107 of Saudi Arabia’s highest-achieving, STEM-focused high school graduates became fully familiarized with the expectations of KAUST’s flagship scholarship. The annual PDO allows such participants to meet one another in preparation for their overseas learning enterprises. It is also a chance for them to discover more about KAUST itself. 

“There’s such a push to solve today’s and future challenges, improving standards of living for future generations,” the NEOM innovator said about what KAUST offers its young scholars. “I love that. It gives you a feeling that what you’re doing in the lab is something that will benefit generations to come.” 

As for KGSP, Najm emphasized how Cohort 16 participants will serve as ambassadors for both KAUST and the Kingdom while earning bachelor’s degrees — a prestigious responsibility they should embrace with the utmost pride. “What’s very important is to explain the culture and all that’s happening in Saudi Arabia, and the changes.” 

Since its founding, KGSP has provided unmatched academic, developmental, pre-professional and financial support for students to study abroad. All scholarship participants eventually apply for postgraduate studies at KAUST, bringing new skills and perspectives from top U.S. universities to benefit the nation’s strategic goals. U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney spoke highly of the program during this year’s PDO. 

“Never forget that this opportunity is an investment that your country, your families and your communities are making in you,” he said, highlighting the diverse fields in which Saudis and Americans collaborate, fostering mutual benefits and lasting friendships. “When you return to Saudi Arabia, the ideas, the ingenuity and the friendships you gain during your time in the United States will shape the future of your country, and the future of this whole region.” 

Professor Suzana Nunes, KAUST Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs, highlighted that Cohort 16 is the first KGSP group since KAUST announced a new strategy to accelerate impact in KSA. 

Further, she noted, these students are expected to be completing their KAUST master’s degrees as Saudi Vision 2030 is implemented with a range of new opportunities, signifying their role as the nation enters a pivotal period in its transformation. “You’ll be part of a new generation of leaders and entrepreneurs in the Kingdom.”