KAUST’s internships invite the brightest and best to join a vibrant international STEM community on the shores of the Red Sea. [This is an informational advertising feature produced in collaboration with KAUST.]
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is a graduate-level research university situated along a stretch of stunning Red Sea coastline in Saudi Arabia. In a few short years it has established itself as one of the world’s leading research universities, a melting pot of ideas and cultures, and as a pivotal force in global scientific and technological advancement for the betterment of our world.
As a new institution established in 2009, KAUST has the distinct advantage of unparalleled campus design and integration, with modern laboratory facilities, equipment and expertise. Exceptional infrastructure includes the Shaheen III supercomputer, advanced electron microscopes, nuclear magnetic resonance machines, a class 100 cleanroom for nanofabrication, and research vessels for Red Sea exploration.
KAUST’s concept of ‘Core Labs’ strategically locates these state-of-the-art facilities throughout the academic campus, as centrally-organised shared-user facilities. In this way the faculty, students, researchers and industrial partners have direct access to specialised research equipment operated by a staff or more than 150 scientists, engineers, technicians and administrative personnel.
As a new university, KAUST has also been able to engender a unique focus on sustainability. Research and innovation focus particularly on critical issues related to food, water, energy and the environment, and KAUST’s Sustainability Vision Statement is at the core of all education, research, innovation and operation.
With integral cross-disciplinary organisation between Academic Divisions and Research Centres, KAUST already ranks #1 for citations per faculty globally, and has garnered a reputation for impact-driven research that contributes to the betterment of the world.
To extend this work, the University’s research centres aim to draw exceptional students and faculty from across the globe to explore and innovate. Among this intake, a key strand is formed by the interns who come to KAUST through the Visiting Student Research Program.
VSRP – INTERNSHIPS AT KAUST
Internships at KAUST offer a unique chance to join the University’s vibrant international STEM community. Known as the Visiting Student Research Program (VSRP), this landmark internship is open to undergraduate students in their third year or above, and to Masters Students. KAUST accepts around 100 VSRP interns each year, from a global intake which has seen interns join from more than 130 different countries so far.
Students can select a research project based on their STEM interest and desired participation dates, which range between three to six months in length depending on the type of research.
With more than 160 research projects currently in progress, spanning the breadth of scientific and engineering fields (see panel), there are unparalleled opportunities to pursue research under the guidance and support of KAUST faculty mentors, some of the most esteemed minds in their respective fields, and many at the forefront of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Benefits include a monthly stipend, private bedroom and bathroom, health insurance, social and cultural activities, and of course access to KAUST’s research facilities and Core laboratories. More than an educational experience, KAUST designs internships to equip you with the complete skills and knowledge you need to excel in the global scientific community, and to put you on a journey towards global innovations that have the potential to shape the future for us all.
GLOBAL DNA
KAUST’s internships bridge people, ideas and traditions from around the world. Besides interaction inside the university, the faculty, students and staff maintain strategic and sustained collaborations with key institutions across the world. In education, research and innovation, KAUST acts globally and delivers both locally and internationally.
For VSRP internships, the institution seeks individuals who are passionate about meaningful research, and who are ready to embrace the challenges that come with such a pursuit. In return the University promises a fundamental emphasis on the nurturing of your talents. Interns actively participate in research that extends beyond academic theory into practical real-world applications. The experience at KAUST can be transformative for interns, studying inside an institution which has a relentless pursuit of excellence in research.
WORK, PLAY, LIVE
KAUST is not only a place for academic exploration, but also a melting pot of ideas and cultures. The University’s commitment to the professional and personal growth of its interns is further evident through its comprehensive range of developmental workshops, cultural activities, and networking opportunities.
And beyond that, KAUST’s position on the shores of the Red Sea offers exceptional quality of life. From research to recreation to health care, “we are more than a premier university,” says KAUST, “we are also a city – a community where more than 100 nationalities learn, live, and thrive together.”
To find out more about KAUST’s internships, or to make an application, visit vsrp.kaust.edu.sa
EXAMPLES OF INTERN RESEARCH PROJECTS
The VSRP internship allows STEM students to work on research projects that span the breadth of scientific and engineering fields. With 160+ projects currently under way, there are too many to list! Here is just a small sample for which interns can apply right now:
– Unlocking the secrets of extremophile microbiomes
– Learning to cooperate in multi robot task allocation
– Achieving sustainable urban greening through anaerobic membrane bioreactor and nature-based biofiltration
– Connectivity of shark populations
– Engineering nanobodies for advanced biomedical applications
– The molecular basis of neuro-developmental features associated with Klinefelter Syndrome
– Accelerated simulation of reactive flows using deep neural networks
– Nanowire-enhanced microorganisms for advanced coral restoration
– Breaking the vehicle over-the-air update system
– Useful Bitcoin mining with a matrix-based puzzle
– Protein design based on AlphaFold 2
– Egocentric video understanding
Full details of all these projects, their deliverables, lead researchers and how to apply can be found under ‘Projects’ at vsrp.kaust.edu.sa
[This is an informational advertising feature produced in collaboration with KAUST.]
