KAUST researchers receive SABIC Post-Doctoral Fellowship Awards

The second SABIC Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards for researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) were presented at a function held at the university campus in Thuwal on Wednesday as part of the company's support for the university's academic innovative research efforts.
During the ceremony, which was held in the presence of SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO Mohamed Al-Mady and KAUST President Professor Choon Fong Shih, 13 fellows received the award and the funding to pursue their proposed research. The topics were selectively chosen to address SABIC-KAUST long-term research strategies. They include solar energy, feedstock and catalysis, separations, biorenewables, computation and environmental sciences.
Al-Mady said: "SABIC is committed to encouraging new ideas and the building of effective solutions. We believe in the power of human ingenuity - which is why we are committed to encouraging scientists and promoting cutting-edge research at higher education institutes in Saudi Arabia."
He said KAUST's dedication to develop knowledge and technologies has made it one of the most important centers of teaching and research in the region.
Prof Shih said new ideas and approaches were needed to tackle critical challenges facing humanity today - water, food, energy and the environment. "To deliver novel and transformative solutions to these challenges it is essential to nurture talents - scientists and engineers, innovators and entrepreneurs - with drive and creativity."
SABIC Technology and Innovation Executive Vice President Ernesto Occhiello pointed out that besides the postdoctoral fellowship awards SABIC was committed to support the KAUST mission via several key avenues.
Profesor Stefan Catsicas, KAUST Provost, said that despite its short lifespan, KAUST has developed a strong tradition for innovative science at the interface between academic excellence and industrial relevance.
Abdullah Mojel, VP, university development, praised SABIC's continuing support to the university's post-doctoral fellows and said it was highly valued.