WDRC welcomes into the center two participants of the SRSI program under the mentorship of Professors Pascal Saikaly and Peiying Hong. Mohammad Tawfiq and Abdulelah Alahmed are two of the 42 students who got accepted into the program this year. They will be working with their mentors for six weeks and enjoy a real scientific research experience at the center.
ABDULELAH ALAHMED
Abdulelah AlAhmed is a student at the Alhussan National School. He looked forward to joining the SRSI program when
he heard that it offers an opportunity for a real scientific and research experience.
When Abdulelah applied to the program, he specified water treatment and plant science as his interests that’s why he was very happy to find out that he will be joining the WDRC under the mentorship of Prof. Peiying Hong and her postdoc Dr. Noor Zaouri.
He is working with Dr. Noor Zaouri on “ Assessing the impact of anaerobic bioreactor membrane “anMBR” effluents on plants growth” where he will study the effects of anMBR effluents on both tomato and lettuce plants. "The SRSI is the best program I have ever attended and I’m very delighted to be hosted by the WDRC. I couldn’t be prouder to work with such a team!”, Abdulelah said.
MOHAMMAD TAWFIQ
Mohammad Tawfiq is a student from the Riyadh Schools. “I applied to the SRSI Program to see how the research
process is going at the best research institute in Saudi Arabia. I would also like to learn how to write a scientific paper, lab journals and posters to present my project. In my life journey, I want to be part of a solution to a problem humanity faces nowadays”, Mohammad said.
Mohammad will be under the mentorship of Prof. Pascal Saikaly and co-mentors Dr. Jiajie Xu and Ph.D. student Bin Bian. Mohammad is working closely with Bin Bian on applying photo electrodes into microbial electrosynthesis systems which have the potential of saving energy and helps in maintaining CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere.
Saudi Research Science Institute (SRSI)
SRSI is a rigorous summer research program designed for students from high schools throughout Saudi Arabia. Students work in state-of-the-art laboratories under the guidance of world-renowned KAUST faculty, while participating in holistic activities that combine theory courses, hands-on research, and co- and extracurricular events to encourage greater teamwork and leadership.
By introducing these talented young students to the transformative potential of science, technology, engineering, and math, SRSI inspires the next generation of Saudis to pursue careers in these fields, and provides them with context and support for envisioning their future paths. These students spend six weeks of their summer break living on campus and participating in research at KAUST.
