Red Sea Research Center

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Faculty

Michael Berumen, Ph.D.
Acting Center Director, Professor of Marine S...
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Coral Reef Ecology, Fish ecology, Fisheries, Ecosystems, Climate change, Biodiversity, Conservation Biology, Marin...
michael.berumen@kaust.edu.sa
Christian Voolstra, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Associate Professor of Ma...
Research Interest: Bioinformatics, Genomics, Marine ecology, Marine microbiology
christian.voolstra@kaust.edu.sa
Carlos M. Duarte, Ph.D.
Professor, Tarek Ahmed Juffali Research Chair in R...
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Environment, Biodiversity, Conservation biology, Ecosystem ecology, Coastal ecology Aquaculture, Carbon, Seagrass ...
carlos.duarte@kaust.edu.sa
Susana R. Agusti, Ph.D.
Professor of Marine Science
Research Interest: Enviornment, Biodiversity, Water quality, Ecology, Climate change, Marine Ecology, Ecosystems, Marine biology, Aquatic ecosystems
susana.agusti@kaust.edu.sa
Burton Jones, Ph.D.
Professor of Marine Science; Director of Saud...
Research Interest: Biological networks and interactions, Environment modeling, Marine ecology, Scientific visualization, Fluid mechanics, Networks an...
burt.jones@kaust.edu.sa
Daniele Daffonchio, Ph.D.
Professor of Bioscience
Research Interest: Microbial ecology, Extreme environments, Deep sea brine pools, Mangrove ecosystem microbiology
daniele.daffonchio@kaust.edu.sa
Xose Anxelu G. Moran, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Marine Science
Research Interest: Ecology, Climate change, Marine ecology, Marine biology, Biogeochemistry, Aquatic ecosystems, Biological Oceanography, Phytoplankt...
xelu.moran@kaust.edu.sa
Manuel Aranda Lastra, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Marine Science
Research Interest: Genomics, Symbiosis, Epigenetics, Molecular biology
manuel.aranda@kaust.edu.sa

Research Scientists

Yasser O. Abualnaja, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
Research Interest: Air-sea interaction, air-sea heat fluxes, water mass, salt and heat exchange, meso-scale ocean circulation, and Integrated Coastal...
yasser.abualnaja@Kaust.edu.sa
Anders Rostad, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
Research Interest: Marine Ecology, Acoustics, Ocean vertical carbon flux, Mesopelagic fish
anders.rostad@kaust.edu.sa
Susana Carvalho, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Research Interest: Marine Ecology, Ecological Indicators, Environmental Impacts, Integrated Ecosystem Assessment, Biological Networks and Interaction...
susana.carvalho@kaust.edu.sa
Joanne Ellis, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Research Interest: Marine benthic ecology, biodiversity of marine communities, spatial and temporal variability, ecosystem services, multiple stresso...
joanne.ellis@kaust.edu.sa
John Pearman, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Research Interest: Molecular Ecology, Microbial Ecology, Phytoplankton Ecology, Bioinformatics, Amplicon Sequencing, Metagenomics, Metatranscriptomic...
john.pearman@kaust.edu.sa
Ramona Marasco, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Research Interest: Environmental microbiology, Plant-microbe interaction, Microbial ecology of extreme environments, Mangrove microbial ecology, Agri...
ramona.marasco@kaust.edu.sa
Roberto Arrigoni, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Research Interest: Corals, Molecular Systematics, Phylogeny, Taxonomy, Conservation
roberto.arrigoni@kaust.edu.sa
Darren Coker, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Research Interest: Behavior, Biodiversity, Disturbances, Ecological Processes, Habitat, Marine Ecology, Reef Fishes
darren.coker@kaust.edu.sa

Research Staff

Fadiyah Baalkhuyur
Laboratory Assistant
Research Interest: Plastic pollution, Microplastics, Marine Ecology, Fish biology
fadiyah.baalkhuyur@kaust.edu.sa
Mongi Ennasri
Chemistry Research Technician
Research Interest: Marine chemistry, Environmental analysis
mongi.ennasri@kaust.edu.sa
Wajitha Jasmine Raja Mohamed Sait
Laboratory Technician
Research Interest: Molocular Biology,Genetics, Immunohistochemistry
wajitha.rajamohamedsait@kaust.edu.sa
Gala González
Laboratory Technician
Research Interest: Marine Ecology, Global Change, Oceanography, Biotechnology
gala.gonzalez@kaust.edu.sa
Mustapha Ouhssain
Lab and Field Engineer
Research Interest: Biogeochemical cycles, Primary production, Phytoplankton pigments, Apparent and Inherent optical properties, Ocean color, Profilin...
mustapha.ouhssain@kaust.edu.sa
Ricardo N. Alves, Ph.D.
Research Specialist
Research Interest: Fish immune system, Fish endocrinology, UV-A and UV-B radiation, Environmental and anthropogenic stressors, Climate changes, Molec...
ricardo.alves@kaust.edu.sa
Sadaf Umer
Research Technician / Lab Manager
Research Interest: Environmental Health and Safety, Research Safety
sadaf.umer@kaust.edu.sa
Kiruthiga Gayathri Mariappan
Bioinformatics Technician
Research Interest: Epigenetics, Metagenomics, Transcriptomics
kiruthiga.mariappan@kaust.edu.sa
Vijayalaxmi Dasari
Laboratory Technician
Research Interest: Nutrient and metal analysis
vijayalaxmi.dasari@kaust.edu.sa
Juan de la Cruz Martinez Ayala
Research Technician
Research Interest: Global change, Photosynthetic plankton, Vulnerability of planktonic communities
juan.martinez@kaust.edu.sa
Maria Calleja, Ph.D.
Technical Specialist
Research Interest: Organic matter composition and cycling, Microbe-organic matter interactions and transformations, Biogeochemical cycles, Microbial ...
maria.callejacortes@kaust.edu.sa
Joao Curdia, Ph.D.
Research Technician
Research Interest: Ecology, Zoology, Ecology of macrobenthic communities, Succession in ecology, Population dynamics of marine species, Data analysis...
joao.curdia@kaust.edu.sa
Fran Aparicio, Ph.D.
Biological Culture & Visualisation Technician&...
Research Interest: Phytoplankton; Marine biology; Biogeochemistry; Global change; Laboratory management; Scientific visualisation
francisco.apariciobernat@kaust.edu.sa
Saskia Kurten
Research Technician
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Biology, Nutrient analysis
saskia.kurten@kaust.edu.sa
Ute Langner
Geographic Information System Specialist
Research Interest: Spatial Modeling and Analysis, Scientific Visualization, Relational Database Management, GIS, Ecology
ute.langner@kaust.edu.sa
Katherine Rowe
Research Technician
Research Interest: Marine Ecology and Management
katherine.rowe@kaust.edu.sa
Ruben Diaz Rua
Research Technician
Research Interest: Genomic, Transcriptomic, Proteomic, Biology molecular
ruben.diazrua@kaust.edu.sa
Tane Sinclair-Taylor
Research Technician
Research Interest: Marine Ecology and Biology, Movement Ecology, Marine Biodiversity, Connectivity, Conservation
tane.sinclair-taylor@kaust.edu.sa
Pu Yin
Lab Technician
Research Interest: Marine invertebrates
pu.yin@kaust.edu.sa
Miguel Viegas
Laboratory Technician
Research Interest: Marine Ecology
miguel.viegas@kaust.edu.sa

Postdoctoral Fellows

Zoi Kokkini, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Autonomous platforms, Gliders, Floats, Drifters, HF Radars and Lagrangian technics, Thermohaline circulation.
zoi.kokkini@kaust.edu.sa
Arun Prasanna Nagarajan, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Bioinformatics, Transcriptomics, Genomics, Phylogenomics
arun.nagarajan@kaust.edu.sa
Stylianos Fodelianakis, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Microbial ecology, Synthetic ecology, Dispersal, Selection, Drift, Phylogenetic diversity, Bioremediation
stelios.fodelianakis@kaust.edu.sa
Alexandra Steckbauer, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Marine Ecology, Global Change, Anthropogenic Stressors, Multiple Stressors, Environmental Impacts, Coastal Ecosystems, Reef Ecolog...
alexandra.steckbauer@kaust.edu.sa
Eva Aylagas Martinez, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Benthic community, Metabarcoding, Anthropogenic stressors, Biodiversity characterization
eva.aylagasmartinez@kaust.edu.sa
Gregoire Michoud, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Marine Microbiology, Bioinformatics, Genomics, Extremophiles
gregoire.michoud@kaust.edu.sa
Hana Sonbol, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Metagenomics, 16S, Seagrass ecosystems, Human pathogenic bacteria, Marine microbiology.
hana.sonbol@kaust.edu.sa
Marco Fusi, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Marine Ecology, Global Change, Global Warming, Intertidal Ecology, Ecophysiology, Symbiosis, Bioturbation, Microbiomes
marco.fusi@kaust.edu.sa
Anny Cardenas, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Coral reef microbiology, Metagenomics, Metatranscriptomics, Bacterial metabolism
anny.cardenas@kaust.edu.sa
Benjamin C.C. Hume, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Pyhlogenetics, Coral, Symbiodinium
benjamin.hume@kaust.edu.sa
Claudia Pogoreutz, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Coral Reefs, Marine Microbiology, Host-Microbe Interactions, Ecophysiology, Molecular Ecology, Metabolomics
claudia.pogoreutz@kaust.edu.sa
Lohitzune Solabarrieta Odriozola, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Ocean Circulation Processes, HF Radar Technology
lohitzune.solabarrieta@kaust.edu.sa
Sebastian Schmidt-Roach, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Evolution, Epigenetics, Coral taxonomy
sebastian.schmidtroach@kaust.edu.sa
Shannon Klein, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Marine biology, Climate change, Pollution, Acclimatization, Coral Reefs, Applied statistics
shannon.klein@kaust.edu.sa
Tamara Huete-Stauffer, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Prokaryotes, Bacteria, Archaea, Marine ecology, 16S, Metagenomics, Diversity, Flow cytometry
tamara.huetestauffer@kaust.edu.sa
Andrea Anton, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Marine Ecology, Global Change, Global Warming, Invasive Species, Coral Reefs, Seagrass Meadows
andrea.antongamazo@kaust.edu.sa
Neus Garcias Bonet, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
Research Interest: Seagrass ecology, Marine microbiology, Nitrogen fixation, Nitrogen cycle
neus.garciasbonet@kaust.edu.sa
Jit Ern Chen, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
Research Interest: Genetic engineering, Algal transformation and biochemistry
jitern.chen@kaust.edu.sa
Malika Kheireddine, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
Research Interest: Bio-optical oceanography, Biogeochemical processes, Long-term changes in phytoplankton dynamics
malika.kheireddine@kaust.edu.sa
Benjamin Kürten, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
Research Interest: Biological-Oceanography, Isotope Ecology, Biogeochemistry, Food Webs, Coral Reefs, Plankton
benjamin.kurten@kaust.edu.sa
Daffne C. Lopez-Sandoval, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Phytoplankton ecology, Exudation, dissolved and particulate primary production, PER, UVB, nutrient limitation, 14C, 13C.
daffne.lopezsandoval@kaust.edu.sa
Gauri Mahadik, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Copepod ecology, behavior and taxonomy
gauri.mahadik@kaust.edu.sa
Danang Ambar Prabowo, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Phycology, Taxonomy and phylogeny of dinoflagellates, Molecular phylogenetic and evolution, Cell morphology, Toxic dinoflagellates...
danang.prabowo@kaust.edu.sa
Vincent Saderne, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Benthic Ecology, Carbonate Chemistry, Biogeosciences
vincent.saderne@kaust.edu.sa
Michael Cusack, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest: Atmospheric science, marine primary production, marine pollution.
michael.cusack@kaust.edu.sa

Ph.D. Students

Adriana Valenzuela Cuevas
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Microbiology, Synthetic ecology, Biotechnology
adriana.valenzuelacuevas@kaust.edu.sa
Afrah Alothman
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Phytoplankton, Red sea
afrah.alothman@kaust.edu.sa
Chunzhi Cai
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Marine Ecotoxicology, Marine Mussels, Marine Algae, Heavy Metal Pollution, Metal Biokenetics
chunzhi.cai@kaust.edu.sa
Lily Genevier
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Fisheries management, Statistical modelling, Global change biology
lily.genevier@kaust.edu.sa
Wally Rich
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Coral ecology, Global change biology, Species interactions
walter.richiv@kaust.edu.sa
Alison Monroe
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Genomics, Climate change, Fish
alison.monroe@kaust.edu.sa
Jenny Booth
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Seabird foraging
jenny.booth@kaust.edu.sa
Fatimah Sefrji
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Microbiology, Microbial biotechnology and novel isolation methods
fatimah.sefrji@kaust.edu.sa
Abbrar Labban
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Microbiology, Marine microbial ecology, Metabolic ecology, Transcriptomics
abbrar.labban@kaust.edu.sa
Lina Eyouni
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Oceanography, Physical and biological coupling, Air-Sea interactions, HF Radar, Surface Circulation
lina.eyouni@kaust.edu.sa
Matthew Tietbohl
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Food webs, Resilience, Conservation, Restoration, Biodiversity, Mesophotic reefs
matthew.tietbohl@kaust.edu.sa
Nojood Aalismail
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Airborne, Metagenomics, Marine Ecology, Immunity, Transcriptomics
nojood.aalismail@kaust.edu.sa
Susann Rossbach
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Benthic ecology, Climate Change studies, Physiology
susann.rossbach@kaust.edu.sa
Rodrigo Villalobos Vazquez de la Parra
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Community ecology, Genetic diversity in coral reefs, Benthic ecology
rodrigo.villalobos@kaust.edu.sa
Ruba Ashy
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Environmental Virology, Viral infections, Microbiology, Marine Microbiology, Global Change and Viral Infections, Lysogeny and Lyti...
ruba.ashy@kaust.edu.sa
Michael Campbell
Ph.D. Student
michael.Campbell@kaust.edu.sa
Zahra Hassan Alsaffar
Ph.D. Student
zahra.saffar@kaust.ed.sa
Rúben Martins da Costa
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Infection, Functional Microbiology, Symbiosis, Proteomics
ruben.martinsdacosta@kaust.edu.sa
Hagen Gegner
Ph.D. Student
hagen.Gegner@kaust.edu.sa
Ghaida Hadaidi
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Genomics, Microbiology, Coral bleaching, Coral disease
ghaida.hadaidi@kaust.edu.sa
Royale Hardenstine
Ph.D. Student
royale.hardenstine@kaust.edu.sa
Song He
Ph.D. Student
song.he@kaust.edu.sa
Carol Nathaly Buitrago López
Ph.D. Student
carol.buitragolopez@kaust.edu.sa
Cecilia Martin
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Microplastics, Plastic pollution, Marine debris
cecilia.martin@kaust.edu.sa
Roslinda Mohamed
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Marine microbiology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Biological networks and interactions
roslinda.mohamed@kaust.edu.sa
Sofya Mudrova
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Symbiotic copepods, Scleractinian corals, Molecular Systematics, Biodiversity, Phylogeny, Host-specificity, Biogeography
sofya.mudrova@kaust.edu.sa
Maha J. Cziesielski
Ph.D. Student
maha.olschowsky@kaust.edu.sa
Luis Ribeiro da Silva
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Marine Ecology, Fish larvae behaviour, Bacterial production, bacterial growth, Radio-active isotope.
luis.ribeirodasilva@kaust.edu.sa
Sebastian Overmans
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Reef Ecology, Phytoplankton Ecophysiology, Bio-optical Oceanography, Marine Optics, UV radiation
sebastian.overmans@kaust.edu.sa
Nils Rädecker
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Microbial ecology, Host - microbe interactions, Symbiosis, Nutrient cycling, Coral bleaching
nils.radecker@kaust.edu.sa
Florian Roth
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Coral reef ecology, Phase shifts, Ecosystem engineers, Biogeochemical cycles (CNP), Community metabolism, Benthic-pelagic coupling
florian.roth@kaust.edu.sa
Fabia Simona
Ph.D. Student
fabia.simona@kaust.edu.sa
Xin Wang
Ph.D. Student
wang.Xin@kaust.edu.sa
Noura Zahran
Ph.D. Student
noura.zahran@kaust.edu.sa
Guoxin Cui
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Molecular Biology of Symbiosis, Bioinformatics, Transcriptomics, Genetics
guoxin.Cui@kaust.edu.sa
Snjezana Ivetic
Ph.D. Student
Research Interest: Biogeochemistry, Marine Biology
snjezana.ivetic@kaust.edu.sa
Tullia Isotta Terraneo
Ph.D. Student
tulliaisotta.terraneo@kaust.edu.sa

Master Students

Ashlie McIvor
Master Student
Research Interest: Movement ecology, Marine Conservation, Marine Connectivity, Cartilaginous Fish
ashlie.mcivor@kaust.edu.sa
Claire Shellem
Master Student
Research Interest: Anthropogenic effects, Marine conservation, Marine ecology
claire.shellem@kaust.edu.sa
Collin Williams
Master Student
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Fish biology, Fisheries management
collin.williams@kaust.edu.sa
Kirsty Scott
Master Student
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Deep sea ecology, Deep sea coral ecology
kirsty.scott@kaust.edu.sa
Lucy Fitzgerald
Master Student
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Early life history, Fish biology, Marine conservation
lucy.fitzgerald@kaust.edu.sa
Morgan Bennett-Smith
Master Student
Research Interest: Coral reef ecology, Connectivity, Larval recruitment, Adaptation
morgan.bennett-smith@kaust.edu.sa
Shannon Brown
Master Student
Research Interest: Marine invertebrates, Coral reef ecology, Marine biodiversity
shannon.brown@kaust.edu.sa
George Short
Master Student
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Priority habitat and biodiversity conservation, Molecular ecology, Non-invasive sampling techniques, Crustaceans a...
georgina.short@kaust.edu.sa
Timothy Thomson
Master Student
Research Interest: Biogeochemistry, Coastal ecosystems, Mangroves, Stable isotope analysis
timothy.thomson@kaust.edu.sa
Aislinn Dunne
Master Student
Research Interest: Aquaculture, Water Quality, Marine Ecology and Conservation, Coastal Zone Management
aislinn.dunne@kaust.edu.sa
Ann Marie Hulver
Master Student
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Coral reefs, Climate change, Multiple stressor
ann.hulver@kaust.edu.sa
Celina Burkholz
Master Student
Research Interest: Marine ecology, Seagrass ecology, Biogeochemistry, Benthic ecology
celina.burkholz@kaust.edu.sa
Gabriela Perna
Master Student
Research Interest: Marine science, Coral reef ecology, Climate change, Genomics, Microbiology, Conservation
gabriela.perna@kaust.edu.sa
Jin Ye
Master Student
Research Interest: Genomics, Bioinformatics
jin.ye@kaust.edu.sa
Lyndsey Tanabe
Master Student
Research Interest: Marine conservation, Movement ecology, Climate change, Coral bleaching, Marine protected areas
lyndsey.tanabe@kaust.edu.sa

Administration

Manal S. Bamashmos
Business Manager
manal.bamashmos@kaust.edu.sa
Seda Gasparyan
Communications and IT officer
seda.gasparyan@kaust.edu.sa
Ronald Cadiz
Data Coordinator
ronald.cadiz@kaust.edu.sa
Christine Nelson
Executive Secretary
christine.nelson@kaust.edu.sa
Jassim Sultan
Laboratory Manager
jassim.sultan@kaust.edu.sa
Angela Alfieri
Project Assistant
angela.alfieri@kaust.edu.sa
Amr Gusti
Marine Operations Support
amr.gusti@kaust.edu.sa
Madhvi Naganand
Business Administrator
madhvi.naganand@kaust.edu.sa
Jennifer Otoadese
Projects and Accounts Specialist
jennifer.otoadese@kaust.edu.sa