Faculty

• Michael Berumen, Ph.D.

  Center Director | Director of Saudi Aramco-KA...

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Coral Reef Ecology, Fish ecology, Fisheries, Ecosystems, Climate change, Biodiversity, Conservation Biology, Marin...

  michael.berumen@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. Agustí, 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
• 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
• Burton Jones, Ph.D.

  Professor of Marine Science

  Research Interest: Biological networks and interactions, Environment modeling, Marine ecology, Scientific visualization, Fluid mechanics, Networks an...

  burt.jones@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.

  Associate Professor of Marine Science

  Research Interest: Genomics, Symbiosis, Epigenetics, Molecular biology

  manuel.aranda@kaust.edu.sa
• Francesca Benzoni, Ph.D.

  Associate Professor of Marine Science

  Research Interest: Biodiversity, Coral Reef Ecology, Marine Habitat Mapping, Biogeography, Climate Change, Coastal Conservation, Bioconstruction, Tax...

  francesca.benzoni@kaust.edu.sa

Research Scientists

• Alison Green, Ph.D.

  Research Scientist

  Research Interest: Marine protected areas, Coral reefs fishes

  alison.green@kaust.edu.sa
• Song He, PhD

  Research Scientist

  Research Interest: Marine FIsh Hybridization, Hybridization Speciation, Biogeography

  song.he@kaust.edu.sa
• Chakkiath Paul Antony, Ph.D.

  Research Scientist

  Research Interest: Marine microbiology, Microbial bioinformatics, Marine symbioses, Extremophiles, Bacterial metabolism, Methanotrophs/methylotrophs&...

  chakkiat.antony@kaust.edu.sa
• 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.

  Senior Research Scientist

  Research Interest: Marine Ecology, Ecological Indicators, Environmental Impacts, Integrated Ecosystem Assessment, Biological Networks and Interaction...

  susana.carvalho@kaust.edu.sa
• Nathan Geraldi, Ph.D.

  Research Scientist

  Research Interest: Marine Ecology, Fisheries, Food web interactions, Invasive Species, Anthropogenic impacts

  nathan.geraldi@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
• Darren Coker, Ph.D.

  Research Scientist

  Research Interest: Behavior, Biodiversity, Disturbances, Ecological Processes, Habitat, Marine Ecology, Reef Fishes

  darren.coker@kaust.edu.sa
• Malika Kheireddine, Ph.D.

  Research Scientist

  Research Interest: Bio-optical oceanography, Biogeochemical processes, Long-term changes in phytoplankton dynamics

  malika.kheireddine@kaust.edu.sa
• Vincent Saderne, Ph.D.

  Research Scientist

  Research Interest: Benthic Ecology, Carbonate Chemistry, Biogeosciences

  vincent.saderne@kaust.edu.sa
• Eva Aylagas Martinez, Ph.D.

  Research Scientist

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Benthic community, Metabarcoding, Anthropogenic stressors, Biodiversity characterization 

  eva.aylagasmartinez@kaust.edu.sa

Research Staff

• Aymere Awoke Assayie, Ph.D.

  Laboratory Technician

  Research Interest: Environment, Aquatic Ecology, Water quality, Limnology, Environmental Health, Water and Wastewater treatment, Ecosystem services, ...

  aymere.assayie@kaust.edu.sa
• Alex Kattan

  Research Specialist

  Research Interest: Marine conservation, Coral reef ecology, Movement ecology, Climate change, Marine protected areas, Citizen science

  alexander.kattan@kaust.edu.sa
• Sreejith Kottuparambil, Ph.D.

  Ecotoxicologist

  Research Interest: Ecotoxicology, Flow cytometry, PAM fluorometry, Algal metabolites

  sreejith.kottuparambil@kaust.edu.sa
• Alexandra Coello-Camba, Ph.D.

  Research Specialist

  Research Interest: Marine Ecology, Global Change, Oceanography, Biogeochemistry

  alexandra.camba@kaust.edu.sa
• Alicia Schmidt-Roach

  Laboratory Assistant

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Shark ecology, movement and population genetics 

  alicia.schmidtroach@kaust.edu.sa
• 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
• Reny Devassy

  Research Specialist

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Microphytoplankton taxonomy, Plankton biology

  reny.devassy@kaust.edu.sa
• Tatiana Gromova

  Laboratory Assistant

  Research Interest: Environmental Health and Safety, Research Safety 

  tatiana.gromova@kaust.edu.sa
• Wajitha Jasmine Raja Mohamed Sait

  Laboratory Technician

  Research Interest: Molocular Biology,Genetics, Immunohistochemistry 

  wajitha.rajamohamedsait@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
• Vijayalaxmi Dasari

  Laboratory Technician

  Research Interest: Nutrient and metal analysis 

  vijayalaxmi.dasari@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
• Pu Yin

  Lab Technician

  Research Interest: Marine invertebrates 

  pu.yin@kaust.edu.sa

Postdoctoral Fellows

• Cristina Andres-Barrao, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  Research Interest: Prokaryotes, Extremophiles, Marine ecology, Taxonomy, Genomics, Metagenomics, Transcriptomics, NGS, Data analysis

  cristina.andresbarrao@kaust.edu.sa
• Syed Haleem Shah, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  Research Interest: Phytoplankton Ecology, Carbon Biogeochemistry

  syedhaleem.shah@kaust.edu.sa
• John Majoris, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Behavioral ecology, Biological oceanography, Aquaculture, Coral reef fish, Larval dispersal, Connectivity 

  john.majoris@kaust.edu.sa
• Kashif Nawaz, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  Research Interest: Computational Epigenetics, Heat tolerance, Bioinformatics

  kashif.nawaz@kaust.edu.sa
• Thomas DeCarlo, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  Research Interest: Climate Change, Marine Ecology, Coral Bleaching, Acclimatization, Physical Oceanography 

  thomas.decarlo@kaust.edu.sa
• Laura Gajdzik, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Genetics, Coral reef ecology, Functional diversity, Climate change 

  laura.gajdzik@kaust.edu.sa
• Matteo Callegari, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  Research Interest: Environmental Microbiology, Plant-microbe interaction, Insect-microbe interaction, Microbial ecology of extreme environments, Mang...

  matteo.callegari@kaust.edu.sa
• Octavio Salazar Moya, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  Research Interest: Salinity tolerance, Halophytes, Tissue Tolerance, Saponins

  octavio.salazarmoya@kaust.edu.sa
• Tullia Isotta Terraneo, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  Research Interest: Biodiversity, Evolution, Systematics, Genetics, Taxonomy, Sequencing, DNA, DNA sequencing

  tulliaisotta.terraneo@kaust.edu.sa
• Arun Prasanna Nagarajan, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow 

  Research Interest: Bioinformatics, Transcriptomics, Genomics, Phylogenomics 

  arun.nagarajan@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
• Gregoire Michoud, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  Research Interest: Marine Microbiology, Bioinformatics, Genomics, Extremophiles 

  gregoire.michoud@kaust.edu.sa
• Benjamin C.C. Hume, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  Research Interest: Pyhlogenetics, Coral, Symbiodinium

  benjamin.hume@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
• 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
• 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
• Guoxin Cui, Ph.D.

  Postdoctoral Fellow

  Research Interest: Molecular Biology of Symbiosis, Bioinformatics, Transcriptomics, Genetics

  guoxin.Cui@kaust.edu.sa

Ph.D. Students

• Colleen Campbell

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Marine modeling, GIS, Movement

  colleen.campbell@kaust.edu.sa
• Francesca Giovenzana

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology Coral reef, Benthic invertebrate community, GIS, Geomorphology

  francesca.giovenzana@kaust.edu.sa
• Silvia Vimercati

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Coevolution, Coral reefs, Symbiosis, Biodiversity

  silvia.vimercati@kaust.edu.sa
• Inês Goncalves Raimundo

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine Metagenomics; Marine Microbial Ecology; Microbial Cultivation; Functional and comparative genomics; Blue Biotechnology

  ines.goncalvesraimundo@kaust.edu.sa
• Lucía Pombo Ayora

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Ecosystem functions, Fish ecology

  lucia.pomboayora@kaust.edu.sa
• Nikolaos Papagiannopoulos

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Remote Sensing, Marine Ecology

  nikolaos.papagiannopoulos@kaust.edu.sa
• Saeed Amin

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest:  Marine Ecology, The Red Sea, Bacteria, Archaea, Macroalgae, Bioinformatics, Metagenomics, Next generation sequencing (NGS)

  saeed.amin@kaust.edu.sa
• Shiou-Han Hung

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Materials modeling

  shiou-han.hung@kaust.edu.sa
• Ashwag Asseri

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Global change, Marine ecology

  ashwag.asseri@kaust.edu.sa
• Xinyuan Yang

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine Ecology, Microbial ecology, Mangrove ecosystem microbiology

  xinyuan.yang@kaust.edu.sa
• Afrah Alothman

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Phytoplankton, Red sea 

  afrah.alothman@kaust.edu.sa
• Alan Barozzi

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Microbial communities, Brine Pools, Extreme environemnts 

  alan.barozzi@kaust.edu.sa
• Ananya Ashok

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine Ecology, Environmental pollution, Global Change, Oceanography 

  ananya.ashok@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
• Eman Sabbagh

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Red Sea, Viruses, Heterotrophic nanoflagellates, Heterotrophic bacteria, abundance, flowcytometry

  eman.sabbagh@kaust.edu.sa
• Hana Kanee

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Population genetics, Holobiont 

  hana.kanee@kaust.edu.sa
• Lily Genevier

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Fisheries management, Statistical modelling, Global change biology 

  lily.genevier@kaust.edu.sa
• Lucrezia Celeste Bonzi

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Genomics, Climate Change, Fish Biology 

  lucrezia.bonzi@kaust.edu.sa
• Marcelle Barreto

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Coral reef ecology, Assisted evolution, Ecological genomics, Climate change 

  marcelle.munizbarreto@kaust.edu.sa
• Najwa Al-Otaibi

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus, picoeukaryotes, Heterotrophic Bacteria, Picoplankton, Flow cytometry, Red Sea 

  najwa.otaibi@kaust.edu.sa
• Aislinn Dunne

  PhD Student

  Research Interest: Aquaculture, Water Quality, Marine Ecology and Conservation, Coastal Zone Management

  aislinn.dunne@kaust.edu.sa
• Silvia Arossa

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Coral ecology, Global change biology, Marine pollution, Plastic pollution, Ecotoxicology, 

  silvia.arossa@kaust.edu.sa
• Wally Rich

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Coral ecology, Global change biology, Species interactions

  walter.richiv@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
• Lyndsey Tanabe

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Marine conservation, Movement ecology, Climate change, Coral bleaching, Marine protected areas

  lyndsey.tanabe@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
• Michael Campbell

  Ph.D. Student

  michael.Campbell@kaust.edu.sa
• Rúben Martins da Costa

  Ph.D. Student

  Research Interest: Infection, Functional Microbiology, Symbiosis, Proteomics

  ruben.martinsdacosta@kaust.edu.sa
• Royale Hardenstine

  Ph.D. Student

  royale.hardenstine@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
• 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

Master Students

• Gloria Lisbet Gil Ramos

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Coral reef ecology, Marine ecology, Conservation, Biodiversity, Fish biodiversity, Reef fish, Fisheries

  gloria.gilramos@kaust.edu.sa
• Jessica Menzies

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Molecular biology, Transcriptomics, Nitrogen cycling

  jessica.menzies@kaust.adu.sa
• Anieka Parry

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Applied Statistics, Marine Ecology, Chemical Ecology, Spectroscopy, Cnidarian symbiosis

  anieka.parry@kaust.edu.sa
• Anna Knochel

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Marine conservation, Coral symbioses, Shark and ray ecology, Microbial communities

  anna.knochel@kaust.edu.sa
• Irene A. Salinas Akhmadeeva

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Reef and Fish Ecology, MPAs, Restoration, Socio-ecological Systems

  irene.salinasakhmadeeva@kaust.edu.sa
• Kelly Watson

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Coral Reefs, Symbiosis, Molecular Biology, Ecological Genomics, Climate Change

  kelly.watson.1@kaust.edu.sa
• Kiana Ford

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, Fisheries management, Marine protected areas, Anthropogenic stressors, Marine conservation

  kiana.ford@kaust.edu.sa
• Micaela Justo

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Reef fish, Connectivity, Larval dispersal, Behavioral ecological

  micaelasofia.dossantosjusto@kaust.edu.sa
• Michelle-Nicole Havlik

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Bioacoustics, Marine biology, Coral reef ecology

  michellenicole.havlik@kaust.edu.sa
• Milica Predragovic

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Marine ecology, GIS, MSP

  milica.predragovic@kaust.edu.sa
• Victoria Golding

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Coral reefs, Thermal tolerance in corals, Ecological genomics, Anthropogenic effects, Adaptation

  victoria.golding.1@kaust.edu.sa
• 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
• Migle Konciute

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Molecular biology, Coral symbiosis 

  migle.konciute@kaust.edu.sa
• Morgan Bennett-Smith

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Coral reef ecology, Connectivity, Larval recruitment, Adaptation 

  morgan.bennett-smith@kaust.edu.sa
• Nathalia Delgadillo

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Microbial communities, Deep-sea ecology, Biotechnology, Bioremediation. 

  nathalia.delgadilloordonez@kaust.edu.sa
• Shannon Brown

  Master Student

  Research Interest: Marine invertebrates, Coral reef ecology, Marine biodiversity 

  shannon.brown@kaust.edu.sa

Administration

• Manal S. Bamashmos

  Business Manager

  manal.bamashmos@kaust.edu.sa
• Jin Zhu

  Administrative Assistant

  jin.zhu@kaust.edu.sa
• Seda Gasparyan

  Communications and IT officer

  seda.gasparyan@kaust.edu.sa
• Jassim Sultan

  Laboratory Manager

  jassim.sultan@kaust.edu.sa
• Christine Nelson

  Executive Secretary

  christine.nelson@kaust.edu.sa
• Ronald Cadiz

  Research Integration Analyst

  ronald.cadiz@kaust.edu.sa
• Taskeen Begum

  Research Assistant

  taskeen.begum@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
• Ute Langner

  Geographic Information System Specialist

  Research Interest: Spatial Modeling and Analysis, Scientific Visualization, Relational Database Management, GIS, Ecology

  ute.langner@kaust.edu.sa