Are you a new postdoc at KAUST? Welcome!
There are more than 500 other postdocs and plenty of resources to help you out with research, career development, and many other issues.
OPRA and HR organize a variety of orientation events several times a year for newly arrived postdocs. You will receive emails to register and attend these orientations and we are encouraging you to participate as soon as possible after arriving at KAUST.
Current KAUST postdocs and researchers can access the University's policy page. Policies specific to postdocs and researchers are located under the classification Research. Direct links to frequently requested policies are listed here: Policies and Procedures.
If you are unable to find the answer to a specific contract or policy question, please contact the HR Helpdesk.
The “Welcome to KAUST” orientation has 2 phases. As part of phase 1 (pre-arrival), welcome letters are sent to all newly hired expectant arrivals who are offered to connect to a buddy (community member). Upon registering their consent, the relevant team makes the connections. In phase 2 (post-arrival) there is a bi-weekly orientation at the Community HUB in Discovery Square which is visible to the public on the CL Calendar once confirmed. Lastly, Community Life organizes monthly dinners hosted by the Vice President for Community Life. These orientations are addressed to new hires and their families (including spouses and kids).
Takes place every 3rd Tuesday of the month. This orientation provides guidance on what to learn, do, and try in your first 30 to 90 days in KAUST. It’s also an opportunity to join our professional community of KAUSTIANS and get answers to the most common questions asked by new team members.
This is a half-day monthly orientation (it is not offered during the Ramadan month, June and July) aiming to provide newly arrived postdocs and researchers with information, support, and connections to help them effectively transition into their new research roles at KAUST. During the orientation, newly arrived Postdocs and Researchers are introduced to the broad services and resources available at KAUST that will help them conduct their research during their postdoc tenure and learn about the available professional development opportunities. The orientation includes presentations from OPRA, KAUST Library, KAUST Innovation, Faculty Research Support, and an introductory workshop on Ethics and Integrity at KAUST by the Research Compliance team.
Takes place every 4 months. The primary objective is to assist new employees in gaining a more profound understanding of the bigger picture, initiatives, and their impact on a local and global level.
Alumni can volunteer to build networks, develop skills, and mentor others. Send an email to opra@kaust.edu.sa to get involved.
Join our KAUST Alumni network!
After leaving KAUST, postdoc alumni can access their @kaust.edu.sa email for one year. After this period, the account will be disabled, and you will need to use your @alumni.kaust.edu.sa or personal email for future communication. We encourage you to use this transition time to update your contacts with your new email, set up an auto-response, and enable email forwarding to ensure a smooth transition.
Starting January 2025, KAUST postdoc alumni will transition to a new email format: example@alumni.kaust.edu.sa, replacing the current @kaust.edu.sa address. This change aligns with data privacy guidelines and distinguishes alumni from active KAUST users.
Your new email account will be created in batches, and you will receive an activation email once it's ready. The existing @kaust.edu.sa email will remain accessible until June 30, 2026, after which it will be permanently deactivated. While emails, contacts, and calendar data will migrate to the new Microsoft 365 account, Google Drive data will not transfer and will be deleted by June 30, 2026. Please ensure you back up important files before this date. The new platform will provide 15GB of email storage to support your continued connection with KAUST.
If you haven’t received a migration notification by June 30, 2025, contact kems@kaust.edu.sa.
At KAUST, we offer a variety of programs designed to support postdocs and researchers in their professional and personal growth. These programs provide additional mentorship and career opportunities that complement their research roles.
Mentoring Program: This initiative is designed to enrich the postdoctoral experience by offering postdocs the chance to connect with faculty or other professionals beyond their primary supervisor. Through these interactions, postdocs can gain guidance and support in various aspects of career advancement and personal development.
In-Kingdom Career Launch Program: This program helps postdocs and researchers explore potential employment opportunities within Saudi Arabia’s academic, industrial, and research sectors. For more information, please reach out to leap@kaust.edu.sa.
According to KAUST policy, postdoctoral researchers who wish to engage in formal teaching duties or other occupations must first obtain a written recommendation from their faculty supervisor and approval from the responsible Dean. KAUST offers various teaching and mentoring opportunities for postdocs and research scientists, providing valuable avenues for professional growth and academic engagement:
Harvard Higher Education Teaching Certificate: OPRA offers this course twice a year to a select group of postdocs and research scientists, nominated by their PIs, to enhance their teaching skills and knowledge in higher education.
KAUST Academy: Postdocs and research scientists can participate in fee-for-service activities under the KAUST Academy, subject to approval from their manager and the corresponding Dean. These services are compensated separately from their current salary, provided the total number of classes taught per academic year does not exceed two (with one course equating to three micro-credential classes). Postdocs and researchers may serve as main instructors or teaching assistants, provided their field of expertise aligns with the course needs.
KAUST - TKS Partnerships & Collaborations: For current partnerships and collaborations, visit the KAUST Entrepreneurship Center (KEY) website for more information. You may also reach out to TKS to explore any needs for mentoring and/or contribution.
Other opportunities outside of KAUST may include:
Online Teaching Platforms: Platforms like Coursera and edX offer opportunities to create and teach specialized courses, providing flexibility and exposure.
Guest Lecturing: You can offer guest lectures, workshops, or training sessions at other universities, either in-person or virtually, based on your expertise.
Professional Conferences: Running workshops or presenting at conferences provides platforms for teaching and sharing expertise.
These opportunities allow postdocs and researchers to engage in impactful teaching, mentorship, and collaborative projects while continuing to develop their research careers.
KAUST offers a variety of resources and opportunities, provided by departments beyond OPRA, to support the professional development of postdocs and researchers. From training on equipment and startup support to access to valuable networks and seminars, these offerings are designed to enhance your academic and entrepreneurial journey.
Here are some resources to educate yourself on how to select a postdoctoral appointment:
National Postdoctoral Association Resources
Finding the “Perfect Postdoc” for You by Carol Manahan
“Questions to Ask When Considering Postdoc Positions” by Nicholas Schade, PhD
Words of Advice: choosing the right lab for your post-doctoral fellowship
Introduce yourself via a brief cover letter or email. Include:
Research Scientists advance knowledge in their field through research, experiment design, methodology development, and peer-reviewed publications. A PhD in science/engineering with relevant expertise is required.
Senior and Principal Research Scientists may act as PIs or co-PIs on external grants, co-supervise students, and sit on thesis committees (if permitted by the program). Junior Research Scientists (R3-R4) may serve as key personnel or co-investigators on grants.
Appointments are fixed-term (1–3 years) and funded by KAUST faculty. Senior and Principal Research Scientists undergo review by the Scientist and Engineer Review Committee (SERC) but are not on a faculty track. Assistant Professors cannot hire Research Scientists. Positions end with funding termination or faculty departure.
Research Scientists range from senior Postdoc-equivalent roles to Principal Research Scientists (akin to full professors without teaching). Promotions are based on exceptional performance, PI recommendation, and approval from the Dean, SERC, or VPR.
Research Technicians support university research by performing technical tasks, offering expertise, and developing methodologies. They are appointed on fixed-term contracts (1–3 years) and funded by KAUST faculty, with appointments ending upon the faculty member’s departure or loss of funding.
A bachelor's or master's degree in science/engineering with relevant expertise is required. Promotions to R3 follow a technical career path based on experience, expertise, and contributions to translational research, subject to PI recommendation and Dean approval.
Performance is reviewed annually by the faculty PI.
Staff Scientists/ Engineers at KAUST support core labs, major facilities, and shared tech platforms. They provide specialized technical expertise, optimize procedures, develop methodologies, and oversee lab operations, including equipment maintenance, safety protocols, and user training.
They may design and conduct experiments, analyze data, and publish findings in collaboration with faculty. Those in shared service roles may foster partnerships and contribute to translational research.
Appointments range from fixed-term (1–5 years) to permanent, with salary covered by core labs or VPRO funds. Annual performance reviews determine potential promotions based on demonstrated expertise and impact.
L3 - L5 Staff Scientists/ Engineers require a PhD degree. O1–O2 Scientists/ Engineers require at least a bachelor's degree with relevant expertise. Exceptional cases may be promoted to L3 based on experience and contributions to transnational activities.
FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS
POSTDOC VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
To date, the postdoc population at KAUST does not have any ongoing organized mechanism to represent and broadly provide feedback to the University departments.
If you are interested in participating in the formation and operation of a Postdoc Association at KAUST or have an idea for an event or activity for postdocs and/or researchers, you may contact us at opra@kaust.edu.sa and we can discuss options for support!