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THE KGSP

Summer Enrichment Profile: Albaraa Kamal

11/07/2017

For his summer 2017 enrichment project, Albaraa Kamal participated in research at Nagoya University in Nagoya, Japan, following his sophomore year studying chemical engineering at North Carolina State University.  His summer research was with the Kamigaito Lab, focusing on polymer synthesis and precision polymerization. 

Albaraa’s work focused on making an elastomer with high chlorine functionality:

"In order to make it, I started with the polymerization of butyl acrylate, the soft part of the elastomer. After experimenting different conditions for butyl acrylate polymerization, I decided on the one that produced the highest functionality and molecular weight. Copolymerization with styrene, the hard part, was done after that. Several conditions were tested for this step too. I was able to make the elastomer and tested some of its properties after that."

Albaraa notes that opportunity to work with graduate students was a great learning experience, especially within a new international context. 

Research Group
Albarra (bottom row, second from right) with his research group at Nagoya University.

Research Colleagues
Albarra (second from right) with research colleagues.
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STUDENT PROFILE 

KGSP students represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s future scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and thought-leaders. As both individuals and as a community, they reflect the KAUST mission of driving scientific discovery through excellence in education and cutting-edge research, and share a commitment to fostering innovation, economic development, and social prosperity throughout the Kingdom and the world.  

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ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Selection to the KGSP is extremely competitive, and currently by invitation only. Successful applicants are Saudi Arabian students in their final year of high school who demonstrate impressive academic credentials within STEM fields, meaningful extra-curricular achievements, and who share the KAUST ethos of continuous discovery.  Learn more here.

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KGSP ADMINISTRATION

The KGSP is administered by KAUST Academy under the leadership of Dr. Sultan Al-Barakati. KAUST Academy is mandated by KAUST to support the acceleration of Saudi Arabia's knowledge-based economy by providing world class training programs in emerging technologies aligned with Vision 2030. KAUST Academy crafts these unique learning interventions by exporting the intellectual DNA acquired by KAUST for the benefit of the entire Kingdom.