World-class
undergraduate programs
Unsurpassed
pre-professional
opportunities
Immersive study
abroad experience
Committed advisors
A vibrant academic
community
Cultural experience
Access to KAUST’s
premier faculty and
resources
The opportunity to
contribute to KAUST’s
bold global mission
THE KGSP

Student Spotlight: Rawan Alshehri

Rawan Alshehri, a Sophomore at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and a recipient of the KAUST Gifted Student Program, shines as an emerging leader both within KGSP and at her home institution.  She began her KGSP journey as a direct-to-undergraduate admission in 2017, and has excelled academically in her first three semesters of her rigorous program studying chemistry. 

After her freshman year, Rawan secured a summer research position at Emory with Ph.D. Candidate Siying Cen.  The purpose of the research addressed testing to see if the aggregation of amyloid peptides, which cause Alzheimer's disease could have been caused by a bacteria that is found in the gut.  This experience provided Rawan with hands-on research experience and serves as a foundation for her future opportunities.

As a result of her outstanding academic achievements, Rawan is serving others now as a Teaching Assistant for CHEM 202L - Principles of Reactivity Lab.  Rawan is thriving in the position while also managing her own demanding coursework, demonstrating a commendable ambition to spread her passion for chemistry to others.

Rawan’s career ambition is to become a university professor; her academic achievements, research, and peer support are setting her up for success in reaching her goal.

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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 the Office of Strategic National Advancement at KAUST, under the direction of Vice President & Senior Associate to the President, Dr. Najah Ashry. Strategic National Advancement directs the university's strategy to serve Saudi Arabia's transformational priorities: Through initiatives in young talent and Saudi workforce development, social responsibility, and national engagement, the Office contributes to a thriving innovation ecosystem by building knowledge capacity, creating opportunities, and strengthening impact.