KGSP Student Mayar Alhelaili Leveraged the KGSP Alumni Network on Path to Award-Winning Research

This past February, the entire KGSP program including current students, some alumni, KAUST Leadership and Faculty, and Kingdom dignitaries gathered in Chicago for the annual KGSP Convocation. This is a chance to network within the KGSP and KAUST communities and promote the work of students and faculty.

Mayar Alhelaili (Cohort 14), a junior at the University of Southern California who is majoring in Chemical Engineering, was recognized as an award recipient at the KGSP enrichment poster fair. Mayar’s experience was made possible through the KGSP alumni network, demonstrating the potential value of the KGSP community for students as they build their CV experiences.

“It reinforced my interest in energy and ignited an interest in electrochemistry, equipping me with valuable skills that will shape my future academic and career pursuits.” – Mayar Alhelaili

^{Mayar Alhelaili presenting at the 2025 Convocation Enrichment Fair}

During the KGSP Enrichment Fair at Convocation, Mayar presented this research and her experience to her peers, KAUST faculty, and distinguished guests in a poster presentation. For Mayar the opportunity to present the research “was a valuable experience as an undergraduate [...] and an important steppingstone as I hope to build on this experience by sharing research at future conferences and continue to grow as an aspiring researcher.”

When reflecting on her experiences over the past year she expressed her immense gratitude to the Liu Group in having the opportunity and giving her confidence in her work to present the research to a larger audience. She also encourages her fellow KGSP students “to start early, stay open to different opportunities, and leverage the KGSP network.”

"Many great positions come through mentors, professors, or alumni within the KAUST network, so don’t hesitate to reach out and ask questions." – Mayar Alhelaili

^{Mayar receiving her award from KGSP Leadership at Convocation 2025}

During the summer of 2024, Mayar was an undergraduate research assistant at the Liu Group in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB) Department at Harvard University. This visiting research opportunity was made possible through the outreach of KGSP alumnus Abdulrahman Alfraidi, a PhD student in the Liu Group who knew the quality of KGSP students and partnered with the KGSP enrichment team to reach KGSP applicants. With this prestigious placement Mayar shared that “the KGSP network played a pivotal role in connecting me to this opportunity. My mentor, a KGSP alumnus, was seeking an undergraduate student for the summer.”

“KGSP fosters a strong academic and professional community where alumni actively support and guide current students. This experience is a testament to the strength of that network and how meaningful it can be.” -Mayar Alhelaili

In the research assistant role, Mayar worked on an electrochemical CO₂ capture project. As Mayar describes the work, she “focused on redox-active organic molecules - compounds that can reversibly undergo reduction and oxidation. These molecules have great potential for CO₂ capture, but a key challenge is their high oxygen sensitivity when reduced, making them impractical for real-world applications where oxygen is present, such as in air or flue gas. Our research aimed to improve their stability against oxygen to enhance their efficacy and practicality. This experience deepened my understanding of electrochemical systems and chemical synthesis.”

^{Mayar Alhelaili (second row from left second in from back) with the Liu Group at a dinner together}