STEM Internships (Visiting Student Research Program)

The VSR program was nothing short of essential for getting used to the workflow and way of life in KAUST. There is nothing peculiar about either, but it can be jarring for someone travelling for the first time, for example me. It was an absolutely fantastic experience in which I got to know the laboratory I am currently working in, grow immensely as academic, and get ready for the postgraduate life in KAUST. My sincere thanks to everyone involved in this program for organising it. Definitely recommend!

KAUST is a safe and great place to learn and have an international experience. You will work under the supervision of a experienced Professor inside a research group, with people from MSc. to Post-doc level. The university has great resources for you to carry on your research.

As a VSRP, you will have more flexibility to take free days to do activities you enjoy or travel. You will be assigned to a private room with bathroom. The apartment has kitchen as well.

You will easily make friends. Try!

It was overall a very valuable experience. I had the opportunity to work on cutting edge mixed reality and computer graphics technologies. I also had the pleqsure of meeting a lot of culutraly and personally interesting people, as well as many professionals working in the field. The social events were unfortunately quite sparse and at least the current housing situation for visitng students is very poor, because KAUST inn offere no shared kitchen and laundry room. Aside from that the visiting student onboarding office was very heplful.

I loved my experience at KAUST. Everything is taken care of, a lot of support before, during and after the program. I would say an amazing first approach to Saudi Arabia. I would recommend to everyone to enjoy all the facilities, events, activities on campus to meet people and also increase your network. Try to participate as often as you can. It’s also a nice opportunity to try new food and have a taste of Saudi hospitality that is for me, unmatched. Make the most of the available routes from campus to Jeddah to go to different events (Formula 1, concerts, restaurants, malls etc. )

Wonderful experience where I was able go develop a lot of research and academic skills. I was able to find a lot of friends, latino and european friends. The housing was wonderful, and the brst was the food. It was great!
Very recomended.
I would love to go back and keep going with my research since 6 months is not enough sometimes. My principal investigator and my supervisor were wonderful people. They trully help me develop my laboratory skills and analitic mindset.
In the other hand, the architecture of the university was amazing.

- Because I had an excellent relationship with my supervisor professor and all the member of the research group, very kind people.
- It’s a safety place
- good environment.
- high quality of research and facilities to do the experiments.
- really good experience and there is a rich multicultural environment where you could enjoy a lot of activities to represent the interculturality.
- The facilities and help that the university gives you throught the process of going to the university. Example, visa process.

My internship at KAUST was truly exceptional. The university's outstanding facilities, cutting-edge technology, and unwavering support created an excellent environment for personal and professional growth. The comfortable and well-equipped accommodation, access to advanced equipment, and the mentorship of knowledgeable staff and faculty made for a remarkable experience. Furthermore, the university's commitment to diversity, along with enriching extracurricular activities, allowed for meaningful connections and lasting memories.

I was a VSPR intern at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia in 2021. I was part of a project studying the role of the Envelope protein of SARS-CoV-2 as an ion-channelling viroporin in the Laboratory of Cellular Imaging and Energetics. This experience introduced me to new areas of research in neurobiology and electrophysiology and was very rewarding. Furthermore, the campus provided me with a truly welcoming environment. During my time there, I not only had the privilege of learning from an international audience and esteemed scientists, but I also had the opportunity to explore state-of-the-art technologies and facilities. Additionally, the experience was culturally enriching, thanks to the remarkable diversity of the community. I wholeheartedly recommend this experience to fellow students.