Tag Archives: Saudi Arabia

KAUST GLOBAL FELLOWSHIP FOR POSTDOCS

Application Period for Stage 2: 15 November – 15 Januarym 2027

LOCATION: Saudi Arabia

The KAUST Global Fellowship Program attracts and supports outstanding emerging research leaders from around the world, empowering them to build a path towards a fully independent career. The program inspires the next generation of scientists and engineers to address global challenges and create opportunities that benefit humanity.

ELIGIBILITY:

This merit-based program targets excellent postdoctoral researchers with breakthrough ideas that can complement, support, and advance the major research priorities of KAUST.

Applicant’s Eligibility:

For an applicant to be eligible for this Fellowship:

Must have been awarded a Ph.D. degree, within four calendar years – those applying for CALL 2027, must have received their Ph.D. after January 2023 inclusive;

Must expect to complete their Ph.D. before the start of their Fellowship, if Ph.D. is now awarded yet;

Must be ready to move to KAUST to undertake their proposed three-year research project;

Must identify in the application at least one (up to three) potential KAUST faculty members whose research aligns with the proposed work.

People of all nationalities are welcome to apply. They encourage female applications to promote a better gender balance in science and engineering.

Candidates must satisfy all Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requirements to obtain resident status.

Applications are shared with the named faculty for review; only faculty-supported applications advance to the full proposal stage. If you’ve already secured a host, are affiliated with KAUST, or are joining KAUST, name only that one faculty.

Proposal Eligibility:

To be eligible for this Fellowship, the proposal should:

Focus on one or more of the KAUST research missions: Water, Food, Health, Energy, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Red Sea;

Have an outline for a three-year duration;

Follow the budget and financial guidelines of the call;

Use the provided Call 2027 templates for the Concept Note and the Full Research Proposal (by invitation only)

Align with the programs of the KAUST academic divisions: 

Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE)

Biomedical Sciences Division (BioMed)

Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Science and Engineering (CEMSE)

Physical Science and Engineering (PSE)

Two-Stage Application Process – Deadlines

Stage 1 (concept note)

Accepting applications:

1 September – 1 October

Stage 2 (Full Proposal, By Invitation)

Accepting applications:

15 November – 15 January

BENEFIT:

The fellowship offers one of the most competitive funding packages available for early-career researchers.

Successful fellows will receive:

US$75,000 annual living stipend

Up to US$40,000 in dedicated research funding for their project

Three years of fully funded support

Comprehensive medical insurance

On-campus accommodation

Schooling support for up to three children

Relocation allowance

Annual travel assistance

Access to world-class laboratories and research infrastructure

Fellows also benefit from professional development opportunities, including leadership training, mentoring programmes, teaching certificates, and networking with international academic and industry partners.

APPLY

GLOBAL PRIZE FOR INNOVATION IN WATER

Application Deadline: September 30, 2026

LOCATION: Saudi Arabia

The Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) is an international initiative established by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA) to identify, recognize, and accelerate breakthrough innovations addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing the global water sector. The prize aims to honor participants and support pioneers from around the globe.

ELIGIBILITY:

The GPIW is designed to be open, inclusive, and accessible to a broad range of applicants working to advance innovation in the water sector. Applications are welcomed from, among others:

Early-stage startups and venture-backed scale-ups;

Multinational corporations and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs);

Universities, public or private research institutes, and laboratories; – Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and civil society groups;

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), municipal water utilities, and utility consortia; – Individual innovators, research teams, and project teams.

Applicants must ensure that their submission is aligned with at least one Prize track and category and complies with all eligibility requirements set out in these Guidelines.

To preserve the integrity, independence, and impartiality of the Prize, employees, representatives, and members of the GPIW management and delivery teams are not eligible to submit applications. This exclusion includes personnel directly involved in the design, administration, evaluation, governance, or delivery of the Prize within the Saudi Water Authority and The European House – Ambrosetti (TEHA Group).

All applications must be submitted in English and must contain complete, accurate, and truthful information. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they possess all necessary rights, permissions, and authorizations related to the submitted innovation, project, initiative, or nomination. Participation in the GPIW must not infringe any third-party rights, including intellectual property rights, confidentiality obligations, contractual restrictions, or applicable laws and regulations. The GPIW reserves the right to exclude or disqualify any application that is incomplete, misleading, inconsistent with the eligibility requirements, submitted by an ineligible party, or otherwise incompatible with the principles of fairness, transparency, and independence of the Prize.

Applications to the GPIW are submitted online through the official application portal. The application is organized into 8 sections and can be completed at your own pace: your progress can be saved as a draft, allowing you to leave the form and return at any time before the submission deadline. Applications are only considered once formally submitted; saving a draft does not constitute submission.

For more information, visit: https://gpiw.net/auth/terms-conditions

BENEFIT:

The GPIW offers a financial prize purse, dedicated recognitions, and selected piloting support to advance the development, validation, and market adoption of high-potential water innovations. Awards are distributed as follows:

Grand Prizes—USD 100,000 per winner: Two winners in total, one winner from Track A (TRL 1-3) and one winner from Track B (TRL 4-7)

Impact Medals—USD 50,000 per winner: Twelve winners in total, six winners from Track A (TRL 1-3) and six winners from Track B (TRL 4-7)

Special Mentions—non-monetary recognition: Up to 6 winners in total under Track C (TRL 8–9), with up to two recognitions in each category.

APPLY