Are You Applying for KAUST Global Fellowship 2027 for Postdocs in Saudi Arabia?

The KAUST Global Fellowship 2027 for Postdocs in Saudi Arabia is opening applications for international early-career researchers to undertake a three-year research project at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). The fellowship supports research aligned with Water, Food, Health, Energy, Artificial Intelligence and the Red Sea, with applications opening on 1 September 2026.

The KAUST Global Fellowship 2027 is designed for early-career researchers who want to develop an independent research project within KAUST’s research environment in Saudi Arabia.

The fellowship welcomes applicants from all nationalities and encourages applications from women to support greater gender balance in science and engineering.

Selected fellows are expected to relocate to KAUST and undertake a proposed three-year research project with an academic host at the university.

Applicants must identify up to two KAUST faculty members whose research aligns with their proposed project. A host principal investigator (PI) must subsequently support the application before the applicant can be invited to submit the full research proposal.

Research Areas

The proposed project must focus on at least one of KAUST’s identified research missions:

Water
Food
Health
Energy
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The Red Sea

The proposal must have a three-year research outline and comply with the fellowship’s budget and financial guidelines.

Projects should also align with one or more of KAUST’s academic divisions:

Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Science and Engineering (CEMSE), Physical Science and Engineering (PSE), or Biomedical Sciences Division (BioMed).

Qualifications

Education and Eligibility

Applicants must have been awarded a Ph.D. within four calendar years of the application period. For the January 2027 application cycle, applicants must have received their Ph.D. after January 2023 inclusive.

Candidates who have not yet completed their Ph.D. may apply provided they expect to complete the degree before the fellowship starts.

Applicants must also be prepared to relocate to KAUST for the proposed three-year research project and satisfy the applicable Saudi Arabian requirements needed to obtain resident status.

There are no nationality restrictions stated in the eligibility criteria.

Faculty Alignment

Applicants must identify up to two KAUST faculty members whose research aligns with their proposed work.

A Host PI letter is not required during Stage 1. However, securing support from a Host PI is required at a later stage before an applicant can be invited to submit a full research proposal.

Fellowship Research Requirements

The proposed research project must:

Address one or more of KAUST’s six research missions.
Be designed for a three-year period.
Follow the fellowship’s financial and budget requirements.
Use the official Call 2027 templates.
Align with an appropriate KAUST academic division.

Applications must be prepared in English and submitted through the online application system.

Application Process

The KAUST Global Fellowship 2027 application process has two main stages.

Stage 1: Concept Note

Applications for the concept-note stage will be accepted from:

1 September to 1 October 2026

At this stage, applicants do not need a Host PI letter. They must, however, identify up to two suitable KAUST faculty members in the application.

Applicants should submit the required documents through the online application platform before the Stage 1 deadline.

Stage 2: Full Research Proposal

Applicants who obtain Host PI support will be invited to prepare and submit a full research proposal.

Full proposals will be accepted from:

15 November 2026 to 15 January 2027

Applicants should ensure that all required documents are completed and submitted by the relevant cut-off dates.

Required Documents

For Stage 1, applicants must upload:

A recent CV with a publication list, limited to a maximum of four pages.
Up to two selected publications.
The completed KAUST Global Fellowship Concept Note.
Two reference letters.

Applicants and their referees must register on the application platform to access the system and submit the required materials.

KAUST provides official application guidelines, a Concept Note Template, a Full Research Proposal Template and an Application Kit for applicants to review before starting the process.

Support and Research Environment

The fellowship is structured around a substantial independent research project supported by the KAUST research environment and an aligned faculty host.

The requirement to identify faculty members early in the process makes research alignment an important part of preparing an application. Candidates should therefore ensure their proposed project connects clearly with the research activities of the KAUST faculty members they identify.

How to Apply

Applicants should begin by reviewing the official Call 2027 Application Guidelines and the associated templates.

The application process involves:

Confirming that the Ph.D. eligibility requirement is met.
Developing a three-year research concept aligned with a KAUST research mission.
Identifying up to two KAUST faculty members whose research matches the proposed work.
Preparing the CV, selected publications, concept note and references.
Registering on the application platform.
Submitting the complete Stage 1 application between 1 September and 1 October 2026.
Seeking Host PI support if invited to the next stage.
Preparing the full research proposal for the Stage 2 submission period.

Candidates should use the official KAUST fellowship application system and templates rather than relying on third-party application platforms.

Additional Information

The KAUST Global Fellowship 2027 for Postdocs in Saudi Arabia is particularly suited to researchers within four years of completing their Ph.D. who have a strong research proposal connected to KAUST’s priorities in areas such as artificial intelligence, energy, water, food, health or the Red Sea.

The fellowship is international and requires successful fellows to relocate to KAUST for their proposed three-year research project. The application process begins with a concept note, while the full research proposal is submitted only by candidates who progress to the second stage.

The key dates are 1 September 2026, when the call opens; 1 October 2026, the Stage 1 concept-note deadline; and 15 November 2026 to 15 January 2027, when invited applicants can submit full proposals.

Applicants should carefully review the official guidelines, research requirements and Saudi Arabian residency requirements before submitting an application.

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