We are delighted to introduce Dr. Shuvo Datta, Research Scientist, who leads our Mixed Matrix Membrane group. Shuvo brings to our Center years of experience and commitment to develop scalable and economical MOF-membrane based separation technologies.

​Post-docs are sought with experience in the general area of MOFs. The ideal candidate should have strong back ground in chemical synthesis of metal organic frameworks (MOFs). Additional experience with MOF thin film deposition and/or electrochemical testing is a plus.

AMPM Center featured in the third Symposium of the National Academic Talent Development Program (NATDP) held in KAUST Auditorium on Thursday, March 22, 2018. The event was attended by a total of 125 Professors and Scholars from 22 Universities throughout the Kingdom.

Zhijie Chen successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation on March 1, 2018. His thesis entitled " Reticular Chemistry for the Highly Connected Porous Crystalline Frameworks and Their Potential Applications" was well received by committee members Profs. Xixiang Zhang (KAUST), Yu Han (KAUST) and Leonard J. Barbour (University of Stellenbosch).

Materials that normally become damaged inside electron microscopes can now be imaged with atom-scale resolution. To understand how atomic structure impacts biological function and chemical behavior, researchers often turn to high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Many compounds, however, are too sensitive for these microscopes as powerful electron beams can knock out atoms or cause adverse heating. A team from KAUST has now developed a set of tools that can minimize beam damage in HRTEM using low doses of electrons.

AMPM Center Director, Prof. Mohamed Eddaoudi is delighted to announce that Khaled Salama, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, joins AMPM Center. Khaled research expertise will heighten the Center's mission to contribute to a science-based entrepreneurial economy finding toward creative and sustainable solutions for ever-increasing energy security and environmental sustainability.

​Membrane-based gas separations can improve energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact. The latest work led by the AMPM Center Director, Prof. Mohamed Eddaoudi, and his collaborators unveils the successful fabrication and integration of two class of materials, namely MOFs and polymers, into a hybrid membrane system named “Mixed Matrix Membrane” (MMM) with distinctive properties. The presented MMM offers an exceptional performance for two of the most important gas separation processes: the removal of CO2 and H2S from natural gas and the separation of the butane isomers.

A new delivery system for introducing gene-editing technology into cells could help safely and efficiently correct disease-causing mutations in patients.

The system, developed by KAUST scientists, is the first to use sponge-like ensembles of metal ions and organic molecules to coat the molecular components of the precision DNA-editing technology known as CRISPR/Cas9, allowing efficient release of the genome-editing machinery inside the cell.

AMPM Center Professor Yu Han and co-workers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a method that, for the first time, allows researchers to obtain atomic-resolution imaging of electron beam-sensitive materials which are previously considered unsuitable for transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Niveen Khashab is a chemist with a passion for nanomaterials for building ‘miniature machines’ for biomedical, industrial and environmental applications. She designs biodegradable nanodelivery vehicles to carry drugs to specific organs, particle assemblies to deliver genetic material to silence cancer-causing genes, and nanoparticles to inject into wells to bring oil.

​Ali Alansari, a Senior Technical Specialist at AMPM Center, has been recognized for his work at the Functional Materials Design, Discovery & Development (FMD3) Laboratory. Congratulations Ali on winning Individual Lab Safety Award organized by the Health, Safety and Environment Department (HSE) at KAUST.

Humidity control is a vital aspect of air conditioning, but high energy requirements make conventional methods expensive and environmentally damaging. Researchers at KAUST have developed a metal-organic framework (MOF) that, within its range of applications, could control humidity in an eco-friendly and cost-effective way.

Senior executives of SAMREF visited KAUST and AMPM Center to learn more about our research capabilities and potential for collaboration. Mohammad Al-Naghash, President & CEO, headed a large group of 17 executives from all branches of the company. AMPM Center Director, Prof. Mohamed Eddaoudi, welcomed our visitors and led the tour of Center facilities. SAMREF is an equally owned joint venture between Saudi Aramco and ExxonMobil. They own and operate Yanbu Refining Company.

​AMPM Center Prof. Niveen Khashab led 'Women in STEM' debating the role of women in science. This event was held during Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) 2018 was attended by forty people who took an active part in an inspiriting debate. Five women with different backgrounds and shared their stories of attaining excellence in their careers and discussed how mentors helped them along the way.

​Last Friday, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) recognized the accomplishments of Class of 2017, and together with their friends, family, and colleagues supported KAUST graduating students in one of the most special days in their academic trajectory.

Sci-Café is an interactive discussion between KAUST faculty, researchers, students and community members. This event is open to all members of the community to ask questions, discuss science and discover something new! The latest Sci-Café addressed the issue of world energy sources and sustainability. Panelists included Profs. Mohamed Eddaoudi (Director, KAUST AMPM Center), Iain McCulloch (Director, KAUST Solar Center) and Jorge Gascon (Director, KAUST Catalysis Center).

Mohamed Eddaoudi, Director of the Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials (AMPM) Center at KAUST is listed as a Highly Cited Researcher for the fourth year in a row. His research ranks among the top 1% most cited works in his field and during its year of publication, earning the mark of exceptional impact. “It is a great honor to be part of this privileged list once more and since the inception of this new highly cited researcher ranking model”, Prof. Eddaoudi says.

After the hard work of a Ph.D. most graduates have to make a tough choice between a career in academia or big industry. Yevhen Fatieiev chose a different path! Just graduated from Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials (AMPM) Center he looked for new business models based on innovation and joined Scimagine, a startup founded in KAUST.

​Congratulations to Dr. Mohamed Amen Hammami! Amen, as he likes to be called, successfully defended his thesis 'Engineering of Mixed Matrix Membranes for Water Treatment, Protective Coating, and Gas Separation' supervised by Prof. Niveen Khashab. His research is focused on Mixed Matrix Membranes, particularly on design and fabrication of nano-fillers to impart target functionality to the membrane. Applications include gas separation, water treatment, and protective coatings.

AMPM Center is committed to translating research to industry in Saudi Arabia. One way we do this is by advanced education of industry staff who take their learning and apply it in their companies to create innovation and economic benefit. An outstanding example is our most recent PhD graduate, Saudi national Nasser Alaslai. Saudi Aramco supported him, after 10 years' work experience, to join Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials (AMPM) Center to undertake graduate research into an important industry problem: removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from natural gas which comes out of the ground as a mixture of valuable methane with nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water, hydrogen sulphide and other contaminants. Now Nasser will return to Saudi Aramco and implement what he has learned and discovered himself in research.