KAUST Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026: Fully Funded Postdoc Guide

What is the KAUST postdoctoral fellowship?

KAUST, founded in 2009 on the Red Sea coast in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, is a graduate research university focused on science and engineering. Its flagship support for early-career researchers is the KAUST Global Fellowship Program, a three-year, fully funded postdoctoral fellowship that lets researchers design and lead their own original project instead of simply joining an existing lab.

Unlike a standard postdoc role, where a lab head defines the project, KAUST Global Fellows propose their own research, identify and recruit a KAUST faculty mentor (their Host PI), and run the project independently. The fellowship is deliberately structured as a launchpad toward an independent research career, and it is open to candidates of any nationality.

The KAUST Global Fellowship for postdocs

The KAUST Global Fellowship Program is the university's dedicated postdoctoral scheme. Fellows conduct independent research at KAUST for three years, with a mid-term evaluation at the end of the second year. The program supports proposals that show genuine novelty beyond the applicant's PhD work and align with KAUST's research priorities.

The verified OpportunityNest listing below summarizes the official program details, including the current deadline and required documents.

Funding and benefits

The KAUST Global Fellowship is effectively fully funded. Selected fellows receive:

• Yearly living stipend of USD 75,000
• Research budget of up to USD 40,000 per year
• Free on-campus housing
• Medical insurance
• Schooling support for up to two children
• Relocation and annual travel allowances
• Access to KAUST's state-of-the-art research facilities

The package applies for the full three-year term. Salaries and allowances are set annually by KAUST, so confirm the exact figures for your intake on the official site.

Research areas at KAUST

Fellowship projects sit within one of KAUST's three academic divisions:

Proposals are expected to address one or more of KAUST's research priorities: Health and Wellness, Sustainable Environment and Essential Needs, Energy and Industrial Leadership, and Economies of the Future.

Eligibility requirements

• Degree: a PhD awarded within the past four calendar years, or expected to be completed before the fellowship starts
• Host PI: a confirmed KAUST faculty member who agrees to mentor the project and provides a support letter
• Nationality: open to all nationalities; no age limit
• Research record: a strong publication record, usually at least two publications
• English: fluency in English for communication and writing
• Relocation: ability to relocate to Saudi Arabia and work full-time on the KAUST campus

Note that researchers who have previously been affiliated with KAUST for more than 12 months are generally not eligible. Female researchers and underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply and timeline

1. Identify a KAUST faculty member whose research fits your project and obtain their agreement to serve as Host PI.
2. Prepare your research proposal using the official template, demonstrating novelty beyond your PhD work.
3. Gather your CV, two publications, the Host PI support letter, and contact details for two referees.
4. Create an account on the official portal (kgfp.kaust.edu.sa, run through PlutoEdu) and submit your application in English.
5. Ensure your referees submit their recommendation letters before the deadline.

Timeline: applications typically open on 1 July and close on 15 January. For the current cycle, applications opened on 1 July 2026 and close on 15 January 2027. Selected fellows are usually announced a few months after the deadline and expected to join KAUST within a few months of selection.

Other KAUST postdoc roles

Beyond the Global Fellowship, KAUST continuously recruits postdoctoral researchers for its research centers and labs. These roles are funded directly by research groups and typically offer tax-free salaries, furnished housing, relocation support, and access to the same facilities. They are advertised individually by faculty and on the KAUST careers page, and they follow rolling recruitment rather than a fixed annual deadline.

If your PhD is more than four years old, or if you prefer a defined project within an established team, a lab-based postdoc position may be a better fit than the Global Fellowship.

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