Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE)

To accomplish its mission and establish a knowledge and advanced technology platform, the BESE division organizes its research around six focal areas: environmental systems; epigenetics; functional biology; genomics; imaging/structural biology; and marine science.

These research areas build on interdisciplinary competences that are essential for studying the mechanisms through which living organisms and their environments interact, providing opportunities for new technological developments to optimize such interactions to improve the quality of life.

Researchers in BESE focus on topics relevant to the effects of the environment on organisms, the sustainable production of food, the use of high-salinity or poor-quality water, the optimization of energy used in the production of water and food, and the study and preservation of marine and coastal environments.

Research in the BESE division is driven by independent faculty labs and two research centers with which faculty can affiliate to perform applied, goal-oriented research. Centers affiliated with the division include:

Red Sea Research Center (RSRC)
Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC)

In addition, from time to time, the division undertakes additional exploratory and collaborative research initiatives, with current activity in the following areas: desert agriculture; neuro-inspired high-performance computing; and nutrition, metabolism, adaptation and epigenetics.

Division Contacts

Samir Hamdan, Interim Dean
Stefan Arold, Associate Dean

More information is available on the BESE website here.

BESE Programs