Since its establishment in 2007, Khalifa University has evolved into a comprehensive research powerhouse, comprising three colleges, three cutting-edge research institutes, 20 research centers, and 36 departments that collectively span numerous scientific, engineering and medical disciplines. Students at Khalifa can pursue diverse undergraduate and postgraduate programs across disciplines that offer innovation, academic excellence and the ethical foundations necessary to excel in an ever-evolving world.
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Research excellence
But what really sets Khalifa University apart is its dedication to pioneering research. “Khalifa University is ideal for young researchers seeking a dynamic and supportive academic environment that values research, innovation and excellence,” says Ehab El-Sadaany, director of the university’s Advanced Power and Energy Center (APEC).
Research at the university focuses on fostering collaboration with industry partners and government agencies. Early-career researchers find themselves immersed in groundbreaking projects that span a myriad disciplines, such as sustainable energy solutions, space exploration, healthcare innovations and artificial intelligence breakthroughs. They will work with some of the world’s brightest minds, contributing to research that can shape the future.“We provide advising and career services, nurture a vibrant campus community through numerous extracurricular opportunities, and prioritize student well-being through accessible resources and wellness initiatives,” says El-Sadaany. Moreover, KU focuses on fostering collaboration between researchers, industry partners and government agencies, taking a holistic approach that covers effective marketing and student-centric support systems.
A holistic approach to sustainability
Sustainability lies at the heart of the university’s initiatives, exemplified by the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC). This project has focused on developing sustainable aviation fuel from salt-tolerant plants called Salicornia. The consortium, which was established in 2011 in collaboration with Etihad Airways, Boeing, Honeywell United Oil Products, General Electric, Safran, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Refining, and Bauer Resources, is externally funded and aims to transform the aviation industry.
“Our research has focused on developing and scaling biomass to produce sustainable aviation fuel using salt water and desert land,” says Alejandro Rios Galvan, Chief Research Scientist and director of the center. The Seawater Energy and Agriculture System involves aquaculture, halophyte agriculture and halophyte agroforestry. Seawater is brought inland to the aquaculture farm to produce seafood and nutrient-rich saltwater. Salicornia plants, grown in highly saline conditions, yield oil-rich seeds containing about 30% vegetable oil. After refining the oil, the team creates a synthetic paraffinic kerosene, which can be blended with conventional aviation fuel. As seawater flows back to the ocean, it passes through the agroforestry subsystem where mangrove trees absorb nutrients and store carbon dioxide. The trees are harvested for biomass to produce biomethane or ethanol, further contributing to sustainable fuel production.
In 2019, the consortium conducted a proof-of-concept commercial flight using a blend obtained from the first seed harvest. The flight travelled from Abu Dhabi to Amsterdam, showcasing the potential of converting fish waste to irrigate desert plants and produce jet fuel. “This holistic approach not only generates food and energy but also cleans water and air,” Rios says.
The team is now working on scaling up the operation to build a demonstration-scale facility with commercial fish farming and larger Salicornia fields. The SBRC is further being transformed into Air-CRAFT, or the UAE Centre for Renewable and Advanced Fuel Technologies for Aviation. This first-of-its-kind initiative will bring together entities across the value chain: industrial policymakers, aviation regulators, fuel producers, academia and researchers, aircraft and powerplant manufacturers, and airline operators.
In 2022, Khalifa University secured funding from ASPIRE, the technology transition arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council, to establish the ASPIRE Research Institute on Sustainability. “There is a tremendous need for sustainable energy technologies to fight climate change, and successfully developing such technologies will have a significant impact globally,” says Senior Director Samuel Mao.
The institute is organized into research themes, each led by a senior faculty member who mentors early-career scientists. External experts review the program annually, enabling early-career scientists to join when their expertise matches specific research needs.
Collaboration is at the heart of ARI’s research program. Graduate students selected for industry-related projects typically work on research aligned with a company’s practical innovation needs. They collaborate closely with the company’s technology manager, who also serves as an external member of the students’ thesis committee, Mao explains.
The institute has developed an AI-enabled software tool called Stability Assessment, Visualization, and Enhancement to help integrate renewable energy into the country’s power system. The tool is now used by the Abu Dhabi Transmission and Dispatch Company and the Emirates Water and Electricity Company to plan future expansions and assess power grid stability.
Pioneering carbon capture and hydrogen technologies
With local and international partners, Khalifa University founded the Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and Hydrogen (RICH) in 2019 to address the challenges of decarbonization and clean energy. “I envision RICH as a pivotal hub for research, innovation, technology transfer, education and awareness in these fields,” says centre director Lourdes Vega, a seasoned expert with more than 25 years of experience in carbon dioxide and hydrogen research. “Our mission is to help nations achieve net-zero strategies and promote economic diversification,” she explains.
Research at RICH is multidisciplinary, encompassing materials chemistry, sustainable fuels, membranes, process modelling and optimization, biochemistry, fuel cells, and life-cycle assessment.
“We are aware that science and technology are evolving across all fields, but, when it comes to the role of carbon dioxide and hydrogen in achieving net-zero emissions and mitigating climate change, the race for market-ready solutions is extremely competitive,” Vega says. To maintain their innovative edge, the team closely monitors global scientific and technological progress.
“We work hand in hand with government and industry partners, exploring new ideas and seeking collaborations in these areas,” Vega says. Projects between RICH and local companies include collaborating with Emirates Steel Arkan on carbon dioxide use and exploring photocatalytic water-to-hydrogen conversion with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. The center has also partnered with ADNOC on various initiatives related to carbon capture and storage, as well as hydrogen production.
Addressing challenges in catalysis and separations
Launched in 2018, the Centre for Catalysis and Separation (CeCaS) serves as a strategic hub, tackling emerging challenges in catalysis and separations, facilitating circular economy initiatives and advancing energy transition. “CeCaS is already contributing to the university’s vision and mission in the fields of advanced materials, energy and fuels. We are generating knowledge and technologies for key challenges, such as alternative fuels and decarbonization,” says founding director Kyriaki Polychronopoulou, a specialist in hydrogen production as well as catalyst and porous materials development for carbon dioxide separation through experimental and computational research.
The centre has established partnerships with research teams globally, including the University of Surrey and University College London in the United Kingdom and the University of Western Macedonia in Greece. “One notable, collaborative project focuses on converting carbon dioxide into valuable products, resulting in numerous high-impact publications, patent filings and the inception of a spin-off company,” Polychronopoulou says.
Pioneering water treatment technologies
The Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT) is another centre dedicated to pioneering research, education and strong industry partnerships.
Under the leadership of director Shadi Hasan, an expert in water treatment, desalination and membrane technology, CMAT has initiated several collaborative projects on topics ranging from sustainable water desalination to water disinfection via solar photocatalysis. Innovative technologies include recovering lithium from desalination brines using three-dimensional printed modules, capturing freshwater from the atmosphere using hydrogels and developing multifunctional catalysts for water remediation.
“Together, we will drive innovative and impactful solutions, such as membrane-based technologies, to address the region’s water-related challenges,” Hasan says.
Success stories include breakthroughs in membrane technology innovations, energy-efficient desalination methods, and the implementation of advanced water treatment technologies. Notably, researchers at the center have recently created nanostructured membranes that remove pollutants and nutrients from wastewater highlighting CMAT’s significant impact on industry and the environment.Focusing on long-term strategic priorities that address regional and global challenges through the engagement of world-class researchers and facilities, Khalifa University’s interdisciplinary research units are driving the university’s bid for global leadership frontier research and education.