For my bachelor’s studies at King Abdulaziz University, I chose microbiology as my minor field, which broadened my perspective on life’s diversity through the study of diverse taxa, their distinct characteristics, and their critical roles in ecosystems. During my undergraduate studies, I developed a strong interest in evolutionary biology, which ultimately led me to pursue graduate research in ecological genomics.

As a master’s student at KAUST under the guidance of Prof. Manuel Aranda, I conducted research focusing on the genetic determinants of skeletal variation in the Red Sea coral Platygyra daedalea and its population genetic structure. I developed high-throughput phenotypic screening methods using Micro-CT 3D reconstruction and conducted a pilot genome-wide association study (GWAS) that identified significant genetic associations with several skeletal traits.

Now, as a PhD student at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), I aim to further grow as a researcher while continuing to explore coral genomics to deepen our understanding of coral biology and apply these findings to support their conservation and resilience in a changing environment.