Renato Morais appointed Assistant Professor at KAUST

Branco Weiss Fellow Renato Morais has been appointed Assistant Professor of Marine Science in the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia. Renato Morais studies the ecological processes that sustain the productivity of coral reef ecosystems. His research focuses on how ocean currents transport nutrients and plankton from the open ocean to coral reefs, shaping reef health and supporting productive fish communities. By combining field observations with statistical and mechanistic modeling, his work aims to clarify the links between ocean dynamics and reef ecosystems – knowledge that is crucial for marine conservation, fisheries management, and sustainable coastal development. Before joining KAUST, Morais conducted research on coral reef systems across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans, including the Great Barrier Reef, Indonesia, and the Red Sea. After completing his PhD at James Cook University in Australia, he continued his work as a Branco Weiss Fellow at the Centre for Island Research and Environmental Observatory (CRIOBE), part of Paris Sciences and Letters University in France. During his Branco Weiss Fellowship, Morais has investigated how external ocean inputs influence reef ecosystem functioning, challenging the traditional view that reef productivity is driven primarily by internal biological processes. His research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of coral reef resilience and helps identify priority areas for conservation.

Read the news on KAUST website

Faculty profile