The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals is a newly established department. The department's principal aim is to address challenging issues at the forefront of science and technology while also meeting the demands of the kingdom. Along with offering the graduate program, the MSE department at KFUPM is the first and only department in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region to offer a dedicated undergraduate MSE program. This is an interdisciplinary field that relies on knowledge from many engineering and fundamental scientific disciplines. This enables us to figure out the underlying mechanisms that govern the matter around us to tackle the numerous engineering problems that our society faces. This multidisciplinary approach is instilled in both undergraduate and graduate students through coursework and research.
The study of MSE involves exploring the links between material structure and properties, as well as designing and engineering materials based on those structure-property correlations. Materials science is a highly active area of research that encompasses a broad range of topics such as polymer science, composites, nanomaterials, computational materials science, and so on. Our faculty members are extremely involved in research and have made a commitment to be role models for students. They regularly engage in cutting-edge research to apply these concepts to solve problems in a variety of sectors, including water treatment, membrane design, and solid-state batteries, to mention a few.
Our department's mission is to support the individual development of our exceptional and innovative students so that they can continue to push the field to ever more beneficial breakthroughs. Our students are equipped with the necessary knowledge to understand the material's structure-performance relationship, materials degradation and failure analysis, and a systematic approach to materials selection for a specific application. They obtain hands-on expertise in synthesis, and characterization, as well as experimental design at even the undergraduate level.
The Materials Science and Engineering Department, KFUPM at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals - KFUPM, under the leadership of Dr.Nayef Alsaifi, PhD, successfully hosted an invited seminar titled:
“High-Capacity Ni-rich Cathode Materials for Electric Vehicles”
· December 8, 2025
· Building 4, Room 125
· 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
The seminar explored cutting-edge research on nickel-rich cathode materials designed to significantly enhance the performance of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. By increasing nickel content in layered oxide structures, these materials offer higher energy density, extended driving range, and reduced reliance on cobalt, supporting more cost-effective and sustainable battery technologies.
Speaker: Prof. Yang-Kook Sun
Prof. Yang is one of the world’s leading battery scientists, renowned for his pioneering development of concentration-gradient and core–shell cathode materials. His innovations have been widely adopted by the battery industry, contributing substantially to improvements in EV range, safety, lifespan, and cost efficiency.
The seminar attracted strong participation from faculty members and graduate students and fostered valuable technical discussions on the future of energy storage and electric mobility.
Seminar on Spatially Controlled Crystal Growth
We are excited to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Al-Jubail (AMTPJ), Jubail Energy Services Single Shareholder Limited Liability Company (JESCO), and the Materials Science and Engineering Department, KFUPM. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in strengthening the ties between academia and industry. The MoU outlines a comprehensive framework for joint efforts in research and development, innovation, student engagement, and employment opportunities for MSE graduates.
Read MoreThe Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) department at KFUPM provides students with a world-class education in a cutting-edge research environment. With the support of highly competent faculty, academic facilities, research labs, and collaboration with industry representatives, the university offers BSc, M.Sc., and MX graduate degrees. We welcome ambitious students to enrich and excel in their skills in the field of MSE by associating academically with us. The online admissions application can be accessed through this link: