Prof. Derya Baran
Principal Investigator
Dr. Derya Baran Bryant is the Principal Investigator of Omegalab and an Associate Professor at KAUST. Dr. Baran earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the Middle East Technical University (METU-ODTU) in Turkey in 2008 before pursuing her master’s degree in the same field in 2010, working in Prof. Serdar Sariciftci’s labs in Austria. Moving to Germany for her Ph.D. in Material Science and Engineering at Friedrich-Alexander University, Nuremberg, she completed her degree in 2014. Dr. Baran then worked as a Joint-Helmholtz Association Researcher between Imperial College London and the Julich Research Center in Germany before joining KAUST in 2017. Currently, she holds the position of Associate Professor of Material Science and Engineering in the Physical Science and Engineering Division at KAUST.
Professor Baran is also an accomplished entrepreneur, currently serving as CEngO of Red Sea Farms and founding the startup 'iyris.' Her efforts bridge scientific knowledge with real-world solutions, addressing challenges in sustainable food security and energy.
Her contributions have earned her recognition, including being named to the Talented 12 list by C&EN in 2021 and MIT Technology Review's 35 Innovators Under 35 in 2018. In 2022, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Dr. Derya Baran Bryant's impactful journey encompasses academia, entrepreneurship, and a leader in materials science, renewable energy, and innovation.
Education:
PhD, Materials Science & Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nurnberg, Bavaria, Germany, 2014
Master of Science, Chemistry, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, 2019
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, 2008
Professional Profile:
Associate Professor, Materials Science & Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology, Saudi Arabia, 2021-Present
Co-Founder and CEngO of Red Sea-Agritech Company, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology, Saudi Arabia, 2021 - Present
Co-Founder of solar window start-up company – iyris, King Abdullah University of
& Technology, Saudi Arabia, 2018-2021
Assistant Professor, Materials Science & Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology, Saudi Arabia, 2017-2021
Post-doctoral Associate, Jülich Forschungszentrum, Germany, 2016-2017
Post-doctoral Fellow, Imperial College London, Center for Plastic Electronics, United Kingdom, 2015-2016
Post-doctoral Fellow, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nurnberg (FAU), Institute of Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (I-MEET), Germany, 2014-2015
Awards:
Named in the Top Three Women Entrepreneurs developing Tech brands in the
Middle East by Forbes.
Selected as one of the Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN) Talented 12 by American
Chemical Society (ACS).
Selected ambassador for Global Young Academy, the first scholar to represent a Saudi Arabian institution.
Awarded Innovators under 35 by MIT Tech Review on emerging technologies.
Selected to attend the Lindau Nobel Laurate Meeting, nomination by Helmholtz Center HZB Julich.
Recipient of the Helmholtz Association Postdoctoral Research Grant
Received the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nurnberg Women in Engineering Doctoral thesis prize.
Received the Friedrich Alexander University Young Researcher Award.
Received the PhD Scholarship from Bavaria Research Foundation.
Received the European Science Foundation Exchange Grant, Linz, Austria.
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