Job Purpose
The KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative (KCRI) is a large-scale coral reef restoration program in the Red Sea in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). KCRI was established in 2021 and is funded by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), a world-class graduate research university in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. The initial KCRI restoration project will take place at Shushah Island, in partnership with NEOM, a region in northwest Saudi Arabia that is being sustainably developed from the ground up with the world's most advanced technologies to redefine how people live, work, and play. is the world's largest coral restoration effort, aimed at restoring and conserving the coral reef around Shushah Island in the Red Sea.
A critical aspect of this project is the Digital Twin Platform, which serves as a comprehensive data-driven model of the coral reef ecosystem. This digital twin combines physical, environmental, and biological data to monitor the health of the reef, evaluate restoration efforts, and inform project planning. It will also be used as an educational tool and a platform for scientific collaboration, enabling more efficient data collection and visualization of coral restoration progress.
The Digital Twin Lead will oversee the development, implementation, and management of the digital twin platform, which models the complex dynamics of the coral reef ecosystem at the Red Sea. This individual will work closely with marine scientists, conservationists, and engineers to integrate data from various sources and ensure that the digital twin becomes a key tool for both research and restoration efforts. This role will play a vital part in revolutionizing coral restoration by ensuring the coral reef ecosystem is effectively modelled and monitored, using cutting-edge technology to maximize restoration success.
This role will be a part of KCRI's Monitoring, Visualization, and Database Management Team, but will work across all project teams to aid in data continuity across the project.
Major Accountabilities
- Lead the creation and ongoing development of the digital twin system, integrating biological, environmental, and physical data from various sources (e.g., sensors, monitoring tools, remote imaging).
- Develop timelines, deliverables, and plans (communication and execution plans) to ensure all relevant project components are completed.
- Identify cyberinfrastructure needs for the digital twin and facilitate creating the best path forward for storage, processing, and serving data.
- Collaborate with marine scientists to capture relevant data for modeling ecosystem behaviors and to refine restoration techniques.
- Ensure the digital twin's accuracy by consistently updating it with real-time data on coral health, environmental conditions, and restoration progress.
- Use data visualization techniques to provide actionable insights for scientists and stakeholders.
- Manage a cross-functional team of data scientists, software engineers, and marine biologists to maintain and expand the digital twin system.
- Coordinate with other teams working on coral propagation, nursery operations, and field monitoring to streamline data flow.
- Serve as a point of contact for external collaborators and scientific communities developing and utilizing the digital twin for research and education.
- Attend and contribute to meetings with position related project collaborators
- Support the Monitoring, Visualization, and Database Management Team by attending team meetings, meeting deliverable deadlines, staying up to date with assigned tasks, and communicating outcomes where relevant (e.g., seminars, conference, etc...)
Person Requirements
Competencies
- Strong experience in data integration, large complex systems, and simulation.
- Expertise in data visualization including platforms and tools.
- Strong understanding of AI and machine learning techniques.
- Works well in a fast-paced and diverse team environment yet can progress individually on tasks
- Pays close attention to detail
- Excellent communication skills to convey complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Excellent English written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to be adaptable in challenging and remote environments that will be developing during the life of the project
- Have a practical/engineering mindset to solve problems at the right level of complexity
- Ability to organize workload, adapt quickly to change, and deliver under the pressure of deadlines
Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Computer Science, Data Science or a related field, with a focus on large systems modeling and digital twin technologies
Experience
- 5 years of experience working in relevant field
- Familiarity with marine ecosystems and coral reef biology is a plus
- Leadership skills in managing cross-disciplinary teams
- Management of large datasets
- Long days in extreme marine environments
- Multi-cultural working environment
