​Professor Stein Kaartvedt earned his Ph.D. in marine biology at the University of Bergen, Norway. He was affiliated with the University and the Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, until moving to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA, for a post-doctoral scholarship. Kaartvedt thereafter became a professor at the University of Oslo, Norway, where he also has served as Chairman for the Biology Department. Kaartvedt was founding Faculty at KAUST, and spent 5 years as a professor in marine science at the Red Sea Research Center, also acting as associate director at the center. He is currently a professor of marine science at the University of Oslo.