Faculty Information

SKKU Professor Tae-Youn Park, “Does Pay Transparency Reduce Wage Inequality?” (HBR)

SKKU Professor Tae-Youn Park, “Does Pay Transparency Reduce Wage Inequality?” (HBR) A study by Professor Tae-Youn Park of the SKKU Business School, examining the implications of pay transparency policies for the labor market, has been published online in the Harvard Business Review (HBR), a leading practitioner-oriented outlet in the field of business and management. The HBR article is based on joint research conducted by Professor Tae-Youn Park of Sungkyunkwan University, Professor Alice Lee of Cornell University, and Professor Sungyong Chang of Cornell University. This HBR article is based on the forthcoming academic paper to be published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. In recent years, a growing number of countries, including the United States, have adopted and expanded pay transparency policies to reduce information asymmetry in the labor market and address unfair wage inequality, such as gender pay gaps. However, most policies focus only on whether pay information is disclosed, without providing clear guidelines on the appropriate width of disclosed pay ranges. As a result, substantial variation in pay ranges has emerged across firms even for the same job. For example, for the same software engineer position in California, Tesla posts a salary range of $83,000 to $418,000, whereas Uber offers a much narrower range of $174,000 to $194,000. Drawing on multiple studies, including analyses of approximately 10 million job postings, Professor Park and his coauthors find that wider posted pay ranges are associated with a lower proportion of female applicants. This pattern can be explained by the fact that wider ranges signal greater uncertainty in potential compensation, even when the midpoint of the range is identical. On average, female applicants—who tend to exhibit higher levels of risk aversion—are more likely to apply to positions with narrower pay ranges. These differences at the application stage carry over into the salary negotiation stage. Applicants who choose positions with narrower pay ranges tend to have lower expectations for salary increases compared to those who apply to positions with wider ranges. Empirically, they also request approximately $3,600 less in salary. Such initial pay differences may accumulate over time through promotions, bonuses, and future salary growth, potentially leading to persistent long-term wage gaps. In other words, a preference for narrower pay ranges driven by risk aversion may inadvertently contribute to widening gender pay inequality. Importantly, the research also shows that this issue can be mitigated through simple informational interventions. When pay ranges are accompanied by additional information—such as typical starting salaries and the criteria used to determine pay (e.g., experience and skills)—the gender gap in application rates decreases, and differences in negotiation behavior across pay range conditions are significantly reduced. Based on these findings, Professor Park emphasizes that “firms should go beyond merely disclosing pay information and provide meaningful context to applicants,” and that “policymakers should take these considerations into account when designing pay transparency regulations.” This research was supported by the Sungkyunkwan University Academic Research Support Program (Samsung Research Fund).

2026-03-24

Revealing the Origin of Polarity Inversion in Polymer Semiconductors

Revealing the Origin of Polarity Inversion in Polymer Semiconductors - A key insight into next-generation flexible electronics and thermoelectric devices ▲ (From left to right) Prof. Boseok Kang (Sungkyunkwan University), Hoimin Kim (Ph.D. candidate), Prof. Yun-Hi Kim (Gyeongsang National University), Landep Ayuningtias (Ph.D. candidate), and Prof. Han-Sol Lee (Gachon University) A research team led by Prof. Boseok Kang at Sungkyunkwan University has uncovered the origin of polarity inversion—a long-standing phenomenon in polymer semiconductors that occurs only in certain materials—attracting significant attention. The National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) announced that the team, in collaboration with Prof. Yun-Hi Kim (Gyeongsang National University) and Prof. Han-Sol Lee (Gachon University), has elucidated the mechanism behind polarity inversion in polymer semiconductors. This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) of Korea and the NRF, and was published online on February 15 in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. Polymer semiconductors are considered key materials for next-generation electronics due to their lightweight, flexibility, and solution processability, enabling low-cost fabrication via printing or coating techniques. It has been reported that increasing the doping level in polymer semiconductors can induce polarity inversion, where charge transport switches from p-type to n-type. This phenomenon enables both p-type and n-type behavior within a single material, simplifying device structures and improving manufacturing efficiency. However, polarity inversion has been observed only in a limited number of polymers, and the fundamental reason why it occurs in some systems but not others—despite similar doping conditions—remains unclear. To address this, the research team systematically compared polymer semiconductors with different molecular structures and investigated the conditions required for polarity inversion. They found that polarity inversion occurs only when the amount of dopant absorbed into the polymer film exceeds a critical threshold. Beyond this level, dopant-derived anions interact strongly with the polymer, altering charge transport behavior and inducing a transition from p-type to n-type conduction. In contrast, when dopant uptake is insufficient, polarity inversion does not occur. These results reveal that polarity inversion is not determined solely by the doping process itself, but by the polymer’s molecular structure, which governs dopant uptake and polymer–dopant interactions. This study provides a systematic explanation for why polarity inversion appears only in certain polymers and offers important design guidelines for enabling controllable polarity switching or stable n-type behavior in polymer semiconductors. The researchers note that further studies are needed to explore a broader range of dopant systems and practical device conditions. Prof. Boseok Kang commented, “The current device performance is still at an early stage, and further improvements will require optimization of both molecular design and device architecture.” ▲ Schematic illustration of p-type to n-type polarity inversion in polymer semiconductors as a function of dopant uptake capability

2026-03-19

SKKU Professor Proposes a New Strategy for Talent Recruitment

SKKU Professor Proposes a New Strategy for Talent Recruitment - “The ‘Tip of the Funnel’ Approach Enables Both Diversity and Efficiency” Sang Won Han, an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Sungkyunkwan University (co-first author), in collaboration with Shinjae Won, an Associate Professor of Management and Strategy at Ewha Womans University, has published a study in the Strategic Management Journal, a leading journal in the field of management. The paper, titled “Hiring at the Tip of the Funnel: Externalizing the Work of Integrating and Coordinating Diverse Human Capital,” introduces a new perspective on how firms can resolve a core challenge in talent recruitment. When firms hire from outside, they face a fundamental trade-off: recruiting from diverse sources brings valuable knowledge and experience, but also increases the costs of integrating employees with different backgrounds. This study moves beyond traditional approaches by examining talent mobility as a network of inter-firm connections, showing that firm performance depends on where a company is positioned within that network. The study introduces the concept of the “Tip of the Funnel,” a strategy in which firms recruit directly from a small number of carefully selected companies that themselves draw talent from diverse sources. This structure allows firms to access a broad range of knowledge indirectly, while reducing the internal burden of coordination and integration. Empirical evidence supports this idea. In 2016, Nvidia adopted such a strategy by concentrating hiring on a few firms like Cisco and Intel, which themselves recruited broadly (see Figure below). Positioned at the “end” of this funnel, Nvidia achieved strong innovation performance, suggesting that this network structure can enhance organizational outcomes. The study also finds that these benefits are especially strong in firms with cohesive organizational cultures, which help integrate new employees more effectively. Overall, the research highlights that successful recruitment is not simply about hiring broadly or selectively, but about strategically positioning the firm within a broader talent mobility network. Professor Han noted, “Firms can improve performance by selectively hiring from organizations that have already integrated diverse talent. This study shows that talent mobility networks can serve as a new source of competitive advantage.” This study contributes to ongoing discussions in strategic management by reframing talent acquisition as a problem of network positioning, offering a new lens for understanding how firms can simultaneously achieve innovation and organizational efficiency. ▲ Figure. Ego-centric employee mobility network of Nvidia for fiscal year 2016 ※ Title: Hiring at the Tip of the Funnel: Externalizing the Work of Integrating and Coordinating Diverse Human Capital. ※ Journal: Strategic Management Journal ※ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.70076

2026-03-19

SKKU Research Team Unravels the Origin of Stochasticity

SKKU Research Team Unravels the Origin of Stochasticity, a Key to Next-Generation Data Security and Computing - Multi-filamentary conduction and electrothermal mechanism within ion-motion-mediated memristors directly observed using scanning thermal microscopy - Implementation of a physical-entropy-based bimodal true random number generator opens new possibilities for future security technologies ▲(From left) Professor Jung Ho Yoon, Ph.D. candidate Keunho Soh from Sungkyunkwan University, Professor Kyeongtae Kim, Dr. Seunghoe Koo from Incheon National University, Dr. Sunghoon Hur, and integrated M.S.-Ph.D. student Byoungjin Yoon A joint research team led by Professor Jung Ho Yoon from the School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, in collaboration with Professor Kyeongtae Kim from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Incheon National University and Dr. Sunghoon Hur of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, has reported for the first time that the resistive switching behavior of ion-motion-mediated volatile memristors, which are emerging as promising next-generation semiconductor devices, originates from a combined mechanism comprising multiple conductive filaments coupled with electrothermal effects. This study reveals the fundamental origin of the inherent stochasticity that has long been observed in memristor devices but remained poorly understood. The findings are expected to provide a critical advancement for the development of future computational systems, including true random number generation for information security and probabilistic computing architectures. Ion-motion-mediated volatile memristors exhibit electrical property that conductive filaments composed of metallic ions randomly form within the device when a voltage bias is applied and voluntarily dissolve when the voltage bias is removed. This inherently stochastic behavior makes such devices highly attractive for applications requiring randomness, such as true random number generators (TRNGs) that can produce unpredictable encryption keys and probabilistic computing systems capable of efficiently solving complex combinatorial optimization problems. However, because these internal resistive switching dynamics are extremely difficult to observe directly in real time, the optimal design of devices that maximize stochastic behavior has remained challenging. To overcome this limitation, the joint research team introduced scanning thermal microscopy (SThM), a nanoscale thermal characterization technique capable of detecting heat signals precisely. Using this method, the researchers successfully measured Joule heating generated during resistive switching events directly from the top surface of the memristor device. Their measurements revealed the repeated appearance and disappearance of multiple localized hot spots, providing decisive evidence that multiple conductive filaments simultaneously compete for current conduction while ions continuously redistribute inside the device. In addition, the research team implemented a bimodal true random number generator capable of producing both digital and analog random numbers. Furthermore, they successfully demonstrated data encryption and decryption sequence using generated random numbers as encryption key. Moreover, the researchers demonstrated the potential of probabilistic computing by performing the inverse operation of a binary full-adder circuit, illustrating the feasibility of extending this technology toward next-generation computing applications. Professor Jung Ho Yoon of SKKU commented, “This study moves beyond the conventional simplistic interpretation of resistive switching behavior of memristor as a single-filament formation and rupture process. Instead, it reveals the complex interplay between multi-filamentary dynamics and electrothermal effects. Going forward, we aim to achieve global technological leadership in stochastic and probability-oriented intelligent semiconductor systems by developing practical applications based on these devices.” This research was supported by the National R&D Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF) and the Korea Basic Science Institute funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (RS-2024-00406418, RS-2024-00403917, and RS-2025-02215065 to J. H. Yoon). This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF) grant funded by the Korea government(MSIT) (RS-2025-23973011 to K. Kim). This work was supported by the Commercialization Promotion Agency for R&D Outcomes(COMPA) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT(MSIT) (2710084653 to S. Hur). The study, entitled “Unraveling Origin of Stochasticity in Multi-Filamentary Memristor,”was published on January 21 in Advanced Functional Materials (IF: 19.0, JCR 4.5%). ▲ SThM analysis and electrothermal simulation results of a ion-motion-mediated volatile memristor (top), Demonstration of a true random number generator and probabilistic computing exploiting inherently stochastic resistive switching (bottom) ※ Title: Unraveling Origin of Stochasticity in Multi-Filamentary Memristor ※ Journal: Advanced Functional Materials (IF: 19.0) ※ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202527482

2026-03-10

SKKU Researchers Develop Next-Generation Transparent Electrode Without Rare Metal Indium

SKKU Researchers Develop Next-Generation Transparent Electrode Without Rare Metal Indium - Nitrogen-doped SnO₂ (NTO) electrode overcomes limitations of conventional ITO, doubling device lifetime - Paving the way for low-cost, high-efficiency commercialization of perovskite LEDs A joint research team led by Professors Han-Ki Kim and Bo Ram Lee from the School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering at SKKU has developed a next-generation transparent electrode technology that completely eliminates the use of the rare metal indium, while maintaining high performance and significantly extending device lifetime. Perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs), which have recently attracted considerable attention as a key technology for next-generation displays, offer outstanding color purity and mechanical flexibility. However, conventional PeLEDs rely on indium tin oxide (ITO) as a transparent electrode. Indium, a rare and expensive metal, not only increases material costs but also suffers from a critical drawback: over time, indium ions can diffuse into the device, degrading performance and shortening operational lifetime. ▲Amrophous structure of Indium free N-doped Sno2 To address these limitations, the research team proposed a novel transparent electrode based on nitrogen-doped tin oxide (NTO), replacing indium with tin—an abundant and environmentally benign material. The NTO electrode was fabricated using a specialized nano-fabrication process, radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. Experimental results demonstrated that the NTO-based devices achieved a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 20.82%, comparable to that of conventional ITO-based devices. Most notably, the study achieved a significant breakthrough in long-term stability. Devices incorporating the NTO electrode exhibited more than twice the operational lifetime compared to those using ITO electrodes. This improvement is attributed to the strong Sn–N bonding structure formed within the electrode, which effectively suppresses metal ion diffusion and acts as a robust barrier against degradation. In addition, the technology can be fabricated over large areas at relatively low temperatures, making it highly compatible with existing industrial manufacturing processes and advantageous for mass production. ▲ Next generation perovskite LED with Indium free N-doped SnO2 transparent electrodes Professor Han-Ki Kim, who led the study, stated,“This work fundamentally addresses the limitations of conventional transparent electrode technologies that rely on expensive rare metals. It represents a major step toward sustainable, high-performance optoelectronic devices.” He further added,“We expect this technology to accelerate the transition toward indium-free transparent electrodes, not only in display technologies but also in next-generation energy devices such as solar cells.” This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT under the “Next-Generation OLED Core Technology Development Program” and by the National Research Foundation of Korea. The findings were published online on February 26 in Materials Today(Impact Factor: 22.0), a leading international journal in materials science. ※ Title: Chemically durable and cost-efficient N-doped SnO2 transparent electrodes for Full-color perovskite light-emitting diodes ※ Journal: Materials Today (Impact Factor: 22.0) ※ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2025.12.031

2026-03-04

Professor Taesung Kim’s Team Pioneers Next-Generation AI Semiconductors with a “Thermal Constraining” Technique

Professor Taesung Kim’s Team Pioneers Next-Generation AI Semiconductors with a “Thermal Constraining” Technique - Atomic alignment achieved by leveraging differences in thermal expansion between electrodes… Memory structures formed like batter shaped in a fish-shaped pastry mold - Reduced power consumption and faster computation compared to conventional devices… Achieves 97.2% image recognition accuracy ▲From left: Corresponding Author Taesung Kim (SKKU); Geonwook Kim, Integrated M.S.-Ph.D. Program (SKKU); Hyunho Seok, Postdoctoral Researcher (MIT); Sihoon Son, Integrated M.S.-Ph.D. Program (SKKU); Hyunbin Choi, Ph.D. (SKKU). A research team led by Professor Taesung Kim from the School of Mechanical Engineering has developed a technology that precisely controls the internal structure of semiconductors using heat, much like stamping out “bungeoppang” (fish-shaped pastry) in a mold. The team reported that this approach improves the performance of next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) hardware. With this technology, complex AI computations can be processed more quickly using significantly less electricity than before. Most computers and smartphones we use today operate based on the “von Neumann architecture.” This structure is similar to having a desk (the processor) and a bookshelf (the memory) placed far apart. Each time you study, you have to go back and forth to get a book, which takes time and effort. To solve this problem, a method called “in-memory computing” has been proposed, in which computation is carried out directly inside the memory. The key component that enables this approach is the “ferroelectric transistor,” which is the focus of this study. However, hafnium oxide, the material used to fabricate this device, is very difficult to handle. For the memory function to operate properly, the internal atoms must be aligned in a specific crystal structure (orthorhombic phase). When the material is made very thin, this atomic alignment is easily disturbed, leading to reduced performance. In previous approaches, other chemical elements were mixed in to address this issue, but such methods involved complicated processes and had limitations in large-scale production. ▲ High-Performance Ferroelectric Transistors Based on Stress-Modulated Lattice Engineering of Hafnium Oxide Professor Kim’s research team introduced the physical principle of “thermal expansion.” Different materials expand and contract by different amounts when exposed to heat. The team designed the electrode surrounding the semiconductor material so that, as it cools and slightly contracts, it applies a compressive force to the hafnium oxide inside. Like tight-fitting clothes shaping the body, this physical force generated by heat aligns the atoms into the crystal structure most suitable for memory operation. ▲ Conceptual Illustration of a Hafnium–Zirconium Oxide Ferroelectric Transistor Array Using Tungsten Electrodes and Its Implementation in Artificial Intelligence Hardware Semiconductor devices fabricated using this new method were very thin and remained stable even after operating more than one trillion times. In addition, when these devices were connected and used for image recognition tasks in an artificial intelligence system, they achieved an accuracy of 97.2%. This result shows that high-performance AI semiconductor devices can be realized through temperature control without relying on complex chemical processes. Professor Taesung Kim explained, “The key point of this research is that we overcame the limitations of next-generation semiconductors through physical design based on thermal force, rather than chemical modification. If this technology is commercialized, AI could operate more intelligently and efficiently in devices where power consumption is important, such as autonomous vehicles and smartphones.” This research was supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the National Research Foundation of Korea. The results were published on January 27 in ACS Nano, a leading journal in the field of nanoscience. ※ Title: Thermal Expansion-Engineered Ferroelectric Transistor Arrays for Scalable Edge AI Computing ※ Journal: ACS Nano ※ DOI: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.5c14095

2026-02-23

Professor Jungho Ahn’s Research Team Develops the World’s First “Patient-Specific Endometrium-on-a-Chip”

Professor Jungho Ahn’s Research Team Develops the World’s First “Patient-Specific Endometrium-on-a-Chip” to Overcome Infertility – Precise three-dimensional reconstruction of patient-derived uterine cells on a chip enables quantitative prediction of implantation potential – Enables selection of personalized therapeutics and monitoring of treatment efficacy, opening a new horizon in infertility treatment ▲ (From left) Professor Jungho Ahn; Professor Youn Jung Kang, CHA University; Gaeun Lee, PhD student; Yukyung Lee, PhD student, CHA University; Hwa Sun Koo, Director, Best of Me Women’s Clinic for Infertility Professor Jungho Ahn’s research team in the Department of Biophysics, in collaboration with Professor Youn Jung Kang’s team at CHA University, has developed the world’s first “patient-derived endometrium-on-a-chip (EoC)” platform that precisely recreates a patient’s uterine tissue on a chip to diagnose infertility and propose personalized treatment strategies. This study has attracted significant attention from the academic community for opening a path toward individualized treatment for patients with infertility and recurrent implantation failure, conditions that have long been difficult to predict. The endometrium is the tissue in which a fertilized embryo implants and develops, and it must reach an optimal state during a specific period, known as the “window of implantation,” to accept the embryo. This condition is referred to as “endometrial receptivity.” Conventional diagnostic methods have relied on limited indicators, such as measuring endometrial thickness or blood flow. As a result, they have struggled to accurately reflect individual patient characteristics and to reliably predict actual implantation potential. To address these limitations, the research team fabricated a microchip by stacking patient-derived cells in three dimensions to create an environment closely resembling the actual endometrium. The chip precisely mimics the patient’s uterine environment and is equipped with a system that quantitatively scores implantation potential (ERS2) by assessing how effectively an embryo can adhere. Through this system, clinicians can determine at a glance whether a patient is currently in a condition suitable for pregnancy or which aspects require improvement, based on quantitative indicators. Notably, the newly developed platform goes beyond diagnosis to enable “personalized treatment prediction” by identifying the most suitable therapeutic agents for individual patients. Using the platform, the research team compared responses to various treatment drugs and found that a specific drug (CXCL12) was most effective in promoting angiogenesis and restoring receptivity in patients with intrauterine adhesions. Furthermore, by tracking actual patient treatment processes on the chip, the team confirmed a significant increase in implantation success scores before and after treatment, thereby demonstrating the platform’s effectiveness. Professor Jungho Ahn stated, “This study is meaningful in that it opens a way to more accurately predict individual implantation potential by precisely recreating actual patient tissue on a chip.” He added, “It represents the first case in which advanced organ-on-a-chip technology has been implemented as a model that can be directly applied to patient treatment in real clinical settings, rather than remaining confined to the laboratory, and it is expected to contribute to improving the success rate of infertility treatment.” The research findings were published on November 25 in the international scientific journal Nature Communications (Impact Factor 15.7) and were supported by research funding programs from the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. ※ Paper Title: Microengineered patient-derived endometrium-on-a-chip for the evaluation of endometrial receptivity and personalised translational medicine ※ Journal: Nature communications ※ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65406-7

2026-01-06

Professor Hyung Jin Koh’s Consumer Science Laboratory Wins “Director of the Financial Security Institute Award”

Professor Hyung Jin Koh’s Consumer Science Laboratory Wins “Director of the Financial Security Institute Award” at the Financial Services Commission D-Testbed with “Voice Phishing Detection AI” ▲ (From left) Seung Jun Roh, Undergraduate Research Student; Sujeong Moon, Master’s Student; Professor Hyung Jin Koh, Department of Consumer Science Seung Jun Roh, an undergraduate research student (Department of Applied Artificial Intelligence), and Sujeong Moon, a master’s student (Department of Consumer Science), both members of Professor Hyung Jin Koh’s Consumer Science Laboratory, achieved outstanding results in the “2025 D-Testbed” program hosted by the Financial Services Commission and the Korea Fintech Support Center, winning the Excellence Award, the Director of the Financial Security Institute Award. The competition is a demonstration program that provides high-quality financial data and analytical environments to verify innovative ideas in the financial sector prior to their application to actual business operations or policy implementation. Out of a total of 40 participating teams, only six were selected as outstanding teams through a rigorous performance evaluation process. The achievement is particularly significant in that a university research team composed of undergraduate and master’s students received recognition for both technological capability and social value amid strong participation from companies actively operating in the financial industry. The award-winning team, advised by Professor Hyung Jin Koh, proposed a “Voice Phishing Detection AI Model Based on Behavioral Pattern Data.” To overcome the limitations of existing rule-based detection methods, the team designed a model that enables AI to detect voice phishing in real time by comparatively analyzing financial consumers’ long-term and short-term transaction patterns. Empirical results showed that derived variables from long- and short-term transaction patterns demonstrated statistically significant predictive power for voice phishing detection, confirming that the proposed design contributed to improved detection performance. The study further revealed that financially vulnerable groups, such as older adults and women, face a higher risk of becoming targets of voice phishing crimes. The research team demonstrated that detection accuracy can be dramatically improved by simultaneously considering key demographic variables, including age and gender, as well as interaction effects between these variables and other factors. Professor Hyung Jin Koh of the Department of Consumer Science, who supervised the students, stated, “This award represents the outcome of interdisciplinary research in which undergraduate and graduate students formed a team to address real-world financial issues using AI technology.” He added, “Building on this achievement, our laboratory will continue to pursue leading research in the field of Financial AI Agents that support and protect financial consumers’ decision-making.” Meanwhile, Professor Hyung Jin Koh’s Consumer Science Laboratory conducts research on advanced financial technologies, including financial artificial intelligence, fintech, and Financial AI Agents, through the convergence of finance, AI, and consumer science. The laboratory focuses on cultivating practice-oriented interdisciplinary talent by enabling students to take the lead in research projects and solve real-world financial problems using data and AI.

2026-01-05

Six Achievements Selected for the “2025 National R&D Best Performance Top 100”

Six Achievements Selected for the “2025 National R&D Best Performance Top 100,” Demonstrating SKKU’s Status as a Research-Centered Institution – Unparalleled Research Capacity Proven in Key Future Technologies Such as Lithium Batteries, Cancer Treatment, and AI - Innovative Outcomes Across All Academic Fields, from Mechanical and Materials Engineering to Life and Marine Sciences and Convergence Research ▲ (From the top left) Professors Ho Seok Park, Hoon Kim, Hong Hee Won, Yong Taik Lim, Dong Gyu Cho, and Hyunseung Choo Six research achievements by faculty members of SKKU have been selected for the “2025 National R&D Best Performance Top 100,” hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, clearly demonstrating the University’s overwhelming strength as one of Korea’s leading research-centered institutions. The National R&D Best Performance Top 100 is a program that recognizes research outcomes supported by government funding that show outstanding academic value and economic impact. This year, the University earned recognition for innovative research achievements across diverse academic fields, including mechanical and materials engineering, life and marine sciences, and convergence research. ▶ Innovative Research for Future Energy and the Treatment of Intractable Diseases In the field of mechanical and materials engineering, Professor Ho Seok Park was selected for developing a “high-capacity, high-stability lithium-ion battery anode material based on high-entropy silicon alloys.” This technology is expected to play a key role in extending battery lifespan and enhancing safety in applications such as electric vehicles. In the life and marine sciences field, which recorded the largest number of selected achievements, research aimed at improving human health stood out. Professor Hoon Kim identified the presence of “large-scale ecDNA” found in recurrent or metastatic cancers, suggesting a new direction for cancer treatment. Professor Hong Hee Won revealed the interaction between genetic factors and lifestyle habits in obesity, laying the groundwork for personalized disease prevention. Professor Yong Taik Lim subsequently achieved a milestone by developing the world’s first dynamics-based anticancer immunotherapy platform, maximizing the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Professor Dong Gyu Cho was also recognized for his excellence in research after introducing an “exosome-based technology” that safely delivers gene-editing tools into the brain for the treatment of dementia. ▶ Leading Convergence Technologies Toward Coexistence Between Humans and AI Finally, in the convergence field, Professor Hyunseung Choo was selected for his research titled “Fundamental Superintelligence Technologies and Convergence Research in Human-AI Engineering for Future Humanity.” This study received high praise for securing core technologies that enable artificial intelligence to cooperate intelligently with humans and mutually evolve in future societies. President Ji Beom Yoo stated, “These achievements are the result of the SKKU's faculty members’ relentless challenges combined with an innovative research environment,” and emphasized, “SKKU will continue to provide full support to generate world-class research outcomes that address critical challenges facing humanity and lead future industries.”

2025-12-26

Professor Juhee Cho of SAIHST Receives the Prime Minister's Award

Professor Juhee Cho of SAIHST Receives the Prime Minister's Award Professor Juhee Cho of the Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology(SAIHST) received the Prime Minister's Award at the “2025 Government Awards for Contributors to Health and Medical Technology Promotion,” held on November 27 at the Four Seasons Hotel. Marking its 24th year, the Government Awards for Contributors to Health and Medical Technology Promotion is the most prestigious honor in the field of health and medical technology, hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The award is presented to individuals and organizations that have achieved outstanding accomplishments in advancing Korea’s health and medical technology and fostering the health industry. Notably, the evaluation encompasses not only research achievements but also policy and industrial impact, further underscoring the award’s significance. Professor Cho is a leading clinical epidemiologist in Korea who has spearheaded research on the quality of life of cancer survivors and patient-centered cancer care. She has scientifically identified the physical, psychological, and social challenges faced by patients after cancer diagnosis and treatment, providing evidence to improve these experiences. Her research demonstrated the impact of distress at diagnosis on lung cancer prognosis and clarified the psychological and social effects of appearance changes and chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Based on these findings, she established evidence supporting the use of cooling caps to prevent permanent hair loss from chemotherapy, continuing her work that centers on patient experience. By utilizing national public big data and hospital clinical data, she has analyzed various health risks among cancer survivors, including secondary cancers and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, thereby presenting the need for tailored follow-up and surveillance strategies. She has also actively conducted multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research, contributing to studies on secondary hematologic malignancies among breast cancer survivors, precision medicine–based surgical strategies for lung cancer patients, and improvements to international staging systems. Her work has been published in internationally renowned journals such as the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) and JAMA Oncology, earning high recognition globally. Professor Cho’s contributions extend beyond research. She has helped develop programs supporting cancer patients’ return to work, participated in the amendment process of the Cancer Control Act to strengthen cancer survivor care, and provided policy consultation. She has also proposed personalized care models utilizing digital health and bio–big data, thereby connecting academic achievements to practical policy and institutional improvements. This Prime Minister’s Award comprehensively recognizes her contributions to patient-centered research across the entire life cycle of cancer patients and survivors, as well as her impact on national cancer control policies and system development.

2025-12-09