Currently, a wide range of research projects is available in electrochemistry, vibrational spectroscopy, bioanalytical chemistry, and chemical separation for advanced degrees in analytical chemistry. The projects include: development of environmentally friendly analytical techniques for routine process control analyses employing chemometry using infrared (IR), Raman, and near IR data; design and preparation of lab-on-a-chips and biochips with interdisciplinary approaches; development of biosensors; manipulation of single biomolecules; bionanotechnology; electrochemical and spectroscopic studies of conducting polymers, corrosion and electrodeposition reactions, as well as reactions involved in fuel cells and secondary batteries; electrochemical instrumentation; and nanoelectrochemistry; rigourous characterization of macromolecules by chromatographic separation and various detection methods. The emphasis we are placing for our graduate education is on nurturing student's capability for problem solving under a variety of situations.

Most of the projects in analytical chemistry require multidisciplinary approaches for solving problems in areas such as materials chemistry and chemical biology. Realizing that environmental issues have become a major concern to the scientific, particularly analytical chemistry, community and also that alternative sources of energy are being sought for as the world's fossil fuel reserves are depleted, we are currently developing new and innovative analytical methods as well as instruments, expressly designed to be applicable to analyzing and solving the problems. Our recent achievements include development of a variety of environmentally friendly analytical methods for steel production and process control, DNA microchips or lab-on-a-chips, microprocessor controlled instruments such as a spectroelectrochemical technique (NNIRS: near normal incidence reflectance spectroscopy), a fast impedance measurement technique using Fourier transform, molecular size selective sensors using molecular templates, and development of high-resolution chromatographic separation methods for nonlinear chain polymers and copolymers among others. We are also developing new programs in nanoelectrochemistry, nanobiotechnology, and in-situ extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) experiments at the nearby Pohang Accelerator Laboratory.

Taihyun Chang, Jong Hoon Hahn, Seung Bin Kim, Hee Cheon Lee, Seung Koo Shin