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Ph.D. Candidate Dongseop Lee Receives ‘2026 IEEE AP-S C. J. Reddy Travel Grant’

[International recognition for antenna technology based on actual automotive headlights] Dongseop Lee, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Electrical Engineering at POSTECH, advised by Prof. Wonbin Hong, has been selected as a recipient of the ‘2026 IEEE AP-S C. J. Reddy Travel Grant’, awarded by the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (IEEE AP-S). Lee is the only recipient from Korea this year, marking the fourth time that Prof. Hong's research team has produced a winner of this prestigious award. The ‘IEEE AP-S C. J. Reddy Travel Grant’ is a global research support program that evaluates candidates based on papers submitted to the IEEE AP-S International Symposium, assessing research excellence and academic contribution. Up to ten recipients are selected annually through a rigorous review process. Dongseop Lee garnered attention for his proposed antenna architecture, "Antenna-on-Headlight (AoH) for Integrated Sensing and Illumination (ISAI) Systems," which integrates communication, sensing, and illumination functions into automotive headlights. The research was highly regarded for overcoming the installation constraints of conventional antenna systems by integrating antenna functionality into the external structure of a vehicle, while accounting for real-world environments and achieving a unified design. Lee was also named an ‘IEEE AP-S Industry Paper Competition Top 10 Finalist’, further affirming the commercial potential of his work. To date, Lee has published a total of 60 papers in SCI journals and domestic and international conferences, including 22 as first author, and has been recognized for his research achievements through 5 patents and 19 awards. Dongseop Lee said that "it is deeply meaningful to have the potential of this new system architecture — one that converges communication, sensing, and illumination — recognized on an international stage," and expressed his commitment to contributing to the advancement of future wireless communication technologies through practically applicable antenna system research. His advisor, Prof. Wonbin Hong, remarked that the selection was "a testament to the technical completeness and application potential of Dongseop's research, recognized by the international community." Meanwhile, Prof. Hong's laboratory has previously produced three recipients of the same award: Dr. Junho Park (2020), Dr. Youngno Yoon (2023), and Dr. Beomhyun Kim (2025). Information on this year's recipient will be featured on the official IEEE AP-S website and in the IEEE Antennas & Propagation Magazine.

Prof. Young Myoung Ko Recognized for International Academic Leadership as Chair of INFORMS Telecommunications and Networ

Prof. Young Myoung Ko of the Department of Industrial and Management Engineering at POSTECH is currently serving as Chair of the Telecommunications and Network Analytics Section of INFORMS. His term runs from April 15, 2026, to April 14, 2028. INFORMS is an international academic organization representing the fields of industrial engineering, management science, and data analytics. Its Telecommunications and Network Analytics Section is an academic community bringing together researchers in related fields. The section leads research exchange and international collaboration through organizing conferences and sessions and building researcher networks. Prof. Ko has conducted research centered on queueing theory, stochastic systems, network optimization, and data-driven systems operations, and has steadily built up academic achievements in the field of telecommunications and network analytics as well. In 2012, his research capabilities were recognized when he received the dissertation award from the INFORMS Telecommunications Section (as it was then named). Since then, he has contributed to academic exchange and community operations within the section by serving in a range of key roles, including Council member, Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice Chair/Chair-elect. His appointment as Chair reflects recognition of both his research achievements and his contributions to international academic activities. Prof. Young Myoung Ko remarked that he considers it deeply meaningful to serve as Chair of the INFORMS Telecommunications and Network Analytics Section, adding that he intends to continue expanding collaboration with researchers around the world and contribute to academic exchange and research advancement in the field of telecommunications and network analytics. The Department of Industrial and Management Engineering at POSTECH noted that this appointment reflects recognition of both Prof. Ko's research capabilities and his international academic leadership. The department noted that his appointment as Chair of a section within a globally recognized academic organization such as INFORMS demonstrates the department’s research competitiveness and international standing. It also reaffirmed its commitment to actively supporting world-class research and international academic activities.

The Starting Point for Global Deep-Tech Startups is POSTECH" — Amogy CEO Seonghoon Woo Takes the Stage for His Alma Mate

[Earned his Ph.D. from MIT before founding a company that pioneered the world's first commercialization of ammonia fuel cells] "The scientific thinking and problem-solving skills I learned at POSTECH built what 'Amogy' is today.“ On May 28, the 'POSTECH 40th Anniversary Lecture Series,' held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of POSTECH's founding, welcomed another notable figure to the stage. The guest of honor was Seonghoon Woo, CEO of Amogy, a global clean energy deep-tech company. CEO Woo is an alumnus of the university's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Class of 2007. After completing his Ph.D. at MIT, he co-founded Amogy in 2021 together with a team of Korean researchers from MIT. The company develops carbon-free energy solutions powered by liquid ammonia and has drawn the attention of the global energy industry by becoming the first in the world to apply ammonia fuel cells to drones, tractors, trucks, and ships. Amogy has raised a cumulative total of approximately 400 billion KRW from major global companies including Amazon, Saudi Aramco, and SK, and is recognized as a company leading the Net Zero transition in hard-to-decarbonize industries such as heavy industry, logistics, and shipping. The lecture served both to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the university's founding and as an opportunity for Woo to share his journey as a researcher and entrepreneur with current students. Speaking on the topic "Amogy's Global Energy Deep-Tech Journey: What I Gained from POSTECH," Woo candidly described how the foundational skills he built at the university became the basis for his entrepreneurial career and ability to compete globally. He spoke in detail about the realities of raising hundreds of billions of KRW in investment, the trial and error inherent to deep-tech entrepreneurship, and the strategic perspective Korean startups need in the global energy transition market. The lecture was followed by a Q&A session and an "Ask Us Anything" panel talk with alumni panelists, and the event concluded amid an enthusiastic atmosphere. The event was also attended by Professor Heechul Ahn of POSTECH's Department of Industrial and Management Engineering and student Joong Woo Park (CEO of DeepLeHR) from the department of Industrial and Management Engineering, showcasing the full breadth of POSTECH's startup ecosystem connecting research, entrepreneurship, and industrial innovation. Professor Byoungwoo Kang, Head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, who moderated the event, said, "As department head, it was deeply meaningful to hear firsthand from an alumnus who has grown so remarkably," adding, "It was a valuable opportunity that showed our students the possibilities of both research and entrepreneurship at once.“ POSTECH plans to continue actively supporting the commercialization of research outcomes and startups founded by alumni and students, further strengthening its role as a cradle for nurturing global deep-tech entrepreneurs. To this end, the university intends to upgrade its full-cycle startup support system — encompassing entrepreneurship education, early-stage investment, support for global expansion, and alumni network connections — and further solidify its standing not just as a ‘research-focused university’ but as a ‘startup-friendly university.’ Meanwhile, POSTECH has been rapidly establishing itself as a startup-friendly university beyond its identity as a research-focused institution, including winning the Grand Prize at the 'Korea's Best University for Startups' awards for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025. POSTECH Holdings, the university's technology holding company, has to date invested 55.5 billion KRW in 171 companies and helped attract a total of 648.4 billion KRW in follow-on investment.

POSTECH Professor Sei Kwang Hahn, Korea's First Fellow of the Controlled Release Society

[International Recognition for Convergence Research in Biomaterials, Nanomedicine, and Photomedicine - Expected to Elevate Korea's Standing in Bio-Pharmaceutical Research] Professor Sei Kwang Hahn in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at POSTECH has been named a Fellow of the Controlled Release Society (CRS) - the first researcher based in Korea to receive this distinction. The CRS Fellowship is the highest academic honor conferred by the society, awarded to researchers who have made outstanding and sustained contributions to the advancement of drug delivery science and technology. The CRS played a leading role in the development of COVID-19 vaccines by pioneering nucleic acid (mRNA) delivery systems during the pandemic. With membership spanning multinational pharmaceutical companies and drug delivery researchers from more than 50 countries, the Fellowship remains an exceptionally selective honor: only approximately 185 individuals worldwide have ever been inducted, including Professor Robert Langer at MIT, who led the development of the Moderna vaccine. Each year, roughly 10 new Fellows are elected globally. Professor Hahn's selection was made upon the recommendation by Professor Yu-Kyoung Oh at the Seoul National University College of Pharmacy (Minister of Food and Drug Safety) and Professor Maria Alonso, the former CRS President from Spain. Professor Hahn has built a world-class body of work through convergence research applying multifunctional biomaterials to drug delivery, nanomedicine, and photomedicine. He serves as Executive Editor of Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, a leading journal in the field of drug delivery; Associate Editor of Biomaterials, a premier journal in the biomaterials field; and Editor-in-Chief of Biomaterials Research - contributing to the advancement of both academia and industry in these disciplines. Expressing his reaction to the honor, Professor Hahn said, "I am deeply honored to have been selected as a CRS Fellow. I will continue to do my utmost to contribute to the academic advancement and translational research in the field of drug delivery, and to strengthen the global standing of Korea's bio-pharmaceutical and drug delivery research." Professor Hahn will be officially inducted as a Fellow at the CRS Annual Meeting, to be held July 6–9. Following his induction, he will be entitled to use the designation FCRS (Fellow of the Controlled Release Society) and will take part in key academic activities within the society.

“Beyond Semiconductor Chips to the Era of ‘Biochips’” — POSTECH Launches ‘K-BIGHEART’

[Opening ceremony held on March 18; leading efforts to strengthen Korea’s biohealth competitiveness through convergent research in biomedical integrated circuits (BIC) chip] POSTECH held the opening ceremony for K-BIGHEART (Korea Biomedical Institute for Global Health Research and Technology) on March 18 at the Changeup Ground on campus, officially marking the institute’s launch. The event was attended by Hyuk Chae Koo, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT; Hae-sook Lee, Deputy Minister of the Office of Higher and Lifelong Education Policy at the Ministry of Education; Geum-hee Yang, Deputy Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongsangbuk-do; Won-hwa Hong, Chairman of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF); Seong Keun Kim, President of POSTECH; along with other key university leaders and researchers. K-BIGHEART was established as part of the National Research Laboratory (NRL) 2.0 Program, jointly promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Education. The program selects university-based research institutes capable of producing world-class outcomes and fosters them as large-scale, interdisciplinary research hubs. Each institute may receive up to KRW 10 billion per year, for a total of up to KRW 100 billion over 10 years. K-BIGHEART will pursue interdisciplinary research spanning medicine, engineering, life sciences, physical sciences, and AI data science to develop core technologies for future healthcare. This includes precision medicine and digital healthcare enabled by next-generation BIC biosensors and medical devices. It also plans to expand large-scale national R&D projects and global collaborations and to build an open research platform that fosters cooperation among industry, academia, research institutes, and hospitals—thereby strengthening technology commercialization and industrial linkages. In a vision presentation titled “Vision for K-BIGHEART,” Institute Director Professor Luke P. Lee outlined mid- to long-term strategies, stating, “We are eager to collaboratively shape the future of healthcare through the development of a data-driven precision biomedical engineering platform and the enhancement of international collaboration networks. “ With the launch of K-BIGHEART, POSTECH aims to further enhance its research competitiveness in global healthcare, nurture national strategic technologies, and create future growth industries. In his welcoming remarks, President Seong Keun Kim said, “Today marks a monumental milestone that will reshape the paradigm of science and technology in Korea,” adding, “We will create a ‘safe playground’ where researchers can fail freely and rise again—leveraging POSTECH’s convergence research capabilities to alleviate human suffering and deliver world-class outcomes that advance global healthcare.”

Prof. Baker Visits POSTECH as the First Speaker in the 40th Anniversary Lecture Series

[Prof. David Baker, the 2024 Nobel Prize laureate visits POSTECH to reunite with his former postdoctoral researcher, Prof. Sangmin Lee… lecture, meeting, and commemorative tree-planting] To commemorate the 40th anniversary of its founding, POSTECH welcomed Prof. David Baker of the University of Washington, a Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry, to its campus. On April 10th, as part of the “POSTECH 40th Anniversary Lecture Series,” POSTECH hosted a meeting, a commemorative tree-planting ceremony, and lectures featuring Prof. David Baker and his wife, Prof. Hannele Ruohola-Baker. Prof. Baker delivered a lecture titled “Protein Design Using Deep Learning,” where he introduced current trends and future possibilities in protein design research using deep learning. Prof. Ruohola-Baker also shared research achievements in the life sciences through a keynote address. The visit stemmed from an academic connection. Prof. Sangmin Lee of the Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Baker’s laboratory for two years and nine months beginning in February 2021. Prof. Baker is a pioneering scientist in the field of “protein design,” using computers and AI to create novel proteins not found in nature. In recognition of these contributions, he received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. In December of the same year, Prof. Baker and Prof. Sangmin Lee published their joint research in the prestigious journal Nature. A POSTECH official said, “The visit by Prof. Baker and his wife provided great inspiration to our students and community members,” adding, “We hope this lecture series will become a meaningful program in celebration of POSTECH’s 40th anniversary.”

Renowned Metamaterials Scholar Professor Junsuk Rho Appointed Associate Editor of Leading Applied Physics Journal ‘APL’

[To oversee papers in nano-optics and metamaterials, further expanding global academic influence] Professor Junsuk Rho of POSTECH has been appointed an Associate Editor of Applied Physics Letters (APL), a leading journal in applied physics. His three-year term began on April 1, 2026. Published by the American Institute of Physics, APL is an internationally renowned journal in applied physics with a 65-year history. During his tenure, Professor Rho will oversee the editorial process for submissions in the fields of metamaterials, nano-optics, nanofabrication, and nanodevices. Professor Rho received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Seoul National University, followed by an M.S. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. Since joining POSTECH in 2014, he has led pioneering research in metamaterials—engineered materials that transcend the conventional limits of light—earning international recognition as a leading scholar in the field. His accolades are equally distinguished. He received the Presidential Award (Young Scientist Award) from the Korean Academy of Science and Technology in 2019 and the Young Engineer Award from the National Academy of Engineering of Korea in 2022. He was also named a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate—ranking within the top 0.1% of researchers worldwide—for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024. Professor Rho has also been highly active in editorial roles. He currently serves as Associate Editor of ‘Light: Science & Applications’, published by Springer Nature, becoming the first Korean to hold the position. With his appointment at APL, he is expected to further expand his influence within the global academic community. “APL is a journal with a long-standing tradition and authority in the field of applied physics,” said Professor Rho. “As Associate Editor, I will do my utmost to ensure that outstanding research in metamaterials and nano-optics is published more rapidly and fairly.”

📢Prof. Jae-Hyung Jeon Receives Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Commendation🎉

Professor Jae-Hyung Jeon of the Department of Physics at POSTECH has received the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Commendation for “Contributions to the Advancement of Basic Research” in recognition of his achievements in advancing basic research and generating outstanding research outcomes. Since 2021, Professor Jeon has served as Executive Director of Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics (APCTP), and has been recognized for leveraging his international research experience and academic networks in physics to: promote basic research across the Asia-Pacific region, expand cooperation in the basic sciences, and contribute to the creation of excellent research outcomes through the cultivation of next-generation scientific talent. In particular, Professor Jeon helped expand and strengthen frameworks for international joint research and researcher exchange. As a result, the number of APCTP member countries and partner institutions has continued to grow over the past five years. During the same period, participants in academic exchange programs came from approximately 126 countries, and about 5,000 international scientists visited Korea each year—achievements that have reinforced Korea’s standing by positioning the country as a practical hub for basic-science cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Professor Jeon has also played an important role in advancing the Asia-Pacific basic-science community through his service as a Korean Council Member of the Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies (AAPPS), where he supported cooperative programs and contributed to energizing networks among research institutes and academic societies. He has further worked to expand international programs aimed at discovering and nurturing next-generation science and technology talent. In collaboration with Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), Vietnam’s largest government-affiliated science and technology research organization, he hosted local international workshops to invigorate research exchange. He also established a new undergraduate internship program linked with POSTECH for 30 top students from a prestigious university in Indonesia, providing outstanding STEM students in Asia opportunities to experience Korea’s research environment. These programs have contributed to attracting international talent to Korea’s basic-science fields and expanding the foundation for research collaboration, with plans to extend them to other member countries such as Vietnam and China. In addition, through activities under APEC PPSTI (Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation), Professor Jeon supported the training of early-career researchers and international academic collaboration. He also contributed to elevating Korea’s stature in science and technology diplomacy by attracting initiatives such as the APEC science and technology partnership cooperation program and an international basic-science forum. Professor Jeon has also actively promoted science-culture programs to broaden public engagement with science and technology. Centered on APCTP’s “Science Book of the Year” program, he oversaw a wide range of public outreach initiatives—including author talks, a science book review contest, and AI science classes—designed to reach underserved groups, increase societal interest in science and technology, and expand a science-culture foundation in partnership with local communities. In recognition of these contributions, he also received the Gyeongsangbuk-do Science and Technology Award in 2025. Professor Jeon said, “I will continue to expand collaboration with researchers across the Asia-Pacific region and work steadily to cultivate the next generation of scientific talent and advance basic science.”

“Small but Powerful”: POSTECH Recognized Globally as a Leading Science & Technology University

[Ranked in the Top 60s Worldwide in ‘Natural Sciences’ and ‘Engineering & Technology’ in 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject] Experts tend to view these fields differently. In areas such as Natural Sciences and Engineering & Technology, depth and focus often matter more than breadth or size. POSTECH has ranked within the top 60 globally in both Natural Sciences and Engineering & Technology in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject. This places the university more than 40 positions higher than its overall ranking (102nd globally) in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, released in June last year. While this difference may appear to be a simple numerical gap, a closer look at the evaluation frameworks reveals that it offers an important insight into POSTECH’s core strengths. The key difference between the two rankings lies in who evaluates and what criteria are used. The QS World University Rankings are calculated using a range of indicators, including reputation (45%), with survey respondents drawn from researchers across nearly all academic fields—including the humanities, social sciences, and medicine. Within this structure, the strengths of specialized science and engineering institutions can be relatively diluted. By contrast, the QS World University Rankings by Subject place a much greater emphasis on reputation accounting for 60–70% of the evaluation. The methodology also differs: respondents first select their own field of expertise and then identify universities they consider outstanding in that specific discipline. In other words, the rankings for Engineering & Technology and Natural Sciences are primarily shaped by evaluations from experts in those fields across academia and industry. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, POSTECH placed 64th in Natural Sciences and 67th in Engineering & Technology worldwide. The results highlight how the university’s world-class research in science and engineering, combined with its small but highly focused education model, continues to earn recognition from experts in the field. One way to understand the difference is to imagine a restaurant that may not stand out in an overall rating, but is regarded by culinary experts as among the very best in a specific cuisine. “This result reflects POSTECH’s long-standing commitment to competing through expertise rather than scale,” said Professor Sung-Min Park, Vice President for External Affairs at POSTECH. “The essential role of specialized science and engineering universities like POSTECH lies in pursuing challenging research and innovative education through strategic focus and concentration. We will continue to build on our strengths and further sharpen this focus going forward,” he added. Meanwhile, in the JoongAng Ilbo University Rankings by Subject, announced last November, POSTECH and Sungkyunkwan University were the only institutions to receive the highest rating across all fields of Natural Sciences and Engineering.

📢POSTECH Professor Chulhong Kim’s Team Wins Best Paper Award at SPIE Photonics West 2026, the World’s Largest Optics Co

[Transparent ultrasound–based optical–ultrasound fusion imaging technology recognized for its clinical translation potential] Professor Chulhong Kim’s research team at POSTECH, together with Dr. Jeongwoo Park (now Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Convergence Science & Technology at Kyungpook National University), received the Best Paper Award at SPIE Photonics West 2026, the world’s largest optics and photonics conference, held on January 21 in San Francisco, USA. This prestigious award is presented to only three teams worldwide each year. The award recognizes the results of a collaborative study conducted by Professor Kim’s team at POSTECH and Professor Yujin Myung’s team in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Seoul National University Hospital. The joint team was highly commended for developing an optical–ultrasound fusion imaging technology based on a transparent ultrasound transducer array (TUT-array). The technology developed by the team integrates ultrasound imaging, photoacoustic imaging, and fluorescence imaging into a single compact probe. This enables clinicians in real surgical settings to obtain diverse imaging information simultaneously and in real time, without the need to switch between multiple devices. The system has been recognized as a practically deployable image-guided platform for immediate use in clinical environments. The research was published in the international journal Nature Communications, and based on its academic and technological impact, it was selected for the Best Paper Award at the “Photonics Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing” conference within SPIE Photonics West 2026. The study was co–first-authored by Dr. Jeongwoo Park (Department of Electrical Engineering at POSTECH, now Assistant Professor at Kyungpook National University), Dr. Donghyeon Oh, and Dr. Jinhee Yoo. Dr. Park said, “This work goes beyond a laboratory-level technology proposal and demonstrates a real-time imaging system that can be applied directly in actual clinical settings, which makes it especially meaningful,” adding, “It is deeply gratifying that both the technical maturity and clinical practicality of our system have been recognized at the world’s largest optics conference.” He continued, “We plan to further extend this technology toward precision surgical image guidance and next-generation optical–ultrasound fusion medical imaging.” Meanwhile, SPIE Photonics West is the world’s largest conference in optics and photonics, organized by SPIE (The International Society for Optics and Photonics). The “Photonics Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing” conference, at which the team received the award, is regarded as a key venue focusing on fusion technologies that combine optics and ultrasound.