Rational Design of Low-Dimensional Catalysts

I am currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Auburn University; a position I have held since completing my Ph.D. (Civil Engineering, Purdue University) and M.S. and B.S. (Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University) studies. My multidisciplinary academic, field research experience, and research collaborations make me well-suited for a faculty position. My research interests focus on practical solutions to meet the growing global plastics demand without increasing the environmental burden. In particular, it will address our understanding of the recovery processes and dynamics of polymeric wastes, air- and waterborne plastic waste, and low-cost sensing technology. As the demand for plastics continues to grow, the need to increase the use of complex polymeric material production becomes more apparent. Although synthetic polymer-related technologies have been studied, there is still much to be understood regarding the thermochemical interactions between polymers and green solvents, the capture and characterization of complex multi-phase environmental pollutants from plastic manufacturing, and the intelligent application of recycled materials. My manufacturing research interests combine principles of traditional chemical and environmental engineering, as well as emerging pollutant fate and transport, deterring environmental pollution. Along with ‘Climate Change and Sustainability’, one of the key research themes in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, my research will pave the way to sustainable plastic manufacturing and processing systems that offer valuable alternatives for reducing CO₂ emissions at the production and disposal stages.

Driven by academic pursuits in plastic manufacturing and pollution, I (1) conducted cross-disciplinary research spanning multiple fields: Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Toxicology, and Material Engineering; (2) worked with multiple federal, state, and city health officials; (3) taught several chemical and environmental engineering courses; (4) supported independent undergraduate research; (5) drew outcomes of multiple journal papers, conference papers, and externally funded proposal developments; and (6) provided professional services to communities and organizations that I belong to. My ability to conduct research has been recognized at academic institutional and international conference levels by receiving several outstanding graduate student awards.

My convergence research can enable our engineers, regulators, municipalities, industry, and communities to drive towards a healthier and more resilient future free of pollution. This series of efforts provide a better understanding of the fundamental insights into minimizing human health and environmental risks from plastic manufacturing. Specifically, I have been interested in the current practice of plastic lining technology, which could lead a hazardous waste in the environment. Several investigations that I conducted have revealed that even in everyday life, the lack of expertise and limitations in the information delivery can expose many of the public, as well as workers, to dangerous situations. Not limited to conduct the fundamental research development, but for engineering communication, I co-organized workgroup activities with academic experts and federal and local health officials to raise issues of these public exposures, to share manufacturing factors that could possibly reduce the hazardous wastes, and to find a way to communicate this expertise easier. With my successful research background, I am confident that I will continue to work with experts, industries, academic institutions, and federal and state agencies.

Teaching Interests

My diverse set of global study experiences in South Korea, Thailand, and the United States will enable me to understand and interact with the stories of students from various cultures, religions, and nationalities as an assistant professor. While establishing and operating the Women's Engineering Counseling Association, I have been discussing ways to better understand the difficulties of female students and to make mutual engineering contributions regardless of gender. My commitment to supporting women and engineering in any program at the school takes precedence. Students must receive education without judgment and discrimination, and they should go out into society and realize it in the engineering area. Learning not only professional skills, but also how to share and communicate with people is an essential point to become a true and competitive engineer. As an educator for engineering students, my overarching goal is to enable students to become competent environmental engineering leaders locally and globally, while enabling them to critically perceive and solve emerging issues through knowledge sharing and collaboration. One of the most enjoyable activities throughout my academic experience has been educating students as well as practicing engineers and non-technical professionals through university lectures and labs, technical workshops, seminars, and conference presentations. I firmly believe that training, inspiring, and communicating using student centered hands-on activities and project-based learning will enable students to progress towards becoming scientists/engineers who can better understand and contribute to society. My teaching and research with students can make leaps forward in advancing technology in academia as well as addressing community and global issues.