people
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, established by the German government in 1953, promotes academic cooperation and exchange among scientists and scholars from Germany and abroad. The foundation has bestowed this year's award to Professor Suck-Joo Na of KAIST's Mechanical Engineering Department in recognition of his lifetime achievements.
Professor Na's main interests are in the fields of arc and laser welding, computational fluid dynamics simulation, residual stress and distortion, and design of welded structures. He has received numerous honors and awards including the Research Fellowship Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (1989), the Excellent Research Paper Award from the Korean Welding and Joining Society (1993), the Charles H. Jennings Memorial Award from the American Welding Society (2003), and the Yoshiaki Arata Award from the International Institute of Welding (2014).
The Humboldt Research Award is granted annually to up to 100 academics whose fundamental discoveries, new theories, or insights have had a significant impact on their own discipline and who are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements in the future.
The award winners also receive a research grant of 60,000 Euros and are invited to work up to one year with colleagues at research institutions in Germany. Nominations for the award are made only by established academic institutions in Germany.
Professor Na will collaborate with a research team led by Professor Michael Rethmeier at the Berlin-based Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) to conduct research in laser welding and selective laser melting, as well as the mathematical analysis of these manufacturing processes from July 2017 to the end of February 2018.
-
research KAIST Develops ‘Chameleon AI Semiconductor’ with Programmable Response Speeds
AI semiconductors are becoming more programmable. KAIST researchers have developed a device whose response characteristics can be programmed to process data changing at different speeds. The technology reduced prediction errors for time-varying data by up to 40-fold and is expected to enhance real-time AI performance in autonomous vehicles, robots, and wearable devices. KAIST (President Choongsik Bae) announced on August 7 that a research team led by Chair Professor Shinhyun Choi from the Sch
2026-08-07 -
research KAIST Reconstructs Transparent Structures Through Dynamic Scattering Layers in a Single Shot
A KAIST research team has developed a technology that reconstructs the shape, optical thickness, and position of a transparent object hidden between two dynamic scattering layers from a single shot. The technology could enable precision inspection of transparent semiconductor and display components, as well as biomedical imaging. KAIST (President Choongsik Bae) announced on August 6 that a research team led by Professor Mooseok Jang from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering has develop
2026-08-06 -
research KAIST brings ‘giant batteries’ closer to commercialization in the AI data center era
The explosive growth of AI data centers has brought the commercialization of "giant batteries" one step closer. A KAIST research team has developed a process that cuts the production time for a core material used in large-capacity batteries by 67%, resolving the largest production bottleneck standing in the way of commercialization. KAIST (President Choongsik Bae) announced on August 5 that a research team led by Professor Hee-Tak Kim from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineeri
2026-08-05 -
event KAIST and Seoul National University Students Hold 100-Hour Robot Hackathon to Nurture Physical AI Talent
KAIST (President Choongsik Bae) announced on August 4 that RoboticUS, a joint student organization formed by students from KAIST and Seoul National University, is holding the inaugural Robot Hackathon at KAIST from August 3 to 8. "In the era of Physical AI, we need convergence talent who can go beyond building good AI to design and implement robots and systems that move the real world based on AI," said Choongsik Bae, President of KAIST. "This hackathon, planned and run entirely by students
2026-08-04 -
research KAIST Develops Marine Carbon Removal Technology That Turns Carbon Dioxide in Seawater into “Stone” for Permanent Storage
A new pathway has opened to enhance the ocean’s natural ability to clean the planet. KAIST researchers have developed a technology that converts carbon dioxide dissolved in seawater into “stone,” or minerals, preventing it from returning to the atmosphere and enabling permanent storage. The achievement is expected to help the ocean absorb more carbon dioxide and accelerate the commercialization of next-generation marine carbon removal technologies. KAIST (President Choongsik
2026-08-04