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KAIST Resolves Long-standing Challenge of Performance Degradation in Stacked 2D Materials
<(Clockwise from the lower right) Sarah S. Park (KAIST), Geunchan Park (POSTECH, first author), Sangwon Moon (second author), and Jaekyung Yi (third author). (Top) Christopher H. Hendon (University of Oregon, fourth author>
KAIST researchers develop a next-generation 2D conductive material that maintains single-layer electronic properties even when multi-layered, accelerating the commercialization of next-generation electronic and quantum devices.
Two-dimensional (2D) materials, which are significantly thinner than a single sheet of paper, have long drawn attention for their exceptional performance. However, they have faced a critical limitation: their performance degrades significantly when multiple layers are stacked.
A research team at KAIST has successfully resolved this long-standing bottleneck by developing a new conductive material that retains its single-layer electronic characteristics even when stacked in multiple layers. This breakthrough is expected to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation electronic devices and quantum materials.
KAIST (President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced on June 8th that a research team led by Professor Sarah S. Park from the Department of Chemistry, in collaboration with Professor Christopher H. Hendon from the University of Oregon, has developed a new 2D conductive Metal-Organic Framework (MOF). This novel material maintains high electrical conductivity while minimizing interlayer interference.
Because 2D materials are atomically thin, electrons can move through them at ultra-high speeds, making them prime candidates for next-generation semiconductors and quantum materials. However, for practical applications, multiple layers must be stacked. When this happens, interlayer interactions obstruct electron movement, leading to performance degradation—similar to how cars driving fast on separate roads experience traffic congestion at an intersection. In particular, while 2D conductive MOFs exhibit outstanding performance in their single-layer state, their inherent electronic properties weaken in the bulk state, where multiple layers are piled up.
To solve this problem, the research team focused on the "angle" of alignment to prevent the layers from directly interfering with each other. The newly designed molecular structure ensures that even when multiple layers are stacked, each layer is arranged at a specific angle, minimizing direct face-to-face contact. This operates on a similar principle to stacking a deck of cards with a slight twist rather than flushing them perfectly, preventing them from sticking together. As a result, interlayer interactions were reduced, allowing electrons to move more freely. To achieve this structure, the team designed a triptycene-based molecule and used it to synthesize the new 2D conductive MOF material.
The newly developed material, named Ni₃(HITrip)₂ was found to preserve an electronic structure highly similar to that of a single layer, even in a multi-layered state. Notably, it retained a unique electronic structure (the Dirac band structure of a Kagome lattice) that allows electrons to move rapidly and efficiently. This structure is highly advantageous for achieving high electrical conductivity, enabling electrons to travel at high speeds as if on a highway without complex obstacles. This demonstrates that an electronic structure previously thought to be achievable only in a single layer can now be maintained in actual multi-layered bulk materials.
In fact, this material exhibited a high electrical conductivity of 0.58 S/cm without any additional doping (a process of introducing impurities to enhance electrical properties), proving that excellent electrical performance can be achieved while mitigating interlayer interference.
Through computational modeling and spectroscopic analysis, the research team also uncovered the underlying mechanism behind this high conductivity. They confirmed that within the material, the molecules and metal atoms work cooperatively to facilitate electron transport, creating a stable environment for electron movement.
This study holds great significance as it resolves a long-standing challenge in 2D materials: the phenomenon where "stacking degrades performance." By demonstrating that superior electronic properties previously limited to single layers can be realized in bulk materials, this research marks a vital turning point in connecting fundamental research to practical technology.
The research team anticipates that these findings will be widely utilized in the development of high-performance electronic devices and next-generation energy materials. Furthermore, by opening new possibilities for research into quantum materials and topological materials (next-generation functional materials with unique electron transport properties), this breakthrough is expected to contribute significantly to the advancement of future semiconductor and quantum information technologies. Crucially, because the material retains its excellent electronic properties even when stacked, it will broaden the scope of functional material design required for manufacturing actual devices.
Professor Sarah S. Park stated, "This research demonstrates that 2D electronic structures, which were previously thought to be possible only in single layers, can now be realized in bulk materials. By precisely controlling interlayer interactions, a new pathway will open for implementing diverse quantum properties and electronic characteristics in practical materials."
Ph.D candidate Geunchan Park participated as the first author, alongside co-authors Sangwon Moon, Jaekyung Yi, Christopher H. Hendon, and corresponding author Sarah S. Park. The study was published on April 8th in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), a prestigious international scientific journal in chemistry.
2026.06.08 View 103 -
KAIST Turns DNA from Genetic Information Carrier into Energy Designer, Improving Catalyst Performance
<Professor Jimin Park(Center), Ph.D candidate Tae Kyoung Lee, Ph. D candidate Sang Yeon Oh>
The fixed idea that DNA is only a molecule that stores genetic information is being challenged. KAIST researchers have developed a technology that controls the chemical environment around catalysts at the nanometer scale by designing DNA sequences, the arrangement of A, T, G, and C that make up genetic information. The team has presented a new catalyst platform that can improve hydrogen production efficiency and increase the yield of desired chemical products by designing DNA much like writing a computer program.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 21st of May that a research team led by Professor Jimin Park of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has developed a core technology that precisely controls the microscopic chemical environment around catalysts by coating the surface of gold nanoparticles, ultrafine gold particles measuring 1–100 nm, with “single-stranded DNA,”a flexible DNA molecule composed of a single strand that can be designed with a desired length and structure and serves as a nano-coating material for controlling the reaction environment.
In electrochemical reactions, which use electricity to drive chemical reactions and are used for hydrogen production or the manufacture of eco-friendly chemicals, performance is determined not only by the catalyst itself but also by the local reaction environment around the catalyst, such as acidity (pH) and ion distribution. However, conventional approaches have relied on special polymer coating materials, plastic-like materials made of long molecular chains, and have faced limitations in precisely designing internal structures at the nanometer scale.
To solve this problem, the research team focused on “single-stranded DNA,” DNA composed of a single strand. DNA carries a negative charge, meaning it can influence the movement of surrounding ions, atoms or molecules with electric charge, and it has the advantage that its length and base sequence can be freely designed. In particular, changing the base sequence allows the internal network structure of DNA to be precisely controlled, making it possible to create a customized nano-coating layer on the catalyst surface.
< Schematic illustration of catalytic interfacial microenvironment regulation using a single-stranded DNA layer >
The research team attached DNA with various base sequences to the surface of gold nanoparticles and analyzed the electrochemical reactions. As a result, they found that the key factor determining catalyst performance was not simply the thickness of the coating layer, but the internal network structure formed according to the DNA base sequence.
This means that even coating layers of the same thickness can create different pathways for the movement of ions needed for reactions, depending on how the internal DNA structure is organized. It is the same principle as traffic flow changing depending on how a road network is designed, even when the roads are the same width.
The team also used real-time surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, a technology that uses lasers to analyze the chemical state of molecules in real time, to observe the reaction process. Through this, they directly confirmed that the DNA layer functions as an interfacial layer, a layer that performs a special function at the boundary where two materials meet, by regulating the movement of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) and changing the local pH around the catalyst.
In simple terms, the DNA layer acts like a “traffic control center” around the catalyst, guiding the movement of ions. It helps some ions move more quickly while restricting the movement of others, thereby changing the reaction environment in the desired direction. By observing this process in real time, the researchers proved that DNA is not merely a protective film, but actively regulates the reaction environment.
The team applied this technology to the hydrogen evolution reaction and the glycerol oxidation reaction, which converts glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production, into high-value chemicals. As a result, hydrogen production efficiency varied significantly depending on the DNA base sequence, and the selectivity, the proportion of a specific product formed, for glycerate, a material used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, also improved. This means that desired reaction outcomes can be achieved simply by adjusting the DNA sequence, without newly creating complex catalyst structures.
< Research image (AI-generated image) >
Professor Jimin Park said, “This study shows that DNA can be used not as a genetic information storage medium, but as a precise nanomaterial that controls electrochemical reactions,” adding, “By designing DNA sequences to control acidity and ion movement on catalyst surfaces, we expect this technology to be broadly applied across carbon-neutral technologies, including hydrogen production and biomass conversion.”
This study was conducted with KAIST Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering doctoral students Sang Yeon Oh and Tae Kyoung Lee as co-first authors, and Professor Jimin Park as the corresponding author. The research was published on May 5 in the internationally renowned Journal of the American Chemical Society.
※ Paper title: “Programmable Single-Stranded DNA Layers as Modulators of Nanoscale pH at Electrocatalytic Interfaces,” DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c02995
※ Author information: Sang Yeon Oh and Tae Kyoung Lee (KAIST, co-first authors), Jaeyeon Jun, Jinse Woo, Changho Lee, Yongha Kim (KAIST, co-authors), and Jimin Park (KAIST, corresponding author)
This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Outstanding Young Scientist Program , Global Matching Program , and Young Researcher Infrastructure Support Program.
2026.06.08 View 85 -
Humanoid Robot Pilot PIBOT Wins Best Paper Award at the World’s Most Prestigious Robotics Magazine
< (From left of the award recipients) Ph. D candidate Sungjae Min, Ph. D candidate Gyuree Kang, Professor David Hyunchul Shim, Ph.D candidate Hyungjoo Kim >
KAIST announced on June 5th that a paper proposing an aircraft autonomous piloting framework based on the humanoid robot pilot ‘PIBOT,’ developed by a research team led by Professor David Hyunchul Shim of the School of Electrical Engineering, was selected as the Best Paper Award among the papers published in the IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine (IEEE RAM) in 2025.
< The proposed PIBOT system framework capable of piloting based on aviation manuals and voice communication without modifying existing aircraft >
This award is highly meaningful as it signifies that grassroots research based entirely on domestic, independent initiatives has been recognized as a world-class achievement in robotics. The award ceremony took place in Vienna, Austria, on June 4, 2026 (local time) during the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2026). IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine (IEEE RAM) is a prestigious academic magazine published by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS), under the umbrella of IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization. It is well known for delivering the latest research achievements, industry trends, and tutorials in the fields of robotics and automation, widely conveying robot technologies applicable to actual industrial sites to researchers in both industry and academia. As of 2025, IEEE RAM recorded an Impact Factor (IF) of 7.1, holding the second highest impact among IEEE publications in the field of robotics. In particular, it presents the Best Paper Award to research that has a significant academic and industrial impact among the papers published after undergoing rigorous peer review. This study was selected as a Future Challenge Defense Technology Research and Development Project by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in 2021 and was conducted based purely on domestic technology with support of approximately 5.7 billion won over five years. The research team received high praise for implementing Physical AI technology at an exceptionally high level, enabling a humanoid robot to systematically and adaptively perform complex tasks such as piloting aircraft based on artificial intelligence, going beyond simple walking or carrying items. Recently, humanoid robot technology has been developing rapidly in terms of athletic performance, such as tumbling or implementing complex movements. However, in the industrial sector, the applicability to actual industrial sites is drawing attention as a more critical factor. The pilot robot ‘PIBOT’ being developed by Professor David Hyunchul Shim's research team is designed to acquire specialized knowledge required for aircraft operation and to recognize and respond to actual flight situations in real time, going beyond simple repetitive tasks or logistics processing. Accordingly, it is evaluated as presenting a new direction for the utilization of humanoid robot technology, termed as Expert Physical AI.
< The research team's PIBOT sitting in an actual aircraft (KLA-100) and operating the instruments and control stick >
The research team has successfully completed Phase 1 of the research since the project launched in 2021, and since 2024, they have been developing Phase 2 of the pilot robot, which features a human-like physique and joint structure suitable for actual aircraft piloting. In addition, they are pursuing collaborative research with relevant organizations to expand and apply this technology to various mobile vehicle piloting fields, such as ground vehicles and ships, as well as aircraft.
< PIBOT performing piloting in an aircraft simulator device >
Professor David Hyunchul Shim said, “It is very meaningful that the pilot robot technology, proposed for the first time in the world by Korean researchers, has been recognized as a world-class research achievement thanks to the support of a large-scale national project. We will further develop our research in a direction where humanoid robots can help humans in real-world environments and safely operate complex systems.” In this study, PhD students Sungjae Min, Gyuree Kang, and Hyungjoo Kim participated as co-first authors, and Professor David Hyunchul Shim served as the corresponding author. The paper can be found through IEEE Xplore. ※ Paper Title: “Toward Fully Autonomous Aviation: PIBOT, a Humanoid Robot Pilot for Human-Centric Aircraft Cockpits”, Paper Links: https://doi.org/10.1109/MRA.2024.3505774, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10798973/ Meanwhile, this research was conducted with support from the Agency for Defense Development's Future Challenge Defense Technology Research and Development Project.
2026.06.05 View 328 -
KAIST Study Provides First Large-Scale Empirical Analysis of Dual-Use Research and Security Oversight
<Professor Seokbeom Kwon>
A new analysis of approximately 600,000 research papers reveals structural limits to single-country security oversight of dual-use research and identifies trade-offs that policymakers face when strengthening such oversight.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced today that Professor Seokbeom Kwon of the School of Business and Technology Management has published a large-scale empirical analysis examining the structural limitations of tightening security oversight on dual-use research and its potential cost to scientific progress. The study appears in Science on June 5, 2026.
Dual-use research (DUR) refers to scientific research that has both legitimate civilian applications—such as vaccine and treatment development—and potential security-sensitive applications, such as biological weapons or bioterrorism. Examples include research on viral transmission mechanisms or pathogen behavior.
< Research Image (AI-Generated) >
The United States has been strengthening security oversight of dual-use research. Most recently, Executive Order 14292, signed in May 2025, intensified federal oversight of biological research with potential security implications, including dangerous gain-of-function research. The U.S. government also has extended the policy definition of the dual-use research to include broader categories in addition to the gain-of-function research. However, existing policy dialogues have relied primarily on anecdotal evidence and historical case studies.
U.S. ex-ante security oversight institutions are based on National Security Decision Directive 189 (NSDD-189) and apply when the federal government is involved in research. Therefore, research conducted without federal government involvement effectively falls outside the jurisdiction of this oversight.
Professor Seokbeom Kwon developed a new analytical methodology combining the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s multi-stage security review process with patent-paper citation data, and analyzed approximately 600,000 research papers. The work has been recognized in academia for shifting discussions of dual-use research, which had previously relied largely on case-based analysis, toward large-scale empirical analysis.
The analysis showed that dual-use research consistently has greater scientific impact than comparable research. This means that research subject to the security oversight tends to play an important role in scientific progress and technological innovation.
In addition, the share of dual-use research directly involving the U.S. federal government decreased from about 41% in 1981 to about 22% in 2005, while the share involving foreign institutions increased from 35% to 54% over the same period. This shows that while U.S. security oversight mechanisms based on NSDD-189 have been applied to domestic research, the share of overseas dual-use research has continued to expand.
< Comparison of the Scientific Significance of Dual-Use Research >
Professor Seokbeom Kwon explained, “Strengthening security oversight on dual-use research by a single country alone may impose disproportionate costs on domestic science, while having structural limits in preventing the development of equally important research conducted overseas,” adding, “To achieve both scientific progress and national security, international cooperation and balanced policy design could contribute to mitigating these structural tensions.”
This study provides data-based evidence for international policy discussions surrounding dual-use research. In particular, it is expected to serve as an important reference for future discussions on research security regulation and global cooperation systems not only in biotechnology, but also in advanced technology fields that may be connected to security concerns, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technology.
This study was published as a sole-author paper by Professor Seokbeom Kwon in Science on June 5, 2026.
※ Paper title: “Dual-use research under scrutiny,” DOI: 10.1126/science.aee2479
This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Humanities and Social Sciences Young Researcher Support Program (2025S1A5A8009362).
2026.06.05 View 204 -
KAIST Reveals Principle Behind Ultra-Fast DNA Repair, Like “Finding a Needle in Seoul”
<(From Upper Left) Professor Ja Yil Lee, Professor Gwangrog Lee, Professor Jejoong Yoo, (From Bottom Left) Ph.D candidate Subin Kim, Dr. Donghun Lee, Ph.D candidate Gyeongpil Jo>
DNA is the blueprint of the human body. However, tens of thousands of DNA lesions occur in our bodies every day. In particular, if “apurinic/apyrimidinic sites” (AP sites, damaged sites where one letter of DNA information has been erased) are not properly repaired, they can lead to cancer and aging. Finding these tiny damaged sites within the vast genome is as difficult as “finding a single needle in Seoul.” Korean researchers have uncovered the secret of how a DNA repair enzyme rapidly searches for damaged sites by sliding along DNA.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 4th of June that a research team led by Professor Gwangrog Lee of the Department of Biological Sciences, together with Professor Ja Yil Lee’s team at UNIST (President Jong Rae Park) and Professor Jejoong Yoo’s team at Sungkyunkwan University (President Jibeom Yoo), has identified the precise molecular mechanism by which the DNA repair enzyme “APE1” (apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1, an enzyme that recognizes DNA damage sites and initiates repair) detects damaged DNA.
The research team tracked the movement of APE1 in real time by combining single-molecule FRET (smFRET, an analytical technique that observes the movement and structural changes of single biomolecules in real time), DNA curtain technology (a technique that aligns multiple strands of DNA to observe their interactions with proteins), and molecular dynamics (MD, a simulation method that calculates molecular movement using computers).
As a result, the team found that APE1 does not search DNA randomly, but instead uses a “one-dimensional diffusion” strategy (a method of searching by moving along the DNA strand), sliding along the DNA to find damaged sites.
This is similar to an intelligent inspection robot moving through a maze-like network of underground pipes beneath a huge city to detect a tiny leak. Instead of searching aimlessly from place to place, the enzyme moves efficiently along the “genomic highway” of DNA to quickly locate damaged sites.
In particular, the research team also found that the enzyme’s flexible end region, known as an “intrinsically disordered region” (IDR, a protein segment that moves freely without a fixed structure), plays a key role in the DNA search process.
This intrinsically disordered region acts like a hook that holds onto DNA, helping APE1 remain on the DNA and move along it for a long time without falling off. In fact, when the research team removed this region, the enzyme’s ability to find damaged sites decreased by more than fivefold.
The researchers also confirmed that magnesium ions (Mg²⁺, metal ions that assist various enzymatic reactions inside cells) are not merely auxiliary factors, but key elements that increase the efficiency of DNA search. Magnesium ions were found to stabilize the binding between APE1 and DNA, helping the enzyme move more effectively along DNA.
< Research Image (AI-Generated Image) >
Professor Gwangrog Lee of KAIST explained, “This study identified the mechanism by which a biomolecule rapidly searches for DNA damage through an intrinsically disordered region (IDR), and then operates precisely through a structured region,” adding, “This principle could provide a key clue for developing next-generation anticancer drugs that disable DNA repair functions in cancer cells, as well as for research on suppressing aging.” Professor Ja Yil Lee of UNIST emphasized, “This study is significant in that it revealed that an intrinsically disordered region, which moves flexibly without a fixed structure and interacts with various molecules, plays a key role in finding DNA damage sites.”
This study, with KAIST Dr. Donghun Lee, UNIST doctoral student Subin Kim, and Sungkyunkwan University doctoral student Gyeongpil Jo as co-first authors, was published on May 14 in the world-renowned international journal Nucleic Acids Research.
※ Paper title: “APE1 Coordinates Its Disordered Region and Metal Cofactors to Drive Genome Surveillance,” DOI: org/10.1093/nar/gkag479
This research was supported by the KAIST Grand Challenge 30 Project (KC30), the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Core Synthetic Biology Technology Development Program, Mid-Career Researcher Program, Basic Research Laboratory Program, the Korea Drug Development Fund’s Drug Development Foundation Expansion Research Program, the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), and the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP)’s Advanced AI Source Technology Development Program.
2026.06.04 View 196 -
Fatty Acid in Body Acts as Natural Brake Suppressing Cancer Cell Growth
< (Left) Professor Seyun Kim from KAIST, (Right) Professor Young-Joo Byun from Korea University >
'mTOR', a protein in our body, becomes excessively activated in cancer cells, promoting cell growth and metastasis. Korean researchers have discovered for the first time in the world that '13-HODE'—a substance produced when fatty acids, which are abundant in vegetable oils, are metabolized in the body—binds directly to mTOR and acts as a 'natural brake' that suppresses cancer cell growth. This research presents the possibility of developing next-generation anticancer treatment strategies. Our university announced on the 2nd that a joint research team led by Professor Seyun Kim from the Department of Biological Sciences and Professor Young-Joo Byun from the College of Pharmacy at Korea University (President Dong-One Kim) has discovered that the lipid metabolite '13-HODE' (a lipid metabolite produced when fatty acids are metabolized) suppresses the activity of mTOR, a key regulatory factor in cancer cell growth. In addition, this research involved joint participation from Professor Mi Young Kim from the Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST, Professor Byung-Chul Oh from the College of Medicine at Gachon University (President Gil-ya Lee), and Professor Patrick L. Wintrode and Professor Daniel Deredge from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Maryland, USA. mTOR is an important enzyme (a protein that helps biological reactions) that regulates cell growth and energy usage. However, in cancer cells, mTOR activity is known to increase abnormally, promoting cell proliferation and metastasis. For this reason, anticancer research aimed at controlling mTOR is being actively conducted worldwide. The research team focused on substances capable of binding to the mTOR protein, particularly natural metabolites produced by the body itself. Through extensive metabolite screening (a technology that analyzes large quantities of metabolites in vivo), they discovered that a lipid metabolite called '13-HODE', which is formed as fat changes in the body, attaches directly to the active site of the mTOR protein and stops its operation in cancer cells.
< (AI Image) Cancer cell growth suppression effect based on direct inhibition of mTOR by linoleic acid-derived 13-HODE >
The 13-HODE (13-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid) molecule is produced in our body during the process of metabolizing linoleic acid (an essential unsaturated fatty acid), which is abundant in vegetable oils. In this process, 'ALOX15 (an enzyme that induces a fatty acid oxidation reaction)' oxidizes linoleic acid to produce 13-HODE. The core of this research goes beyond the simple level of showing that 13-HODE has anticancer efficacy; it clarifies the molecular mechanism (the biological principle of operation) by which 13-HODE physically binds directly to the mTOR protein to fundamentally block its function. The research team verified this through molecular docking simulations (computer-based analysis of molecular interactions) and mass spectrometry (a technology that analyzes the mass and structure of molecules). The research team also confirmed that 13-HODE concentrations are extremely low in breast and colorectal cancer cells. This was found to be due to a decrease in the expression (the process by which genetic information is actually made into protein) of the ALOX15 enzyme required for 13-HODE generation. The research team proved that increasing the production of ALOX15 and 13-HODE reduces mTOR activity and suppresses cancer cell growth. Professor Seyun Kim said, "This research is significant in that it revealed that lipid metabolites generated within the human body can directly inhibit mTOR, a core protein for cancer growth. It can be utilized not only for new anticancer treatment strategies leveraging lipid metabolism but also for developing treatments that regulate mTOR overactivation observed during inflammation and aging processes."
Professor Young-Joo Byun from the College of Pharmacy at Korea University, who co-led the joint research, said, "This research is a study that clarified the interaction between proteins and fatty acid metabolites at the molecular level through the convergence of biological sciences and pharmacy. It will serve as an important foundation for the development of innovative new drugs in the future." Professor Jie Chen from the University of Illinois, USA, a world-renowned authority in the field of mTOR research, evaluated it in a journal preview as "an outstanding discovery that presents a new breakthrough in cancer cell control." This research, with Dr. Seung Ju Park and Ph.D. student Sera Kim from the Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST participating as co-first authors, and Professor Young-Joo Byun from the College of Pharmacy at Korea University and Professor Seyun Kim from the Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST participating as co-corresponding authors, was published on May 21st in the international academic journal in the field of chemical biology, Cell Chemical Biology. Furthermore, in recognition of its importance, it was selected as the cover article for the May issue of the journal. ※ Paper Title: Mechanism by which a linoleic acid metabolite suppresses cancer cell growth by inhibiting mTOR, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2026.04.004 ※ Author Information: Seung Ju Park, Sera Kim, Hongmok Kwon, Jiyeon Choi, Ji Kwang Kim, Inhong Jung, Seol-Wa Lim, Young Ran Kim, A-Yeong Yang, Boah Lee, Haein Lee, Seung Eun Park, Seulgi Lee, Myeongsu Shin, Bernie Byunghoon Park, YunHye Kim, Jinwook Lee, Byung-Chul Oh, Daniel Deredge, Patrick L. Wintrode, … Seyun Kim
< Cover Article of the Journal Cell Chemical Biology May Issue >
Meanwhile, this research was conducted with support from the Samsung Science and Technology Foundation, the Mid-Career Research Program, the Basic Research Laboratory of the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Leading Research Center, the KAIST Quantum+X Interdisciplinary Convergence Technology Development Project, the KAIST Grand Challenge Project, and the Ministry of Education's Core Research Institute Program.
2026.06.04 View 187 -
Unveil Next-Gen Spatial AI and XR Core Technologies at KMF 2026
< Poster of the Korea Metaverse Festival (KMF) >
KAIST announced on June 5 that its Graduate School of Metaverse will participate in the Korea Metaverse Festival (KMF) 2026, held at COEX in Seoul from June 10 to 12. During the event, the school will showcase its core research achievements in "Next-Generation Spatial AI" and XR (Extended Reality)—technologies designed to recognize and understand physical spaces, analyze the positions, movements, and contexts of people and objects, and enable seamless interaction.
These achievements are evaluated as representative outcomes of the "Graduate School of eXtended Reality Support Program," an initiative funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) to foster top-tier talents for future core industries.
At IEEE VR 2026, the world’s most prestigious academic conference in virtual reality held earlier this year, the KAIST Graduate School of Metaverse presented 12 oral papers—the second highest among universities and research institutes worldwide—proving its top-tier global research competitiveness.
The Graduate School of eXtended Reality Support Program is recognized as a preemptive policy designed to systematically nurture master’s and doctoral-level specialists in key future fields, such as XR, digital twins, and spatial computing, ahead of full-scale market formation. Through this initiative, world-class research outcomes continue to emerge in the fields of Spatial AI, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and virtual convergence systems, contributing significantly to national talent development and the accumulation of technological capabilities.
On June 10, the first day of the event, the "2026 Virtual Convergence Innovative Talent Symposium and Achievement Sharing Tech Day" will introduce a large number of next-generation research results in the XR and Spatial AI sectors. The KAIST Graduate School of Metaverse plans to showcase its key research accomplishments, focusing on next-generation immersive interaction technologies and industry-aligned digital twin demonstration cases.
The flagship technologies to be unveiled on-site include:
OFERA: A real-time avatar facial expression reproduction system that naturally reconstructs facial expressions covered by XR devices, enhancing immersion in remote meetings and virtual collaborations.
AquaHaptics: An immersive underwater tactile interaction technology that transmits the water resistance and texture of a virtual underwater environment directly to the user's fingertips.
Multi-sensor-based Cultural Heritage Digital Twin and AR Visualization Technology: A solution that allows users to inspect even the internal defects of cultural heritage assets using 3D and AR visualization.
< Real-time 3D Gaussian avatar control technology for expressing facial expressions covered by an HMD >
< Multi-modal fluid-haptic rendering technology ‘AquaHaptics’ for highly immersive virtual haptic experiences >
In addition, various other research highlights will be presented, including an indirect tactile feedback system that utilizes smartwatches during bare-hand XR interactions, and "ForceCtrl," an XR raycasting technique that allows users to intuitively select and manipulate desired objects in virtual space using the force of their hand gestures.
The KAIST Graduate School of Metaverse, centered around the Post-Metaverse Research Center (PMRC), is also driving the establishment of the "Bridge Time and Space (BTS)" platform—a hyper-spatiotemporal virtual convergence platform designed to accumulate and share XR experiences and interaction data.
Furthermore, in collaboration with domestic and international research institutes such as New York University (NYU), ETRI, and KISTI, the school is developing an "XR Experience Sharing Platform." By the end of this year, it plans to launch the "New Jam Daejeon" project, a real-world demonstration that combines K-culture with XR technology.
Woontack Woo, Head of the KAIST Graduate School of Metaverse, stated, "Spatial AI and XR will serve as the core infrastructure for the future virtual convergence industry. Based on our world-class research outcomes, KAIST will connect the 'assetization of XR experiences and knowledge' with the virtual convergence industry to drive tangible innovation."
Meanwhile, the KAIST Graduate School of Metaverse will operate a dedicated exhibition booth during KMF 2026 to conduct live demonstrations of its core technologies. It will also host an admission information session for the graduate school and introduce its industry-academic joint research and technological cooperation programs.
2026.06.04 View 64 -
KAIST Develops New Catalyst Design Technology to Improve Battery and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Performance
<(From Left) Professor Seung Jun Hwang, Professor Jaeyune Ryu>
Korean researchers have developed a new catalyst design technology that can improve the performance of batteries and hydrogen fuel cells while reducing energy loss.
KAISTannounced on the 1st of June that a research team led by Professor Seung Jun Hwang of the Department of Chemistry, through joint research with Professor Jaeyune Ryu’s team from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Seoul National University , has proposed a new catalyst design strategy that can improve the efficiency of key reactions that generate electricity inside batteries and fuel cells.
A catalyst is a material that helps chemical reactions occur faster and more efficiently. In batteries or fuel cells, it plays a role in facilitating the reactions that generate electricity. Catalysts usually consist of a central metal and a molecular structure surrounding it.
In previous studies, methods mainly involved changing the type of metal from iron (Fe) to cobalt (Co) or nickel (Ni), or newly designing the molecular structure around the metal, known as the ligand, to improve reaction performance. In simple terms, this approach changes the material or shape of the catalyst itself to make it react better. By contrast, this study is differentiated by showing that performance can be improved simply by adjusting the electrical environment around the catalyst, without greatly changing the catalyst itself.
<(AI Image) Visualization of Enhanced Fe Porphyrin Catalyst Reactivity Induced by the Electric Field of Metal Cations>
To use a simple analogy, this study can be compared to “making cooking work better by adjusting the kitchen environment instead of changing the cooking tool itself.” Previous catalyst research was closer to changing the material of a frying pan or redesigning its shape. By contrast, this study keeps the frying pan the same and precisely adjusts the surrounding temperature and airflow so that the food cooks better. In other words, the core of this research is that the team made the reaction occur more efficiently by adjusting the electrical environment around the catalyst, rather than creating an entirely new catalyst.
The research team confirmed that placing “cations (+)” around the catalyst to create a very small electric field can induce the reaction needed to generate electricity to occur more stably. In particular, the proportion of the desired reaction increased from the previous level of about 12% to as high as 52%.
Through this, the research team confirmed that the desired reaction can be efficiently induced with less energy than before. This is expected to contribute to improving the efficiency, lifespan, and stability of batteries and hydrogen fuel cells.
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR, a key reaction in which oxygen receives electrons to generate electricity) examined in this study is a core reaction that generates electricity in next-generation energy devices such as fuel cells for hydrogen vehicles (Fuel Cell, a device that produces electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen) and metal-air batteries (Metal-Air Battery, a next-generation battery that stores and produces electricity using metal and oxygen in the air).
The research team also believes that this principle can be applied to catalyst technologies that convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) or hydrogen into other useful substances, and that it can therefore be used in the development of various next-generation energy catalysts, including carbon dioxide reduction technologies and eco-friendly hydrogen production technologies.
<Schematic Illustration of Cation-Mediated Regulation of ORR Catalyst Activity>
<(AI Image) Schematic Illustration of Cation-Mediated Regulation of ORR Catalyst Activity>
Professor Seung Jun Hwang stated, “This study demonstrates that reaction properties can be precisely controlled solely through the surrounding electrical environment, without changing the structure of the catalyst itself,” adding, “We expect it to present a new direction for developing next-generation batteries, fuel cells, and eco-friendly energy catalyst technologies.”
This research, with POSTECH chemistry doctoral students Hwi Yul Jo and Vom Kang and KAIST postdoctoral researcher Dongyoung Kim as co-first authors, was published online on April 12 in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS).
※ Paper title: “Localized Cation Unlocks Unique Activity–Selectivity Trends in Molecular Oxygen Reduction Catalysis,” DOI: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.5c18246
Lead author information: Hwi Yul Jo (doctoral student, POSTECH), Vom Kang (integrated master’s–PhD student, POSTECH), Dongyoung Kim (postdoctoral researcher, KAIST)
This research was supported by the Samsung Science and Technology Foundation, the National Research Foundation of Korea’s “Hanwoomul” Basic Research Program, and the Nano and Material Technology Development Program.
2026.06.01 View 275 -
AI College Vision Declaration Ceremony Held... Presenting Vision for Fostering Global AI Convergence Talent
< KAIST College of AI Vision Declaration Ceremony >
KAIST held the 'KAIST College of AI Vision Declaration Ceremony' on the morning of the 1st at 10:00 AM in the Jeong Geun-mo Conference Hall on the 5th floor of the KAIST Academic Cultural Complex (E9). This event was organized to share both internally and externally the vision and future directions for nurturing core talent to lead the AI era, innovating education and research, fostering industrial cooperation, and establishing a responsible AI ecosystem.
The KAIST College of AI views artificial intelligence not merely as a tool for application, but as the foundation for generating new knowledge that drives transformation across science, technology, industry, education, and society as a whole. Accordingly, it plans to nurture both research talent to lead core AI technologies and convergence talent to creatively apply AI in various fields. Furthermore, it aims to establish an educational and research system that covers models, algorithms, systems, infrastructure, and domain convergence, as well as future society design and responsible AI.
The Vision Declaration Ceremony began with a welcoming address by Kwang Hyung Lee, President of KAIST. Following this, Kyeong Hoon Bae, Vice President and Minister of Science and ICT, delivered a keynote speech presenting directions for core talent development and educational innovation in the AI era. In the main session, Kuk-Jin Yoon, Dean of the KAIST College of AI, presented the college’s mid-to-long-term vision and key strategic initiatives under the theme of 'Vision and Innovation Directions of the KAIST College of AI.'
Notably, the appointment ceremony for the 'KAIST College of AI Advisory Board' was also conducted during this event. The advisory board will take on strategic advisory roles for the KAIST College of AI's education, research, industrial cooperation, global collaboration, and the implementation of responsible AI.
As for overseas advisory members, world-renowned AI scholars Yoshua Bengio, a professor at the University of Montreal, and Kyunghyun Cho, a professor at New York University, participated. Domestically, representatives from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), as well as Crafton, Hyundai Motor Company / 42dot, Inable Fusion, Lunit, NAVER Cloud, NC AI, Rebellion, Samsung Electronics, SK Telecom, and Upstage, along with other major domestic AI/ICT companies and research institutions, took part.
In tandem, the 'KAIST AI Innovation Special Session' was held under the theme of 'New Education and Research Grammar in the AI Era.' The KAIST College of AI views students not merely as beneficiaries of education, but as active participants who design future learning methods and research cultures together. Accordingly, undergraduate student representatives directly took the stage as presenters to propose new possibilities for university education, which was followed by a panel discussion joined by the Dean of the College of AI, advisory board members, and students.
Kuk-Jin Yoon, Dean of the KAIST College of AI, stated, "The KAIST College of AI is not an organization that simply teaches AI technology, but aims to become an educational and research platform that expands human intellectual capacity and designs new knowledge and the future alongside AI. With this Vision Declaration Ceremony as a turning point, we will grow into a hub that leads world-class AI talent cultivation, challenging research, industry and social problem-solving, and the establishment of a responsible AI ecosystem."
Kwang Hyung Lee, President of KAIST, remarked, "AI is now transcending being a technology in a specific field and is becoming a core engine driving change across science, technology, industry, and society as a whole. We will actively support the KAIST College of AI so that it can lead AI talent cultivation and research innovation in South Korea and grow into an open platform that collaborates with the world."
Kyeong Hoon Bae, Vice President, stated, "To preemptively respond to a period of great transformation where AI is moving beyond the generation phase and into the execution phase, investment in AI talent is the most urgent priority. Through active communication with students, who are the consumers of education, we will build a differentiated AI educational system for South Korea."
< Poster for the KAIST College of AI Vision Declaration Ceremony >
2026.06.01 View 123 -
KAIST Produces Eco-Friendly Core Nylon Precursors Used from Clothing to Automobiles with Microbes
<(From Left) Dr. Da-Hee Ahn, Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee>
Nylon is a representative plastic material used throughout our daily lives, from clothing to automobiles. However, most of its raw materials have been produced through petrochemical processes, resulting in large carbon emissions. KAIST researchers have developed a technology that can produce key nylon precursors in an eco-friendly way using microbes.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 31st of May that a research team led by Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has developed an Escherichia coli-based modular platform capable of producing three key monomers (basic molecular units that make up polymers) of “nylon 6,6” and “nylon 6” — adipic acid, hexamethylenediamine, and epsilon-caprolactam — from “glycerol (an eco-friendly bio-based byproduct generated during biodiesel production),” a renewable carbon source, using systems metabolic engineering (a technology that designs and optimizes microbial metabolic pathways to maximize the production of desired substances).
“Nylon 6” is highly flexible and is used in clothing and films, while “nylon 6,6” has excellent strength and heat resistance and is used in automobiles and machinery parts. The numbers after the nylon name indicate the number of carbon atoms contained in the raw material molecules.
The core of this study is that the biosynthetic pathway was divided into upstream and downstream modules, with E. coli strains assigned different roles. The upstream strain was designed to produce adipic acid from glycerol, while the downstream strain was designed to convert it into hexamethylenediamine or epsilon-caprolactam, respectively. Through this, the research team succeeded in producing adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine, the key raw materials of nylon 6,6, and epsilon-caprolactam, the key raw material of nylon 6, within a single integrated platform.
To improve production efficiency, the researchers compared and validated various enzymes (proteins that promote chemical reactions in living organisms), including carboxylic acid reductases and transaminases, and applied the optimal combination, thereby improving hexamethylenediamine titer. In addition, in the epsilon-caprolactam production process, they designed a flexible-linker fusion enzyme that enhances reaction efficiency through efficient cofactor regeneration.In the upstream module, the team reconstructed the biosynthetic pathway (a series of reaction processes through which compounds are produced in living organisms) and improved the performance of key enzymes using artificial intelligence (AI), increasing production titer. As a result, they succeeded in producing adipic acid at a level of 6 grams per liter (g/L) in a fed-batch fermentation process.
The research team also applied a “delayed inoculation” strategy (time-staggered co-culture), in which the second strain is introduced later after sufficient adipic acid has first been produced, rather than adding the two types of E. coli simultaneously. This is a method of sequentially introducing microbes with different roles at different times.
When this strategy was applied to a fed-batch fermentation process (a fermentation method that increases productivity by supplying nutrients step by step), the team produced 230 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of hexamethylenediamine and 808 micrograms per liter (μg/L) of epsilon-caprolactam using only glycerol. Although the production amounts are not yet high, the research team explained that these results represent world-class performance among cases of direct production from glycerol.
<Schematic Diagram>
This technology is significant in that it presents the possibility of producing nylon raw materials, which have relied on petrochemical processes, through bio-based methods.
The research team plans to further improve titer by combining AI-based enzyme design with additional systems metabolic engineering, and to expand the platform to produce various polymer raw materials (substances formed by the repeated bonding of multiple monomers).
Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee stated, “This study is meaningful in that it presents a modular microbial platform capable of producing key monomers required for nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 production from renewable carbon sources,” adding, “We will continue to advance enzyme and metabolic flux engineering to improve titer and develop this into a core platform for sustainably producing various bio-based polymer raw materials.”
The results of this study were published on May 4 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), with Dr. Da-Hee Ahn of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering as the first author.
※ Paper title: “Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the biosynthesis of nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 monomers”
Authors: Sang Yup Lee (KAIST, corresponding author), Da-Hee Ahn (KAIST, first author), Tong Un Chae (KAIST, second author), total of 3 authors
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2535786123
This research was supported by the “Development of Platform Technologies of Microbial Cell Factories for the Next-Generation Biorefineries” project under the Petroleum Replacement Eco-Friendly Chemical Technology Development Program supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and by the “Development of Advanced Synthetic Biology Source Technologies for Leading the Biomanufacturing Industry” project under the Core Synthetic Biology Technology Development Program.
2026.06.01 View 247 -
"Development of 'ADvisor', an AI that Predicts Instagram Advertising Performance in Advance"
<(Bottom from left) M.S candidate Gyurim Hwang, M.S candidate Yeongho Kim, Ph.D. candidate Kyungho Kim, Ph.D.candidate Jongha Lee, M.S candidate Yeonje Choi (Top from left) Undergraduate student Sejin Chung, Researcher Hongseok Lee, Researcher Myeong Ho Song, Ph.D. candidate Sunwoo Kim, M.S candidate Juyeon Kim, Professor Kijung Shin>
Social media advertising usually requires running multiple ad drafts in practice before determining which ad is effective. Because of this, testing advertisements demands significant time and costs. Furthermore, the criteria for an effective advertisement vary greatly by brand. While some brands prefer person-centered advertisements, others receive better responses from advertisements that emphasize actual usage scenes. However, these effective advertising strategies for each brand are often not clearly defined in the field, which has limited the technology to systematically reflect them and predict advertising performance.
To solve this problem, a research team led by Professor Kijung Shin at KAIST, in collaboration with the AI marketing company MADUP, developed 'ADvisor', an AI technology that predicts advertising performance for each brand.
ADvisor utilizes a generative vision-language model that understands images and text simultaneously to find different advertising success criteria for each brand and predict advertising effectiveness based on them. To achieve this, it not only analyzes the characteristics of the brand but also considers advertising data from other brands with similar tendencies for new brands that do not have sufficient advertising data to derive advertising strategies. Through this process, it can identify distinct advertising success criteria for each brand; for instance, a "strong headline phrase" is analyzed as an important criterion for a specific fashion brand, while "logo exposure" acts as a key element for another brand. Afterward, ADvisor evaluates the advertisement based on the derived criteria for each brand, reviews the evaluation results on its own, and repeatedly compensates for deficiencies to make the final prediction.
The research team verified the technology's performance using data from 10 brands in the beauty, fashion, and platform sectors collected through actual marketing campaigns. As a result, ADvisor recorded up to 7.2% higher performance compared to existing AI advertising prediction models. In particular, in an online A/B test conducted in a real Instagram advertising environment, it achieved an average of 27% better performance in key indicators such as click-through rate (CTR), cost per click (CPC), and return on ad spend (ROAS) than advertisements selected by field marketing experts, proving that it can be utilized in actual marketing decision-making.
Professor Kijung Shin stated, "Predicting advertising performance in advance is the first step for effective advertisement production," adding, "In the future, we will develop our research in a direction where AI directly generates and optimizes advertisements tailored to brand characteristics."
The study, in which Ph.D candidate Kyungho Kim and M.S candidate Yeonje Choi from the KAIST Kim Jaechul Graduate School of AI participated as co-first authors, was published online on April 18 in the Industry Track of ACL 2026, one of the most prestigious international academic conferences in the field of natural language processing. It has been accepted as an oral presentation paper and is scheduled to be presented in the United States this coming July.
※ Paper Title: Pre-Deployment Advertisement Ranking under Data Scarcity via Context-Aware Criteria Generation with VLMs ※ Paper Link: https://openreview.net/forum?id=il84gAzAxx
Meanwhile, this research is an achievement of the project 'EntireDB2AI: Deep Representation Learning and Prediction Source Technology and Software Development Utilizing Entire Relational Databases Comprehensively', supported by the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP).
2026.06.01 View 183 -
4 Institute of Science and Technolgies Form Alliance to Support Global Expansion of Deep-Tech Startups
An opportunity is opening up for homegrown deep-tech startups that have built strong technological capabilities to validate their competitiveness in the global market. KAIST announced on June 1st that, in collaboration with GIST, DGIST , and UNIST and with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Science and ICT, it is co-operating the ‘2026 Emerging Tech Global Launchpad’—a program supporting overseas local Proof of Concept (PoC, technological verification), investment attraction, and global networking—and is currently recruiting participating companies. The application period runs from May 29th to June 19th. This program has been designed to support ‘emerging tech-based startups’ in achieving tangible outcomes in the global market. Based on each company’s stage of readiness and target market, the program divides its support methods and leverages the regional startup networks and overseas cooperative infrastructure held by the 4 Institutes of Science and Technology (ISTs) to facilitate global market entry.
Emerging Tech Startups: Innovative companies possessing core new technologies for future industries—such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum technology, next-generation energy, and biotech—and preparing for commercialization in the global market. The support types are divided into two tracks. Track 1, the ‘Global Expansion Track,’ is designed for companies that are already preparing for or attempting to enter overseas markets. Selected companies will participate in local overseas PoCs to verify the market fit of their technology for local customers and its commercial viability. They will also receive support for local partner-linked verification environments and expert networks. Track 2, the ‘Global Readiness Track,’ is a process for companies looking to build their capacity for overseas expansion.
This track provides PoC-tailored education and intensive business commercialization support programs, focusing on enhancing product and customer discovery strategies for overseas markets, designing investment attraction scenarios, and mastering local market entry methodologies. In particular, following the specialized PoC acceleration, the program will connect participants to international conferences held in major innovation hubs—such as the US West Coast, US East Coast, and Singapore—to support the discovery of global PoC customers.
Through this, participating companies are expected to expand opportunities for technical verification and business cooperation by directly meeting local corporations, investors, and representatives from global Big Tech firms. The program is open to emerging tech companies located within the regional jurisdictions covered by the 4 ISTs. KAIST is in charge of the Central Region, GIST the Honam Region, DGIST the Daekyeong Region, and UNIST the Southeast Region. However, if the company representative belongs to one of the 4 ISTs, they can apply through their affiliated institution regardless of their physical company location. This lowers the barrier to entry for startup companies founded by researchers, faculty, and graduate students belonging to the ISTs.
Kwang-Hyung Lee, President of KAIST, stated, “By combining the cooperation between the ISTs and our regional technology startup networks, we will establish a practical global expansion support system for emerging tech startups,” adding, “We will actively support domestic tech companies to minimize trial and error in entering overseas markets, generate rapid outcomes, and grow into globally competitive enterprises.”
Meanwhile, the ‘2026 Emerging Tech Global Launchpad’ is a case where the scope of cooperation has been expanded to corporate-targeted overseas customer validation and PoC support, following the ‘Deep-Tech Student Startup Integrated League (GRAVITY)’ currently co-operated by the 4 ISTs. It holds great significance as it expands the scope of support beyond discovering student startups to facilitating the overseas verification and global market settlement of regionally-based emerging tech startups. Detailed recruitment schedules, support requirements, and application methods can be found on the official ‘Emerging Tech Global Launchpad’ website (https://launchpad2026.io/) and the KAIST Institute for Startup Advancement (https://startup.kaist.ac.kr/).
2026.06.01 View 137