SAINT Faculty Awards 2026

SAINT faculty members were recognized with major university honors in 2026.Prof. Boseok Kang was selected for the 2026 SKKU Rising-Fellowship, an honorary recognition and special research support program for outstanding early- and mid-career faculty with excellent research achievements and strong potential for world-class scholarship. Prof. Oh Seok Kwon received the 2026 SKKU Teaching Award, which honors faculty members who have contributed to educational excellence through innovative teaching, active student engagement, and continued support for student growth.These honors reflect SAINT’s excellence in both research and education.

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Prof. Jisang Park Contributes to Breakthrough in High-Performance, Air-Stable Perovskite Transistors

Professor Ji-sang Park of SAINT has contributed to a collaborative research breakthrough that significantly improves both the performance and stability of tin-based perovskite transistors. The findings were published in Nature.The research was led by Professor Yong-Young Noh’s team at POSTECH in collaboration with Professor Jisang Park’s team at Sungkyunkwan University and research teams led by Professors Ao Liu and Huihui Zhu at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC).Tin-based perovskites have attracted significant attention as promising materials for high-performance p-type transistors. However, their practical application has been limited by poor air stability: unreacted tin ions (Sn²⁺) on the material surface readily oxidize when exposed to air, creating defects that rapidly degrade device performance.To address this challenge, the researchers developed a “volatile surface reconstruction” strategy. By treating the surface of a cesium–tin–iodide semiconductor with potassium acetate, residual tin ions are converted into volatile tin acetate and removed from the surface. At the same time, potassium iodide forms naturally in the resulting vacancies, creating a protective layer against the external environment.The resulting p-type perovskite transistors achieved hole mobilities exceeding 50 cm²/V·s and on/off current ratios above 10⁸, representing world-leading device performance. The devices also demonstrated substantially improved stability, remaining operational for more than four hours in ambient air and maintaining their initial performance for over a month under accelerated aging conditions at 100°C.The breakthrough could open new possibilities for high-performance electronic technologies, including vertically stacked DRAM for AI computing, next-generation display driving circuits, wearable electronics, and highly integrated semiconductor devices.

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Three Special Issues in Leading Journals Celebrate SAINT’s 20th Anniversary

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, SAINT is collaborating with three leading international journals—Advanced Materials, ACS Nano, and Small—to highlight two decades of research excellence and innovation in nanoscience and nanotechnology.The special issues showcase SAINT’s research achievements and vision for the future, spanning advanced materials, nanoelectronics, energy, biotechnology, and other interdisciplinary fields.The upcoming Small special issue is being prepared with SAINT alumni from academia and industry, reflecting the strong research community and network built over the past 20 years.Together, the three special issues celebrate SAINT’s first 20 years and the beginning of its next chapter.

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SAINT Alumni Prof.Jang-Ah Kim Receives Imperial College London President’s Award for Outstanding Early Career Researcher

Professor Jang-A Kim, an alumna of SAINT, has received the President’s Award for Outstanding Early Career Researcher at Imperial College London.Professor Kim earned her Ph.D. from SAINT in 2017 after completing her undergraduate studies in Mechanical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University. She subsequently joined Imperial College London as a postdoctoral researcher and was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2023.Based at the Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery, Professor Kim leads the Micro-Nano Innovation Lab (mini lab), where her research explores innovative sensing and microrobotic technologies by integrating optics with micro- and nanotechnology. Her work bridges engineering and biomedical applications, contributing to advances in next-generation medical and robotic technologies.The President’s Award for Outstanding Early Career Researcher recognizes the achievements and potential of emerging researchers at Imperial College London. Professor Kim’s recognition highlights not only her research accomplishments but also her development of an independent research direction, collaborative approach, and contributions to the wider research community.Her achievement also represents the continued global impact of SAINT alumni, demonstrating how the research foundation developed at SAINT can lead to internationally recognized careers at leading research institutions.

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SAINT and Thailand’s NANOTEC Open a New Chapter in Their Long-Standing Partnership

SAINT and Thailand’s National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), under the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on July 8, 2026, at Thailand Science Park, marking a new chapter in their long-standing partnership. SAINT and NANOTEC have maintained a close relationship for many years, building strong ties through continued academic and research exchanges. The new MOU represents an important transition from this long-established relationship toward a broader and more strategic research partnership. Under the renewed framework, the two institutions will expand collaboration in key research areas including sensors and biosensors, advanced functional materials, sustainable energy technologies, environmental nanotechnology, and photonics. The partnership will also promote joint research projects, researcher exchanges, academic activities, and opportunities to pursue internationally funded collaborative programs. Building on years of mutual trust and cooperation, SAINT and NANOTEC aim to develop a more sustainable research and innovation network between Korea and Thailand and create new opportunities for collaboration in emerging fields of nanotechnology.

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Path to Oxbridge with Prof. Jong Min Kim

SAINT hosted a special lecture by Professor Jong Min Kim, SAINT Chair Professor, for SKKU undergraduate students under the theme “Path to Oxbridge.”Drawing on his distinguished academic career and experience as the first Korean to serve as a Chair Professor at both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, Professor Kim shared insights into pursuing graduate study and academic careers at leading global universities.In particular, he introduced students to pathways toward Ph.D. programs, the preparation needed for doctoral study, and the research mindset required to grow as an independent scholar.The lecture offered students an opportunity to better understand international graduate education and to consider long-term academic and research careers beyond undergraduate study.Through programs such as this, SAINT continues to broaden students’ academic horizons and support their future pathways into advanced research and global scholarship.

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Prof. Seunggu Kang: Advancing AI-Driven Drug Discovery at SAINT

Prof. Seunggu Kang brings extensive experience from IBM Research, where he was recognized among the top 1% of researchers and received the IBM Outstanding Research Award six times.His research focuses on AI-driven analysis of chemical and biological data, integrating artificial intelligence with advanced experimental platforms to accelerate drug discovery.At SAINT, Professor Kang is leading AI-focused education and research, developing new AI-based courses and advancing interdisciplinary research that connects artificial intelligence with nanoscience, chemistry, and biotechnology.

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