The innovations in modern science and technology can be explored by a ‘revolutionary’ or ‘disruptive’ strategy, rather than an ‘evolutionary’ or ‘sustaining’ strategy, to overturn the existing knowledge in information technology (IT), biotechnology (BT) and energy & environment technology (EET). Therein lies materials science as a common ground for the various research activities, often providing unprecedented scientific and technological breakthroughs and innovations. Materials science is multidisciplinary by nature. In this view, materials science will play an essential role by (1) identifying potentially the most competitive research subjects with domestic scholars collaborating with world-class scholars from abroad, (2) establishing a single cooperative department in a competitive environment, and (3) emphasizing both fundamental researches and their dissemination into practical developments.
To this end the Division of Advanced Materials Science (AMS) was launched in March 2009, which will be funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Korea as a WCU (World Class University) Program. After WCU program ended, AMS has been selected the BK21+. The AMS aims to become a world-class research and education institute in the field of materials science through interdisciplinary research and study, contributing not only to the advancement of knowledge but also to human welfare and to building a sustainable society.
In 2009, the AMS has 14 faculty members including 4 distinguished scholars from abroad in the areas of physics, chemistry, and materials science, whose work has been internationally well-recognized. Consequently, graduate students have a wide range of research choices available to them. The head of the institute, Prof. Kimoon Kim is one of the world’s top scientists in the synthesis of novel aterials using supramolecular chemistry, especially metal-organic porous materials, and soft materials based on cucurbiturils. He has published over 200 papers in world leading journals including Nature with total citations over 8600 (H-index of 50). Other participants are also leading scientists publishing in top notch journals including Science, Nature, Nature Materials, Angewandte Chemie, Journal of the American Chemical Society, etc. In particular, Prof. Gerad Ferey has published over 480 papers in Science, Nature, etc. with total citations over 10000 (H-index of 50). Members in emergent materials group have strong expertise in strongly correlated material systems such as multiferroics with publication in world top journals in physics including Nature, Physical Review Letters, etc. Particularly, Prof. Jae-Hoon Park has published over 80 papers which have been cited over 3000 times. Prof. Jong Lam Lee in emerging device systems is a leading scientist on photonic devices with over 210 papers in top journals in the related field including Advanced Materials, Journal of the Chemical Society, Applied Physics Letters, and Organic Electronics. Other participants are also leading materials scientists who publish in top journals including Nature Nanotechnology, Nano Letters, etc. The total number of research papers published in various SCI listed academic journals in 2008 numbered 125. This equals 8.9 papers per professor on average, achieving an international standard as well as reaching the top level in the nation.
The AMS conducts various research projects, commissioned by government agencies and industries, from basic sciences to applied sciences. Currently the division hosts five research centers: one Institute for Basic Science(Center for self-assembly & Complexity), two Creative Research Initiative Centers (Center for Smart Supramolecules, Center for cross-coupled complex materials research) and two National research Laboratories (Polymer Synthesis and Physics Laboratory, Polymer Physical Chemistry Laboratory), all supported by Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST). The faculty members also participate in other major research center programs such as Science Research Center program (Center for Electro-Photo Behaviors in Advanced Molecular Systems), Engineering Research Center program (Center for Functional Device Platform) and Core Research Center Program (Center for Information Material) supported by MEST. The faculty members develop various new material and research the functionality of new materials. Therefore they achieve excellent performance. For example, for the last 3 years, they published 329 research papers in SCI listed Journals as Science, Nature Chem., Nature Commum., J. AM. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem., Phys. Rev. Lett., Nano Lett., Adv Mat. and so on. It indicates each professor published 7.8 research papers an yearly average and impact factor is 6.2. This is the top level not only in Korea, but in the world.
Most professors are actively involved in synchrotron-radiation research at Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL), and especially Prof. Moonhor Ree is a director of PAL.
The comprehensive nature of the AMS, combined with POSTECH’s high quality faculty, facilities, and industrial relationships, makes this project an ideal research environment for students as well as experienced researchers. POSTECH provides a unique and world-class competitive research environment for advanced materials science including the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL), POSTECH Biotech Center, National Center for Nanomaterials Technology (NCNT), and the national facility for the nanomaterials and device fabrication. To establish a leading world-class institute in materials science, we implant the WCU program on the already-profound local research environment and make intimate and collaborative research networks with various world-leading materials research institutes and groups around the world. This strategy enables our institute not only to produce cutting-edge research but also to serve as a hub for the global research network in advanced materials science.
The graduate program, supported by the WCU (World Class University) program, is tailored to the needs of each student for achieving their research goals. In particular, students may enroll in a co-advisor program offered by domestic and foreign faculty members in different research areas. The programs leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees involve a short list of core courses and a variety of electives, which are essential to the students' specialized fields of interest that they may require for their future career development. Students may also enroll in courses offered by other departments such as physics, life sciences, chemical engineering, computer engineering, electronic and electrical engineering, and materials science. The Institute has a number of active seminar programs in which distinguishes visitors from all over the world describe their current work
The synergic and interdisciplinary researches for the development of new functional materials and device platforms will provide a firm base for developing revolutionary technologies in many areas including IT, BT and EET, which will be a key driving force for our economic growth in the next generations. Our graduate program will provide individuals with an environment for competitive research and education, so that they become leaders in academia and industry, contributing to the development of next-generation human resources. Our Institute will increase the visibility of Korean universities as a leading institute in the global research network of materials science.