Dr. Kyu Hwan Lee | Electrochemical Sensors Award | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Kyu Hwan Lee, Korea Institute of Materials Science, South Korea

Lee Kyu Hwan is a distinguished materials scientist and engineer specializing in energy and environmental materials. He is a Principal Researcher at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), where he has been serving since 1991. He earned his B.A. (1988) and M.S. (1991) in Materials Science & Engineering from Hanyang University and later obtained his Ph.D. (2003) from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), focusing on biaxial texturing of nickel sheets by electrodeposition. Throughout his career, he has held various leadership positions, including Director of the Materials Processing Division at KIMS (2009–2012), Director of the Climate Change Research Center (2016–2017), and Vice President of KIMS (2019–2021). He has also contributed significantly to academia as a Professor at the University of Science and Technology (UST) since 2012 and as the Representative Professor of UST KIMS School since 2019. Internationally, he served as a Visiting Scientist at the University of California, Riverside (2013–2014) and has played a key role in ISO standardization as the Chairperson of ISO TC107 SC8 since 2021. His expertise extends to smart farming and technological innovation, serving as the Center Director of the Gyeongnam Smart Farm Demonstration Center (since 2022) and the Director of the Miryang Technology Innovation Center (since 2023). Additionally, he is a certified Professional Engineer in Surface Treatment and has obtained specialized training in cathodic protection and corrosion modeling.

Professional Profile:

SCOPUS

Suitability Summary for the Best Researcher Award

Mr. LEE, KYU HWAN is a highly distinguished researcher with over three decades of experience in materials science, surface engineering, and environmental materials research. His contributions as a Principal Researcher at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), along with leadership roles as Vice President of KIMS, Director of multiple research divisions, and Chairperson of ISO TC107 SC8, highlight his significant impact on global research and industry standards. His tenure as a Visiting Scientist at the University of California, Riverside, and his current position as a Professor and Representative Professor at UST KIMS School further solidify his academic and research excellence. However, to strengthen his candidacy, including detailed information on high-impact publications, patents, and previous research awards would provide additional evidence of his outstanding contributions.

🎓 Education

📜 B.A. in Materials Science & Engineering – Hanyang University (1984 ~ 1988)
📜 M.S. in Materials Science & Engineering – Hanyang University (1989 ~ 1991)
🎓 Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering – Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) (1997 ~ 2003)
- 📝 Dissertation: A Study on the Biaxial Texturing of Nickel Sheet by Electrodeposition

💼 Work Experience

🔬 Principal Researcher, Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) (1991 ~ Present)
📌 Director, Materials Processing Division, KIMS (Jan. 2009 ~ Jan. 2012)
🌍 Visiting Scientist, University of California, Riverside (Jun. 2013 ~ Jun. 2014)
🌱 Director, Climate Change Research Center, KIMS (Feb. 2016 ~ Dec. 2017)
🏛️ Director, UC-KIMS Center (CIME – Center for Innovative Materials for Energy & Environment) (Mar. 2017 ~ 2021)
🛠️ Vice President, KIMS (Mar. 2019 ~ Dec. 2021)
📚 Professor, KIMS School, University of Science and Technology (UST) (2012 ~ Present)
🎓 Representative Professor, UST KIMS School (2019 ~ Present)
🚜 Center Director, Gyeongnam Smart Farm Demonstration Center (2022 ~ Present)
🏢 Director, Miryang Technology Innovation Center (2023 ~ Present)
🔬 Vice President, Korea Institute of Surface Engineering (2016 ~ 2021)
📑 ISO TC107 SC8 Secretary (2016 ~ 2020)
🌍 ISO TC107 SC8 Chairperson (2021 ~ Present)

🏆 Qualifications & Certifications

✅ Professional Engineer for Surface Treatment (Aug. 1996) – Human Resource Development Service of Korea
🛡️ Cathodic Protection – Design 1 (Dec. 1996) – NACE
💻 Computer Modeling Corrosion Protection Systems (May 2002) – Krylov Shipbuilding Research Institute, Russia

Publication Top Notes:

Iridium oxide nano-needles using electrodeposition for highly stable and sensitive pH sensor

Bifunctional technology involving RuO₂-IrO₂/Ti electrode decorated with reduced graphene oxide aerogel with Pd nanoparticles: Electrochemical oxidative decomposition and detection of p-nitrophenol

High strength CuAg foil with a nano-lamellar structure prepared via pulse electrodeposition in an environmental-friendly methanesulfonic acid-based bath

Enhancement of strength and electrical conductivity for hypo-eutectic Cu-12Ag alloy

Graphene-anchored conductive polymer aerogel composite for the electrocatalytic detection of hydrogen peroxide and bisphenol A

Ms. Afef Dhaffouli ,Faculté des Sciences de Gafsa, Tunisia

Afef Dhaffouli, born on November 15, 1997, in Tunisia, is an accomplished chemist specializing in organic chemistry. She earned her Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from the Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa in December 2021, following her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the same institution in June 2019. Her educational journey began with a Science Baccalaureate from Lycée Secondaire Houcine Bouzaiene in Sidi Bouzid, completed in June 2016.Afef’s professional experience includes a pivotal internship in July 2017 in the Department of Analyses at a hospital, where she gained practical skills in sample preparation, measurement, and laboratory equipment maintenance. Her training is extensive and includes courses in molecular docking, chemical safety, ISO 17025 standards, and English communication.She has actively participated in numerous conferences and symposiums, presenting her research on electrochemical sensors for detecting heavy metals and other substances. Notably, she presented her work at the 3rd Edition of Doctoral Days in Monastir, the International Meeting on Advanced Materials in Sousse, and the 6th International Conference on Smart Materials and Spectroscopy in Monastir.

Professional Profile

SCOPUS

EDUCATION

December 2021: Master’s Degree in Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, Tunisia
June 2019: Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, Tunisia
June 2016: Science Baccalaureate, Lycée Secondaire Houcine Bouzaiene, Sidi Bouzid

WORK EXPERIENCE

Intern, July 2017: Department of Analyses at the Hospital

Afef Dhaffouli has pursued higher education in chemistry, completing a bachelor’s degree in 2019 and a master’s degree in organic chemistry in 2021, both from the Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa in Tunisia. Her professional experience includes an internship in the Department of Analyses at a hospital in July 2017.

📝 Projects

Master’s Research Topic in Chemistry: Synthesis, Characterization, and Functionalization of Silica Nanoparticles
Thesis Topic: New electrochemical molecularly imprinted matrices for sensor applications

🛠️ Personal Skills

Sample preparation and analysis equipment setup
Performing measurements and analyses
Data entry and report writing
Laboratory equipment management and maintenance

📚 Training Courses

09-12 May 2024: Molecular Docking & Pharmacokinetic Parameters
01/04/2023: Molecular Docking Training
18/09/2022: Training on Chemical Safety and Security in the Laboratory and Chemical Stock Management