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Signed exchange agreement with the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City and thus, automatically in exchange relation with its 6 independent colleges and 21 research centers Obtained new bridgehead to enter Southeast Asia following the establishment of the Vietnam Alumni Association [January 10, 2012] With Hallyu of Southeast Asia continuing to the high Korean education fever, Yeungnam University is beginning its full-fledged entry into Vietnam. Yeungnam University (President Lee, Hyo-soo) signed an exchange agreement with the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) in the main conference room at Yeungnam University on the afternoon of the 10th. (photo) VNU-HCM is a national university association launched by universities in the Ho Chi Minh area in 1995. It has been under the direct jurisdiction of Vietnam’s Prime Minister’s Office since 2011. It is Vietnam’s top advanced education institute having 6 separate colleges (science, engineering, humanities/social sciences, international, information technology, law/economics) and 21 research centers. With this agreement, an official channel for the best minds that graduated from Vietnam National University to study at the Yeungnam University Graduate School has opened, and thus, it is expected that joint research between Korea and Vietnam will become more active. Moreover, Yeungnam University’s advanced medical education, medical technologies and industry-academic cooperation knowhow will be passed on to Vietnam, making it more than merely academic exchange, but a win-win relationship. In particular, using the ‘Yeungnam University Vietnam Alumni Association’ that was established at the end of last year in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as a hub, it is expected to play a leading role in spreading Korean language education and Korean culture in Vietnam. Currently, over 40 Vietnamese who acquired a degree at Yeungnam University are actively participating in the Yeungnam University Vietnam Alumni Association, and as of the second semester of 2011, 45 students from Vietnam are studying at Yeungnam University. 8 additional students are expected to come to the university in the first semester of 2012. On this, Lee, Hyo-soo expressed his hopes to increase exchange with all of Southeast Asia by saying, “We basically acquired a bridgehead starting with Vietnam that can spread to active exchange with all of Southeast Asia.”
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Research Institute of Protein Sensor develops convenient ‘chip’ for diagnosing aging. ‘Power of Fusion’ of biotechnology, mechanical engineering, clinical medicine, and basic medicine scientifically proved that severe diabetes makes one look older [January 4, 2012] It is probably everybody’s wish to live a long beautiful and healthy life. In order to make this wish come true, one of the most important requisite is to actually measure one’s own aging level, but there are not yet simple and methods to judge one’s level of aging. However, the first step to make all humankind’s wish come true was taken. The Yeungnam University Research Institute of Protein Sensor (director Cho, Kyung-hyun, Professor at the School of Biotechnology, hereinafter called Research Institute) successfully developed a ‘chip’ to make self-diagnosis using very simple methods. This was the fruit of bringing down the high walls among the academic fields of biotechnology (Professor Cho, Kyung-hyun), mechanical engineering (Professors Shim, Jae-sool & Lee, Dong-yeon), and medicine (Professor Kim, Jae-ryong, director of the Yeungnam University Aging-associated Vascular Disease Research Center), and has much more meaning because it well exhibited the ‘Power of Fusion Research’. Professors participating in Protein Sensor Research (from left to right: Professors Kim, Jae-ryong, Cho, Kyung-hyun, Shim, Jae-sool, Lee, Dong-yeon) The Research Institute has observed the changes of high density lipoprotein (HDL)¹ in the serum of the aged and the young for the past three years. The research revealed that the protein declined with aging, causing it to ‘break’, and that its quantity of electric charge changed. They also proved that because of such structural and functional difference, the mobility of protein by the electric response on ‘lab-on-a-chip’² is different depending on the level of aging. In other words, while the protein of the young serum had short and clear movement bands (meaning that the protein is preserved in its original state), the protein of the aged serum had long and vague movement bands (the protein has severe damages and no energy). (※See illustration below) According to the Research Institute, by using this technology, it will become easy not only to check the aging level at home or hospitals with a coin-sized diagnosis chip (square shaped figure below the coin in the above illustration), but also to perform self-diagnosis on risk levels of diabetes and arteriosclerosis. In addition, the Research Institute also revealed that protein of the aged serum and protein transformed by fructose had common characteristics and mobility. This can be said to scientifically prove the saying that ‘severe diabetes will make one look old’ even if that person is young. The results of this research were published in the SCI international academic journal ≪Electrophoresis≫, which is ranked in the top 10 in its respective field, in December. Also, over 10 theses on preceding studies were published in the prominent international journals, such as the ≪Gerontological Society of America≫ in 2010 and 2011. Meanwhile, the National Research Foundation of Korea selected this as an excellent research project. On this, Professor Cho, Kyung-hyun (44, School of Biotechnology), who is also the director of the Yeungnam University Research Institute of Protein Sensor, stated, “In order to procure technologies to apply clinically in large scale, we must first construct a mass production system for the diagnosis chip and also procure additional data in clinical application. For this, we are planning to continue to pursue joint research in which universities are responsible for basic research, corporations are in charge of mass production of diagnosis chips, and large general hospitals conduct clinical applications.” Meanwhile, the Research Institute of Protein Sensor was established at Yeungnam University in February of last year in order to develop bio sensors and diagnostic systems for early detection of aging of blood vessels through the fusion of different disciplines such as biotechnology, mechanical engineering, clinical medicine, chemistry, pharmacy, and information & communication engineering. It is working hard to achieve its goal of commercializing early detection kits for blood vessel aging, diabetes, obesity, and coronary artery diseases. 1) High Density Lipoprotein (HDL): As a type of serum soluble protein, it combines with cholesterol and sends it to different parts of the body. HDL cholesterol, which is known as ‘good cholesterol’, is the total of vale of HDL and HDL-combined-cholesterol, and the higher it is, the better. 2) Lab-on-a-chip: This is a chemical microprocessor integrated various devices needed for analysis using micro machining technologies. Just as in its name, it means that a ‘lab was placed on top of a chip’. It uses plastic or glass materials and can test very small samples through its tiny channels under nano (1/1,000,000,000) liters. This is a core platform technology that can be used not only for searching for new medicines by pharmaceutical companies, but also applied in various fields such as medical diagnosis equipment, health examination instruments at home and on sickbeds, chemical or bio process monitoring, mobile environmental pollutant analysis instrument, remote chemical/bio agent detection devices for chemical, biological and radioactive environments.
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Offer various global experience opportunities such as sending 120 overseas volunteers to 14 countries Support 1 million won to 2.5 million won in university expenses per student [December 29, 2011] Yeungnam University (president Lee, Hyo-soo) will provide global experience opportunities to over 500 students during this winter vacation. In order to help students with expenses, university expenses from one million to 2.5 million won will be provided for each student. Launching Ceremony of the 22nd YU Glocal Volunteer Corps As part of this, Yeungnam University held a launching ceremony for the 22nd YU Glocal Volunteer Corps at the main conference room on the 3rd floor of the Law Library in the morning of the 29th. The Yeungnam University Overseas Volunteer Program, which is in its tenth year this year, has been conducted together with UNESCO and International Work Camp from 2010. This is the only university in the region to do so, and even in Korea, it is the third. During the winter vacation, 120 overseas volunteers will be sent to 14 countries in Central and South America, Africa and Asia, such as Mexico, Peru, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Philippines, and Laos for two to three weeks, and exercise ‘love without borders’. Another overseas program supported by the university is ‘Window To the World WTW’. Because the university provides the round-trip airfare for a backpacking trip planned by the student, it is very popular and the competition ratio was 6 to 1. Since its beginning in 2002 to this year’s summer vacation, about 1,400 students experienced the world through WTW. During this winter vacation, over 80 students in groups of two to three will set off to different parts of the world for two to three weeks. The OPP (Outbound Pilot Program) is another proud overseas program supported by Yeungnam University. After selecting freshmen and sophomore students who are interested in studying abroad, they are given concentrated English education for 10 weeks during the school semester, and then offered a chance to study English abroad for five weeks during vacation. By doing so, they are able to thoroughly prepare for exchange student programs, which are available from their junior year. In this winter vacation, 170 students will be sent to the Philippines and Australia via the OPP. An additional 130 or so students will be sent overseas through the ‘Global Challenge Program’ in which students are supported with university expenses to participate in overseas competitions and international conferences, Short-term English Language Courses at the Alabama State University and University of Nebraska Omaha Campus that are held for eight weeks, one-week Culture Education Program at Meiji University and University of Miyazaki in Japan, and Program for the Visit to Leading Chinese Corporations in which students visit Korean companies and leading Chinese companies in Shanghai and Suzhou, China. Thus, a total of over 500 Yeungnam University students will set off to experience the world. On this, Lee, Hyo-soo, president of Yeungnam University, stated, “Vacations are the best opportunities to train one’s global mind and qualities as a cosmopolitan, and thus, we will provide utmost support so that more students will have this opportunity.”
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Upholding father’s wish to foster young students.. ‘Gangsan Scholarship Fund’ [December 27, 2011] The family of former university president, Kim, Ki-taek, who passed away on the 4th of this month, donated 100 million won. On the morning of the 27th, while still in the mourning period for the deceased, Kim, Hung-nam (Director of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute), the eldest son of the late Kim, Ki-taek, visited the president’s office of Yeungnam University, and said, “Our family discussed ways to contribute to Yeungnam University in order to uphold our father’s wish who loved his school and students very much. In result, we decided to donate 100 million won to the ‘Gangsan Scholarship’, which we named after the pen name of our father, and whenever we can, our family and friends will strive to contribute more.” Kim, Hung-nam, the eldest son of the late Kim, Ki-taek who works for the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, donated 100 million won for scholarships to Lee, Hyo-soo, president of the university On this, president Lee, Hyo-soo said, “I thank the late Kim, Ki-taek who was a former president of Yeungnam University, for his contributions to the university and for making such a large contribution to foster younger students.” He again expressed his appreciation saying, “In order to uphold his wish, we will establish the ‘Gangsan Scholarship’ and manage the scholarship funds well.” Choi, Chang-bon, who is the director of the Office of External Cooperation, said, “We will well manage and expand the ‘Gangsan Scholarship’ so that it can be a new scholarship fund of the region in which family, friends and acquaintances can continuously participate in. The late Kim, Ki-taek graduated from Yeungnam University in economics in 1952 and received his master’s and PhD in economics. He worked as the dean of the College of Business & Economics and was the dean of the Graduate School of Business Administration, and finally served as the 7th president of Yeungnam University from 1986 to 1988. His surviving family includes his wife Mrs. Lee, Jong-hyun, and his sons Hung-nam (Director of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute), Chang-nam (businessman in the US), Su-nam (the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office), and Tae-nam (Director at Hynix Semiconductor inc.).
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Yeungnam University organizes Vietnam Alumni Association in Ho Chi Minh Opened Korean Language Institute Ho Chi Minh Campus, and local office [December 18, 2011] The ‘Yeungnam University Vietnam Alumni Association’ began activities in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. Lee, Hyo-soo, president of Yeungnam University, attended the launching ceremony of the ‘Yeungnam University Vietnam Alumni Association’ held recently in Ho Chi Minh, and congratulated them while presenting an alumni flag that he brought from Korea. This event was the first time that the about 40 Vietnamese students who graduated from Yeungnam University gathered in one place. Most of them teach Korean in colleges and educational institutes or work at Korean companies in Vietnam, and are acting as bridges between Korea and Vietnam. At this meeting, they were able to express their love for their school, Yeungnam University and strengthened their friendship with other alumni. In particular, three alumni of the Yeungnam University College of Engineering, who are working as professors of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, played key roles in establishing sisterhood relations between Yeungnam University and the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology during Lee’s visit. Huan Sang (56), who is a professor in the Korean Language Department at the Ho Chi Minh Van Hien University, after completing his PhD at the Yeungnam University Graduate School of Korean Language and Literature from 2003 to 2005, was selected as the first president of the alumni association. Upon his appointment, he said, “We should be the bridge that connects Korea and Vietnam, and always be proud alumni of Yeungnam University.” President Lee said in his congratulatory address, “Our university will also provide support so that Yeungnam University Alumni Associations are organized in other countries such as China, Indonesia, and the Philippines so that we can make a pan-Asian Yeungnam University Alumni Association, which will maintain an active relationship with the university.” He also added, “Please be active in our cause for the Korean Wave (Hallyu) that has begun with TV drams and K-pop to extend to interest and love for the Korean society and the Korean language. Meanwhile, Lee, Hyo-soo, president of Yeungnam University visited Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from the 11th to the 16th to pave the foundation for promoting Korean language education in Vietnam and attracting Vietnamese students to study at Yeungnam by opening the Korean Language Institute Ho Chi Minh Campus, opening the Ho Chi Minh office, signing an MOU with the Ho Chi Minh Office of Education on educational cooperation, and attracting a high school principles learning group. As of December, 45 Vietnamese students are studying at Yeungnam University and exchange is being made with 10 Vietnamese universities. Signing an MOU with the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (from front left to right – Lee, Hyo-soo, Vu dinh Thanh) Photograph with principles of 10 high schools in Ho Chi Minh City after signing MOU with the Ho Chi Minh Office of Education
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Yeungnam University and Meiji University establishes student exchange twice a year to joint production of learning contents UCC Developing global partnership through SNS generation communication and understanding [December 2, 2011] “The language and cultural barrier was not as high as we expected. We are still young and because we were ready to understand each other, so it was not too hard. Through this opportunity, it was possible to understand the culture and society of Korea a bit better, and our horizons were broadened. I am especially happy because I made friends in a different country.” Saito Masahiro (22) is currently a junior at the Meiji University School of Science and Technology in Japan. This is what he said about the four day project on making UCCs with Yeungnam University students at Yeungnam University. Yeungnam University (president Lee, Hyo-soo) held the ‘Learning Contents UCC Exchange Festival’ together with Meiji University from the 28th of last month to the 1st of this month. In one year since establishing sisterhood relations in November of last year, the two universities finally established a regular exchange program. Team 1 is making a presentation at the Yeungnam University-Meiji University UCC Exchange Festival The ‘Learning Contents UCC Exchange Festival’ is for making, presenting and sharing UCCs to be used as learning contents for e-learning and u-learning by students from the two universities making up one team. They made UCCs that could be used as learning contents together, made presentations, and shared them. For this, representatives from each university are selected by intra-school competitions, and then sent to the opposite university. As part of this, the first exchange festival was held at Meiji University in January, and is now being held at Yeungnam University. 11 students from Meiji University and 9 students from Yeungnam University participated in this exchange festival. The missions of the four Korea-Japanese University student teams (the Gyeongju Cheomseongdae, Anabji and Gyeongju National Museum Team, the Bulguksa and Seokguram Team, the Andong Hahoe Maeul and Dosan Seowon Team, and the Daegu Yakjun street and Yangyeongsi Team) were to make UCCs based on the history, culture and society of Korea over a four day schedule. Though they had an arduous schedule of holding a meeting on the first day, planning conference on the second day, on-site coverage and production on the third day, and editing and presentations on the fourth day, they completed their missions through a the passion unique to those in their twenties, a challenge-oriented spirit for a common goal, and outstanding teamwork. At 5 pm on the first day of December, they unveiled their results with the presence of Lee, Hyo-soo, president of Yeungnam University, and Mr. Haragaya, vice president of Meiji University. The creative ideas and wits of two universities students could be seen through the UCCs made in various formats such as documentaries, news shows, quiz shows, and skits. The pride of the students were apparent on their faces, since they were completely responsible for its planning, scripts, filming, dubbing and final editing. Oh, Seong-hyeon (26, Yeungnam University senior in department of political science and diplomacy) of Team 4, who introduced Bulguksa, Seokguram, and King Munmu royal tomb in Gyeongju under the title ‘Makgeolli News’ in a news format, said, “Though I am very disappointed that we were unable to perfect it because of our lack of time, I think this experience of staying up all night with people that I met for the first time with the same goal will be remembered whenever new challenges await me.” From the UCC presentation on the Gyeongju National Museum, Cheonmachong and Anabji during the Yeungnam University-Meiji University UCC Exchange Festival Lee, Hyo-soo, who watched the students’ presentations, complimented, “I was very surprised of the depth of the contents and rich information, despite the fact that only two days were given for the actual production.” He added, “I hope that the UCC Exchange Program, which is a creative digital education program suitable to the smart age, will become established as an exchange program for not only Korea and Japan, but all of East Asia.” Haragaya Toshio, who led the students from Meiji University, showed his appreciation saying, “I am very happy that a real exchange program has become established in just one year since making sisterhood relations with Yeungnam University in November of last year. We are learning a lot from Yeungnam University, which is one step ahead of us in the e-learning sector.” On another note, Yeungnam University has been conducting UCC contents contests for students since October. The winning team and runner-up that pass a total of four stages will be given the opportunity to represent Yeungnam University at the UCC Exchange Festival that will be held at Meiji University in January of next year. Professor Kim, Wook-hyun (52, Department of Computer Engineering), director of the Yeungnam University Center of Teaching & Learning who is supervising the UCC exchange, stated, “Most international exchange among universities was usually in the form of academic exchange by just a few professors or visitations by a few students. On the other hand, the UCC Exchange is made by the direct participation of the students in which they heighten an emotional bond while working together to make contents, and it is developing a real global partnership by resulting in continuous exchange through SNS.” He also added, “While establishing UCC Exchange Festivals twice a year with Meiji University, we are also planning to expand this to other universities in China and Southeast Asia.”
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WCU nano Research Center publishes a monthly average of 2.3 SCI theses in prominent international journals, half are in Top 10 journals Ministry of Education, Science and Technology evaluation of ‘A for second straight year’ Nano-patterning technologies using the cell fusion, patent pending in the US, China and Korea [December 1, 2011] The word ‘nano’ has now become a commonly used word today. It can be found in various areas of our lives such as in pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, semiconductors, etc, and even in the food industry, there are many products that use nanotechnologies in food processing and wrapping materials. Thus, almost every part of our lives involves some sort of nanotechnologies. Nanotechnology, which etymology comes from the Greek word ‘nanos’, that means ‘midget’, is an advanced technology that deals with ultra-small materials that are 1/100,000 the thickness of human hair or the level of atomic or molecule sizes (1 nanometer=1/1,000,000,000 meters). It is a sector that requires integration of advanced technologies. Recently, research in the bio technology sector such as nano bio analysis, nano bio sensors, nano bio materials, and bio nano machines have become very active. As seen above, while nanotechnologies have become the ‘top 3 science technologies’ of the 21st century together with information science technologies and Biotechnology, the Yeungnam University WCU nano Research Center (director Joo, Sang-woo, School of Mechanical Engineering, hereinafter called ‘WCUNRC’), which is performing the MEST sponsored ‘WCU (World Class University) project’ has shown forth truly ‘world-class’ research. In the MEST evaluation, it received an A for the second straight year. Yeungnam University WCUNRC researchers (center: professor Joo, Sang-woo) The WCUNRC began full-fledged operations from September 2009. It will receive a total of 3.5 billion won until August 2013 from national funding, and it is conducting basic research on nanotechnologies and fusion/convergence technology development projects. The ultimate goal of the WCUNRC is to develop the world’s most advanced technologies in the nano-patterning sector, and commercialize it in various industrial sectors. By doing so, it hopes to bring up Korea’s national competitiveness in the global nano-market, which is expected to rise to 1 trillion dollars by 2015. In particular, it has recently been concentrating on developing cell fusion technologies using electric stimulation. In result, they developed three types of nano-patterning technologies that can produce high-efficiency Cell Electrofusion Microdevices, and patents have been applied for currently in the US, China and Korea. The greatest feature of the device that applies this new technology is that it is possible to quickly reap cell fusion results in just ten minutes even with low voltage. Because the electric shock applied on the test cell is very weak and made in a short period of time, cell damage is minimized and the probability for acquiring the desired results were enhanced. In addition, its production cost was also dropped and made in a compact size, which takes up very little room. Thus, its possibility for commercialization rose greatly. The WCUNRC is currently conducting clinical tests for the device that applies the new technology together with Chongqing University Hospital of China. It is expected that it will contribute greatly not only in cell fusion for medical purposes such as genetic treatment, anti-cancer vaccine development, and immune body research, but also in genetic engineering such as development of new species that contain various animal and plant features. It is also expected to bring about radical progress by being used in various sectors such as niotechnology, immunology, pharmacy, food processing studies, and agricultural studies. The results of research by the WCUNRC were truly world class. The total number of SCI theses published by the Yeungnam University WCUNRC was 54 during the 24 months from September 2009. Thus, 2.3 theses per month were published in SCI journals under the name of the Yeungnam University WCUNRC. Moreover, there are also 15 theses currently being reviewed for publishing. During the third project evaluation period (Oct 1, 2010 – Aug 31, 2011), 28 SCI journals were published, and half of them (14) were carried by top journals in the upper 10% such as 《SoftMatter》, 《Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics》, 《Polymer》, 《Electrophoresis》, and 《Nanotechnology》. Such results were possible thanks to the international efforts and passion for researches by the participating professors. Currently, professors participating in this project are the three starting members of director Professor Joo, Sang-woo (52, School of Mechanical Engineering), Ashutosh Sharma (50), chair professor of the India Institute of Technology (IIT), which is also called the ‘MIT of India’ and one of the world’s top five scholars in nano-patterning, Professor Shizi Qian (40), and Banerjee A. Narayan (36)and Professor Lin Xu (31), who newly joined the team last year. Since working with the WCU project, they never took a whole day off. Even when they ate, they always inspected each other’s research and made self-assessments comparing the global levels. They stayed up to two to three in the morning to share opinions with each other via e-mail, while Professor Lin Xu, the youngest participating professor, brought a blanket and portable stove to the lab to eat and sleep there while working on the research. Through such efforts, when including joint research theses, Professor Joo has already published 36 SCI theses, while 12 are being reviewed. Professor Qian published 32 and two are currently being reviewed, Professor Sharma published 21 and seven are being reviewed. These are truly amazing achievements. When considering that it normally takes about six physical months to apply, screen and publish SCI theses, the performance of the WCUNRC is deserving of the title ‘world best’. Professor Joo stated, “Universities of the US, China, Japan and Europe, which are known as advanced countries in the nanotechnology sector, have difficulty with publishing even 10 SCI theses in a year,” adding, “This was possible by setting apart responsibilities for each member and setting individual research goals, which were then combined in efforts for a common goal.”
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Three students, an undergrad, masters and PhD student each publishes highest level thesis as a primary author Research on mechanism of cell inflammation reaction that causes cancer, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, allergies, etc First in the world to describe the 3 dimensional structure of core protein with inflammation reactions, construct related protein DB [November 29, 2011] Professor Park, Hyun-ho (sitting) and the lab members who are the primary authors of the SCI theses (from the back left, Yoon, Jong-hwan, Bae, Joo-young, and Jang, Tae-ho) Professor Park, Hyun-ho’s lab in the School of Biotechnology hit a ‘jackpot’. Each of the three members of the lab, who are an undergraduate and graduate students working on their master’s and PhD simultaneously published their theses in three SCI journals that are the top in their respective fields as the primary author. They are Yoon, Jong-hwan (23, a senior in the School of Biotechnology), Bae, Joo-young (27) a graduate school student working on his master’s and Jang, Tae-ho (28), who is in his PhD program. Under the guidance of Professor Park, Hyun-ho (37), they studied the mechanisms that caused inflammation reactions when combining proteins in cells. It has been reported that excessive inflammation reactions result in diseases such as various cancers, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, irregularities in the immune system, and allergies. After over two years of research with the support of the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Bae, Joo-young became the world first to define the three dimensional structure, which is called the ‘death domain’ for the inflammation reaction core protein (NALP3). His research was published in the November issue of the US 《Journal Of Biological Chemistry》 (IF 5.4), and Bae was listed as the primary author. The ‘death domain’ is a constituent of proteins related to cell death or inflammation reactions, and it is involved with the combination of proteins. Based on this research, Jang, Tae-ho succeeded in designing and producing the peptide (amino acids) that retard the combination of the death domain and published his thesis as the primary author in the November issue of 《Biochemical Pharmacology》 (IF 4.9). Jang’s research result is judged to be an important platform that opened the doors to potentially developing new medicines that can suppress the occurrence of incurable diseases. Based on the research of his upperclassmen, Yoon, Jong-hwan, an undergraduate, revealed all of the 100 or so death domains of proteins inside the human cell, and successfully made a database for the protein combined network using each of the death domains. Yoon also displayed great passion in reading, analyzing and summarizing over 300 related studies that were conducted as joint research effort by Park, Hyun-ho, Professor Jeon, Ju-hong of Seoul National University, and Professor Kwon, Dong-seob of Myongji University. In result, he placed his name as the primary author as an undergraduate student in the November issue of 《Nucleic Acids Research》, which is one of the world’s most prominent science journals and has the impact factor (IF) of 7.8. These results are also offered for researchers in fields related to the death domain with the website (www.deathdomain.org) as the information hub opened by Professor Park’s lab since November to the entire world for free. In response to such achievements, Professor Park said, “I am even happier because these are achievements made by the founding members of the lab since being hired by Yeungnam University three years ago. Led by Tae-ho, who is working on his PhD and acting as the big brother, students with pure passion for academics began to care for each other like family and made a considerate atmosphere for the lab, and by helping each other out and having academic passion, such accomplishments were possible.” He also added, “It is very encouraging that student mentoring has become established as a tradition not only for our lab, but the entire School of Biotechnology.” Professor Park, Hyun-ho, whose name was placed as a corresponding author while providing guidance for the series of research, acquired his PhD at Cornell University in the US in 2007, and worked on his post-doc at Stanford University in 2008. He was finally appointed as a professor at the Yeungnam University School of Biotechnology in September 2008. Professor Park already published his thesis that was the first to reveal the three dimensional structure of the death domain complex while he was a student in one of the world’s top three science journals 《Cell》(IF 32.4) and 《Annual Review of Immunology》(IF 49.2) as the primary author, gaining attention in his academic field. After taking a position as a professor at Yeungnam University, he published over 30 SCI papers showing his unparalleled capacities in research. He is recognized as one of the world’s best in research on proteins related to the death domain that places a decisive role in inflammation reactions and cell death reactions. Undergrads publishing SCI theses becoming a tradition of the School of Biotechnology Meanwhile, the Yeungnam University School of Biotechnology is showing great achievements such as publishing 16 theses written by undergraduate students in internationally renowned journals since 2009. In particular, 6 of the papers had primary authors from undergraduate students. On this, Khang, Yong-ho (55), dean of the School of Biotechnology, said, “Three years ago, beginning with the lab of Professor Cho, Kyung-hyun, many SCI papers of which the main author were undergraduate students began to be made, and with these outstanding students enrolling in graduate school, they began teaching their juniors. In result, student-to-student mentoring naturally became established as a tradition. Our school also strengthened conditions for promoting professors and is striving to create an ideal professor that leads research. The school is also striving to cultivate a school custom by making it mandatory to operate a ‘journal club’ for reviewing the latest theses and making oral presentations on bio-related fields.” He added, I hope that this atmosphere spreads to the entire Yeungnam University, rather than stopping short here at the School of Biotechnology.”
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Award of Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs and 1 Million Won Reward [November 26, 2011] “We want to contribute to the development of the Korean railroad industry.” The ‘RailBond’ Team (guidance counselor, Professor Baek, Eung-ryul), which is made of graduate students and undergraduate students of the School of Materials Science and Engineering, was given the award of Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, which is the grand prize, at the ‘6th University Student Creative Design Competition’ hosted by the Korea Society for Railway. Their team is made up of Choi, Sang-gyu (27) and Kim, Bo-ra (25, female), in the Graduate School of Materials Science and Engineering working on their master’s degrees, and Park, Seong-sang (25), who is currently an undergraduate senior in the same school. RailBond Team and Professor Baek, Eung-ryul (from left to right: Choi, Sang-gyu, Professor Baek, Eung-ryul, Kim, Bo-ra, Park, Seong-sang) The 6th University Student Creative Design Competition began in 2006 with the goal of providing an opportunity to foster creativity to undergraduate (graduate school) students and commercialize their ideas related to the railroad industry and technologies by the Korea Society for Railway. This year, 30 university teams from around the nation competed and after the initial screening (proposal, presentation plans, photos of works), only eight teams were qualified. Recently, the final judging was made together with an exhibition at the Ramada Plaza Jeju Hotel. In result, the ‘RailBond’ team won the Award of Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs and a cash prize of one million won for their ‘thermit welding solution for bonding domestic train rails using recycled metals’. They came up with this idea because with the increasing demand for High-speed rails and metropolitan railways, the demand for rail bonding themit welding materials, which are currently fully dependent upon imports, will also increase. They were able to cut costs and making a domestic thermit welding solution by using aluminum powder generated from discarded aluminum cans and iron oxide generated as by-products from metal industrial sites. In addition, by applying heat-processing techniques, which were not applied in the past, it radically improved the mechanical features of the welded parts to add the strength of preventing damages to the rails. Professor Baek, Eung-ryul (51, School of Materials Science and Engineering), who provided guidance for them, said, “The item that these students developed took into consideration the academic perspective of establishment of manufacturing technologies on thermit reactants for railways, of which the knowhow was limited to just a few countries, and improved performance, as well as environmental perspectives that recycles aluminum cans, and also economical perspectives that cut costs and localizes it. Therefore, if this is commercialized, it is expected to contribute to the progress of Korean railroad technologies.” Choi, Sang-gyu, who was the team leader, said, “I would like to give the honor to our team members who worked day and night for two months to prepare for this competition. In particular, there were many difficulties such as that materials related to thermit reaction are not open and rarely revealed by patents and the high cost of testing was needed, but we were able to overcome such difficulties with the full support of Professor Baek, Eung-ryul. I would like to once again thank our professor for his assistance and guidance.” Kim, Bo-ra said, “Though most people are unaware of the importance of welding, welding is used not only in the railroad sector, but in various industries. There are hundreds of different types. You can stop by our lab anytime to see our diverse welding devices.” She added with a smile, “I hope you show more interest in the welding field.” ※ Thermit: This is a compound that combines aluminum powder and iron oxide powder at an equal amount. When ignited, it emits high temperatures of 3,000℃ and is therefore used for welding steel.
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Recognized as a leader in innovating science technologies in the 21st century communication sector [November 16, 2011] Professor Park, Yong-wan (51, photo) of the Department of Information and Communication Engineering, won the Tesla Award from the IBC (International Biographical Centre) of Cambridge in England. This Tesla Award was named after Nikola Tesla and it is given to leaders of science-technology innovation in the communication sector of the 21st century. Professor Park, who has been with Yeungnam University since September 1996, studied at the Kyungpook National University Department of Electronic Engineering and its graduate school, and earned his master’s and doctorates at the State University of New York and did his post-doc at Caltech. He is the ‘first generation overseas student’ in the domestic mobile communication sector. After returning to Korea in 1994, he worked as the R&D section chief for the ‘3G’ mobile communications sector at SK Telecom until August 1996 and played an important role in pioneering Korea’s mobile communication industry. He is currently active as the DDG (Deputy Director General) for the IBC Asia region since 2009 and he is also the director of the Gyeongbuk Institute of IT Convergence Industry Technology since October 2009. In 2008 and 2009, he also served as the director of the Korea branch for the mobile communications sector of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), which is the world’s largest and most respected society in the electric and electronic fields. His major literary works include the 「Enhanced Radio Access Technologies for Next Generation Mobile Communication」, which is a guide for 4G mobile communication published by the global science publishing company ‘Springer’ in 2007. In 2005, he was also awarded the ‘Haedong Thesis Award’, which is given to the best thesis in the communications sector by the Korea Information and Communications Society.
