Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on the 27th that it has appointed three scholars, including John A. Rogers, a leading global academic and professor at Northwestern University in the United States, as distinguished professors in major departments, including materials science and engineering.
Professor John A. Rogers is scheduled to serve in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering from July 2025 to June 2028, while Gregg Rothermel, a professor at North Carolina State University, will work in the Department of Computer Science from August 2025 to July 2026, and Senior Principal Scientist Choi Sang-hyuk from NASA Langley Research Center will be working in the Department of Aerospace Engineering from May 2025 to April 2028.
Professor John A. Rogers, a world authority in the field of bio-integrated electronics, has led advanced convergence technologies such as flexible electronics, smart skin, and implantable sensors, and has published more than 900 papers in top global journals such as Science, Nature, and Cell, recording an H-index of 240, which means his work has had a significant impact across academia and industry. An H-index of 240 indicates that more than 240 papers have been cited over 240 times each.
Through the appointment of Professor Rogers, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering plans to further strengthen research capabilities in next-generation bio-implantable materials and wearable devices and enhance its global competitiveness. In particular, it plans to create strong research synergy in connection with the core project of the Leading Research Center (ERC), led by Professor Lee Geon-jae, which has a total research budget of 13.5 billion won over seven years, focusing on the development of bio-convergence interface materials.
Gregg Rothermel, a world-renowned scholar in the field of software engineering, was ranked second among the world’s top 50 researchers by the journal ‘CACM (Communications of the ACM)’ and has conducted practical research to improve software reliability and quality for over 30 years. He has collaborated with global corporations such as Boeing, Microsoft, and Lockheed Martin to achieve influential research results.
The Department of Computer Science plans to enhance its research capabilities in software engineering through the appointment of Professor Gregg Rothermel and to perform collaborative studies related to software design and testing aimed at improving the reliability and safety of artificial intelligence (AI) based software systems. Professor Go In-young from the Department of Computer Science is expected to participate in the Big Data Edge-Cloud Service Research Center (ITRC), which has a total research budget of 6.7 billion won over eight years, and the Research on Improving the Safety of Complex Mobility (SafetyOps, Digital Columbus Project, with a total research budget of 3.5 billion won over eight years), contributing to the alleviation of uncertainties in machine learning-based AI software and the advancement of technology.
Senior Principal Scientist Choi Sang-hyuk, a world expert in space exploration and energy harvesting, has worked at NASA Langley Research Center for over 40 years, holding more than 200 papers and reports as well as 45 patents and having received 71 awards from NASA. In 2022, he was honored in the 'Inventors Hall of Fame' as part of NASA's technology transfer program. This honor is awarded to researchers who have contributed to the civilian dissemination of space exploration technology, and so far only 35 individuals worldwide have received this rare recognition.
Dr. Choi plans to lead the development of core technologies for lunar exploration in collaboration with Associate Professor Kim Hyun-jung, who will join the Department of Aerospace Engineering in September 2024 and is a former research scientist at NASA.
KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung said, 'I am very pleased to invite three scholars of the highest caliber in the world,' and added, 'Through this appointment, KAIST will further strengthen its global research competitiveness in advanced convergence technology fields such as bio-converged electronics, AI software engineering, and space exploration, establishing itself as a university leading global innovation.'