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홍현기 씨 등 4명, 과기정통부 ‘세종과학펠로우십’ 선정
Four of JNU’s promising scientists to conduct state-funded research projects for five years

Jeju National University announced Saturday (March 20) that four of its promising scientists have been selected as the recipients of a state-level research fund, titled the “2021 Sejong Science Fellowship for Basic Research Projects” (hereinafter “Sejong Science Fellowship).

According to the announcement, the winners include Hong Hyeon-ki (research professor, Marine Science Institute), Kim Hyeon-joong (postdoctoral researcher, Marine Science Institute), Yang Hye-won (research professor, Education and Research Team for Future-Oriented Bio-Fisheries Industry), and Kim Ji-hyeong (postdoctoral researcher, Research Center for Electric Energy).

Sejong Science Fellowship is a research support scheme operated, through the National Research Foundation, by the Ministry of Science and ICT. The South Korean government has recently launched the program to encourage the nation’s young scientists such as postdoctoral researchers to explore new areas of study and develop their research capabilities.

Those researchers who are selected to participate in the program will be funded approximately 126 million won a year to conduct their own research and development projects for the following five years.

Hong Hyeon-ki will conduct the research project, titled the “Development of the Healthiness Evaluation Method for Sentinel Species to Monitor the Changing Littoral Ecosystem by Using the Multi-Omics Analysis.” During the project, Hong will analyze comprehensive bio-mechanisms and develop related guidelines, using the multi-omics analysis of the hemocyte of marine Bivalvia species.

Kim Hyeong-joong’s project will be aimed at establishing a localized guideline for disease control and prevention to prevent aqua-cultured oysters from mass mortality events during the production of artificial seed of marine Bivalvia species. For the purpose of the study, Kim will monitor the pathogens that induce the outbreak of fatal diseases and design related preventive measures.

Yang Hye-won plans to discover materials that are beneficial to treating glucose metabolism-related diseases by identifying the influence and mechanism of bio-fisheries materials. Yang will especially work to build a Zebrafish model for the observation of glucose metabolism-related diseases caused due to the decreasing NAD+ levels.

Kim Ji-hyeong’s research will be focused on the development of electric insulation technologies that enable driving with thermal and electric stabilities for two-wheeled electric vehicles. The researchers will especially examine the possibility of utilizing metal-insulator transition substances as materials for electric insulation of field coils, with a focus on the attributes of the substances with temperature-specific changes in the electric resistance levels.

Announcing JNU’s young scientists’ accomplishments, Song Seok-eon, the president of the university, stated that the state-led program will facilitate stable and fruitful research projects, thus inspiring the promising scientists to develop key research potentials.