IBS Appoints Professor Kim Yusu of University of Tokyo as New Head of Convergence Division

Recruitment of Ha Kwan Lau, RIKEN Team Leader, Confirmed

Yusu Kim, Director of the IBS Quantum Transformation Research Division

The Institute for Basic Science (Director Noh Do-young) announced on the 2nd that it has appointed Professor Kim Yoo-soo of the University of Tokyo, who was selected as the first Korean chief scientist at Japan's RIKEN, and Hakwan Lau, a RIKEN team leader conducting original research connecting philosophy and cognitive science, as new research group leaders in the convergence field.

Professor Kim Yoo-soo of the University of Tokyo and RIKEN chief scientist was appointed as the research group leader of the Quantum Transformation Research Group located on the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) campus, while Hakwan Lau, RIKEN team leader, was appointed as co-leader of the Brain Science Imaging Research Group located at Sungkyunkwan University.

The Quantum Transformation Research Group led by Director Kim aims to develop innovative methodologies to quantitatively measure and control interactions between quantum states, creating innovative functions and properties manifested through quantum transformation phenomena. Utilizing Director Kim's infrastructure, active joint research between Korea and Japan is planned.

Director Kim said, "At a time when I personally felt a great need for change in my research, the alignment of goals with IBS and GIST led me to decide to return to Korea."

Hakwan Lau Co-Director of the IBS Brain Science Imaging Research Group

Newly appointed Director Hakwan Lau is a researcher noted for his work spanning psychology and neuroscience. In his 2022 academic book, In Consciousness We Trust, he proposed an original theory of conscious perception based on empirical research and collaboration with theorists. Upon joining IBS, Director Lau set a goal to find the fundamental reasons why humans experience the world differently from other animals.