Professor Jil Mun of DGIST Department of Brain Science Receives Minister of Science and ICT Award... Recognized for Enhancing South Korea's Science and Technology Prestige

POSTECH's Ildoo Hwang and Seoul National University's Daehee Hwang Also Receive Awards

DGIST (President Geonwoo Lee) announced on the 6th that Professor Jaeil Moon from the Department of Brain Science received the Minister of Science and ICT Award for his contributions to enhancing the status of science and technology in the Republic of Korea through his activities as a Korean science committee member of an international organization, conducting international joint research, and promoting inter-country personnel exchanges. This award was given alongside Professor Ildoo Hwang from the Department of Life Sciences at POSTECH and Professor Daehee Hwang from the Department of Life Sciences at Seoul National University.

Professor Jaeil Moon has been active as a Korean science committee member of the international organization Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP), significantly contributing to discovering outstanding domestic researchers and expanding international cooperation. In particular, he has actively identified and recommended domestic candidates for the internationally prestigious 'Nakasone Award,' striving to elevate the international status of Korean science and technology.

Professor Moon Jil from DGIST

HFSP, established in 1989, is an international organization aiming to support innovative multidisciplinary and transcontinental joint research across all fields of life sciences. Since Korea joined in 2004, 17 member countries including G7 nations (United States, Japan, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom), the EU, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Israel, Norway, and South Africa have participated. To date, it has supported 8,000 researchers, among whom 31 have won Nobel Prizes, earning it the nickname 'Nobel Prize Fund.'

Professor Moon led domestic promotion of the HFSP program, supporting Korean researchers to advance onto the international stage. Through activities such as inviting HFSP executives for seminars, promoting the program to domestic university research institutes, and operating promotional booths at the Korean Society for Brain and Neuroscience, he worked to enhance the international recognition of Korean science and technology.

He also played a key role in inter-country personnel exchange projects. He contributed to inviting Erwin Neher, director of the Max Planck Institute in Germany and Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine in 1991, as a distinguished visiting professor at DGIST. Furthermore, he successfully conducted international joint research with the University of C?te d'Azur in France, revitalizing academic exchanges between Korea and France. Notably, by contributing to scientific and technological advancement through neurobiology and artificial intelligence convergence research using AlphaFold-based in silico technology, he strengthened the international status of Korean brain science.

DGIST President Geonwoo Lee stated, "Professor Jaeil Moon's award is an important example demonstrating DGIST's excellent research capabilities and achievements in international cooperation," adding, "We will continue to strive to advance global science and technology development and strengthen Korea's international standing."

Meanwhile, DGIST contributes to the nation and society through nurturing world-class talent and conducting cutting-edge research based on creative and convergent research. It plans to strengthen its position as a global research institution through international cooperation and innovative research.