Yeungnam University Materials Science Professors Yoon Danghyuk, Ryu Jungho, and Park Nogeun Named Among Top 2% Researchers Worldwide

Announced by Stanford University, USA

Yoon Danghyuk, Ryu Jungho, and Park Nogeun, professors from the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Yeungnam University, have been named among the top 2% of researchers worldwide in each academic field, according to data from Scopus, the database operated by global academic publishing company Elsevier, as announced by Stanford University in the United States. This was announced on September 12.

The top 2% of researchers worldwide in each academic field are those who have published at least five papers in one of 22 major fields and 174 sub-disciplines, and whose citation performance and research impact rank in the top 2 percentile. The evaluation is based on six indicators, including career-long achievements and research performance over the past year.

(From left) Yoon Danghyuk, Ryu Jungho, Park Nogeun Professors

In this year's results, which are based on data compiled up to August 1, 2024, Professors Yoon Danghyuk and Ryu Jungho from the School of Materials Science and Engineering were listed for the third consecutive year among the top 2% of researchers in the field of Applied Physics. Professor Park Nogeun was named among the top 1% of researchers in the field of Industrial Engineering & Automation, achieving the highest ranking in the Gyeongbuk region.

This recognition is the result of close collaboration between professors and students, consistent research and educational passion, and systematic support from the university and the industry-academia cooperation foundation. It is also evaluated that continuous curriculum reform at both undergraduate and graduate levels, along with demand-driven education covering everything from basic science to advanced convergent materials, has laid the foundation for such world-class research achievements.

Meanwhile, the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Yeungnam University is cultivating professionals in various future industrial fields, including microstructure analysis of materials, high-performance ceramics, energy conversion materials, metallic materials for hydrogen fuel cells, and biomaterials. In 2025, the school plans to sign MOUs with the Materials Research Institute at Pennsylvania State University in the United States and Hanoi University of Science and Technology in Vietnam to expand international research and student exchange.

Additionally, the school is strengthening its domestic and international research competitiveness and student education capabilities through a variety of research and education programs, such as the Phase 4 BK21 Project, the Eco-friendly Metal Materials Industry Specialist Training Project jointly conducted with the Korea Iron & Steel Association, and the RISE (Regional Innovation-Centered University) Program's Inter-Ministerial Cooperation Project (REGO Gyeongbuk Legend 50+ Intelligent Advanced Materials Talent Training Project).

Based on the department's systematic research and industry-academia collaboration, many graduates have advanced to major domestic companies related to new materials, such as POSCO, Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, LG, SK Hynix, and Hyundai Steel. Through practical industry-academia collaboration programs, such as employment reservation programs and priority selection systems, the department is actively supporting students' career development.