Prof. Ji-Young Kim has been selected by the U.S. Chapter of the Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (KIChE) as the recipient of the KIChE President Young Investigator Award. As a recipient of this award, she will be invited to present a research talk at the KIChE Open Forum during the 2026 AIChE Annual Meeting.

The KIChE President's Young Investigator Award recognizes Korean and Korean-American scientists and engineers who, early in their research careers, show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of scientific knowledge in chemical and related engineering fields. KIChE is an organization that aims “to promote constructive and mutually beneficial interactions among Korean chemical engineers in the U.S. and facilitate international collaboration between engineers in the U.S. and Korea.”

Dr. Kim is interested in understanding how dissymmetry emerges in nanoscale materials and how it can be controlled through light–matter interactions. Precise control of nanoscale dissymmetry is important for designing materials that selectively interact with biomolecules, direct chemical reactions, and organize into functional structures across multiple length scales. The Kim Lab combines optical materials synthesis, nanoscale interface engineering, and advanced spectroscopy to develop functional materials for biosensing, catalysis, optoelectronics, and advanced composites. Through this work, the lab aims to establish new design principles for materials whose optical, chemical, structural, and mechanical properties arise from asymmetric nanoscale organization.