Dr. Jang Hyun-sik (Department of Semiconductor Science and Technology, Semiconductor Process Research Center) has been selected for the 2022 Sejong Science Fellowship, one of the individual basic research programs of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

This program supports the research of young scientists in Korea, including postdoctoral researchers, to help them develop into the country's core science and technology talent. It provides up to KRW 700 million in research funding over a maximum of five years.

Dr. Jang will conduct research, together with Professor Heo Geun of the Department of Semiconductor Technology, on the topic 'Large-Area Single-Crystal Growth of Nanomaterials and Their Neuromorphic Applications.'

Neuromorphic devices are semiconductor devices that emulate the brain's neural structures to process vast amounts of information effectively in a manner similar to human thought processes. Computing based on these neuromorphic devices is an essential enabling technology for the full-scale deployment of artificial intelligence with capabilities for perception, learning, reasoning, prediction, and decision-making.

Dr. Jang stated, 'Through this research project, I aim to develop new materials and synthesis methodologies that can be produced using existing semiconductor industry infrastructure, and to contribute to upstream and downstream industries in next-generation high value-added sectors through R&D of neuromorphic semiconductor devices.'

Meanwhile, Dr. Jang is working as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Semiconductor Technology at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), and over the past three years he has five first-author papers (SCI) and nine co-authored papers (SCI), in addition to patents and technology transfer achievements. The Semiconductor Process Research Center at JBNU (Research Institute Director: Professor Choi Cheol-jong), led by Center Director Heo Geun, has 20 R&D personnel and was selected in 2021 for the 'University Nano Infrastructure Innovation Project', playing a role in training semiconductor professionals in the Honam region and supporting industry demand for advanced semiconductor processes.