Biosketch
Dr. Jin Tae Jimmy Kim is an incoming assistant professor in the mechanical engineering department at Postech, starting Spring 2024, and will be a faculty advisor for a new student club, “Postech Space Initiatives (PSI)” for aerospace-related activities such as rockets, drones, and satellites. He was a postdoctoral researcher at the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics (QSIB) at Northwestern University. He moved to Oklahoma in the US during his 10th grade in high school and earned his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a minor in Mathematics, from Oklahoma State University in 2013. He completed his MS and PhD degrees in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2015 and 2020, respectively. Dr. Kim’s research primarily focuses on experimental and theoretical fluid mechanics, utilizing computer vision methods and soft electronics technologies. He has published 38 papers in peer-reviewed papers including multidisciplinary journals such as 2 Nature, 1 Nature Electronics, 3 Nature Communications, 2 Science Advances, 4 PNAS, as well as specialized journals in fluid mechanics such as 6 Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 5 Physical Review Fluids, 2 Physics of Fluid, among others. He received the Hassan Aref Memorial Award for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in 2020. Outside of academia, he runs a YouTube channel, “Samcheok Kim Family”, which currently has over 110,000 subscribers.
Motivation for Studying Abroad
Initially, I developed an interest in studying to impress my middle school crush. This motivation eventually led me to want to study abroad. At that time, my parents were opposed the idea due to the high cost, but it did not stop me from doing what I had already set my mind to. Hopping off at Jongno Station, I entered the first study abroad center I saw, and discovered an exchange student program that allowed for a year-long stay in the US, without tuition. I took the test for the program with my allowance, and passed it. I convinced my parents to agree by showing them the test results and emphasizing that the cost of living in rural America (Oklahoma) is cheaper than in Korea. After graduating from middle school, I left my family and friends behind and embarked on an early study abroad program in rural America. Living in a completely foreign land, the most valuable lesson I learned was not just about English but rather that “In life, no matter who you have a relationship with, ultimately you are alone.” I didn’t make any effort to alleviate loneliness at that time. I simply accepted that it is what it is. I believe this mindset helped me discover and cultivate my own happiness, which is not determined by the perceptions of others.
Major and Current Research
I wasn't sure whether I liked calculus and physics because I was good at them or I was good at them because I liked them, but I enjoyed and excelled in both subjects. In particular, the poor educational environment at the public school during my exchange student year led me to study math mostly through self-study. I remember delving into it as if I were Galileo or Newton. These were emotions I probably wouldn't have felt if I had studied them in advance. I was fascinated by viewing the world through the lens of mechanics, which combines math and physics. As a result, I chose mechanical engineering as my undergraduate major with a minor in math. Later, I specialized in fluid mechanics, which involves a relatively large amount of calculus, as my focus in graduate school. Like everyone else (although the timing may vary), I experienced a slump during my Ph.D. program, and it was during this time that I started my own YouTube channel as a temporary escape. The main content consisted of video diaries aiming to capture cherished memories with my family and friends. Instead of scripting and directing, I chose to observe the people in order to create more enjoyable memories. Through this process, I realized that everyone has their own way of life, the pursuit of happiness, and life principles, and these differences make relationships highly dynamic. While all I had pursued in research was finding universal answers based on irrefutable facts, my YouTube journal made me realize that “there is no correct answer in relationships.” This experience greatly sparked my interest in the lives, philosophies, and values of diverse individuals and ultimately led me to pursue my Postdoc in the field of bioelectronics, which is completely unrelated to my graduate studies but a place that brings researchers from various fields together.
The Most Important Value in Research
QSIB consists of approximately 40 postdocs and 20 graduate students from nearly all engineering disciplines. It is a truly special place with a diverse group of outstanding researchers, and I wanted to collaborate with as many of them as possible. Each person here pursues their own unique style of research, and I hoped to experience each of these approaches. To achieve that, two things were necessary: developing unique research skill sets and building genuine relationships. Building such relationships was challenging at times and varied with each researcher, but ultimately, each experience was incredibly valuable, making me both a better researcher and a better person. Fortunately, the process has become much easier and quicker after the publication of a cover article I finished and revised for Nature.
As I have emphasized the importance of relationships, you may have already noticed that I prioritize “happiness” in research as well. So, when I hear a phrase like “Jimmy, I enjoy working with you. You have made research fun again for me,” I feel a great sense of fulfillment. Although this relationship-centered mindset may seem abstract and detached from the realities of the world, I believe it applies even when the scope of the relationship expands or contracts, much like the self-similar solutions in fluid dynamics. Whether it is a popular research field or a research topic that can be published in a prestigious journal, ultimately, it originates from our own lives.
My goals in Research
I would like to provide a concise answer, but I am still in the process of learning (probably until I die). Lately, I have felt that a life of constantly competing to stay on top of your game in research and a life of experiencing various forms of happiness through relationships cannot coexist. To compete at the highest level, you have to move efficiently and fast, and yet savoring the moments of happiness with others takes time or may even seem unproductive. My goals in research, and in life, are to break the boundaries between these two lifestyles. I don't know yet how to achieve these goals in greater detail, but I may be able to do so by continuously developing new multidisciplinary fields and working with people based on respect and integrity.
Advice to Postechians
QSIB is also popular in Korea, attracting many undergraduate and early graduate students as interns. Every time I engage in conversations with them, I am amazed by their extensive knowledge and intelligence, surpassing my own in certain areas. So, I am not sure what advice I can give, but if I were to express my personal desires, I hope that they would develop a genuine interest in finding and polishing their own “happiness”—becoming an individual that I want to learn from.
