Professor Sang-min LEE of the Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH has successfully designed one-component quasisymmetric protein nanocages using AI. Through joint research with Prof. David BAKER of the University of Washington, the team uncovered a design principle by which a single protein self-assembles into structures featuring both pentagonal and hexagonal arrangements. The findings were published in Nature.Protein nanocages are hollow structures self-assembled from dozens to hundreds of proteins, gaining attention as therapeutic gene delivery vehicles and vaccine platforms. Howe

A research team led by Professor Yong Young NOH of the Department of Chemical Engineering (CE) at POSTECH has developed a surface reconstruction strategy to address the instability of tin-based halide perovskite transistors. The research addresses the challenge of improving p-type semiconductor performance, one of the “Top 10 Future Unsolved Problems” selected by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and was published in Nature.Tin-halide perovskites have attracted attention as next-generation semiconductor materials because of their efficient charge transport and low processing temperatures. Howev

On Sept. 16, the government of South Korea officially announced its plan to introduce Mifegyne, an oral medication used for early pregnancy termination. HAN Seong-suk, the prime minister of South Korea, presided over a policy coordination meeting at the Government Complex Seoul and declared the government’s policy to “gradually introduce abortion medication for pregnancies of nine weeks or less.” According to the phased roadmap presented by the government, the drug will be prescribed and dispensed exclusively within hospitals during the initial two years to manage safety and prevent misuse. On

The Postech Times interviewed Hoyoung JEONG (CSE 23), who was awarded a Korean Society for Brain and Neural Science conference (KSBNS) Outstanding Poster Presentation Awards for research on computational biology.Tell us about your current research field. I am working on analyzing molecular phenomena in living organisms using computers. In particular, I focus on the basal ganglia—the brain region that controls functions such as movement, reward, and emotion—which may seem somewhat intangible. Tell us about the award and your thoughts on receiving it.I am honored to receive the Outstanding Poste

A research group at POSTECH, led by Professor Sin-Hyeog IM (LIFE) and Haena LEE (Integrated Ph.D. candidate) have first uncovered the key mechanism of Tfr cell formation. The research was published in Nature Communications. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system malfunctions and mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues instead of protecting them. This happens when antibodies, which are supposed to attack viruses or bacteria, transform into autoantibodies that attack the body. Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are representative examples. Currently used autoimmune diseases’ treatments a

On Aug. 15, South Koreans celebrated the 81st anniversary of Korea’s liberation, honoring those who fought for independence and remembering the tragedy of the colonial period. Earlier that month, on August 5, the Ministry of Justice identified the revival of the Investigative Commission on Pro-Japanese Collaborators’ Property as one of its major projects for later this year. The commission, whose original activity ceased in 2010, is planned to resume its work this December after a 16-year hiatus.Pro-Japanese collaborators were not simply people who were friendly toward Japan during the Japanes

Professor RHO Jun-seok from the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering at POSTECH has gained international attention for developing a mass-production process for metalenses and a switchable 2D-3D display technology based on them. The two studies were simultaneously published in the April 30 issue of Nature. This marks the first case in Korea of a researcher publishing two separate papers as corresponding author in the same issue of the journal.A metalens is a flat optical device that controls light using nanoscale structures rather than curved glass. By replacing bulky

The Postech Times interviewed Seoyeon YANG, a computer science senior and a future GSAI graduate student.As an undergraduate student with research experience, what was the greatest challenge you faced during research?The hardest challenge for me during my undergraduate years happened in “Research Project,” a required major course for computer science students at POSTECH. It is similar to participating in research, but it requires you to present a clear result near the end of the semester. This was different from the research participation I did in Professor Ilwoo LYU (GSAI, CSE)’s lab during t

When stuck on a research topic, most Postechians open ChatGPT or Gemini. It is a reasonable instinct, as these tools are fast, accessible, and familiar. But general-purpose chatbots are not built for academic research. They do not cite sources reliably, cannot access library databases, and offer no structured support for developing a research question. Few students know that the Tae-Joon PARK Digital Library already provides AI tools designed to address exactly these limitations.What the Library OffersThe library’s AI-Based Paper Search allows users to type a question in natural language. Rath

Succeeding previous youth asset-building policies such as the Youth Leap Account, the new “Youth Future Savings Account” will launch in June 2026.The account targets young adults aged 19 to 34, with up to six years of military service excluded from the age calculation. Additionally, an exceptional enrollment window is granted for individuals who turned 35 just prior to the official launch. Eligible applicants must maintain an annual salary of 75 million KRW or less alongside a household income at or below 200% of the median. Online applications will open in June 2026 via mobile apps, with recr

Traditional cell observation under a microscope requires the manual rotation of the equipment and the replacement of parts whenever the observation mode is switched. However, a lens has now emerged that allows the microscope’s observation method to be freely changed using only voltage. The research team led by Professor Junsuk RHO (ME, CE, EE, CiTE) has successfully developed switchable metalens that can toggle between different microscopy modes using only an external voltage.The research team focused on ultra-thin metalens. Metalens are next-generation optical devices that control light using

As the volume of data from high-definition media and AI services grows exponentially, traditional storage methods are struggling to keep pace. To increase capacity, manufacturers usually shrink the size of the storage, but this approach encounters physical limits like electrical interference. Furthermore, a storage method using light makes it difficult to achieve nanometer-scale integration because light naturally diffuses. A research team led by Professor Kyoung-duck PARK (PHYS, SEMI, CiTE), in cooperation with Sungkyunkwan University and the University of Pennsylvania, has developed a revolu

Throughout my doctoral journey, one early stumble continues to define my attitude and ethos towards my research career. It was a lesson learned through the discrepancy between a textbook equation and real-world data.My research theme involved identifying incipient signs of anomalies within the current and voltage signals emitted by machinery before they manifest externally, and this story dates back to when I first entered the field.The specific challenge I was grappling with at the time was the motor voltage equation—something I had learned during a graduate seminar. This was a fundamental ex

It has been four months since the Beta launch of POSTECH AI. To gauge the platform’s reception among the student population, The Postech Times interviewed Hyunwoo JI, an active and engaged user of POSTECH AI.JI explains that because most courses are taught in English—a second language for many—he uses the AI to interpret course materials and make specific queries in Korean. He also notes it is especially useful for verifying my practice solutions and identifying errors. This capacity to provide instant, contextual feedback is invaluable to my study routine.While this method is similar to how o

As the South Korean government’s temporary pause on high capital gains taxes for multi-home owners is set to end on May 9, attention is turning to how the housing market will react.In South Korea, people who own two or more homes in certain areas face much higher taxes when selling property. The rule was introduced to curb real estate speculation but has also increased the burden on multi-home owners and discouraged transactions. To prevent a market freeze, the government has applied standard tax rates since 2022, allowing sellers to avoid heavy tax penalties. However, it was decided not to ex

A research team led by Professor Hyung Joon CHA (CE/GSCST MED), along with Ph.D. candidates Sangmin LEE and Hyun Tack WOO, Dr. Geunho CHOI, and Prof. Kye Il JOO (Ewha Womans University), recently developed a technology capable of suppressing “immune rejection” without systemic side effects.Organ transplantation is the most effective treatment for restoring organs damaged by accidents or diseases. However, when a patient receives an organ transplant, the patient continuously has to take immunosuppressants due to the immune system rejecting the transplanted organ. Oral or injection methods invol

Semiconductor technology is advancing toward faster, smaller, and more energy-efficient devices. Among the materials attracting growing attention, amorphous hafnium oxide (a-HfOx) is a key insulating material in semiconductor devices. Under strong electric fields, its atomic and electronic behaviors can change significantly, directly affecting device speed, lifetime, and stability.Conventionally, ab-initio molecular dynamics simulations have been used to study atomic-scale behavior with high accuracy. However, these methods are computationally expensive and time-consuming. Classical molecular

As I have newly entered graduate school, I am going to share my research experience that I found impressive during my undergraduate years. While taking the Research Project 1 course at my current laboratory, I was able to experience a task called “Brain tumor segmentation.” The main purpose of this task was to train the AI model to accurately partition or mark an exact position and region of a tumor from brain MRI images of a patient. The most important thing about this project was the evolution beyond simply using MRI images of each patient to find tumors: in order to detect tumors with small

The United States has begun relocating the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, previously deployed in South Korea, to the Middle East amid the escalating conflict involving Iran.THAAD is an anti-missile defense system designed to intercept short and medium range ballistic missiles. Its interceptors destroy incoming missiles through kinetic impact rather than explosive warheads. Each interceptor missile costs about 17.5 billion KRW, reflecting the system’s role as a significant component in the world of international security.The system was first deployed by the U.S. in Guam in

A research team led by Professor Shin-hyuk LIM (LIFE, CiTE) and Ph.D. student Ha-eun KO (LIFE) has become the first to uncover that butyrate—a metabolic by-product of gut microbes—activates key cells of mucosal immunity, by enhancing antibody production.Most infectious diseases begin at mucosal surfaces. Thus, oral or intranasal mucosal vaccines are drawing attention as next-generation vaccines. However, mucosal tissues are relatively tolerant to external substances, making it difficult to elicit an immune response with vaccination. The research team focused on T follicular helper (Tfh) cells,