[In the top 1% of researchers by number of citations over the past 10 years]

Professor Junsuk Rho (Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Chemical Engineering) at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Dr. Min Gyu Kim from (Energy Environment Research Team of PLS II Beamline Department) at Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL) have been recognized as World’s Most Influential Researchers in the cross-field category of Highly Cited Researchers (HCR) by Clarivate, a global research analytics company.

Annually, Clarivate identifies researchers as HCRs based on various metrics including ranking in the top 1% of citations for their papers. This recognition signifies their comprehensive achievements and the impact of their research, and places them among the most esteemed scholars in their respective fields.

Professor Junsuk Rho, a globally renowned expert in metamaterials manipulating light, achieved milestones in 2018 and 2021 by publishing the world’s first mass synthesis and printing of three-dimensional metamaterials in Nature. His subsequent research focuses on emerging meta-optical platforms including ultra-small lenses, LiDAR, super-resolution microscopes, and medical imaging devices. He has consistently contributed to top-tier international journals such as Science. Notably, his recent work on a ‘vision technology capable of recognizing the distance of objects located 180 degrees in front, utilizing nanopatterns and light’, was acknowledged as one of the Top 10 Nanotechnologies in 2023.

Dr. Min Gyu Kim, acknowledged as an HCR for two consecutive years, is engaged in research on energy storage and conversion materials including secondary batteries, solar cells, and fuel cells. Collaborating with domestic and international universities, research institutes, and industries, he uses the Pohang X-ray free electron laser¹⁾ to explore optimal synthesis conditions for energy materials. Dr. Kim employs non-destructive atom-selective X-ray absorption spectroscopy to identify cell driving principles and degradation causes. His significant contributions extend to numerous publications in esteemed international journals covering chemistry, materials science, and energy. Moreover, Dr. Kim contributes to the commercialization of energy materials.

Clarivate annually recognizes HCRs across 21 research areas, encompassing fields such as chemistry, materials science, and microbiology. This year, a total of 6,849 researchers from over 1,300 institutions in 67 countries received recognition. Among them, 65 researchers from Korea were honored, including Professor Junsuk Rho and Dr. Min Gyu Kim.

1. X-ray free electron laser
A substantial research facility accelerating electrons to the speed of light to generate X-rays of varying wavelengths simultaneously with high brightness. Functioning as a colossal X-ray microscope, it enables the observation of microstructures of matter and reaction phenomena. Notably, Korea hosts the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory.