POSTECH News
Professor Taihyun Chang Wins SPSJ International Award
POSTECH Professor Taihyun Chang (Dept. of Chemistry) was named the winner of the SPSJ International Award by the Society of Polymer Science, Japan (SPSJ).
Established in 1994, SPSJ International Award is the highest honor given by the society to international scientists for their contribution to the development of polymer science and related fields. In recognition of his significant impact on the field of polymer separation and analysis, Prof. Chang was presented with the award at the SPSJ Annual Conference on May 28th in Sapporo, Japan.
Prof. Chang received his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1984 and worked at the Polymers Division in the (U.S.) National Bureau of Standards and Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology before taking a faculty position at POSTECH in 1988. Using various detection methods such as high performance liquid (HPLC), Prof. Chang succeeded in rigorous separation and analysis of polymers, which was deemed impossible before. Based on this technique, he has further solved other major problems in polymer science including analysis of each block in block copolymers. His research on the self-assembled nanostructure of precisely controlled block copolymers and rheological properties of non-linear polymers via precise HPLC separation, in particular, has created a huge sensation in the academic community.
Commemorating his nomination for the award, Prof. Chang delivered at the conference a keynote speech themed “Innovative Approaches to Molecular Characterization and Separation of Polymers by Chromatographic Techniques.”
