Korea Funds Nanotech Work

A team of nanotechnologists in the US and Korea has been selected to receive a $5 million grant from the Korea Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) to advance research in hybrid microcomposites and nanocomposites.

The team includes two faculty affiliated with the University of Delaware's Center for Composite Materials (CCM) and researchers from the Korea Institute of Materials (KIMS). Tsu-Wei Chou, the Pierre S. du Pont Chair of Engineering, and Erik Thostenson, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, will lead the UD effort during the nine-year program.

The University of Delaware's Tsu-Wei Chou (left), Pierre S. du Pont Chair of Engineering, and Erik Thostenson, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, are members of a team of nanotechnologists based in the US and Korea who will receive a $5 million grant from the Korea Ministry of Science and Technology to fund their work in hybrid microcomposites and nanocomposites over the next nine years. (Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson)

MOST provides central direction, planning, coordination and evaluation of all science and technology activities in Korea. The funding comes through MOST's Global Research Laboratory (GRL) program, which is aimed at developing fundamental and original technologies through international collaborative research between Korea-based and foreign laboratories. In addition to nanotechnology, GRL program supports collaborative research in biotechnology and information technology.

The UD-KIMS team is one of only two nanotechnology teams awarded GRL funding out of the 39 proposals submitted. The Korean principal investigator at KIMS is Joon-Hyung Byun, who received his doctorate at UD in mechanical engineering in 1993 under Chou's supervision.

“The program, which will establish a global collaborative network between KIMS and UD-CCM, will enable us to advance the research in hybrid micro- and nanocomposites for structural and functional applications,” Chou said. “I am very excited about this opportunity for international collaboration and really pleased to be working with Dr. Byun and Dr. Thostenson on this program.”

“Tsu-Wei has established some very high-impact international collaborations over the past three decades, and this latest program further expands his global visibility,” said Jack Gillespie, CCM director. “This grant has added significance in that all of the funds are coming from MOST.”

For more information, visit: www.udel.edu