20 Graduate Students from The Catholic University of Korea Selected for Ministry of Education and NRF Academic Research Support Projects in STEM and Humanities & Social Sciences Fields

On September 23, graduate students from The Catholic University of Korea were finally selected for the academic research support projects in the STEM and Humanities & Social Sciences fields, hosted by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).

The Academic Research Support Projects are representative programs aimed at enhancing graduate students’ research capabilities and cultivating the next generation of scholars. Master’s students receive 12 million KRW in research funding for one year, while doctoral students receive 25 million KRW per year for two years. This year, a total of 20 students were selected: 18 in STEM and 2 in Humanities & Social Sciences.

STEM Research and Development Projects include:

• Development of a wearable on-device AI system and integrated circuit for processing complex sensor signals to analyze sleep states (Lee Seok-jae, Master’s student)
  
  

• Surface modification of yolk-structured silicon anode with graphene quantum dots for improved electrical conductivity and structural stability in lithium-ion batteries (Kim Ji-hye, Master’s student)
  
  

• Estimation of SARS-CoV-2 incubation period using Bayesian statistical models (Go Young-sun, Master’s student)
  
  

• Development of innovative therapeutic strategies for intractable neurological diseases using chimeric transcription factors (Kim Ji-seon, Master’s student)
  
  

• Integrated analysis of single-cell transcriptome and immune repertoire for predicting immunotherapy response in metastatic lung cancer (Yu Su-hyun, Master’s student)
  
  

• Development of an orally bioavailable gene delivery nanoparticle platform (Kim Ah-ram, Combined Master-Ph.D student)
  
  

• Development and validation of a deep learning-based personalized model to predict the risk of drug abuse (Park Dong-young, Combined Master-Ph.D student)
  
  

• Investigation of liver-heart fibrosis correlation using MASH model based on EV analysis from hepatic stellate cells (Kim Ha-young, Combined Master-Ph.D student)
  
  

• Clinical anatomical study of alternative lymphatic pathways in thyroid cancer metastasis using near-infrared fluorescent staining (So Young-in, Combined Master-Ph.D student)
  
  

• Development of B-type hemophilia composite cell therapy using click chemistry-based synthetic extracellular matrix (Lee Jung-hyun, Combined Master-Ph.D student)
  
  

• Understanding pathological mechanisms through functional study of Parkinson’s disease-specific HuD mutations (Cha Seong-ho, Combined Master-Ph.D student, completed)
  
  

• Functional study and therapeutic strategy exploration of Moesin in rheumatoid arthritis synovial cells (Heo Seol-hee, Combined Master-Ph.D student, completed)
  
  

• Development of intraceullar alpha particle distribution imaging technique using multilayer scintillator-based alpha particle trajectory imaging (Kim Seo-han, Doctoral student)
  
  

• Clinical exploratory study of GALECTN-1 for reducing infarct size as a therapy to prevent heart failure in acute myocardial infarction patients (Park Eun-hye, Doctoral student)
  
  

• Investigation of mitochondrial damage mechanisms and therapeutic response in atopic disease through STAT6 regulation (Choi Jeong-won, Doctoral student)
  
  

• Development of an integrative IMV-based Korean model for suicide behavior in isolated and reclusive youth (Oh Dan-bi, Doctoral student)
  
  

• Discovery of human Nav1.7-1.9 pain signal sodium channel inhibitors using electrophysiology and AI-based molecular dynamics (Kim Ryeong-eun, Doctoral student, completed)
  
  

• Analysis of colorectal cancer cell apoptosis mechanisms via ER stress modulation by KDM inhibitors (Pyo Jae-hyeok, Doctoral student, completed)
  
  

Humanities & Social Sciences Research Projects include:

• Study on transgender individuals’ hospital utilization experience, focusing on National Health Insurance coverage for medical transition (Kim Jong-bin, Doctoral student, completed)
  
  

• Study on medieval scholastic philosophy: Theory of subordinate sciences and issues and debates surrounding intermediate sciences (Eom Ga-yoon, Doctoral student, completed)
  
  

Lee Seok-jae, Master’s student in School of Information, Communications & Electronics Engineering (advisor: Kwon Soon-jae), explained, “Instead of using existing smartwatches or expensive hospital tests, we are developing a wearable system that processes various biosignals including EEG, ECG, and movement, and analyzes sleep stages in real time with on-device AI.” He added, “I aim to become a researcher contributing to the next-generation sleep tech and intelligent healthcare market by integrating semiconductor and AI technologies.”

The Catholic University of Korea plans to actively support graduate students’ research and expand academic diversity and research competitiveness across both STEM and Humanities & Social Sciences fields based on this achievement.