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KAIST Develops Technology for the Precise Diagnosis of Electric Vehicle Batteries Using Small Currents
Accurately diagnosing the state of electric vehicle (EV) batteries is essential for their efficient management and safe use. KAIST researchers have developed a new technology that can diagnose and monitor the state of batteries with high precision using only small amounts of current, which is expected to maximize the batteries’ long-term stability and efficiency.
KAIST (represented by President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 17th of October that a research team led by Professors Kyeongha Kwon and Sang-Gug Lee from the School of Electrical Engineering had developed electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technology that can be used to improve the stability and performance of high-capacity batteries in electric vehicles.
EIS is a powerful tool that measures the impedance* magnitude and changes in a battery, allowing the evaluation of battery efficiency and loss. It is considered an important tool for assessing the state of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH) of batteries. Additionally, it can be used to identify thermal characteristics, chemical/physical changes, predict battery life, and determine the causes of failures. *Battery Impedance: A measure of the resistance to current flow within the battery that is used to assess battery performance and condition.
However, traditional EIS equipment is expensive and complex, making it difficult to install, operate, and maintain. Moreover, due to sensitivity and precision limitations, applying current disturbances of several amperes (A) to a battery can cause significant electrical stress, increasing the risk of battery failure or fire and making it difficult to use in practice.
< Figure 1. Flow chart for diagnosis and prevention of unexpected combustion via the use of the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for the batteries for electric vehicles. >
To address this, the KAIST research team developed and validated a low-current EIS system for diagnosing the condition and health of high-capacity EV batteries. This EIS system can precisely measure battery impedance with low current disturbances (10mA), minimizing thermal effects and safety issues during the measurement process.
In addition, the system minimizes bulky and costly components, making it easy to integrate into vehicles. The system was proven effective in identifying the electrochemical properties of batteries under various operating conditions, including different temperatures and SOC levels.
Professor Kyeongha Kwon (the corresponding author) explained, “This system can be easily integrated into the battery management system (BMS) of electric vehicles and has demonstrated high measurement accuracy while significantly reducing the cost and complexity compared to traditional high-current EIS methods. It can contribute to battery diagnosis and performance improvements not only for electric vehicles but also for energy storage systems (ESS).”
This research, in which Young-Nam Lee, a doctoral student in the School of Electrical Engineering at KAIST participated as the first author, was published in the prestigious international journal IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics (top 2% in the field; IF 7.5) on September 5th. (Paper Title: Small-Perturbation Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy System With High Accuracy for High-Capacity Batteries in Electric Vehicles, Link: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10666864)
< Figure 2. Impedance measurement results of large-capacity batteries for electric vehicles. ZEW (commercial EW; MP10, Wonatech) versus ZMEAS (proposed system) >
This research was supported by the Basic Research Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Next-Generation Intelligent Semiconductor Technology Development Program of the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology, and the AI Semiconductor Graduate Program of the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation.
2024.10.17 View 1351 -
KAIST Industrial Design’s Professor Sangmin Bae’s team selected as Top 20 of James Dyson Award 2024
KAIST (President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced that the 'Oxynizer', a non-electrical medical oxygen generator for developing countries designed by Professor Sangmin Bae's team in the Department of Industrial Design, has been selected to be the Top 20 of the James Dyson Award 2024. At the same time, it was announced on the 16th that it was selected as one of the top 100 ‘Prototypes for Humanity’ 2024 and will be exhibited in Dubai in November.
< Photo 1. Photo of the award-winning team of Professor Sangmin Bae’s students of KAIST Department of Industrial Designs at the James Dyson Award 2024 announcement of the National Winners >
The James Dyson Award is a design award hosted by Sir James Dyson, founder of Dyson, and receives ideas for solving everyday problems from next-generation engineers and designers around the world, and selects and awards innovative and excellent designs every year.
The ‘Oxynizer’ developed by Professor Sangmin Bae’s team was selected as the winner of the screening within Korea in September after competing with 122 domestic teams, and was awarded a prize of 5,000 pounds for idea advancement, product development, and commercialization.
< Photo 2. A photo of Professor Sangmin Bae’s students’ award-winning achievement, ‘Oxynizer’ >
In addition, on October 16th, it was selected as one of the top 20 international winners among 1,911 competing works from 29 countries around the world. The international winner will be selected by Sir James Dyson and announced on November 13th. The international competition winner will receive a prize of £5,000, and the winner will receive an additional £30,000, giving them the opportunity to commercialize their idea.
‘Prototype for Humanity’ is a global project hosted by Art Dubai Group and carried out in collaboration with Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai Arts & Culture Authority, and Dubai International Financial Center. It is a forum for international cooperation where leading universities around the world, including Harvard University and MIT, participate to discuss global problems and solutions.
‘Oxynizer’ was selected on September 11 as one of the top 100 out of 3,000 entries submitted by universities in over 100 countries, and will be exhibited at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers of Dubai Future Foundation from November 17 to 22. The organizers will select the top five during the exhibition period, and will award a total of $100,000 in prize money to the winners to support their research.
The ‘Oxynizer’ is a device developed by students Jiwon Kim, Kyeongho Park, Seung-Jun Lee, Jiwon Lee, Yeohyeon Jeong, and Jungwoo Kim under the guidance of Professor Sangmin Bae of KAIST, and is the result of research conducted in the ‘Design Project 1’ class for the graduate students of the Department of Industrial Design at KAIST.
< Photo 3. A photo of Professor Sangmin Bae’s students’ award-winning achievement, ‘Oxynizer’ >
This device was designed to solve the problem of difficulty in supplying oxygen in developing countries due to high installation and maintenance costs. The device was designed to create concentrated oxygen to supply it to a patient in urgent need using an air pump for bicycles, which should be found more easily than a medical oxygen tank.
Professor Sangmin Bae said, “This device creates oxygen using a bicycle air pump and supplies it to patients, and it can separate water vapor and nitrogen in the air using silica gel and zeolite, which are the main materials of the filter, to supply oxygen with a concentration of up to 50%.” “In addition, the filter can be heated and reused after 120 hours of use, so it has the advantage of being able to be used semi-permanently,” he emphasized.
< Photo 4. A photo of Professor Sangmin Bae’s students’ award-winning achievement, ‘Oxynizer’ >
The results of the self-research derived from the KAIST Industrial Design Department class were selected as a world-class award winner and exhibition piece in competition with excellent universities around the world, once again proving the global competitiveness of the KAIST Industrial Design Department.
2024.10.16 View 1139 -
KAIST Changes the Paradigm of Drug Discovery with World's First Atomic Editing
In pioneering drug development, the new technology that enables the easy and rapid editing of key atoms responsible for drug efficacy has been regarded as a fundamental and "dream" technology, revolutionizing the process of discovering potential drug candidates. KAIST researchers have become the first in the world to successfully develop single-atom editing technology that maximizes drug efficacy.
On October 8th, KAIST (represented by President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced that Professor Yoonsu Park’s research team from the Department of Chemistry successfully developed technology that enables the easy editing and correction of oxygen atoms in furan compounds into nitrogen atoms, directly converting them into pyrrole frameworks, which are widely used in pharmaceuticals.
< Image. Conceptual image illustrating the main idea of the research >
This research was published in the prestigious scientific journal Science on October 3rd under the title "Photocatalytic Furan-to-Pyrrole Conversion."
Many drugs have complex chemical structures, but their efficacy is often determined by a single critical atom. Atoms like oxygen and nitrogen play a central role in enhancing the pharmacological effects of these drugs, particularly against viruses.
This phenomenon, where the introduction of specific atoms into a drug molecule dramatically affects its efficacy, is known as the "Single Atom Effect." In leading-edge drug development, discovering atoms that maximize drug efficacy is key.
However, evaluating the Single Atom Effect has traditionally required multi-step, costly synthesis processes, as it has been difficult to selectively edit single atoms within stable ring structures containing oxygen or nitrogen.
Professor Park’s team overcame this challenge by introducing a photocatalyst that uses light energy. They developed a photocatalyst that acts as a “molecular scissor,” freely cutting and attaching five-membered rings, enabling single-atom editing at room temperature and atmospheric pressure—a world first.
The team discovered a new reaction mechanism in which the excited molecular scissor removes oxygen from furan via single-electron oxidation and then sequentially adds a nitrogen atom.
Donghyeon Kim and Jaehyun You, the study's first authors and candidates in KAIST’s integrated master's and doctoral program in the Department of Chemistry, explained that this technique offers high versatility by utilizing light energy to replace harsh conditions. They further noted that the technology enables selective editing, even when applied to complex natural products or pharmaceuticals. Professor Yoonsu Park, who led the research, remarked, "This breakthrough, which allows for the selective editing of five-membered organic ring structures, will open new doors for building libraries of drug candidates, a key challenge in pharmaceuticals. I hope this foundational technology will be used to revolutionize the drug development process."
The significance of this research was highlighted in the Perspective section of Science, a feature where a peer scientist of prominence outside of the project group provides commentary on an impactful research.
This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Creative Research Program, the Cross-Generation Collaborative Lab Project at KAIST, and the POSCO Science Fellowship of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation.
2024.10.11 View 1442 -
KAIST Develops Stretchable Displays Featuring 25% Expansion Without Image Distortion
Stretchable displays, praised for their spatial efficiency, design flexibility, and human-like flexibility, are seen as the next generation of display technology. A team of Korean researchers has developed a stretchable display that can expand by 25% while maintaining clear image quality without distortion. It can also stretch and contract up to 5,000 times at 15% expansion without any performance degradation, making it the first deformation-free stretchable display with a negative Poisson's ratio* developed in Korea.
*Poisson’s ratio of -1: A ratio where both width and length stretch equally, expressed as a negative value. A positive Poisson's ratio represents the ratio where horizontal stretching leads to vertical contraction, which is the case for most materials.
KAIST (represented by President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced on the 20th of August that a research team led by Professor Byeong-Soo Bae of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (Director of the Wearable Platform Materials Technology Center) , in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (President Seoghyeon Ryu), successfully developed a stretchable display substrate that suppresses image distortion through omnidirectional stretchability.
Currently, most stretchable displays are made with highly elastic elastomer* materials, but these materials possess a positive Poisson's ratio, causing unavoidable image distortion when the display is stretched.
*Elastomer: A polymer with elasticity similar to rubber.
To address this, the introduction of auxetic* meta-structures has been gaining attention. Unlike conventional materials, auxetic structures have a unique 'negative Poisson's ratio,' expanding in all directions when stretched in just one direction. However, traditional auxetic structures contain many empty spaces, limiting their stability and usability in display substrates.
*Auxetic structure: A special geometric structure that exhibits a negative Poisson's ratio.
To tackle the issue of image distortion, Professor Bae's research team developed a method to create a seamless surface for the auxetic meta-structure, achieving the ideal negative Poisson's ratio of -1 and overcoming the biggest challenge in auxetic meta-structures.
To overcome the second issue of elastic modulus*, the team inserted a textile made of glass fiber bundles with a diameter of just 25 micrometers (a quarter of the thickness of human hair) into the elastomer material. They then filled the empty spaces with the same elastomer, creating a flat and stable integrated film without gaps.
*Elastic Modulus: The ratio that indicates the extent of deformation when force is applied to a material. A higher elastic modulus means that the material is less likely to deform under force.
The research team theoretically identified that the difference in elasticity between the auxetic structure and the elastomer material directly influences the negative Poisson's ratio and successfully achieved an elasticity difference of over 230,000 times, producing a film with a Poisson's ratio of -1, the theoretical limit.
< Figure 2. Deformation of S-AUX film. a) Configurations and visualized principal strain distribution of the optimized S-AUX film at various strain rates. b) Biaxial stretching image. While pristine elastomer shrinks in the directions that were not stretched, S-AUX film developed in this study expands in all directions simultaneously while maintaining its original shape. >
Professor Byeong-Soo Bae, who led the study, explained, "Preventing image distortion using auxetic structures in stretchable displays is a core technology, but it has faced challenges due to the many empty spaces in the surface, making it difficult to use as a substrate. This research outcome is expected to significantly accelerate commercialization through high-resolution, distortion-free stretchable display applications that utilize the entire surface."
This study, co-authored by Dr. Yung Lee from KAIST’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Dr. Bongkyun Jang from the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, was published on August 20th in the international journal Nature Communications under the title "A seamless auxetic substrate with a negative Poisson's ratio of –1".
The research was supported by the Wearable Platform Materials Technology Center at KAIST, the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, and LG Display.
< Figure 3. Structural configuration of the distortion-free display components on the S-AUX film and a contour image of a micro-LED chip transferred onto the S-AUX film. >
< Figure 4. Schematic illustrations and photographic images of the S-AUX film-based image: distortion-free display in its stretched state and released state. >
2024.09.20 View 2176 -
Professor Jimin Park and Dr. Inho Kim join the ranks of the 2024 "35 Innovators Under 35" by the MIT Technology Review
< (From left) Professor Jimin Park of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Dr. Inho Kim, a graduate of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering >
KAIST (represented by President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced on the 13th of September that Professor Jimin Park from KAIST’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Dr. Inho Kim, a graduate from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (currently a postdoctoral researcher at Caltech), were selected by the MIT Technology Review as the 2024 "35 Innovators Under 35”.
The MIT Technology Review, first published in 1899 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is the world’s oldest and most influential magazine on science and technology, offering in-depth analysis across various technology fields, expanding knowledge and providing insights into cutting-edge technology trends.
Since 1999, the magazine has annually named 35 innovators under the age of 35, recognizing young talents making groundbreaking contributions in modern technology fields. The recognition is globally considered a prestigious honor and a dream for young researchers in the science and technology community.
< Image 1. Introduction for Professor Jimin Park at the Meet 35 Innovators Under 35 Summit 2024 >
Professor Jimin Park is developing next-generation bio-interfaces that link artificial materials with living organisms, and is engaged in advanced research in areas such as digital healthcare and carbon-neutral compound manufacturing technologies. In 2014, Professor Park was also recognized as one of the ‘Asia Pacific Innovators Under 35’ by the MIT Technology Review, which highlights young scientists in the Asia-Pacific region.
Professor Park responded, “It’s a great honor to be named as one of the young innovators by the MIT Technology Review, a symbol of innovation with a long history. I will continue to pursue challenging, interdisciplinary research to develop next-generation interfaces that seamlessly connect artificial materials and living organisms, from atomic to system levels.”
< Image 2. Introduction for Dr. Inho Kim as the 2024 Innovator of Materials Science for 35 Innovators Under 35 >
Dr. Inho Kim, who earned his PhD from KAIST in 2020 under the supervision of Professor Sang Ouk Kim from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, recently succeeded in developing a new artificial muscle using composite fibers. This new material is considered the most human-like muscle ever reported in scientific literature, while also being 17 times stronger than natural human muscle.
Dr. Kim is researching the application of artificial muscle fibers in next-generation wearable assistive devices that move more naturally, like humans or animals, noting that the fibers are lightweight, flexible, and exhibit conductivity during contraction, enabling real-time feedback. Recognized for this potential, Dr. Inho Kim was named one of the '35 Innovators Under 35' this year, making him the first researcher to win the honor with the research conducted at KAIST and a PhD earned from Korea.
Dr. Kim stated, “I aim to develop robots using these new materials that can replace today’s expensive and heavy exoskeleton suits by eliminating motors and rigid frames. This will significantly reduce costs and allow for better customization, making cutting-edge technology more accessible to those who need it most, like children with cerebral palsy.”
2024.09.13 View 1721 -
KAIST ISSS Research Session Captivates 150↑ International Scholars, Achieve Major Success
< Photo. Scholars gatheres for NRF Information Session at Chung Keun Mo Hall >
KAIST’s International Office, headed by Vice President Soyoung Kim, successfully organized the ‘NRF Information Session for International Scholars’ on September 11, 2024, in collaboration with the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).
The event was held at KAIST’s main campus to enourage the international scholar’s active participation in research projects and support their establishment of stable research environment and integration into Korea’s academic community by introducing NRF’s key research programs.
Divided into two main segments – science and engineering, and humanities and social sciences – the session attracted approximately 150 international faculty and researchers from 23 universities across the nation.
The event commenced with a keynote address by Vice President Soyoung Kim, followed by a presentation from Dr. Seol Min of the National Research Foundation, who highlighted basic research initiatives in the science and technology sector. Subsequently, Professor Daniel Martin from the Digital Humanities and Social Sciences Department and Professor Thomas Steinberger from the Department of Business and Technology Management presented practical research project support case studies, sharing invaluable insights gained from their domestic research experiences.
Following the information session, participants engaged in a networking event, where researchers involved in major R&D projects exchanged insights and discussed their ongoing research initiatives.
An international professor remarked, “My understanding of NRF’s research programs for international researchers has broadened considerably. I am now more inclined to actively participate in projects organized by NRF in the future.”
Vice President Kim expressed her aspiration that the event would address the challenges faced by researchers and offer essential support to those engaged in research projects. “We will stay attuned to the needs of the research community and work towards creating a more supportive research environment,” said the VP.
Meanwhile, KAIST hosts a distinguished faculty comprising 134 professors from 22 countries and 71 researchers representing 23 nations, all contributing to groundbreaking academic achievements. Additionally, KAIST is home to over 1,000 international students from more than 100 countries, actively pursuing their studies. This diverse composition of global talent reinforces KAIST's position as a leading international hub for research and education.
2024.09.13 View 1236 -
KAIST and NYU set out to Install Korea's First Joint Degree Program in AI
< (From left) New York University President Linda Mills and President Kwang-Hyung Lee >
KAIST (President Kwang-Hyung Lee) and New York University (NYU, President Linda G. Mills) signed an MOU in the afternoon of the 9th to introduce a graduate program for a joint degree in the field of artificial intelligence.
This agreement was promoted based on the consensus between the two universities that strengthening capabilities in the field of AI and fostering global talent are essential elements that can lead to great development in the entire future society beyond simple technical education.
The two universities have been operating joint research groups in various industrial fields related to AI and convergence with it, and based on this agreement, they plan to establish an operating committee within this year to design a joint degree program for graduate school courses related to artificial intelligence.
A KAIST official said, “If the joint degree program in AI is implemented, it is expected to be an unprecedented innovative experiment in which KAIST and NYU join forces to create ‘a single AI degree.’
The committee will consist of an equal number of faculty members from both schools, and will discuss the overall strategic planning of the joint degree program, including ▴curriculum structure and course composition ▴course completion roadmap ▴calculation of faculty and student population ▴calculation of budget size ▴calculation of operating facility size and details ▴legal matters regarding certification. In addition, the development of a new logo symbolizing the joint degree of KAIST and NYU in AI will also be carried out.
The two schools expect that the joint degree program being promoted this time will contribute to advancing education and research capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence, jointly discovering and fostering talent in related fields that are currently lacking worldwide, and will become an exemplary case of global education and research cooperation.
The faculty members of both schools, who possess excellent capabilities, will provide innovative and creative education in the field of artificial intelligence. Students will receive support to gain top-level research experience by participating in various international joint research projects promoted by the faculty members of both schools. Through this, the core of this joint degree program promoted by both schools is to continuously cultivate excellent human resources who will lead the future global society.
Since signing a cooperation agreement for the establishment of a joint campus in June 2022, KAIST and NYU have been promoting campus sharing, joint research, and joint bachelor's degree programs. Including this, they are developing an innovative joint campus model and establishing an active international cooperation model.
In particular, the exchange student system for undergraduate students will be implemented starting from the second semester of the 2023 academic year. 30 students from KAIST and 11 students from NYU were selected through a competitive selection process and are participating. In the case of KAIST students, if they complete one of the six minor programs at NYU, they will receive a degree that states the completion of the minor upon graduation.
Based on the performance of the undergraduate exchange student operation, the two schools have also agreed to introduce a dual degree system for master's and doctoral students, and specific procedures are currently in progress.
In addition, from 2023 to the present, we are carrying out future joint research projects in 15 fields that are integrated with AI, and we plan to begin international joint research in 10 fields centered on AI and bio from the fourth quarter of this year.
NYU President Linda Mills said, “AI technology can play a significant role in addressing various social challenges such as climate change, health care, and education inequality,” and added that, “The global talent cultivated through our two schools will also go on to make innovative contributions to solving these social problems.”
Kwang-Hyung Lee, the president of KAIST, said, “In the era of competition for global hegemony in technology, the development of AI technology is an essential element for countries and companies to secure competitiveness,” and “Through long-term cooperation with NYU, we will take the lead in fostering world-class, advanced talents who can innovatively apply and develop AI in various fields.”
The signing ceremony held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul was attended by KAIST officials including President Kwang-Hyung Lee, Hyun Deok Yeo, the Director of G-School, NYU officials including President Linda Mills, Kyunghyun Cho, a Professor of Computer Science and Data Science, and Dr. Karin Pavese, the Executive Director of NYU-KAIST Innovation Research Institute, amid attendance by other key figures from the industries situated in Korea. (End)
2024.09.10 View 1910 -
KAIST finds ways for Bacteria to produce PET-like materials
Among various eco-friendly polymers, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) stand out for their excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility. They decompose naturally in soil and marine environments and are used in applications such as food packaging and medical products. However, natural PHA produced to date has faced challenges meeting various physical property requirements, such as durability and thermal stability, and has been limited in its commercial application due to low production concentrations. In light of this, KAIST researchers have recently developed a technology that could play a crucial role in solving the environmental pollution problem caused by plastics.
KAIST (represented by President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced on August 26th that a research team led by Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, including Dr. Youngjoon Lee and master's student Minju Kang, has successfully developed a microbial strain that efficiently produces aromatic polyester* using systems metabolic engineering.
※ Aromatic polyester: A polymer containing aromatic compounds (specific carbon ring structures like benzene) and ester bonds.
In this study, the research team used metabolic engineering to enhance the metabolic flux of the biosynthetic pathway for the aromatic monomer phenyllactate (PhLA) in E. coli. They manipulated the metabolic pathway to increase the polymer fraction accumulated within the cells and employed computer simulations to predict the structure of PHA synthase and improve the enzyme based on the structure-function relationship.
Through subsequent fermentation optimization, the team achieved the world’s highest concentration (12.3±0.1 g/L) for the efficient production of poly (PhLA) and successfully produced polyester through a 30L scale fed-batch fermentation, demonstrating the possibility of industrial-level production. The produced aromatic polyesters showed enhanced thermal properties, improved mechanical properties, and potential for use as drug delivery carriers.
< Figure 1. Development schematics of aromatic polyester producing microorganisms >
The research team also demonstrated that an exogenous phasin protein* plays a crucial role in increasing the intracellular polymer accumulation fraction, which is directly related to the economic feasibility and efficiency of non-natural PHA production. They improved PHA synthase using a rational enzyme design approach, predicting the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme through homology modeling (a method of predicting the three-dimensional structure of a new protein based on the structure of similar proteins) followed by molecular docking simulations (simulations that predict how well a monomer can bind to an enzyme) and molecular dynamics simulations (simulations that predict how molecules move and interact over time) to upgrade the enzyme into a mutant enzyme with enhanced monomer polymerization efficiency.
※ Exogenous phasin protein: Phasin is a protein related to PHA production, interacting with the cytoplasmic environment on the surface of granules of PHA, and playing a role in polymer accumulation and controlling the number and size of granules. In this study, genes encoding phasin proteins derived from various natural PHA-producing microorganisms were selected and introduced.
Dr. Youngjoon Lee, co-first author of the paper, explained, "The significance of this study lies in the fact that we have achieved the world's highest concentration of microbial-based aromatic polyester production using eco-friendly materials and methods. This technology is expected to play a crucial role in addressing the environmental pollution caused by plastics." Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee added, "This study, which presents various strategies for the high-efficiency production of useful polymers via systems metabolic engineering, is expected to make a significant contribution to solving climate change issues, particularly the recent plastic problem."
< Figure 2. Detailed development strategy for aromatic polyester producing microorganisms >
The research findings were published on August 21st in Trends in Biotechnology, published by Cell, an international academic journal.
※ Paper Title: “Microbial production of an aromatic homopolyester”
※ Author Information: Youngjoon Lee (KAIST, co-first author), Minju Kang (KAIST, co-first author), Woo Dae Jang (KAIST, second author), So Young Choi (KAIST, third author), Jung Eun Yang (KAIST, fourth author), Sang Yup Lee (KAIST, corresponding author), totaling six authors.
This research was supported by the "Development of Next-Generation Biorefinery Platform Technologies for Leading the Bio-based Chemicals Industry" project led by Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee at KAIST, under the eco-friendly chemical technology development project aimed at substituting petroleum, funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT. It was also supported by the "Development of Platform Technology for the Production of Novel Aromatic Bioplastic Using Microbial Cell Factories" project (Project Leader: Si Jae Park, Ewha Woman’s University).
2024.08.28 View 1977 -
KAIST presents strategies for Holotomography in advanced bio research
Measuring and analyzing three-dimensional (3D) images of live cells and tissues is considered crucial in advanced fields of biology and medicine. Organoids, which are 3D structures that mimic organs, are particular examples that significantly benefits 3D live imaging. Organoids provide effective alternatives to animal testing in the drug development processes, and can rapidly determine personalized medicine. On the other hand, active researches are ongoing to utilize organoids for organ replacement.
< Figure 1. Schematic illustration of holotomography compared to X-ray CT. Similar to CT, they share the commonality of measuring the optical properties of an unlabeled specimen in three dimensions. Instead of X-rays, holotomography irradiates light in the visible range, and provides refractive index measurements of transparent specimens rather than absorptivity. While CT obtains three-dimensional information only through mechanical rotation of the irradiating light, holotomography can replace this by applying wavefront control technology in the visible range. >
Organelle-level observation of 3D biological specimens such as organoids and stem cell colonies without staining or preprocessing holds significant implications for both innovating basic research and bioindustrial applications related to regenerative medicine and bioindustrial applications.
Holotomography (HT) is a 3D optical microscopy that implements 3D reconstruction analogous to that of X-ray computed tomography (CT). Although HT and CT share a similar theoretical background, HT facilitates high-resolution examination inside cells and tissues, instead of the human body. HT obtains 3D images of cells and tissues at the organelle level without chemical or genetic labeling, thus overcomes various challenges of existing methods in bio research and industry. Its potential is highlighted in research fields where sample physiology must not be disrupted, such as regenerative medicine, personalized medicine, and infertility treatment.
< Figure 2. Label-free 3D imaging of diverse live cells. Time-lapse image of Hep3B cells illustrating subcellular morphology changes upon H2O2 treatment, followed by cellular recovery after returning to the regular cell culture medium. >
This paper introduces the advantages and broad applicability of HT to biomedical researchers, while presenting an overview of principles and future technical challenges to optical researchers. It showcases various cases of applying HT in studies such as 3D biology, regenerative medicine, and cancer research, as well as suggesting future optical development. Also, it categorizes HT based on the light source, to describe the principles, limitations, and improvements of each category in detail. Particularly, the paper addresses strategies for deepening cell and organoid studies by introducing artificial intelligence (AI) to HT.
Due to its potential to drive advanced bioindustry, HT is attracting interest and investment from universities and corporates worldwide. The KAIST research team has been leading this international field by developing core technologies and carrying out key application researches throughout the last decade.
< Figure 3. Various types of cells and organelles that make up the imaging barrier of a living intestinal organoid can be observed using holotomography. >
This paper, co-authored by Dr. Geon Kim from KAIST Research Center for Natural Sciences, Professor Ki-Jun Yoon's team from the Department of Biological Sciences, Director Bon-Kyoung Koo's team from the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) Center for Genome Engineering, and Dr. Seongsoo Lee's team from the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), was published in 'Nature Reviews Methods Primers' on the 25th of July. This research was supported by the Leader Grant and Basic Science Research Program of the National Research Foundation, the Hologram Core Technology Development Grant of the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Nano and Material Technology Development Project, and the Health and Medical R&D Project of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
2024.07.30 View 1591 -
Unraveling Mitochondrial DNA Mutations in Human Cells
Throughout our lifetime, cells accumulate DNA mutations, which contribute to genetic diversity, or “mosaicism”, among cells. These genomic mutations are pivotal for the aging process and the onset of various diseases, including cancer. Mitochondria, essential cellular organelles involved in energy metabolism and apoptosis, possess their own DNA, which are susceptible to mutations. However, studies on mtDNA mutations and mosaicism have been limited due to a variety of technical challenges.
Genomic scientists from KAIST have revealed the genetic mosaicism characterized by variations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) across normal human cells. This study provides fundamental insights into understanding human aging and disease onset mechanisms.
The study, “Mitochondrial DNA mosaicism in normal human somatic cells,” was published in Nature Genetics on July 22. It was led by graduate student Jisong An under the supervision of Professor Young Seok Ju from the Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering.
Researchers from Seoul National University College of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine National Cancer Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Gangnam Severance Hospital and KAIST faculty startup company Inocras Inc. also participated in this study.
< Figure 1. a. Flow of experiment. b. Schematic diagram illustrating the origin and dynamics of mtDNA alterations across a lifetime. >
The study involved a bioinformatic analysis of whole-genome sequences from 2,096 single cells obtained from normal human colorectal epithelial tissue, fibroblasts, and blood collected from 31 individuals. The study highlights an average of three significant mtDNA differences between cells, with approximately 6% of these variations confirmed to be inherited as heteroplasmy from the mother.
Moreover, mutations significantly increased during tumorigenesis, with some mutations contributing to instability in mitochondrial RNA. Based on these findings, the study illustrates a computational model that comprehensively elucidates the evolution of mitochondria from embryonic development to aging and tumorigenesis.
This study systematically reveals the mechanisms behind mitochondrial DNA mosaicism in normal human cells, establishing a crucial foundation for understanding the impact of mtDNA on aging and disease onset.
Professor Ju remarked, “By systematically utilizing whole-genome big data, we can illuminate previously unknown phenomena in life sciences.” He emphasized the significance of the study, adding, “For the first time, we have established a method to systematically understand mitochondrial DNA changes occurring during human embryonic development, aging, and cancer development.”
This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Suh Kyungbae Foundation.
2024.07.24 View 1928 -
The 3rd Global Entrepreneurship Summer School (GESS 2024) Successfully Completed in Silicon Valley
The 2024 Global Entrepreneurship Summer School (2024 KAIST GESS), hosted by the Office of Global Initiatives under the KAIST International Office (Director Man-Sung Yim), was held for the third time. This program allows students to visit Silicon Valley, a global startup hub, to directly experience its famous startup ecosystem and develop their capabilities for global expansion. A total of 20 students were selected through applications, interviews, final presentations, mentoring, and peer evaluations. Additionally, 17 students from the KAIST Impact MBA course at the KAIST Business School also participated.
Before starting the Silicon Valley program, participants received mentoring on business model development and pitching advice from a senior entrepreneur at KAIST for about two months, beginning last May. Afterward, they developed business items for each team at KAIST’s main campus in Daejeon. For seven days, starting from June 23rd, workshops were held under the themes of global entrepreneurship, learning through failure, capital and network, and startup culture at KOTRA Silicon Valley Trade Center, JP Morgan, and Plug and Play Tech Center. This program's lecture series provided prospective entrepreneurs with the opportunity to systematically learn the mindset and gain the experience needed to start a global business.
The participants also visited local companies and gained experience in the field of global technology startups. Visits included Bear Robotics (CEO John Ha), Soundable Health (CEO Cathering Song), ImpriMed (CEO Sungwon Lim), Phantom AI (CEO Hyunggi Cho), B Garage (CEO Aiden Kim), and Simple Steps (CEO Doyeon Kim). Lectures contained vivid experiences from Silicon Valley CEOs and company tours boosted the students' passion for entrepreneurship. In particular, Doyeon Kim, CEO of Simple Steps, which helps prevent career breaks for Korean female immigrants in Silicon Valley and allows talented female immigrants to demonstrate their abilities in society, said, “As a KAIST alumna entrepreneur, it was meaningful to share my experience with this generation of students who dream of starting a global business and creating social enterprises in the United States.”
This program also included a tour of Silicon Valley's big tech companies that have made a significant impact on the digital ecosystem through technological advancement and innovation. This included Broadcom, which maintains a strong global presence in the semiconductor and infrastructure software technology fields. At the invitation of Chairman Hock Tan, GESS participants had the opportunity to attend his lecture and ask questions. Chairman Tan, who received an honorary doctorate in engineering from KAIST last February, emphasized that experiencing failure and giving consistent effort over a long period of time are more important than anything else in order to grow as a global entrepreneur, and that technologies influencing the global market evolve over generations.
< Photo. Group photo of GESS 2024 participants at Broadcom with Chairman Hock Tan (center) ⓒBroadcom>
As part of this program, participants conducted a volunteer program called 'Let's play with AI+ Tech' with the Sunnyvale community in Silicon Valley and Foothill College to help grow together with the community. Through this program, GESS participants cultivated the virtues of a global leader. In this volunteer activity, low-income elementary school students and parents from the Sunnyvale community participated in chatbot training led by KAIST students, providing an opportunity to work with underprivileged groups in the local community.
In the final pitching event, the highlight of the program, local venture investors from Silicon Valley were invited as judges and evaluated the pitches for each team's business items. The participating students, who developed their own business models while receiving advice through face-to-face mentoring from a professional accelerator in Silicon Valley, showcased their creative and innovative ideas, presenting themselves as future global entrepreneurs. Merey Makhmutova (BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering) from the K-Bridge team, who won the final pitch, expressed her ambition: “Even before GESS pitch day, our team kept refining the pitch deck as we attended the lectures and benefitted from the mentoring. Our intense teamwork was a significant reason why we ultimately won first prize.” She added that K-Bridge aims to win an award at the upcoming UKC Pitching Competition and expressed her gratitude for being able to participate in this program. Arseniy Kan (BS in Electrical Engineering) from the KAIST Enablers team, who took second place, said, “The 2024 KAIST GESS Program became the most unforgettable and precious opportunity of my lifetime, and I dream of using this opportunity as a stepping stone to becoming a global entrepreneur.“ Additionally, Kangster (CEO Kang Kim), who won the Impact MBA final pitching session, had the opportunity to secure a meeting with a local investment company after their GESS final pitch.
The 2024 KAIST GESS was held in cooperation with the KAIST International Office, the KAIST College of Business, and Startup KAIST. Director Man-Sung Yim from the Office of Global Initiatives, who hosted the event, said, “KAIST students will grow into leaders with global influence and contribute to the international community by creating global value. At the same time, we hope to raise the international status of our university.” Professor Sangchan Park, who led the 17 Impact MBA students in this educational program, added, “Meeting with companies leading the global market and visiting Silicon Valley has been a valuable learning experience for students aiming to start a global startup.”
KAIST plans to continue promoting its global entrepreneurship education program by enriching its curriculum each year and helping students grow into entrepreneurs with the virtues of global leaders.
2024.07.03 View 3230 -
KAIST Employs Image-recognition AI to Determine Battery Composition and Conditions
An international collaborative research team has developed an image recognition technology that can accurately determine the elemental composition and the number of charge and discharge cycles of a battery by examining only its surface morphology using AI learning.
KAIST (President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced on July 2nd that Professor Seungbum Hong from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in collaboration with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and Drexel University in the United States, has developed a method to predict the major elemental composition and charge-discharge state of NCM cathode materials with 99.6% accuracy using convolutional neural networks (CNN)*.
*Convolutional Neural Network (CNN): A type of multi-layer, feed-forward, artificial neural network used for analyzing visual images.
The research team noted that while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used in semiconductor manufacturing to inspect wafer defects, it is rarely used in battery inspections. SEM is used for batteries to analyze the size of particles only at research sites, and reliability is predicted from the broken particles and the shape of the breakage in the case of deteriorated battery materials.
The research team decided that it would be groundbreaking if an automated SEM can be used in the process of battery production, just like in the semiconductor manufacturing, to inspect the surface of the cathode material to determine whether it was synthesized according to the desired composition and that the lifespan would be reliable, thereby reducing the defect rate.
< Figure 1. Example images of true cases and their grad-CAM overlays from the best trained network. >
The researchers trained a CNN-based AI applicable to autonomous vehicles to learn the surface images of battery materials, enabling it to predict the major elemental composition and charge-discharge cycle states of the cathode materials. They found that while the method could accurately predict the composition of materials with additives, it had lower accuracy for predicting charge-discharge states. The team plans to further train the AI with various battery material morphologies produced through different processes and ultimately use it for inspecting the compositional uniformity and predicting the lifespan of next-generation batteries.
Professor Joshua C. Agar, one of the collaborating researchers of the project from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics of Drexel University, said, "In the future, artificial intelligence is expected to be applied not only to battery materials but also to various dynamic processes in functional materials synthesis, clean energy generation in fusion, and understanding foundations of particles and the universe."
Professor Seungbum Hong from KAIST, who led the research, stated, "This research is significant as it is the first in the world to develop an AI-based methodology that can quickly and accurately predict the major elemental composition and the state of the battery from the structural data of micron-scale SEM images. The methodology developed in this study for identifying the composition and state of battery materials based on microscopic images is expected to play a crucial role in improving the performance and quality of battery materials in the future."
< Figure 2. Accuracies of CNN Model predictions on SEM images of NCM cathode materials with additives under various conditions. >
This research was conducted by KAIST’s Materials Science and Engineering Department graduates Dr. Jimin Oh and Dr. Jiwon Yeom, the co-first authors, in collaboration with Professor Josh Agar and Dr. Kwang Man Kim from ETRI. It was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, the KAIST Global Singularity project, and international collaboration with the US research team. The results were published in the international journal npj Computational Materials on May 4. (Paper Title: “Composition and state prediction of lithium-ion cathode via convolutional neural network trained on scanning electron microscopy images”)
2024.07.02 View 2601