POSTECH Graduate Became Arizona University professor at Age of 26
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Despite the school's relatively short history, many graduates of Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) are making their mark throughout the world.
Son Young-jun, an associate professor at the University of Arizona, is a young scientist ever proud of having attended POSTECH.
Son graduated from the department of industrial and management engineering at POSTECH in 1996. After earning a doctorate at the Pennsylvania State University, he started his career as an assistant professor at the University of Arizona in 2000 at the young age of 26.
Son was the youngest scientist the school had hired as a faculty member in its department of systems and industrial engineering.
He is the first Korean laureate of the ``Outstanding Young Industrial Engineering Award'' in 2005, which was awarded by the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE).
Son also won the ``Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award,'' in 2004 given by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).
``I first visited POSTECH in 1990 when I was a high school student and could feel strong passion from the then students and professors putting all their efforts toward boosting competency all day long at libraries and laboratories,'' Son said. ``Every member of POSTECH also has strong and united will to develop the school into a top-tier university in the academic world.''
The 33-year-old scientist recollected that the classes he took in his school years were quite tough but helpful in later studying overseas and carrying out successful social activities.
``Many classes that I attended were challenging but I could learn what professionalism was by going through these harsh experiences,'' he said.
Though many years have passed since his graduation, he still feels strong affection for his alma mater in Korea.
``Whenever I face a trouble in writing a proposal or resolving questions, I wear the shirt bearing the image of the symbol of POSTECH,'' he said.
Son said he has a keen interest in business-to-business integrated manufacturing systems by utilizing Information Technology (IT) and computer simulation technology.
``Through a variety of joint researches with firms, I will try to boost my capability and be a world-class scientist someday,'' he said.