Dr. Hyun “Jin” Kim has joined The University of Alabama’s College of Engineering as an assistant professor in mechanical engineering.
The main focus of Kim’s research is energy and thermal transport systems. She centers her experimental research around phase-change heat transfer in small-scale structures and surfaces. This approach is critical for the water-energy-food nexus and several other sectors.
“UA engineering has a unique research environment where interdisciplinary collaboration can more naturally happen by letting faculty from different departments be in the shared buildings housing cutting-edge research facilities,” Kim said.
Kim earned her doctorate in theoretical and applied mechanics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2019. Before joining UA’s faculty, she was a postdoctoral research fellow at Stanford University.
Kim’s research directly impacts life and environment. She and other engineers are challenged with addressing climate change and sustainability issues.
“Water, energy and food are truly interconnected. I was able to see the connectivity from my research. Engineers should be able to play active roles and take responsibilities in making relevant technologies more accessible and environmentally friendly, and such effort should always be an important part of technical breakthroughs,” Kim said.
Kim co-founded GradSWE, the Graduate Society of Women Engineers, and the weSTEM, Women Empowered in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Conference at UIUC.
“I have been active in the Society of Women Engineers since my freshman year. I’ve been involved in various outreach, professional development, and academic programs through the organization benefiting others and myself. GradSWE was something new at the University of Illinois, where I did my PhD, and starting the organization from scratch with a few other people was a very rewarding experience and an intensive leadership and project management training,” Kim said.