Education

09/2012 – 02/2017 Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science and Engineering

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Republic of Korea

Dissertation: Optimization of Microbial Fuel Cell based on Multiple Electrode 

for Bio-electrochemical Wastewater Treatment Process

Supervisor: Prof. In Seop Chang, Ph.D

09/2010 – 08/2012 Master of Science in Environmental Science and Engineering

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Republic of Korea

Dissertation: Voltage Enhancement of Microbial Fuel Cells with Multiple Membrane

Electrode Assembly

Supervisor: Prof. In Seop Chang, Ph.D

03/2005 – 08/2010 Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Engineering

Inha university, Republic of Korea

Supervisor: Prof. Jeonghwan Kim, Ph.D

Employment

09/2025 – present      Associate professor, Division of Biotechnology, College of Environmental and Bioresource

Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Republic of Korea 

09/2021 – 08/2025 Assistant Professor, Division of Biotechnology, College of Environmental and Bioresource

Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Republic of Korea

09/2019 - 08/2021 Research Associate, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, 

United  Kingdom

03/2018 – 08/2019 Research Fellow, Sustainable Environment Research Centre (SERC), University of South

Wales, Wales, United Kingdom

03/2017 – 02/2018 Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute

of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea

Research profile

My research focuses on the design and integration of bio-electrochemical systems (BESs) for sustainable energy recovery, environmental remediation, and resource-efficient water and soil treatment. I have extensive experience in microbial fuel cells, microbial electrolysis cells, and soil-based BES platforms, with particular emphasis on system architecture, electrochemical diagnostics, and performance optimisation under real environmental constraints.

A key strength of my work lies in bridging fundamental electrochemical understanding (e.g. internal resistance analysis, reaction thermodynamics and kinetics) with applied system-level engineering, including stacked and modular BES configurations, hybrid MFC–MEC systems, and self-powered sensor platforms. Through international collaborations in the UK and Europe, my research has increasingly expanded towards scalable and deployable BES technologies for circular economy applications, such as green hydrogen production, in situ soil and water remediation, and autonomous environmental monitoring.

Major Research Areas & Interests

•      Bio-electrochemical systems (MFCs, MECs, MDCs) for energy recovery, resource recycling, and environmental remediation

•      System-level design and optimisation of BES architectures, including stacked, modular, and hybrid configurations

•      Electrochemical characterisation and diagnostics (EIS-based internal resistance analysis, thermodynamic and kinetic evaluation)

•      Integration of BESs with water and wastewater treatment processes for circular economy applications

•      Soil microbial fuel cells for in situ bioremediation, contaminant attenuation, and self-powered sensing

•      Hybrid electrochemical systems combining BESs with advanced oxidation, disinfection, and energy storage technologies

•  Translational research from laboratory-scale BESs to scalable and field-deployable environmental technologies

Professional Affiliations

International Society for Microbial Electrochemistry and Technology (ISMET)

International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE)

Korean Society for Environmental Engineers (KSEE)

Korean Electrochemical Society (KECS)

Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (KSMB)

Scientist and Engineers Without Borders (SEWB)