Jihye Kim | Materials | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Jihye Kim | Materials | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor | Colorado School of Mines | United States

Dr. Jihye Kim is an accomplished Assistant Professor at the George S. Ansell Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines. With a strong background in extractive metallurgy, resource recovery, and critical materials extraction, Dr. Kim has made significant contributions to sustainable materials processing. Her research focuses on innovative hydrometallurgical techniques, mineral carbonation for carbon sequestration, and chemical modeling of electrolyte systems. Dr. Kim is dedicated to fostering a stimulating learning environment that encourages students to explore, discover, and think critically beyond the classroom.

Professional profile👤

ORCID

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Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

  • Outstanding Research Contributions

    • Dr. Jihye Kim has an extensive publication record, including high-impact journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters.
    • Her research focuses on critical topics such as extractive metallurgy, mineral processing, carbon capture, and rare earth element recovery, all of which have significant industrial and environmental implications.
  • Strong Funding and Grant Success

    • She has successfully secured multiple high-value research grants, including funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), NASA, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
    • Active involvement as a Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PI in multimillion-dollar research projects.
  • Awards and Recognitions

    • Recipient of the Ontario Trillium Scholarship ($160,000) and multiple academic scholarships and fellowships, demonstrating academic excellence and research impact.
    • Earned the Students Discovery Award (2021) at the University of Toronto, recognizing her research achievements.
  • Industrial and International Research Experience

    • Hands-on experience through engineering internships with Barrick Gold Corporation and National Metallurgical Laboratory, India.
    • Strong international collaborations with institutions in South Korea, Canada, and the USA.
  • Educational and Mentorship Contributions

    • Engaged in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses at the Colorado School of Mines.
    • Experience as a teaching assistant at University of Toronto and Seoul National University, shaping the next generation of metallurgical engineers.

Education 🎓

Dr. Kim earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto (2017-2021), where she worked on sustainable valorization of steelmaking slag under the guidance of Professor Gisele Azimi. Prior to her Ph.D., she obtained a Master of Applied Science in Energy Systems Engineering (2014-2016) and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy Resources Engineering (2011-2014) from Seoul National University.

Experience 🌟

Dr. Kim’s academic and professional journey reflects her expertise in metallurgical and materials engineering. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Colorado School of Mines, where she leads cutting-edge research projects and teaches courses on chemical processing, transport phenomena, and hydrometallurgical processing. Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto, focusing on resource-efficient hydrometallurgical recovery of platinum group metals and rare earth elements. Her teaching experience includes serving as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Toronto and Seoul National University. She also gained industry experience as an Engineering Intern at Barrick Gold Corporation (Canada) and the National Metallurgical Laboratory (India).

Research Interests On Materials 🔬

Dr. Kim’s research centers on sustainable resource recovery, extractive metallurgy, and carbon capture technologies. She specializes in hydrometallurgical processing, mineral carbonation for CO2 sequestration, critical materials extraction from secondary resources, and electrolyte system modeling. Her work aims to develop environmentally friendly and economically viable methods for metal recovery and waste valorization.

Awards & Honors 🏆

Dr. Kim has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Ontario Trillium Scholarship (2017-2021), the Students Discovery Award (2021), and multiple fellowships from the University of Toronto. She was also awarded the Brain Korea 21 Plus Scholarship, Academic-Industrial Scholarship from Hyundai Resources Development, and several merit-based scholarships from Seoul National University. Her outstanding academic achievements were recognized with Graduation with Honors (Cum Laude) from Seoul National University in 2014.

Publications 📚

Dr. Kim has published extensively in top-tier journals, contributing valuable insights into metallurgical and materials engineering. Some of her notable publications include:

  • The CO2 sequestration by supercritical carbonation of electric arc furnace slag

    • Authors: J Kim, G Azimi
    • Year: 2021
    • Citations: 42
  • An innovative process for extracting scandium from nickeliferous laterite ore: Carbothermic reduction followed by NaOH cracking

    • Authors: J Kim, G Azimi
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 22
  • Recovery of scandium and neodymium from blast furnace slag using acid baking–water leaching

    • Authors: J Kim, G Azimi
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 20
  • Valorization of electric arc furnace slag via carbothermic reduction followed by acid baking–water leaching

    • Authors: J Kim, G Azimi
    • Year: 2021
    • Citations: 19
  • Technospheric mining of niobium and titanium from electric arc furnace slag

    • Authors: J Kim, G Azimi
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 16
  • Matrix complexity effect on platinum group metals analysis using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

    • Authors: J Kim, J Anawati, G Azimi
    • Year: 2018
    • Citations: 16
  • Effect of sulfuric acid baking and caustic digestion on enhancing the recovery of rare earth elements from a refractory ore

    • Authors: R Kim, H Cho, J Jeong, J Kim, S Lee, KW Chung, HS Yoon, CJ Kim
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 15
  • Selective precipitation of titanium, magnesium, and aluminum from the steelmaking slag leach liquor

    • Authors: J Kim, G Azimi
    • Year: 2022
    • Citations: 13
  • Mineral carbonation of iron and steel by-products: State-of-the-art techniques and economic, environmental, and health implications

    • Authors: S Wang, J Kim, T Qin
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 12
  • Recent advancements in hydrometallurgy: solubility and separation

    • Authors: KN Han, R Kim, J Kim
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 10

Conclusion 🎯

Dr. Jihye Kim is a dedicated researcher and educator committed to advancing metallurgical and materials engineering. Her work in extractive metallurgy, critical materials recovery, and sustainable processing methods contributes to the global effort toward environmentally responsible resource management. Through her innovative research, teaching, and mentorship, Dr. Kim continues to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists in the field of materials engineering.

Dhiraj Kumar Rana | Materials | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Dhiraj Kumar Rana | Materials | Best Researcher Award

Postdoctoral Fellow | Indian Institute of Technology Delhi | India

Dr. Dhiraj Kumar Rana is a distinguished researcher in Materials Science and Polymer Engineering, currently serving as a National Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. His research primarily focuses on multiphase polymeric and elastomeric materials, functional smart materials, and their applications in energy storage, wearable electronics, and soft robotics. With a strong academic foundation and extensive research contributions, Dr. Rana has made significant advancements in flexible charge storage materials and elastomeric nanocomposites.

Profile👤

Google Scholar

ORCID

Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

  • Extensive Research Experience – With a career spanning over two decades in physical chemistry and photochemistry, Professor Yang has made significant contributions to the field.
  • Innovative Research in Phototherapy – His work on photochemical probes, nanotechnology for drug-controlled release, and phototherapy (both photodynamic and photothermal therapy) is impactful in medical and pharmaceutical sciences.
  • High Research Output – He has published 46 SCI-indexed research articles, with recent publications in top-tier journals like Biomaterials and Analytical Chemistry.
  • Funded Research Projects – Successfully secured grants, including the National Natural Science Foundation (21473101).
  • Intellectual Property Contributions – Holds four patents, demonstrating his focus on innovation and real-world applications.

Education 🎓

Dr. Rana obtained his B.Sc. in Physics (Honours) from North Orissa University, Baripada, in 2008, followed by an M.Sc. in Physics from NIT Rourkela in 2010. He further specialized in Advanced Materials Science and Technology with an M.Tech. from NIT Durgapur in 2013. His Ph.D., awarded by NIT Durgapur in 2019, focused on Experimental Condensed Matter Physics, emphasizing electrical and magnetic properties of polymer multiferroic nanocomposites.

Experience 🌍

Dr. Rana has held several research positions, including Junior Research Fellow at BIT Patna, Research Associate at NIT Durgapur, and Institute Post-Doctoral Fellow at IISER Mohali. Since 2022, he has been a National Post-Doctoral Fellow at IIT Delhi, contributing significantly to the development of novel polymeric materials for flexible electronics. His teaching experience includes courses in Engineering Physics and Advanced Physics at NIT Durgapur and Jharkhand Raksha Shakti University, Ranchi.

Research Interests On Materials🔬

Dr. Rana’s research encompasses a broad range of topics within Materials Science and Polymer Engineering. His expertise includes multiphase polymeric and elastomeric materials, dielectric and magnetic elastomers, flexible charge storage, nanomaterial synthesis (barium titanate, ferrite nanoparticles, graphene oxide, etc.), and applications in soft robotics and wearable electronics. He is proficient in advanced characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, AFM, and various electrical, dielectric, and thermal analysis methods.

Awards 🏆

Dr. Rana has been recognized for his contributions to materials science through prestigious fellowships, including the SERB-National Post-Doctoral Fellowship. His research achievements have also earned him accolades in the field of advanced functional materials.

Publications 📚

  • Title: Electrical and room temperature multiferroic properties of polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposites doped with nickel ferrite nanoparticles
    Authors: DK Rana, SK Singh, SK Kundu, S Roy, S Angappane, S Basu
    Publication Year: 2019
    Citations: 67

  • Title: Electrical and magnetic properties of polyvinyl alcohol–cobalt ferrite nanocomposite films
    Authors: DK Rana, SK Singh, SK Kundu, RJ Choudhary, S Basu
    Publication Year: 2018
    Citations: 34

  • Title: Influence of microstructural alterations of liquid metal and its interfacial interactions with rubber on multifunctional properties of soft composite materials
    Authors: PS Banerjee, DK Rana, SS Banerjee
    Publication Year: 2022
    Citations: 26

  • Title: Relaxor ferroelectric behavior of “A” site deficient Bismuth doped Barium Titanate ceramic
    Authors: T Badapanda, V Senthil, DK Rana, S Panigrahi, S Anwar
    Publication Year: 2012
    Citations: 25

  • Title: An easy synthesis of carbon-supported silver–cobalt bimetallic nanoparticles to study the electrocatalytic performance in alkaline borohydride fuel cell
    Authors: S Dey, S Pramanik, P Chakraborty, DK Rana, S Basu
    Publication Year: 2022
    Citations: 18

  • Title: Development of organic-inorganic flexible PVDF-LaFeO3 nanocomposites for the enhancement of electrical, ferroelectric and magnetic properties
    Authors: DK Rana, V Mehta, SK Kundu, S Basu
    Publication Year: 2020
    Citations: 18

  • Title: Enhanced multiferroic, magnetodielectric and electrical properties of Sm doped Lanthanum ferrite nanoparticles
    Authors: SK Kundu, DK Rana, L Karmakar, D Das, S Basu
    Publication Year: 2019
    Citations: 15

  • Title: Enhancement of electrical and magnetodielectric properties of BiFeO3 incorporated PVDF flexible nanocomposite films
    Authors: DK Rana, SK Kundu, RJ Choudhary, S Basu
    Publication Year: 2019
    Citations: 14

  • Title: Surfactant-free synthesis of carbon-supported silver (Ag/C) nanobars as an efficient electrocatalyst for alcohol tolerance and oxidation of sodium borohydride in alkaline medium
    Authors: S Dey, P Chakraborty, DK Rana, S Pramanik, S Basu
    Publication Year: 2021
    Citations: 13

  • Title: Influence of manganese on multiferroic and electrical properties of lanthanum ferrite nanoparticles
    Authors: SK Kundu, DK Rana, A Banerjee, D Das, S Basu
    Publication Year: 2019
    Citations: 7

Conclusion 📊

Dr. Dhiraj Kumar Rana is an accomplished scientist whose research has significantly contributed to the advancement of functional and smart materials. His expertise in polymeric nanocomposites and energy storage applications continues to drive innovation in flexible electronics and soft robotics. With an impressive publication record and ongoing research at IIT Delhi, Dr. Rana remains at the forefront of cutting-edge materials science research.