em@il: aloysius.soon@yonsei.ac.kr
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ALOYSIUS SOON, PhD CSci FRSC FInstP
Professor of Materials Theory I am currently a faculty member at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering 신소재공학과, Yonsei University 연세대학교, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Concurrently, I have also been awarded the title
of Honorary Research Fellow (Affiliate Faculty) to pursue research activities at the School of Physics in the University of Sydney, Australia. Prior coming to Korea, I was an Alexander von Humboldt fellow at the Theory Department of the Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Germany.
My research focuses on the development and application of materials theory for modern-day technologies. My primary interest lies in the fundamental understanding of the chemistry and physics of materials, probed via novel first-principles computational methods (coupled with modern machine learning methods). By applying state-of-the-art density-functional theory (DFT) calculations and the use of statistical models, simulations of poly-atomic systems are used to understand and predict the structure and properties of solids and their surfaces which includes studying the interactions and reactions of molecules adsorbed on surfaces, and the energetics of defects on surfaces (as well as interfaces) and in the bulk.
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Additionally, one of my other interests involves the development of new teaching methods designed to engage students in the disciplines of materials chemistry and physics, by helping individuals learn to think, analyze data, and write scientifically. At the undergraduate level, I also actively mentor undergraduate students, engaging them in fundamental research at an early stage. Through such mentorship and actual hands-on experience, I hope to arm and equip students with the fundamental knowledge and skills they need to become fully functional materials scientists and engineers.
Education and Career
- Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP), UK (Since 2021)
- Professor, Yonsei University, South Korea (With tenure; Since 2020)
- Associate Professor, Yonsei University, South Korea (2015 – 2019)
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), UK (Since 2018)
- Chartered Scientist (CSci), Science Council, UK (Since 2014)
- Honorary Research Fellow in Physics, University of Sydney, Australia (2013 – present)
- Assistant Professor, Yonsei University, South Korea (2010 – 2014)
- Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow (2009)
Max Planck Postdoctoral Fellow (2008)
Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Germany
Advisor: Em. Professor Dr. Habil. Matthias Scheffler -
Ph.D. (Physics), University of Sydney, Australia (2008)
Advisor: Professor Dr. Habil. Catherine Stampfl FAA FRSN - M.Sc. (1st Hons. Div.) (Chemistry), The University of Auckland, New Zealand (2005)
- B.Sc. (Hons.) (Chemistry), The National University of Singapore, Singapore (2003)
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Academic Activities and Achievements
- Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP) (2021 – present)
- NANOKOREA Organizing Committee Excellence Performance Award (2019)
- 2018 Yonsei University Research Excellence Award (2019)
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC; Invited through the "Leader in the Field" scheme) (2018 – present)
- Chartered Scientist (Science Council, UK) (2014 – present)
- Visiting Academic, Department of Chemistry, The University of Bath (2014)
- Honorary Research Fellow (Affiliate Faculty), School of Physics, The University of Sydney (2013 – present)
- Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (2009 – 2010)
- Max-Planck Postdoctoral Fellowship, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (2008 – 2009)
- Editorial board member (Condensed Matter Physics Division), Scientific Reports, Springer Nature (2016 – present)
- Editorial board member, Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society, Springer Nature (2019 – present)
- Editorial board member, Surfaces, MDPI (2018 – present)
- Associate Editor, Micro & Nano Letters, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) (2018 – 2019)
- Peer-review referee for numerous international SCI scientific journals of Nature, American Physical Society, American Institute of Physics, American Chemical Society, Elsevier, Institute of Physics (UK), and the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)
- Scientific reviewer: T.O.P. research grant, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) (Since 2015)
- Scientific reviewer: Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) computational grant (Since 2015)
- Technical program committee member for the annual International Conference on Materials Science, Metal & Manufacturing, M3 (Since 2017)
- International Scientific Committee Member, the 4th International Symposium on Hybrid Materials and Processing (HyMaP 2017)
- International Scientific Committee Member, the 2nd International Conference of Young Researchers on Advanced Materials 2014 (IUMRS-ICYRAM 2014)
- Invited reviewer: Australian Research Council (ARC) grants (Since 2013)
- The Marquis Who's Who in the World, Pearl Anniversary 30th Edition (2013)
- Referee: American Chemical Society (ACS) Petroleum Research Fund (Since 2011)
- Wiley Science Advisor (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) (Since 2011)
Professional Memberships and Associations
- Member of the INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS (IOP) (2021 – present)
- Member of the ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY (RSC) (2013 – present)
- Member of the AMERICAN CERAMICS SOCIETY (ACerS) (2017 – 2020)
- Member of the AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY (APS) (2011 – 2019)
- Member of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (ACS) (2012 – 2019)
- Invited full member of the AMERICAN NANO SOCIETY (ANS) (2011 – 2013)
- Life member of the KOREAN CERAMICS SOCIETY (KCerS) (Since 2017)
- Life member of the KOREAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS (KIChE) (Since 2011)
- Life member of the MATERIALS RESEARCH SOCIETY OF KOREA (MRS-K) (Since 2010)
- Life member of the KOREAN INSTITUTE OF METALS AND MATERIALS (KIM) (Since 2010)
- Sub-committee member, Computational Materials Science Division (2013 – present)
- Member of the Max Planck Alumni Association (MPAA) (Since 2010)
- Member of the Humboldt Life Network (Since 2010)
- Member of the DEUTSCHE PHYSIKALISCHE GESELLSCHAFT (DPG) (2008 – 2014)
- Member of the AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH NETWORK OF ADVANCED MATERIALS (ARNAM) (Since 2005)
- Member of the AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH NETWORK (ARCNN) (Since 2005)
- Member of the AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS (AIP) (2005 – 2008)
- Member of the NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCE (2005 – 2006)