Team

Hyun-Seok Cho조현석

Hyun-Seok Cho received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of South Carolina in 2013, studying contamination in PEM fuel cell systems, followed by postdoctoral work with Prof. John W. Van Zee on corrosion in concentrating solar power systems. Before joining Sogang, he spent eight years (2016–2023) as a senior and principal researcher in the Hydrogen Research Department at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), designing PEM and alkaline water electrolysis cells and stacks, and earlier worked at Hyundai Motor Company (fuel cell engineer, NEXO project), Samsung SDI (DMFC MEA fabrication), and KETI. His research connects degradation mechanisms, modeling, and experiments across water electrolysis, fuel cells, corrosion, and e-fuel production.

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina (2013)

Experience

Senior/Principal Researcher, Hydrogen Research Dept., KIER (2016–2023)
Associate Professor, Hydrogen Energy Engineering, UST (2022–2024)
Adjunct Faculty, Graduate School of Energy Science & Technology, CNU (2022–2023)
Fuel Cell Engineer, Hyundai Motor Company — NEXO project (2015)
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of South Carolina (2013–2015)
Researcher, KETI (2007–2008) · Associate Research Engineer, Samsung SDI (2005–2007)

Awards

Presidential Citation, Science & Technology Day (2024)
Top 100 National R&D Achievements — Best in Energy/Environment, MSIT Minister's Award (2023)
Minister's Citation for Hydrogen Economy, MOTIE (2023)
Sogang Riche Teaching Excellence Award (2024)

Service

Director, Korean Hydrogen & New Energy Society (2019–)
Member, IEA Annex 30 Water Electrolysis Task (2018–)
Academic Director, Korea Society of Energy & Climate Change (2025–)
Member, The Electrochemical Society · International Society of Electrochemistry

Teaching

Process Control · Electrochemical Engineering (Graduate) · Heat and Mass Transfer

Ph.D. Advisor

Prof. John W. Van Zee

Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina