Hanseup Kim, USTAR Professor in the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), has been appointed chair of the ECE Department.
An expert in the design, fabrication, and testing of micro-electromechanical systems, or MEMS, Kim’s research involves developing new types of integrated circuits, actuators, and sensors that operate on a microscopic scale. Their applications range from energy harvesting mechanisms for miniscule robots to microfluidic pumps and valves for biomedical devices.
Kim is also the founding director of the Utah Network for Integrated Computing and Semiconductor Research and Education (UNICOS). Launched in October, the organization will help develop Utah’s semiconductor workforce and increase its access to key technological infrastructure through state-wide partnerships between institutions of higher education, governmental bodies, and members of private industry. Much of UNICOS’ work will be centered in the Utah Nanofab, the largest facility dedicated to semiconductor research and development in the Northwest, which Kim also directs.
Kim joined the ECE Department in 2009, having earned a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Seoul National University, Seoul in 1997, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the in 2003 and 2006, respectively.
As chair, Kim aims to strengthen the department’s capability in computer engineering through hiring new faculty, to assist research efforts through new grant specialists, to expand student recruiting beyond Utah, to revamp our curriculum to better prepare our students, and to deepen the department’s relationship with its alumni. Kim understands the importance of being nationally recognized and aims for the department to be known for its continuing development and innovation in research and excellent reputation of incomparable faculty.