Kim Na-Yeon, Park Da-Hee, and Ahn Su-Jin Selected for the 2nd Presidential Science Scholarship for Graduate Students N
- Date2025.06.23
- 8198
Three students enrolling in Ewha Womans University Master’s Program have been selected as scholarship holders for the ‘2025 Presidential Science Scholarship for Graduate Students’, run by the Korean Student Aid Foundation and the Ministry of Science and ICT, exhibited their excellent research abilities as talents for the science technology field.
The Presidential Science Scholarship is a program to nurture core science and engineering talents at the master’s and doctoral programs into world-class researchers who will lead the future natural competitiveness, it was established last year and selected its 2nd scholarship students this year. This year’s selection had 2,355 volunteers in total and marked a fierce competition of 20:1 acceptance rate, 121 students were selected through a two-step process of documenting process and in-depth interviews, there were 50 master’s program students (25 new and 25 current), and 71 doctoral program students (31 new and 40 current) from 37 graduate schools around the country. For students enrolling in the master’s program, they will receive up to KRW 1.5 million of financial support for up to four semesters. This scholarship especially, is known to be effective for students to focus on research since it’s recipients can also receive other governmental or private support at the same time.
(From left) Kim Na-Yeon, Park Da-Hee, and Ahn Su-jin.
Kim Na-yeon from the Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory (MolCEL) in the Department of Science Education (led by professor Yang Chang-Won) at the College of Education was selected as a 2025 Presidential Science Scholar for her research titled “Elucidating the Mechanism of Female Reproductive Health Regulation via Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA).” While an undergraduate in the same department, she participated as a student researcher, studying metabolic regulation and apoptosis mechanisms in cancer cells. She has published as first author in SCIE-indexed journals such asInternational Journal of Molecular SciencesandNutrients, continuing a trajectory of outstanding academic achievement.
She plans to analyze the effects of butyric acid (NaB), a type of SCFA, on endometrial environment and embryo implantation, aiming to propose a more physiological and less invasive alternative to traditional hormone-based treatments. In a field where research on female reproductive health remains relatively unexplored, her study is expected to offer a new treatment approach based on scientific evidence.
Kim remarked, “As the first graduate student in the Molecular Cell Biology Lab, I faced many challenges, but those experiences helped me grow and be proud of my research and capabilities. Being selected as a Presidential Scholar makes this journey meaningful, and I’m deeply honored to have my efforts recognized.”
The Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at the College of Engineering produced two scholarship recipients this year. It is very unusual for two students from the same lab to receive this award at the same time, highlighting once again the department's excellence in both education and research.
Park Da-hee, currently in her first semester of the master’s program, graduated with a degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from Ewha (led by professor Yoon Yeo-Min.) As an undergraduate researcher, she conducted studies on removing trace pollutants from water using MXene-based nano-adsorbents and published in the SCIE-indexed journalSeparation and Purification Technology(Top 8% in Engineering, Chemical). With support from the Presidential Science Scholarship, she will continue research on the relationship between ultrasonication pretreatment time, changes in the physicochemical properties of MXene, and pharmaceutical removal efficiency.
Park stated, “I hope to provide reliable data on removing low-concentration pharmaceuticals, propose practical designs for water treatment processes, and contribute to utilizing unconventional water resources and creating a safe water environment. I will continue to find ways to ensure that our lab research turns into meaningful real-world water treatment and environmental solutions.”
Ahn Su-jin, another master's student in the same department led by Professor Yoon Yeo-min, drew attention during her undergraduate years by publishing a first-author review article in the international SCI journalJournal of Hazardous Materials(Top 4.9% in Environmental Sciences) on the topic of treating refractory water pollutants. She has also made remarkable contributions in the field of carbon capture technologies. Over the next two years, supported by the scholarship, she will conduct research on a “non-radical peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system using titanium oxide (TiOx)-carbon nanotube (CNT) supported catalysts.”
Ahn remarked, “This research aims to identify and report novel PMS activation materials that could contribute to building a comprehensive database for PMS-related studies. Being selected for this scholarship motivates me to continue the research I began during my undergraduate years and concentrate on my work with even greater responsibility.”
Both Park and Ahn belong to the “Laboratory for the Treatment of Trace Hazardous Substances in Aquatic Environments,” led by Professor Yoon Yeo-min. The lab is recognized globally for its excellent research abilities, having been selected for the third phase of the Brain Pool+ Program in 2023. Its main goals include developing water treatment technologies for safe water welfare and achieving carbon neutrality, as well as advancing water management through data-driven technologies. The lab is actively engaging in major domestic and international research projects, including the Mid-Career Researcher Program and the Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project.
As a participating institution in the “STEM Graduate Research Stipend Program,” Ewha Womans University provides monthly research stipends to graduate students in STEM fields involved in university research projects, fostering a research-intensive environment and nurturing the next generation of scholars with global competitiveness.