EWHA WOMANS UNIVERSITY | Research

174
Ewha Research Team Develops Real-Time Workload Measurement System for Nurses

Ewha Research Team Develops Real-Time Workload Measurement System for Nurses A joint research team from Ewha Womans University’s Colleges of Nursing and Engineering has developed a real-time, location-based system designed to objectively assess nursing workload. The study was published in the internationally recognized Journal of Nursing Management (nursing field top 3.1%). Currently, nurse staffing shortages pose a global challenge. In Korea, the number of patients per nurse is two to five times higher than the OECD average, resulting in a significant workload burden. Traditional methods such as supervisor observation or self-reporting are susceptible to bias and inaccuracies, making them unreliable for workforce planning. To address this, the research team developed a beacon-based system that records nurses’ real-time movement within hospital wards. The system consists of four components: beacons (data-generating devices), a smartphone app (for nurses), a server, and a database. Beacons installed in key areas, such as hospital rooms, hallways, and medication rooms, emit signals. These signals are captured by nurses’ smartphones, transmitted to a server, and then stored in a database. Experimental results showed a recognition rate of up to 97.5 percent with a setup of 12-15 beacons and one smartphone, demonstrating high accuracy. This system enables the objective measurement of nurses’ travel distance, working hours, and movement patterns. The research team plans to integrate AI and big data analytics to develop predictive models tailored to hospital types, departments, and shifts. This is expected to optimize staffing, lower turnover, and improve patient safety and overall care quality. Professor Younhee Kang stated, “This system represents the first technical approach to the precise measurement of nursing workload. It is expected to serve as a core tool for rational workforce allocation and improving the quality of healthcare services.” This research is the outcome of a convergence project supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), which has been ongoing since 2021.
- No.173
- Writer
- Date2025.10.10
- Views13355
172
Ewha Womans University Signs MOU with Seoul Energy Corporation to Promote ESG Values and Social Contribution

Ewha Womans University Signs MOU with Seoul Energy Corporation to Promote ESG Values and Social Contribution Ewha Womans University signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Seoul Energy Corporation in the Pfeiffer Hall reception room on Wednesday, September 24, to promote ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) values and contribute to the local community. This agreement aims to implement ESG-based joint projects such as energy and environmental education donations, youth career exploration programs, and carbon neutrality campaigns, while establishing a sustainable community cooperation framework. The two institutions agreed to collaborate in the following areas: operating joint projects for promoting ESG values and developing the local community; operating energy and environmental education and career exploration programs; public interest activities, including working towards carbon neutrality and expanding renewable energy use; and cooperating on research, seminars, and campaigns. Ewha plans to actively identify and develop educational, research, and outreach programs to promote ESG values and contribute to the local community, while systematically operating energy and environmental education donation programs and career experience initiatives. Ewha will also expand opportunities for students to actively learn and practice the values of ESG and sustainability through activities such as energy conservation, carbon neutrality, and various collaborative efforts, including research, seminars, and campaigns. In particular, the newly established Ewha Global Institute for Sustainable Partnership and Empowerment (EGISE) is expected to take the lead in planning and managing collaborative projects, integrally connecting the university’s efforts in education, research, and social contribution. This initiative aims to generate structural and sustainable outcomes in the fields of energy and environment, contribute to the nationwide expansion of ESG values, and foster practical leaders who will spearhead future societal transformation. Going forward, Ewha will actively leverage both internal and external educational resources and infrastructure to operate educational and career exploration programs in the energy and environmental sectors. By providing students with hands-on ESG experiences, the university aims to nurture future leaders who will drive a sustainable society.
- No.171
- Writer
- Date2025.10.01
- Views15738
170
Ewha Womans University Signs MOU with KISTI on AI, Biotechnology, and Supercomputing

Ewha Womans University Signs MOU with KISTI on AI, Biotechnology, and Supercomputing Ewha Womans University signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) on Monday, September 22, in the Pfeiffer Hall conference room, to promote research cooperation and talent cultivation in the fields of AI, biotechnology, and supercomputing. This MOU was initiated with the aim of strengthening academia-research cooperation in supercomputing as well as science and technology, and of expanding and advancing research in AI, biotechnology, and innovative drug development. The two institutions agreed to collaborate in a wide range of areas, including joint R&D, shared use of technical information and enterprise support systems, cooperative research in supercomputing and its applications, technology transfer and competitiveness enhancement, and the establishment of support networks. Based on this agreement, Ewha and KISTI will work toward tangible outcomes in research collaboration, talent development, and technology exchange, ultimately leading global cutting-edge research, advancing national strategic technologies, and contributing significantly to cultivating world-class talent. President Hyang-sook Lee emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “This agreement marks a meaningful starting point in alignment with national policy directions. Through joint research in AI, biotechnology, and supercomputing, we aim to generate globally leading outcomes and contribute to our aim of developing world-class talent and fostering an innovative research ecosystem.” KISTI President Sik Lee commented, “By combining the strengths and expertise of both institutions, we expect to create strong synergy and achieve innovative research results. We will continue to actively pursue cooperation between the two institutions in talent development and technology exchange.” In March, Ewha’s Global AI Drug Discovery Center signed an academic and research cooperation agreement with KISTI’s Digital Bio Computing Research Division. Through joint efforts in industry-academia research collaboration, the two institutions are developing and continuously enhancing an AI-based drug discovery platform within the Korea BioData Station (K-BDS), taking the lead in innovative drug development research.
- No.169
- Writer
- Date2025.09.30
- Views9000
168
Ewha Selected for Brain Korea21 FOUR (Research Project)

Ewha Womans University has been selected for the educational research group in the field of artificial intelligence under the Innovation Talent Training Program of the Phase-4 Brain Korea 21 Project, supported by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea. The selected group, Trustworthy and Resource-efficient Unified Evolving AI (Ewha TRUE-AI), led by Dr. DaeHun Nyang, is spearheading the development of next-generation core AI technologies that integrate both high trustworthiness and resource efficiency, while establishing Ewha as a national hub for cultivating advanced women experts in AI. The BK21 initiative, launched in 1999, is Korea’s largest graduate school innovation and researcher training project. The ongoing Phase 4 Project (2020–2027) focuses on nurturing research personnel in new industry sectors. In light of the rapid advances in AI technology and surging demand for AI aptitude, the Ministry of Education added artificial intelligence as a new category in 2025 through a supplementary budget. As part of this expansion, a total of 17 educational research groups nationwide, including Ewha TRUE-AI, have been selected to lead the future of AI innovation. Ewha TRUE-AI is one of four educational groups newly added, consisting of 12 faculty members from the College of Artificial Intelligence and 60 graduate students. The research group presents a vision of training specialists versed in lightweight, optimized AI technologies and security, with the aim to address computing costs, energy consumption, and security challenges inherent in hyper-scale AI services. Moreover, given that women make up only 22 percent of domestic science and engineering doctoral students, the initiative aspires to reduce the gender imbalance by focusing on women-centered AI talent development. Ewha TRUE-AI will also leverage Ewha’s state-of-the-art infrastructure—such as the stable foundation provided by the Division of Artificial Intelligence and Software and high-performance computing clusters—to carry out empirical research. Graduate students participating in the research group will be granted research scholarships of KRW 1,000,000 for master’s degrees and KRW 1,600,000 for doctoral degrees, along with support for personnel expenses, opportunities to participate in international joint research, and programs to invite distinguished overseas scholars. These support measures aim to help students grow into next-generation AI experts who are competitive in industries and the global stage. This selection also aligns with Ewha’s strategic development plan of “New Era, New Ewha,” under the core objective of “Great Transformation of Higher Education in the AI era.” Following the preemptive establishment of infrastructure such as the Major in Artificial Intelligence (2022), the Graduate School of Data Science, and the College of Artificial Intelligence (2023), as well as Ewha’s selection for the G-LAMP initiative, this latest recognition reaffirms Ewha’s unparalleled standing in AI. Through this program, Ewha expects to receive approximately KRW 800 million annually through 2027. With this support, the university plans to sustain world-class research outputs, expand industry–university collaboration, elevate national and international AI competitiveness, and strengthen the global leadership capabilities of talented women.
- No.167
- Writer
- Date2025.09.24
- Views23805
166
Two Projects Selected for 2025 Humanities and Social Sciences Research Support Program

Two Ewha researchers won major grants for the “2025 Humanities and Social Sciences Research Support Program,” reaffirming the university’s status as a leading research hub for the humanities and social sciences in the country. Launched in 1963 and led by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea,, the program is a flagship national R&D initiative that aims to strengthen the capabilities of researchers, foster the next generation of scholars, and to build a foundation for collaborative research at university-affiliated institutes. Prof. Soyeon Kim The first grant was awarded to tThe Korean Culture Research Institute. Funded by the “Humanities and Social Sciences Research Institute Support Project,” the Institute will receive a total of KRW 1.98 billion over the next six years to develop a database for the “Encyclopedia of Modern Korean Kitchen Material Culture.” The principal investigator, Professor Soyeon Kim at the Department of Art History, stated, “The kitchen space constitutes a remarkable research subject where diverse elements converge, including food culture, industrial technology, design, and gender.” She emphasized the project’s mission to document and preserve modern and contemporary kitchen culture as preliminary cultural heritage. This project carries particular significance as it ensures the continuity of material culture studies covering the Joseon Dynasty to the modern era, following the Institute’s 2019 database project on Joseon-era craft. Prof. Min Hee Go Another grant was awarded to tthe research team led by Professor Min Hee Go of the Department of Political Science & International Relations. Funded by the “Social Sciences Korea (SSK) Global Agenda Research Program,” the project, titled “Unpacking the Algorithmic Diffusion of Animosities: Data-Driven Approaches to Social Frictions in Korea,” consists of an interdisciplinary team of experts in political science, data science, and economics and aims to refine the theoretical concept of animosities and empirically examine the causes and consequences of animosities in politics. To this end, they propose to analyze AI- and algorithm-driven diffusion and reproduction patterns and compare them with conventional public opinion. Professor Go noted, “Korean society has entered an era where antipathy is being expressed in multi-faceted ways.,” She further added that “We hope our study can contribute to promoting social cohesion and coexistence in the polarized society.”
- No.165
- Writer
- Date2025.09.10
- Views41771
164
Ewha Opens a New Chapter in Cutting-edge AI Research

Ewha Womans University has been preliminarily selected for a 2025 Ministry of Education program titled Global Learning & Academic Research Institution for Master’s & PhD students, and Post-docs (G-LAMP), laying the foundation for leadership in human-centered AI research. G-LAMP is a national initiative aimed at promoting collaborative research in basic science, and Ewha has been chosen for the newly established category of “Type II Engineering Field (Mathematics, Statistics, AI),” securing a total of 25 billion KRW in funding over five years until 2030. To this end, the university launched the Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Research Institute in July and appointed Professor Sang Soo Park as director, designating the institute as the G-LAMP program’s main engineering-focused themed research institute. The institute aims to pursue ethical and sustainable AI development through convergence with the humanities, social sciences, and arts as a way to generate new value that benefits human life. Ewha reinforces its research support system around a project team led by Professor June-Yub Lee of the Department of Mathematics and plans to expand state-of-the-art AI research infrastructure and global networks to foster world-class early-career researchers. In particular, the initiative aims to develop an interdisciplinary AI convergence research ecosystem that contributes to the common good and value creation for all of humanity, while supporting female students in becoming creative, problem-solving AI experts. The key goals of the research include establishing AI theories based on mathematics and statistics, developing highly reliable foundational technologies for next-generation AI, and implementing intelligent AI systems that help to manage human-environment interactions. The overarching aim is to secure global leadership in human-centered AI research. President Hyang-Sook Lee stated, “This selection marks the first step in our vision of ‘New Era, New Ewha’ and ‘Great Transformation of Higher Education in the AI era’,” and pledged full support to attract distinguished researchers and lead innovative AI research at Ewha. Ewha’s leadership in AI has built on decades of pioneering achievements: establishing the Department of Computer Science in 1981, founding the world’s first women’s engineering college in 1996, launching AI majors and the Graduate School of Data Science in 2022, and establishing the College of Artificial Intelligence in 2023. The latest G-LAMP selection has further solidified Ewha’s global standing in AI research.
- No.163
- Writer
- Date2025.08.26
- Views36422
162
Ewha Research Team Leads Global Convergence Research

Ewha Research Team Leads Global Convergence Research An Ewha research team proved its research competitiveness by being selected for a series of government-supported global convergence research projects. (From Left) Prof. Eunju Jeong, Prof. Kim Sun-Young, Prof. Junhyug Noh, Prof. Chan-Woong Lee The research team led by Professor Eunju Jeong of the Department of Music Therapy was chosen for the “Global Humanities and Social Sciences Convergence Research Support Project (research group type)” by the National Research Foundation of Korea. The research team will conduct an arts-integrated digital “sleeponomics” research project on overcoming insomnia up to 2028. The team plans to develop the prototype for a digital service that enables pre- and post-sleep care and real-time adaptive intervention while asleep, based on the synchronization of music and biosignals, and the psychological and emotional intervention effects. Professor Jeong emphasized that the research will offer customized solutions for individuals suffering from insomnia and contribute to improving national sleep wellness, as well as expanding the fields of digital wellness and digital therapeutics (DTx). (From Left) Prof. Won Jae Choi, Prof. Baehyun Min, Prof. Sanghun Lee Meanwhile, the research team led by Professor Won Jae Choi of the Department of Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering was selected for the “International, Large-scale Next-generation CCUS Joint Research Project (R&D) for Securing Global Leadership” supported by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning. Through collaboration with domestic and international industry, academia, and research institutes, including POSCO Holdings, the research team will build an international CCS network that links multiple CO₂ capture sources in the Yeosu and Gwangyang industrial complexes with overseas storage sites (such as Australia and Indonesia). The project is aimed at achieving efficiency gains of over 20 percent, securing impurity management technology, developing an AI-LCA-based decision-making support system, analyzing international regulatory barriers, and establishing a cross-border CCS policy and technology roadmap by 2028. The project is significant in that it will develop the technology for a large-scale international CCS network for the first time in Korea. Domestic and overseas businesses and research institutes, including POSCO International, GS Caltex, GS E&C, and Chevron, are expected to collaborate in opening new global energy markets and reinforcing national energy security.
- No.161
- Writer
- Date2025.08.25
- Views11367
160
Team Led by Professor Dong Ha Kim Published in Science for Development of Next-generation Supramolecular Optical Materia

Team Led by Professor Dong Ha Kim Published in Science for Development of Next-generation Supramolecular Optical Materials Technology Professor Dong Ha Kim from the Department of Chemistry & Nanoscience and his team have developed chiral supramolecular optical materials based on star-like block copolymers capable of high-efficiency circularly polarized light (CPL) across the entire visible spectrum. This innovation enables the stable implementation of red CPL and maintains long-term supramolecular chirality, marking a significant technological breakthrough. The findings were published in the renowned academic journal Science on August 14. Circularly polarized luminescence is vital for next-generation optoelectronic applications like 3D displays, quantum optics, and spintronics. However, existing materials based on linear block copolymers have been limited by issues of instability and low efficiency. The research team designed hierarchical assemblies by hydrogen bonding achiral star-like block copolymers with chiral small molecules, forming helical microfibers during the thermal annealing process. This resulted in significantly stronger chiral optical properties and enhanced stability. These constructed assemblies maintained stability for over 100 days at room temperature and showed no performance degradation, even with repeated heating and cooling cycles. The research also successfully incorporated various emitters to achieve full-color CPL encompassing the blue, green, and red regions, reaching record-high emission efficiency and lifespan. Notably, the emission efficiency reached the highest level compared to existing technologies. Moreover, the team managed to control the directionality of chiral optical properties by adjusting the concentration and solvent evaporation rate, a process elucidated using molecular dynamics simulations. Professor Kim envisions this technology to be applicable in various fields such as spintronics, information encryption, and bio-imaging as a next-generation chiral optical material. The research received support from the Autonomous Priority Research Institute of the National Research Foundation of Korea, with Dr. Minju Kim (currently a postdoctoral researcher at the National University of Singapore) as the first author. Joint corresponding authors include Zhiqun Lin, Invited Chair Professor at the National University of Singapore; Professor Zhong-Yuan Lu at Jilin University, China; Professor Nicholas A. Kotov at the University of Michigan, USA; and Professor Zhenzhong Yang at Tsinghua University, China, demonstrating a successful case of international collaboration.
- No.159
- Writer
- Date2025.08.18
- Views26540
158
Ewha Starts to Co-develop AI Platform for Cardiotoxicity Evaluation of New Drug Candidates with Fraunhofer IBMT, Germany

Ewha Starts to Co-develop AI Platform for Cardiotoxicity Evaluation of New Drug Candidates with Fraunhofer IBMT, Germany Ewha has been selected for the “2025 Korea-Germany Industry-Academia Joint Research (2+2 Projects),” overseen by the Ministry of Science and ICT, in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering (IBMT), a world-renowned applied science research institute in Germany. Based on its selection for this large-scale global research project, which is jointly supported by the governments of both nations, Ewha plans to further strengthen scientific and technological cooperation between Korea and Germany. To this end, Jang-Hwan Choi, professor at the Department of Artificial Intelligence at Ewha, and Heiko Zimmermann, director of Fraunhofer IBMT, Germany, have secured a total of KRW 1.87 billion in research funding to jointly develop a next-generation drug cardiotoxicity evaluation platform that combines 3D myocardial organoids and AI over a period of three years starting this October. The contractile dynamics of iPSC-based 3D myocardial organoids are measured with Fraunhofer IBMT’s non-contact optical metrology technology in real time and analyzed with unsupervised AI models from the Medical AI & Computer Vision Lab at Ewha to automatically generate drug dose-response curves. This is expected to enable the high-speed and high-precision prediction of cardiotoxicity risk for new drug candidates at the preclinical stage. To this end, the two organizations signed an MOU in April and established the Ewha–Fraunhofer RegMed AI Hub in Seoul. The Korean Fund for Regenerative Medicine (KFRM) stated that the collaboration will serve as an opportunity to enter the drug development market and establish a global standard platform. The research participants include Ewha Womans University (general management and AI development), Biosolvix Co., Ltd. (organoid production and standardization), Korea University College of Medicine (histopathology and clinical consulting), Dt & CRO (preclinical verification), Fraunhofer IBMT (optical metrology and stem cell platform), and Innovitro GmbH (3D culture process). In particular, Biosolvix will promote the commercialization of research outcomes while carrying out projects of the KFRM. This collaboration was enabled through researcher exchange support projects by the KFRM, including the hosting of an international workshop in 2026, plans for the AI-Organoid Cardiotoxicity Challenge in 2027, completion of preclinical validation, and technology transfer for domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies and CROs by 2028. Through such efforts, Korea and Germany are expected to strengthen cooperation in the fields of advanced regenerative medicine and AI-digital healthcare convergence, and lead global innovation in cardiotoxicity evaluation.
- No.157
- Writer
- Date2025.07.31
- Views44523
156
Ewha Signs MOU with KIST for Research Cooperation and Talent Development in Future Core Technologies

Ewha Signs MOU with KIST for Research Cooperation and Talent Development in Future Core Technologies Ewha and Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the Conference Room of Pfeiffer Hall on July 14 (Mon.) to promote research cooperation and cultivate talent in science and technology. This agreement was intended to enhance collaboration between academia and research institutions in future core technologies and nurture professionals who will contribute to the advancement of science and technology in Korea. The two institutions plan to pursue collaboration and exchange across all areas, including mutual cooperation and joint research aimed at advancing national R&D programs; mutual exchange of technology and human resources; development of women professionals in science and technology; and co-hosting of seminars, symposia, and conferences on international joint research, along with dissemination of their outcomes. These efforts are based on intensive research cooperation in specialized fields including next-generation semiconductors, AI and robotics, climate and environments, and natural product and new drug development. President Hyang-Sook Lee of Ewha Womans University remarked, “We hope that Ewha’s young and dynamic research personnel, combined with KIST’s extensive research experience, will take the initiative in future core technologies through collaborative efforts in creative and challenging research.” Meanwhile, KIST President Sang Rok Oh stated, “Under KIST’s values of autonomy and openness, we aim not only to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to us by the nation and society but also to scale up our capabilities by promoting specialized academic and research collaboration with Ewha Womans University.”
- No.155
- Writer
- Date2025.07.14
- Views22900

Research News