ProfessorTel：
Email：leeyoung@skku.edu
IntroductionProfessor Young Hee LEE, a South Korean national, is a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an academician of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, and an academician of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World. He has long engaged in theoretical and applied research on two-dimensional materials, having published over 700 papers in SCI international journals, including 2 in Nature and 7 in Science. His works have been cited over 94,000 times, with an H-index of 146. He has been repeatedly recognized as a "Highly Cited Researcher" by Clarivate Analytics and his research has had a significant and widespread impact internationally. Academician Young Hee LEE has established the Low-Dimensional Quantum Materials (LQM) Research Center at Hubei University of Technology. This research center spans 16,000 square meters and is equipped with world-class scientific research instruments and facilities, fostering an open and inclusive academic research atmosphere. It serves as a “playground” for researchers to conduct cutting-edge studies on low-dimensional quantum materials. Researchers can access this center through a “one-stop” service, facilitating comprehensive research processes that include material growth, characterization/analysis, and device manufacturing. The research center focuses on the forefront of artificial quantum low-dimensional material development, prioritizing basic research to yield high-level foundational research results while achieving the scaled industrial application of various core technologies related to low-dimensional materials. This aims to provide theoretical and technical support for the development of new materials, new energy, optoelectronics, information technology, biomedical fields, and related industries in Hubei Province.
Education Experience1982-1986 Ph.D thesis: Classical and Quantum Computer Simulation Studies: Molecular Dynamics of the Kerr Effect in CS2 and Green's Function Monte Carlo Calculation of the Electronic Correlation Energy in Atoms (thesis advisor: Michael A. Lee)
1976-1982 B.S., Chonbuk National University (Physics)
Work Experience2024-present Director, Institute of Low- Quantum Materials, Hubei University of Technology
2021-present HCR distinguished professor, Sungkyunkwan University
2012- 2023 Director, Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics, Institute for Basic Science, Sungkyunkwan University
2001- 2020 Professor, Department of Physics, Sungkyunkwan University
2009- 2020 Professor, Department of Energy Science, Sungkyunkwan University,
1998-2001 Professor, Department of Physics, Chonbuk National University,
1992-1998 Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Chonbuk National University,
1987-1992 Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Chonbuk National University,
1996-1997 Visiting Professor in Physics, Michigan State University, USA
1993-1993 Visiting Researcher, Zurich IBM Research Center, Switzerland,
1989-1990 Visiting Professor in Physics, Iowa State University Ames National Laboratory, U.S.A.
Quantum material growth
Bose-Einstein condensation in solids with photon-polariton to realize bosonic at room temperature
Realization of hot-carrier solar cells beyond SQ limit
Room-temperature electrical switching of pin flip in 2D ferromagnetic semiconductors
Reaching high mobility and on/off ratio in 2D semiconductors beyond Si
Ultimate Ohmic contact in 2D semiconductors
Energy storage/harvest
Representative publications:
2025 Byoung Hee Moon, Ashok Mondal, Dmitry K. Efimkin, Young Hee Lee*, 'Exciton condensate in van der Waals layered materials', Nature Reviews Physics, 7, 388-401
2024 Hayoung Ko, Soo Ho Choi, Yunjae Park, Seungjin Lee, Chang Seok Oh, Sung Youb Kim, Young Hee Lee*, Soo Min Kim, Feng Ding, Ki Kang Kim, 'Atomic sawtooth-like metal films for vdW-layered single-crystal growth', Nature Communications, 15, 5848
2024 Young Hee Lee*, 'Approaching the quantum limit of contact resistance in van der Waals layered semiconductors', Science, 384(6802)
2024 Young Hee Lee*, 'Beyond the Shockley-Queisser limit: Exploring new frontiers in solar energy harvest'', Science, 303(6686)
2023 Young Hee Lee*, “Is it possible to create magnetic semiconductors that function at room temperature?”, Science, 382(6668)
2023 Lan-Anh T. Nguyen, Jinbao Jiang, Tuan Dung Nguyen, Philip Kim, Min-kyu Joo, Dinh Loc Duong, Young Hee Lee, "Electrically tunable magnetic fluctuations in multilayered V-doped WSe2 ," Nature Electronics 501(69) , 1-18
2023 Riya Sebait, Roberto Rosati, Seok Joon Yun, Krishna P Dhakal, Samuel Brem, Chandan Biswas, Alexander Puretzky, Ermin Malic, Young Hee Lee*, "Sequential order dependent dark-exciton modulation in bi-layered TMD heterostructure," Nature Communications 14(5548), 1-9
2023 Ashok Mondal, Chandan Biswas, Sehwan Park, Wujoon Cha, Seoung-Hun Kang, Mina Yoon, Soo Ho Choi, Ki Kang Kim, and Young Hee Lee*, "Low Ohmic contact resistance and high on/off ratio in transition metal dichalcogenides field-effect transistors via residue-free transfer," Nature Nanotechnology https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01497-x
2023 Matthew D. Watson, Alex Louat, Cephise Cacho, Sungkyun Choi, Young Hee Lee, Michael Neumann, Gideok Kim, "Spectral signatures of a unique charge density wave in Ta2NiSe7," Nature Communications 14(3388), 1-7
2023 Ui Yeon Won, Quoc An Vu, Sung Bum Park, Mi Hyang Park, Van Dam Do, Hyun Jun Park, Heejun Yang, Young Hee Lee*, Woo Jong Yu, "Multi-neuron connection using multi-terminal floating–gate memristor for unsupervised learning," Nature Communications 14(3070), 1-11
2023 Taewoo Ha, Yu-Seong Seo, Teun-Teun Kim, Bipin Lamichhane, Young-Hoon Kim, Su Jae Kim, Yousil Lee, Jong Kim, Sang Eon Park, Kyung Ik Sim, Jae Kim, Yong In Kim, Seon Kim, Hu Young Jeong, Young Hee Lee, Seong-Gon Kim, Young-Min Kim, Jungseek Hwang, and Se-Young Jeong, "Coherent consolidation of trillions of nucleations for mono-atom step-level flat surfaces," Nature Communications 14(685), 1-9
2022 Thanh Luan Phan, Sohyeon Seo, Yunhee Cho, Quoc An Vu, Young Hee Lee, Dinh Loc Duong, Hyoyoung Lee and Woo Jong Yu, "CNT-molecule-CNT (1D-0D-1D) van der Waals integration ferroelectric memory with 1-nm2 junction area'," Nature Communications 13(4556), 1-8
2022 Sunghun Kim, Joonho Bang, Chan-young Lim, Seung Yong Lee, Jounghoon Hyun, Gyubin Lee, Yeonghoon Lee, Jonathan D. Denlinger, Soonsang Huh, Changyoung Kim, Sang Yong Song, Jungpil Seo, Dinesh Thapa, Seong-Gon Kim, Young Hee Lee, Yeongkwan Kim, Sung Wng Kim, "Quantum electron liquid and its possible phase transition," Nature Materials 21(11), 1269-1274
2022 Dohyun Kim, Eui Cheol Shin, Yongjoon Lee, Young Hee Lee, Mali Zhao, Yong-Hyun Kim, Heejun Yang, "Atomic-scale thermopower in charge density wave states," Nature Communications 13(4516), 1-8
2022 Su Jae Kim, Yong In Kim, Bipin Lamichhane, Young-Hoon Kim, Yousil Lee, Chae Ryong Cho, Miyeon Cheon, Jong Chan Kim, Hu Young Jeong, Taewoo Ha, Jungdae Kim, Young Hee Lee, Seong-Gon Kim, Young Min Kim, Se-Young Jeong "Flat-surface-assisted and self-regulated oxidation resistance of Cu(111)," Nature 603, 434-438
2022 Soo Ho Choi, Seok Joon Yun, Yo Seob Won, Chang Seok Oh, Soo Min Kim, Ki Kang Kim, Young Hee Lee*, "Large-scale synthesis of graphene and other 2D materials towards industrialization," Nature Communications 13(1484), 1-5
2022 Kyungwha Chung, Joonho Bang, Athira Thacharon, Hyun Yong Song, S Hwang Kang, Woo-Sung Jang, Neha Dhull, Dinesh Thapa, C. Muhammed Ajmal, Bumsub Song, Sung-Gyu Lee, Zhen Wang, Albina Jetybayeva, Seungbum Hong, Kyu Hyoung Lee, Eun Jin Cho, Seunghyun Baik, Sang Ho Oh, Young-Min Kim, Young Hee Lee, Seong-Gon Kim Sung Wng Kim, "Non-oxidized bare copper nanoparticles with surface excess electrons in air," Nature Nanotechnology 17, 285-291
2021 Yuval Ronen, Thomas Werkmeister, Danial Haie Najaabadi, Andrew T. Pierce, Laurel E. Anderson, Young Jae Shin, Si Young Lee, Young Hee Lee, Bobae Johnson, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Taniguchi, Amir Yacoby, Philip Kim , "Aharonov–Bohm effect in graphene-based Fabry–Pérot quantum Hall interferometers," Nature Nanotechnology 16, 563-569
2021 Sergey Menabde, In-Ho Lee, Sang Hyup Lee, Heonhak Ha, Jacob Heiden, Daehan Yoo, Teun-Teun Kim, Tony Low, Young Hee Lee*, Sang-Hyun Oh, and Min Seok Jang , "Real-space imaging of acoustic plasmons in large-area graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition," Nature Communications 12(938), 1-7
2020 Van Luan Nguyen, Dinh Loc Duong, Sanghyub Lee, Jose Avila, Gyeongtak Han, Young-Min Kim, Maria C Asensio, Se-Young Jeong, Young Hee Lee*, "Layer-controlled single-crystalline graphene film with stacking order via Cu-Si alloy formation," Nature Nanotechnology 15, 861-867
2020 Seung Yong Lee, Jae-Yeol Hwang, Jongho Park, Chandani N. Nandadasa, Younghak Kim, Joonho Bang, Kimoon Lee, Kyu Hyoung Lee, Yunwei Zhang; Yanming Ma; Hideo Hosono; Young Hee Lee; Seong-Gon Kim; Sung Wng Kim, "Ferromagnetic quasi-atomic electrons in two-dimensional electride," Nature Communications 11, 1526-1~1526-8
2019 Ji-Hee Kim, Matthew R. Bergren, Jin Cheol Park, Subash Adhikari, Michael Lorke, Thomas Fraunheim, Duk-Hyun Choe, Beom Kim, Hyunyong Choi, Tom Gregorkiewicz, and Young Hee Lee*, "Carrier Multiplication in van der Waals Layered Transition Metal Dichalcogenides," Nature Communications 10, 5488
2018 Joo Song Lee, Soo Ho Choi, Seok Joon Yun, Yong In Kim, Stephen Boandoh, Ji-Hoon Park, Bong Gyu Shin, Hayoung Ko, Seung Hee Lee, Young-Min, Kim, Young Hee Lee*, Misorientation-Angle-Dependent Phase Transformation in van der Waals Multilayers via Electron-Beam Irradiation, Misorientation-Angle-Dependent Phase Transformation in van der Waals Multilayers via Electron-Beam Irradiation, Ki Kang Kim, Soo Min Kim, "Wafer-scale single-crystal hexagonal boron nitride film via self-collimated grain formation," Science 362(6416), 817-821
2018 Byoung Hee Moon, Jung Jun Bae, Min-Kyu Joo, Homin choi, Gang Hee Han, Hanjo Lim, Young Hee Lee*, "Soft Coulomb gap asymmetric scaling towards metal-insulator quantum criticality in multilayer MoS2," Nature Communications 9, 2052
2017 Seok Joon Yun, Gang Hee Han, Hyun Kim, Dinh Loc Duong, Bong Gyu Shin, Jiong Zhao, Quoc An Vu, Jubok Lee, Seung Mi Lee, Young Hee Lee*, "Telluriding monolayer MoS2 and WS2 via alkali metal scooter," Nature Communivations 8, 2163
2017 Seung Hyun Song, Min-Kyu Joo, Michael Neumann, Hyun Kim, Young Hee Lee*, "Probing defect dynamics in monolayer MoS2 via noise nanospectroscopy ," Nature Communications 8, 2121
2017 Heejun Yang, Sung Wng Kim, Manish Chhowalla and Young Hee Lee*, "Structural and quantum-state phase transition in van der Waals layered materials," Nature Physics 13(10), 931-937
2017 Thuc Hue Ly, Jiong Zhao, Magdalena Ola Cichocka, Lain-Jong Li, Young Hee Lee*, "Dynamical observations on the crack tip zone and stress corrosion of two-dimensional MoS2," Nature Communications 8, 14116
2016 Hyun Seok Lee, Dinh Hoa Luong. Min Su Kim, Youngjo Jin, Hyun Kim, Seokjoon Yun, and Young Hee Lee*, "Reconfigurable exciton-plasmon interconversion for nanophotonic circuits," Nature Communications 7, 13663
2016 Woo Jong Yu, Quoc An Vu, Hyemin Oh, Hong Gi Nam, Hailong Zhou, Soonyoung Cha, Joo-Youn Kim, Alexandra Carvalho, Munseok Jeong, Hyunyong Choi, Antonio H. Castro-Neto, Young Hee Lee*, Xiangfeng Duan, "Unusually efficient photocurrent extraction in monolayer van der Waals heterostructure by tunnelling through discretized barriers," Nature Communications 7, 13278
2016 Quoc An Vu, Yong Seon Shin, Young Rae Kim, Van Luan Nguyen, Won Tae Kang, Hyun Kim, Dinh Hoa Luong, Il Min Lee, Kiyoung Lee, Dong–Su Ko, Jinseong Heo, Seongjun Park, Young Hee Lee*, "Two-Terminal Floating-Gate Memory with van der Waals Heterostructures for Ultrahigh On/Off Ratio," Nature Communications 7, 12725
2016 Thuc Hue Ly, David J. Perello. Jiong Zhao, Qingmin Deng, Hyun Kim, Gang Hee Han, Sang Hoon Chae, Hye Yun Jeong and Young Hee Lee*, "Misorientation-angle-dependent electrical transport across molybdenum disulfide grain boundaries," Nature communications 7(10426), 1-7
2015 Soo Min Kim, Allen Hsu, Min Ho Park,Sang Hoon Chae, Seok Joon Yun, Joo Song Lee, Dae-Hyun Cho, Wenjing Fang, Changgu Lee, Toma´s Palacios, Mildred Dresselhaus, Ki Kang Kim, Young Hee Lee* and Jing Kong, "Synthesis of large-area multilayer hexagonal boron nitride for high material performance," Nature Communications 6, 9662
2015 David J. Perello, Sang Hoon Chae, Seunghyun Song1 & Young Hee Lee*, "High-performance n-type black phosphorus transistors with type control via thickness and contact-metal engineering ," Nature Communications 6(7809), 1~8
2015 Suyeon Cho, Sera Kim, Jung Ho Kim, Jiong Zhao, Jinbong Seok, Dong Hoon Keum, Jaeyoon Baik, Duk-Hyun Choe, KJ. Chang, Kazu Suenaga, Sung Wng Kim, Young Hee Lee*, Heejun Yang , "Phase patterning for ohmic homojunction contact in MoTe2," Science 349(6248), 625-628
2015 Dong Hoon Keum, Suyeon Cho, Jung Ho Kim, Duk-Hyun Choe, Ha-Jun Sung, Min Kan, Haeyong Kang, Jae-Yeol Hwang, Sung Wng Kim, Heejun Yang, K. J. Chang & Young Hee Lee*, "Bandgap opening in few-layered monoclinic MoTe2," Nature Physics 11(6), 482-486
2015 Gang Hee Han, Nicholas J. Kybert, Carl H. Naylor, Bum Su Lee, Jinglei Ping, Joo Hee Park, Jisoo Kang, Si Young Lee, Young Hee Lee, Ritesh Agarwal & A.T. Charlie Johnson, "Seeded growth of highly crystalline molybdenum disulphide monolayers at controlled locations" Nature Communications 6(6128) , 1-6.
2015 Sang Il Kim, Kyu Hyoung Lee, Hyeon A Mun, Hyun Sik Kim, Sung Woo Hwang, Jong Wook Roh, Dae Jin Yang, Weon Ho Shin, Xiang Shu Li, Young Hee Lee, G. Jeffrey Snyder, Sung Wng Kim, "Dense dislocation arrays embedded in grain boundaries for high-performance bulk thermoelectrics," Science 348(6230), 109-114
2013 Sang Hoon Chae, Woo Jong Yu, Jung Jun Bae, Dinh Loc Duong, David Perello, Hye Yun Jeong, Quang Huy Ta, Thuc Hue Ly, Quoc An Vu, Minhee Yun, Xiangfeng Duan, and Young Hee Lee*, "Transferred wrinkled Al2O3 for highly stretchable and transparent graphene-carbon nanotube transistors," Nature Materials 12(5), 403-409
2012 Dinh Loc Duong, Gang Hee Han, Seung Mi Lee, Fethullah Gunes, Eun Sung Kim, Sung Tae Kim, Heetae Kim, Quang Huy Ta, Kang Pyo So, Seok Jun Yoon, Seung Jin Chae1, Young Woo Jo, Min Ho Park, Sang Hoon Chae, Seong Chu Lim, Jae Young Choi and Young Hee Lee*, "Probing graphene grain boundaries with optical microscopy," Nature 490(7419), 235-239
1996 A. Thess, R. Lee, P. Nikolaev, H. Dai, P. Petit, J. Robert, C. Xu, Y. H. Lee*, S. G. Kim, D. T. Colbert, G. Scuseria, D. Tomanek, J. E. Fischer, and R. E. Smalley, ""Crystalline ropes of metallic carbon nanotubes," Science 273 (5274), 483-487
2026 Lifetime Member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology
2024 Molecular Science Forum(Distinguished Lecturer)
2023 Materials Science Leader Award (Research.com, a leading academic platform for researchers, ranked #160 in the world ranking and #4 in South Korea.)
2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021,2020, 2019, 2018 Highly Cited Researchers (top 1% by citation for field and year, Clarivate Analytics)
2021 Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
2020 The World of Academy Sciences (TWAS) fellow
2020 Sung-Bong Prize
2019 KYUNG-AM Prize
2017 Einstein Award (Distinguished Scientists Award) (CAS President’s International Fellowship Initiative, China)
2014 SU-DANG Prize
2008 Presidential Award in Science and Education
2007 Lee Hsun Research Award, IMR, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2007 Fellow of Korea Academy of Science and Technology
2007 Fellow of Sungkyunkwan University
2006 Nominated as ‘The Most Respectable Scientists & Engineers’, by Ministry of Education
2005 Nominated as ‘The National scholar’, by Ministry of Education
2005 Science Award from Korean Physical Society
2004 First fellow of Sungkyunkwan University
1999 Nominated for 'Man of Jeonbuk State', in Academia and public press
1997 Award from Foundation of Korea Science and Technology for ' The Best Paper in Physics'
Weekly Column3Weekly Column2A New Scientific Culture
What does it mean to build a “new scientific culture”?
From the perspective of Chinese scientists, they are already well aware of both the strengths and the limitations of China’s scientific system. In that sense, what they expect from foreign scientists is quite clear: to help address those limitations and contribute to the advancement of Chinese science with new perspectives.
In truth, the development of science in China has been remarkable. I have witnessed the evolution of nanoscience from its very early days to where it stands today. At the beginning of the 21st century, “nano” was the central theme in science. That was when I first became interested in the field, and over time, I found myself becoming a part of it. Starting from theoretical physics, I moved on to carbon nanotube and graphene synthesis, the study of new physical properties, and various applications—working across physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering. What began as simple curiosity eventually became my professional path.
In early 2000s, Korea had already established itself among the top five countries in nanoscience, while China was still in its early stages. However, China has since advanced at an astonishing pace and now stands among the world’s leading nations in this field. This reflects the country’s immense potential, and it is no longer something that can be denied. Continuous government support and a strong culture of respect for scientists have played a crucial role in sustaining this competitiveness.
When I began my research career in the 1990s, scientific leadership was still largely centered in the West. Yet I believed that one day Asia would become a major force in science. With that in mind, I worked to build research networks centered around Korea, China, and Japan. This led to the creation of Korea–China, Korea–Japan, and eventually Korea–China–Japan joint symposia, which continue to this day.
Through these experiences, I thought I understood Chinese culture fairly well. Korea and China are geographically close and share many cultural similarities. Human relationships, family values—there is much that overlaps. Because of this, I found it easy to build friendships with Chinese scientists, and those relationships remain strong today.
In many ways, creating a new scientific culture is not complicated. It begins with bringing in different people. When researchers from diverse backgrounds come together, a new culture naturally emerges. I experienced this while serving as a Director at the Institute for Basic Science in Korea. The presence of international researchers and students transformed not only the research environment but also the way people think—and those changes led to more creative outcomes. I hope to create a similar environment in our institute.
However, after spending a year and half in China, I find that while my overall understanding of the culture remains, my day-to-day experiences are often still unfamiliar. At a macro level, the ability to plan and execute large projects is highly impressive. This is undoubtedly one of China’s strengths.
But when it comes to the details, things can feel quite different. Small cultural differences often have a surprisingly large impact. I felt this most strongly during the renovation of the institute. Thanks to the university’s strong support, the construction process moved forward quickly and efficiently. Yet in the final stages, things began to diverge.
During the construction of the Center, we made numerous requests for adjustments, but many were not fully implemented. Although there were assurances that changes would be made, they often did not materialize. This was not only an issue with the contractors but also with insufficient oversight. For example, when installing laboratory tables, electrical outlets behind the walls were simply covered and sealed. Even after requesting corrections, the issue has yet to be fully resolved. In such cases, it is difficult to proceed with final payments. It is frustrating to see details that were discussed repeatedly at the beginning overlooked at the end. At one point, the stress even showed physically. One morning, while showering, I was surprised to see how much hair I was losing. It was probably the result of accumulated pressure. I imagine that the younger faculty working alongside me felt much the same.
The bidding process has also been challenging. The procedures are complex, the documentation is inefficient, and coordination between young faculty members and administrative staff is often not smooth. The process of preparing laboratory furniture, in particular, was exhausting. Every small detail—shape, color, function—had to be documented individually, making the process overwhelmingly time-consuming. It raises the question of whether handling everything through formal bidding is truly efficient. Perhaps it reflects a lack of mutual trust within the system.
At times, it feels unclear where to begin making changes. But one thing is certain: trust and accountability are essential. Each individual must take responsibility for their role, rather than allowing responsibility to become blurred.
We have to start with small things. In the institute, everyone—including students—must see themselves as responsible stakeholders. It is impossible for a single director to manage everything. The moment people begin to think, “someone else will take care of it,” it is already too late. Cleaning the lab, organizing shared spaces, fixing small inconveniences—these seemingly minor actions ultimately shape the quality of a research environment. They are also an integral part of scientific culture. It is through these small efforts that a strong and sustainable research community is built.
Now, the laboratory setup is nearing completion. While the cleanroom, dry room, and chemical labs are still under construction, we are already able to begin research meetings in the seminar room. Students and researchers can gather, learn from one another, and engage with invited speakers from different fields.
In this process, honesty is essential. We must be willing to admit what we do not know and to ask questions freely. We should reflect on how our work contributes to the broader community. We need the courage to step into new fields and learn without hesitation.
When a paper is completed, the simple sense of satisfaction it brings is enough. Regardless of the scale of the result, that feeling becomes the motivation for the next step. And more importantly, we must learn to enjoy the process itself.
Perhaps this is what a new scientific culture truly looks like.
Over the past period, everyone has invested tremendous time and effort to build this institute. I want to say to all of you: you have worked very hard. In Chinese, there is a phrase—“辛苦了 (xīnkǔ le).” It feels especially fitting at this moment. Now, it is time to return to what we truly set out to do—research. And in a better environment, I hope we can rediscover the simple joy of doing science.
I hope we can share that joy together.
新的科学文化
什么是“新的科学文化”？
从中国科学家的角度来看，他们对中国科学的优势与不足其实都有着清醒的认识。在这样的背景下，他们对外国科学家的期待也很明确——希望能够弥补现有的不足，以新的视角推动中国科学的发展。
事实上，中国的科学发展是令人瞩目的。我从纳米科学刚刚兴起的时代一路走到今天，亲眼见证了这一领域的发展。21世纪初，“纳米”成为科学界的关键词。也正是在那个时候，我开始对这一领域产生兴趣，并逐渐走上了这条研究之路。从最初的物理理论研究，到碳纳米管的合成、新物性探索，再到应用研究——我在物理、化学、材料和工程等多个领域之间不断穿梭。可以说，是从好奇心出发，最终成为了这个领域的一名研究者。
在2000年代初，韩国在纳米领域已经具备了世界前五的竞争力，而当时中国的纳米研究还处于起步阶段。然而此后，中国以惊人的速度追赶，并迅速成长为世界领先的科研强国。这既体现了中国巨大的潜力，也已成为一个无法否认的事实。政府持续的投入，以及全社会对科学家的尊重，共同支撑了今天中国科学的竞争力。
回想起我在上世纪90年代刚开始从事研究的时候，科学的中心仍然在西方。但我始终相信，有一天亚洲会成为科学的重要力量。因此，我一直努力在韩国、中国和日本之间建立科研网络。从最初的韩中研讨会、韩日研讨会，到后来扩展为韩中日三国联合研讨会，这些交流一直持续至今。
基于这些经历，我曾以为自己对中国文化已经有了相当的理解。韩国和中国在地理上接近，在文化上也有许多相通之处。无论是人际关系还是家庭观念，都有很多相似之处。因此，我与中国科学家之间很容易建立起信任与友谊，至今仍保持着良好的关系。
从某种意义上说，构建新的科学文化并不复杂——关键在于引入不同的人。当来自不同背景的研究者共同工作时，一种新的文化便会自然形成。我在韩国担任基础科学研究院主任时，已经有过这样的体验。外国研究者和学生的加入，不仅改变了研究环境，也改变了思考方式，而这些变化最终带来了更多的创造性成果。我也希望在我们的研究所中实现这样的转变。
在中国生活和工作的这一年半里，虽然我对整体文化的理解没有发生根本变化，但在实际操作中，还是不时会遇到一些新鲜的体验。宏观层面的规划和推进非常高效，这无疑是中国社会的一大优势。而到了具体执行层面，情况往往有所不同。一些看似细微的文化差异，有时会带来意想不到的感受。在研究所改造的过程中，我对此体会尤深。得益于学校的全力支持，工程整体推进得很快、很顺利，只是在最后的收尾阶段，节奏有些不一样了。
施工期间，我们多次提出修改建议，但有些并没有真正落实。当时对方大多表示会调整，可后来部分问题渐渐被搁置。这既有施工方的责任，也有监督管理上的一些不足。比如在安装实验室台面时，墙上的电源插座被直接封住了。我们试着提出修改请求，但至今没有完全处理完。这种情况下，尾款自然也无法支付。那些前期反复确认的细节，到了最后阶段却被忽视，难免让人感到有些无奈。
长期处于这样的状态，有一天早上洗澡时，我突然发现头发一把一把地掉落。回想起来，大概是压力慢慢积累的结果吧。一起工作的年轻同事们，想必也有类似的感受。
招标流程同样让人有些头疼。程序较为繁琐，文件准备效率不高，年轻教师和行政人员之间的协作也不太顺畅。特别是在家具采购中，每一个细节——形状、颜色、功能——都需要一一写进文件里，这样的流程有时让人觉得吃力。是否所有事项都适合通过招标来处理，也让人偶尔会产生疑问。或许，这背后反映的，是在彼此信任方面还有进一步改善的空间。
有时候，我也会感到迷茫，不知道该从哪里开始改变。但有一点是明确的——信任与责任是最关键的。每个人都应该对自己的工作负责，而不是让责任变得模糊不清。因此，我们必须从小事做起。在研究所中，包括学生在内的每一个成员，都应该成为“主人”。仅靠研究所长一个人，是无法完成所有事情的。如果每个人都抱着“总会有人去做”的想法，那么一切就会停滞不前。
打扫卫生、整理实验室、改进微小的问题——这些看似微不足道的事情，实际上决定了一个研究环境的质量。这些，同样是科学文化的重要组成部分。正是这些细节，最终塑造出一个真正优秀的科研环境。
现在，实验室的整理已经接近尾声。虽然超净间/干燥间和化学实验室仍在建设中，但我们已经可以在研讨室开始学术讨论。学生和研究人员可以聚在一起相互学习，也可以邀请外部学者来分享不同领域的知识。
在这样的过程中，最重要的是坦诚。要敢于承认“不知道”，敢于提问。要思考自己能为所在的科研环境带来什么贡献。面对新的研究领域，也要有勇气去学习。
当一篇论文完成时，那种简单的满足感，其实已经足够。无论成果大小，这种喜悦都会带来继续前进的动力。而更重要的是，要享受这个过程本身。
或许，这正是我们所追求的新的科学文化。
在过去的一段时间里，为了建立研究所，大家都付出了巨大的努力。我想对每一个人说一句：真的辛苦了。用中文来说，就是“辛苦了”。现在，是时候回到我们真正热爱的研究本身了。在一个更好的科研环境中，重新体会做研究的快乐。
我希望，这份快乐，我们能够一起感受到。
Weekly Column1The Beginning of LQM – A Personal Reflection on Building a New Scientific Culture
It has now been over a year and a half since I began my work in China. In some ways, it feels like a long time; in others, it feels surprisingly short. During this period, the research building has gradually taken shape. There is still work to be done—the cleanroom and dry room are not yet complete—but at last, the end is in sight. Equipment has been arriving one by one, and some of it is already quietly in operation. With the exception of the PPMS/MPMS and the time-resolved ARPES systems, most of the remaining instruments should be installed before the opening ceremony. Even the laboratory furniture will soon be in place. There are still unfinished floors, and the schedule has been delayed more than once. Yet, for the first time, I feel that we are finally ready to begin.
Last week, we held our very first small-group research meeting in the seminar room. The moment has stayed with me. I had expected to feel overwhelmed with emotion, but instead, I found myself surprisingly calm. Perhaps I had already spent too much time enduring the process internally. What I felt most deeply, however, was gratitude toward the young researchers who have been part of this journey. None of this would have been possible without their dedication. I often feel indebted to them. They are no longer just colleagues—they have become true companions on this path.
I often think back to my first visit to Hubei University of Technology two years ago. At that time, it was clear to me that the environment was not yet ready for immediate research. At the same time, I could see how much effort young researchers were putting in just to produce a single paper.
Fortunately, the university genuinely wanted change—and that desire was stronger than I had expected. With strong support from Hubei Province, the research environment we see today has gradually taken form. Many people have contributed to this journey in ways that are not always visible. I find myself naturally grateful to the university leadership, including the president and party secretary, for their commitment. The people I have met along the way have also become an unexpected gift in my life.
So what, then, is my role here?
Perhaps, first and foremost, it is to create an environment where researchers can truly focus on their work—where synthesis, characterization, device fabrication, and the discovery of new physical phenomena can all flow seamlessly within a single system. In other words, to build a space where ‘one-stop research’ becomes possible.
But over time, I have come to realize that my role does not end there. Through conversations with senior scientists and colleagues, I began to sense a different kind of expectation. It was a simple phrase, yet not a simple request: to help create a “new science culture.”
I have thought about this often.
What does it mean to build a new science culture?
At one dinner, some senior scholars, half jokingly, offered me a few “missions” to accomplish during my time in China. I smiled at the time, but their words stayed with me.
The first was to create something different from the existing culture. As someone from outside, perhaps I could see and change things that are not easily visible from within.
The second was to bring in people—researchers from Korea, and from other countries as well. When individuals from diverse backgrounds come together, interact, and collaborate, something new inevitably begins to form. I strongly believe this. New ideas often begin with new people, and from those interactions emerge creativity and innovation.
The third suggestion was, in a way, the most striking. They told me that I had already done enough good research, and that now, it might be more important to build an environment and nurture the next generation of leaders.<
I have not forgotten those words.
The truth is, I still love doing research. I still want to produce meaningful results. But at the same time, I understand that this is not the only reason I am here.
Perhaps my role is to serve as a small bridge—connecting the inside and the outside. There are things that cannot be seen from within alone, and things that only become visible when an external perspective is introduced.
I am still learning how to walk that path. I do not know how long I will remain here. But whether that time is long or short, I want to do what I can. To help build a new scientific culture, and to create a place where others can pursue their research a little more freely. And if possible, I hope that somewhere along the way, I too can find a bit more happiness.
That would be enough.
LQM（低维量子材料研究所）的起点——关于建设“新科学文化”的一点思考
转眼间，我来到中国已一年半。说长不长，说短不短。这段时间里，中心大楼渐渐成形。超净间和干燥间虽未完工，但终点已隐约可见。设备陆续到位，有些已安静运转。除了PPMS/MPMS和time-resolved ARPES系统，其余大多有望在开幕仪式前完成安装。桌椅家具也将在本月全部就位。当然，还有楼层尚未动工，原定时间表一再推迟。即便如此，我第一次真切感到：我们终于可以开始了。
上周，我们举行了第一次小型研讨会，那一刻让我久久难忘。原以为自己会百感交集，甚至热泪盈眶，但真正到来时却异常平静。或许是在这段过程中，内心早已历经太多起伏。相反，我更深刻地感受到的是对年轻研究者的感激。没有他们的投入与坚持，这一切都不可能实现。我常觉得自己欠他们很多。他们早已不只是同事，而是一同前行的伙伴。
我常回想起两年前初访湖北工业大学。那时我清楚，这里还不具备立即开展研究的条件。同时我也真切看到，年轻研究者为完成一篇论文付出了多少努力。幸运的是，学校确实渴望改变，而且比我最初预想的更为坚定。在湖北省大力支持下，今天的科研环境一点点被建立起来。这一路有许多默默付出的人。我由衷感谢校领导，他们的投入与担当令人敬佩。而在这个过程中结识的许多人，也成为我人生中的珍贵收获。
那么，我在这里的角色究竟是什么？
或许首先，是建立一个让研究者能专心做研究的环境——一个从材料合成、物性表征，到器件制备，再到新物理现象发现，都可以自然衔接的体系。也就是说，打造一个“一站式研究”的科研平台。但随着时间的推移，我逐渐意识到，我的角色并不仅止于此。在与许多资深科学家和同行的交流中，我隐约感受到另一种期待——创造一种“新的科学文化”。
这句话听起来简单，却并不轻松。
我曾反复思考，什么才是新的科学文化？
有一次饭桌上，几位前辈半开玩笑地给我提出几项“任务”。我当时一笑而过，但那些话一直留在心里。
第一，创造一种不同于现有模式的科学文化。作为一个外来者，或许可以看到身处其中的人难以察觉的东西，并尝试做出改变。
坦率地说，我依然热爱科研，也依然渴望做出好成果。但与此同时，我也明白，我来到这里的意义并不只在于此。或许，我的角色更像是一座小小的桥梁——连接内部与外部。很多时候，仅仅身处其中，很难看清全貌；而当外部的视角进入时，一些原本看不见的东西才会逐渐显现。 而我，仍在学习如何走好这条路。我不知道自己会在这里停留多久。但无论时间长短，我都希望能尽己所能，推动一种新的科学文化的形成，创造一个让更多人能更自由开展研究的环境。
如果可以，我也希望，在这个过程中，自己能够变得更加从容，也更加幸福。
那样，就已经足够了。
Copyright © 2025 Institute of Low-Dimensional Quantum Materials, Hubei University of Technology.
