Precious opportunity to return to her alma mater

Professor Yoon started her bachelor's degree majoring in electrical and electronic computer engineering at UNIST in 2011 and got a Ph.D. degree in 2019 from UNIST Graduate School. After she acquired her Ph.D. degree, she worked at Qualcomm in the U.S., which is a leading global semiconductor company, for three years and she learned a lot there as she worked as an engineer. Now, she came back to her alma mater as a professor, rather than a student. She now leads her laboratory under the pride of her name. Although the university is a familiar space, she has a completely different new title. We asked what her mindset was like when she met her students for the first time
“I was employed by Qualcomm through special recruitment and worked for around three years. Qualcomm is well-equipped with a world-class system and provided a convenient environment where the backup was present in many areas. However, I could not have sufficient time to study due to the heavy workload. It was not easy for me to endeavor a field of study to challenge myself further. Then, I heard UNIST was looking for a professor in the semiconductor circuit field and I applied for it without hesitation. I thought this could be a valuable opportunity for me to pay back what I gained.”
Professor Yoon grew with her experience at Qualcomm, where she could exchange with the world's best engineers and access the latest technologies without limitation, thus experiencing and learning a lot. She accumulated chip design work experience for 5G communication there and participated in semiconductor designs, which were adopted into commercial products including iPhones. This accumulated hands-on experience has served as a solid foundation when she performed research that was directly related to the future industry.

“I think study can be done in solitude but research cannot be done.
so I believe when we research as a team, we can achieve amazing outcomes beyond each member's limits.”

The laboratory that takes on challenges and grows with students

This spring, when Professor Yoon returned to her alma mater and set up the laboratory, she felt that everything was familiar and new at the same time. She also made a new relationship with the person in charge of setting up the required equipment in the laboratory.
“I learned he was one of the founding members in the laboratory of Professor Jae Hyuk Choi when I was a student. I met the assistant manager of the company that set up the laboratory again ten years later. This time, I met him again as a research head so I felt glad but also the passing of time cause a feeling of burden. It was also an opportunity for me to think about how I would spend my time in the future.”
Professor Yoon will continue the research on semiconductor circuits based on my work experience gained at Qualcomm. The laboratory was still in its inception, but it was set up with students who were determined. The experience made while I was a founding member in the laboratory of Professor Choi at UNIST was a great help. I decided to set up members after careful consideration because they were the people whom I worked with to produce satisfactory outcomes with passion and perseverance.
“What I want the most right now is that “students will be more successful than me.” I’d like to make growing and evolving relationships with students. Study can be done in solitude but research cannot be done so. I believe when we research as a team, we can achieve amazing outcomes beyond each member's limits.”
Professor Yoon is now planning to have a more intimate time with founding members of the laboratory during this summer semester break. Spending time with students will be challenging but also joyful for her who is eager to teach students even minute details.