Three Ewha Undergraduates Selected as 2026 Presidential Science Scholars N
- Date2026.07.01
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Three Ewha Womans University undergraduates have been selected as 2026 Presidential Science Scholars, a prestigious program administered by the Korea Student Aid Foundation and the Ministry of Science and ICT. Their selection recognizes their outstanding research potential as future leaders in science and technology.
The Presidential Science Scholarship is one of Korea’s most prestigious national scholarship programs for students in science and engineering. Established to cultivate future scientific talent, the program selects outstanding students enrolled in four-year universities in Korea or first-year students admitted to overseas science and engineering programs. Candidates are evaluated comprehensively based on their academic achievements, scientific activities, leadership, and potential for social contribution. Approximately 157 students were selected nationwide for the 2026 program.
From left: Hyunjin Shin, Jin Choi, and Jaeeun Baek
Hyunjin Shin (Class of 2024, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering; advised by Professor Yeomin Yoon) began conducting research as an undergraduate researcher during her first year. She systematically reviewed and analyzed a decade of research on the degradation of bisphenol A, an organic pollutant. Based on this work, she conducted an in-depth analysis of ultrasound-based oxidation systems for degrading bisphenol A in water and proposed future research directions in a review article published in the international SCIE journalUltrasonics Sonochemistry(Impact Factor 10.2; top 1.2% in the JCR Acoustics category).
“I hope to contribute to obtaining reliable data on the removal of trace organic pollutants and to analyzing the formation pathways of degradation byproducts generated during oxidation reactions,” Shin said. “I will continue conducting research that bridges laboratory findings with practical applications in water treatment, contributing to the creation of a safer water environment.”
Jin Choi (Class of 2024, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering; advised by Professor Yeomin Yoon) has also demonstrated outstanding research achievements since her first year. She published a first-author review article in the international SCI journalJournal of Hazardous Materials(Impact Factor 10.6; top 5.3% in the JCR Environmental Sciences category) on the removal of inorganic contaminants from water using MXene-based nanomaterials. Her review comprehensively analyzed how key factors in real-world water treatment environments—including pH, background ions, temperature, and natural organic matter (NOM)—affect the adsorption performance of MXene materials. The study went beyond conventional laboratory-based research by identifying both the limitations and practical potential of MXene-based adsorbents under actual water quality conditions.
“I am deeply honored and grateful that my undergraduate research has been recognized through the Presidential Science Scholarship,” Choi said. “This opportunity motivates me to further strengthen my research capabilities in water treatment and grow into a researcher who contributes to solving environmental challenges.”
Both Shin and Choi are members of Professor Yeomin Yoon’s Laboratory for Water Environmental Trace Hazardous Pollutant Treatment, where they conduct research in water environmental management. It is highly unusual for two students from the same laboratory to be selected simultaneously as Presidential Science Scholars, making this achievement a testament to the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering’s excellence in education and research.
Jaeeun Baek (Class of 2024, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Artificial Intelligence; advised by Professor Mijeong Lee) has focused on human-computer interaction (HCI), algorithmic transparency, and digital accessibility while consistently leading projects that leverage public data to address social challenges. In the 2025 G-STAR Glocal Expedition, organized by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea, she analyzed 10 years of public auction data from Korea’s largest wholesale market to quantitatively identify inefficiencies in agricultural distribution. Based on these findings, she helped develop a startup concept, leading the data analysis and investor relations (IR) presentation, which earned the Grand Prize. She also received an Excellence Award in the Local Heroes 100 program for designing and developing a minimum viable product (MVP) for a B2B SaaS platform promoting reusable container circulation in university communities. In addition, she was selected as a member of the Young Engineers Honor Society (YEHS) of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea, where she has actively participated in discussions on the social responsibility of engineering.
“As AI adoption rapidly expands across the public sector, I hope to contribute to addressing challenges such as algorithmic transparency and digital accessibility,” Baek said. “After graduation, I plan to pursue graduate studies in HCI or technology policy, researching user experience issues and algorithmic transparency in the digitalization of public services. Ultimately, I aspire to become a public official who designs and implements policies related to digital transformation, AI governance, and the use of public data.”