POSCO TJ Park Foundation Selects 40 Grantees of POSCO Science Fellowship

The judges of POSCO Science Fellowship evaluate a research project of an interviewee via video interview

POSCO TJ Park Foundation has selected 40 South Korean scientists as the 2021 POSCO Science Fellows.

POSCO Science Fellowship is one of the core programs of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation that aims to support young talents in basic and applied science areas in Korea so that they can become world-class scientists.

Celebrating its 12th year, POSCO Science Fellowship has widened its supporting areas since last year. In addition to the basic science (mathematics, physics, chemistry, and life science), support has been expanded to the applied science (metal, new material, energy material), which is considered as the new growth engine for Korean industries. The program has been supporting and cultivating young talents in science and technology.

Among the grantees, each doctoral student will be provided with a total of 36 million won for three years, while each post-doc researcher will receive 70 million won totally for two years. Each young assistant professor, who has started independent research and experiment, will be offered 100 million won in total for two years.

A panel member who participated in the assessment process said, “Numerous outstanding young professors from universities across Korea submitted their applications this year. Due to the high research capabilities and levels of applicants, the evaluation itself is getting more and more difficult to make. Since this process was about selecting the best talents of Korea, it was truly fulfilling.”

The foundation received applications for a month, starting from June 1, which resulted in a fierce competition rate of over 8:1 with a total of 332 applicants: 103 doctoral students, 63 post-docs, and 166 young professors.

Grantees for the POSCO Science Fellowship were selected through multiple phases. First, 21 renowned professors of the seven science fields shortlisted 80 applicants based on their proposals and track records. Among them, 40 grantees were finally selected in combination with further assessment by foreign as well as domestic scientists and online interviews with 21 professors from the evaluation panel.

POSCO Science Fellowship, marking its 12th anniversary this year, has provided 21.2 billion won to a total of 347 Fellows so far.