International Affairs Team

News

UNIST Showcases New GRIT Program at Open House Ahead of 2027 Admissions

UNIST offered prospective students and their families a first look at its new School of GRIT Convergence Studies on July 16, ahead of the program's inaugural admissions cycle for the 2027 academic year. Unlike conventional undergraduate programs built around predetermined majors, GRIT will enable students to design their own interdisciplinary fields of study around questions they seek to explore. Approximately 80 students and parents attended the open house at the Business Administration Building. The event introduced the program's educational model and admissions process through an open talk, admissions briefing, Q&A session, and campus tour. During an open talk, Dean Cheol-Min Kim of the School of GRIT Convergence Studies, explained how the program encourages students to begin with questions of their own rather than predefined disciplines. Guided by those questions, students design interdisciplinary academic pathways grounded in science and technology and developed through project-based learning. UNIST also introduced the 2027 GRIT Admissions Track, outlining eligibility requirements, application procedures, document review, and interviews. The university plans to admit approximately 10 students through its 2027 early admissions cycle. Interests extended beyond students preparing to apply in 2027. Many first- and second-year high school students also attended, with questions focusing largely on portfolio preparation, including acceptable materials, formatting, file requirements, and submission guidelines. The program concluded with a campus tour, led by UNI student ambassadors, offering prospective students a firsthand look at the university's academic environment and campus life. “We want students to turn their interests and experiences into questions of their own, then connect those questions with science and technology to create new academic and career paths,” said Dean Cheol-Min Kim. “We hope the open house gave students a practical starting point for exploring their futures and preparing for admission.” Beginning in 2027, the School of GRIT Convergence Studies will offer an undergraduate curriculum centered on student-designed majors and project-based interdisciplinary learning.

News

UNIST Brings Global AI Researchers Together at Post-ICML@UNIST

Leading AI researchers from academia and industry gathered at UNIST on July 13 for Post-ICML@UNIST 2026, an international symposium organized by the Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence. The event provided a forum to exchange the latest advances in AI and explore opportunities for future collaborative research. The symposium welcomed researchers visiting Korea for the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) , including Professor Daniel Lee (Cornell Tech/Korea Institute for Advanced Study), Professor Sze Zheng Yong (Northeastern University), Dr. Chieh-Hsin Lai (Sony AI), and Dr. Jaemoo Choi (Georgia Institute of Technology), alongside UNIST faculty members and graduate students. Organized by Professors Sangwoong Yoon and Jaejun Yoo, the program featured keynote lectures by invited researchers, presentations of UNIST papers accepted to ICML 2026, and a graduate student poster session. Discussions ranged from emerging AI methodologies to real-world applications across machine learning. The symposium enabled students to discuss their research directly with internationally recognized scholars and gain insight into emerging directions in AI. Faculty members also explored potential directions for future collaborative research with the visiting scholars. The symposium reflects the growing international presence of the Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence. As of June 2026, its researchers had published 15 SCI-indexed journal papers, including 11 papers in the top 10% of Journal Citation Reports (JCR), and 53 international conference papers, 38 of which were accepted to premier AI and machine learning conferences. The school has also recorded 24 domestic and international patent applications and registrations, reflecting continued progress in both fundamental research and technology commercialization. "Post-ICML@UNIST provided a valuable opportunity for our students and faculty to engage directly with leading AI researchers from around the world," said Jae-Young Sim, Dean of the Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence. "We will continue to expand international research partnerships and strengthen UNIST's global leadership in AI."

Research

New Surface Design Makes QDs More Reliable for Single-Molecule Imaging

Abstract Quantum dots (QDs) are fluorescent nanoparticles widely used for single-molecule imaging because of their exceptional brightness and photostability. However, the impact of QD surface chemistry on biomolecular interactions has not been systematically investigated. Here, we report that commercial QDs unexpectedly destabilize protein-DNA complexes by inducing protein dissociation from DNA. Using the human nucleotide excision repair protein, xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group A (XPA) as a model system, we demonstrate that antibody-conjugated QDs promote dissociation of XPA from DNA substrates, independently of sizes and surface modification of QDs, antibody types, epitope tags, buffer conditions, or DNA structures. We find that polyethylene glycol (PEG), a common polymer coating on QD surfaces, is the primary factor responsible for this effect. To tackle this problem, we engineered QDs with precisely controlled surface polymer compositions. By systematically changing the ratio of anchoring, hydrophilic, and PEG-based functional groups, we find that reducing PEG density below a critical threshold effectively suppresses protein dissociation while maintaining excellent colloidal stability and brightness. Furthermore, antibodies conjugated via click chemistry between azide groups and DBCO enabled specific labeling of XPA without perturbing the DNA binding activity. Using these optimized QDs, we conducted single-molecule DNA curtain assays to visualize XPA-DNA interactions. QD-labeled XPA exhibits one-dimensional diffusion with frequent pausing on undamaged DNA. DNA curtain assays revealed that XPA preferentially binds DNA bubbles and searches for bubble structures through both one-dimensional diffusion and three-dimensional collision. Quantitative analysis showed that three-dimensional collision is the dominant pathway for bubble recognition. Taken together, our results uncover a previously unrecognized limitation of PEG-coated QDs in single-molecule studies and provide an improved surface-engineering strategy to preserve native protein-DNA interactions. Newly engineered QDs establish robust platforms for accurate single-molecule visualization of biomolecular processes. Quantum dots (QDs) are widely used as fluorescent probes for single-molecule imaging because they are brighter and more photostable than conventional fluorescent dyes. Researchers at UNIST have now discovered that the surface chemistry of many commercially available QDs can unintentionally disrupt the protein–DNA interactions they are intended to observe. The team also established a surface-engineering strategy that minimizes this interference without compromising their imaging performance. Led by Professor Jaeil Lee of the Department of Biological Sciences and Professor Jongnam Park of the Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, the researchers identified polyethylene glycol (PEG), a polymer widely used to coat commercial QDs, as the source of the interference. When PEG occupied too great a proportion of the particle surface, protein–DNA interactions became destabilized, revealing a previously unrecognized limitation of a widely used imaging probe. The finding arose while the team was investigating xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group A (XPA), a DNA repair protein involved in nucleotide excision repair. As the concentration of commercially available QDs increased, XPA unexpectedly dissociated from DNA. The same behavior persisted regardless of quantum dot size, antibody type, surface modification, buffer conditions, or DNA structure, indicating that the disruption originated from the probe itself rather than the biological system. To address this limitation, the researchers systematically redesigned the quantum dot surface by adjusting the proportions of anchoring, hydrophilic, and PEG-derived functional groups. They found that reducing the PEG-derived surface composition below approximately 7% preserved native protein–DNA interactions while maintaining the brightness and colloidal stability required for single-molecule imaging. Using the redesigned QDs, the researchers visualized how XPA searches for sites of DNA damage without perturbing its natural behavior. Single-molecule DNA curtain experiments showed that XPA locates DNA bubble structures through both one-dimensional diffusion along DNA and three-dimensional collisions from solution. Quantitative analysis revealed that three-dimensional collisions are the dominant pathway for recognizing damaged DNA under physiologically relevant protein concentrations. “Commercial quantum dots have long been regarded as passive fluorescent probes,” said Professor Lee. "Our study shows that their surface chemistry can directly influence the molecular interactions being observed. By identifying the source of this interference, we established a practical strategy for preserving native protein–DNA interactions during single-molecule imaging." Professor Park added, "Careful control of surface polymer composition allowed us to reduce molecular interference without compromising brightness or colloidal stability. We expect these design principles to support the development of more reliable nanoparticle-based probes for biological imaging." The study also included contributions from Youngseo Kim of the Department of Biological Sciences and Hyerim Kim of the Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST. The findings were published online in Nano Convergence on June 3, 2026. The research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). Journal Reference Youngseo Kim, Hyerim Kim, Munryul Choi, et al ., "Engineering quantum dot surfaces to preserve protein-DNA interactions for single-molecule visualization," Nano Converg ., (2026).

Research

New Wrinkle Architecture Broadens Optical Responses for Advanced Security Films

Abstract Wrinkle-based diffraction gratings offer a scalable route to pigment-free structural coloration, yet most platforms are limited by globally aligned, linear wrinkles that provide limited spatial programmability and narrow angular selectivity. Here, we report geometrically programmed wrinkle architectonics in a UV-curable chitosan (UVCC)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) bilayer, where lithography-defined, “geometric voids” serve as boundary constraints and stress concentrators to deterministically steer wrinkle trajectories during mechanical deformation. Simple geometric primitives effectively reshape the local stress field through geometrically incompatible confinement, transforming 1D gratings into shape-specific, spatially bifurcated domains characterized by curvilinear orientation and straight-wrinkle fields. We quantify these trajectory fields using the curvature metric and map critical design levers, such as inter-pattern spacing, UVCC thickness, and pattern asymmetry, that modulate curvature magnitude and steering range without altering diffraction periodicity. Circular perimeters sustain extended semi-circular trajectories, whereas polygonal vertices concentrate stress to induce aggressive local curvature. This programmed orientation dramatically amplifies angular dispersion: symmetric circular arrays achieve peak viewing-angle responsivity nearly three times higher than that of unpatterned thin films. A macaw security motif confirms wide-angle azimuthal readability and the formation of device-unique optical fingerprints for anti-counterfeiting. This work transforms a ubiquitous mechanical instability into a geometry-addressable photonic platform for high-level authentication and advanced displays. Hidden optical images that appear only when a transparent film is bent could provide a new generation of anti-counterfeiting technologies. Researchers at UNIST have demonstrated a strategy for programming the microscopic wrinkle patterns responsible for structural color, enabling optical films with enhanced viewing-angle sensitivity and unique optical fingerprints. Led by Professor Taesung Kim of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the researchers discovered that simple geometric patterns can precisely control how microscopic wrinkles form as the film bends. By reshaping local mechanical stresses, the patterned boundaries guide wrinkle growth into both straight and curved domains while preserving the regular spacing responsible for structural color. This independent control over wrinkle orientation expands the film's optical capabilities. The enhanced wrinkle architecture translated directly into a broader optical response. The engineered films required only seven degrees of viewing-angle change to display the full visible color spectrum, compared with approximately thirty degrees for conventional wrinkle-based films. Distinct color changes also appeared with angular shifts as small as one degree, allowing substantially more optical information to be encoded within the same viewing range. To demonstrate these capabilities, the team fabricated a transparent security film featuring a hidden macaw image that appeared only when the film was bent. Unlike conventional wrinkle-based security films, which are visible only over a narrow range of viewing angles, the new design maintains clear image visibility and vivid structural colors across viewing angles from 0° to 90°. Each film also developed subtle variations in wrinkle branching, creating device-specific optical fingerprints that provide an additional layer of authentication beyond the visible security image. The films also showed excellent mechanical durability, maintaining stable wrinkle patterns and optical performance after 500 repeated bending cycles. “Instead of treating wrinkles as an unavoidable mechanical instability, we showed that they can be programmed through geometric design,” said Professor Kim. “By controlling wrinkle orientation while preserving wrinkle periodicity, we significantly broadened the optical response of wrinkle-based structural color films.” He added, "The approach could be applied to anti-counterfeiting technologies for banknotes, identification cards, luxury goods, and pharmaceutical packaging, while also providing a versatile platform for optical sensors and flexible display technologies." The findings were published in Advanced Functional Materials on June 25, 2026. Dr. Kaliannan Thiyagarajan and Sungjoon Ji from UNIST served as co-first authors of the study. The research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) and UNIST. Journal Reference Kaliannan Thiyagarajan, Sungjoon Ji, Jiseok Han, et al ., “Geometrically Programmed Wrinkle Architectonics for High Angle-Dependent Structural Coloration,” Adv. Funct. Mater. , (2026).

News

Fruto Lowers Barriers to Mental Health Support at UNIST

Originally introduced in 2024 as a digital health platform, Fruto has evolved into the primary gateway for campus mental health services at UNIST. A new study by researchers from UNIST and KAIST suggests that user-centered refinements to the platform fostered more positive attitudes toward seeking professional help and greater confidence in counseling, demonstrating the value of integrating digital health platforms with campus mental health services. Designed to promote the physical and mental well-being of the UNIST community, Fruto brings together self-screening tools, mental health information, counseling access, healthcare services, and campus program registration within a single mobile platform. Building on the original platform, the research team refined Fruto's mental health functions through a user-centered design process informed by student feedback. To evaluate those refinements, the researchers conducted a two-phase sequential mixed methods study in a real-world university counseling setting. The findings, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) , examined how a campus-integrated, multidomain digital platform performs within an existing university healthcare system rather than as a stand-alone mental health application. The first phase of the study involved vignette-based prototype sessions and semistructured interviews with students to explore how they interacted with an early version of the platform in realistic help-seeking scenarios. The sessions identified three key priorities for refinement: 1) Providing trusted and identifiable sources of information, 2) Creating a more seamless experience across platform features, and 3) Offering self-discovery content that felt more relatable to students. These insights guided subsequent improvements to the platform's interface and user experience. The second phase evaluated the refined platform over an eight-week period. With baseline, participants reported more positive help-seeking attitudes and counseling expectations after using Fruto. While the study found no significant changes in negative attitudes or counseling-related concerns, the findings suggest that campus-integrated, multidomain digital platforms can strengthen positive, approach-oriented beliefs toward professional mental health support. Unlike many digital mental health applications that focus on individual functions, such as self-screening or psychoeducation, Fruto integrates these services within a single platform while connecting students directly with the UNIST Healthcare Center, creating a more continuous pathway from self-assessment to professional care. The platform's role within the university has continued to expand alongside its refinement. During the first half of 2026, 122 of 155 first-time requests (78.7%) for mental health services at the UNIST Healthcare Center were submitted through Fruto, compared with 136 of 430 requests (31.6%) in 2025. Since the Healthcare Center adopted Fruto as its primary intake system in March 2026, the platform has become the principal entry point for campus counseling and psychiatric services. Since its launch, Fruto has registered 852 users, facilitated 589 counseling requests, and recorded 3,291 interactions, including self-screenings and use of mental health resources. In addition to improving access for students, the platform also supports appointment scheduling, counselor assignment, case management, and follow-up, helping streamline mental healthcare delivery at the UNIST Healthcare Center. The study was led by Professor Sang-Il Lee, Director of the UNIST Healthcare Center and faculty member in the School of Liberal Arts, together with graduate researchers Myungsung Kim, Hyorim Kim, Jeong-in Heo, and Orane Farrah Lahcine from the Graduate School of Medical Science; Professor Hwang Kim of the Department of Design at UNIST; and Research Professor Seonmi Lee and Professor Dooyoung Jung of KAIST. “Positive expectations about professional counseling are often the first step toward improving mental well-being,” said Professor Sangil Lee, Director of the UNIST Healthcare Center. “We hope Fruto continues to lower barriers to support by providing members of our university community with a trusted pathway to professional care.”