Junghwan Byun
Humboldt Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Physical Intelligence Department
​Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems
Visiting Research Scientist, Soft Hybrid Materials Research Center
Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)

Hi! I am Junghwan Byun, a postdoctoral scholar in the Physical Intelligence Department at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems working with Prof. Metin Sitti. I completed my Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Seoul National University (advisor: Prof. Yongtaek Hong). After the Ph. D. study, I joined the Soft Robotics Research Center (SRRC) at Seoul National University and worked with Prof. Kyu-Jin Cho to study bioinspired design and novel shape morphing/locomotion of soft robots. Currently, I moved to the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, Germany, and study soft microscale robotics and architectures. Concurrently, I am holding an additional position as a visiting research scientist in the Soft Hybrid Materials Research Center at Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) hosted by Dr. Seungjun Chung for in vivo studies of biomedical microrobots and related projects.

My research focuses on exploring the most advanced design and functionalities of cutting-edge robot systems to solve challenges in energy, environment, and human health, based on the multidisciplinary, integrated strategy of architected materials, bioinspired design, soft electronics, soft robotics, and microrobotics.

​Curriculum Vitae
Google Scholar

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​Education

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Seoul National University, South Korea (with Prof. Yongtaek Hong)
B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
​Seoul National University, South Korea

2017

​2011

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Academic Experience

Visiting Research Scientist
Soft Hybrid Materials Research Center
Korea Institute of Scientist and Technology (with Dr. Seungjun Chung)
Humboldt Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Physical Intelligence Department
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems​, Germany (with Prof. Metin Sitti)
Postdoctoral Researcher
Soft Robotics Research Center
​Seoul National University, South Korea (with Prof. Kyu-Jin Cho)

2022.11.-present


​2020.09-present

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​2017-2020

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Honors and Awards

Humboldt Postdoc Fellowship, A. Humboldt Foundation, Germany
Postdoc Fellowship for Basic Science Research Program, NRF Korea
​Best Academic Development Award, Printed Electronics USA
DOYEON Award, Seoul National University
Distinguished Ph. D. Thesis Award, Seoul National University
Best Poster Award, IWFPE
Best Poster Award, IMID
Korean Government Scholarship

2021-2023
​2020-2021
2017
​2017
2017
​2016
2015
​2007-2010

Recent News and Updates:

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June 2021

​Mar 2021

​Mar 2021

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​Nov 2020

Sep 2020


​May 2020

My paper is issued in Advanced Materials Technologies as a front cover article.

​My paper on swimming leaf is accepted in Science Robotics ! See the Video Clip.

​My paper on 4D printing of continuous shape representation is accepted in Advanced Materials Technologies !

​I got awarded a Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers!

I joined the Physical Intelligence Department of Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (Director: Prof. Metin Sitti) as a postdoctoral researcher.

I got awarded a Postdoc Fellowship for Basic Science Research Program from the NRF Korea!