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Professor Nam-Gyu Park Awarded Germany’s Prestigious Humboldt Research Award

• -Selected by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, joining the ranks of the world’s top scholars
• -Recognized for outstanding achievements including the world’s first development of solid-state perovskite solar cells

▲Professor Nam-Gyu Park, School of Chemical Engineering and Polymer Engineering

Professor Nam-Gyu Park from the School of Chemical and Polymer Engineering has been selected as a recipient of the Humboldt Research Award, presented by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany. The award, which includes a prize of €80,000, is granted to internationally renowned researchers in the humanities, natural sciences, and engineering for their exceptional contributions. The prestige of the award is further underscored by the fact that 61 of its past recipients have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.

Professor Park is a pioneer in the development of third-generation solar cells using perovskite materials. He has consistently conducted research to improve the stability and efficiency of these materials. His work has significantly advanced the commercialization potential of perovskite solar cells and is considered a game-changer in the renewable energy market.

In 2023, Professor Park was also honored with the Eni Award in the Energy Frontiers category during the awards ceremony held in Rome, Italy, recognizing his global contributions to next-generation solar technology. Furthermore, he has been appointed as the first Distinguished Lifetime Chair Professor at our university—an honor that allows him to continue his research and mentor future scholars without the constraints of retirement.

Professor Park remarked, “I hope that more opportunities will be available for senior researchers to continue and expand their work without age-related limitations.”

President Jibeom Yoo stated, “This Humboldt Research Award not only highlights Professor Park’s individual achievements but also elevates our university’s academic standing on the global stage. His continued research is expected to make significant contributions to the advancement of sustainable energy technologies and to strengthening global research leadership.”

The official Humboldt Research Award ceremony will take place in March 2026 in Bamberg, Germany. Professor Park plans to further expand his international research collaborations and academic exchanges with German scholars as part of this recognition.