Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) is strengthening support for outstanding researchers across the entire research career and continuing its efforts to advance into the global Top 100. It plans to systematically develop so-called 'star professors' by selecting outstanding researchers at each career stage, from assistant professor to post-retirement.

On the 20th, JBNU announced that it had designated 19 faculty members with outstanding research achievements as 'Fellows' and held an awards ceremony. This selection was carried out as part of establishing a support system for outstanding researchers across the entire research career.

Outstanding researchers were classified as 'JBNU Young Fellow' for those within five years of appointment; 'JBNU Fellow' for associate professors and those within five years of promotion; 'JBNU Star Fellow' for professors from five years after promotion up to age 60; and 'JBNU Distinguished Professor' for those aged 61 and above and post-retirement.

The university said it selected eight scholars in the humanities, social sciences, and arts and physical education fields, and ten in the natural sciences, after a three-stage review that evaluated research performance—such as publication records, relative citation index, patents and Technology Transfer—and the suitability of research plans.

'JBNU Star Fellow' includes Professors Kim Hye-young (Department of Nursing), Yang Eun-seok (Department of Philosophy), Yoon Young-sang (Division of Chemical Engineering), and Baek Ki-tae (Division of Civil, Environmental, Resources and Energy Engineering).

'JBNU Fellow' includes Professors No Ju-hee (Department of Nursing), Shin Hee-young (Department of Psychology), Hwang Won-sik (Faculty of Economics), Kim Nam-hoon (Department of Nano Convergence Engineering), Park Chan-hee (Division of Mechanical Design Engineering), Tayara Hiral (School of International Engineering and Sciences), and Jang Jeom-seok (Division of Biotechnology).

'JBNU Young Fellow' includes Professors Lee Seung-ho (Department of Spanish and Latin American Studies), Yoon Kyung-hwan (Department of International Trade), Lee Seom-gyun (Department of Sport Science), Yoo Il-hwan (Department of Rural Construction Engineering), Lee Tae-hoon (Division of Advanced Materials Engineering), Hwang Guk-hwa (Division of Civil, Environmental, Resources and Energy Engineering), and Lee Chang-hoon (Division of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Section).

In addition, JBNU plans to support continued research activity after retirement by appointing Professor Yoon Myung-sook of the Department of Social Welfare as a JBNU Distinguished Professor.

At the awards ceremony, selected professors received research funding per project, along with a nameplate and plaque symbolizing their status as JBNU's representative scholars, and a 'JBNU Fellow Box'.

President Yang O-bong said, 'To lead regional innovation and balanced national growth, it is important to pursue challenging research, education innovation based on future new technologies, and to build a system for nurturing talent linked to local industry,' adding, 'I hope the faculty's passion and efforts will serve as the foundation for further dynamically developing the university's academic organizational culture.'