Dr. Wonyong Choi is a distinguished leader in environmental chemistry and photocatalysis research with significant contributions to sustainable energy technologies. He currently serves as Director and Distinguished Professor for Environmental & Climate Technology at Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH), where he established the Institute for Environmental and Climate Technology as its inaugural director in 2022. Prior to this, he spent 24 years as a professor in the Division of Environmental Science and Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), where he was appointed as Namgo Chair Professor in 2012. Dr. Choi received his B.S. with honors in Engineering from Seoul National University in 1988, followed by an M.S. in Chemistry from POSTECH in 1990, and completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology in 1996.
Dr. Choi's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced the field of semiconductor photo(electro)catalysis, particularly in the development and application of TiO2 nanoparticles for environmental remediation and energy conversion. His seminal work on photocatalytic degradation of chlorinated organic pollutants, conducted under Michael R. Hoffmann at Caltech, laid the foundation for numerous applications in water purification and air treatment technologies. With over 81,000 citations according to Google Scholar, his research has had substantial impact across environmental science and engineering disciplines. Dr. Choi's work extends to solar fuels, advanced oxidation processes, and photochemical conversion systems, establishing him as a leading authority in harnessing light energy for sustainable environmental solutions.
As Editor-in-Chief of ACS ES&T Engineering, Dr. Choi shapes the discourse in environmental science and technology, while his leadership of the Leading Researcher Project funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea demonstrates his continued influence in directing national research priorities. He has been recognized with numerous prestigious honors including election as a Member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (2013), Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2014), and Member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea (2023). Dr. Choi's Presidential Young Scientist Award in 2005 highlighted his early promise, which has since been realized through decades of transformative research. His laboratory at KENTECH continues to explore novel photocatalytic materials and systems with enhanced efficiency for practical environmental applications. Currently at KENTECH, he continues to pioneer innovative approaches to address pressing climate and environmental challenges through cutting-edge photocatalytic technologies.
