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“After graduating from UST, my life in Korea was possible thanks to the Link U program.”
Date
2021-01-28
Views
2,488
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A Conversation with Alumni

“The Link U program has been of great help to join a Korean company.”

Muhammad Sohail alumnus (Doctoral program, UST-Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) Campus, New Energy, and Systems Engineering major, graduated in February 2020, currently working at VINATech)

Last fall, UST launched a new program called Link U. It connects the employment of excellent UST international students to Korean companies that want to enter the overseas market. It's great news for companies that want to show their potential in overseas markets by hiring foreign R&D talent and UST international students who want to work at Korean companies. Muhammad Sohail, the alumnus, whom I met through this interview, participated in this program and joined VINATech. He graduated from the UST-KIER campus in February this year and started working right away, so he is a newcomer to the company.

Time at UST, which was indeed a tremendous experience

Sohail alumnus is someone who knows the importance of experience. He came to Korea hoping to experience a high-quality research environment', and while he was studying for a master's course at Ulsan University and a doctoral course at the UST-KIER campus, there was no negligence in his life. He knew that only experience would be the driving force that would never disappear in reaching his goals.

“My research field focuses on new materials for energy storage and environmental applications. In the meantime, I have researched synthesizing Ti-based metal-organic skeletons with very high water absorption in waste heat conversion systems. Also, Mn-MOF-based Electrodes have improved capacitance and cyclic stability. Based on this, my goal is to develop efficient and eco-friendly energy devices in the future.”

His efforts soon led to results. Sohail alumnus has published 10 SCI research papers during his doctoral studies, and some are under review. He has also contributed to three patent applications. Through this, he participated several times in domestic and international conferences and was recognized for his achievements. He received the Best Paper Award from NANO Korea and Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology in 2017 and the Best Oral Presentation Award at the Fall General Assembly of the Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers in 2018. In 2020, He received the Best Thesis Award from UST.

One day in 2019, ahead of graduation in February 2020, Sohail alumnus was deeply troubled because the time has come when he has to plan what country to live in, where, and what to do. He came to Korea and studied at graduate school, but he gained substantial research experience, but the weight of his worries was never light. Instead, the weight of his worries would have been heavier than anyone else. It is challenging for international students to find employment and settle in a Korean company. Then he, like fate, got to know the Link U program.

“The thing that touched me the most while attending UST is that UST plans and provides excellent programs to students. Overseas training support programs and Korean language education programs are also beneficial, but the Link U program was the greatest help for me. This is a program unique to UST that cannot be found in other universities."

After graduating from UST, Sohail alumnus, who wanted to join a Korean company to gain research experience and contribute to energy products development, wanted to know company information. It wasn't easy from the start. For him, who lacks Korean, even finding company information was not easy. In the meantime, he applied for the Link U program to work for VINATech, a global business company based in Jeonju. Since the Link U program has an agreement with companies that wants to hire foreign R&D personnel, the process of selecting applicants, screening documents, and interviewing can be done quickly. Link U program currently has agreements with 7 companies, including VINATech, Lotte Central Research Institute, OSStem Implant, and Enzychem Lifescience. It is said that it plans to enter into agreements with various companies and research institutes in the future.

“Before I started working at VINATech, I was able to get much additional support from UST, including business etiquette training. This is a beneficial part because it can be applied usefully to work.”

Journey to Develop 'Efficient and Eco-friendly Energy Devices'

VINATech is a company that develops energy storage devices and leads the eco-friendly future business. Exports account for 90% of corporate sales, so activities in overseas markets significantly impact corporate growth. So, the company has constantly been looking for talented people to discover unexplored overseas markets, and Sohail alumnus, who was hired through the Link U program, fits perfectly.

“Currently, I am working as a researcher in the R&D department developing high-temperature supercapacitors. VINATech manufactures supercapacitor products for next-generation automobiles, communication equipment, IoT, and industrial equipment for the world's leading companies. In the future, I would like to adapt well to VINATech and grow into a researcher who can help in product development.”

His goal is to 'develop efficient and eco-friendly energy devices for social development.' His experience and efforts that he has accumulated so far and will accumulate in the future will be the energy to achieve his goals. During that time, UST and UST's Link U program played an important role. For Sohail alumnus, who aims to make this world a better place, UST is always called 'happiness.' At the end of the interview, Sohail alumnus once again recalled his time at UST.

“I don't know how wonderful a time I had at UST. It was terrific from the first day. UST's balanced academic process, research-based projects, and advanced research methodology motivated me to apply for a ph.D. I think it's one of the best decisions for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the UST life. Among them, I was most happy when my research result was recognized by domestic and international academic societies and UST. I want to take this opportunity to thank Professor Kim Hyunwook. During my ph.D, the professor's support was a great help to me.”