Dr.Kim's BioSketch in Reserach & Education
BACKGROUND: Young Kim is a 10+ year expert in sustainable packaging with experience in bioplastics, smart packaging, biosensor, and nano-composite structure for food and health care products. Kim graduated from Clemson University majoring in the Packaging Science and joined the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials at 2010 as a co-founder of the packaging B.S. degree program. He teaches classes in packaging materials (paper, corrugated and packaging polymers) and their application focusing on interaction with food and health care products. On the last several years, he has been serving as a primary advisor of the packaging student club. Under his guidance, the student club is currently planning to host the 1st packaging career fair soon.
RESEARCH: Kim and his research team have focused on developing new packaging materials, composites, and their structure and functionality using a variety of natural or synthetic polymers, and functional and active agents derived from biomaterials. Current work includes the study of composite structures with nanomaterials such as carbon-based nanomaterials or other inorganic nanomaterials. Recently, Kim has filed patent applications in the area of isolation and utilization of biopolymeric materials from agricultural wastes, under the concept of Zero waste production, for applications in packaging systems. For examples, nano-cellulose based forms, capable of replacing the existing traditional plastic form, and biopolymeric films enhanced with gas barrier properties have been successfully fabricated. These projects have been funded by USDA-NIFA and private packaging industry sectors. Furthermore, Kim’s team is working on light-weight, high-performance hybrid packaging materials between plastic and natural fibers.
Kim is interested in the following areas for future research and education:
- Bioplastic coating, lamination or composite with paper-based packaging materials
- High gas/water barrier biopolymeric packaging materials using inexpensive nano-carbon materials
- Biodegradable form derived from natural polymers and fibers to replace a traditional plastic form
- Biodegradable or edible film in food packaging application using natural biopolymers such as lignin, cellulose and other polysaccharides.
- Light-weight fiber-reinforced pallet packaging materials
- Undergraduate research intern program in his lab environment
- Student Co-op and internship programs with industries
- Student Career service via career fair and national packaging events
