Jiantao Zhang from Tokyo Institute of Technology
Joining CAMPUS Asia in KAIST is one of my best campus living and studying aboard experience.
The motivations behind my joining 2023 KAIST CAMPUS Asia program are mainly composed of two parts.
Firstly, my supervisor in KAIST, Prof. Kim, is one of the pioneering researcher in the field of fluid-structure interaction of elastic sheets, in which I have been doing my study. Participating in the program offered me an opportunity to join his lab and work under his instructions. To be more specific, studying and working with Prof. Kim allow me to get to known that how to possess a deep and forethoughtful insight on the front of the research on fluid physics and how to find the intriguing but important questions among it. Moreover, Applied Fluid Mechanics Laboratory is known for its high-quality but productive research work. Working with the students and colleagues in the laboratory help me unveil the mask of the management of a top-rate research group.
My second main reason to participate in the program is my curiosity of the relationships between young Korean researchers, such as newly graduate Ph.D. students, and the rapid growth of Korean economy. Korea is one of the most developed countries in Asia, despite of its small population and national area, which means a small size of domestic market, and relative lack of natural resources, it still holds a high GDP per capita (PPP) ranking, high than Israel and Japan. The primary contributions to Korean economy comes from high tech manufacture, such as integrated circuits and ship industries. Seizing this change, I am trying to figure out how is the role of young researchers play in the Korea economy, which may guide me plan my future career.
The whole program last for one month, which can be seen short, considering the normal period of a scientific project. The program itself is completely research-oriented, before which the research topic is decided based on the discussion with supervisor. In my case, the research is about wrinkling dynamics of retracting flexible sheet on a free surface, which combines the advantage of advanced experimental measurement and visualization techniques in Applied Fluid Mechanics Laboratory with the capability of my in-house code for simulation of fluid-structure interaction and my experience in modeling of various physical problems in this field. For students from all grades, from undergraduates to senior Ph.D., joining the program let them have access to socialize with other researches from different academia and cultural background. Except for conducting a research project during the program, it also kindly offers various approaches to the participants to get intrigued and familiarised with Korean culture. For example, it offers a free one-to-one basic Korean course once a week. Moreover, it provides a change to travel others places in Korea to know the local Korean life with fully financial supports.
It is no doubt the study of the fundamental knowledge of buckling dynamics of retracting elastic sheet on a free surface and updated scientific discoveries in literature help progress my research. Besides that, I have known much interesting facts or phenomena about the education system and new graduate job marketing information, which broadens my sights on a multiculturalism and may also holds an effect on my decision on future path options. As I have heard before I visited Korea, the whole Korea values the significance of education. It is reflected not only by its fierce competitions in selection in educational system but also in the high quality of students produced from this system. The students shows good level of physical and mathematical skills and English communications, which are all the prerequisites for scientific research. In graduate schools in both China and Korea, it seems that universities take on more responsibilities of research which generates new knowledge instead of education where old knowledge is taught. Regarding to the job market of new Ph.D. graduate in STEM, there are some similarities and dissimilarities between the three countries, China, Japan and Korea, in east Asia that in recent year both industries of information technology and consulting have became the prior choice for new graduate in Japan and Korea while in China manufacture in electronic devices and electric vehicle is their option. On the other hand, there is no attraction in salary in Japanese companies that basically Ph.D. employees are treated same as employees who only have Master degrees while Ph.D. graduate have earn their reputations both in the payment and in fame in society.
The part of the program that I like most is the fruitful preparation of all events during my stay in the program and its special organization with humanity and personal style. Several different events are arranged along the whole duration of the program, they brought much more tastes and flavors in the campus life apart from the sole research life. Otherwise, it could just be as same as before the exchange program that only the place of the conduction of research is changed. Moreover, it is sincerely grateful that the Campus Asia office and the coordinator put invaluable effort and energy on the organizations of all the event with a warm, comfortable and interesting atmosphere. All the events could have just been like a routine without any feeling, it is because of the meticulous preparation from office where the connections between people were seen everywhere that made all the segments so different and unforgettable. This is exact the reason I like and enjoy the whole program. The stablishment of connect and collaboration between me and Prof. Kim in Applied Fluid Mechanics Laboratory through this program guided me into a new research field of wrinkling dynamics of elastic sheet floating on compliant substrate which is novel and intriguing. Through this program, I intimately appreciate the strengths and advantages of research and development both in academia and industries which make Korea an appealing destination to seek future career potentially.