An online interview with Professor Aloysius Soon on how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping research paradigms in materials science
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ALOYSIUS SOON, PhD CSci FRSC FInstP
손 알로이시우스 alias dictus 손시우
Professor of Materials Theory & Design
Department of Materials Science & Engineering
College of Engineering, Yonsei University
Education and career
Chairman, Board of Directors, Council of ASEAN Professors in Korea (CAPK) 주한 아세안 교수 협의회, Republic of Korea (2024 – 2025)
Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP), UK (Since 2021)
Professor, Yonsei University, Republic of Korea (With tenure; Since 2020)
Associate Professor, Yonsei University, Republic of Korea (2015 – 2019)
Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), UK (Since 2018)
Chartered Scientist (CSci), Science Council, UK (Since 2014)
Visiting Research Fellow (Affiliate), University of Sydney, Australia (2013 – 2026)
Assistant Professor, Yonsei University, Republic of Korea (2010 – 2014)
Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow (2009)
Max Planck Postdoctoral Fellow (2008)
Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Germany
Advisor: Em. Professor Dr. Habil. Matthias SchefflerPhD (Physics), University of Sydney, Australia (2008)
Advisor: Professor Dr. Habil. Catherine Stampfl FAA FRSNMSc (1st Hons Div) (Chemistry), The University of Auckland, New Zealand (2005)
BSc (Hons) (Chemistry), The National University of Singapore, Singapore (2003)
I am a Full Professor (with tenure) in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering (신소재공학과) at Yonsei University (연세대학교) in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Prior to joining Yonsei, I was an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow in the former Theory Department (now the NOMAD Laboratory) at the Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in Berlin, Germany. From 2013 until early 2026, I also held a concurrent Visiting Research Fellow (Affiliate) appointment in the School of Physics at The University of Sydney in Australia, where I engaged in collaborative research in theoretical and computational materials physics. I have been elected a Fellow of both the Institute of Physics (FInstP, UK) and the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC, UK), and I am registered as a Chartered Scientist (CSci, UK).
My research focuses on the development and application of materials theory for modern-day technologies. My primary interest lies in the fundamental understanding of the surface-mediated chemistry and physics of materials, probed via novel first-principles computational methods (coupled with modern machine-learning methods). By applying state-of-the-art density-functional theory (DFT) calculations and the use of statistical and thermodynamic models, simulations of poly-atomic systems are used to understand and predict the structure and properties of solids and their surfaces which includes studying the interactions and reactions of molecules adsorbed on surfaces, and the energetics of defects on surfaces (as well as interfaces) and in the bulk.
Additionally, one of my other interests involves the development of new teaching methods designed to engage students in the disciplines of materials chemistry and physics, by helping individuals learn to think, analyze data, and communicate scientifically. At the undergraduate level, I actively mentor undergraduate students, engaging them in fundamental research at an early stage. Through such mentorship and actual hands-on experience, I hope to arm and equip students with the fundamental knowledge and skills they need to become fully functional materials scientists and engineers.
Links to research author identifiers:
Academic activities and achievements
Member of the Psi-k working group C4: Catalysis and Electrochemistry (including surfaces and interfaces) (2024 – 2029)
Chairman, Board of Directors, Council of ASEAN Professors in Korea (CAPK) 주한 아세안 교수 협의회, Republic of Korea (2024 – 2025)
Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP) (2021 – present)
NANOKOREA Organizing Committee Excellence Performance Award (2019)
2018 Yonsei University Research Excellence Award (2019)
Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC; Invited through the "Leader in the Field" scheme) (2018 – present)
Chartered Scientist (CSci; Science Council, UK) (2014 – present)
Visiting Academic, Department of Chemistry, The University of Bath (2014)
Visiting Research Fellow (Affiliate), School of Physics, The University of Sydney (2013 – 2026)
Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (2009 – 2010)
Max-Planck Postdoctoral Fellowship, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (2008 – 2009)
Associate editor, AI Agent, OAE (Open Access with Excellence) Publishers (2025 – present)
Editorial board member, AI Agent, OAE (Open Access with Excellence) Publishers (2025)
Associate editor, Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society, Springer Nature (2024 – present)
Editorial board member, Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society, Springer Nature (2019 – 2024)
Editorial board member, Communications Chemistry, Springer Nature (2023)
Editorial board member (Condensed Matter Physics Division), Scientific Reports, Springer Nature (2016 – 2022)
Peer-review referee for numerous international SCI scientific journals of Nature, American Physical Society, American Institute of Physics, American Chemical Society, Elsevier, Institute of Physics (UK), and the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)
Scientific reviewer: T.O.P. research grant, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) (Since 2015)
Scientific reviewer: Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) computational grant (Since 2015)
International Advisory Board member, Psi-k Conference 2025
International Advisory Board member, Track G - Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Methods for Accelerated Materials Discovery and Advancement (CIMTEC 2024)
International Scientific Committee Member, the 4th International Symposium on Hybrid Materials and Processing (HyMaP 2017)
International Scientific Committee Member, the 2nd International Conference of Young Researchers on Advanced Materials 2014 (IUMRS-ICYRAM 2014)
Invited reviewer: Australian Research Council (ARC) grants (Since 2013)
Referee: American Chemical Society (ACS) Petroleum Research Fund (Since 2011)
Wiley Science Advisor (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) (2011 – 2015)
Professional memberships and associations
Member of the INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS (IOP) (2021 – present)
Member of the ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY (RSC) (2013 – present)
Member of the MATERIALS RESEARCH SOCIETY (MRS) (2022 – 2023)
Member of the AMERICAN CERAMICS SOCIETY (ACerS) (2017 – 2020)
Member of the AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY (APS) (2011 – 2019)
Member of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (ACS) (2012 – 2019)
Invited full member of the AMERICAN NANO SOCIETY (ANS) (2011 – 2013)
Member of the Max Planck Alumni Association (Since 2010)
Member of the Humboldt Life Network (Since 2010)
Member of the DEUTSCHE PHYSIKALISCHE GESELLSCHAFT (DPG) (2008 – 2014)
Member of the AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH NETWORK OF ADVANCED MATERIALS (ARNAM) (Since 2005)
Member of the AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH NETWORK (ARCNN) (Since 2005)
Member of the AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS (AIP) (2005 – 2008)
Member of the NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCE (2005 – 2006)
Life member of the KOREAN CERAMICS SOCIETY (KCerS) (Since 2017)
Life member of the KOREAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS (KIChE) (Since 2011)
Life member of the MATERIALS RESEARCH SOCIETY OF KOREA (MRS-K) (Since 2010)
Life member of the KOREAN INSTITUTE OF METALS AND MATERIALS (KIM) (Since 2010)
Sub-committee member, Computational Materials Science Division (2013 – present)
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