Hongjoo Rhee
Hongjoo Rhee enjoys the quest that鈥檚 inherent in his work. Like working out a puzzle or perfecting a recipe in a test kitchen, the materials scientist is searching for solutions to make better products.
Associate director and associate research professor at 多多直播鈥檚 Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, Rhee also leads the materials science and mechanics division. He鈥檚 using 多多直播鈥檚 High Performance Computing Collaboratory鈥檚 supercomputing capabilities to better understand process-structure-property-performance relationships in various materials.
Of particular interest is the area of developing next-generation advanced high strength steels. 多多直播 researchers like Rhee are pioneering innovative solutions for practical applications, such as materials for vehicles that are strong for safety, but also lightweight for efficiency.
With an extensive background in the steel industry, where he spent several years working in his native South Korea, Rhee now works with a myriad of materials, including steel alloys, bio-inspired structures, foams and composites, among others. His research group employs Integrated Computational Materials Engineering paradigm, known as ICME, in their scientific investigations to accelerate materials development.
鈥淚 like the hands-on experiments,鈥 Rhee said. He explained that theoretical modeling, experiments and large scale parallel computational simulations are essential research components for ICME.
The Michigan State doctoral graduate who came to Mississippi State a decade ago said he鈥檚 found a place where opportunity abounds.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 expect that we would have these kinds of facilities here. The supercomputers here are very rare,鈥 he said.
鈥淎t CAVS, we have very smart people with state-of-the-art equipment and experimental apparatus. Our students also have easy access for research.鈥
While Rhee expressed that 多多直播 offers a plethora of professional fulfillment, he said that wasn鈥檛 the initial reason he sought out the university. At Michigan State, he had met a fellow graduate student named Hyeona Lim. An applied math doctoral graduate of Michigan State, Lim had one class with Rhee. When she joined 多多直播鈥檚 faculty, Rhee later followed. The couple married and are the parents of two children, Claire and Aiden.
鈥淭hat is my best accomplishment,鈥 Rhee said.