Heon Park

Dr. Park joined Western Michigan University as an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering in 2024. He majored in chemical engineering and life science at POSTECH (Korea) and pursued his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in polymer science and engineering at the Department of Chemical Engineering at McGill University (Canada). At McGill, he developed a unique system for studying the effects of pressure, temperature, shear rate, and dissolved supercritical fluids on polymer physics. He continued his research in the same lab as a research associate, expanding his fields to include polymer chemistry, polymer processing, and the behavior of inorganic materials.
 

Dr. Park then worked at Samsung-BP Chemicals as Chief Scientist and Senior Manager, where he led a research team in developing functional polymers from bench to pilot scales. He also designed a Class 1 cleanroom for pilot-scale facilities to synthesize optical polymers and cast films, which can be used in the next generation of electronic displays such as LCDs or OLEDs. He furthered his research at the University of Vermont in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Medicine as a Postdoctoral Associate, developing medical sealants and artificial lungs utilizing his diverse scientific background and experience. Before joining WMU, Dr. Park served as a faculty member in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, where he continued to expand and deepen his research.

He is a versatile researcher with a profound background in life science, physics, and chemical engineering. His academic journey has been a voyage into the intricate realms of multidisciplinary research. The aim of his research is to understand the “structure-state-property” relationship and to develop advanced materials based on this understanding. His research focuses on three key directions and corresponding objectives:

• Developing materials and processes that promote sustainability across diverse applications.
• Engineering novel polymers tailored for groundbreaking biomedical applications to improve healthcare outcomes through innovation.
• Creating advanced scientific instruments and protocols for the precise and accurate characterization of polymers, pushing the boundaries of our understanding in this field.

These objectives encapsulate his dedication to expanding the boundaries of knowledge, pushing the frontiers of materials science, and making meaningful contributions to both academic and societal realms. He also possesses unique expertise in characterizing polymer properties at high pressure using the system he developed. He has collaborated extensively with distinguished scientists and engineers worldwide, including partnerships with prominent organizations such as Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil, BASF, and Samsung. He has also been successful in securing significant government research funding, with notable achievements such as leading a $4 million project focused on functional optical films for next-generation LCDs and OLEDs and filing eight patents based on novel synthesis and composite film manufacturing technologies while working at Samsung-BP Chemicals.

Teaching has always been a passion of his, and his commitment to education is reflected in his diverse roles as a supervisor, mentor, teacher, and education coordinator. He has completed two graduate level of programs: Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching at the University of Canterbury and Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language at McGill University, equipping him with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to excel in university teaching. Over the years, he has taught and developed six different courses, consistently achieving high teaching evaluations. He also utilizes unique yet effective pedagogies in his classes, pursuing holistic education by helping students acquire technical knowledge.