On November 24, Professor Sue-Yeon Chung, a distinguished scholar and former POSCO TJ Park Foundation Scholar, visited the Foundation ahead of her Harvard University appointment to personally express her gratitude. Professor Chung was a POSCO TJ Park Foundation Scholar from 2005 to 2009, during which she pursued undergraduate studies in physics and mathematics at Cornell University. She has since become a globally recognized researcher whose work spans applied mathematics, physics, and neuroscience. During her visit, she shared her academic journey, research focus, advice for junior scholars, and deep appreciation for the Foundation in an in-depth interview.

 

 

Q. Congratulations on your appointment as a faculty member at Harvard University. How do you feel about this new beginning?

I am truly delighted and grateful to start this new chapter at Harvard. It is a tremendous privilege to conduct research alongside outstanding students and colleagues. I am fully aware that I reached this point thanks to the support and collaboration of many people. I hope to repay their trust through meaningful research and to grow further as both a researcher and an educator.

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Q. Your research spans applied mathematics, physics, and neuroscience. Could you describe your current focus and recent achievements or future directions?

My research focuses on understanding how the brain represents and computes complex information from mathematical and physical perspectives. I particularly study how neural activity forms structured information and how these structures relate to learning, cognition, and decision-making.

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Recently, I developed a theoretical framework explaining how the brain identifies and uses common patterns across different behaviors. Applying this theory to AI models and neural data has yielded meaningful results. Moving forward, I aim to discover computational principles that connect neuroscience and AI, contributing both to understanding biological brain function and to developing efficient, interpretable AI models.

 

 

Q. Looking back, what was the most pivotal or memorable moment in your academic journey?

The most pivotal moment was starting my studies in the United States. Immersed in a new academic culture, I learned not just to accumulate knowledge but to define problems independently and explore them deeply. The freedom to question and explore helped me identify which problems sparked my curiosity and where I found meaning. Meeting people from diverse backgrounds broadened my perspective and gradually shaped my direction as a researcher. This shift in approach and perspective was the most important turning point in my growth.

 

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Q. As a POSCO TJ Park Foundation Scholar at Cornell University, how did the scholarship impact your academic and personal growth?

Being selected as a POSCO TJ Park Foundation Scholar was decisive in my journey. Without the Foundation’s support, studying abroad would have been difficult. The scholarship opened the path for me to learn and grow in the United States. Experiencing new academic and cultural environments became a major catalyst for personal and intellectual development, allowing me to shape my own career and research path. The scholarship was the essential starting point that shaped who I am today.

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Q. Studying abroad is often challenging at first. How did you overcome difficulties, and what motivated you?

Two key factors helped me. First, I had chosen to study in the U.S. after careful reflection, so I had confidence in my path and was not easily discouraged. Second, the trust and responsibility that came with being a POSCO TJ Park Foundation Scholar motivated me. Being selected recognized my potential, which was a great encouragement. I still remember meeting the Foundation’s founder, Honorary Chairman Park Tae-joon, and staff over lunch before starting my studies. Knowing that such individuals supported me inspired me and motivated me to meet their expectations. These two forces gave me the strength to overcome challenges and find my place in a new environment.

 

 

Q. What do you find most enjoyable and most challenging about academic research?

Research has two joys. One is discovering the inherent beauty of natural laws—finding simple principles behind complex phenomena is intellectually fulfilling. The other is seeing new understanding develop into practical applications, influencing methods, algorithms, and ways of interpreting biological and medical data. This highlights the connection between research and society.

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Challenges arise because research involves questions with no clear answers, often requiring prolonged effort. Repeated failures test one’s motivation, and persistence and patience are essential. Yet small advances accumulate, eventually leading to new understanding, which makes research intrinsically rewarding.

 

 

Q. What long-term goals do you hope to achieve as a scholar?

My long-term goal is to establish fundamental theoretical principles explaining brain function. Unlike physics, where well-established theories exist, neuroscience lacks universal principles explaining how brain signals form, interact, and result in diverse functions. Tools like fMRI help observe brain activity but do not reveal how signals are structured, processed, or evolve over time.

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I aim to develop precise, general theories describing neural signal representation, interaction, and dynamics. This understanding could elucidate normal brain function and structural or signal changes in brain disorders. My team is developing promising approaches and plans to expand this research. Training future generations of researchers and strengthening theoretical foundations are equally important. I hope these efforts contribute to a deeper and more systematic understanding of brain function principles.

 

 

Q. What advice do you have for junior POSCO TJ Park Foundation Scholars?​

In research, “which problems you choose and how deeply you pursue them” matters more than intelligence alone. Breakthroughs come from identifying unresolved, meaningful questions and shaping them into solvable problems. This skill develops through repeated questioning: “Why is this so? Why unresolved? What assumptions am I missing?”

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I did not begin with a predetermined field. By exploring small questions arising from classes and problems, I naturally found my research direction. I encourage students to examine small questions and understand their roots—this leads to discovering and solving meaningful problems. Being open to new experiences is vital, as inspiration often comes from unexpected classes, conversations, or research topics.

 

 

Q. Any message for the POSCO TJ Park Foundation?​

I deeply appreciate the Foundation not only for scholarships but for its enduring values and philosophy. The belief that nurturing talent through education benefits society has remained constant. I experienced this philosophy firsthand and hope many students will discover their potential through the Foundation. I aim to honor this philosophy through my research.

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Through my experience, I recognize how profoundly the Foundation can influence one’s life and career. I hope many future scholars encounter new opportunities through the Foundation and pursue their dreams to the fullest.