Professor Baek Min-kyung of the Department of Biological Sciences at Seoul National University, who was selected as a 15th POSCO Science Fellow in 2023, has been awarded the APEC Aspire Prize. The Aspire Prize is presented to a single young scientist under the age of 40 who has achieved innovative research outcomes through international cooperation within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region. Each year, only one recipient is chosen through a vote among the 21 member economies. This marks the first time in ten years that a Korean has received the award, following Professor Kuk Jong-seong of Seoul National University in 2015, who was recognized for his research on El Niño prediction models. The prize comes with an award of USD 25,000 (approximately KRW 33 million).

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According to the Ministry of Science and ICT and the APEC Policy Partnership for Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI), the theme of this year’s Aspire Prize was “AI and Bio Convergence: AI-powered Inclusive Biotechnology for Addressing Societal Challenges.” Professor Baek was a key researcher in the development of RoseTTAFold, an AI protein structure prediction program created in collaboration with Professor David Baker of the University of Washington, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry last year. Protein structure prediction is a crucial field that underpins the understanding of diseases and the entire process of developing new drugs and therapies. However, experimental analysis of protein structures can take months or even decades. Professor Baek has been recognized for her groundbreaking contribution in using AI to decode individual protein structures quickly and accurately, thereby opening new frontiers in drug discovery. She is currently collaborating with LG AI Research to develop models for predicting multiple conformational states of proteins.

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The POSCO TJ Park Foundation selects promising young professors engaged in basic sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry, and life sciences) as well as applied sciences (metals & materials and energy materials) at universities and research institutes in Korea—not abroad—and provides research grants of up to KRW 100 million over two years. In particular, the program offers crucial support for early-career assistant professors who, with limited external funding, are just beginning to establish their independent research and experiments. The fellowship has become a well-recognized gateway for emerging scientists in Korea. The POSCO TJ Park Foundation will continue to encourage and support young scientists so they can lead Korea to become a global scientific powerhouse and, ultimately, achieve Nobel Prize-level accomplishments.

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