Professor Chulhwan Park of Kwangwoon University Receives Two Prestigious Awards from the Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering
– Honored with the Outstanding Technology Research Award for Developing an Integrated Platform for Functionalized Bioactive Natural Product Derivatives and Sustainable Biomanufacturing –
– Receives the BBE Outstanding Research Award in Recognition of His Contributions to the Advancement of the International Journal Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering –
Professor Chulhwan Park of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Kwangwoon University received both the Outstanding Technology Research Award and the BBE Outstanding Research Award at the general assembly of the 2026 Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (KSBB) Fall Meeting and International Symposium, held at the International Convention Center Jeju from September 30 to October 2, 2026.
The Outstanding Technology Research Award, presented by the Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (KSBB), was established to promote technological innovation in biotechnology and encourage the commercialization of research outcomes. The award recognizes society members who have made significant contributions to the development and industrial application of outstanding technologies. For the second half of 2026, only one recipient was selected from among academic researchers, with Professor Park receiving this prestigious honor.
The award-winning technology, titled “Integrated Platform Technology for Functionalized Derivatives of Bioactive Natural Products and Sustainable Biomanufacturing,” represents the culmination of Professor Park's research on developing environmentally friendly biocatalytic synthesis and high-value-added production platforms for next-generation bioactive natural product derivatives. His work is based on advanced bioprocessing technologies that utilize microorganisms and enzymes.
In particular, Professor Park has demonstrated new possibilities for sustainable biomanufacturing through the development of novel functional compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities, advanced functional biomaterials, and environmentally friendly synthesis processes using biocatalysts. He has also secured domestic and international patents and intellectual property rights covering novel bioactive natural product derivatives, biocatalyst-based synthesis technologies, eco-friendly manufacturing processes, and synthesis kits. Furthermore, he has developed a wide range of functional biomaterials, including naringin and puerarin derivatives, expanding their potential applications in functional foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and biomaterials.
In addition to the Outstanding Technology Research Award, Professor Park received the BBE Outstanding Research Award at the same conference, recognizing his achievements in both technological innovation and academic research. The BBE Outstanding Research Award is presented to researchers who have contributed to the academic advancement and international reputation of Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering (BBE), an international scientific journal in the field of biotechnology. Professor Park was selected for his contributions to the journal's development, supported by his extensive research activities in industrial biotechnology.
Professor Park continues to conduct research in advanced biotechnology and industrial biotechnology. Recently, he has expanded his research interests to include the production of composite materials using functional bioactive substances. He also contributes to academic exchange and the development of the research community through his active involvement in professional societies, serving on the editorial boards of international and domestic academic journals and as Executive Director for General Affairs of KSBB.
To date, Professor Park has published 299 SCI(E)-indexed journal articles and 57 papers in domestic academic journals, registered 57 patents, and delivered 430 academic presentations. According to Google Scholar, his research has accumulated 13,019 citations, with an h-index of 55 and an i10-index of 236, demonstrating the international impact of his scholarly work.
Professor Park has received numerous awards from KSBB in recognition of his contributions to biotechnology research and academic activities. These include the Young Scientist Award in 2012, the Damyeon Academic Award in 2014, the Biotechnology Academic Promotion Award in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024, and the Beyond Cell Academic Award in 2023. He also received a Commendation from the Administrator of the Rural Development Administration in 2024 and the BGE Academic Award in 2025, reflecting his continued contributions to academic and industrial advancement in biotechnology.
In addition, Professor Park was named among the World's Top 2% Scientists in the career-long impact category in 2025, according to the list jointly released by Stanford University and Elsevier.
The Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering is one of South Korea's leading academic organizations in the field of biotechnology, bringing together researchers and industry professionals. Through academic conferences, international scholarly exchanges, and industry collaboration, the society promotes scientific progress and industrial development in biotechnology. Professor Park currently serves as KSBB's Executive Director for General Affairs, actively contributing to the society's operations and the promotion of academic exchange.
