Incheon National University Professor Myung-Ji Seo Receives Progress Award for Shinsong Special Academic Award at KMB

Professor Myung-Ji Seo of the Division of Bioengineering at Incheon National University received the "Shinsong Special Academic Award: Progress Award" at the 53rd Annual Meeting and International Symposium of the Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (KMB), held at the Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in Gyeongju from June 24 (Wed) to 26 (Fri). The award is presented to researchers who have made significant contributions to industrial development in the field of food science and related basic and applied sectors.

Professor Seo has demonstrated outstanding research capabilities in developing next-generation core biomaterials through active research in fields such as food microbiology, genome mining, biological chemistry, and precision fermentation engineering. In particular, she has led industrialization efforts by exhibiting exceptional expertise in developing health-functional food materials, including antioxidant-based carotenoid natural pigments and anti-diabetic functional iminosugar materials. Through these accomplishments, Professor Seo has contributed substantially to academic and industrial advancement across the entire spectrum of food science, from foundational principles to practical applications.

Professor Seo stated, "This award was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of the students in the Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory within the Division of Bioengineering at Incheon National University. Moving forward, I will continue research on developing health-functional food materials using microorganisms. Furthermore, I aim to strengthen research capabilities in developing and producing innovative functional biomaterials and driving their commercialization to consistently pursue practical material research that benefits the general public."

Meanwhile, founded in 1973, the Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (KMB) is a leading academic society in South Korea dedicated to microbiology and biotechnology. KMB promotes and disseminates theories and technologies in microbiology, biotechnology, and related interdisciplinary fields, contributing to industry-academic cooperation and the advancement of scientific literacy among the public through the promotion of academic and technological progress.