Home > National > K-campus

Science Ministry selects Sejong Science Fellowship second round researchers

Published: 13 Apr. 2026, 18:29 Updated: 14 Apr. 2026, 15:55

YOON SEUNG-JIN
[email protected]

Kim Seong-soo, the director general for research and development policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, left, and Scott Millard, IonQ’s chief brand officer, sign a memorandum of understanding between the ministry and IonQ on Jan. 29. The ministry announced on April 13 that it has selected 230 domestic and international researchers for an additional round of the Sejong Science Fellowship. [MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND ICT]

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced Monday that it has selected 230 domestic and international researchers for an additional round of the Sejong Science Fellowship, an initiative aimed at attracting global experts through research funding.

For this year's edition, the ministry introduced a new Return and Recruitment Track, which will provide 200 researchers currently based abroad with 130 million won ($87,400) each over five years. Through this track, a total of 107 domestic and 93 international researchers from 29 countries will either return to or relocate to Korea to carry out research projects.

Selected projects include one focused on developing bioengineered, implantable uterine wall–like structures for regeneration of reproductive function, led by Tugce Sen, a Turkish researcher at Postech, and another on identifying structurally elusive proteins using an AI-based analysis, led by Cameron Gilchrist, an Australian researcher at Korea Basic Science Institute.

According to the ministry, 30 researchers were chosen for a separate program dubbed the Overseas Training Track, which enables participants to train at leading global research institutions while receiving 70 million won ($47,000) in funding. The ministry had already selected 300 domestic researchers for the program’s local track in March.

Launched in 2021, the Sejong Science Fellowship is a flagship program designed to support outstanding postdoctoral researchers and non-tenure-track faculty by providing a stable research environment and helping them transition into independent researchers.

“The Sejong Science Fellowship supports postdoctoral researchers in taking their first steps as principal investigators, enabling them to fully demonstrate their capabilities,” said Yoon Kyung-sook, director-general for the ministry's Basic Research Policy.

“We will continue to provide comprehensive support, including improvements to the research environment, so that talented young researchers from Korea and abroad can focus on their work and achieve world-class results,” Yoon added.

BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [[email protected]]