Kwang J. KimKwang J. Kim
Professor and Chair
ASME Fellow

Ph.D. 1992, MS 1989, Arizona State University
BS 1987, Yonsei University, Korea

Phone: (775) 784-7522
Fax: (775) 784-1701
Office: Palmer Engineering, Room 200
E-mail: kwangkim@unr.edu
Website: http://wolfweb.unr.edu/homepage/kwangkim/
Address: Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, MS 312; University of Nevada, Reno; Reno, NV 89557

Research areas

  • Electroactive polymers (artificial muscle) and active materials, energy systems, and nanotechnology.

Relevant past experience

  • Extensive experience in leading R&D projects funded by NSF, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Office of Naval Research, U.S. Air Force, Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, U.S. Army, NASA, GRI, the State of Nevada, and private industry.

Awards and Honors

  • Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 2007.
  • Lemelson Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Nevada, Reno, College of Engineering, 2006.
  • “Yang-Song” Poster Award, Spring 2005 Korea Ceramic Society Conf. (D.Y. Lee, M.H. Lee, K.J. Kim, S.J. Lee), 2005.
  • International Research Fellow, Artificial Muscle Research Center, Konkuk University, S. Korea, 2004-2006.
  • Best Paper Award, ASME International, AES/HPD (G. Lloyd, A. Razani, K. Kim, and T. Feldman) 1997.
  • Member, Editorial Board--Smart Materials, Structures and Systems (Book Series), 2008-present.
  • Member, The Nevada Southwest Energy Partnership (NSWEP) Board, 2004-present.

Career Overview

Kwang J. (Jin) Kim is Professor and Chair of the Mechanical Engineering (ME) Department and Director of Active Materials and Processing Laboratory (AMPL) and Advanced Energy Laboratory (AEL) at University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). He graduated from Yonsei University, Korea, in 1987 and received his MS and Ph.D. from Arizona State University (ASU) in 1989 and 1992, respectively.  Later, he conducted a postdoctoral study at the University of Maryland-College Park UMCP) (1993-1995).  His industrial experience includes Senior Research Engineer at Thermal Electric Devices, Inc. (1995-1997) and Chief Scientist at Environmental Robots, Inc. (1997-2001), Albuquerque NM.  Also, he was an adjunct professor of the University of New Mexico (1996-2001). He joined as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering faculty at UNR in 2001, becoming a full professor within six years in 2007. In 2007 he was elected to serve as the chair of the ME department at UNR.  His research interests are in a broad spectrum of Active Materials/ Sensors and (Renewable) Energy Systems. He has authored/ co-authored over 200 technical papers including 95 refereed journal papers.  His research work is well versed in the literature (ISI citations > 800 times as of 2008).  He published two books in connection with electroactive polymers entitled “Electroactive Polymers for Robotic Application: Artificial Muscles and Sensors,” and "Artificial Muscles: Applications of Advanced Polymeric Nano-Composites” and holds two U.S. patents.