Prof. Dr. Hee Taek Kim | Biobased Chemicals | Best Researcher Award
Associate Professor | Chungnam National University | South Korea
Prof. Dr. Hee Taek Kim is an accomplished researcher and academic in the field of food science, biotechnology, and sustainable chemistry, with a strong focus on biopolymers, metabolic engineering, and plastic upcycling. He obtained his B.S. in Food Biosciences and Technology (2007), M.S. in Food Science (2009), and Ph.D. in Biotechnology (2012), all from Korea University under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Kyoung Heon Kim. His professional journey includes early roles as a teaching assistant and researcher at Korea University, followed by international exposure as a research fellow at the National University of Singapore. He further advanced his career as a senior researcher at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, where he contributed significantly to the Research Center for Biobased Chemistry, before joining Chungnam National University in 2021 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology. Dr. Kim’s scholarly impact is evident through highly cited publications in leading journals such as ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Metabolic Engineering, and Biotechnology Journal, with research contributions focusing on biological valorization of plastic waste, enzymatic processes, and sustainable alternatives to petrochemical-based polymers. His work on microbial polyesters and enzymatic production of bioactive compounds demonstrates both scientific innovation and practical application. With a research vision aligned with global sustainability challenges, Dr. Kim continues to advance solutions that bridge academic excellence with real-world environmental needs. His career reflects a blend of rigorous academic training, impactful research, and a forward-looking commitment to addressing global issues through biotechnology and sustainable food science.
Featured Publications
Kim, H. T., Kim, J. K., Cha, H. G., Kang, M. J., Lee, H. S., Khang, T. U., Yun, E. J., Lee, D. H., … (2019). Biological valorization of poly (ethylene terephthalate) monomers for upcycling waste PET. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 7(24), 19396–19406.
Choi, S. Y., Rhie, M. N., Kim, H. T., Joo, J. C., Cho, I. J., Son, J., Jo, S. Y., Sohn, Y. J., … (2020). Metabolic engineering for the synthesis of polyesters: A 100-year journey from polyhydroxyalkanoates to non-natural microbial polyesters. Metabolic Engineering, 58, 47–81.
Sohn, Y. J., Kim, H. T., Baritugo, K. A., Jo, S. Y., Song, H. M., Park, S. Y., Park, S. K., Pyo, J., … (2020). Recent advances in sustainable plastic upcycling and biopolymers. Biotechnology Journal, 15(6), 1900489.
Yun, E. J., Lee, S., Kim, J. H., Kim, B. B., Kim, H. T., Lee, S. H., Pelton, J. G., Kang, N. J., … (2012). Enzymatic production of 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose from agarose and its purification and in vitro skin whitening and anti-inflammatory activities. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 96(1), 1–10.
Kim, H. T., Lee, S., Lee, D., Kim, H. S., Bang, W. G., Kim, K. H., & Choi, I. G. (2010). Overexpression and molecular characterization of Aga50D from Saccharophagus degradans 2-40: An exo-type β-agarase producing neoagarobiose. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 86(1), 227–234.