UN Professionals questions

1. Which chemical analysis techniques did you use? Which one do you master at best?
I have experience usinganalytical toolslike
1) Microscopicanalysis – SEM(ScanningElelctronMicroscopy) andTEM(TransmissionElectron
Microscopy)
2) Chromatographytechniques –GC-FID(gas chromatography),HPLC(liquidchromatography),Ion
chromatography.
3) Softwares- Avantage software (XPSanalysis),Systatsoftware (Sigmaplot),Auto-CAD.
4) Material characterization- XRD,FTIR,TPR,H2 pulse chemisorption.
I have spentforabout 2 yearsapplyingthese analytical toolsformyresearchandhave
considerable knowledgeusingall of themtounderstandmydataand presentthemaccordingly.
Amongst,the several analysistechniquesIknow Ihave good experiencewithchromatography
techniques.
Whichmaterialsdidyouanalyse andforwhichpurpose?
I have usedthe to characterize novel catalystssynthesizedfromclaymineralstounderstandthe
modificationof crystallineandsurface propertiesandmetal distribution onthe surfacesto
predictthe reactivityof the catalystandestimationof byproductselectivity.Thesetechniques
alsohelpedme tounderstandthe factorscontributingtothe regenerationof catalysts.
What isyour experience andknowledgeinradiochemistryand/orwaste watertreatmentplants?
I had brief introductiontothisareawhere radiochemistryof chemical reactionscanbe studied andused
to understandthe activityof materials.Duringmyenvironmentalengineeringcourses,wherecertain
radioisotopesthatcan cause harmful effectsonthe environmentare studied.
Water treatmentprocessesandtechnologiesare mymajorareasof studyduringpostgraduation
program,I workedonground waterscontaminatedwithvarioustoxinslike anions,organicpollutants
and developednovel catalyststoremove thematfasterratesalongwithhighstabilities.Asaresearcher
I was alsoconcernedwitheffectof physical parametersonthe flow fluidsuspensionsingroundwater
systems.Iwasresponsible todesignflow acrosspackedsandcolumns tomaximize the gasretaining
capacity.
How wouldyouqualifyyourpresentorpast activity(academicresearch,appliedresearchand
development,industrial qualitycontrol...)?Please explainwhy.
As a Research Engineer at Seoul National University I’m closely working with two projects
related to passive sampling and application of ultrafine bubbles to In situ bio remediation.
For the 1) Passive sampling technique for monitoring contaminants in aquatic
environments – We are Using simple polymeric materials (e.g., polyethylene) as passive
samplers to develop a sampler deployment strategy and modeling tools to accurately assess
freely dissolved concentrations of organic contaminants in aquatic environments. Our work

2. includes improving the fundamental understanding of contaminant movement processes in
aquatic environments in relation to the uptake of the contaminant to passive samplers.
2) In-situ bioremediation of organic contaminants in the subsurface using ultrafine bubbles
- an in-situ bioremediation that activates microbes by providing oxygen in the most stable form
of oxygen carrier, ultrafine-bubble (~1 μm) are applied with PAH degrading bacteria into sand
columns to examine the effect of geological factors their transport.
Both the projects allowed me to apply my knowledge of chemical engineering processes to
design suitable systems to achieve required sampling and bio degradation targets which I believe
can help me work on industrial processes to maximize the output.
What isyour knowledgeof material analysisbeyondthe chemical methods?
Apart fromthe chemical wayof analyzinga particularmaterial byphysicallyanalysisacertainamountof
informationcanalsobe obtained.Visually,colorandstate of substance can be said,exposure tothermal
difference canalsoreveal certainaspectsrelatingtosensitivity,bondsetc.Thismethodof analysisis
similartosalttestsperformedinlaboratorieswhere priortochemical testscertaintemperature and
physical testsare done whichcan alsohelpcome tobrief conclusionsif material hastransitionmetal or
type of ionsetc.
Can youquote caseswhere youexploitedthe resultsof methodsof material characterizationthatyou
didnot performdirectlyyourself,butforwhich yououtsourcedthe analysistocolleaguesorother
institutesinthe contextof aproject?
Duringthe processof paperreviewandpeerreview where youare supposedtogive questionsand
commentsthe data andanalysisresultspresented,frommyknowledge andunderstandingof the
material Ididmake some dicusssionswherethe resultshaven’tseemedtocorrespondthe actual
propertiesof the material whichcontribute tothe particularreaction.Ididmake some suggestion
regardingsome control testdata to be providedtoconfirmtheirassumptions.
What isyour motivationforapplyingforthisjob?
The job profile isthe importantthingwhichmotivatedme toapplyforthisposition.Ialwayswantedto
grow as chemical environmental engineer,The knowledgeof chemistryandengineeringcanbe applied
to solve pollutionandenvironmentrelatedproblems.Althoughchemical industriesface external
environmentrelatedproblems,there are problemswithinthe industryrelatedtomaterialsthatcan
effectthe production rates.Damage tometal vesselsdue tocorrosionsandwitheringcanbe solvedby
applicationchemical engineeringproblemsandalsomaximizethe productivitybydesignof reactions.
The role of a material chemistatCERN requires identificationof chemical contaminationinUltraHigh
Vacuumsystems,evaluationof agingof polymers,gasanalysisfordiagnosticsrelatedtoparticle
detectors,identificationof pollutantshinderingaproperoperationof the dedicatedwaste water
treatmentplant,qualificationof coolingfluidsanddevelopmentof chemical treatmentsormaterialsfor
the accelerators isthe area I’mverypassionate toworkand is veryrelatable tomycurrentwork.

3. I alsobelievethatthe experience inanalytical instrumentationof FTIR,GC-MS,ICP-OES,DSC,XRF and
classical wetchemistrymethodsand knowledge of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry,
Maintenance and operation of water treatment plants: knowledge of waste water treatment help
me to fit myself to this role.
Also, working with UN besides the opportunity to develop a career within your field of
expertise, working for the United Nations means contributing to a mission beyond economic
benefits, a life choice based on the satisfaction gained from seeing the results of your work.
The UN allows you to work in different countries and get to know different cultures as part of a
challenging, global and diverse work environment, with people from all over the world working
towards the same goal.
A cognitive interest to work with CERN and develop myself as a Material Chemist while
working with UN have motivated to apply for this position.