Rutgers and Seoul National University Partner to Launch Visiting Graduate Student Program

Rutgers University and Seoul National University (SNU) have launched the Visiting Graduate Student Program for the SNU Graduate School of AI Semiconductor, a structured research immersion initiative hosted by the Rutgers Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE).  

Building on a long-standing academic partnership first formalized in 2009, the program marks a strategic expansion of collaboration between Rutgers and SNU, combining sponsored international mobility with embedded laboratory research and graduate-level coursework.  

For the Visiting Graduate Student Program, Rutgers provides a comprehensive academic infrastructure to ensure a rigorous full-time educational experience, while SNU provides financial sponsorship for tuition, living expenses, and associated costs for the program participants.

Rutgers successfully hosted its first SNU students this year: Dayoung Chun and Jihoon Kim. The doctoral candidates spent six months in the Rutgers ECE labs, attending lab meetings, engaging in one-on-one mentorship sessions with faculty, taking part in collaborative research discussions, and contributing directly to ongoing projects.  

Meet Our First Program Participants

Dayoung Chun, who worked with Rutgers Professor Bokyung Kim during her program, is focused on designing Processing-in-Memory (PIM) architectures that optimize DRAM bandwidth for parallel computing systems. During her time at Rutgers, Chun explored architectural strategies to improve memory-level parallelism and evaluated their performance through systematic experimentation. 

Jihoon Kim worked with Professor Hang Liu during his residency, and works on developing algorithms for AI accelerators that leverage NAND memory as a cost-effective alternative to DRAM. While at Rutgers, he worked on customizing advanced simulation tools such as Ramulator2 and designed command-issue routines for complex memory controllers to assess system-level performance.

In addition to their research activities, Chun and Kim attended graduate-level courses and were introduced to Rutgers’ broader academic ecosystem, where they attended interdisciplinary seminars and accessed our extensive library resources. The doctoral students particularly appreciated the depth and accessibility of the university’s library collections, describing the academic environment as both intellectually rich and supportive. Rutgers’s central geographic location further enhanced their experience, as they were able to take trips to nearby New York and Boston.

Reflections on the Rutgers-SNU Visiting Graduate Student Program

Both Chun and Kim were impressed with the openness and responsiveness of Rutgers’ research culture. Kim noted, “Professors responded quickly and engaged directly in discussions. It made it easier to explore new directions and resolve uncertainty early.” 

In addition, the collaborative lab environment, characterized by a diverse international population, was an enriching experience for the students. Chun added, “It was refreshing to freely exchange ideas with researchers from different backgrounds and disciplines.”

From the faculty perspective, the Rutgers-SNU Visiting Graduate Student Program model, which combines coursework, structured mentorship, and active lab participation, ensures that visiting students contribute significantly and that the institutional ties between the universities are strengthened. 

The Rutgers faculty mentors viewed the program as more than simply a short-term exchange. Dr. Bokyung Kim described it as “a meaningful connection that can support longer-term international collaboration.” Dr. Hang Liu had a positive experience and expressed interest in welcoming additional cohorts in the future.  

The Future

The successful launch of the Rutgers–SNU Visiting Graduate Student Program cohort demonstrates the program’s potential as a model for research-centered international engagement. By aligning structured academic coursework with hands-on laboratory collaboration, the initiative supports both student development and faculty research productivity. 

As Dayoung Chun and Jihoon Kim prepare to return to Korea to complete their doctoral studies, they describe the experience as a milestone in shaping their long-term research trajectories.

Assistant Vice President for Global Affairs Ji-Yeung Jang remarked, “This program represents a promising step toward deepening Rutgers’ international research footprint. Building on the foundation of the Rutgers–SNU partnership, this new collaboration is poised to expand into sustained, mutually beneficial academic exchange.”

To learn more about short-term programs at Rutgers Global, visit our Global Initiatives webpage.