Tae Kyong (John) Kim joined MSE’s Swagelok Center for Surface Analysis of Materials (SCSAM) in February 2020.

John was born in South Korea and moved to Canada when he was eleven.  He earned both his Bachelor of Science and PhD from the University of British Columbia.  He returned to South Korea after finishing his degree in summer 2006 to work for LG Chem Research Park's Center for Analytical Solution, where he became a Senior Research Scientist.  While at LG, he worked with surface analysis instruments and assisted in novel material development and failure analysis for the Information Technology, Electronics and Battery sectors.

In 2010, he returned to his alma mater and became a Research Associate/ Senior Research Scientist at the University of British Columbia’s Center for Biointerface Characterization.  At UBC, he worked with ToF-SIMS and provided research analysis services for both the academic and research industries.  His main focus at UBC was investigating chemistries of various plant species using cryo capability of ToF-SIMS.

John said he was drawn to “the practical application of science” and always appreciated working with analysis instruments that could help other scientists get “valuable information for their research.”  He was first drawn to SCSAM after hearing about it from a friend and said he thought it seemed like a “great environment” to work in when he came in for his interview, toured the facility and met the team.  He is working with various techniques at SCSAM to “provide analysis solutions for a diverse group of clients."