Illinois chemistry alumnus Jinwoo Cheon (Ph.D., '93), a professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, has been chosen for the 2026 Korea Top Scientist Award.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies announced the award on July 6, 2026. Cheon is the Underwood Distinguished Professor at Yonsei University and head of the Center for Nanomedicine at the Institute for Basic Science. According to the announcement in DongA Science, Cheon is regarded as a pioneer of nanomedicine and his research has demonstrated the use of nano-magnetogenetics to wirelessly control animal neural circuits, suggesting new Parkinson’s therapies.
In 2018, the University of Illinois and Illinois International Programs awarded Cheon the Madhuri and Jagdish N. Sheth International Alumni Award for Exceptional Achievement, which is awarded annually to a distinguished international Illinois alum who has helped to better their own nation or the world through their contributions to government, humanity, science, art or human welfare.
Cheon graduated from Yonsei University with a B.S. and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1993 under the advisement of Gregory S. Girolami, William H. and Janet G. Lycan Professor of Chemistry. After post-doctoral training studying inorganic materials chemistry at U.C. Berkeley and UCLA, Cheon joined the faculty of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and in 2002, he moved to Yonsei University.