Student Spotlight October 2014

Jinyoung Hyun

Jinyoung Hyun earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising and Public Relation from DongAh Broadcast College in South Korea.  Jinyoung also attended the University of Kentucky and the University of Iowa where he received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Civil Engineering, respectively.  Mr. Hyun is currently working towards a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Louisville.

Interview:

1.  What brought you to the University of Louisville?

The Speed School was able to offer much needed financial support, which enabled me to concentrate on my research from the time I entered the PhD program.  In contrast, I spent the first year of the Master’s program (at Iowa) struggling to find financial support.  From the day I arrived at UofL I was able to start planning my research.

2.  Specific areas of research (how you chose this research, why it interested you):

My studies focus on super resolution radar rainfall estimation and its application to the urban areas of Metro Louisville.  The technology of remote sensing has developed rapidly in the last decade, making spatial rainfall estimation feasible.  Moreover, the rainfall event pattern differs somewhat from past patterns according to the climate change. It is more severe and painful to our society; Louisville has had bitter experience with flash floods in the recent past. My research goal is to analyze recent rainfall events for the proper prediction of flooding.

3.  How would you describe your area of study/ specific research to your grandmother?

Explaining my work to her proves to be a challenging task. Grandma, I’m working to prevent your yard from flooding!

4.  What made you go into this field of study?

In 2005 I traveled to Kazakhstan for a mission trip.  While there, I discovered that the people, more people than I had realized, suffer from the lack of water.  I still remember the moment I turned to engineering.

5.  How do you think this advanced degree will change your role in society?

Weather forecasting that you hear today is systematically overestimated. My research will give you, at least, calibrated rainfall estimations for Louisville area.

6.  Long term goals/ aspirations:

To become a specialist in rainfall estimation by using data analyzing techniques.

7.  What has been your favorite part of the graduate school experience at UofL?

That I have had to opportunity to take classes outside of my discipline.  In addition to fulfilling the requirements for my academic plan, I have been able to take unique classes from the geography and computer science departments.

8.  What do you feel is the greatest challenge that graduate students face and how have you dealt with this challenge?

That, at this level of education, graduate students have to wear multiple hats.  For example, the data I have to analyze increases exponentially so as a hydrologist I need to master the programming skills and data mining techniques of a computer guru in order to optimize my research.

9.  Family life:

I have big family, a lovely wife and three princesses.