Curiosity-driven. Naturalist. Do-er#
Sungyeon’s background is centred around mathematics and computational physics with a huge interest in understanding pattern formation—whether it be structural or behavioural—via self-organisation in complex systems.
After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in mathematics at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), she moved to Switzerland for her master’s in mathematics at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). For her master’s project, Sungyeon focused on analysing brain networks by using tools in topological data analysis (TDA), and she further honed the TDA skills in materials science through a research internship at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). During her PhD in physics at the ANU, Sungyeon investigated the emergence of topological entities in two-dimension, accompanied by non-equilibrium dynamics, along a geometric quench process.
Currently, Sungyeon is teaching for the course “Building Cyber-physical Systems” for the Master of Applied Cybernetics and is working on diverse research projects to better understand the resilience of complex adaptive systems, such as social organisations, ecosystems, and generative AI models, through a topological lens. Additionally, she has found an exciting opportunity to explore the intersection of technology and arts to push the boundaries of tech-enabled arts, aiming for the expansion of human creativity in our current AI moment.
With her sporty spirit, Sungyeon loves starting a day with playing squash, and she holds a black belt in Taekwondo with which she is always careful not to scare people. Otherwise, Sungyeon finds joys from drawing, cooking, baking, gardening, travelling, violin, and watching French comedies. Oh, and doggos.
Areas of Expertise: Topological Analysis, Computational Physics, Cybernetics, Simulation & Modelling, Education.