Dr. Yuk teaches General Chemistry I and II, along with core chemical and bioengineering courses. He is an active member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and the American Chemical Society (ACS). Dr. Yuk leads a computational research group, guiding research cadets in the study of the physical, chemical, and catalytic properties of 2D and 3D nanomaterials for renewable energy applications. In addition to his research leadership, he also serves as a Company Academic Counselor (CAC) and Department Academic Counselor (DAC) for the Chemical Engineering program.
Dr. Yuk's research focuses on exploring the structure-property relationships of novel multifunctional materials, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy applications such as catalysis, two-dimensional systems, and solid/liquid interfaces. His research expertise lies in applying ab initio quantum chemistry methods, including density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD), and beyond. His work has extensively investigated the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of metal- and metal oxide-based catalysts, shedding light on the physical and chemical processes that drive their reactivity and selectivity. Furthermore, Dr. Yuk has extensive experience of studying the conversion mechanisms of organic molecules, identifying key functionalities that can be tuned to develop new catalytic materials.