Kyoo-Chul Park

Kyoo-Chul Park is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University. His research focuses on surface engineering and interfacial phenomena, with emphasis on thermal-fluids systems, bio-inspired designs, and sustainable materials. He leads the Park Lab, which develops innovative surface technologies for applications in water harvesting, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

• Education:
  • PhD in Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2010)
  • MS in Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2008)
  • BS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University (2006)

Research interests include:

• Condensation and evaporation phenomena on textured surfaces
• Biomimetic materials for fog collection and anti-icing
• Nanotextured coatings with self-cleaning and photocatalytic properties
• Energy-efficient thermal management systems

His work integrates experimental, theoretical, and computational methods to create surfaces that enhance water collection, reduce energy consumption, and improve environmental sustainability. Notable contributions include slippery asymmetric bumps for condensation control and superoleophilic titania coatings with fingerprint decomposition capability.

Lab Activities: The Park Lab collaborates with industry partners on projects involving advanced materials for water harvesting systems, medical devices, and sustainable infrastructure. Current research explores liquid-gating membranes for industrial separations and light-responsive adaptive surfaces.