Kwang J. (Jin) Kim is UNR Foundation Professor and Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department and Director of two laboratories namely "Active Materials and Processing Laboratory (AMPL)” and “Low Carbon Green Technology Laboratory (LCGTL)."

He graduated from Yonsei University, Korea, in 1987 and received his MS and Ph.D. from Arizona State University (ASU) in 1989 and 1992, respectively. Later, he completed a postdoctoral study at the University of Maryland-College Park UMCP (1993-1995). His industrial experience includes Senior Research Engineer at Thermal Electric Devices, Inc. (1995-1997) and Chief Scientist at Environmental Robots, Inc. (1997-2001), Albuquerque NM. He joined as an assistant professor in 2001. After the promotion to professor in July 2007, he started to serve as Department Chair.

His research interests are in a broad spectrum of "Active Materials/Sensors" and "Energy Systems." He has authored/ co-authored over 290+ technical papers including 3 monographs and 120 referred journal papers and holds 3 patents. His work is well versed receiving approximately 2,500 ISI citations.

He is a recipient of the 2011 UNR Foundation Professorship, the 2006 UNR Lemelson Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the 2002 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from Oak Ridge Associated Universities. He is a fellow of ASME and serves on the editor board of Smart Materials and Structures, International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials, and Actuators.