Professor

Myoungsu (James) Shin, Ph.D., P.E.

Professor and Head, Dept. of Civil, Urban, Earth and Environmental Engineering
Director, East Asia Earthquake Research Center, UNIST

 

Every earthquake reveals not only the strength of concrete and steel but also the intelligence of those who designed them. For more than two decades, Professor Myoungsu (James) Shin has dedicated his career to advancing structural resilience through science, technology, and empathy.

Trained at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Ph.D. 2004) and Seoul National University (M.S. 1998, B.S. 1994), Professor Shin combines analytical precision with hands-on engineering insight gained as a Project Engineer in New York City, where he contributed to landmark towers such as MiMA on West 42nd Street in Manhattan. Since joining UNIST in 2010, he has led with both scientific depth and vision as Head of the Department and Director of the East Asia Earthquake Research Center. His research unites artificial intelligence, 3D concrete printing, smart sustainable materials, and ultrasound-based diagnostics to create infrastructure capable of sensing, adapting, and enduring the forces of nature.

Professor Shin’s research themes focus on AI-based assessment and prediction of seismic performance, 3D concrete printing and rheology-driven digital construction, self-healing and self-heating cement composites, and ultrasonic and vision-based health-monitoring systems. His laboratory unites material science, computation, and structural design to define the next generation of intelligent, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure.

Dr. Shin has published over 110 renowned journal papers in leading international outlets. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Structural Integrity and Maintenance (Taylor & Francis), Associate Editor of the Journal of Building Engineering (Elsevier), and on the editorial boards of several international journals, including the Journal of Infrastructure Intelligence and Resilience (Elsevier). He previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Asian Concrete Federation (ACF). Dr. Shin has also organized and chaired international symposia in the ZHITU Symposium series (Zhejiang U. 2018, UNIST 2021, U. of Tokyo 2023, Hong Kong Polytechnic U. 2025), and moderated sessions at numerous American Concrete Institute conventions, promoting collaboration among researchers across Asia, Europe, and North America.

Within the professional community, Professor Shin is Vice President of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea, Vice President of the Korea Institute for Structural Maintenance Inspection, Chair of the International Affairs Committee at the Korea Concrete Institute, and an active Voting Member of ACI Committees 352, 374, and 421.

 

Global Leadership

  • Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Structural Integrity and Maintenance (Taylor & Francis)
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Building Engineering (Elsevier)
  • Past Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Asian Concrete Federation (ACF)
  • Vice President, Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea (2025–present)
  • Vice President, Korea Institute for Structural Maintenance Inspection (2023–present)
  • Voting Member, ACI Committees 374, 421, 352
  • Advisor to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and National Earthquake Safety Panels

 

Academic Honors & Recognition

  • Academic Award, Korea Institute for Structural Maintenance and Inspection (2025)
  • Best English Paper Award, Korea Concrete Institute (2025)
  • Technology Award, Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea (2024)
  • Minister’s Commendation, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Korea (2023)
  • LH Special Award, Korea Institute for Structural Maintenance and Inspection (2020)
  • Special and Best Paper Awards, multiple Korean institutes (2015–2020)
  • International Activities Award, Korea Concrete Institute (2016)
  • Excellent Achievement Award, UNIST (2014)