Changgyun Son

Changgyun Son, a second-year PhD student in Energy Science & Engineering, found his inspiration to pursue this degree while majoring in Energy Resources Engineering at Seoul National University. Faced with limited opportunities in his home country, he sought a place where he could further his studies and found Stanford to be a hub of opportunities and relevance to the industry. Changgyun's interest in mathematical simulations and renewable energy thus led him to his current research focus on reservoir simulation.

In his research, Changgyun aims to address the high costs associated with simulating large reservoirs by proposing a method that partitions the reservoir into smaller domains for more cost-effective simulations. This scaling method not only reduces costs but maintains accuracy. His work holds significance in addressing environmental concerns, particularly in the field of CO2 sequestration, where faster and more precise simulations can contribute to better planning.

Being part of the ESE community has certainly been a positive experience for Changgyun, especially as an international student. Despite the initial challenges of adjusting to a new country, he appreciates the kindness and support of the community. Because of his experiences here, Changgyun’s career aspirations include working in the oil industry and staying in the US.

Changgyun’s advice for aspiring students is to embrace the friendly and collaborative community at Stanford ESE, seek help when needed, and leverage the support system provided by TAing and collaboration with colleagues.