Mentoring on Academics and Career Paths from Silicon Valley Alumni
From June 23 to June 28, the ‘SNUTI to Silicon Valley’ program was held for students and supporters of the School of Transdisciplinary Innovations at Seoul National University. The program aimed to help students understand the trends of advanced industries and learn the skills needed to become future innovators, under the theme ‘The Spirit of Silicon Valley – Past, Present, and Future’. The students completed the course ‘Transdisciplinary Innovations Major and My Future’ during the semester and through this program, gained valuable insights from meeting mentors.
SNU Alumni Panel Talk, Career Lessons from Alumni
On the evening of June 23, seven alumni of Seoul National University who have entered major tech companies in Silicon Valley warmly welcomed the students who arrived in the US. These alumni, who majored in fields such as computer science and engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, business, design, and information culture and science, shared their career journeys and answered the students’ questions with sincerity. They spoke candidly about their most treasured and regrettable experiences during their university days, recalling their passionate engagement in academics and various activities both on and off campus. The alumni also shared a range of regrets, from not fully enjoying their youth to not studying their major more deeply.
The alumni offered several ideas about the boundless possibilities that lie ahead for the students. Lee Jongwoo (Department of Mechanical Engineering, ‘07), who graduated from MIT with a Ph.D. and now works as a robotics engineer, said, “From high school to Seoul National University, and then to MIT, I had people around me showing new possibilities and broadened my perspective. After that, I started contemplating how to contribute to the world.” Meanwhile, Han Kyungjin (College of Fine Arts, ‘01) remarked, “When I came to the US, I saw that there were many Seoul National University graduates here, all achieving great results in their careers,” advising the freshmen, “The friends and peers you meet now can become a tremendous asset if you maintain a good network with them.”
SNU Alumni Panel Talk
Stanford University: A Hub of World-Changing Research
On June 24, a tour of the Stanford University campus was conducted. Before the visit, there were presentations by Hwang Doyeon (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, ‘14) and Jang Jayoon (Department of Statistics, ‘14), who are currently pursuing their doctoral studies at Stanford after graduating from Seoul National University. Established in 1891, Stanford University encourages its members to innovate and start businesses with their ideas and technologies. Since the mid-20th century, the university has supported numerous companies by leasing land around the campus. Those who found success with the university’s support have given back, resulting in buildings named after influential figures such as Hewlett and Packard, Bill Gates, and Jensen Huang.
Presentation by Hwang Doyeon and Jang Jayoon (Left), Gates Computer Science Building in Stanford (Right)
During the visit, they also provided advice on studying abroad. Jang Jayoon commented, “Stanford is highly attuned to research trends. It’s great that students can explore the latest research trends and topics through classes and assignments.” Hwang Doyeon added, "Everyone studies a large amount of material quickly during the semester and gains practical experience through internships in the summer.” Hwang also expressed optimism about the direction of Seoul National University's School of Transdisciplinary Innovations, noting the importance of interdisciplinary connections and collaborations with other fields.
Upon arriving at the Stanford campus, the students were guided by current student mentors on a campus tour, where they also learned more about campus life. Seeing the beautifully constructed buildings and the dedication to research within them made the students contemplate the future impact they could have. Jeon Won-Joon (School of Transdisciplinary Innovations, Class of 2024) shared his reflections after the visit, saying, “I could vividly feel the university’s culture and atmosphere, and I am now determined to study hard and advance into a bigger world.”
Campus Tour
Attitude Towards Studying in a Rapidly Changing World
On the evening of June 25, Dr. Jung Hyungwon from OpenAI gave a lecture titled “How I Learn.” While pursuing a Ph.D. in a field unrelated to artificial intelligence, he began self-studying AI later in his academic career. Realizing he lacked a strong mathematical foundation, he took undergraduate courses to supplement his knowledge. He shared his experience of conducting research in a corporate setting, emphasizing, “Because technology changes so rapidly, it’s much more important to quickly learn new things than when you started studying or what knowledge you currently have.”
Dr. Jung introduced the concepts of “primary learning” and “secondary learning” to the students. In addition to acquiring specific, quantifiable knowledge, he stressed the importance of enhancing general skills such as analytical thinking and reading comprehension. He explained that he applied these ideas to his AI research, aiming to train artificial intelligence capable of solving diverse problems. Lee Yeonwoo (School of Transdisciplinary Innovations, ‘24) reflected, “I was worried about adapting to the fast-changing IT industry, but Dr. Jung’s advice to learn logic through pure mathematics was helpful. I learned the importance of continually challenging oneself with tasks that push one’s limits.” Lee also mentioned that the Q&A session following the lecture covered various topics and was a beneficial and enjoyable experience.
Lecture by Dr. Jung Hyungwon (Left), Students in the Lecture (Right)
Through enthusiastic exchanges with alumni active in the industry, students were able to deeply reflect on their studies and life, and clearly define their future direction. Additionally, participants visited the Apple Visitor Center and Salesforce Park to experience the vibrancy of the local community. They also gained insights into the development of the IT startup ecosystem during a visit to the KOTRA Silicon Valley Trade Office. All the knowledge gained in Silicon Valley will serve as a valuable driving force and compass for their academic and career planning.
more>> Silicon Valley Immersion – SNUTI to Silicon Valley (1)
Written by Student Reporter Hayoung Choi (Department of Linguistics),
harongeee@snu.ac.kr
Translated by Seulki Yeo (Department of Russian Language and Literature)