Honor Society® member
James Kim
- Chemical Engineering
- Class of 2028
- Houston, Texas
Member since February 2025
About
I am a Chemical Engineering student at the University of Houston and I love learning about how chemical processes work and how engineering decisions can help improve efficiency, safety, and reliability. My classwork and side projects have helped me gain experience in process simulation, separation systems, engineering calculations, CAD design and technical data analysis. I especially like projects where I can take a problem, break it into smaller pieces, and try different ways of doing things and see what I learn from the results. Outside of engineering, tutoring and teaching volunteer classes have made me more patient, organized and comfortable explaining technical concepts to people. At the moment I am seeking out opportunities to learn from experienced engineers and to contribute to real industrial work.
Education
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university of houston
chemical engineering
2024 – Present
Honors and awards
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Cullen College of Engineering Scholarship 2026-2027
Received a merit-based scholarship from the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering in recognition of academic progress and continued work toward a Chemical Engineering degree. The award has also encouraged me to continue strengthening both my
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dean's list - Fall 2025
Earned Dean’s List recognition after completing the Fall 2025 semester with strong academic performance. This was especially meaningful because it reflected improvement, consistency, and the effort put into balancing demanding engineering and science cour
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KCPCH Scholarship 2024
Received scholarship support through KCPCH toward my college education. The award provided additional encouragement as I continued my transition into university-level engineering studies and worked toward long-term academic and career goals.
Goals and interests
- Career goal
My goal is to begin my career in a hands-on engineering environment where I can learn how chemical processes are operated, monitored and improved on a day-to-day basis. I have a keen interest in process engineering, manufacturing, plant operations and energy related roles as they combine technical analysis with practical decision making. My goal is to develop expertise in process troubleshooting, optimization, safety and reliability and grow into an engineer who can take on bigger technical and operational responsibilities.
- Graduate school interests
I am open to pursuing graduate school after I gain more industry experience and have a better sense of the area I'd like to focus on. If I pursue graduate study, I would be most interested in topics in Chemical Engineering related to process systems, energy, process optimization and safety. I want graduate study to be an extension of practical engineering experience, not separate from it, so real industry exposure is an important next step for me.
- Outside the classroom
I enjoy watching movies, learning about engineering and new technology, and exploring how different products and processes are designed. I also like trying out engineering software, reading about developments in energy and manufacturing, and spending time with friends and family.
Experience
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chemistry tutor
Worked individually with more than 15 General Chemistry students who had different levels of confidence and understanding. Sessions often focused on helping students make sense of topics such as stoichiometry, thermodynamics, equilibrium, reaction balancing, and acid-base chemistry instead of simply memorizing steps. A large part of the role involved recognizing where a student was getting stuck, trying a different explanation, and helping the student develop a more reliable way to approach calculations and multi-step problems. The experience strengthened both my chemistry foundation and my ability to communicate technical material clearly.
Jan 2025 – May 2025
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group leader
Served as a small-group leader during a three-day student retreat, helping participants stay involved in discussions, activities, and the overall program. Spent time getting to know group members, encouraging quieter students to participate, and helping create an environment where everyone felt comfortable contributing. Also provided individual guidance when needed and helped the group communicate more openly and work together throughout the retreat. The experience strengthened my leadership skills and taught me how to support different personalities within a team.
Dec 2024
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Teaching Assistant
Supported the lead instructor throughout weekly classes by helping prepare materials, assisting students during lessons, and keeping classroom activities organized. I regularly worked with fourth- and fifth-grade students who needed additional help understanding assignments or staying on track during class. The experience taught me how important patience, consistency, and clear communication are when working with younger students. It also gave me early experience taking responsibility for a group environment and supporting students with different learning needs.
Jan 2022 – Dec 2022
Volunteering
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Vacation Bible School (VBS) Volunteer during summer; Volunteered during Vacation Bible School by supporting instructors and helping with the daily schedule, student activities, and classroom organization. Assisted with preparing materials, guiding students between activities, answering questions, and helping students stay focused and involved throughout the program. Worked closely with other volunteers to keep activities running smoothly and maintain a respectful and positive environment for the students. This experience helped build stronger teamwork, communication, and responsibility while working with younger students.
KCPCH
Jun 2026
Languages
- English (US) Advanced
- Korean Advanced
Additional information
Organizations
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american chemical society
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american institute of chemical engineers
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honor society
