Lee Kyoung-ook, post doctorate research scholar at North Carolina State University, was awarded the 2012 Mark Mills Award by the American Nuclear Society, the U.S. university said on its website Saturday.

Established by ANS in the late 1950s, the award recognizes a graduate student author who submits the best original technical paper contributing to the advancement of science and engineering related to the atomic nucleus.

Lee won the honors with his dissertation paper, titled “Particle Tracking Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation for Pebble Bed Reactors.” He is the first Korean recipient of the prize since Kang Chang-moo, former professor of Seoul National University, in 1972.

In addition to holding a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering, Lee also holds two master’s degrees in physics and nuclear engineering ― all from North Carolina State University.

(milaya@heraldcorp.com)