Research Interests
Dr. Dayoung Kim conducts research in engineering practice and workforce development (e.g., practices and experiences of, and competencies required for, engineers in various employment settings, such as business organizations (e.g., startup companies) and government agencies; workforce challenges and opportunities from emerging technologies), engineering ethics (e.g., social responsibility of engineering professionals and its education), and related policy concerns.
Specific topics of interest include:
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Engineering Practice
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Workforce Development
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Ethics and Social Responsibility
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Technology and Social Entrepreneurship
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Engineering Career in Policy and Startup
The overarching goal of her research is to identify effective strategies to cultivate an innovative and responsible engineering workforce through educational initiatives and science & technology policy. This requires a better understanding of engineers' daily practices and the regulatory and policy environment surrounding their work environments. She has utilized quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches to answer questions like: How do engineers establish and manage their own ventures that aim to create social values and how can educators nurture engineers who can create socially responsible values with their technological expertise? How do engineers incorporate ethical principles into their design practices, particularly in designing emerging technologies like AI? What strategies are effective in fostering a responsible engineering workforce? Dr. Kim actively collaborates with engineers in various professional contexts to answer these critical questions.
Figure 1. Dayoung Kim's engineering education research lies in the intersection between engineering practice, ethics, and policy.