“At the forefront of hydrological research, I harness the power of advanced climate simulations to understand and predict extreme weather events. My mission is to provide actionable insights for effective flood and drought management, ensuring communities are prepared and protected.”
Youngil Kim

I am a dedicated water and climate scientist whose journey began with a PhD from the Water Research Centre at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia. I am now an integral part of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes (CLEX) at UNSW Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC).
My work revolves around understanding and predicting extreme weather events, like heavy rainfall or severe droughts, at a local level. My key project, “Comprehensive Bias Correction of Regional Climate Model Boundary Conditions for Simulation of Hydrologic Extremes,” aimed to improve the accuracy of climate predictions in specific areas.
I focus on enhancing regional climate models – these are tools used to predict weather patterns in specific regions. I utilise the latest global data to make these predictions more reliable and detailed, especially concerning how they change over time and in different places. My main interest lies in making these models better at predicting extreme weather events, which is crucial for preparing and protecting communities in regions such as Australasia and the Pacific.
In simpler terms, I work using advanced technology and data to understand and project extreme weather, helping us prepare for and adapt to our changing environment.
Experience
05 2023 – present
Postdoctoral research associate, ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes (CLEX), Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC), University of New South Wales (UNSW)
09 2022 – 05 2023
Research assistant, WaterNSW, School of civil and environmental engineering, UNSW
02 2022 – 05 2022
Teaching assistant, School of civil and environmental engineering, UNSW
06 2020 – 12 2020
Research tutoring, School of civil and environmental engineering, UNSW
02 2020 – 05 2020
Teaching assistant, School of civil and environmental engineering, UNSW
03 2018 – 10 2018
Researcher, Department of civil and environmental engineering, Seoul National University
03 2017 – 02 2018
Teaching assistant, Department of civil and environmental engineering, Seoul National University
01 2015 – 06 2015
Assistant researcher, Department of civil and environmental engineering, Seoul National University
Education
02 2019 – 05 2023
Doctoral student, School of civil and environmental engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Research title: Comprehensive Bias Correction of RCM boundary conditions for simulation of hydrologic extremes
(Dean’s Award for Outstanding PhD Thesis)