steelChallenge-16 World Championship Finalists
Student Category
Blaž ŽERJAV JEREB
Master student in Materials and metallurgy – University of Ljubljana
Regional Champion, Europe and Africa
Blaž Žerjav Jereb, originally from Slovenia, is pursuing a master’s degree in materials and metallurgy at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering at the University of Ljubljana.
Over the last five years of his studies, he participated in many extracurricular activities and led his faculty’s student council. Additionally, he volunteered in youth work through The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award as a Gold award holder.
He also has a scholarship from SIJ Acroni and hopes to use the knowledge gained though steelChallenge in his future work.
“I have learned about the steelChallenge from my professor, and this has been my third challenge. From the moment I learned about the challenge I wanted to prove myself because I knew I would be competing against all the best students in the world. It is also a great learning tool to gain practical knowledge about steelmaking.”
Dong-Hyun KIM
Ph.D. Student in Ferrous & Energy Materials – Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) / Polytechnique Montréal *
Regional Champion, Americas
Dong-Hyun Kim was born in Anyang, the Republic of Korea on 16 May 1990. From early childhood, he grew up with an understanding of the steel industry through his father who operated a foundry.
In March 2009, Dong-Hyun Kim entered the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Kyungpook National University in Daegu. After his sophomore year, in March 2014, Dong-Hyun Kim transferred to Korea University in Seoul to grow his potential in engineering.
In March 2016, he started his master’s program at the Graduate Institute of Ferrous & Energy Materials Technology (GIFT) at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH).
Dong-Hyun Kim specialized in Ferrous Technology, and he performed experimental research about the application of electricity to enhance the purification and refining of liquid metal such as desulfurization of molten iron. After receiving his master’s degree, Dong-Hyun Kim remained at GIFT of POSTECH, and he has been in his current position as a Ph.D. student since September 2018. Recently, he was selected for Mitacs Globalink Research Award, and continued his education from August 2021 to January 2022 in Polytechnique Montréal in Canada.
Dong-Hyun Kim is the first author of four papers published in reputed SCI journals and seven proceedings of international conferences and recently won a Young Steel Scientist Award at the 8th Asia Steel International Conference. Dong-Hyun Kim participated in the steelChallenge competition almost every year and received many awards including first place in Korea.
* The rules of steelChallenge-16 state a person should compete in the region they are resident at the time of the Regional Championship. The student winner for Americas was attending Polytechnique Montréal studies in Canada at the time of the Regional Championship.
Amit KUMAR BHUYAN
Student in Metallurgy and Plant Process – Shavak Nanavati Technical Institute
Regional Champion, Asia West
Amit Kumar Bhuyan is a student of Shavak Nanavati Technical Institute pursuing a technical education in Metallurgy and Plant process.
Born on 5th December 2002 at Cuttack, Odisha (a state located in eastern India), Amit completed his schooling from DAV public school in his hometown in 2019. Thereafter he took up technical studies in Metallurgy and Plant Process.
During his schooling he participated in Olympiads and Quiz competitions. Apart from academics and career, he was actively involved in the cultural program in the Tech-Ex project. He was also an active member of National Cadet Corps.
Qichen LI
Student in black metallurgy technology – Tangshan Vocational College of Science and Technology
Regional Champion, Asia North
Qichen Li, 19 years old, was born in an ordinary peasant family in ShiJiazhuang in September 2002. He is now studying in Tangshan Vocational College of Science and Technology with a specialty in black metallurgy.
“In 2020, at the crossroads of my life, I chose the black metallurgy technology major of Tangshan Vocational College of Science and Technology. After entering the university, I always have a sober life plan, study pragmatic and forge ahead with determination. In daily study, I am always prepared, pay attention to cultivate scientific way of thinking and strengthen the grasp of knowledge concept, cultivate the ability to analyze and solve problems, improve learning efficiency. Not only satisfied with the surface of knowledge, but striving for breadth and depth of knowledge to develop their own. In university, I won scholarship, excellent merit student, Excellent League Member, first prize of professional skills competition and other honors.
In May 2021, I learned about steelChallenge-16 through my teacher. I took this competition as an opportunity to challenge myself and worked hard for it. After more than 100 days and nights of grinding and training, and 24 hours of concentration an cooperation, I won the first place in Asia North-Student Category. The result of this competition is inseparable from the strong support of the university. The cultivation and guidance of the university and department leaders and the guidance team of teachers, the encouragement and support of students, and the belief and goal that I always adhere to. The achievement is the hard work of all people, condensed the efforts of all people. It belongs to everyone!
Through participating in this competition, my willpower and endurance have been sublimated, and my professional and technical level has also been greatly improved, which has laid a solid foundation for my future study and career. Although this competition is over, it is also a new starting point for me.”
Jong-Doeck LIM
Master student in Metallurgic Chemistry Lap, Pukyong National University
Regional Champion, Asia East and Oceania
“I’m Lim Jong-Deok, majoring in metal engineering at Pukyong National University in Korea.
The reason why I was able to work hard in this competition was my determination.
In fact, in Korea they tend to select all the high rankings universities for such competitions because they can share ways to pay the lowest-priced process cost with each other.
Therefore, when looking at the rankings, universities with good grades create the illusion that everyone is excellent talent.
On the contrary, schools that are not in the rankings seem to be lagging behind in talent and not given the right recognition.
However, coming from a “low ranking” university, I definitely thought that it was a way to prove that small number of people can commit to great achievement and share a lot.
So I decided to work hard to prove that a small number of people can achieve great success, and I grew ever more confident about it.
Therefore, I thought I should put my school name on the list, as well as my fellow student to give them the proper recognition they deserve.
Thinking about this way, I felt a sense of responsibility that I didn’t originally have, so I was able to work hard and achieve good results.”
Industry Category
Timur SABIROVICH GAISIN
Metallurgical engineer, TMK
Regional Champion, Europe and Africa
After completing his studies at the South Ural State University, Timur graduated as an engineer in the specialty “Metallurgy of ferrous metals”.
In 2008, he started working at the Pipe Metallurgical Company, and worked there for 12 years as a steelmaker at secondary steel processing units.
“Today I work as a foreman at a DSP-150 t electric arc furnace. I actively participate in the life of the company; I am developing a technology for the production of stainless-steel grades.
Participating in steelChallenge is an excellent opportunity to test your theoretical and practical skills.
I would like to note the excellent work of the developers, who are constantly improving the simulator.
Winning the regional championship opens up many opportunities for me in terms of career growth.”
Paula Renée DE MACEDO COSTA
Production Analyst, Companhia Siderúrgica do Pecém
Regional Champion, Americas
“I am a Brazilian engineer with 4 years of experience, working in industry and academic research, coming from the states of Alagoas where I completed my undergraduation program at the Universidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL).
After that, I wished to develop my skill as researcher, I applied to a great postgraduate program at the Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC). There I developed my skills in modeling and simulation of process and achieved my master’s degree in chemical engineering.
I always seek to obtain new technical skills, especially for project development. Currently, I am a greenbelt specialist and I have been practicing my knowledge of continuous improvement in the quality of products.
I started my career in the steel industry as a trainee at Companhia Siderúrgica do Pecém (CSP), and became a Production Analyst for the same company, and I am working in the quality area with actions in the audit of critical process parameters to improve the production of the most diverse types of steels.”
Krutidipta SAHU
Junior Engineer Trainee, Tata Steel Limited
Regional Champion, Asia West
Krutidipta Sahu is a junior engineer trainee in TATA STEEL LTD., Jamshedpur, India, who was born on 9th June 1998, at Keonjhar, Odisha, where he completed his study.
He fulfilled then his Diploma in Metallurgical Engineering from Orissa School of Mining Engineering, Keonjhar, affiliated to SCTE&VT, Odisha.
Thereafter he continued his B. Tech in Metallurgical & Materials Engineering from Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology, Sarang, affiliated to BPUT, Rourkela, Odisha.
After completion of the B. Tech course, he joined TATA STEEL as Junior Engineer Trainee in 2021 with and internships in SAIL (Rourkela steel plant).
Apart from his academic career, during his college days, he was actively involved in various activities (former sports coordinator of his college).
His training as a JET will be completed in March 2022.
Ruibin WANG
Senior Engineer of metallurgical automation, HBIS Group
Regional Champion, Asia North
Wang Ruibin, graduated from Northeast University in 2008, is a senior engineer of metallurgical automation of HBIS Group. Since taking part in the work, he has been committed to the automation and information research and development of model production in metallurgical enterprises, and continuously promoted the intelligent level of metallurgy in HBIS.
“steeluniversity has provided a lot of training and materials on the metallurgical process. Through the platform of steeluniversity, I have not only learned a lot of professional and technical knowledge on metallurgy, but it also provided me with a lot of good guidance and reference in metallurgical model production.”
“It’s a great honor for me to participate in this event with great influence in the world. Through this competition, I have met many excellent talents in the steel industry and have the opportunity to exchange and learn with them. In my future work, I will work harder and strive to make greater contributions to the enterprise.”
Jingi PYEON
Steelmaking Engineer, POSCO Pohang
Regional Champion, Asia East and Oceania
Jingi Pyeon majored in Metallurgy at Kumoh National Institute of Technology. He is currently Steelmaking Engineer in the Steelmaking Department Steelmaking Technology Development Section of POSCO Pohang Works. He is operating standards to producing Thick Plate in Steelmaking process.
“I think steelChallenge simulations and the actual field have many things in common. As producing optimal components with the lowest cost in field, simulation is the same with it. So, the simulations are a good experience for people who are in the steel industry, including me. Also, the various programs and courses in steeluniversity may help them.”
“It’s my great honor to participate in steelChallengeand say thank you all who supported me. It’s not my first time participating in steelChallenge. I reached the Top 2 in my region last year. I have been interested in this competition continuously and I will keep that interest in the future.
Also, I’d be willing to support the people who need my help to experience lots of programs in steeluniversity. Thank you.”
steelChallenge16 is generously sponsored by the following companies:
