Team Lead (Pol/Econ Team, East Asia Pacific Bureau) at American University – AURORA OSINT Initiative (2026-01 – 2026-05)
- Led a four-person OSINT research team investigating Chinese rare-earth export controls, setting research priorities, monitoring policy and open-source developments, and managing deadlines.
- Synthesized findings from government, industry, and media sources and reviewed team research for accuracy, source reliability, and clarity, contributing to an award-winning final publication.
- Taekyung Hwang and Ren Sandretto-Chang. "China's Rare Earth Tactics Likely to Increase Japan's Vulnerability," American University Repository for Open-Source Research & Analysis, 2026,
Policy Team Member (Client: Office of the U.S. Trade Representative) at American University – SIS Geopolitics and Geoeconomics Practicum (2026-01 – 2026-05)
- Researched post-2018 U.S. trade policy changes and analyzed qualitative and quantitative evidence on their impacts across global value chains.
- Synthesized findings from government documents, policy research, OECD TiVA, and ADB MRIO data into a 60-page client report supporting the 2026 USMCA review.
Research Fellow at American University – Futures Lab for Democracy, Tech & Human Rights (2026-01 – 2026-05)
- Researched and published a report to the UN on human rights implications of neurotechnology in the administration of justice.
- Taekyung Hwang, et al. "Neurotechnology and the Administration of Justice." Submission to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for Input to the Report of the UN Secretary-General Pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/79/172, American University, Futures Lab for Democracy, Tech & Human Rights, March 9, 2026,.
- Researched and published two articles on climate change, human rights, and public information.
- Taekyung Hwang. "When Experts Go Silent: Climate Misinformation Threatens Rights," Resilience (Post Carbon Institute), March 10, 2026,.
- Taekyung Hwang. "We're measuring extreme heat better than ever. The human toll still goes underreported," Resilience (Post Carbon Institute), June 12, 2026,
Brain Korea 21 Student Research Fellow at Korea University – BK21 Student Colloquium (2025-01 – 2025-03)
- Co-authored a policy paper on China's BRI in Cambodia, assessing economic dependency and strategic implications through a case study of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone.
- Presented research findings and policy recommendations to professors and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)-affiliated researchers.
Brain Korea 21 Student Research Fellow at Korea University – K-water Glocal Conflict Management Joint Seminar (2025-04 – 2025-07)
- Co-authored research on water conflict in La Guajira, Colombia, synthesizing academic literature and case evidence to assess governance challenges and develop policy recommendations.
- Presented findings and policy recommendations to professors and K-water researchers, highlighting implications for public water management in multi-stakeholder conflicts.
Strategy & Planning Manager at Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) – AquaUkir Community Water Access Project (2024-06 – 2024-11)
- Conducted ethnographic fieldwork and structured interviews with local communities in Indonesia to identify barriers to safe water access and inform the design of a low-cost water purification solution.
- Evaluated the project's feasibility by integrating qualitative interview findings with quantitative data from daily field experiments and prototype testing and presented evidence-based recommendations to project stakeholders.
Research Assistant Intern at Korea Institute of Public Administration (KIPA) – Office of Regulatory Policy (2023-10 – 2024-04)
- Conducted daily monitoring and analysis of government announcements, regulatory developments, and policy changes in China, identifying significant developments and providing timely analysis to the research team.
- Authored and published a policy brief on China's carbon emissions trading regulations for KIPA's Regulatory Trends Bulletin, translating Chinese regulatory developments into actionable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders.
UNDP Student Ambassador at UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) – Student Ambassador Programme (2025-03 – 2025-08)
- Led the planning and execution of an interactive promotional booth for Korea University's Sustainability Week, from concept development and material procurement to full-day on-site management.
- Successfully increased public awareness of the UNDP's mission, driving a measurable 50+ follower boost on the UNDP Seoul Policy Center's official Instagram and engaging hundreds of students through an interactive SDG quiz.
Teaching / Research Assistant to Prof. Hye-rim Lee at Korea University (2025-03 – 2025-08)
- Reviewed and provided written feedback on student research essays and exam responses, assessing clarity, argumentation, and accuracy to uphold consistent evaluation standards for both domestic and international students.
- Facilitated guest lectures for a leading public relations expert, managing all on-site logistics and speaker coordination to ensure a seamless experience for the presenter and attendees.
Head of Public Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies – Student Council (2018-08 – 2019-03)
- Forged and managed 8 strategic partnerships with local businesses, securing student welfare benefits through negotiation and stakeholder management.
- Led a 7-member public relations team overseeing student communications and major event coordination, including a 300+ attendee alumni homecoming event that achieved a 90% satisfaction rating.
