About Katalyst

Designed for Korean-American undergraduate students in STEM, Katalyst: Korean-American Mentorship and Leadership Immersion for Young Scientists and Technologists is a conference that provides a platform for mentorship, leadership development, career planning, and networking.

Katalyst nurtures future Korean-American leaders in STEM, preparing them for their next steps after undergraduate education, whether it be in academia or industry. Participants will not only benefit from the immersive experience but also will be joining a community of Katalyst cohorts where they can continue to learn from and network with each other.

Participants are selected based on their past achievements, leadership potential, and future aspirations. Approximately 100 undergraduate student leaders and mentors will attend.

In light of reducing financial burden to individuals wanting to attend this event, we provide travel and meal support for the selected participants of the program.

Katalyst is hosted by the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA), a 501c(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1971 that serves Korean-American scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs across the United States.

View 2025 Event Highlights

Project You: Prototype Your Professional Journey
Katalyst 2026 Theme

Katalyst 2026 will position every undergraduate as the lead designer of their own professional future. Just like an engineer prototypes a device or a scientist tests a hypothesis, students can prototype their next steps — exploring graduate school, industry, or other pathways — through hands-on practice and mentor feedback.

Rather than treating career decisions as final or intimidating, the theme frames them as experiments: try, test, iterate, improve. Mentorship becomes the design review process, and Katalyst becomes the lab where these prototypes are shaped.

Applications are now CLOSED. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status by December 1.
Thank you so much!

Students feel ownership

I’m not passively waiting for the right job or lab — I’m prototyping my own path.

Mentors feel engaged

Mentors are not just advisors, but collaborators in the design review process.

Community feels energized

Katalyst becomes a lab for experimentation, not just a conference.

About KSEA

The Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA) was established in 1971 as a non-profit organization that has grown to:

Over 10,000 registered members
75+ Local Chapter and Branches
~30 Affiliated Professional Societies
13 Technical Groups

KSEA Vision

To excel as a leading Korean-American scientific, engineering, and industrial organization, we will:

Promote the application of science and technology for the general welfare of society
Foster international cooperation especially between the U.S. and Korea
Help Korean-American Scientists and Engineers develop their full career potential
Serve the Korean-American Communities

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