Minerals Research Leaders: Hyunjin Na

Unveiling the minds behind breakthroughs: A Glimpse into Our Research Community.

At MRIWA we seek to support visionary minerals research projects creating economic, environmental and social benefit for Western Australia.

In today’s article in the Lead Investigator Interview Series, we get to know MRIWA project lead researcher Hyunjin Na , holder of the 2023 PhD Scholarship for Women.

Meet Hyunjin Na, lead researcher for the project titled: Development of cementation-magnetic separation method for sulfide mineral processing and AMD prevention.

As part of the MRIWA Scholarship program, Hyunjin’s research on simple, flexible technologies for the separation of sulfide minerals has potential application on mine sites throughout Western Australia. Her work offers both economic benefits through increased mineral recovery, and improved environmental outcomes by removing sulfide compounds from the tailings left behind after mining.

Hyunjin responds to the following questions to give insight into being a MRIWA PhD Scholar and what her role as Lead Investigator looks like.

What is your background and what led you to work in this area?

After completing my MSc in Energy and Resources Engineering in South Korea, I worked as a research assistant in the metallurgy process field at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources. While working, I recognised the limitations of my knowledge and decided to study in Australia to get a chance to be a part of innovative advancements in the mining industry.

What inspired the research project, how does it address current industry challenges, and how will your research benefit Western Australia?

The inspiration behind this research stems from the tailings management in the Western Australian mining industry. Numerous operational and closed tailings facilities still have residual mineral values, so we aim to achieve a win-win scenario by facilitating environmental reclamation and generating additional value.

What have you found most rewarding doing research?

One of the most rewarding aspects of conducting research is the opportunity to present my new findings to researchers. Furthermore, at the MRIWA Advancing Net Zero Mining Conference, discussing the research results with professionals in industry not only enabled me to get valuable feedback and insights from others but also gave me unexpected solutions for my research.

What have you found most challenging about doing research?

One of the most challenging aspects of research is encountering unexpected situations that lead to questions and doubts about the work. In such moments, I bring to my mind my experimental process and any mistakes made. These challenges sometimes serve as catalysts for discovering new approaches to our research.

Can you share a memorable experience or breakthrough moment from your research that had a significant impact on your work?

The most memorable moment was when I first did the experiments after setting up the research conditions based on the theoretical foundation. It was really exciting when I discovered that the results perfectly aligned with our hypothesis. 

Conclusions and more information.

Discover more about the MRIWA PhD project Hyunjin leads and find information about the PhD Scholarship Program, here: https://www.mriwa.wa.gov.au/research-funding/education-program/scholarships/

For more inspiring stories from the frontiers of research, discovery and exploration at MRIWA, stay tuned here on LinkedIn for the Lead Investigator Interview Series. Together, let’s continue championing the pursuit of knowledge, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and advance Western Australia.