Dr. Tae Jin Kim's research intention is a development of catalytic methodologies that can control hydrocarbon-based reaction pathways. For developing biomass conversion to fuel and chemicals, he has been exploring the new catalyst development/catalyst active sites and providing reaction mechanism/intermediate molecular structures using  in-situ and operando experimental conditions. To understand complex reaction pathways, transition state geometries and thermodynamic properties, he has also been interested in Density Functional Theory calculations and collaborated with theoretical calculation research group in Argonne National Laboratory.