Youngwan Kim's main research interests are International Relations and Comparative Politics along with Methodology as a minor. He has a special interest in international organizations and nongovernmental organizations. He is a PhD candidate and will graduate in Spring 2011. He is currently working on h is dissertation entitled "The Unveiled Power of NGOs Influence States' Foreign Policy Behaviors."

For the 2010-2011 academic year, Youngwan received the Seashore and Ballard Dissertation Fellowship from the Graduate College at The University of Iowa.