ソウル大学、KAIST、延世大学など韓国QSトップ10大学の研究室情報です。
Professor Byoung Hun Lee's research lab specializes in advanced semiconductor materials and devices, with a primary focus on high-κ dielectrics, ultra-thin oxide films, and novel gate stack architectures for next-generation CMOS transistors. The lab investigates the physical, electrical, and reliability properties of materials such as HfO₂ and TiO₂, emphasizing atomic-scale interface engineering, dielectric scaling, and thermal stability. It also explores emerging applications in flexible and transparent electronics, including graphene-based transparent electrodes for organic solar cells and high-performance photodetectors using graphene-silicon heterojunctions. The lab’s work bridges fundamental materials science with practical device integration for energy-efficient and high-performance electronics.
Professor Chang-Sung Seok's research lab specializes in advanced materials engineering with a focus on high-performance alloys, polymers, and ceramics for extreme service environments. The lab investigates the microstructural evolution, mechanical behavior, and long-term degradation mechanisms of materials such as superalloys, rubber composites, and heat-resistant steels under high-temperature and aging conditions. Key research directions include creep resistance, thermal barrier coatings, aging-induced property changes, and the development of reliable life prediction models for critical industrial components.
Professor Ji Hye Min's research lab specializes in abdominal and musculoskeletal radiology, with a primary focus on improving the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic prediction of liver and spinal disorders using advanced medical imaging techniques. The lab emphasizes the application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI and BOLD MRI, for the early detection, characterization, and treatment planning of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other abdominal malignancies. Research also extends to evaluating imaging biomarkers for microvascular invasion, tumor recurrence, and spinal muscle atrophy in relation to radiculopathy, aiming to enhance personalized treatment strategies. The lab integrates radiological assessment with clinical-pathological outcomes to improve patient management and prognosis prediction.
Professor Haejoon Jung's research lab specializes in advanced wireless communication systems, with a focus on 5G and beyond networks, physical-layer security, and energy-efficient wireless sensor networks. The lab explores innovative techniques such as New Radio in Unlicensed spectrum (NR-U), cooperative beamforming, and over-the-air computation to enable high-speed, low-latency, and secure communications for Industry 4.0 and IoT applications. Key research directions include intelligent spectrum sharing, wireless power and data transfer, and UAV-assisted networks for ubiquitous sensing and reliable data aggregation.
Professor Sung Jong Yoo's research lab specializes in the design and development of advanced nanomaterials for sustainable energy conversion and storage applications. The lab focuses on electrocatalysts for fuel cells and nitrogen reduction reactions, with particular emphasis on improving durability, activity, and stability through innovative materials engineering. Key research directions include the synthesis of defect-engineered and single-atom catalysts using biomass-derived precursors, the development of novel flow-field architectures for enhanced water management in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, and the creation of regenerative electrochemical systems for sustainable ammonia production. The lab integrates materials synthesis, electrochemistry, and advanced characterization to address critical challenges in clean energy technologies.
Professor Yangha Kim's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and related chronic diseases, with a particular emphasis on the roles of micronutrients (such as vitamin D) and bioactive phytochemicals (including rutin, EGCG, capsaicin, and ginsenoside Rg3) in regulating adipocyte metabolism, mitochondrial function, and hepatic lipid homeostasis. The lab investigates how these compounds modulate key signaling pathways—such as SIRT1, PGC-1α, AMPK, and lipolytic enzymes (e.g., HSL, CPT1α, UCP2)—to improve metabolic health and combat obesity-associated inflammation and dyslipidemia. Their work bridges nutritional biochemistry with cellular and molecular physiology, aiming to identify natural compounds as potential therapeutic agents for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
Professor Byung-Gee Kim's research lab specializes in enzymatic biocatalysis, particularly focusing on omega-transaminases for the sustainable synthesis of chiral amines—key building blocks in pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. The lab develops kinetic models and innovative reactor systems, such as enzyme-membrane reactors and two-phase systems, to overcome challenges like product inhibition and thermodynamic limitations. They also explore microbial metabolism and metabolic modeling, exemplified by the reconstruction of a high-quality genome-scale metabolic model for *Streptomyces coelicolor* to enable metabolic engineering of industrially relevant bacteria.
Professor Yun Seog Lee's research lab specializes in developing high-performance, earth-abundant chalcogenide and oxide semiconductors for thin-film photovoltaic applications. The lab focuses on interface engineering, defect passivation, and band alignment optimization to enhance carrier collection and device efficiency in CZTSSe and Cu2O-based solar cells. Key research directions include atomic layer deposition of functional oxide layers, tunable doping strategies (e.g., nitrogen-doped Cu2O), and microstructure control via advanced deposition techniques such as thermal co-evaporation and sputtering. The lab’s work emphasizes sustainable photovoltaic materials with potential for low-cost, high-efficiency solar energy conversion.
Professor Nam-Chul Ha's research lab focuses on the structural and molecular mechanisms of membrane protein complexes, particularly tripartite efflux pumps in Gram-negative bacteria, with an emphasis on their roles in antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity. The lab investigates the assembly and function of transport systems such as AcrAB-TolC, MacAB-TolC, and HlyT, using a combination of structural biology, biochemistry, and functional genetics. A key research direction involves understanding the role of conserved tip regions in membrane fusion proteins (MFPs) in mediating interactions with outer membrane factors and transporters. The lab also explores host-pathogen interactions, including viral immune evasion mechanisms, as seen in studies on SARS-CoV-2 Nsp15.
Professor Jun-Ho Choi's research lab specializes in the analysis of complex networks and human-computer interaction, with a focus on understanding global communication structures, media credibility, and human activity recognition. The lab investigates the structural similarities between large-scale networks—such as the Internet backbone and air transport systems—using advanced network analysis techniques. It also explores psychological and behavioral aspects in virtual environments, particularly through multimodal sensing and real-time monitoring of human interactions in virtual meetings. Additionally, the lab develops cutting-edge deep learning models for multimodal human activity recognition, emphasizing confidence-based fusion of sensor data for improved accuracy.
Professor Donghwan Kim's research lab specializes in advanced energy materials, with a primary focus on perovskite-based optoelectronic devices and electrocatalysts for sustainable energy applications. The lab investigates high-efficiency perovskite solar cells, including tandem architectures and large-area module development, aiming to bridge the gap between laboratory-scale performance and industrial scalability. Additionally, the lab explores nanostructured catalysts—particularly NiO-decorated silicon nanowires with carbon coatings—for enhanced electrocatalytic activity in water splitting and related energy conversion processes. Their work emphasizes material design, interface engineering, and performance optimization for practical renewable energy solutions.
Professor Soo Hyun Kim's research lab specializes in biomedical materials and molecular therapeutics, focusing on the development of bioactive polymers and immune-modulating proteins for regenerative medicine and metabolic disease treatment. Key research directions include designing biodegradable polymeric scaffolds for tissue engineering, particularly using lactide-based star-shaped polymers and copolymers like poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone), and exploring the therapeutic potential of endogenous immune regulators such as IL-18 binding protein in inflammatory conditions like nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The lab also investigates repurposed drugs—such as ezetimibe—for their autophagy-enhancing and anti-inflammatory effects, aiming to uncover novel mechanisms for treating liver fibrosis and metabolic syndrome. These interdisciplinary efforts integrate polymer chemistry, immunology, and translational medicine to develop innovative biomaterials and biologics.
Professor Jin-Hong Kim's research lab focuses on mechanobiology and tissue engineering, with a central emphasis on how mechanical cues—such as extracellular matrix stiffness and cell-cell contact—interact with biochemical signals to regulate cell behavior, particularly in epithelial and cartilage tissues. The lab investigates the mechanotransduction pathways underlying diseases like osteoarthritis and cancer, exploring how matrix remodeling and mechanical stress contribute to pathological progression. Using interdisciplinary approaches combining biophysics, cell biology, and biomaterials, the lab aims to uncover how mechanical microenvironments influence cell cycle decisions, tissue homeostasis, and regenerative potential. Their work also extends to therapeutic applications, including shockwave therapy and neuromodulation for musculoskeletal and neurological rehabilitation.
Professor Ho Jae Han's research lab focuses on cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying renal injury, particularly in the context of diabetic nephropathy, oxidative stress, and metabolic disorders. The lab investigates key signaling pathways involving PPARγ, oxidative stress mediators like H₂O₂, uric acid, and stress-responsive genes such as CSR, with an emphasis on epithelial-mesenchymal transition, fibrosis, and cellular stress adaptation in renal proximal tubular cells. Additional research explores the roles of growth factors (e.g., EGF, BMP-4) and scaffolding proteins (e.g., caveolin-1) in regulating cell proliferation, migration, and survival. The lab integrates molecular biology, cell culture, and signaling pathway analysis to uncover therapeutic targets for kidney diseases.
Professor Haecheon Choi's research lab specializes in computational fluid dynamics and active flow control, with a focus on turbulent boundary layers, drag reduction, and instability control in bluff-body and wall-bounded flows. The lab employs direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES) to investigate fundamental mechanisms of turbulence and to develop advanced control strategies such as synthetic jets, feedback control, and riblet surface modifications. Key research directions include skin-friction reduction, coherent structure manipulation, and the optimization of control efficiency across varying Reynolds numbers. The lab also integrates control theory and adjoint-based optimization techniques to design suboptimal feedback control laws for complex turbulent flows.
Professor Yong-Seok Lee's research lab focuses on the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying learning, memory, and social behavior, with a particular emphasis on the prefrontal cortex and its subcortical circuits. The lab investigates how early-life experiences, such as social isolation, alter neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity through conserved signaling pathways like cAMP/CREB and RAS/ERK. Using a combination of behavioral assays, chemogenetics, viral tracing, and molecular techniques in rodent and invertebrate models (e.g., Aplysia and C. elegans), the lab explores the genetic and cellular basis of neuropsychiatric disorders, including RASopathies. A central theme is the identification and functional characterization of G protein-coupled receptors and their roles in modulating neural circuits and long-term synaptic changes.
Professor Hyungjin Kim's research lab specializes in brain-inspired neuromorphic computing and advanced memory technologies, focusing on the development of hardware-efficient neural network architectures using novel memristive and synaptic transistor devices. The lab explores the integration of passive crossbar circuits, spike-timing dependent plasticity, and low-power neuromorphic systems for energy-efficient AI computation. Key research directions include device-level optimization for variability and noise resilience, hardware-software co-design for spiking neural networks, and the application of advanced 3D NAND flash and oxide-based memristor technologies for next-generation nonvolatile memory and in-memory computing.
Professor Hyunju Lee's research lab specializes in infectious diseases, with a focus on pediatric respiratory infections, antimicrobial resistance, and vaccine immunology. The lab investigates the epidemiology and clinical management of macrolide-resistant *Mycoplasma pneumoniae* pneumonia, evaluates vaccine effectiveness and immune responses—particularly to pneumococcal and hepatitis A vaccines—and explores the impact of public health interventions on respiratory viral transmission. The lab also emphasizes translational research, including culturally adapted patient-reported outcome measures and seroprevalence studies to guide public health policy.
Professor Hee Chan Kim's research lab specializes in biomedical microsystems and bioelectrical engineering, focusing on the development of advanced diagnostic technologies using nanomaterials, microfluidics, and computational modeling. Key research directions include label-free detection of circulating tumor cells via impedance sensing, miniaturized implantable biosensors for neural and cardiac monitoring, and AI-driven reconstruction of physiological signals such as 12-lead ECGs from wearable patch devices. The lab also investigates fundamental electrochemical phenomena in nanoporous structures to enable next-generation point-of-care diagnostics and implantable medical devices.
Professor Hak-Joon Sung's research lab specializes in developing advanced biomaterials and smart scaffolds for regenerative medicine and cardiovascular tissue engineering. The lab focuses on stimuli-responsive materials—particularly those responsive to reactive oxygen species (ROS)—to enable site-specific drug delivery, enhanced cell infiltration, and improved tissue regeneration. Key research directions include designing shape-memory polymers for minimally invasive vascular grafts, engineering electrospun polymer scaffolds to direct stem cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes, and utilizing 3D graphene foams to support stem cell osteogenic differentiation. The overarching goal is to create functional, biocompatible, and dynamically responsive materials that can actively interact with and repair diseased tissues in vivo.
