Research labs at Korea's QS Top 10 universities including SNU, KAIST, and Yonsei.
Professor Jongha Lee's research lab focuses on understanding the neurobiological and psychological underpinnings of adolescent and early-onset depressive disorders. The lab integrates neuroimaging techniques—particularly cortical thickness analysis—with machine learning to identify brain structural biomarkers and predict treatment outcomes at the individual level. Research also explores the impact of prolonged stressors, such as those during the pandemic, on mental health, emphasizing the need for early intervention and resilience-based strategies. The lab aims to bridge clinical psychiatry with objective biological markers to improve diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders.
Professor Jiyeong Lee's research lab specializes in geotechnical and geological engineering, with a focus on hydraulic conductivity estimation using regional databases and the seismic performance of micropiles. The lab conducts experimental and data-driven studies to improve underground construction safety and resilience, particularly through innovative foundation systems like micropiles with optimized casing configurations. Research integrates field data, laboratory testing, and dynamic analysis to address challenges in groundwater flow and seismic resistance.
Professor Tae Young Yune's research lab focuses on identifying molecular mechanisms underlying secondary injury following spinal cord injury (SCI), with a central emphasis on neuroprotection and functional recovery. The lab investigates key signaling pathways—such as p38MAPK, PI3K/Akt, ERK, and ER stress—involved in apoptosis of oligodendrocytes and neurons. It also explores the therapeutic potential of endogenous and exogenous neuroactive molecules, including minocycline, estrogen, valproic acid, ghrelin, and proNGF modulation, to mitigate neuronal cell death and promote repair. The lab integrates molecular biology, behavioral assessment, and biochemical analysis to develop novel neuroprotective strategies for SCI.
Professor Sung Nim Han's research lab focuses on the intersection of aging, micronutrients, and immune function, with a particular emphasis on how dietary antioxidants—especially vitamin E—modulate age-related immune decline and susceptibility to infections such as influenza. The lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying immune senescence, including dysregulation of T helper cell responses, cytokine imbalances, and oxidative stress. Using murine models and human studies, the lab explores how nutrition interventions can restore immune competence in the elderly, with a strong focus on gene expression, inflammation, and metabolic regulation. Their work also extends to understanding the impact of obesity on vitamin D metabolism and immune health.
Professor Sung-Hee Han's research lab focuses on food safety, gastrointestinal health, and the bioactive properties of natural products. Key research directions include the epidemiology and clinical management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the role of gut microbiota in Clostridioides difficile infection, and the development of safe, functional food materials such as cold plasma-treated edible films and plant-derived extracts for gastrointestinal health. The lab also investigates the toxicological safety of novel food technologies and the therapeutic potential of marine and herbal compounds in chronic disease models.
Professor Woo-Suk Tae's research lab specializes in neuropsychiatry and neuroimaging, focusing on the structural and functional brain abnormalities associated with major depressive disorder (MDD), juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), and other psychiatric conditions. The lab employs advanced neuroimaging techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), structural MRI, and MRS to investigate neurobiological underpinnings of brain disorders, including white matter integrity, hippocampal atrophy, cortical gyrification, and metabolic changes in key brain regions like the prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex. Genetic associations, particularly with the TPH2 gene, are also explored to understand the neurodevelopmental and endophenotypic basis of mood disorders.
Professor Jong Ho Cho's research lab specializes in thoracic surgery and oncology, with a focus on optimizing surgical outcomes for patients with lung and colorectal cancer. The lab investigates prognostic factors, patient selection criteria, and minimally invasive techniques such as VATS for treating malignant pleural effusion, pulmonary metastases, and early-stage lung cancer. Research also explores biomarkers like PD-L1 and EGFR mutations to guide personalized treatment strategies in non-small cell lung cancer.
Professor Jae-Jin Song's research lab specializes in neuroscience and neuroimaging, focusing on the neural mechanisms underlying tinnitus, Parkinson’s disease, neuropathic pain, and depression. The lab employs advanced neurophysiological techniques such as EEG, PET, and tDCS to investigate thalamocortical dysrhythmia and brain network dysfunction in these disorders. A central theme is identifying common and disorder-specific oscillatory and metabolic brain patterns to guide targeted neuromodulation therapies. The lab also emphasizes translational research, linking neuroimaging findings to clinical outcomes and personalized management strategies.
Professor Hyun Ae Jung's research spans computational optimization and biomedical oncology, with a focus on algorithmic efficiency in multiprocessor scheduling for directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) with communication delays, as well as clinical research in cancer treatment. Her work includes investigating targeted therapies and chemotherapy regimens in advanced or recurrent cancers, particularly nasopharyngeal carcinoma and urothelial cancer, with an emphasis on efficacy, survival outcomes, and central nervous system involvement. She also explores the impact of systemic therapies like capecitabine and immunotherapy combinations on treatment-related toxicities and long-term outcomes. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges theoretical computer science and clinical oncology, aiming to improve both computational resource allocation and patient survival strategies.
Professor Hyun-Cheol Song's research lab specializes in advanced energy harvesting technologies, focusing on microscale and nanoscale devices for sustainable power generation. The lab develops innovative piezoelectric and triboelectric energy harvesters, including MEMS-based vibrational harvesters and wearable textile-integrated generators, to enable self-powered systems. Key research directions include the design of architectured materials, piezoelectric materials engineering (e.g., PZT and NKN-LN ceramics), and hybrid energy conversion systems for biomedical and environmental applications.
Professor Chun Sang Yoo's research lab specializes in computational fluid dynamics and combustion science, with a focus on high-fidelity simulations of turbulent and reacting flows. The lab develops advanced numerical methods—particularly improved characteristic boundary conditions—for accurate direct numerical simulations (DNS) of complex combustion phenomena, including lifted flames and auto-ignition processes. Research also extends to multiphase and interfacial dynamics, such as pattern formation in drying drops, using mesoscale modeling and Monte Carlo simulations. The lab's work bridges fundamental fluid dynamics with practical applications in clean energy and propulsion systems.
Professor Byeong-Hyeok Sohn's research lab specializes in the design and fabrication of advanced nanostructured materials using block copolymer self-assembly as a versatile platform. The lab focuses on creating precisely ordered hybrid nanostructures by integrating nanoparticles (such as gold and iron oxide) with polymers, enabling control over nanoparticle positioning, density, and functionality. Key research directions include the development of multilayered and mosaic nanopatterned films, transferable 2D nanomaterials (e.g., rGO-Au hybrids), and nanoarchitectured energy devices such as perovskite solar cells with tailored oxide scaffolds. The lab emphasizes both fundamental understanding of self-assembly mechanisms and practical applications in energy conversion and electrochemical sensing.
Professor Yongil Kim's research lab specializes in remote sensing and deep learning, focusing on advancing image analysis for Earth observation. The lab develops innovative deep learning architectures—such as Re3FCN, MSMLA-Net, and LCNN—tailored for hyperspectral, thermal, and medium- to high-resolution satellite imagery, with an emphasis on handling limited training data and preserving spatial-spectral information. Key research directions include change detection, land-cover and land-use classification, thermal data disaggregation, and semantic segmentation using lightweight and attention-enhanced networks.
Professor Sue Shin's research lab focuses on regenerative medicine and maternal-fetal immunology, with key research directions including the isolation and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells from Wharton’s jelly for regenerative therapies, the molecular epidemiology of human papillomavirus (HPV) variants in cervical carcinogenesis, and the immunological changes in dendritic cell subpopulations during pregnancy. The lab also investigates clinical applications of cord blood banking, particularly in relation to hematologic profiles and public health education on stem cell donation.
Professor Jae-Chul Pyun's research lab specializes in the development of advanced nanomaterials and analytical platforms for biomedical applications, particularly in the field of mass spectrometry-based diagnostics. The lab focuses on designing novel nanostructured matrices—such as Au/TiO2 heterostructures and parylene-based chips—to enhance ionization efficiency and sensitivity in laser desorption/ionization (LDI and MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Their work bridges materials science and clinical diagnostics, aiming to enable early and accurate detection of diseases like sepsis through quantitative analysis of biomarkers such as lysophosphatidylcholine. The lab also explores fundamental interfacial phenomena, including Schottky barrier formation and thermal effects at nanostructured interfaces, to optimize analytical performance.
Professor Shipeng Wan's research lab specializes in the design and development of advanced semiconductor materials for sustainable energy and environmental applications. The lab focuses on photocatalysis and photoelectrochemistry, with main research directions including the rational engineering of bismuth-based semiconductors (e.g., BiVO₄), carbon nitride nanomaterials, and Z-scheme heterojunctions for efficient solar-driven water splitting, CO₂ reduction, and air/water purification. Innovative strategies such as surface oxygen vacancy engineering, elemental doping (e.g., N, O, C), and supramolecular synthesis are employed to enhance charge separation, light absorption, and surface reactivity.
Professor Hyo-Jin Kim's research lab specializes in advanced biomedical imaging and computational modeling, focusing on innovative techniques to enhance tissue visualization and diagnostic accuracy. Key research directions include photoacoustic microscopy for label-free, high-resolution imaging of biological tissues, particularly in neuroscience and cancer research, and the development of image analysis algorithms for unsupervised segmentation and fusion of multimodal data. The lab also investigates structural mechanics of composite materials through finite element modeling, with applications in aerospace and biomedical engineering.
Professor Soo-Yeon Kim's research lab specializes in medical imaging and diagnostic radiology, with a focus on improving breast cancer detection, prognosis prediction, and treatment response assessment. The lab develops advanced imaging techniques—such as MRI, ultrasound, and deep learning-based computer-aided diagnosis—to enhance the accuracy of early diagnosis and reduce false positives. Key research directions include the development of predictive nomograms using radiologic and clinical data, evaluating abbreviated MRI protocols, and investigating the role of oxidative stress and trace elements in cervical neoplasia. The lab also explores functional imaging biomarkers, such as dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI parameters, to optimize personalized cancer care.
Professor Sarah S. Park's research lab specializes in the design, synthesis, and functional characterization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with tailored electronic, ionic, and transport properties. The lab focuses on creating conductive and porous MOFs for applications in energy storage, solid-state ionics, and electrochemical sensing, with a particular emphasis on understanding structure-function relationships at the molecular level. Key research directions include the development of single-ion conductors, proton conductors with distinct transport pathways, and redox-active MOFs for supercapacitor applications.
Professor Kyungjin Lee's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying melatonin biosynthesis, regulation, and metabolism in plants, with a particular emphasis on enzymatic pathways and gene regulation. The lab investigates the roles of key enzymes such as serotonin N-acetyltransferase (SNAT), tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases in melatonin production under abiotic stress conditions like cadmium exposure and light/dark cycles. They also explore the physiological and developmental impacts of melatonin deficiency, including effects on plant growth, architecture, and stress resilience. Additionally, the lab examines the potential presence and function of melatonin metabolites such as cyclic 3-hydroxymelatonin in plants, using genetic and biochemical approaches in model systems like rice.
