Explore research labs at leading universities worldwide — research fields and key papers at a glance.
Professor Naoto Shimizu's research lab specializes in molecular and cellular biology, with a focus on enzyme mechanisms, peptide receptor interactions, and the behavior of exogenous DNA in cellular environments. The lab investigates prenyltransferase enzymes and their roles in biosynthetic pathways, explores the structural and functional dynamics of parathyroid hormone and its receptor for therapeutic development, and examines the fate of microinjected DNA in live cells. Additionally, the lab contributes to sustainable biotechnology by studying biomass conversion and the application of bioactive compounds in food packaging.
Professor Sunkyu Han's research lab specializes in the development of innovative synthetic methodologies and their application to the total synthesis of complex natural products, with a particular focus on alkaloids. The lab emphasizes enantioselective synthesis, biomimetic transformations, and the chemical emulation of biosynthetic pathways to enable efficient and selective construction of structurally diverse natural products. A key direction involves the design of peptide-based catalysts for site-selective functionalization and the development of novel bond-forming reactions, such as visible-light-mediated cross-coupling, to streamline synthetic routes. The lab also investigates structure-activity relationships of bioactive natural products, particularly in the context of anticancer properties.
Professor Sang Ook Kang's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of advanced organic and hybrid materials for renewable energy applications, with a strong focus on dye-sensitized solar cells, photocatalytic hydrogen and syngas production, and charge-transfer systems. The lab develops novel organic sensitizers, covalent dyads, and functionalized clusters—such as those incorporating o-carborane, triphenylamine, and transition metal catalysts—to enable efficient light harvesting, electron transfer, and catalytic activity under visible light. Their work emphasizes structure-property relationships in donor-acceptor systems, aiming to achieve high photovoltaic efficiency and stable, tunable photocatalytic performance.
Professor Woo Jong Yu's research lab specializes in advanced 2D materials and nanocarbon-based electronics, focusing on the development of flexible, transparent, and highly reliable nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices. Key research directions include the integration of transition-metal dichalcogenides (e.g., MoS₂), graphene, and carbon nanotubes into van der Waals heterostructures for next-generation neuromorphic computing, non-volatile memory, and low-hysteresis logic circuits. The lab emphasizes innovative device architectures using defect-engineered graphene and carbon nanotube networks to achieve high performance, mechanical robustness, and optical transparency.
Professor Jong-Man Kim's research lab specializes in the design and application of stimuli-responsive functional materials, with a primary focus on polydiacetylenes (PDAs) and their supramolecular assemblies. The lab develops smart materials that exhibit reversible color and fluorescence changes in response to environmental stimuli such as temperature, light, and chemical agents, enabling applications in anti-counterfeiting, biosensing, and wearable diagnostics. Innovative fabrication techniques—such as inkjet printing and microfluidic integration—are employed to create patterned, flexible, and disposable sensors on paper and other substrates. The lab also explores hierarchical structural control of PDAs to tailor their optical and electronic properties for advanced sensing and display technologies.
Professor Jae Eun Oh's research lab specializes in cementitious materials and sustainable construction materials, with a focus on the hydration mechanisms, chloride binding behavior, and pore structure evolution in alkali-activated materials and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS). The lab investigates the role of key phases such as monosulfoaluminate and C-A-S-H gels in anion exchange and immobilization, particularly under aggressive environments like seawater exposure. Using advanced characterization techniques like STXM, XANES, and XRD, the lab explores the long-term durability and performance of alternative cements, aiming to develop eco-friendly and durable construction materials.
Professor Yonghyun Lee's research lab specializes in the development of biocompatible, stimuli-responsive nanomaterials derived from endogenous molecules—particularly bilirubin—for targeted therapeutic applications. The lab focuses on leveraging the intrinsic biological activities of bilirubin, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, to design smart drug delivery systems that respond to tumor microenvironment stimuli like reactive oxygen species (ROS) or external triggers such as light. Key research directions include nanotherapeutics for cancer immunotherapy, liver fibrosis, and inflammatory diseases, with an emphasis on enhancing drug delivery efficiency and reducing systemic toxicity. The lab also pioneers innovative prodrug strategies to improve the pharmacokinetics and safety profiles of existing drugs like celecoxib.
Professor Ryo Tamura's research lab specializes in the theoretical and computational investigation of nanomaterials, with a focus on carbon-based nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes and graphene. The lab explores the electronic and transport properties of topological defects—like disclinations and ring defects—using tight-binding models and advanced numerical methods. Recent work extends into machine learning-driven materials design, particularly for optimizing powder manufacturing processes and enabling quantitative odor sensing through nanomechanical systems. The lab bridges fundamental quantum mechanics with practical applications in materials synthesis and sensing technologies.
Professor Tetsuro Majima's research lab specializes in the design and development of advanced functional materials for sustainable energy conversion and environmental applications. The lab focuses on photocatalytic water splitting using novel heterostructured semiconductors, such as black phosphorus-based Z-scheme systems and plasmonic-sensitized photocatalysts, to achieve efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion. Additionally, the lab investigates the fundamental photophysical processes in 2D materials and nanostructured cocatalysts to optimize charge separation and reaction kinetics. A parallel line of research explores the structural and electronic properties of π-conjugated macrocycles, particularly cycloparaphenylenes, for their unique optical and electronic behaviors.
Professor Toshikazu Ono's research lab specializes in the design and application of supramolecular and functional materials for sensing and biomedical diagnostics. The lab focuses on developing stimuli-responsive molecular systems, particularly those based on electron donor-acceptor interactions such as B-N dative bonds and charge-transfer complexes, to achieve tunable optical properties. A key research direction involves creating smart chemosensors and fluorogenic probes for volatile organic compounds and enzymatic activities—especially uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG)—with high sensitivity and real-time detection capabilities. The lab also explores neural circuit modulation through electrophysiological studies, particularly in limbic system structures like the amygdala and hypothalamus.
Professor Chong Liu's research lab specializes in computational and experimental catalysis, with a focus on zeolite-based materials for environmental and energy applications. The lab investigates the atomic-level mechanisms of acid-catalyzed and redox reactions, particularly in metal-exchanged zeolites for NOx abatement and CO2 conversion. By integrating operando spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT), and ab initio thermodynamics, the group uncovers reaction pathways and active site structures in complex catalytic systems. Their work also extends to asymmetric synthesis, developing novel transition-metal catalysts for enantioselective transformations.
Professor Min Chul Suh's research lab specializes in the development of advanced organic semiconductors and optoelectronic materials for next-generation light-emitting devices. The lab focuses on designing high-efficiency phosphorescent and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters, optimizing host materials for balanced charge transport and minimal energy loss, and engineering novel device architectures such as tandem and microcavity OLEDs. Key research directions include enhancing external quantum efficiency, improving device stability, and enabling scalable patterning techniques like laser-induced thermal imaging for flexible and high-resolution displays.
Professor Hunjoo Ha's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease, with a central emphasis on oxidative stress and its downstream signaling pathways. The lab investigates the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS), redox-sensitive transcription factors (such as NF-κB and Nrf2), and key mediators like TGF-β1 and MCP-1 in renal fibrosis and inflammation. Research spans cellular models, animal studies, and molecular signaling, particularly examining how high glucose, free fatty acids, and mitochondrial/peroxisomal dysfunction contribute to kidney injury. The lab also explores therapeutic strategies targeting antioxidant systems, such as the Nrf2-HO-1 pathway, for potential treatment of kidney disease.
Professor Taro Hitosugi's research lab specializes in the development and fundamental characterization of transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), with a focus on titanium dioxide-based materials doped with niobium or tantalum. The lab investigates epitaxial thin films and polycrystalline films using pulsed laser deposition and post-annealing techniques to achieve high electrical conductivity and optical transparency. Their work combines advanced experimental techniques—such as scanning tunneling microscopy, photoemission spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction—with first-principles calculations to understand electronic band structures and charge redistribution at the atomic level. The ultimate goal is to create sustainable, indium-free TCOs for next-generation optoelectronic devices.
Professor Kiyoshi Takeda's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying innate immunity and signal transduction pathways in mammalian development and disease. The lab investigates the roles of key signaling molecules such as STAT3, IKKalpha, and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in immune responses, embryonic development, and tissue homeostasis. Using genetically modified mouse models, including conditional gene targeting, the lab elucidates how these pathways regulate inflammation, apoptosis, and cell differentiation. Their work bridges innate immunity with developmental biology and has implications for understanding autoimmune diseases, cancer, and regenerative processes.
Professor Dong-Kyu Kim's research lab specializes in intelligent transportation systems, with a focus on mobility-as-a-service (MaaS), shared mobility solutions, and sustainable urban transportation. The lab investigates user behavior, travel mode preferences, and demand forecasting for shared mobility services such as e-scooters and paratransit, integrating stated preference surveys and advanced data analytics. It also explores innovative technologies like UAV-based traffic monitoring and self-interference cancellation in wireless communications to enhance system efficiency and safety.
Professor Ghiseok Kim's research lab specializes in the development of advanced sensing and machine learning techniques for agricultural and environmental monitoring. The lab focuses on leveraging UAV-based imaging, thermal and spectroscopic sensing, and deep learning for automated detection, counting, and viability assessment of pests, crops, and plant health. Key research directions include intelligent pest monitoring using pheromone trap images, thermal imaging for seed viability and water stress detection in fruit trees, and spectral analysis for non-destructive quality evaluation of agricultural products.
Professor Heonjun Yoon's research lab specializes in the design, modeling, and reliability analysis of smart electromechanical systems with a focus on vibration energy harvesting and structural health monitoring. The lab develops advanced analytical and computational models for piezoelectric energy harvesters, including energy harvesting skins and phononic crystal-based devices, to enhance energy conversion efficiency and system durability. Key research directions include multi-scale feature extraction for fault diagnosis, electromechanical coupling modeling, and reliability assessment under physical uncertainties such as material variability and manufacturing tolerances. The lab also explores innovative concepts like segmented piezoelectric defects and synthetic negative capacitors to overcome limitations in bandgap tuning and energy harvesting performance.
Professor Seon-Jin Choi's research lab specializes in the design and fabrication of advanced nanomaterials for next-generation sensing applications, particularly in the field of noninvasive medical diagnostics. The lab focuses on developing highly sensitive and selective gas sensors using functionalized metal oxide nanostructures—such as WO₃ hemitubes and nanotubes—combined with noble metal nanoparticles and 2D materials like graphene. Key research directions include breath analysis for early detection of diseases like diabetes and halitosis, humidity sensing for wearable electronics, and ultrafast, low-cost fabrication techniques such as pulsed light reduction and electrospinning. The lab emphasizes real-time, portable, and wearable sensing platforms with enhanced performance through nanostructure engineering and surface functionalization.
Professor Shunan Zhang's research lab specializes in cognitive science and human-AI interaction, focusing on how individuals perceive, interact with, and become dependent on artificial intelligence in educational and decision-making contexts. The lab investigates the psychological mechanisms underlying AI usage behaviors—such as overreliance, self-disclosure in AI interactions, and learning through social media features like Danmu comments—using computational modeling and empirical methods. Key research directions include the application of Bayesian and sequential sampling models to understand human decision-making, the role of emotional and social cues in AI instruction, and the design of AI systems that support long-term learning and engagement.
