Explore research labs at leading universities worldwide — research fields and key papers at a glance.
Professor Takeshi Bamba's research lab specializes in lipidomics and metabolomics, focusing on the development of advanced analytical methodologies for comprehensive and quantitative lipid profiling. The lab pioneers innovative techniques such as supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with fast-scanning triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (SFC/QqQMS) to enable high-throughput, accurate lipid quantification. A key research direction involves the creation of theoretical lipid multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) libraries to enhance the reliability and coverage of lipidomic analyses. The lab's work aims to uncover novel biomarkers and deepen the understanding of lipid metabolism in health and disease.
Professor Jong Woo Hahn's research lab focuses on metabolic and liver diseases, particularly metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), with an emphasis on lifestyle interventions, hepatic steatosis, and gut microbiota modulation in pediatric populations. The lab investigates global trends in liver disease-related mortality, especially in under-researched regions like Africa, and explores the impact of environmental and behavioral factors on liver health. Additionally, the lab contributes to public health policy through evidence-based research on tobacco product additives and their health implications.
Professor Megalamane S. Bootharaju's research lab specializes in the design, synthesis, and characterization of atomically precise noble and non-noble metal nanomaterials, with a focus on their environmental and optoelectronic applications. The lab investigates the fundamental interactions between nanomaterials—particularly silver and gold clusters and nanoparticles—and environmental pollutants such as pesticides, heavy metals, and organic contaminants, aiming to develop efficient water purification strategies. A key research direction involves understanding structure-property relationships in nanoclusters, including doping strategies and near-infrared luminescence, using advanced spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The lab also explores the role of capping ligands and support matrices in stabilizing and tuning the reactivity of these nanosystems.
Professor Yifei Huang's research lab specializes in computer vision and multimedia understanding, with a strong focus on egocentric video analysis, temporal reasoning in action understanding, and joint attention detection in social interactions. The lab develops advanced deep learning models—such as graph-based networks, conditional random fields, and mutual context learning frameworks—to address challenges in action recognition, gaze prediction, and weakly supervised temporal grounding. A key theme across their work is leveraging multimodal signals (e.g., gaze, video, language) and structural modeling to improve understanding of human activities in complex, real-world settings.
Professor Hiroshi Harada's research lab focuses on tumor microenvironment and cancer metabolism, particularly the role of hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) in tumor radioresistance, recurrence, and metastasis. The lab investigates molecular mechanisms underlying radiation response, including the Akt/mTOR pathway's regulation of HIF-1 activity, and develops targeted therapeutic strategies using hypoxia-specific protein drugs and molecular imaging. A key focus is on overcoming treatment resistance in solid tumors through innovative radiation therapy techniques and hypoxia-activated prodrugs.
Professor Jiuhui Han's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of advanced nanomaterials for energy storage and conversion applications. The lab focuses on creating three-dimensional porous and doped graphene architectures, intermetallic compounds, and nanostructured carbons with tailored microstructures and chemistries to enhance electrocatalytic and ion-storage performance. Key research directions include the development of high-capacity, long-life rechargeable batteries (e.g., Li-O₂ and Na-ion batteries) and efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen production.
Professor Yoshihisa Uenoyama's research lab focuses on the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying reproduction in mammals, with a central emphasis on the role of KNDy neurons—neurons co-expressing kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin A—in the regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generation. The lab investigates how these neurons control pulsatile gonadotropin secretion, pubertal onset, and fertility, using genetic and neuroanatomical approaches in rodent and porcine models. Their work also explores the functional and morphological interactions between kisspeptin and GnRH neurons, particularly at the median eminence, and examines the impact of steroid hormones on receptor expression in reproductive tissues.
Professor Vellaichamy Balakumar's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of advanced nanomaterials with a focus on sustainable and green synthesis methodologies. The lab primarily investigates functional nanocomposites—particularly those based on polyaniline, graphene oxide, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, and carbon nitride—for environmental remediation and energy applications. Key research directions include the development of efficient, metal-free photocatalysts for dye degradation and heavy metal reduction, as well as the use of plant extracts for the eco-friendly synthesis of plasmonic and bimetallic nanomaterials. The lab emphasizes the synergy between nanomaterials and visible light activation to enhance catalytic efficiency in water purification processes.
Professor Eun Woo Nam's research lab focuses on adolescent and population health, with a strong emphasis on mental health, social determinants of health, and health disparities across diverse populations. The lab investigates key issues such as suicidal behavior, bullying, substance use, and psychosocial stressors among youth, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, while also exploring the impact of global health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare utilization. The lab further examines health promotion strategies, including social prescribing and community-based interventions, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly in rural settings. Their work integrates epidemiological data with policy-relevant insights to inform public health interventions.
Professor Sungyong Mun's research lab specializes in advanced separation science, with a primary focus on simulated moving bed (SMB) technology for the purification of biochemicals, particularly insulin and other biopharmaceuticals. The lab develops innovative SMB configurations—such as tandem and multi-zone systems—using rate-model simulations and optimization tools to enhance separation efficiency, yield, and purity while minimizing costs. Key research directions include residence time distribution analysis, robust operation under parameter variations, and systematic optimization of both system and operating parameters. The lab's work bridges fundamental separation principles with industrial applications in pharmaceutical and biochemical processing.
Professor Samjin Choi's research lab specializes in the development and application of advanced nanomaterials and spectroscopic techniques for biomedical diagnostics and energy materials. The lab focuses on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors, particularly designing plasmonic nanostructures on flexible substrates like cellulose paper for point-of-care detection of diseases such as breast cancer and preterm birth markers using trace biofluids. They also investigate spinel oxide materials for lithium-ion battery applications, emphasizing synthesis, stability, and electrochemical performance. The integration of Raman spectroscopy with machine learning and AFM enables high-sensitivity, label-free analysis of biological samples at the nanoscale.
Professor Shigeru Miyagawa's research lab specializes in theoretical linguistics, with a focus on syntactic theory, agreement systems, and movement operations in human language. The lab investigates how syntactic operations like scrambling, movement, and agreement contribute to the expressive power and structural complexity of natural languages, drawing on diverse languages including Japanese, English, Basque, and Celtic languages. A central theme is the interplay between syntactic features and discourse functions, such as allocutive agreement targeting the hearer or word order motivated by focus and Case assignment. The lab also explores the interface between syntax and semantics, challenging assumptions about free word order in nonconfigurational languages.
Professor Tso-Fu Mark Chang's research lab specializes in the design, synthesis, and application of advanced nanomaterials for energy conversion and environmental remediation. The lab focuses on developing novel photoelectrochemical systems, particularly using oxide semiconductors and yolk–shell nanostructures, to enhance solar energy utilization for hydrogen production. A key research direction involves engineering heterojunctions—such as Au–semiconductor and metal–polymer systems—to improve charge separation and catalytic efficiency in photocatalysis and electrochemical sensing. The lab also explores electrodeposition and solution-based methods to fabricate nanocrystalline alloys and functional composites with tailored magnetic, optical, and electrochemical properties.
Professor Kan Hatakeyama-Sato's research lab specializes in advanced materials for next-generation energy and electronic systems, with a strong focus on organic and polymer-based materials. Key research directions include the design of redox-active polymers and supramolecular systems for high-performance energy storage, the development of ultrathin and flexible electronic devices using nanoscale hybrid materials, and the integration of machine learning and AI in materials discovery. The lab also pioneers sustainable, all-organic battery architectures and efficient light-emitting electrochemical cells for low-cost, scalable lighting applications.
Professor K. M. Ariful Kabir's research lab specializes in interdisciplinary studies at the intersection of epidemiological modelling, evolutionary game theory, and public health policy. The lab focuses on understanding human behavioural dynamics in disease control, particularly through the lens of compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions like lockdowns, mask-wearing, and vaccination. Key research directions include the development of game-theoretic models to analyze individual decision-making in public goods dilemmas during pandemics, and the evaluation of vaccine and treatment acceptance using economic valuation methods. The lab also explores technological innovations in sustainable energy systems, such as solar adsorption cooling with mass recovery mechanisms.
Professor Yeon-Hwan Park's research lab specializes in aging and long-term care, with a focus on improving the health, independence, and quality of life for older adults. Key research directions include promoting medication adherence through cognitive support strategies, developing assistive technologies and robotics for aging-in-place, and enhancing infection control and dysphagia screening in long-term care facilities. The lab also explores innovative diagnostic tools, such as microfluidic systems for milk quality monitoring, reflecting a broader interest in point-of-care technologies with clinical and public health applications.
Professor Won Do Heo's research lab specializes in systems biology and cellular signaling, focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying subcellular protein localization, calcium signaling in plant immunity, and the dynamic regulation of kinase pathways in cancer. The lab integrates live-cell imaging, optogenetics, and computational modeling to dissect signaling networks in both plant and animal systems. A key focus is on understanding how lipid microdomains and calcium sensors like calmodulin coordinate cellular responses, with applications in disease resistance and targeted cancer therapy.
Professor Hyungjin Chung's research lab specializes in developing advanced deep learning and generative modeling techniques for solving complex inverse problems in medical and computational imaging. The lab focuses on diffusion models, score-based generative modeling, and manifold-constrained optimization to address challenging issues such as noise robustness, out-of-distribution generalization, and 3D reconstruction with limited or missing data. Key research directions include unsupervised and blind inverse problem solving, particularly in MRI and optical diffraction tomography, where the forward model is either unknown or incomplete.
Professor Sung Ok Chang's research lab specializes in long-term care nursing, with a focus on enhancing the quality of care for older adults in nursing homes. Key research directions include holistic nursing interventions—particularly physical touch, pressure injury management, and functional ability preservation—alongside resilience development among nurses and the implementation of evidence-based care models such as the FFC (Falls Free Care) intervention. The lab emphasizes person-centered, context-specific care strategies that improve patient well-being, functional outcomes, and caregiver competence.
Professor Tae Hyuk Kim's research lab specializes in thyroid cancer biomarkers and personalized oncology, focusing on molecular predictors such as BRAF(V600E) and TERT promoter mutations for improved risk stratification and treatment planning. The lab also investigates metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities in thyroid disease, including seasonal influences on thyroid function and the role of pericardial fat in coronary artery disease. Their work integrates clinical oncology, molecular pathology, and medical imaging to refine staging systems and enhance patient outcomes. The lab emphasizes translational research that bridges molecular findings with clinical decision-making.
