Explore research labs at leading universities worldwide — research fields and key papers at a glance.
Professor Hye Jung Youn's research lab specializes in the development and characterization of cellulose-based nanomaterials, with a focus on cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) for advanced functional applications. The lab investigates the structural control, surface modification, and rheological behavior of CNFs to enhance their performance in transparent composites, hydrogels, and porous foams. Key research directions include optimizing CNF morphology through chemical treatments like carboxymethylation and quaternization, and exploring their roles in sustainable materials for packaging, biomedical, and environmental applications.
Professor Gunhee Lee's research lab specializes in the development of advanced soft electronic materials and wearable bioelectronics, focusing on liquid metal-based composites, conductive fibers, and skin-integrated devices. The lab pioneers innovative fabrication techniques—such as meniscus-guided printing, shearing-based deposition, and heterostructure fiber printing—to achieve high-conductivity, mechanically durable, and stretchable electronics directly on flexible and soft substrates. Key research directions include intrinsically conductive e-tattoos, deformable liquid metal particles for wearable sensors, and passive resonators for wireless health monitoring.
Professor Yukwon Jeon's research lab specializes in the design and development of advanced functional materials for sustainable energy and environmental applications. Key research directions include the fabrication of high-performance catalysts and membranes for fuel cells and hydrogen production, with a focus on improving efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness. The lab also explores innovative nanomaterials—such as perovskite-based hollow fibers, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, and hydrotalcite nanohybrids—for clean energy conversion, catalytic reforming of heavy hydrocarbons, and biomedical applications. A strong emphasis is placed on structural engineering at the micro- and nano-scale to optimize material performance in real-world conditions.
Professor Seungmin Bang's research lab specializes in advanced endoscopic interventions, with a primary focus on biliary and pancreatic diseases. The lab investigates innovative techniques such as endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EBD) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB), aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy and procedural safety. Key research directions include optimizing balloon size for stone extraction, evaluating needle gauge effects in tissue sampling, and understanding anatomical variations of the pancreatic ductal system to reduce complications like post-ERCP pancreatitis.
Professor Ji-Won Son's research lab specializes in advanced materials and thin-film technologies for sustainable energy conversion, with a primary focus on solid oxide and protonic ceramic fuel cells. The lab develops nanostructured electrolytes, anodes, and cathodes using pulsed laser deposition and template-assisted fabrication to enhance ionic conductivity, reduce operating temperatures, and improve device efficiency. Key research directions include thin-film electrolyte integration, ammonia-fueled direct operation, and the optimization of cobalt- and nickel-based electrocatalysts for low-temperature fuel cell applications.
Professor Joon Young Choi's research lab specializes in molecular imaging and nuclear medicine, with a focus on optimizing the diagnostic and prognostic utility of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT in oncology and neurology. The lab investigates the role of metabolic imaging in improving cancer staging, predicting treatment response, and guiding personalized management in diseases such as esophageal cancer, breast cancer, and focal cortical dysplasia. A key research direction involves refining imaging criteria—such as SUV, tumor length, and lymph node involvement—to enhance accuracy in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions and to inform revised staging systems.
Professor Sebyung Kang's research lab specializes in the design and engineering of protein-based nanomaterials for biomedical applications, with a focus on viral and ferritin-like protein cages as versatile nanoplatforms. The lab develops advanced biosensing technologies using surface plasmon resonance and nanoscale imaging, while also pioneering innovative strategies for targeted drug delivery and multiplexed cellular imaging through site-specific protein modifications. Key research directions include the construction of multifunctional nanocages, the use of bioorthogonal ligation systems like SpyTag/SpyCatcher, and the application of chemical cross-linking coupled with mass spectrometry to probe protein structures and interactions. The lab integrates structural biology, bioconjugate chemistry, and nanobiotechnology to create smart, modular nanosystems for diagnostics and therapeutics.
Professor Sang-Soo Baek's research lab specializes in environmental data science and advanced materials for sustainable water and energy systems. The lab focuses on developing deep learning and machine learning models to predict water quality, algal blooms, and dissolved organic matter dynamics in river systems, integrating hydrological, meteorological, and water quality data. Concurrently, the lab designs and optimizes novel metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and carbon-based nanocomposites for high-performance energy storage applications, particularly supercapacitors. The interdisciplinary approach bridges environmental monitoring with materials innovation to address global challenges in water security and clean energy.
Professor Atsushi Shishido's research lab specializes in the design and fabrication of functional and stimuli-responsive materials, with a focus on light-responsive molecular systems and advanced photonic materials. The lab pioneers innovative techniques in molecular alignment control—particularly through dye-free, light-triggered methods like scanning wave photopolymerization—to create large-scale, patterned organic and hybrid materials. Key research directions include photoresponsive liquid crystals, supramolecular assemblies via non-covalent interactions (e.g., halogen bonding), and the development of photonic nanostructures such as titania arrays using interference lithography. The lab integrates optical characterization, materials synthesis, and nanofabrication to enable next-generation optoelectronic and smart materials.
Professor Hidetoshi Tokuyama's research lab specializes in synthetic organic chemistry, with a focus on the development of novel reaction methodologies for complex molecule synthesis. Key research directions include photoinduced reactions of fullerenes, transition-metal-catalyzed cyclizations (particularly gold- and copper-mediated transformations), and the stereoselective synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles such as indoles and indolizines. The lab also investigates mild and efficient methods for the synthesis of sensitive intermediates like α-amino aldehydes and explores cascade reactions for building molecular complexity.
Professor Yoshihiko Yamamoto's research lab specializes in transition-metal-catalyzed organic transformations, with a strong focus on alkyne-based cyclizations and C–H functionalization. The lab develops innovative catalytic systems—particularly using ruthenium, silver, and copper complexes—for the regio- and chemoselective synthesis of complex heterocycles and arene frameworks. Key research directions include intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] alkyne cyclotrimerizations, hydroarylation, and cycloaddition reactions to construct polycyclic scaffolds with high stereo- and regiocontrol. These methodologies are strategically applied to the synthesis of natural products and functional materials.
Professor Yoshiko Miura's research lab specializes in glycopolymer nanobiotechnology, focusing on the design and synthesis of synthetic glycopolymers that mimic natural cell-surface saccharides. Her group explores the multivalent interactions between glycopolymers and biological targets such as lectins, pathogens, and amyloid proteins, with applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and neurodegenerative disease intervention. Key research directions include the development of chemoenzymatic synthesis methods for glycoconjugate polymers, the engineering of functional nanomaterials like glycopolymer-coated gold nanoparticles, and the investigation of structure–activity relationships in saccharide-protein interactions. The lab emphasizes both fundamental understanding and practical biomedical applications of these biomimetic materials.
Professor Hiroki Ago's research lab specializes in the synthesis, characterization, and application of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, with a strong focus on graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). The lab explores epitaxial growth of high-quality 2D materials on single-crystalline substrates, investigates their electronic and optical properties under external stimuli such as strain and doping, and develops hybrid heterostructures combining 2D materials with carbon nanotubes or conjugated polymers for advanced optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices. A central theme is the precise control of electronic properties through chemical doping and nanostructure engineering to enable next-generation flexible and high-performance electronic technologies.
Professor Chris Hyunchul Jo's research lab specializes in regenerative medicine and orthopedic tissue repair, with a primary focus on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for treating degenerative joint and tendon diseases. The lab investigates cell-based therapies, particularly autologous adipose-derived MSCs, for knee osteoarthritis through clinical trials, emphasizing safe and effective intra-articular delivery. Another key direction involves optimizing PRP application in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair to enhance structural healing, especially in large to massive tears, while evaluating both clinical and anatomical outcomes. The lab aims to bridge translational research with clinical practice to improve long-term joint and tendon function.
Professor Mona Choi's research lab focuses on improving health outcomes in chronic disease management and aging populations through innovative digital health interventions and public health nursing practices. The lab specializes in mobile health (mHealth) technologies, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) using mobile devices, and the integration of environmental health assessments into community nursing. A key emphasis is on enhancing self-management, quality of life, and social support for older adults and patients with chronic conditions such as peripheral artery disease.
Professor Hyun S. Ahn's research lab specializes in the design, synthesis, and in-depth electrochemical characterization of nanostructured materials for sustainable energy conversion and storage. The lab focuses on understanding the surface-specific reactivity and electronic structure of transition metal-based electrocatalysts—particularly nickel, iron, cobalt, and molybdenum compounds—for key reactions such as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and water oxidation. Using advanced in situ and surface-selective techniques like surface interrogation scanning electrochemical microscopy (SI-SECM) and time-resolved redox titrations, the lab probes active sites and reaction mechanisms at the molecular level in liquid environments. Their work bridges fundamental electrocatalysis with practical applications in renewable energy technologies like solar fuels and green hydrogen production.
Professor Sang Eun Lee's research lab focuses on skin biology and disease mechanisms, with a strong emphasis on epidermal barrier function, keratinocyte differentiation, and the role of proteases and their receptors (such as PAR-2) in inflammatory skin disorders like atopic dermatitis and acne. The lab also investigates natural compounds and stimuli-responsive nanotherapeutics for targeted drug delivery, particularly in inflammatory conditions, leveraging reactive oxygen species and pH as dual triggers for precise therapeutic release. Their work bridges molecular dermatology with translational nanomedicine.
Professor Jun-Hyuk Lee's research lab specializes in epidemiological and translational studies focusing on the role of oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and lifestyle factors in the development of chronic diseases. The lab investigates biomarkers such as the Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) and insulin resistance indices (e.g., HOMA-IR, METS-IR) to understand their predictive value for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, NAFLD, and cardiovascular diseases. A key research direction involves evaluating the preventive potential of diet and lifestyle interventions, including the impact of electroacupuncture on inflammatory pathways. The lab integrates population-based cohort data with preclinical models to bridge molecular mechanisms with public health outcomes.
Professor Sangmin Jeon's research lab specializes in the design and fabrication of advanced functional materials for energy, environmental, and biomedical applications. The lab focuses on laser-assisted synthesis of carbon-based nanomaterials, particularly conductive graphitic carbon on cellulose and nanocellulose substrates, for sustainable solar energy conversion and water purification. It also explores multifunctional nanofibrous membranes for air filtration and real-time respiratory monitoring, as well as magnetic nanoclusters for targeted cancer therapy via magnetic hyperthermia. The integration of materials science, nanofabrication, and device engineering defines the lab’s interdisciplinary approach.
Professor Soon-Wook Kwon's research lab specializes in the integration of advanced digital technologies and agricultural biotechnology to enhance construction efficiency and rice crop improvement. The lab focuses on applying Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), Digital Twins, and Augmented Reality (AR) for smart construction and real-time monitoring of construction processes, while also advancing rice breeding through molecular genetics, genome-wide association studies, and functional genomics. Key research directions include the development of 3D modeling techniques using point cloud data, the application of AR in facility management, and the identification of genes regulating root architecture and starch biosynthesis in rice. The lab bridges digital innovation in civil engineering with biotechnological solutions in agriculture to support sustainable development.
