Explore research labs at leading universities worldwide — research fields and key papers at a glance.
Professor Changduk Yang's research lab specializes in advanced materials for renewable energy applications, with a primary focus on organic photovoltaics and triboelectric nanogenerators. The lab investigates the design and synthesis of block copolymers, non-fullerene acceptors, and functional polymers to optimize the nanomorphology and charge dynamics in bulk-heterojunction solar cells, achieving high power conversion efficiencies. Additionally, the lab explores high-output triboelectric nanogenerators based on tailored polyimide materials for sustainable energy harvesting. Their work emphasizes molecular engineering to enhance charge transport, stability, and device performance.
Professor Pyung Bok Lee's research lab specializes in regional anesthesiology and interventional pain management, with a focus on spinal and peripheral nerve blocks, epidural drug delivery, and neuromodulation for chronic pain. The lab investigates the anatomical and physiological variations—such as lumbosacral transitional vertebrae—that affect nerve root localization and block efficacy, while also exploring safe and effective drug combinations for epidural injections. A key direction involves evaluating novel topical and epidural therapies, including high-concentration capsaicin patches and gabapentin, for neuropathic pain, with a strong emphasis on translational safety and efficacy. The lab also examines alternative agents like hypertonic saline in peripheral nerve blocks, aiming to optimize treatment outcomes with reduced side effects.
Professor Eunil Park's research lab specializes in human-centered technology adoption, focusing on user acceptance and behavioral intention toward emerging digital technologies. The lab investigates key psychological, usability, and experiential factors influencing the adoption of IoT-enabled systems, smart city infrastructures, social networking services, car navigation systems, LTE services, and wearable healthcare devices. By integrating theories such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with empirical data from large-scale surveys, the lab develops robust models to understand user motivation and system design implications. The research emphasizes real-world applicability, particularly in smart environments and health technology.
Professor Sun Joo Jang's research lab focuses on mental health and well-being in nursing professionals, with a strong emphasis on workplace violence, burnout, and psychological stress among psychiatric and trauma nurses. The lab investigates factors influencing compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, and medication error reporting, particularly across different career stages. It also explores sociocultural influences such as gender role stereotypes and patriarchal family environments on nursing students’ major satisfaction and mental health. The lab’s work is grounded in improving patient safety, nursing quality of life, and organizational interventions in healthcare settings.
Professor Jinki Yeom's research lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial stress responses, with a focus on metal homeostasis, proteostasis, and post-translational regulation in pathogenic and environmental bacteria. The lab explores how pathogens like *Salmonella enterica* and *Pseudomonas* species dynamically regulate proteolysis and protein stability under nutrient limitation and host-imposed stresses, particularly through ATP-dependent proteases and their adaptors. Key research directions include the role of small regulatory proteins (e.g., MgtR, MgtU), metal ion sensing (Mg²⁺), and redox regulation in bacterial survival and virulence. The lab integrates molecular microbiology, biochemistry, and structural modeling to uncover how bacteria fine-tune protein degradation and metabolic adaptation for persistence in hostile environments.
Professor Juhwan Park's research lab specializes in the development of user-friendly, portable microfluidic systems for point-of-care testing (POCT), with a focus on eliminating the need for complex external pumping mechanisms. The lab pioneers finger-actuated and self-powered microfluidic devices that leverage capillary action, pressure modulation, and PDMS-based pneumatic valves to enable reliable, low-cost sample preparation and diagnostics. Key research directions include multistep reaction control in paper-based assays, flow rate regulation through material engineering (e.g., pressed nitrocellulose membranes), and integration of fluidic pumps and valves for nucleic acid purification and blood typing. The lab emphasizes practical, user-independent diagnostic solutions for clinical and food safety applications.
Professor Jong Wook Bae's research lab specializes in heterogeneous catalysis and sustainable chemical processes, with a strong focus on developing advanced catalysts for environmental remediation and clean energy conversion. Key research directions include single-atom catalysis, syngas conversion to high-value chemicals (e.g., aromatics and oxygenates), and catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for air pollution control. The lab also investigates bifunctional catalyst systems for CO₂ utilization and methanol/DME production, emphasizing the modulation of metal-support interactions and surface properties to enhance activity, selectivity, and stability.
Professor Sangyoon Han's research lab specializes in the design and fabrication of high-performance silicon photonic micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) for optical circuit switching in data centers. The lab focuses on developing fast, low-loss, and scalable optical switches using integrated silicon photonics and MEMS actuation, emphasizing low switching voltage, high extinction ratio, and polarization insensitivity. Key research directions include gap-adjustable directional couplers, nonblocking 50×50 and 32×32 switch architectures, and multicasting capabilities for dynamic network reconfiguration. The lab also pioneers the integration of these devices in commercial CMOS foundries to enable cost-effective, mass production of photonic switches.
Professor Yoon-Kyoung Cho's research lab specializes in the development of centrifugal microfluidic platforms, particularly lab-on-a-disc (LOD) systems, for point-of-care diagnostics and biomedical applications. The lab focuses on integrating advanced microfluidic components—such as laser-irradiated ferrowax microvalves and automated fluid handling—into fully portable, user-friendly devices for sample preparation, DNA extraction, immunoassays, and biochemical analysis from whole blood. Their work emphasizes automation, miniaturization, and material integration, including thermoplastic-PDMS bonding, to enable rapid, accurate, and field-deployable diagnostic tools. The lab's research bridges microfluidics, biomaterials, and biomedical engineering to address challenges in global health and personalized medicine.
Professor Hyun-Sun Yoon's research lab focuses on dermatological aging, particularly photoaging and its therapeutic interventions, with an emphasis on clinical trials involving nutraceuticals, hormones, and topical agents. The lab investigates the efficacy of antioxidants like astaxanthin and collagen hydrolysate, as well as hormonal treatments such as topical estrogen, in improving skin health and reducing signs of aging. A significant portion of the research also explores the pathogenesis and risk factors of pediatric vascular conditions, such as infantile hemangioma, with a focus on maternal and neonatal factors. The lab is committed to improving the methodological rigor of dermatological clinical research, particularly in randomized controlled trials.
Professor Eikan Mishima's research lab focuses on the intersection of cellular metabolism, redox biology, and kidney disease, with a central emphasis on ferroptosis—a form of iron-dependent regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation. The lab investigates how metabolic pathways, including vitamin K metabolism, purine catabolism, and gut microbiota interactions, regulate cellular sensitivity to ferroptosis and contribute to acute and chronic kidney injury. Additionally, the lab explores the role of microbial metabolites and host-microbe crosstalk in uremic toxin accumulation and renal dysfunction, particularly in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recent work also examines drug-induced metabolic disturbances, such as favipiravir-induced hyperuricemia, linking pharmacometabolism to kidney homeostasis.
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 Hyung Tae Kim's research lab specializes in advanced oxide semiconductor devices and bio-integrated electronics, focusing on the development of high-performance, stable thin-film transistors (TFTs) using materials like amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO) and transparent conductive oxides. The lab explores innovative fabrication techniques—such as EHD jet printing and interlayer engineering—to enhance device performance and stability for next-generation displays and flexible electronics. A key research direction involves creating biocompatible and biodegradable neuromorphic devices using hyaluronic acid for implantable bioelectronics, addressing critical challenges in neural interface technologies. The lab also investigates optoelectronic systems for high-quality image generation using RGB light mixing and advanced pixel driving schemes for AMOLED displays.
Professor Hong-Yeop Song's research lab specializes in coding theory, combinatorial design, and signal synchronization, with a strong focus on the construction and analysis of error-correcting codes, including Hadamard difference sets, quasi-cyclic LDPC codes, and Reed-Solomon codes. The lab develops algebraic and combinatorial methods to design codes with optimal correlation properties, bounded Hamming correlation, and self-synchronizing capabilities, often leveraging number-theoretic tools like Möbius functions and Golomb rulers. Research also extends into feedback shift register sequences and their applications in secure communications and synchronization systems.
Professor Dabin Kim's research lab specializes in perception-aware control and planning for autonomous aerial vehicles, with a strong focus on vision-based navigation, safe trajectory generation, and cooperative robotics. The lab develops advanced control frameworks that integrate perception constraints—such as visibility of landmarks or points of interest—into real-time control and optimization, ensuring both task performance and operational safety. Key research directions include reference governor design for nonlinear systems, learning-based Lyapunov functions for stability verification, and novel multirotor architectures like the T³-multirotor for enhanced maneuverability and payload tracking. The lab emphasizes theoretical guarantees combined with practical implementation for real-world UAV applications.
Professor Soo Kyoung Choi's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying vascular dysfunction in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, particularly hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The lab investigates key cellular processes such as endoplasmic reticulum stress, PARP-1 activation, autophagy, and RhoA/ROCK signaling in regulating vascular tone and endothelial function. Using animal models of diabetes and hypertension, the lab explores therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways to improve vascular health.
Professor Changhwan Choi's research lab specializes in the development of bioinspired and sustainable electronic devices, with a focus on neuromorphic computing and green electronics. The lab explores advanced resistive switching materials—such as HfO₂, MXenes, graphene quantum dots, and biocompatible nanocomposites—to engineer artificial synapses and memory devices that emulate biological neural functions. Key research directions include the design of energy-efficient, flexible, and biocompatible memristors using atomic layer deposition, sputtering techniques, and eco-friendly materials like cellulose nanocrystals and nitrogen-doped graphene. The lab also investigates ion migration dynamics (e.g., Ag⁺ and Ca²⁺) to mimic synaptic plasticity for next-generation brain-like computing systems.
Professor Hitoshi Nakatogawa's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying autophagosome biogenesis, particularly the roles of Atg proteins and lipid modifications in membrane dynamics during autophagy. The lab investigates the formation and regulation of the pre-autophagosomal structure (PAS), the function of ubiquitin-like conjugation systems (such as Atg12-Atg5 and Atg8-PE), and the involvement of organelle-specific trafficking machinery—like COPII vesicles—in providing membrane components. A central theme is understanding how selective autophagy, including the degradation of organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum, is precisely regulated at the molecular level.
Professor Ji Woon Park's research lab focuses on the intersection of orofacial pain, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and systemic health factors, particularly sleep disorders and psychological comorbidities. The lab investigates the long-term structural changes in the TMJ using advanced imaging techniques like CT, explores the impact of oral appliance therapy on headache in OSA patients, and examines the role of somatization and psychological distress in TMD. Additionally, the lab contributes to environmental health by modeling particulate control in electrostatic precipitators, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to health and environmental science.
Professor Kazuo Tsubota's research lab specializes in ocular surface diseases, with a primary focus on dry eye disease (DED), particularly its multifactorial etiology and clinical management. The lab investigates tear film instability, ocular surface disorders, and innovative therapies such as autologous serum application and corneal epithelial stem cell transplantation. Their work bridges clinical ophthalmology and translational research, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment strategies for patients with severe dry eye and related conditions.
