Research labs at Korea's QS Top 10 universities including SNU, KAIST, and Yonsei.
Professor Youngmin Park's research lab specializes in advanced head and neck surgical oncology, focusing on minimally invasive robotic techniques for treating laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. The lab investigates organ preservation strategies using transoral robotic surgery (TORS) to improve oncologic outcomes and quality of life. It also explores the molecular mechanisms of natural compounds like diallyl disulfide (DADS) and disulfiram (DSF) in targeting head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), highlighting translational research bridging surgery and cancer biology. The lab is committed to developing scarless surgical approaches and enhancing functional outcomes in head and neck cancer patients.
Professor Chris Hyunchul Jo's research lab specializes in regenerative medicine and orthopedic tissue repair, with a primary focus on the clinical and biological applications of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in musculoskeletal disorders. The lab investigates intra-articular MSC injections for osteoarthritis and PRP augmentation in rotator cuff repair, emphasizing both structural and functional outcomes in midterm and long-term follow-ups. Their work spans from preclinical in vitro studies on tenocyte behavior to clinical trials evaluating safety, efficacy, and healing quality in patients with cartilage and tendon injuries.
Professor Jieun Kim's research lab specializes in advanced functional materials for energy conversion and storage, with a strong focus on nanomaterials, ferroelectrics, and hybrid composites. Key research directions include the development of high-performance dielectric and relaxor ferroelectric thin films for ultrafast energy storage, the design of conductive polymer–graphene composites for supercapacitors, and the engineering of photocatalytic nanostructures for solar hydrogen production. The lab also explores innovative materials processing techniques, such as plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition for protective layers and 3D printing of liquid metals for flexible electronics.
Professor Lee Maria's research lab specializes in translational oncology, focusing on molecular mechanisms underlying gynecological cancers, particularly ovarian and cervical cancer. The lab investigates non-coding RNAs, such as lncRNAs and miRNAs, in cancer progression and prognosis, and develops innovative diagnostic tools like electrically conductive microfluidic chips for circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection. Key research directions include identifying biomarkers for early detection, understanding the impact of germline BRCA mutations on ovarian cancer outcomes, and exploring the clinical implications of treatment-related side effects on sexual health and endometrial safety in breast cancer survivors.
Professor Jun-Sang Yoo's research lab specializes in cerebrovascular diseases, with a primary focus on acute ischemic stroke management, endovascular reperfusion therapies, and the identification of imaging biomarkers for predicting treatment response and outcomes. The lab investigates the interplay between stroke and systemic conditions such as cancer and coronary artery disease, aiming to improve risk stratification and personalized treatment strategies. Key research directions include the use of advanced neuroimaging—particularly diffusion-weighted MRI and CT angiography—to assess thrombus characteristics, reperfusion status, and tissue viability after thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy.
Professor Hosub Jin's research lab specializes in theoretical and experimental condensed matter physics, focusing on quantum materials with strong electron correlations, spin-orbit coupling, and emergent electronic phenomena. Key research directions include the electronic structure of 5d transition metal oxides like Sr2IrO4, where relativistic spin-orbit coupling and electron correlations give rise to novel Jeff = 1/2 Mott insulating states and quantum spin liquid behavior. The lab also explores functional materials such as halide perovskites for spintronics and optoelectronics, particularly leveraging ferroelectricity and Rashba spin splitting for electric-field control of spin textures. Additionally, the group employs first-principles calculations to design new semiconductor materials for advanced applications, including hard radiation detectors and high-efficiency solar cells.
Professor Ho Sung Jung's research lab focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neuronal development, plasticity, and disease, with a central emphasis on local protein synthesis in axons and the role of chemokine signaling in neural circuit formation and neuropathic pain. The lab employs innovative in vivo imaging and genetic tools—such as TRAP-RiboTag and bitransgenic reporter mice—to dissect subcellular mRNA translation and receptor activation in real time within the nervous system. Key research directions include the regulation of axonal translatomes during wiring and maintenance, the function of CCR2/CCL2 signaling in monocyte trafficking and neuroinflammation, and the impact of GABAergic signaling on neurodevelopmental disorders. The lab integrates neuroscience, molecular biology, and live imaging to uncover fundamental principles of cellular communication in health and disease.
Professor Kee-Woo Kim's research lab focuses on the central nervous system regulation of energy and metabolic homeostasis, with a particular emphasis on the hypothalamus—especially the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH)—as a key integrative hub. The lab investigates transcription factors (e.g., SF-1, FOXO1), cellular organelles (e.g., primary cilia), and metabolic sensors (e.g., AMPK) that govern energy expenditure, thermogenesis, and glucose metabolism. Using conditional knockout mouse models and molecular analyses, the lab explores how these regulators in VMH neurons coordinate systemic metabolism and how their dysfunction contributes to obesity and diabetes. The work also extends to translational approaches, such as evaluating natural compounds (e.g., gallic acid) in improving metabolic and wound healing pathologies.
Professor Lee, Ok Joo's research lab specializes in biomedical materials and tissue engineering, with a focus on silk fibroin-based biomaterials and advanced wound healing technologies. The lab develops innovative hydrogels, electrospun nanofibers, and 3D-printed magnetic bioreactors to enhance tissue regeneration and cell differentiation. Key research directions include improving the biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and degradation behavior of silk-based materials, as well as exploring non-thermal plasma applications for antimicrobial and wound-healing therapies.
Professor Hyung Chul Lee's research lab specializes in clinical data science and machine learning applications in anesthesiology and perioperative medicine. The lab focuses on developing advanced biosignal acquisition systems, such as the Vital Recorder and VitalDB, to enable high-quality, real-time monitoring of physiological data during surgery. Key research directions include leveraging machine learning and deep learning models to predict postoperative complications—particularly acute kidney injury—using intraoperative and preoperative clinical data, with the goal of improving patient outcomes. The lab also investigates the physiological mechanisms underlying anesthetic drug effects, such as the role of DHA metabolites in vascular regulation.
Professor Sung Hee Kim's research lab specializes in materials science and biomedical engineering, with a focus on developing advanced functional materials for energy storage and biomedical applications. Key research directions include the thermodynamic and redox behavior of oxygen-functionalized graphene for high-performance lithium-ion battery electrodes, the mechanical and interfacial properties of concrete pavement systems, and the design of flexible, stable electrodes for optoelectronic devices. The lab also investigates human behavioral responses to social justice and power dynamics, particularly in the context of revenge and third-party intervention, integrating psychological and social factors into engineering and material science research. These interdisciplinary efforts reflect a strong commitment to both fundamental material properties and real-world applications in energy, infrastructure, and health.
Professor Sung Hee Lim's research lab specializes in the development of low-cost, portable, and highly sensitive chemical and biological sensing technologies, with a focus on colorimetric sensor arrays for real-time detection of medically and environmentally relevant analytes. The lab pioneers innovative sensor platforms based on functionalized porous materials and metalloporphyrins to detect pathogens, volatile organic compounds, sugars, and cancer biomarkers with high specificity and sensitivity. Their work bridges analytical chemistry, materials science, and biomedical diagnostics, aiming to enable early disease detection and point-of-care applications in clinical and public health settings.
Professor Park Jongwook's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of novel organic semiconductors for optoelectronic applications, with a primary focus on high-performance blue phosphors for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The lab develops advanced materials featuring tailored molecular architectures—such as anthracene-, pyrene-, and indenopyrazine-based cores—engineered to achieve high glass transition temperatures (Tg), narrow emission bandwidths, and excellent photoluminescent and electroluminescent quantum efficiencies. Key research directions include molecular engineering of donor-acceptor systems, non-doped OLED emitters, and hole-transport materials with enhanced thermal and electrochemical stability.
Professor Min Young Park's research lab specializes in advanced head and neck surgical oncology, focusing on minimally invasive and organ-preserving techniques using robotic surgery. The lab investigates transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers, emphasizing oncologic safety, functional outcomes, and cosmetic advantages. Additionally, the lab explores the molecular mechanisms of natural compounds like diallyl disulfide (DADS) and disulfiram (DSF) in targeting head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), aiming to identify novel therapeutic strategies. The integration of surgical innovation with translational cancer biology defines the lab’s interdisciplinary approach.
Professor Eun Young Ko's research lab specializes in medical imaging, with a primary focus on breast and abdominal radiology. The lab investigates the diagnostic value of advanced imaging techniques such as dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, Doppler ultrasound, and CT in assessing breast cancer, liver transplantation complications, and tumor angiogenesis. Key research directions include optimizing imaging protocols based on physiological factors like the menstrual cycle and breast density, and improving the detection of occult breast cancers and vascular pathologies.
Professor Byong-Guk Park's research lab specializes in spintronics, focusing on spin-orbit torque (SOT)-based devices and the electrical manipulation of magnetism in nanostructures. The lab explores fundamental spintronic phenomena such as the spin Hall effect, Rashba spin-orbit coupling, and field-free magnetic switching, with applications in high-speed memory, reconfigurable logic, and neuromorphic computing. A key focus is on developing all-semiconductor spintronic devices and reliable spintronic PUFs for hardware security, leveraging interfacial engineering and electric-field control in magnetic heterostructures. The lab combines advanced materials engineering with device physics to enable energy-efficient, scalable, and robust spintronic technologies.
Professor Ki-Hoon Jung's research lab focuses on the tumor microenvironment, particularly the interplay between angiogenesis, fibrosis, and immune responses in cancer progression and therapy resistance. The lab investigates how metabolic conditions such as obesity and chronic inflammation reshape the stroma and vasculature to promote tumor growth and impair treatment efficacy. Key research directions include understanding resistance mechanisms to anti-angiogenic therapies—especially anti-VEGF and anti-Ang-2 strategies—and identifying stromal and systemic factors that influence therapeutic outcomes in glioblastoma, colorectal, and breast cancers. The lab also explores translational opportunities by testing repurposed anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory agents to improve cancer therapy in obesity-associated malignancies.
Professor Rhyee Jong-Soo's research lab specializes in the development and optimization of advanced functional materials for energy conversion and nanoelectronic applications. The lab focuses on high-performance thermoelectrics, including nanostructured chalcogenides like PbTe, SnSe, and In4Se3-based compounds, with an emphasis on enhancing the thermoelectric figure-of-merit (ZT) through electronic band engineering, defect control, and lattice thermal conductivity reduction. The group also investigates two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, such as MoSe2, for high-mobility, flexible electronics. Their work integrates advanced synthesis, structural characterization, and theoretical modeling to design materials with tailored electronic and thermal properties.
Professor Eunjeong Joo's research lab focuses on infectious diseases and host-microbe interactions, with a strong emphasis on viral hepatitis (particularly HBV), antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative pathogens like *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*, and the role of the gut microbiota in liver disease. The lab also investigates host immune responses to emerging infections such as SARS-CoV-2, including serological biomarkers and neutralizing antibody responses. Additionally, the lab explores the unexpected links between chronic infections and non-communicable diseases, such as the association between high-risk HPV infection and cardiovascular disease, highlighting systemic inflammatory pathways. These multidisciplinary studies integrate clinical epidemiology, molecular microbiology, and host immunology to improve patient outcomes and public health strategies.
Professor Youngrok Choi's research lab specializes in advanced surgical techniques and outcomes in liver transplantation and hepatectomy, with a strong focus on minimizing invasiveness and improving patient safety. The lab investigates the learning curves and comparative outcomes of laparoscopic versus open donor right hepatectomy, aiming to optimize surgical training and adoption of minimally invasive methods. Additionally, the lab explores anatomical and virological factors influencing biliary complications and graft survival, particularly in hepatitis B-positive donor liver transplantation. The integration of advanced imaging and machine learning techniques for surgical planning and video retrieval further extends their interdisciplinary approach to surgical innovation.
