Research labs at Korea's QS Top 10 universities including SNU, KAIST, and Yonsei.
Professor Byung Woo Han's research lab specializes in structural biology and structural virology, with a focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms of immune recognition and viral entry. The lab investigates antigen recognition in jawless vertebrates through variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs), structural vaccinology of HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins, and the structural basis of enzyme function in metabolism and disease. Recent work also extends into neurodegenerative disease diagnostics, particularly amyloid imaging, and cancer cell metabolism through glutathione degradation enzymes.
Professor Sang Jun Song's research lab specializes in knee joint surgery and orthopedic biomechanics, with a primary focus on lower limb arthroplasty and osteotomies. The lab investigates long-term outcomes, surgical techniques, and implant survival in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), high tibial osteotomy (HTO), and cartilage repair procedures such as microfracture. Key research directions include improving surgical accuracy through computer-assisted navigation, evaluating limb alignment and biomechanical changes post-surgery, and optimizing patient selection and outcomes in complex cases like haemophilic arthropathy and posterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees. The lab emphasizes evidence-based surgical decision-making and long-term clinical follow-up to enhance implant longevity and functional recovery.
Professor Ji-Hoon Ryu's research lab focuses on food safety and microbial control, particularly targeting pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli O157:H7. The lab investigates the role of bacterial extracellular structures—like curli and exopolysaccharides—in biofilm formation, environmental persistence, and resistance to chemical sanitizers such as chlorine and chlorine dioxide. A key research direction involves developing effective, non-thermal decontamination methods for fresh produce and seeds that preserve viability while ensuring pathogen inactivation. The lab also explores the interplay between microbial surface structures and their interactions with food contact surfaces, such as stainless steel, to improve sanitation strategies in the food industry.
Professor Chang-Young Kim's research lab specializes in advanced spectroscopic techniques to investigate electronic structures and quantum phenomena in low-dimensional and correlated materials. The lab focuses on understanding charge transfer, electron correlation, and topological or magnetic states in 2D materials, transition metal dichalcogenides, and oxide systems using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and other cutting-edge experimental methods. A key research direction involves probing and manipulating electronic properties—such as band-gap engineering, metal-insulator transitions, and emergent magnetic states like altermagnetism—through external stimuli including electric fields and alkali doping. The lab also integrates machine learning for data denoising and analysis, enhancing the efficiency and resolution of spectroscopic measurements.
Professor Young-Ho Seo's research lab focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s disease, with a central emphasis on protein homeostasis and cellular clearance mechanisms. The lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the selective degradation of toxic protein aggregates such as α-synuclein and LRRK2 through innovative therapeutic strategies like AUTOTAC and PROTAC technologies. Key research directions include the regulation of autophagy and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways, posttranslational modifications of synaptic proteins (e.g., NMDARs and mGluR7), and the role of SNARE proteins in early development and membrane trafficking. The lab integrates molecular biology, biochemistry, and in vivo models to uncover novel therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders.
Professor Joo-Yeon Lee's research lab focuses on understanding the pathogenesis and clinical management of infectious diseases, particularly emerging viral infections such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), as well as metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and Parkinson’s disease. The lab investigates the roles of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammatory pathways in disease progression, with a strong emphasis on identifying endogenous and exogenous protective mechanisms—such as the Nrf2/ARE pathway and natural compounds like morin. Additionally, the lab contributes to clinical innovation through the development and validation of early warning scoring systems, such as the Dynamic Early Warning Score (DEWS), to improve patient safety in healthcare settings.
Professor Jaewon Oh's research lab focuses on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, with a strong emphasis on heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and risk stratification in acute and chronic cardiovascular conditions. The lab investigates biomarkers such as red cell distribution width (RDW) and novel pharmacotherapies like vericiguat and riociguat to improve clinical outcomes and personalize treatment strategies. Additionally, the lab explores clinical challenges in specific populations, including patients with advanced heart failure, those with comorbid conditions like hepatocellular carcinoma and hypersplenism, and those undergoing fertility treatments, using proteomic and clinical cohort analyses to identify predictive biomarkers and optimize therapeutic decisions.
Professor Yunju Kim's research lab focuses on plant developmental biology, with a central emphasis on the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms that regulate stem cell maintenance and differentiation in Arabidopsis thaliana. The lab investigates the roles of microRNAs, transcription factors, and chromatin-modifying enzymes—such as histone deacetylases and SANT domain proteins—in orchestrating precise temporal and spatial control of floral development. Key research directions include the integration of epigenetic regulation, post-transcriptional gene silencing, and signal transduction pathways in plant stem cell fate determination and floral determinacy.
Professor Minsoo Rhu's research lab specializes in computer architecture and systems for emerging workloads, with a strong focus on accelerating deep learning and privacy-preserving computation. The lab develops innovative hardware-software co-design solutions to improve performance, energy efficiency, and memory scalability in neural network accelerators and homomorphic encryption systems. Key research directions include sparse deep learning acceleration, virtualized memory management for large models, and high-bandwidth, near-memory computing for memory-intensive workloads like embedding layers and fully homomorphic encryption.
Professor Kwaman Han's research lab specializes in the neurobiological and genetic underpinnings of major depressive disorder, with a focus on the interplay between neuroinflammation, genetic variation, and structural brain changes. The lab investigates how peripheral and central immune activation—particularly through pathways like the NLRP3 inflammasome and kynurenine metabolism—affect brain structure and function in depression. Using multimodal neuroimaging (MRI), genetic analysis (e.g., FKBP5, TPH2, NLRP3 polymorphisms), and epigenetic profiling (DNA methylation), the lab explores neural circuit dysfunction and endophenotypes such as cortical gyrification and hippocampal subfield atrophy. Their work bridges molecular psychiatry with translational neuroscience to identify biomarkers and mechanisms underlying mood disorders.
Professor Hakwan Ko's research lab focuses on cellular signaling mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms, neuronal cell death, and developmental signaling pathways such as Hedgehog. The lab investigates key regulatory proteins and post-translational modifications—particularly phosphorylation—involved in subcellular trafficking and signal transduction in neurons and developmental contexts. Using genetic, biochemical, and cell biological approaches, the lab explores how kinases and phosphatases modulate disease-relevant pathways, including those implicated in neurodegeneration, cancer progression, and metabolic disorders. Recent work also extends into translational applications, such as improving drug delivery systems for diabetes therapeutics using innovative microneedle technologies.
Professor Dohyun Han's research lab specializes in systems biology and mass spectrometry-based proteomics, focusing on identifying disease-associated protein signatures in complex biological fluids and cell types. The lab investigates the pathophysiology of major human diseases such as COVID-19, neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s), diabetes, bladder cancer, and periodontitis by profiling the proteomes and secretomes of immune cells, glial cells, and patient-derived samples. A central theme is the discovery of novel biomarkers and functional insights into disease mechanisms through high-depth, quantitative proteomic analysis using advanced MS strategies. The lab also develops and applies innovative sample preparation methods to enhance proteome coverage and reproducibility.
Professor Ju-Yong Moon's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying renal inflammation and fibrosis in metabolic and kidney diseases, with a central emphasis on the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome and uric acid in disease progression. The lab investigates how innate immune activation, particularly through NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent and -independent pathways in renal tubular cells, contributes to acute and chronic kidney injury. Using both in vitro models and in vivo animal studies, including diabetic and hypertensive kidney disease models, the lab explores the interplay between metabolic stress, oxidative stress, and immune cell infiltration in the kidney. A key research direction involves identifying novel therapeutic targets, such as NLRP3 and the renin-angiotensin system, to mitigate kidney damage.
Professor Tae-jin Song's research lab specializes in population health sciences, focusing on the epidemiological burden of chronic non-communicable diseases with a particular emphasis on musculoskeletal disorders, headache disorders, periodontal disease, and their systemic implications. The lab conducts large-scale, population-based cohort studies using national health datasets to investigate the interplay between oral health, systemic inflammation, and conditions such as stroke, gastrointestinal cancer, and motor neuron disease. Key research directions include understanding the role of oral hygiene and periodontal disease as modifiable risk factors for major chronic diseases, and assessing the global and national trends in disease burden using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study. The lab integrates epidemiology, biostatistics, and health policy to inform public health interventions and healthcare planning.
Professor Ki-Hong Choi's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of functional molecules for biological sensing and probing, with a focus on fluorescent probes for redox biology and anion recognition. The lab develops ratiometric and turn-on fluorescent probes—particularly based on coumarin and cyanoacrylamide scaffolds—to monitor dynamic cellular processes such as glutathione levels in stem cells and anion binding in real time. A key research direction involves creating macrocyclic receptors with tailored cavities for selective anion recognition, enabling sensitive detection through photoinduced processes. The lab also investigates molecular interactions in ribosomal translation, using photo-crosslinking techniques to map the path of nascent peptides in the ribosome.
Professor Kyung Min Heo's research lab specializes in infectious disease epidemiology, with a focus on respiratory infections, antimicrobial resistance, and the impact of public health interventions. The lab investigates the epidemiological trends of community-onset infections such as pneumonia, influenza, and bloodstream infections, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, and evaluates the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions during pandemics. A key research direction involves characterizing difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR) in gram-negative pathogens to inform clinical and policy decisions. The lab also explores the molecular epidemiology and burden of community-associated methicillin-resistant *Staphylococcus aureus* (CA-MRSA).
Professor Joon-young Kim's research lab specializes in advanced materials and biomedical imaging, with a focus on developing functional nanomaterials for energy applications and innovative image analysis techniques for preclinical diagnostics. The lab investigates transition metal nitrides and spinel-type oxides for electrochemical energy conversion, particularly in nitrogen reduction and supercapacitor technologies, while also pioneering computational methods such as factor analysis and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to enhance small-animal PET imaging and veterinary diagnostic accuracy. The integration of materials science, catalysis, and biomedical image analysis defines the lab’s interdisciplinary approach to solving challenges in sustainable energy and precision medicine.
Professor Son, Junwoo's research lab specializes in oxide electronics, focusing on correlated oxides, complex oxide heterostructures, and functional thin films. The lab investigates quantum transport phenomena, metal-insulator transitions, and electrostatic control of electronic phases in oxide heterostructures and superlattices. A central theme is the development of novel oxide-based electronic devices, including artificial synapses and field-effect transistors, using ionic gating and atomic layer deposition techniques to achieve reversible, non-volatile, and multilevel conductance modulation.
Professor Hee-Joon Park's research lab specializes in pharmaceutical formulation and drug delivery technologies, with a strong focus on enhancing the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. The lab develops advanced delivery systems such as self-emulsifying and supersaturable SEDDS, micro/nanoparticles, and PLGA-based formulations, emphasizing process optimization and excipient selection to improve drug performance. Research also extends into health technology adoption, particularly mobile payment systems and digital information sharing, where behavioral models are applied to understand user intentions and technology use patterns. The lab integrates pharmaceutical science with behavioral and organizational studies to address real-world challenges in drug development and health technology implementation.
Professor Donghoon Kim's research lab specializes in interdisciplinary biomedical and engineering research, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of metabolic regulation and inflammation, particularly involving cytokines like GM-CSF in obesity and insulin resistance. The lab also investigates epigenetic regulators such as histone deacetylases (HDACs) and their inhibition by natural compounds, with potential applications in cancer therapy. In parallel, the lab develops advanced image analysis and machine learning techniques for biomedical and civil infrastructure applications, including crack detection in aging structures and facial feature recognition. These diverse research directions reflect a strong integration of molecular biology, computational modeling, and real-world sensing technologies.
