Research labs at Korea's QS Top 10 universities including SNU, KAIST, and Yonsei.
Professor Hwajung Hong's research lab focuses on human-centered design and interactive technologies that support mental health, personal well-being, and sustainable behaviors. The lab explores the integration of emerging technologies—such as large language models, ambient displays, and tangible interfaces—into real-world contexts like mental health self-management, eco-friendly lifestyle adoption, and social support for individuals with autism. Key research directions include developing empathetic, adaptive, and privacy-aware systems that empower users through subtle, intuitive, and collaborative interactions.
Professor Won-Jong Lee's research lab specializes in advanced optoelectronic materials and devices, with a primary focus on enhancing the performance of next-generation solar cells and deep-ultraviolet (DUV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The lab develops novel conjugated polymers and ternary organic solar cell architectures to improve light absorption and charge transport, achieving high power conversion efficiencies. In parallel, the lab pioneers innovative nanostructuring and plasmonic engineering strategies—such as Al nanoparticle arrays and omnidirectional mirrors—to overcome intrinsic limitations in AlGaN-based DUV LEDs, significantly boosting photon extraction and device efficiency. Their work bridges materials synthesis, nanostructure design, and device physics to advance sustainable energy and UV-light technologies.
Professor Jae-Keun Lee's research lab specializes in clinical and translational research in liver and urological transplantation, with a focus on improving patient outcomes through advanced biomarkers, graft selection, and personalized immunosuppressive strategies. The lab investigates predictors of early allograft dysfunction, graft survival, and post-transplant complications such as acute rejection and opportunistic infections. Key research directions include optimizing living donor liver transplantation using graft-to-recipient weight ratio, evaluating lactate clearance as a prognostic marker, and refining prostate cancer screening in the gray zone PSA range. The lab integrates multicenter cohort studies with rigorous statistical modeling to guide clinical decision-making.
Professor Hanyong Bae's research lab specializes in the development of innovative organocatalytic methodologies for asymmetric synthesis, with a strong focus on biomimetic transformations. The lab pioneers highly enantioselective reactions—such as Michael additions, aldol reactions, and Mannich reactions—using cinchona-based organocatalysts, particularly squaramides and sulfonamides, to construct chiral β-hydroxy and γ-amino acid derivatives with high enantioselectivity. A key theme in their work is the strategic use of green solvents, such as water and brine, to enhance reaction rates and selectivity through hydrophobic hydration effects, enabling sustainable and efficient catalytic processes. The lab also emphasizes synthetic utility, demonstrating formal total syntheses of biologically active molecules, including antidepressants and pharmaceuticals like baclofen.
Professor Hyeeun Lee's research lab specializes in intercultural communication, focusing on how cultural contexts shape interpersonal behaviors, self-perception, and well-being in digital and social environments. Key research directions include the impact of social media on body image and psychological well-being, cultural differences in politeness strategies (such as apologies and thanks in favor-seeking), and parental mediation of children’s media use. The lab employs cross-cultural comparative designs, particularly between the U.S. and East Asian countries like South Korea and Japan, to explore how cultural norms influence communication practices and psychological outcomes.
Professor Suyong Kim's research lab specializes in advanced functional materials, with a focus on defect engineering, ferroelectricity, and surface science for next-generation electronic and energy applications. The lab investigates the role of defects and polarization in perovskite and ferroelectric materials to enhance device performance, particularly in solar cells and high-density memory devices. Using advanced characterization techniques such as high-resolution XPS and in-situ spectroscopy, the group explores electronic structures and surface reactions on single-crystalline substrates, especially Pt-based systems, to understand and control catalytic and electronic properties at the atomic level. Their work bridges fundamental materials physics with practical applications in energy conversion and nanoelectronics.
Professor Hong Seok Kim's research lab focuses on nanomaterials for environmental remediation and biomedical applications, particularly the development of stable, reactive nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles for contaminant degradation. The lab also investigates cellular senescence mechanisms, oxidative stress in monocytes, and their roles in chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis and osteonecrosis-related joint failure. A significant portion of the research is dedicated to long-term outcomes of orthopedic implants, especially ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasty in young patients with osteonecrosis. The lab integrates materials science, molecular biology, and clinical outcomes research to address environmental and health challenges.
Professor Chun-Hwa Lee's research lab focuses on pervasive and mobile computing, with a strong emphasis on service discovery, distributed systems, and edge intelligence in dynamic network environments. The lab explores platform-independent architectures, context-aware service selection, and lightweight protocols for ad hoc and IoT networks, aiming to enable seamless, intelligent, and scalable interactions among heterogeneous devices. Recent work extends into blockchain-integrated federated learning for edge computing, addressing resource-efficient consensus and secure data processing in decentralized edge environments.
Professor Sun-Ae Kim's research lab focuses on food safety and microbiology, particularly on reducing foodborne pathogens such as *Campylobacter* and *Salmonella* in poultry through novel antimicrobial agents and prebiotic feed supplements. The lab also investigates the impact of functional plant-based ingredients—like Arkansas rice bran and traditional herbs such as *Angelica gigas*—on gut microbiota and host health. Additionally, the lab explores the molecular mechanisms of phytoestrogens in regulating vascular cell proliferation, linking nutritional biochemistry with cardiovascular health. Their interdisciplinary work bridges food science, microbiome analysis, and translational biomedical research.
Professor Cheol-Hong Cheon's research lab specializes in the development of innovative, metal-free organic transformations, with a strong focus on cyanide-catalyzed reactions and protodeboronation processes. The lab pioneers novel strategies for the synthesis of complex heterocyclic compounds—particularly indoles, benzoxazoles, and natural products—through umpolung activation, imino-Stetter reactions, and thermal protodeboronation. A central theme is the use of boronic acids as temporary blocking and directing groups, enabling regioselective functionalization of electron-rich arenes and phenols under mild, metal-free conditions. The lab also excels in the total synthesis of biologically relevant natural products, such as rutaecarpine, luotonin A, arcyriaflavin A, and calothrixin B, using strategically designed common intermediates and selective cyclization methods.
Professor Minee-Liane Choi's research lab focuses on the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in cognitive functions, particularly pattern separation, using behavioral and optogenetic approaches in mouse models. The lab also investigates neuroinflammatory mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases, especially Parkinson’s disease, with a focus on astrocyte-specific RNA editing via ADAR1 and its impact on innate immune responses. Additional research directions include the generation and characterization of human iPSC-derived neural cells and the study of oxidative stress and neuronal death in disease contexts. The lab integrates behavioral neuroscience, stem cell biology, and molecular mechanisms to understand brain circuit function and dysfunction.
Professor Youngwhan Kim's research lab specializes in interventional radiology and image-guided interventions, focusing on minimally invasive treatments for liver and biliary diseases, venous thromboembolism, and gastrointestinal bleeding. The lab investigates advanced endovascular techniques such as BRTO and TIPS for managing portal hypertension, as well as percutaneous procedures for gallstone disease and biliary obstruction. A key emphasis is placed on improving diagnostic accuracy using medical imaging—particularly CT and PET/CT—and optimizing clinical outcomes through evidence-based interventional strategies.
Professor Gyuweon Jung's research lab specializes in advanced gas sensor technologies with a focus on low-power, high-sensitivity, and selective detection for applications in environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and the Internet of Things. The lab explores fundamental mechanisms of gas-sensing materials—particularly metal oxide semiconductors and nanostructured oxides—while emphasizing innovative strategies such as electrically controlled surface oxygen engineering and near-sensor computing architectures. Key research directions include the development of film-based and nanostructured sensors with improved reliability, uniformity, and energy efficiency through precise fabrication control and in-situ characterization techniques.
Professor Dongmin Lee's research lab specializes in synaptic adhesion molecules and their roles in neural circuit development, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying synapse formation, specification, and function. The lab investigates how diverse synaptic adhesion proteins—including Shank3, MDGAs, PTPσ, IgSF9b, calsyntenin-3, and LRRTMs—regulate the development and maintenance of excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the mammalian brain. Using a combination of genetic, biochemical, and imaging approaches, the lab explores how these molecules contribute to neural connectivity and are implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders. Their work reveals critical insights into the specificity and diversity of synaptic connections during postnatal brain development.
Professor Sun-hee Choi's research lab specializes in pediatric respiratory and allergic diseases, with a focus on bronchial hyperresponsiveness, asthma phenotypes, and the immunological and clinical aspects of allergic rhinitis in young children. The lab investigates airway inflammation markers, such as eosinophils and eosinophil cationic protein, and their association with bronchoconstrictor responses to various stimuli. Additionally, the lab explores perinatal outcomes related to multiple births, particularly in the Korean population, highlighting trends in birth weight and low birth weight incidence. The research integrates clinical bronchial challenge testing with epidemiological data to improve understanding and management of pediatric respiratory conditions.
Professor Eun Jeong Lee's research lab specializes in biomedical engineering and health informatics, focusing on the development of artificial intelligence applications in cardiology, particularly in using electrocardiograms to predict diastolic dysfunction and heart failure. The lab also explores personalized energy load forecasting using deep learning techniques, emphasizing transfer and meta-learning for efficient individualized modeling. In addition, the lab investigates public health issues such as pediatric dental caries related to dietary behaviors and educational disparities in mathematics achievement by gender, integrating data-driven approaches to inform policy and intervention strategies.
Professor Hong-Goo Kang's research lab specializes in audio-visual speech processing, speech synthesis, and biometrics, with a strong focus on leveraging deep learning and self-supervised representation learning for cross-modal understanding. Key research directions include audio-to-video synchronization, blind audio watermarking, emotion-controlled text-to-speech systems, and speaker separation using visual cues. The lab also investigates vocal tract characteristics for pathological speech detection, emphasizing the interplay between vocal source and articulatory features.
Professor Young-Eun Kim's research lab focuses on translational biomedical research with a strong emphasis on neurodegenerative diseases, stem cell biology, and regenerative medicine. The lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, particularly in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and explores the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles in neonatal brain injury and infection. Additionally, the lab examines transcriptional regulation in stem cells, particularly the role of NF-κB signaling in cell fate decisions, and applies this knowledge to improve stem cell-based therapies. The integration of clinical genetics, stem cell applications, and molecular pathogenesis defines the lab’s interdisciplinary approach.
Professor Hyunwoo Nam's research lab specializes in neurological and cerebrovascular disorders, with a focus on epilepsy, cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), and sleep apnea. The lab investigates the pathophysiological mechanisms linking epilepsy—particularly in temporal lobe epilepsy and focal cortical dysplasia with hippocampal sclerosis—to cerebrovascular dysfunction and neuroimaging biomarkers. Using advanced neurophysiological techniques such as ICA-based EEG analysis and neuroimaging tools like MRI and transcranial Doppler, the lab explores the relationships between nocturnal blood pressure dipping, cerebral microbleeds, and cerebrovascular compliance in hypertensive and stroke patients. The research aims to improve diagnostic accuracy, surgical planning, and long-term outcomes in patients with refractory epilepsy and cerebrovascular risk factors.
Professor Song Jinwoong's research lab specializes in science education, with a strong focus on students' conceptual understanding of science, particularly nature of science (NOS), scientific inquiry, and physics misconceptions. The lab investigates how science learning can be enhanced through constructivist approaches, inquiry-based instruction, and integrated STEM/STEAM education. It also examines the role of textbook tasks, scientific process skills, and the semantic meaning of physics equations in fostering deep conceptual understanding. The research is grounded in both qualitative and quantitative analyses of student cognition and teacher practices in authentic classroom settings.
