Research labs at Korea's QS Top 10 universities including SNU, KAIST, and Yonsei.
Professor Jeonghun Han's research lab specializes in strongly correlated quantum systems, with a focus on topological phases of matter, quantum magnetism, and unconventional superconductivity. The lab investigates emergent quantum phenomena such as Skyrmion crystals, topological superconductors, and symmetry-protected topological phases, employing advanced theoretical frameworks including field theory, bosonization, and mean-field approaches. A central theme is the interplay between topology, symmetry, and electron correlations in low-dimensional quantum materials, particularly in frustrated magnets and high-temperature superconductors.
Professor Hyun-suk Kim's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia, with an emphasis on the roles of growth hormone/IGF-I axis, lipid metabolism, and bioactive compounds from natural sources. The lab investigates how dietary components—such as pterostilbene, kefir-derived exopolysaccharides, blueberry pomace, and grape seed flour—affect metabolic health through modulation of gut microbiota, lipid profiles, and inflammatory pathways. Using animal models and molecular metabolic analyses, the lab explores therapeutic strategies targeting insulin resistance, adipogenesis, and cholesterol homeostasis.
Professor Hye-Jung Lee's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of advanced functional materials, particularly nonlinear optical (NLO) molecules for applications in photonics and optoelectronics. The lab focuses on developing multiarmed organic molecules with strong charge-transfer characteristics, enabling applications in two-photon absorption and photorefractive effects. In addition, the lab conducts biomedical imaging research, utilizing advanced MRI techniques such as intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and dual-energy CT to noninvasively assess tissue microstructure and fibrosis in cardiovascular and oncological diseases.
Professor Yeon Soo Kim's research lab focuses on public health and preventive medicine, with a strong emphasis on lifestyle-related diseases, nutritional biomarkers, and health behavior. The lab investigates the prevalence and determinants of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity, particularly across gender and demographic groups, while also exploring the impact of dietary patterns—such as those measured by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), glycemic index (GI), and glycemic load (GL)—on metabolic health. Additional research directions include drug-induced liver injury (DILI), especially related to herbal medications in the Korean population, and the role of corporate reputation and social responsibility in shaping public perception and health behavior. The lab integrates epidemiological, nutritional, and behavioral science approaches to address critical population health challenges.
Professor Jae-Wook Yoo's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation and innate immune activation in neurodegenerative diseases. The lab investigates how inflammasomes—particularly NLRP3 and NLRC4—are activated by endogenous and microbial danger signals, including mitochondrial damage, cholesterol metabolites, and bacterial outer membrane vesicles. Key research directions include the role of microglia and tissue-resident macrophages in brain homeostasis and disease, as well as the contribution of metabolic stressors like advanced glycation end products and very long-chain fatty acids to neuroinflammatory pathologies. The lab integrates human iPSC-derived models, primary immune cells, and in vivo disease models to dissect inflammatory pathways in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.
Professor Cheol Kwak's research lab specializes in urological oncology, with a focus on advancing therapeutic strategies for prostate and renal cell carcinomas. The lab investigates biomarkers for disease progression, such as PSA dynamics and angiogenic factors like VEGF and TSP-1, to improve prognostic prediction. It also pioneers innovative drug delivery systems, including urease-powered nanomotors for targeted immunotherapy in bladder cancer. Additionally, the lab explores the impact of histological features—such as sarcomatoid differentiation—on immunotherapy outcomes in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Professor Soon Hong Min's research lab specializes in supply chain management, with a strong focus on the theoretical foundations, operational practices, and strategic integration of supply chains. The lab explores key constructs such as supply chain orientation, collaboration, and logistics integration, emphasizing their roles in enhancing business performance and organizational capability. Research directions include developing valid measurement scales, building unified theories of logistics and SCM, and examining the interplay between marketing orientation and supply chain effectiveness. The lab's work bridges theory and practice, aiming to provide actionable insights for managers and a robust framework for future research.
Professor Jang Hyuk Kwon's research lab specializes in the design and development of advanced organic semiconductors for next-generation optoelectronic devices, with a primary focus on thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters and hyperfluorescence systems. The lab pioneers molecular engineering strategies for deep blue, red, and orange-red TADF materials—particularly boron-based and multi-resonant TADF emitters—aiming to achieve high external quantum efficiency, narrow emission bandwidth, and suppressed non-radiative decay. Key research directions include molecular design for small ΔEST, enhanced reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) rates, and the integration of these emitters into high-performance OLEDs and hyperfluorescence architectures. The lab also explores synthetic methodologies and structure-property relationships to advance the performance and stability of organic light-emitting materials.
Professor Gyu Rie Lee's research lab specializes in advancing deep learning methods for biomolecular structure prediction, protein design, and molecular modeling. The lab focuses on developing AI-driven frameworks that integrate multi-scale representations—ranging from amino acid sequences to atomic coordinates—to predict and design complex biomolecular systems, including proteins, nucleic acids, small molecules, and metal ions. A key direction involves creating generative models that enable de novo design of functional proteins, such as enzymes and binders, with tailored active sites and binding pockets. The lab also pioneers methods for modeling biomolecular assemblies and improving the accuracy of protein-protein docking and small-molecule binding prediction.
Professor Ki Tae Jang's research lab specializes in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tract neoplasms, with a focus on the pathological classification, molecular characterization, and clinical implications of rare and complex epithelial neoplasms. The lab investigates the morphological and molecular features of tumors such as ampullary carcinomas, mucinous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas and liver, intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct, and micropapillary carcinomas, aiming to refine diagnostic criteria and improve prognostic stratification. Their work emphasizes the importance of precise histopathological subtyping and the role of specific immunohistochemical and genetic markers in guiding patient management.
Professor Ji-Bong Yu's research lab specializes in the synthesis, characterization, and application of advanced nanomaterials, with a strong focus on two-dimensional materials like graphene and chalcogenide semiconductors. The lab explores innovative chemical and thermal methods to produce defect-controlled, functionalized nanomaterials such as fluorinated graphene, expanded graphite, and quantum dot-based thin films for optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications. Key research directions include tuning electronic properties through surface engineering, developing low-cost scalable synthesis routes, and understanding charge transport mechanisms in nanostructured devices. The lab also investigates the role of surface chemistry and environmental interactions in stabilizing or modifying the intrinsic properties of 2D materials.
Professor Jeung Ku Kang's research lab specializes in the design and development of advanced functional materials for sustainable energy conversion and storage. The lab focuses on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), and transition metal oxides, with key research directions including photocatalytic CO2 reduction, electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia, and water oxidation under visible light. The team also develops novel computational methods to accurately predict reaction energetics, supporting the rational design of efficient catalytic materials. Their work emphasizes enhancing charge transfer, light absorption, and structural stability to improve catalytic performance.
Professor Dae Hyun Kim's research lab specializes in advanced biomedical engineering and materials science, with a primary focus on tissue engineering for tracheal reconstruction using 3D bioprinting and stem cell technology. The lab develops bioactive scaffolds using biocompatible polymers like polycaprolactone (PCL) and hydrogels, integrating mesenchymal stem cells and epithelial cells to create functional artificial tracheas. Additionally, the lab explores next-generation semiconductor devices, particularly InGaAs high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs), for beyond-CMOS electronics, aiming to enable high-speed, low-power logic technologies. The interdisciplinary work bridges regenerative medicine and nanoelectronics, emphasizing clinical translation and material innovation.
Professor Jiyoung Park's research lab specializes in the thermodynamic and structural characterization of inorganic oxide slags and non-metallic inclusions in high-performance steels and stainless steels. The lab focuses on understanding the formation mechanisms, crystallization behavior, and structural evolution of complex oxide systems such as CaO–SiO2, CaO–Al2O3, and their fluorine-modified variants, using advanced spectroscopic techniques like FT-IR and micro-Raman spectroscopy. A key research direction involves linking the molecular-level structure of slags to their macroscopic thermophysical properties, such as viscosity and polymerization degree, which are critical for optimizing steelmaking processes. The lab also investigates inclusion control in advanced steels to enhance product quality and performance.
Professor Seunghwa Ryu's research lab specializes in computational materials science, focusing on the atomic-scale understanding of mechanical behavior, phase transitions, and interfacial phenomena in advanced materials. The lab employs advanced simulation techniques such as molecular dynamics, umbrella sampling, and free energy calculations to investigate dislocation nucleation, fracture mechanics, and melting behavior in crystalline and 2D materials. A key focus is developing predictive models—using machine learning and statistical mechanics—to bridge the gap between atomistic simulations and macroscopic material properties, enabling high-throughput design of materials with tailored mechanical and thermal responses.
Professor Ji-hye Park's research lab focuses on health behavior and wellness promotion, particularly in cancer survivors and chronic disease populations, with an emphasis on exercise adherence and quality of life. The lab also investigates consumer behavior in digital retail environments, including online apparel shopping motivations and e-learning effectiveness. Additionally, the lab explores biological mechanisms in skin immunity, such as the role of antimicrobial proteins in eccrine sweat glands. These interdisciplinary efforts bridge behavioral science, health technology, and dermatological biology.
Professor Hyung Jun Kim's research lab specializes in the development of transparent oxide semiconductors with exceptional electronic and thermal stability, focusing on perovskite-structured materials like La-doped BaSnO₃ for high-performance optoelectronic and power electronic applications. The lab explores fundamental material properties such as ultra-high electron mobility and oxygen stability under extreme conditions, aiming to enable next-generation transparent transistors and high-frequency devices. Additionally, the lab contributes to biomedical research, including sepsis detection systems and microbial gene regulation, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to materials science and health technology.
Professor Sung Yeon Kim's research lab specializes in developing innovative bioengineering and analytical methodologies to address critical challenges in biomedical research and environmental science. The lab focuses on advancing nondestructive tissue processing techniques using electrokinetic principles, such as stochastic electrotransport, for rapid molecular delivery in porous biological samples. It also pioneers microfluidic and hydrogel-based platforms for 3D tissue modeling, particularly in cancer research and angiogenesis, enabling high-resolution visualization and functional assessment of tumor vasculature. Additionally, the lab investigates environmental particulate matter and its health impacts, emphasizing the chemical characterization of airborne PM10 and PM2.5 in urban settings. These interdisciplinary efforts bridge engineering, biology, and environmental science to create transformative tools for precision medicine and public health.
Professor Jeong Min Kim's research lab focuses on cerebrovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders, with a strong emphasis on using advanced medical imaging—particularly high-resolution vessel wall MRI—to understand the pathophysiology of intracranial atherosclerosis and its role in stroke recurrence. The lab investigates biomarkers such as folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine in relation to dementia risk, exploring both baseline levels and longitudinal changes. Additionally, the lab contributes to materials science by developing flexible electrochromic devices for smart window applications using conductive polymers. Overall, the lab bridges clinical neuroscience with biomedical engineering to improve diagnosis, risk prediction, and therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases.
Professor Kyu Hyoung Lee's research lab specializes in advanced thermoelectric materials and cyber-forensic systems, with a strong focus on enhancing energy conversion efficiency through nanostructuring and band engineering in semiconductors. The lab develops novel materials such as bismuth antimony telluride and Ruddlesden-Popper phase oxides to achieve low lattice thermal conductivity and high thermoelectric performance. In parallel, the lab pioneers innovative digital forensics technologies, including audit log analysis and garbage collection systems for large-scale system logs, to address challenges in cyberattack investigation and provenance tracking. The integration of materials science and computer systems research defines the lab’s interdisciplinary approach to sustainable energy and digital security solutions.
