Explore research labs at leading universities worldwide — research fields and key papers at a glance.
Professor Kyunghee Kim's research lab specializes in molecular genetics, plant genomics, and bioactive natural products, with a focus on chloroplast and nuclear genome evolution in plants, particularly in economically and medicinally important species such as rice, ginseng, and Araliaceae. The lab employs next-generation sequencing technologies to decode complete chloroplast and ribosomal DNA sequences, enabling detailed phylogenomic and population genetic analyses. Additionally, the lab investigates bioactive compounds from plant byproducts—such as levan from *Zymomonas mobilis* and polyphenols from *Rubus coreanus*—for potential applications in cosmeceuticals and antiviral therapeutics.
Professor Sumin Kim's research lab specializes in the development and characterization of sustainable bio-based adhesives, with a focus on tannin-derived polymers for industrial applications. The lab investigates the curing mechanisms, viscoelastic behavior, and thermal properties of these adhesives using advanced analytical techniques such as FT-IR-ATR spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Key research directions include optimizing hardeners for enhanced reactivity and performance in tannin-based adhesives, particularly from wattle and pine sources, to support eco-friendly wood composite manufacturing. The lab also explores structure-property relationships to improve the durability and efficiency of bio-based materials in place of petroleum-based alternatives.
Professor Hyesung Shin's research lab specializes in advanced materials for next-generation energy conversion and storage, with a primary focus on perovskite-based optoelectronics. The lab explores innovative materials engineering, interface and heterostructure design, and atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques to enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells. Key research directions include the development of inorganic charge transport layers, 2D/3D perovskite heterojunctions, and ultra-thin, conformal oxide films for high-performance, stable photovoltaic devices. The lab also investigates template-directed synthesis of functional oxide nanostructures for tailored optoelectronic applications.
Professor Minkee Choi's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of advanced functional materials for energy and environmental applications. Key research directions include the development of single-atom and cluster-based electrocatalysts supported on tailored carbon and zeolite matrices for sustainable energy conversion, such as oxygen reduction and hydrogen peroxide production. The lab also focuses on functionalized porous materials—particularly PEI-modified silica and mesoporous SBA-15—for efficient carbon dioxide capture and selective polymer-silica composites via in situ polymerization. These efforts are driven by a strong emphasis on material architecture control, stability, and practical scalability.
Professor Seung-hee Yoo's research lab focuses on the molecular and systems-level regulation of circadian rhythms, with a particular emphasis on the role of core clock genes such as mPer2 in both central and peripheral oscillators. The lab investigates how circadian clocks are maintained in isolated tissues, the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying circadian gene expression—including enhancer elements and microRNA regulation—and how disruptions in these rhythms contribute to pathological conditions such as chronic pain and neuropathy. Additionally, the lab explores the intersection of circadian biology with emotional processing and social behavior, examining how individual differences in emotional intelligence and communal motivation influence responses to stress and interpersonal conflict. These multidisciplinary approaches integrate molecular genetics, real-time bioluminescence imaging, and behavioral analysis to uncover fundamental principles of biological timing and its impact on health and disease.
Professor Sanghun Park's research lab specializes in advanced nanomaterials and energy conversion technologies, with a strong focus on graphene-based nanomaterials for energy storage and electronic applications. The lab develops innovative fabrication techniques—such as microwave-assisted synthesis and spray-assisted self-assembly—to create high-quality, structurally integrated graphene microstructures with enhanced electrochemical performance. Additionally, the lab explores power electronics solutions, particularly soft-switching converters, to improve the efficiency of renewable energy systems. The integration of nanomaterials with energy systems and electronic devices defines the core direction of the lab’s interdisciplinary research.
Professor Joo Sung Kim's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying intestinal inflammation, colorectal cancer, and metabolic disorders, with a central emphasis on the role of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling in disease pathogenesis. The lab investigates the chemopreventive and anti-inflammatory effects of repurposed drugs—such as statins, metformin, and natural compounds like luteolin—on colorectal carcinogenesis and inflammatory bowel disease. Key research directions include apoptosis regulation, innate immune modulation, and the impact of metabolic risk factors like visceral obesity and insulin resistance on colorectal neoplasia. The lab also contributes to clinical research by developing diagnostic criteria for rare gastrointestinal conditions, such as intestinal Behçet’s disease.
Professor Soojin Kim's research lab focuses on translational biomedical research with a strong emphasis on neurobiology, critical care medicine, and vascular biology. The lab investigates the neurobiological underpinnings of behavioral disorders such as Internet addiction, particularly through dopamine system modulation, while also exploring novel therapeutic strategies in sepsis and acute critical illnesses. Key research directions include targeting endothelial integrity via TIE2 receptor activation to improve outcomes in sepsis and evaluating predictive biomarkers and interventions in cancer and cardiac arrest. The lab integrates molecular biology, medical imaging, and preclinical models to develop targeted therapies.
Professor Jin-Wu Nam's research lab focuses on the genomics and functional characterization of noncoding RNAs, particularly long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), in development, immunity, and disease. The lab employs advanced single-cell and high-throughput sequencing technologies to uncover cell type-specific lncRNA functions, especially in the tumor immune microenvironment and hematopoietic systems. A key focus is identifying and validating functional micropeptides encoded by lncRNAs, as well as exploring bifunctional RNAs with both coding and regulatory roles. The lab also develops computational and bioinformatic methods to improve de novo genome assembly and lncRNA annotation.
Professor Yu-Kyung Oh's research lab specializes in nanomedicine and immunotherapy, focusing on developing advanced nanocarrier systems for targeted drug and vaccine delivery. The lab explores cell membrane-derived vesicles, immune checkpoint-modified nanoparticles, and stimuli-responsive materials to enhance therapeutic efficacy in cancer and infectious diseases. A central theme is leveraging biological features—such as immune evasion mechanisms and phagocytic uptake— to design smart delivery platforms that modulate the tumor microenvironment or improve intracellular pathogen clearance. The lab also investigates the intracellular fate of nanoparticles to optimize their design for specific biological applications.
Professor In-Hee Mok's research lab focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD), with a particular emphasis on amyloid-beta (Aβ) metabolism, tau pathology, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The lab investigates the role of glial cells—especially microglia—in Aβ plaque formation and neuroinflammation, as well as the potential of natural compounds like ginsenosides and asiaticoside derivatives in neuroprotection. Using in vivo models, PET imaging, and biochemical approaches, the lab explores biomarkers such as plasma tau and Aβ, aiming to bridge peripheral markers with central nervous system pathology. Their work also delves into unconventional protein secretion, particularly of insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), which plays a key role in Aβ degradation.
Professor Kyuhyung Park's research lab specializes in vitreoretinal diseases and ocular vascular disorders, with a focus on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of retinal conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), macular hole, and iatrogenic complications from cosmetic facial injections. The lab investigates molecular mechanisms underlying retinal cell death, particularly oxidative stress and survival pathways in retinal pigment epithelial cells, and employs advanced imaging techniques like spectral-domain OCT to study structural-functional relationships in retinal dystrophies. Additionally, the lab explores surgical outcomes and risk factors in vitreoretinal surgery, including sutureless vitrectomy and postoperative complications such as hypotony and scleral leakage.
Professor Myung-Jae Lee's research focuses on precision measurements in particle physics, particularly in the search for new physics beyond the Standard Model. His work spans rare and forbidden decays, lepton flavor violation, and dark sector phenomenology, with key experiments including the Muon g-2 at Fermilab, B-meson decays at Belle, and the COMET experiment at J-PARC targeting neutrinoless muon-to-electron conversion. He also investigates dark photons as potential mediators between the dark and visible sectors, using data from the BABAR experiment. His research combines high-precision measurements with innovative detector and facility development to probe new physics at the frontier of flavor and electroweak symmetry breaking.
Professor Hyun Keun Lim's research lab specializes in diagnostic and interventional radiology, with a strong focus on ultrasound-based imaging techniques for accurate diagnosis and image-guided interventions. The lab investigates advanced ultrasound applications—such as color Doppler sonography and elastography—in challenging clinical scenarios, including acute appendicitis in pregnancy and small liver tumors. Key research directions include improving the diagnostic accuracy of medical imaging through hemodynamic and perfusion parameters, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma and uterine fibroids, using techniques like DCE-MRI and sonoelastography. The lab also emphasizes the development and validation of predictive models for treatment outcomes using clinical and imaging biomarkers.
Professor Young Yul Ryu's research lab specializes in terrestrial biosphere-atmosphere interactions, focusing on the development and application of satellite-based models to quantify global carbon, water, and energy cycles. The lab pioneers integrated Earth system modeling using remote sensing data—particularly from MODIS and FLUXNET—to improve understanding of gross primary productivity, evapotranspiration, and methane emissions across diverse ecosystems. A central theme is the coupling of atmospheric and canopy radiative transfer processes through advanced simulation frameworks like the Breathing Earth System Simulator (BESS), enabling high-resolution, globally consistent estimates of ecosystem fluxes. The lab also emphasizes long-term data consistency, uncertainty quantification, and the role of canopy structure in interpreting remote sensing signals such as sun-induced fluorescence (SIF).
Professor Won-Suk Chung's research lab focuses on the dynamic roles of glial cells—particularly astrocytes—in synaptic regulation, neural circuit development, and neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis. The lab investigates how astrocytes control synapse formation, function, and elimination through secreted factors, direct contact, and phagocytic activity, with a strong emphasis on the molecular mechanisms involving APOE and stress response pathways. A key direction is understanding how dysregulation of astrocyte-mediated synaptic pruning contributes to conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and early-life stress-induced psychiatric disorders. The lab integrates in vitro, in vivo, and human brain organoid models to dissect glial contributions to brain health and disease.
Professor Ja Hun Kwak's research lab specializes in the design, characterization, and stabilization of heterogeneous catalysts, with a strong focus on supported metal nanoparticles and single-atom catalysts. The lab investigates the atomic-level interactions between metal species and oxide supports—particularly γ-Al₂O₃—using advanced spectroscopic, microscopic, and computational techniques. Key research directions include understanding the role of metal-support interactions in catalytic activity and stability, especially in reactions such as CO₂ reduction and CO oxidation, and developing strategies to prevent metal sintering through tailored anchoring sites. The lab integrates ultrahigh-field NMR, STEM, EXAFS, and DFT calculations to probe the electronic and geometric structures of active sites at the atomic scale.
Professor Heebal Kim's research lab specializes in animal genomics and genetic mechanisms underlying economically and medically important traits in livestock and aquatic species. The lab focuses on identifying genetic variants and selection signatures associated with complex traits such as disease resistance, thermotolerance, obesity, and production efficiency using advanced sequencing and population genetic approaches. Key research directions include comparative genomics, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and functional genomics in cattle, pigs, turkeys, and abalone, with translational applications to human metabolic diseases.
Professor Heung-Kyu Lee's research lab focuses on the intersection of immunology, virology, and cancer biology, with a central emphasis on dendritic cell biology, autophagy, and the tumor microenvironment. The lab investigates how innate immune cells, particularly plasmacytoid dendritic cells and conventional dendritic cells, sense pathogens and tumor antigens, with a particular interest in the role of autophagy in antigen presentation and interferon responses. The lab also explores the influence of the gut microbiome and hypoxia on anti-tumor immunity and immunotherapy efficacy, especially in colorectal cancer and glioblastoma. These studies aim to uncover novel mechanisms that can be targeted to enhance vaccine responses and improve cancer immunotherapies.
Professor Jae Hoon Kim's research lab specializes in the development of advanced functional materials for sustainable energy and environmental applications. The lab focuses on catalysis for carbon dioxide conversion into valuable hydrocarbons, the direct transformation of biomass-derived feedstocks into high-value chemicals, and the design of multifunctional nanomaterials for energy storage and conversion. Key research directions include the rational design of heterogeneous catalysts for selective hydrogenation, hydrodeoxygenation, and C–C coupling reactions, as well as understanding ion storage mechanisms in hard carbon for post-lithium-ion batteries. The lab integrates materials synthesis, catalytic testing, and advanced characterization to address challenges in energy sustainability and carbon utilization.
