Explore research labs at leading universities worldwide — research fields and key papers at a glance.
Professor Seung-Gu Lee's research lab specializes in advanced medical imaging and molecular mechanisms underlying neurological and inflammatory diseases. The lab focuses on applying diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography to study congenital and acquired brain abnormalities, such as callosal dysgenesis and cortical dysplasia, while also investigating the role of adipokines like adiponectin in rheumatoid arthritis using animal models and cellular assays. Additionally, the lab explores quantitative MRI biomarkers, such as ADC values, for differentiating brain tumors, and examines cellular and subcellular structures in plant tissues using advanced microscopy techniques.
Professor Han-Joon Kim's research lab specializes in advanced functional oxide materials, particularly hafnia-based ferroelectrics for next-generation nanoelectronics, with a focus on enhancing ferroelectric properties through atomic-layer deposition and nanostructure engineering. The lab also explores smart drug delivery systems using ultrasound-responsive materials and investigates neurological disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease, through clinical and neuromodulation studies. Their work bridges materials science, biomedical engineering, and clinical neurology to develop innovative solutions for energy-efficient electronics and personalized medical therapies.
Professor Sangwon Kang's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of redox signaling and oxidative stress regulation in mammalian cells, with a central emphasis on peroxiredoxins (Prx) and chaperonins such as Hsp60. The lab investigates how these proteins function not only as antioxidants but also as key regulators of intracellular signaling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, and apoptosis-related cascades. A major research direction involves understanding the subcellular compartment-specific roles of Prx proteins—particularly in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitochondria—in protecting cells from oxidative damage and in disease processes such as cancer and atherosclerosis. The lab also explores the impact of hemodynamic forces, such as shear stress, on redox homeostasis in endothelial cells.
Professor Sun Wook Hwang's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of sensory transduction, particularly the role of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels in pain sensation, thermosensation, and inflammation. The lab investigates endogenous and exogenous ligands that modulate thermoTRPs—such as TRPV3, TRPA1, and TRPV1—exploring their roles in nociception and hyperalgesia. A key direction involves identifying endogenous lipid mediators, including resolvins and metabolites like farnesyl pyrophosphate, as novel activators or inhibitors of TRP channels, with implications for developing targeted analgesics. The lab combines cellular physiology, calcium imaging, and electrophysiology to dissect channel function in sensory neurons and keratinocytes.
Professor Jin Soo Kim's research lab specializes in environmental and chemical engineering, focusing on advanced technologies for gas and wastewater treatment. The lab investigates innovative methods for acid gas removal—particularly hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide—from industrial gas streams using absorption, adsorption, membrane reactors, and novel hollow fiber membrane contactors. It also explores biological nitrogen removal using microbial processes, such as the application of *Chiarella vulgaris* for ammonia and ammonium ion degradation in municipal wastewater. The lab emphasizes sustainable, energy-efficient solutions for pollution control and resource recovery.
Professor Sung Ji Kim's research lab specializes in the design, synthesis, and application of advanced nanomaterials for biomedical and optoelectronic applications. The lab focuses on developing novel quantum dots with tailored electronic structures—particularly Type-II heterostructures and heavy-metal-free perovskite nanocrystals—enabling tunable optical properties and enhanced stability. A key direction involves engineering smart, stimuli-responsive nanomaterials, such as pH-activatable gold nanoparticles and oligomeric ligands, for targeted drug delivery and real-time biological imaging. The lab also explores hybrid nanomaterials for sustainable energy applications, including nontoxic quantum dot-based solar cells and functional coatings for optoelectronic devices.
Professor Hye Jin Choi's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and supramolecular coordination networks with tailored porosity, structural dynamics, and functional properties. The lab focuses on creating novel open-framework materials using transition metal complexes and organic ligands, emphasizing structural diversity, guest-host interactions, and stability under extreme conditions. Key research directions include the development of MOFs with permanent porosity for gas storage and separation, stimuli-responsive frameworks, and functional materials for catalysis and sensing.
Professor Nan Hee Kim's research lab focuses on the intersection of metabolic health, body composition, and aging, with a particular emphasis on circadian rhythms, sarcopenia, metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The lab investigates how body composition indices—such as the weight-adjusted waist index—predict metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes in elderly populations, and explores the role of adipokines like RBP4 in insulin resistance and liver disease. Using longitudinal and cross-sectional cohort studies, the lab examines the relationships between depression, obesity phenotypes (e.g., metabolically obese normal-weight), and cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes in aging Koreans.
Professor Noejung Park's research lab specializes in computational and theoretical materials science, focusing on the electronic, magnetic, and catalytic properties of two-dimensional and nanostructured materials. Key research directions include designing van der Waals heterostructures with tunable excitonic and spintronic behaviors through atomic-scale stacking control, developing carbon-based 3D frameworks for high-capacity hydrogen storage and transition metal dispersion, and engineering 2D/0D heterostructures for enhanced electrocatalysis. The lab employs advanced first-principles methods such as density functional theory and many-body perturbation theory to explore symmetry-breaking phenomena, topological states, and interfacial charge transfer in low-dimensional systems.
Professor Young Min Cho's research lab focuses on metabolic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, with an emphasis on identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The lab investigates the roles of adipokines such as RBP4, incretin hormones like GLP-1, and the impact of pharmacological agents—including SGLT2 and DPP4 inhibitors—on metabolic and renal health. Additionally, the lab explores mitochondrial transfer mechanisms in cellular repair and the genetic architecture underlying complex traits, such as carcass weight in Hanwoo cattle, using advanced genomics approaches. These interdisciplinary efforts integrate molecular biology, translational medicine, and systems genetics to advance diabetes therapeutics and metabolic disease understanding.
Professor Soo-il Ahn's research lab specializes in climate dynamics and ocean-atmosphere interactions, with a primary focus on the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. The lab investigates the nonlinear behavior, feedback mechanisms, and structural changes in ENSO, particularly through dynamic feedbacks such as thermocline and zonal advective feedbacks, as well as interactions with tropical instability waves. It also explores long-term climate hysteresis and irreversibility under CO₂ perturbation scenarios, using advanced climate models and observational data assimilation. The lab's work bridges theoretical climate dynamics with real-world climate variability and change.
Professor Seung Hyuk Han's research lab focuses on chronic kidney disease (CKD) pathogenesis, with a particular emphasis on the molecular mechanisms underlying renal fibrosis, metabolic reprogramming in tubular epithelial cells, and the role of developmental signaling pathways such as Notch and LKB1 in disease progression. The lab investigates the contribution of complement activation and immune dysregulation in IgA nephropathy and nephrotic syndrome, integrating translational and preclinical models to identify novel therapeutic targets. Additionally, the lab explores clinical determinants of outcomes in dialysis populations, including residual renal function and polypharmacy, aiming to improve patient survival and quality of life.
Professor So Young Kim's research lab focuses on population health and epidemiological studies, with a strong emphasis on the interplay between lifestyle factors—such as smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary habits, and screen or internet use—and chronic health conditions, mental health, and neurocognitive outcomes in adolescents and middle-to-older-aged adults. The lab specializes in large-scale, nationally representative cohort studies to identify modifiable risk factors for diseases like Bell’s palsy, dementia, and asthma, while rigorously adjusting for confounders. Their work often integrates behavioral risk factors with clinical and demographic data to inform public health policy.
Professor Chul-Kee Park's research lab specializes in neuro-oncology and neuroscience, focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying brain tumors and peripheral nerve disorders. The lab investigates key transcription factors like Sox2 in gliomagenesis, explores ion channel modulation by natural compounds such as eugenol in sensory neurons, and develops diagnostic and prognostic tools for glioblastoma and vestibular schwannomas. A central theme is the identification of biomarkers—particularly MGMT promoter methylation—to differentiate true tumor progression from pseudoprogression in glioma patients.
Professor Jin-Hong Park's research lab specializes in two-dimensional (2D) materials and their applications in next-generation nanoelectronics and neuromorphic computing. The lab focuses on developing high-performance, low-power electronic and optoelectronic devices using transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as MoS2, WSe2, and phosphorene, with an emphasis on layer-controlled synthesis, surface engineering, and heterostructure integration. Key research directions include synaptic devices for brain-inspired computing, negative differential resistance devices for multi-valued logic, and high-sensitivity photodetectors with advanced doping and encapsulation techniques.
Professor Young-Kook Lee's research lab specializes in the development and characterization of advanced high-manganese steels and Fe-Mn-based alloys, focusing on microstructure-property relationships. The lab investigates phase transformations, deformation mechanisms, and damping behavior in these materials, with particular emphasis on transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) and the role of retained austenite (γR) in enhancing strength-ductility balance. Research directions include optimizing chemical composition and processing parameters to tailor microstructure and mechanical performance, especially in medium Mn steels and Fe-Mn binary alloys with high damping capacity. The lab also explores the fundamental mechanisms behind defect-mediated damping in multiphase Fe-Mn systems.
Professor Sung In Jang's research lab focuses on the epidemiological and clinical investigation of lifestyle-related health risks, particularly examining the impacts of tobacco and nicotine use—such as conventional smoking, e-cigarette vaping, and dual use—on metabolic, cardiovascular, and liver diseases in the South Korean population. The lab emphasizes population-based studies using large-scale national health surveys to explore gender-specific, age-related, and behavioral patterns in disease associations. Key research directions include the links between smoking behaviors and conditions such as metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, periodontal disease, and glycated hemoglobin levels, as well as the interplay between sedentary behavior, sleep quality, and health outcomes. The lab integrates statistical modeling and population health analytics to inform public health policy and preventive strategies.
Professor Hyun Uk Kim's research lab specializes in systems biology and metabolic engineering, focusing on the reconstruction and analysis of genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) to understand microbial metabolism across bacteria, archaea, and eukarya. The lab applies these models to identify drug targets in pathogenic microbes, such as *Vibrio vulnificus* and *Acinetobacter baumannii*, leveraging metabolite essentiality and systems-level network analysis for therapeutic development. Additionally, the lab explores metabolic engineering strategies for the efficient production of secondary metabolites using both native and heterologous hosts, integrating computational modeling with experimental validation. Their work bridges computational systems biology with applications in biotechnology, antimicrobial drug discovery, and synthetic biology.
Professor Jeong-Hoon Yoon's research lab specializes in microbial ecology and biotechnology, with a focus on isolating and characterizing novel halophilic and extremophilic microorganisms from marine and coastal environments such as tidal flats and salt marshes. The lab investigates the physiology, taxonomy, and biotechnological potential of these microbes, particularly in relation to their unique adaptations to high salinity and extreme conditions. Additionally, the lab explores the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis, especially the role of environmental mutagens and epigenetic modifications like CpG methylation in tumor suppressor genes such as RASSF1A and p53.
Professor Do Hwan Kim's research lab specializes in the development of advanced functional materials and devices for next-generation human-machine interfaces and sustainable energy technologies. The lab focuses on designing smart, wearable sensors—particularly piezocapacitive and ionic tactile sensors—inspired by biological mechanotransduction mechanisms, enabling high-sensitivity, multimodal detection of mechanical, thermal, and physiological signals. A key research direction involves engineering nanomaterials such as carbon nanotube microyarns, single-atom catalysts, and liquid-crystalline semiconductors to enhance performance in flexible electronics and rechargeable metal-air batteries. The lab also explores surface engineering strategies to control molecular ordering and interfacial interactions for high-performance organic field-effect transistors and energy storage systems.
