Explore research labs at leading universities worldwide — research fields and key papers at a glance.
Professor Bomi Song's research lab focuses on the neural and behavioral mechanisms underlying feeding behavior and sensory processing in the nematode *Caenorhabditis elegans*, with a particular emphasis on how neuromodulators like serotonin regulate motor control and learning-related plasticity. The lab investigates the integration of sensory cues, such as bacterial presence, with internal neuromodulatory signals to control feeding motions like pharyngeal pumping and isthmus peristalsis. Additionally, the lab explores the role of specific neurons and receptors in mediating familiarity-based feeding decisions and the broader implications for neural circuit function and behavioral adaptation. Recent work also extends to understanding the role of dynamic capabilities and corporate governance in sustainability practices, reflecting an interdisciplinary interest in systems-level regulation across biological and organizational domains.
Professor Byeonggeun Song's research lab specializes in gastrointestinal and liver diseases, with a focus on advanced endoscopic therapies, esophageal motility disorders, and the early detection of gastrointestinal cancers. The lab investigates novel biomarkers such as circulating tumor cells in pancreatic cancer and redefines fatty liver disease terminology to improve risk prediction for hepatocellular carcinoma. Using high-resolution manometry, elastography, and molecular diagnostics, the lab aims to enhance clinical decision-making through non-invasive and precision medicine approaches.
Professor Sin-Jung Lee's research lab specializes in regenerative medicine and stem cell biology, with a focus on the directed differentiation and direct reprogramming of human pluripotent stem cells and somatic cells into functional endothelial and lymphatic endothelial cells. The lab develops clinically compatible, defined differentiation systems and enhances cell survival and therapeutic efficacy through biomaterial-based encapsulation, such as peptide amphiphile nanomatrix gels. Key research directions include vascular and lymphatic lineage specification, in vitro generation of blood cells (including erythrocytes), and the molecular mechanisms underlying cell fate determination and nuclear signaling. These efforts aim to advance cell therapies for ischemic diseases and transfusion medicine.
Professor Seung Jun Baek's research lab specializes in the design and analysis of energy-efficient, scalable, and intelligent communication systems for wireless networks and smart infrastructure. The lab focuses on optimizing energy consumption and load balancing in ad hoc and sensor networks through stochastic geometry, queueing theory, and proactive routing strategies. Recent work extends into smart grid applications, particularly electric vehicle charging coordination, and into AI-driven automation of medical diagnostics using deep learning. The lab also investigates efficient feedback mechanisms and data aggregation techniques for wireless access and sensor networks.
Professor Yeon-Chang Lee's research lab specializes in intelligent recommendation systems, with a strong focus on graph neural networks, multimedia recommendation, and signed network embedding. The lab explores advanced techniques such as hybrid collaborative filtering, modality-aware attention mechanisms, and graph-theoretic modeling to address challenges in sparse and complex recommendation scenarios. Their work emphasizes learning from both user-item interactions and social or multimodal information, aiming to improve recommendation accuracy and robustness through principled deep learning and graph-based methods.
Professor Dong-yeop Shin's research lab specializes in organizational theory and strategic management, with a strong focus on macro-organizational theories such as resource dependence theory, institutional theory, and organizational ecology. The lab investigates the dynamics of organizational behavior in uncertain environments, particularly how firms learn from performance feedback and emulate successful peers in strategic decisions—such as diversification modes in Korean chaebols. It also explores the evolution of management paradigms, especially post-IMF crisis transformations in Korean human resource and organizational management, emphasizing institutional change, leadership roles, and the interplay between global trends and local practices.
Professor Sung Soo Kim's research lab focuses on public administration, civil-service cooperation, and academic integrity in higher education, with a strong emphasis on institutional governance, ethical education, and international student integration. The lab explores the legal and constitutional foundations of public-private partnerships, particularly in infrastructure projects, while also investigating pedagogical models for fostering creativity and academic honesty in university writing education. Additionally, the lab examines challenges and solutions in supporting international students through tailored liberal arts and Korean language curriculum development.
Professor Dong-Mok Hwang's research lab specializes in advanced 2D materials and their applications in next-generation electronics and energy technologies. The lab focuses on developing novel heterostructures and interfaces—particularly involving transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), graphene, and tin-based anodes—to overcome critical challenges such as high contact resistance, limited pH sensitivity, and volume expansion in batteries. By employing innovative strategies like ultrathin interlayers, defect-engineered graphene, optical gating, and advanced transfer techniques, the lab aims to enhance device performance and scalability. Their work bridges fundamental materials science with practical device integration, targeting applications in flexible electronics, biosensors, and high-performance batteries.
Professor Sae-Ryeon Lee's research lab specializes in transition metal-catalyzed polymerization, with a focus on nickel-catalyzed synthesis of π-conjugated polymers for optoelectronic applications. The lab investigates the electronic and steric effects of ligands on catalytic efficiency, molecular weight control, and reaction mechanism—particularly reductive elimination and initiation rates. Additionally, the lab contributes to clinical oncology research, particularly in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and multiple myeloma, where it explores genetic mutations (e.g., NPM1, FLT3-ITD) and novel conditioning regimens for stem cell transplantation. The integration of mechanistic organometallic chemistry with translational biomedical research defines the lab’s interdisciplinary approach.
Professor Sung Hyun Lee's research lab specializes in radiation biology and microdosimetry, focusing on the biological effects of heavy-ion radiation using advanced microdosimetric techniques. The lab applies the microdosimetric kinetic (MK) model to predict relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and cell survival in cancer cells exposed to various ion beams, such as helium, carbon, oxygen, and neon. Additionally, the lab investigates radioprotective agents and natural compounds—like Cirsium setidens—for their hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties, and explores the application of ionizing radiation in parasitic disease control. The integration of silicon-based microdosimeters and in vitro biological assays enables precise radiation risk assessment and therapeutic optimization.
Professor Duck Hwan Moon's research lab specializes in cardiothoracic surgery, with a focus on innovative surgical techniques and long-term outcomes in complex cardiovascular and thoracic conditions. The lab investigates minimally invasive and patient-tailored approaches for aortic dissection, pectus deformities, and early-stage lung cancer, emphasizing both immediate surgical efficacy and long-term patient outcomes. Research also explores anatomical and physiological impacts of surgical variations, such as inferior pulmonary ligament dissection during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The lab is committed to advancing evidence-based, less invasive interventions to improve survival and quality of life.
Professor Yoon-E Choi's research lab focuses on fungal pathogenesis and environmental microbiology, with a strong emphasis on understanding molecular mechanisms underlying fungal virulence, mycotoxin production, and host-pathogen interactions in agriculturally important pathogens such as *Fusarium verticillioides* and *Mycosphaerella graminicola*. The lab investigates key signaling pathways—like the cAMP-PKA and velvet gene regulatory networks—that control development, secondary metabolism, and disease progression in fungi. Additionally, the lab explores sustainable biotechnological solutions for environmental challenges, including the control of harmful algal blooms and the valorization of industrial by-products like crude glycerol through microbial processes. Their work bridges fundamental fungal biology with practical applications in food safety, agriculture, and environmental bioremediation.
Professor Sung-young Yu's research lab specializes in epidemiological and clinical ophthalmology, focusing on the prevalence, risk factors, and long-term outcomes of major eye diseases in the Korean population. The lab conducts large-scale national surveys such as KNHANES and population-based cohort studies to investigate conditions including diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal toxicity from therapeutic agents. A key emphasis is placed on understanding the burden of ocular diseases through rigorous population health research and biorepository-based analyses to inform public health policy and clinical management.
Professor Jungmee Lee's research lab specializes in auditory perception and psychophysics, focusing on the psychophysical measurement of hearing sensitivity across the full human frequency range, including extended high frequencies. The lab investigates temporal and spectral processing in human audition, particularly modulation detection and forward masking, to understand the neural and perceptual mechanisms underlying hearing. Additionally, the lab explores linguistic semantics, especially evidentiality in East Asian languages like Korean and Japanese, examining how evidential markers interact with modality, temporality, and discourse context. The integration of psychophysical experimentation with formal semantic analysis defines the lab’s interdisciplinary approach to understanding human perception and language.
Professor Jiyoung Choi's research lab focuses on translational biomedical research, particularly in the areas of rare genetic skin disorders, pediatric trauma, and microbial pathogenesis. The lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying conditions such as Olmsted syndrome and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, with an emphasis on signaling pathways like WNT/β-catenin and ion channels such as TRPV3. Additionally, the lab explores psychosocial interventions for trauma-exposed children and develops non-invasive dermatological treatments using laser technologies.
Professor Ji Eun Heo's research lab focuses on hypertension management and urological oncology, with a strong emphasis on improving clinical outcomes through evidence-based interventions. The lab investigates cardiovascular risk factors, particularly in young adults, and explores adherence to pharmacological and dietary treatments for hypertension. In urology, the lab specializes in advanced robotic surgical techniques, including Retzius-sparing and single-site robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, aiming to enhance functional recovery and oncological safety. The research integrates large-scale national health data with clinical outcomes to inform precision medicine approaches in cardiovascular and genitourinary diseases.
Professor Woo Ram Kim's research lab specializes in gastrointestinal oncology and immunotherapy, with a focus on understanding and overcoming immune evasion mechanisms in colorectal cancer, particularly in the context of peritoneal carcinomatosis. The lab investigates the STING pathway as a promising target for enhancing anti-tumor immunity and develops novel immunotherapeutic strategies, including STING agonists and oncolytic viruses. They also explore regenerative approaches using mesenchymal stem cells for intestinal fibrosis in inflammatory bowel diseases. Their work integrates preclinical models, clinical correlation, and translational immunology to advance treatment options for refractory colorectal cancers.
Professor Min Gu Park's research lab focuses on translational urology and male reproductive health, with a strong emphasis on the interplay between hormonal status, microbiome dynamics, and urological conditions. Key research directions include the clinical impact of testosterone deficiency in chronic kidney disease, the role of vitamin D in lower urinary tract symptoms and hypogonadism, and the influence of lifestyle factors such as smoking on erectile function. The lab also investigates the emerging role of the urinary microbiome and its interactions with the gut and vaginal microbiomes, particularly in postmenopausal women, and explores cellular mechanisms such as calcium signaling in neural stem cells. These multidisciplinary efforts aim to improve quality of life through non-invasive, cost-effective interventions and personalized therapeutic strategies.
Professor Jonghan Kim's research lab specializes in translational biomedical research, focusing on molecular mechanisms of protein transport and drug metabolism, particularly involving the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) and its role in extending the half-life of therapeutic proteins like IgG and albumin. The lab also investigates pharmacokinetics and first-pass metabolism of novel drugs, as well as clinical applications in oncology, including biomarker discovery for gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis. Additionally, the lab explores advanced image processing techniques, such as region-based wavelet transforms and multi-exposure image fusion, for medical imaging enhancement and diagnostic support. These interdisciplinary efforts bridge molecular biology, pharmacology, and biomedical imaging to improve therapeutic outcomes and diagnostic accuracy.
Professor Jeongdon Seo's research lab specializes in cardiovascular and clinical pharmacology, with a focus on hypertension management, vascular biology, and interventional cardiology. The lab investigates the hemodynamic effects of herbal medicines like red ginseng, explores genetic factors influencing acute myocardial infarction risk, and examines cellular mechanisms of vascular remodeling, particularly in the context of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) polymorphisms and adventitial fibroblast responses to angiotensin II. The lab also contributes to understanding rare cardiac syndromes such as takotsubo cardiomyopathy and arrhythmic mechanisms in conditions like cough syncope.
