首尔大学、KAIST、延世大学等韩国QS前10名大学的研究室信息。
Professor Won-ki Heo's research lab focuses on fungal molecular biology, with a strong emphasis on cellular metabolism, organelle interactions, and redox biochemistry. The lab investigates protein-protein interactions, particularly those involving mitochondria, lipid droplets, and peroxisomes, using advanced imaging techniques such as bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). Key research directions include the biosynthesis and function of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in pathogenic fungi like *Candida albicans*, as well as the molecular mechanisms of alternative respiratory pathways involving alternative oxidase (AOX). The lab integrates molecular cloning, protein purification, and subcellular localization studies to uncover fundamental mechanisms in fungal cell physiology and metabolism.
Professor Dong Hwan Kim's research lab specializes in the development of advanced nanomaterials and hybrid nanostructures for biomedical sensing and energy applications. The lab focuses on designing electrochemiluminescent and plasmonic nanosensors with enhanced sensitivity and stability, leveraging gold nanoparticles, carbon nitride nanosheets, and conductive polymers. A key research direction involves integrating biological molecules—such as nerve growth factor—into conductive polymers to create bioactive interfaces for neural interfacing and regenerative medicine. The lab also investigates the thermal degradation mechanisms of perovskite materials, particularly MAPbI₃, to improve the stability and performance of next-generation optoelectronic devices.
Professor Nam-Soon Choi's research lab specializes in advancing next-generation energy storage technologies, with a primary focus on developing innovative electrolytes, stable electrode interfaces, and novel materials for high-performance lithium- and magnesium-ion batteries. The lab investigates functional electrolyte additives that enhance interfacial stability, particularly for high-voltage cathodes and high-capacity anodes such as silicon and nickel-rich layered oxides. Key research directions include the design of robust solid-electrolyte interphases (SEI), dendrite-free metal plating, and the development of binder systems that mitigate mechanical degradation in conversion-type anodes. The lab's work bridges materials chemistry, electrochemistry, and interfacial engineering to enable safer, longer-lasting, and higher-energy-density batteries for electric vehicles and grid-scale storage.
Professor Suk Jin Kim's research lab specializes in hematological malignancies, with a primary focus on lymphomas such as extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The lab investigates novel therapeutic strategies, including concurrent chemoradiotherapy, targeted chemotherapy regimens like VIPD, and immunotherapies such as anti-PD-L1 agents (e.g., avelumab), aiming to improve survival and quality of life. It also explores molecular mechanisms, including the role of protein kinase CK2 in AML pathogenesis, to identify prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The research integrates clinical oncology with molecular biology and translational medicine to advance personalized treatment approaches.
Professor Jae-Young Kim's research lab specializes in high-angular-resolution astrophysics, focusing on the structure and dynamics of relativistic jets in active galactic nuclei, particularly using global Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) at millimeter wavelengths. The lab investigates the innermost regions of jets in sources like M87 and 3C 279, probing physical conditions near supermassive black holes and the origins of high-energy variability. In parallel, the lab explores surface reaction dynamics and catalytic processes at the atomic scale, particularly hydrogen abstraction and hot-atom reactions on single-crystal surfaces. These studies combine advanced experimental techniques with precise kinetic and angular distribution analyses to understand fundamental reaction mechanisms in heterogeneous catalysis and astrochemistry.
Professor Khan Muhammad's research lab specializes in intelligent systems for real-time surveillance, fire detection, and medical image analysis, leveraging deep learning and edge computing. The lab focuses on developing lightweight, energy-efficient, and computationally optimized convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures tailored for resource-constrained environments such as IoT networks and mobile edge devices. Key research directions include secure video summarization, real-time fire detection under adverse environmental conditions, and automated brain tumor classification using deep learning. The lab emphasizes practical deployment, combining high accuracy with low latency and minimal memory usage for critical safety and healthcare applications.
Professor Jah Min Nam's research lab specializes in the design and application of plasmonic and multifunctional nanomaterials for advanced biomedical and analytical technologies. The lab focuses on developing ultrasensitive biosensors using DNA-barcode encoded nanoparticles and magnetic microparticles for early disease detection, particularly in cancer biomarkers like PSA. A key research direction involves exploiting the unique photothermal and electromagnetic properties of plasmonic nanostructures—especially those with nanogap architectures—for signal enhancement in techniques like SERS and for next-generation theranostic applications. The lab also pioneers the use of nonnoble metal nanomaterials to enable cost-effective, scalable, and tunable plasmonic systems for sensing, catalysis, and energy applications.
Professor Hwang Euyheon's research lab specializes in the theoretical investigation of electronic and transport properties in two-dimensional materials, with a primary focus on graphene and related 2D systems. The lab explores carrier transport mechanisms influenced by disorder, electron-phonon interactions, and many-body effects such as screening and plasmon excitations. Key research directions include the impact of charged impurities and substrate effects on mobility, temperature-dependent conductivity, and the emergence of collective excitations in bilayer and doped graphene structures. The work combines many-body theory with realistic material parameters to explain and predict experimental observations in nanoscale electronic systems.
Professor Hyunjoo Lee's research lab specializes in the design and development of advanced nanomaterials for sustainable energy and environmental applications. The lab focuses on single-atom and nanostructured catalysts, particularly for electrochemical reactions such as oxygen reduction, hydrogen evolution, and oxygen evolution, with an emphasis on minimizing precious metal usage. Key research directions include the rational synthesis of highly active and stable catalysts for water splitting and pollutant remediation, including arsenic oxidation and CO₂ reduction. The lab also explores structure–activity relationships using advanced characterization and theoretical simulations.
Professor Woojae Myung's research lab focuses on the intersection of mental health, environmental factors, and genetic epidemiology, with a strong emphasis on suicide prevention and the biological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders. The lab investigates population-level predictors of suicide using big data from social media and environmental exposures such as air pollution, while also exploring the neurobiological and genetic architectures underlying major depressive disorder, suicidal behavior, and metabolic syndrome. Key research directions include brain network topology in depression, the impact of public health policies (e.g., paraquat ban), and the genetic basis of cognitive reserve and complex metabolic disorders.
Professor Hyun-ah Kim's research lab focuses on the intersection of neuroscience, molecular biology, and systemic disease mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on neurodegenerative disorders, cerebrovascular health, and cellular signaling. The lab investigates molecular players such as microtubule-associated proteins (e.g., MAP2) and neurotrophic factors (e.g., BDNF) in neuronal integrity and function, while also exploring the pathophysiological links between conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and white matter changes. Additionally, the lab contributes to fundamental cell biology through studies on membrane protein topology in model organisms like *Saccharomyces cerevisiae*, extending findings to broader eukaryotic systems. The research integrates molecular, cellular, and clinical approaches to uncover mechanisms underlying brain health and disease.
Professor Yong Tae Kwon's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of protein homeostasis, particularly the N-end rule pathway and its role in targeted protein degradation. The lab investigates how N-terminal residues serve as degradation signals, with a central emphasis on the E3 ubiquitin ligases (N-recognins) such as UBR1, UBR2, and UBR4, and their roles in development and disease. A key direction involves the interplay between the N-end rule pathway and autophagy, exemplified by the development of AUTOTAC technology to simultaneously degrade specific proteins and enhance autophagic flux. The lab also explores post-translational modifications like N-terminal arginylation and their impact on protein stability and neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.
Professor Woo Jin Hyung's research lab specializes in minimally invasive and robotic surgery for gastric cancer, with a strong focus on oncological outcomes, long-term survival, and biomarker-driven treatment strategies. The lab investigates the non-inferiority of laparoscopic and robotic gastrectomy compared to open surgery, particularly in locally advanced and early-stage gastric cancers. Key research directions include microsatellite instability (MSI) and PD-L1 expression as predictive biomarkers for chemotherapy response and prognosis in stage II/III gastric cancer.
Professor Ho Seok Park's research lab specializes in the design and engineering of advanced 2D nanomaterials and hybrid nanocomposites for next-generation energy storage and conversion applications. The lab focuses on developing flexible, all-solid-state supercapacitors and high-performance electrodes using functionalized graphene and Nafion-based hybrid systems, emphasizing mechanical robustness, electrical conductivity, and long-term stability. Key research directions include pseudocapacitive behavior in 2D materials, nanoarchitecturing for enhanced ion transport, and scalable solution-based fabrication techniques for wearable and portable electronics.
Professor Hyoyoung Lee's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of advanced nanomaterials for sustainable energy applications, with a strong focus on graphene-based materials, earth-abundant electrocatalysts, and single-atom catalysts. The lab pioneers innovative chemical reduction methods for graphene oxide, develops highly dense and aligned carbon electrodes for supercapacitors, and explores interfacial engineering to enhance hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. Their work combines theoretical modeling with experimental synthesis to create materials with Pt-like performance at lower cost and improved stability.
Professor Hyunjung Kim's research lab specializes in the design and application of functional nanomaterials and chemosensors for biomedical and environmental sensing. The lab focuses on developing optical nanoparticles—particularly those based on gold, silver, silica, quantum dots, and calixarenes—for the selective detection of metal ions, pesticides, and biomolecules. A key research direction involves understanding and exploiting supramolecular and photophysical mechanisms, such as ICT modulation and excimer formation, to create ratiometric or turn-on fluorescent probes. The lab also investigates the role of signaling pathways in cancer progression, particularly in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and oncogene-driven transformation.
Professor HoJae Han's research lab focuses on cellular stress responses, particularly the roles of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances in renal and neuronal diseases. The lab investigates molecular mechanisms underlying diabetic nephropathy, gout-related renal injury, and neurodegenerative processes, with a central emphasis on signaling pathways involving PPARγ, MAPK, and stress-responsive genes. Key research directions include mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy regulation, and the impact of glucocorticoids and hyperglycemia on cellular bioenergetics and synaptic integrity. The lab also explores purinergic signaling in stem cell proliferation and the protective functions of stress-responsive genes such as CSR.
Professor Jeongsun Kim's research lab focuses on translational biomedical research with a strong emphasis on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, particularly in the context of type 2 diabetes and heart failure. The lab investigates the mechanisms of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors beyond glycemic control, exploring their anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects, including modulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and improvement of diastolic function. Additionally, the lab examines immune cell biology in pregnancy, particularly the epigenetic regulation of macrophages at the feto-maternal interface, and contributes to vascular intervention research using advanced imaging techniques like optical coherence tomography. The lab also engages in natural product discovery, isolating bioactive compounds from marine sponges with potential anticancer properties.
Professor Jong Moon Park's research lab specializes in environmental biotechnology and sustainable materials science, focusing on the development of bio-based solutions for wastewater treatment and carbon capture. The lab investigates biosorption and bioremediation using microbial and algal biomass to remove heavy metals like chromium and ammonia from industrial effluents. A key research direction involves understanding the molecular mechanisms of metal binding and reduction using natural biomaterials such as protonated brown algae and Chlorella vulgaris. The lab also explores the integration of microalgae systems with industrial processes to simultaneously treat wastewater and sequester CO2 from flue gas.
Professor Hye-Lee Kim's research lab specializes in translational oncology, focusing on the tumor microenvironment, immune checkpoint biology, and molecularly targeted therapies in thoracic and head and neck cancers. The lab investigates immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint expression (such as PD-L1, LAG-3, TIGIT), and oncogenic drivers (e.g., FGFR1 amplification, EGFR mutations) to identify predictive biomarkers and develop precision immunotherapeutic strategies. A key focus is on improving outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly in East Asian never-smokers, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), with an emphasis on resistance mechanisms and novel targeted agents like third-generation EGFR inhibitors.
