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Seokhwan Hwang

Pohang University of Science and Technology · Engineering

About the Lab

Professor Seokhwan Hwang's research lab specializes in molecular microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology, focusing on the detection, quantification, and characterization of key microbial communities in anaerobic processes. The lab employs advanced molecular techniques such as TaqMan quantitative real-time PCR to study methanogens and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria at various taxonomic levels, particularly in waste treatment systems. Their work emphasizes the development of group-specific primer and probe sets for precise monitoring of microbial populations in complex environments like anaerobic digesters and swine wastewater systems. The lab also investigates microbial community dynamics in relation to process parameters such as hydraulic retention time and pH, aiming to optimize environmental bioprocesses.

methanogensquantitative PCRanaerobic digestionammonia-oxidizing bacteriamicrobial community analysis

Research Overview

Papers
307
Total Citations
8,333
Papers (5y)
43
Primary Field
Engineering

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
43total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
184total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|1,685 citations·2005
Group‐specific primer and probe sets to detect methanogenic communities using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction
Youngseob Yu, Changsoo Lee, Jaai Kim, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q2Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a highly sensitive method that can be used for the detection and quantification of microbial populations without cultivating them in anaerobic processes and environmental samples. This work was conducted to design primer and probe sets for the detection of methanogens using a real-time PCR with the TaqMan system. Six group-specific methanogenic primer and probe sets were designed. These sets separately detect four orders (Methanococcales, Methanobacte

EcologyEnvironmental Science
2
Article|636 citations·2006
Absolute and relative QPCR quantification of plasmid copy number in Escherichia coli
Changsoo Lee, Jaai Kim, Seung Gu Shin, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q2Journal of Biotechnology
GeneticsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|216 citations·2010
A comprehensive microbial insight into two-stage anaerobic digestion of food waste-recycling wastewater
Seung Gu Shin, Gyu-Seong Han, Juntaek Lim, Changsoo Lee, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q1Water Research
Building and ConstructionEngineering
4
Article|208 citations·2019
Magnetite as an enhancer in methanogenic degradation of volatile fatty acids under ammonia-stressed condition
Joonyeob Lee, Taewoan Koo, Arma Yulisa, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q1Journal of Environmental Management
Building and ConstructionEngineering
5
Article|182 citations·2018
Comprehensive analysis of microbial communities in full-scale mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digesters treating food waste-recycling wastewater
Eunji Kim, Joonyeob Lee, Gyu-Seong Han, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q1Bioresource Technology
Building and ConstructionEngineering
6
Article|171 citations·2010
Qualitative and quantitative assessment of microbial community in batch anaerobic digestion of secondary sludge
Seung Gu Shin, Seungyong Lee, Changsoo Lee, Kwanghyun Hwang, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q1Bioresource Technology
Building and ConstructionEngineering
7
Article|162 citations·2008
Quantitative analysis of methanogenic community dynamics in three anaerobic batch digesters treating different wastewaters
Changsoo Lee, Jaai Kim, Kwanghyun Hwang, Vincent O’Flaherty, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q1Water Research
Building and ConstructionEngineering
8
Article|161 citations·2006
The effect of calcium on the anaerobic digestion treating swine wastewater
Johng‐Hwa Ahn, Trong Hoan, Sang D. Kim, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q2Biochemical Engineering Journal
Building and ConstructionEngineering
9
Article|149 citations·2005
Use of real‐time PCR for group‐specific quantification of aceticlastic methanogens in anaerobic processes: Population dynamics and community structures
Youngseob Yu, Jaai Kim, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q2Biotechnology and Bioengineering

The TaqMan quantitative PCR (QPCR) method was used to detect and quantify the 16S rRNA genes of aceticlastic methanogens at different taxonomic levels. Three different sets of primers coupled with a TaqMan probe for QPCR assays to detect the 16S rRNA genes of the order Methanosarcinales, as well as the families Methanosarcinaceae and Methanosaetaceae, were separately used. Using these primer and probe sets, the 16S rRNA genes of aceticlastic methanogens in samples from various anaerobic processe

Building and ConstructionEngineering
10
Article|135 citations·2007
Real-time PCR determination of rRNA gene copy number: absolute and relative quantification assays with Escherichia coli
Changsoo Lee, Seungyong Lee, Seung Gu Shin, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q1Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
11
Article|135 citations·2009
Methanogenic population dynamics assessed by real-time quantitative PCR in sludge granule in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket treating swine wastewater
Minkyung Song, Seung Gu Shin, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q1Bioresource Technology
Building and ConstructionEngineering
12
Article|126 citations·2009
Effect of microwave irradiation on the disintegration and acidogenesis of municipal secondary sludge
Johng‐Hwa Ahn, Seung Gu Shin, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q1Chemical Engineering Journal
Building and ConstructionEngineering
13
Article|120 citations·2003
Selective optimization in thermophilic acidogenesis of cheese-whey wastewater to acetic and butyric acids: partial acidification and methanation
Keunyoung Yang, Youngseob Yu, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q1Water Research
Building and ConstructionEngineering
14
Article|113 citations·2005
Analysis of community structures in anaerobic processes using a quantitative real-time PCR method
Youngseob Yu, Changsoo Lee, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q2Water Science & Technology

The methanogenic community structures of four different anaerobic processes were characterized using a quantitative real-time PCR with group-specific primer and probe sets targeting the 16S rRNA gene (rDNA). The group specific primer and probe sets were developed and used to detect the orders Methanosarcinales, and the families Methanosarcinaceae and Methanosaetaceae. Two separate sets targeting the domains Archaea and Bacteria were also used. Each microbial population in different anaerobic pro

Building and ConstructionEngineering
15
Article|106 citations·2016
Seasonal monitoring of bacteria and archaea in a full-scale thermophilic anaerobic digester treating food waste-recycling wastewater: Correlations between microbial community characteristics and process variables
Joonyeob Lee, Gyu-Seong Han, Seung Gu Shin, Taewoan Koo, Kyungjin Cho, Woong Kim, Seokhwan Hwang
SJR Q1Chemical Engineering Journal
Building and ConstructionEngineering

Research Areas

Building and ConstructionPollutionAtmospheric SciencePharmacologyGlobal and Planetary ChangeFood Science

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