Lab Members
Principal Investigator
Ki-Jun Yoon, Ph.D.
As a first-year graduate student, I was fascinated by the stunning beauty of the developing brain in a fetus. I have questioned how neural stem cells are regulated to ensure accurate cell division, migration, and fate specification during brain development. My research has primarily focused on studying the regulation of neural stem cells and neuronal development through mouse and human-induced pluripotent stem cell models. I am passionate about pursuing my academic journey with the same traits as these stem cells, including being flexible, open-minded to any fates, and helpful to those in need.
Postdoctor Researchers
Postdoctoral Researcher
Meiyu Qiu , Ph.D.
Organoids are characterized as miniaturized and simplified versions of an organ generated in vitro but could recapitulate key features of human organ development. As such, organoids pave a novel avenue for in vitro human disease models, an invaluable platform for biomedical studies and pathological investigation of human diseases. My interest of research is to advance the development and application of organoid in clinical therapy through developing efficient operating system for drug screening and modeling developmental neurological disorders.
Graduate Students
Ph.D. Student
Sungmin Lee
I find Biology to be intriguing because of its relevance to our daily lives, particularly the diverse mechanisms involved in the birth, life, and death of living beings. I was captivated by this subject, which led me to pursue it further. My focus is on gene regulation, which involves several steps of chemical modifications on DNA, RNA, and proteins. Among these steps, RNA modifications have recently gained attention. My goal is to investigate the epitranscriptomic regulations involved in development.
Ph.D. Student
Chanwoo Park
There are various ways to comprehend the workings of our brains. Some rely on physiological knowledge, while others turn to molecular biology. Personally, I am intrigued by the molecular aspect and wish to delve into the world of the human brain, exploring DNA, RNA, and their distinct alterations, and ultimately understanding their impact on developmental stages.
Ph.D. Student
Jihoon Moon
My area of interest is brain development. I aim to create innovative technologies for generating brain organoids in order to comprehend the physiology and traits of brain development. My research focus in the lab is on exploring the role of RNA modification in brain development and utilizing organoids to simulate brain disorders.
Ph.D. Student
Hyunsoo Jang
Many neurological diseases can be linked to problems with the molecular machinery involved in the development of neurons. Therefore, it's important to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms that promote brain development in order to find potential treatments. I find developmental neurobiology fascinating because it helps me comprehend the intricacies of the brain and allows me to help others. Through my scientific research, I hope to discover new ways to apply this knowledge to the fields of natural science and medicine.
Ph.D. Student
Hoewon Park
I'm passionate about biology because it delves into the intricacies of life. I dream of a world where we can regenerate every part of our body for greater health. I'm researching stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease and hope to explore its full range of applications. I'm optimistic about the future of regeneration.
Bonsang Koo
Ph.D. Student
Hello, my name is Bonsang Koo. I am deeply fascinated by the intricate relationship between regulatory RNA and RNA modification and how they impact the developmental process. My research focus is currently centered around studying RNA and the "reader" proteins regulate RNA localization and corticogensis.
Ph.D. Student
Seohyun Kim
What motivates you? My motivation lies in the beauty of making sense of our biological selves, and the stem cells where we all began. It lies in the day-to-day enjoyment of scientific inquiry and dwellings in the possibility of therapeutic application. I wish to help further the field of cell therapy and disease modeling with iPSCs by exploring the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the in vivo and in vitro developing brain.
Ph.D. Student
Huiseon Hwang
Hi, my name is Sunny. I am intrigued by the impact of biomolecular changes on organisms and am currently exploring the fascinating field of epitranscriptomics. Specifically, I am studying the m6A-based epitranscriptomic changes using biochemical and bioinformatic strategies. As the saying goes, "Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be."
Ph.D. Student
Kiheon Lee
I believe that changes in the transcriptome of neural stem cells are the signal for the differentiation of neurons and glial cells in the brain, which drives brain development. To investigate this, I am analyzing the dynamic changes in the nascent transcriptome to understand the molecular mechanism of neuronal cell differentiation. Specifically, I am studying how changes in genome structure and transcriptome affect RNA production and degradation using a human brain organoid model. My goal is to uncover the effects of nascent RNA m6A on the brain development process.
Ph.D. Student
Euibeen Hwang
Have you ever wondered how a small egg can develop into a fully functioning brain? Despite being a vital process that we all go through, we still don't fully understand the molecular mechanism behind it. However, I am confident that I can help shed some light on this longstanding mystery with the help of my kind lab members.
Ph.D. Student
Jiye Han
The world is a beautiful place, with sunshine filtering through the green leaves on a clear summer day, the refreshing scent of rain-drenched soil, and the sounds of birds singing in the morning. However, individuals affected by brain disorders may not be able to experience these sensations, and it could cause them distress. It is my hope that they can experience the joy that surrounds us. That's why I have decided to focus my studies on brain diseases, specifically multigenic neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder, using patient-derived brain organoids. It would be a great honor and contribution if my research could help advance the understanding and treatment of these conditions.
Ph.D. Student
Hyounji Yun
How cells are able to detect changes in their environment even without sensory organs like eyes, nose, and ears? It's amazing how cells are able to divide and differentiate precisely at the right time. Personally, I find mechanosensing, the way cells sense their surroundings and respond to changes in their environment, to be truly fascinating. I believe that understanding this process could hold the key to unlocking the secrets of brain development.
Ph.D. Student
Eugene Moon
Nature's ability to organize and develop life is miraculous. Humans are blessed with the intellect to observe this phenomenon and ask questions, which has always fascinated me, particularly the brain's role in this process. Currently, I'm researching the protein players that interact with transcripts in neurodevelopment and neuropathies. My goal is to decode major problems in neurobiology by studying these post-transcriptional regulators.
Ph.D. Student
Minyeong Park
Living organisms possess an incredible ability to coordinate intricate processes, which is what makes them truly beautiful. I am fascinated by the highly organized systems and mechanisms that explain the molecular recognition and response within cells. My curiosity drives me to explore this phenomenon from the perspective of the "epitranscriptome". I am eager to embark on this journey and uncover the countless secrets that cells hold.
Researcher
Minji Kim
As kids, we were told that we could be anything we wanted to be. Similarly, stem cells have the incredible potential to become anything. Whether we're reprogramming somatic cells into iPSCs or using stem cells to form stunning neural rosette structures in brain organoids, their pluripotency and our ability to manipulate it is endlessly intriguing.
Chaewon Lee
We all have identical sets of genes in our cells. However, transcriptome of those cells are different from themselves; the gene expression is orchestrated by several maestros. I am recently focusing on post-transcriptional regulation to figure out a part of this symphony. I hope that we can get the insight to solve the mysteries of each sophisticatedly regulated player. Wanted: dead or alive, the maestros!
Jisu Park
Hello! When I was younger, I was fascinated by the idea that all biological processes are driven by the expression of our genes. That’s what got me into studying this field. As I go deeper into my studies, I learned genes aren’t just expressed on their own, rather they are regulated by epigenetic factors that shape the environment in which genes can be expressed. Isn’t that amazing? It’s what spurred me to aspire to become a biologist. Along the way, I found out there are various mechanisms after the genes have been expressed. That is Epitranscriptomic! I found this aspect even more captivating, and it’s why I’m eager to begin my graduate studies focusing on it.
Lab Managers
Lab Manager
Bokyung Yoo
Research technician
Byeongsuk Kim