Members

Jin Lee, Ph.D

Born and raised in New York, Jin studied neurobiology and behavior at Cornell University. After working at an environmental company for a couple of years, he moved to Korea and pursued a masters in biology at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. There he worked in the lab of Dr. Joohong Ahnn where he first met C. elegans. It was love at first sight. Jin continued his work in C. elegans in the lab of Dr. Noelle L’Etoile at UC Davis, where he studied the mechanisms of olfactory adaptation behavior. After graduating with his PhD, he moved to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to work with Dr. Linda Buck. There he worked on both C. elegans and mice. In 2013, Jin joined the faculty of Yonsei University in the Divison of Biological Science and Technology in Wonju where he teaches developmental biology, behavioral biology, and general biology, as well as studying the worm. Jin’s interests are music (his old Takamine guitar and his Yamaha S90 keyboard), a love/hate obsession with everything Red Sox (yes, he is a New Yorker), and playing video games with his two daughters.

Kyoung-hye Yoon, Ph.D

Our lab works closely with Dr. Yoon’s lab at the Medical School campus, where we jointly work on C. elegans odor behaviors. Her lab also studies the central regulation of metabolic and cellular processes related to aging.

Tong-young Lee, Ph.D

Tong Young was born in Seoul and raised in Korea. In 2014, he graduated from the Department of Biological Science and Technology at Yonsei University with his BS. During his Ph.D, he designed new 3D worm environments and identified a new oviposition behavior only seen in 3D. He continues to study this behavior as well as other behaviors he observes in 3D. If you are thinking of gifting him a new shirt or jacket, make sure it’s white.
Trust me.

Rocel Amor Indong, Ph.D

Dr. Indong received her doctoral degree from TU Graz in Austria with an expertise in Plant-microbe association. She developed a system to culture C. elegans in their native soil and rotting fruit environment inside our lab. She is currently characterizing the ecological succession of the C. elegans native environment from the soil to the microbes and to the nematode. Also if you want to munch on some excellent homemade Filipino delicacies, you can join our Friday lab meetings.

Alfredo Alcantara Jr., Ph.D

Alfred comes to Korea via the Philippines where he graduated with his bachelors at Cavite State University in biology. He then worked for a couple years as a Researcher and QC analyst at a pharmaceutical company. He’s currently an MS/PhD student, and is studying the effects of high and low gravity on synapse formation and aging. In addition, he’s preparing experiments for our lab’s first venture into space in November aboard the International Space Station. In his spare time he collects and builds Gundam model kits.

Je-hyun Moon

Je-hyun graduated from Yonsei University Mirae Campus majoring in Biological Sciences, and now will continue his studies as an MS/PhD student. He is studying odor behaviors in worms. He’s also an avid NBA basketball watcher, rooting for the Warriors and Lakers (is this even possible?). I asked him if he likes to hop on bandwagons in his spare time, but he refuses to answer.

Jong-In Hwang

Jong-in has been an undergraduate researcher in the lab since 2023, and from 2025 joined the lab as a Ph.D student. He is studying how worm synapses are altered by space microgravity during the aging process. He is also studying how sensory behaviors are used by worms in their natural habitats. When Jong-in is not playing his favorite sport soccer, he enjoys baking desserts for the lab. Yum.

Gwonu Kim

4th year student

Huimang Cho

3rd year student

Ju-kyeong Kim

3rd year student

Eun-seon Cheon

2nd year student