Education and Professional Experience

·       Sep 2023 – Present: Director, Institute for Stress-Responsive Bionanomaterial Networks

·       Jun 2021 – Present: CEO/CTO, Green Mineral Co., Ltd.

·       Sep 2020 – Present: Leader, BK21-Four, Dept. of Life Sciences, Sogang University

·       Feb 2016 – Feb 2018: Chair, Dept. of Life Sciences, Sogang University

·       Feb 2013 – Feb 2016: Associate Dean, Graduate School, Sogang University

·       Jan 2013 – Dec 2013: Chair, Executive Committee, Korean Society for Photobiology

·       Feb 2012 – Mar 2014: Director, Biointerface Research Institute

·       Mar 2015 – Present: Vice President, Korean Society for Photobiology

·       Mar 2004 – Present: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Dept. of Life Science, Sogang University

·       Sep 1999 – Jan 2004: Research Fellow, Center for Membrane Biology, U. of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

·       Aug 1995 – Aug 1999: Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, U. of Texas Medical School at Houston

·       Mar 1991 – Mar 1994: Researcher, Yuhan Chemical Company, Ltd.

·       Mar 1989 – Feb 1991: M.S. in Biotechnology, KAIST

·       Mar 1985 – Feb 1989: B.S. in Life Sciences, Sogang University

Teaching Courses

·   Life and Environment (Core Curriculum)

·   General Biology I, II (Pre-major)

·   Structural Biology (Undergraduate/Graduate)

·   Biophysics (Undergraduate/Graduate)

·   Molecular Photobiology (Graduate)

·   Advanced Biochemistry I, II, III (Graduate)

Research Overview

·   The Protein Biochemistry Laboratory focuses on the structural and functional studies of rhodopsins—photoreceptors found in archaea, bacteria, 

   algae, and protozoa.

·   To achieve this, we employ genetic recombination, knock-out, and RNAi technologies to investigate their in vivo roles. We also utilize membrane 

   protein expression and purification techniques to isolate proteins in large quantities, followed by various biophysical analyses (e.g., spectroscopy, 

   isothermal calorimetry) to elucidate protein interactions and intrinsic functions.

·   Furthermore, we aim to develop biological models based on these findings. Research also extends to applications of rhodopsins using artificial cells and 

  studies on biomineralization.

Research Projects

1. Elucidation of light-dependent protein regulation mechanisms of heliorhodopsin and development of interaction-based membrane protein platforms (Mid-career: 2026–2031)

2. Structural and functional studies of novel microbial photoreceptors (Mid-career: 2023–2026)

3. Microalgae screening for regulating biomineralization activity of non-metal ions (Green Mineral: 2024–2027)

4. Education and Research Team for Stress-Responsive Biomolecular Functions (BK21 Four: 2021–2027)

1) Shim J-g, Chuon K, Kim J-H, Lee S-j, Song M-c, Cho S-G, Hour C, Jung K-H. 2024. June 29. Proton-pumping photoreceptor controls expression of ABC transporter

    by regulating transcription factor through light. Comm. Biol. (IF: 5.9) 7:789.

2) Cho S-G, Kim J-H, Lee J-e, Choi I-J, Song M, Kimleng C, Shim J-g, Kang K-W, Jung K-H. 2024. May 21. Heliorhodopsin-mediated light-modulation of ABC transporter.

   Nature Comm. (IF:14.7) 15:4306.

3) Bong S, Park CB, Cho S-G, Bae J, Hapsari ND, Jin X, Heo S, Lee J-E, Hashiya K, Bando T, Sugiyama H, Jung K-H, Sung BJ, Jo K. 2023. Jun 23. AT-specific DNA 

   visualization revisits the directionality of bacteriophage λ DNA ejection. Nucleic Acids Res. (IF:14.9) 51(11):5634-5646. (co-corresponding author)

4) Cho S-G, Song M, Chuon K, Shim J-G, Meas S, Jung KH. 2022. Oct. 03. Heliorhodopsin binds and regulates glutamine synthetase activity. PLoS Biol.  (IF:9.593) 

   20(10):e3001817.

5) Lee KY, Park S-J, Lee KA, Kim S-H, Kim H, Meroz Y, Mahadevan L, Jung KH, Ahn TK, Parker KK, Shin K. 2018. May 28. Photosynthetic artificial organelles sustain and control 

   ATP-dependent reactions in a photocellular system. Nature Biotechnology. (IF:41.667) 36(6): 530-535. (co-corresponding author)